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From Nanjing to DC: Tips for the transition

From Nanjing to DC: Tips for the transition

Student blogger Tarela Osuobeni, Certificate ’17, MA ’19, gives some tips on transitioning between the Hopkins-Nanjing Center Certificate and Johns Hopkins SAIS MA program.

What is the biggest difference between studying at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center and Johns Hopkins SAIS in DC?
 
Tip: The academic goals and environment of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center and Johns Hopkins SAIS are different in some respects. Think about how you want each program to contribute to your career goals and professional development. 

The Hopkins-Nanjing Center Certificate and Johns Hopkins SAIS MA study experience are different in that they can help you enhance different skills. While both programs center on international relations, coursework in Nanjing inherently has a language and cultural immersion aspect to it. Hopkins-Nanjing Center courses will require you to think, read, and articulate yourself in Chinese. Through lectures, discussions, and debates, I was able to practice thinking and speaking about international relations, economics and law in a different cultural context.

When students begin the MA program in DC, they engage solely with English material within their concentration area, except if they are taking any foreign-language classes. (Certificate students are exempt from the SAIS MA language requirement due to their knowledge of Chinese, but some choose to study a third language in DC.)  Although you’re studying in a more familiar language, the MA program puts a strong emphasis on quantitative skills. All MA students are required to graduate with an international economics concentration. These courses may immediately feel like a challenge to some, but Johns Hopkins SAIS offers academic support from teaching assistants, professors and tutors (the Hopkins-Nanjing Center also offers quantitative-focused coursework). I came in with no economics background but I still find it doable to navigate the economics because of all the help I have sought out.

What is student life like in Nanjing versus in DC? 
 
Tip: Enjoy the cities of Nanjing and DC and prepare to prioritize your time. You will have many different academic, social and career opportunities available to you.

Nanjing and DC are similar in many ways. Both are big cities with many universities and opportunities to learn about China and the U.S. respectively. The differences in student life are specific to the community feel. The Hopkins-Nanjing Center has a smaller close-knit community. Most of the 150-170 students live in the student dormitory with roommates in a bilingual environment. You have access to a cafeteria, gym, common space, and classrooms all within the Hopkins-Nanjing Center. In DC, the Johns Hopkins SAIS community is more spread out because students live throughout the city. There are a plethora of on-campus events that happen each week: speaker series, mini courses, skills courses, student club meetings, etc. The city has many events to enjoy off campus so you’ll constantly have access to many opportunities.

How did you find housing in Nanjing versus DC?
 
Tip: Start researching early, think about price, and talk to people who are living in DC about housing options. 
 
In Nanjing, most students live on campus with a roommate of a different nationality. At Johns Hopkins SAIS, there are no designated living spaces for students. Students find their own housing within the city or in bordering states of Maryland and Virginia. Incoming students transitioning to DC typically use housing websites, or DC connections to find housing. I found appropriate housing through various DC online forums. During the summer, I researched DC neighborhoods and ranked them by affordability and proximity to the SAIS campus. Through understanding the costs, assessing these lists and talking with Hopkins-Nanjing Center alumni who lived in DC, I was able to find many housing options in the area.

Housing costs in DC (based on my experience in 2018):
Housing (Type)                                                                                Housing Cost Range
Less expensive and requires a roommate or more housemates      $950/month or lower
Average cost for a student (require a housemate/better location)    $950-$1200/month
High cost, may be within the city and closer to campus                    $1200/month and higher

How can you keep up your Chinese language studies in DC? 
 
Tip: If you want to keep up your Chinese, enroll in an advanced Chinese course each semester and explore other language options on and off campus!
 
When I started registering for classes at Johns Hopkins SAIS, I prioritized continuing my Chinese language studies. I wanted to build upon the language gains I had achieved at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center and I knew that DC would have fewer Chinese language-immersive environments. I registered for the post-proficiency Chinese course at Johns Hopkins SAIS, Advanced Chinese Mid I, to not only resolve these concerns but also to prepare myself for a career where I could use Chinese. The class meets once a week for two hours, and we read and analyze U.S.-China-related news articles on political, social and international issues.  Class time is infused with discussions, debates and presentations. It almost feels like taking a class at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center!

In addition to advanced language courses, the Johns Hopkins SAIS language program offers a Chinese tutor and Chinese language table during the week!

What’s the most important thing to note when transitioning from the Hopkins-Nanjing Center to Johns Hopkins SAIS in DC? 
 
