The First Week

Hey all, I have so much to tell you guys about!  I have been here in
Shanghai, China for a week so I am going to tell you what I did each day
so you are up to speed.
First off, you may want to know why I am here.  This year is the Shanghai
2010 World Expo.  Basically, what happens is that about 242 countries are
displaying their country’s highlights with the best architecture and
displays (I will post many pictures of those later).  Many businesses are
displayed as well and the Expo helps attract tourism to given countries,
promote international government relation; and attract partnerships.  The
Chinese government keeps increasing efforts to increase US-Chinese
relations so the Chinese government created a summer scholarship program
where they paid for forty American studies to come participate in a the
exchange program at Fudan University , where we participate in
political/economic Chinese seminars every day , meet with Chinese
professors and staff at Fudan University, as well as government officials.
 I heard about the program from the International Studies department and
then I got my letter of recommendation and waited for my acceptance.
I have to be honest; I really didn’t do this by myself.   I am pretty much
the biggest procrastinator, although things always work out for me.  This
time, it was a close call!  I forgot about the letter of recommendation
and one day before it was due, I was talking to Mr. Vince Delio and he
offered to write my recommendation letter.  I have gotten to know him, and
have had many interactions with him, especially with Advocacy Day, and
would have probably asked him for a letter given more time, but I would
have never expected anyone to write my letter within less than twenty four
hours.  I was so relieved!  Then, Yang Pisani in the International Studies
office helped to make sure I was doing things in a timely matter.   When I
got my acceptance letter, I was so happy but I really owed it to them!  Of
course, things couldn’t go smooth for me, there had to be some kind of
conflict.  The date the program began was two days before my LSATs  so I
turned down the scholarship down ( initially).  But then   Dean Straussman
invited Purple & Gold Student Ambassadors to his Advisory Board lunch and
everyone really explained to me that I can always be more prepared for the
October test and to not let this opportunity go.  I had been hearing it a
lot from friends, but when you have lawyers and academic professors
telling you too, it kind of sticks more!  So there you go it!  That was
how I got into this whole journey!

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Posted By: Alicia Tambe, Shanghai, China