Imbibing a new culture

For young expats, getting to grips with China takes time, but colleges and society lend a helping hand to make the transition easier, Cao Chen reports in Shanghai.

For overseas students in China, living in a different country with a culture and customs different from their own is not an easy thing to cope with. However, with support provided by the school, society and the efforts put in by students themselves, the culture shock can be kept to a minimum.

Last year, Ben Elmakias, a US graduate from the School of International Chinese Studies at East China Normal University in Shanghai, organized a Chinese corner in the city during his internship at the local institute of the Council on International Educational Exchange.