Tip: Know that each program is different and plan ahead (to the extent that you can) for each program.

Accepting that the Hopkins-Nanjing Center and the Johns Hopkins SAIS DC programs are different early on is going to be easier for your transition. Knowing what you want to get out of both programs will direct your coursework choices. You’ll be able to prioritize your academic, social and work life better. While studying in Nanjing you’ll want to consider which classes might apply to your desired MA concentration in DC. This could also influence whether you finish the MA portion of the program in 2 or 3 semesters.

Written by Tarela Osuobeni, Hopkins-Nanjing Center Certificate ’17, SAIS MA ‘18

Day in the Life of a Hopkins-Nanjing Center Student: Hope Parker

Student blogger Hope Parker, MAIS ’20, describes a typical day at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center.

Now that I have been in Nanjing for a few months, I have settled into my classes and a weekly routine. Here is what a normal day looks like for me at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center:

6:30 a.m. Go for a run
I start the morning with a run on the Nanjing University track or by going to the Hopkins-Nanjing Center fitness center. As the weather has gotten colder, fewer people have been on the track. Luckily, this morning lots of people were out walking, running, and dancing.

Nanjing University’s track in the morning

8:00 a.m. International Political Economy (IPE)
On Wednesdays I have an early start with my IPE class. This week we have been finishing up topics on maritime issues and trade, and applying theories we studied at the beginning of the semester to events and policies. Today we focused on different states’ policies in the Arctic.

9:50 a.m. International Relations of East Asia
Our class focuses on Northeast Asian relations, particularly on the Korean Peninsula. In our last class we all presented on our final paper topics. Since several students are studying cooperation mechanisms in East Asia, our professor discussed fundamental features and barriers to cooperation in East Asia.

12:00 p.m. Lunch
Around noon I head to lunch at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center cafeteria. Lunch is probably one of the busiest times in the cafeteria because everyone goes to eat right after class. Professors and students catch up with one another and continue class discussions over lunch.

A study space in the Hopkins-Nanjing Center Library

12:30 p.m. Homework
This semester I only have morning classes, which means I usually start preparing for other classes after lunch each day. Today I have to go over my readings for tomorrow’s law class. We just started a unit on internet law and how cyberspace activities could be governed internationally. Once I finish, I start on readings for Friday morning’s International Political Economy class.

There are lots of places to study on campus. Sometimes I’ll study in my room, but there are also various spaces in the library for students to study. If I feel that I need an extra quiet space, I usually go to my study carrel. Master’s students can get a carrel to study in, which is a room that is shared by three students, each assigned their own individual desk. The carrels are available for students to study any time—day or night.

Professor Andrew Mertha giving a lecture on China’s relationship with Cambodia

7:00 p.m. Lecture
Each Wednesday afternoon from is blocked out for visiting lectures at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center—often professors from universities in China and abroad. Tonight we heard from the new China Studies director at Johns Hopkins SAIS, Professor Andrew Mertha, talk about his research on Chinese-Cambodian relations. Lots of students were excited to hear about China’s relationship with Cambodia from an expert in the field.

8:30 p.m. Moot Court
I am a member of the Jessup International Law Moot Court team. Our group usually meets at least once per week to discuss, research, and write, but I also try to do some work on the case each day. Often that means reading about other cases, then adding to my written arguments.

9:45 p.m. Wind Down
At the end of the day my roommate and I are usually both back in our room. Before we go to sleep, we talk about different things that we did that day, as well as what we’re doing later in the week.

Written by Hope Parker, MAIS ‘20

Volunteer Teaching in Nanjing

Student blogger Cady Deck, Certificate ’19, shares her experience volunteer teaching at a local elementary school in Nanjing.

This semester, I am one of four international students volunteering as an English teacher at Xijie Elementary School. I talked with Paul Armstrong-Taylor, an economics professor at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center and our volunteer teaching faculty advisor, to learn about the school and how the volunteer teaching program began. The program started in 2010 when he and a first-year master’s student, “realized that many students were interested in volunteering, but because they were only at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center for one or two years it was often hard to connect with opportunities.” They reached out to a major Chinese non-profit based in Nanjing, who put them in contact with a local elementary school. Although they began teaching at that elementary school, the school that students volunteer at has changed several times over the years.



