Kaleb Afshar

Major
Biology

Hobbies
Reading, Mandarin, Tennis

Hometown
Branson, MO

Where did you study?
Shanghai, China

Why did you choose to study there?
For a lot of reasons.. Shanghai is the largest city in the world and an international hub for all sorts of business. Also, China being the second largest economy and an essential trade partner of the U.S., having an understanding of Chinese culture/language is an invaluable skill.

What courses did you take?
Basic Mandarin

How did you pay for your study abroad trip?
Tuition itself was significantly cheaper than at UMKC, but I didn't go through an existing program from UMKC or a third party company (which can be really expensive).

Did you use some sort of financial aid, scholarship or fellowship?
Yes

What was your living situation?
I lived in a three bedroom apartment with my brother and a friend of ours. It was right in the middle of the city (Peoples Square) and cost a pretty penny.

What did you do for fun?
Shopping is a big one, also the nightlife in Shanghai is endless. You can spend an entire semester there and barely scratch the surface of club/dining scene.

Favorite aspect of your trip?
Shanghai has a huge international community, it was awesome to have the opportunity to make friends from every continent.

Challenges you faced?
Leaving

Advice or helpful tips for future students?
Do your research, and start early.

What is one thing (if anything) that you would change about your experience if you could do it over?
I wouldn't change anything.

Funny or memorable story?
Stories should be told in person. But I can tell you the first time I got into a cab by myself, in completely unfamiliar city, and successfully told the driver where I wanted to go in Chinese felt amazingly gratifying.

Email: kaa6df@mail.umkc.edu