As I wait for my laundry to wash so I can hang it up 14 floors off the ground on my balcony I feel now is a good a time as any to whip up a quick post.
So I am about two weeks into the actual program, orientation has drawn to a close a while ago and it served the job well; gave us in the program a decent introduction to the city as well as each other. When you put about 30 something students all new to the country in the same building friendships are made rather quickly. Which is good, the last thing I would want is to have to go shopping for food on my own with my language level being what it is (not very high I mean). Regardless I am actively looking for unique foods to try, such as Salted Black Plum candy (would not recommend) and Wasabi and Shrimp Lays (afraid to try as of now). More to come on the foods in a later post.
After some confusion with classes the dust is beginning to settle and I have classes that will transfer over! So yay for that! Even though this is a fun experience of being in a new land and everything but classes are important too (that is my PSA for those reading and thinking about studying abroad).
I also got a bike, apparently bike riding is the hot form of transportation in China, and me and the 30$ Ericmobile are having a good time getting to class every morning.
Besides that though haven't been doing to much, done some walks through Shanghai, went to see the Tiger Hill Pagoda in Suzhuo and yeah just fun times, good food and hopefully more experiences worth sharing to come very soon!

So here I am, Shanghai China. I remember telling myself two years that the rather daunting idea of removing myself so far out my element was still such a long time away, well look now two years younger Eric! Time moves quick, really quick. I'm met with mixed emotions really, but what else could be expected. I've only been here a day so hard to say exactly how the semester will go based off that day but I'm holding on to my optimistic feelings. Anxiety, excitement, unease, just a few words to really describe the feelings I'm facing...hungry is up there too, I'm writing this before breakfast so I'm pretty hungry. All in all though things are pretty good here as an international student at Fudan. I mean the room is big enough for me, the bed not so much but that is just a little something to get used to. I'm not exactly sure on how often I'll be able to update this blog but please feel free to subscribe to it for updates as well as pictures of my adventures.
再见
Eric

My room, the private bathroom is behind the wall

Direct view from my balcony

I'm on the 14th floor, also that is Jake, he will be appearing in a few pictures from time to time

Introduction :D

For the past twenty years of my life I have been a Rhode Island native; however come September I will be an international student in the city of Shanghai, China. It would be almost impossible to describe the feelings and thoughts going through my head as I contemplate this drastic change of culture, but I will attempt to. Imagine a place where everyone knows your name, not unlike the bar from Cheers; a place where you feel comfortable, welcomed, and completely at easy to be yourself. A bonus being that this place is only twenty minutes from your home as well. No mystery that this place is my home away from home, Bryant University. I never imagined I would grow so attached to a university in a mere two years, but it’s easy, especially when friends are made, professors are welcoming and experiences I only dreamed of can actually be achieved. As of the writing of this blog post my international travel experience consisted of a trip to the Bahamas, one I personally would not consider that far out of my comfort zone. As well as I supervised trip through London and Paris. What I wish from an international experience is just that, I want to break the norms of my everyday life, see things I have only seen in pictures, taste food I would have been scared of five years ago. Fun fact about me, I really enjoy eating for a rather skinny man. Bryant is giving me the tools and opportunity to do something exciting, exotic, and even a bit crazy, and I would be a fool not to take it. I will horribly miss my friends, professors, workforce in the undergraduate admissions office, family, as well as Bryant University in its entirety, but this is something I have to experience. I hope that you as the reader of this blog will follow me through my adventures of studying in China; an adventure I am calling “Fifteen Hours Away”.

                The name taken from how long by plane it will take from America to China…it seemed plenty clever to me.