We teach a class of about 30 students on Friday afternoons, which presents a unique challenge. As a former third grader, I sympathize with their desire to start the weekend, but as a teacher, their excitement is my biggest challenge. The four of us are tasked with teaching them new material, reviewing what they have already learned, and maintaining control of the class, all in the span of 40 minutes. As a result, not only are we developing our teaching skills, but we’re also gaining classroom management skills. At the beginning of the semester, I saw a volunteer teaching WeChat QR code posted on the Hopkins-Nanjing Center bulletin board and immediately scanned it to sign up. For me, volunteering at this school is a fun way to interact with the local community and do something productive with my free time on Fridays.

Volunteer teaching is a very rewarding experience, even though we only teach for 40 minutes every time. We meet before each class to come up with new lesson plans. The first time we went, we weren’t sure what level the students were at, so we came up with activities based on the first few lessons in their textbook, which consisted of very basic greetings, such as “hello” and “good morning.” After teaching them for a few minutes, we quickly realized they were at a much more advanced level. We needed to give them a bigger challenge, so we taught them more complex sentence structures and had them introduce themselves to each other and to us.

Because the students are so far ahead of the lessons in the textbook, we come up with our own topics every week. For example, last time we taught them about different flavors and food. We incorporate as many interactive elements as possible so they can practice speaking with and listening to native English speakers. By doing this, we correct their mistakes, and they hear how certain words should be pronounced. However, correcting pronunciation isn’t a one-way street. An unintentional benefit of this opportunity is that the students aren’t afraid to let us know when our tones are wrong or when they don’t understand our Chinese.

The Hopkins-Nanjing Center emphasizes the importance of cross-cultural dialogue, and this is a great way to engage with people of different ages and backgrounds. Professor Armstrong-Taylor summed up the overall experience perfectly by saying that “we not only get the psychological benefits of helping others, but also an opportunity to get out of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center bubble and see a part of Nanjing and Chinese society that we would not otherwise have access to.”

Written by Cady Deck, Hopkins-Nanjing Center Certificate ’19



Day in the Life of a Hopkins-Nanjing Center Student: Sam Olson

Student blogger Sam Olson describes a typical day at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center. 
 
6:30-7:20am: Workout with my roommate 
I start off the day with a workout with my roommate, Adam Zhang, to get myself going and mentally prepared for class. The Hopkins-Nanjing Center has its own gym with an excellent variety of weights and exercise machines. In addition, students that apply for Nanjing University student cards can use the gym at Nanjing University, and there are private gyms nearby.


 The Hopkins-Nanjing Center gym


7:20-7:40am: Breakfast 
After working out, I head upstairs to eat breakfast at the cafeteria. The cafeteria offers good food at fairly affordable prices. Beyond the on-campus options, there are multiple restaurants on the main Nanjing University Gulou campus, as well as coffee shops that sell coffee, pastries, and small breakfast sandwiches at low cost.

8:00am: Review readings for my international politics class and catch up on homework
Next, I head to the library to review some readings that we will discuss in our international politics class and go over the PowerPoint slides for today’s class. The library is a very quiet, comfortable environment to do homework and offers an outstanding selection of books and other research materials.

9:50-11:20am: International politics class
In class, we discuss traditional and non-traditional security concerns from realist and non-realist perspectives.

A typical lunch at the 中美中心食堂

11:20 -11:40am: Lunch

12:20-1:40pm: Chinese Constitution class
In my Chinese Constitution class, one of my favorite classes this semester, we continued our discussion of the Chinese political system. One of the reasons I like this class so much is that it serves as a fascinating basis for comparing Western and non-Western legal cultures and values, which adds further dimension to the cross-cultural education we receive at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center.

2:00-5:00pm: Homework, read papers for MA Tutorial course, and begin outlines for papers
After Chinese Constitution is over, I do some readings for my MA Interdisciplinary Tutorial course, as well as for my class on social issues of China’s modernization, and work on some outlines for upcoming papers due in other classes.

5:00-6:00pm Research internships
I use the hour before dinner to research internships and put together application materials for positions next summer. The Hopkins-Nanjing Center provides students with a great career services office that offers extensive guidance and support for students.

6:00pm: Dinner 
 
6:30-8:30pm: Do additional readings for classes 
 
8:30-9:30pm: Relax and play pool in student lounge
After a long day of classes and homework, I unwind by playing some pool in the student recreation room with my roommate and a few other classmates. The recreation room offers students a variety of activities for students, such as gaming consoles, a music room, and a place to practice Chinese calligraphy.

9:30-10:45pm: Make reading notes and call home
I end the day by making some reading notes for tomorrow’s classes, calling my family in the U.S., and then going to bed.

11:00pm: Sleep
 
And that wraps up a typical day in the life of a student! Whatever you need to do during your day, be it doing homework or pursuing a good work-life balance by working out or relaxing, the Hopkins-Nanjing Center provides an excellent living environment in which to do so.

Written by Samuel Olson, Master of Arts in International Studies ’20

Hopkins-Nanjing Center Student Band

Student blogger Sam Olson, Master of Arts in International Studies ’20, introduces the student band and discusses how it adds to the student experience and the Hopkins-Nanjing Center’s mission.

 Band playing at the Mid -Autumn Festival barbeque
Outside of the classroom, the Hopkins-Nanjing Center hosts a variety of student groups that enrich student life, such as basketball, the dragon boat team, and moot court. Although maybe not as well-known as some of the other groups, one activity in particular that enhances the student experience and reinforces the Hopkins-Nanjing Center’s cross-cultural environment is the student band.

To get a better picture of the student band, I talked with Sam Smith (MAIS ’19, Energy, Resources and the Environment) who has been a member of the band for the since last year. Sam said that at its core, the band is a way for Chinese and international students with a shared passion in music to come together to relax, build camaraderie, and have fun. Although some students bring their own instruments, the Hopkins-Nanjing Center provides some equipment as well, including a drum set, bass and electric guitars, keyboards, and microphones. Throughout the year, the band plays at student events, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival barbeque, Halloween Party, New Year’s Party, and end-of-year spring barbeque. In addition to events at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center, the band sometimes volunteers to play at local clubs in Nanjing. Once, Sam said the band even got an invitation to play in Shanghai!
 

Aside from providing entertainment for the community and around Nanjing, the band also facilitates cross-cultural interaction in several ways. For instance, the band strives to have a strong representation of Chinese and international students and provides groups the opportunity to play in front of crowds and teach each other how to play a variety of instruments. The band also integrates this into the music they play. “We want our sound to be as unique as the Hopkins-Nanjing Center,” Sam emphasized in our talk. One avenue that he is exploring to further this goal is by incorporating more Chinese instruments into performances, as well as experimenting with using traditional Chinese instruments to play popular Western songs, and vice versa.

Overall, the band is an important avenue for cross-cultural engagement outside of the classroom. I encourage all students to join a student group or activity during their time in Nanjing. It not only provides a break from studying, but also is an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the Hopkins-Nanjing Center’s bilingual, multicultural community. One of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center’s strengths is that its unique environment takes what would be an ordinary group at any other institution and transforms it into an opportunity for cross-cultural learning and enrichment.

Written by Samuel Olson, Master of Arts in International Studies ’20



Golden Week: Exploring Nanjing

During the first week of October, China celebrates National Day with a week-long vacation commonly referred to as ‘Golden Week’. Since it occurs at the beginning of the semester, Golden Week is a great opportunity for students to travel, explore, and make friends with other students at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center.

This year during Golden Week, lots of students traveled to new cities, took short trips to Shanghai and Suzhou, or went to visit old friends in other parts of China. I decided to stay in Nanjing and get to know the city a little better.




Nanjing has a long history, and served as the capital at different points in Chinese history. There are numerous museums and historical activities around the city. Different groups of students went to Purple Mountain to see Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, to the old Presidential Palace, and to the Nanjing Museum.

In an effort to escape the infamous Golden Week crowds, it was fun to explore some of the less touristy areas of Nanjing. The co-directors and other staff at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center encouraged students to go for walks around the center to see the city’s different neighborhoods. One neighborhood, the Xuanwu Lake area, has a beautiful park and is just a short walk from campus. Although we’d been there before, Golden Week was a great time to go because everyone was out enjoying the last few weeks of summer weather with their friends and family.


Several of us also took advantage of the sales at some local shops during Golden Week. We went to a tea shop in the art district of Nanjing and enjoyed different types of tea and small snacks. After learning about the different teas, we each had the opportunity to make and serve the tea ourselves. Although it was unexpectedly difficult, it was great to learn together!


Of course, as Golden Week came to an end, classes picked up again and the weather began to get colder. As we get busier, it was great to have a week off during the beginning of the semester to spend getting to know the people at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center and Nanjing!

Written by Hope Parker, Master of Arts in International Studies ’20
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