Student Tidbits

Whenever one travels, there are always those tidbits of information picked up that are most interesting. I have noted a few concerning the students during the past weeks and thought it was time to share.

Every October the campus has a blood drive and the Red Cross comes in to set up. Earlier this week, the long lines were in place for donating blood. Apparently, all students are required to donate blood once during their years at USST; it is part of their social commitment. The caveat is that students get three days off from classes when they do this. I don't know if students have to work around tests and such, but I do know that class attendance drops during late October. That just provides them with more time to play video games, which is...

One of the fastest growing addictions here, an addiction to video games among the young adults. This addiction begins at the university level as students have indicated that they didn't do this while in their other schooling. A measure to counter this is that electricity is turned off in the dorms at 11:30 in the evening. Apparently when this was first done, there was quite a student uprising. With no electricity that also means no studying. No wonder I still hear the sounds of them playing basketball in the middle of the night. But whether it is the basketball courts, the soccer fields, or the track, there are no outdoor lights. All are played in natural light or darkness. That is one way to save on the energy bill.

With a Communist government, support is provided the population at many levels. For students, the food costs related to their meals in the cafeteria are subsidized, which significantly lowers their cost. On a yearly basis, about 4000 yuan is spent by the students for food, about 700 yuan for books, 1200 yuan for the dorm, and about 20,000 yuan for tuitiion. Divide that by about 7 to convert to U.S. dollars. Though the food costs may be low, if you are not there when the food is put out, you will be eating it cold. There are no such things as warmers or refrigeration units. Food could be sitting out for three hours before the last ones eat. A metal tray filled with rice is provided, and the other items are personally selected. Each item has a cost and the cafeteria smart card is scanned after selections are made. I have eaten there twice (they have about five cafeterias) and they are not on my list of favorites.

Only $100 for textbooks for the year, what a deal! That may not even buy one book at home. But you must remember that most textbooks are copied as they don't believe in copyright protection; remember, what is yours, is theirs. The copied black-and-white textbook has a plain paperback cover and the cost must just cover the printing. There is nothing to brag about concerning dorm living either. Two bunk beds for four (maybe four feet between the beds) are placed in a small room with a desk and chair. The mattresses are about three inches thick, and I am sure just as comfortable as mine. Students often go to another building to take their communal showers. Add the clothes hanging around the room that are drying (remember there are no clothes dryers) and you have a nice cozy environment.

Students also have to take tests to determine which university they are allowed to go to. USST is considered a tier two university. Preference is given to Shanghai individuals before those outside the city. Those outside of Shanghai need to score higher on their exams in order to qualify. Students also have little freedom with the classes they must take. A cohort of students will follow through their four years, taking almost all of their classes together. They are envious of the freedom of choice that American students have.

There is a fitness area here on campus but it is a far cry from the Wellness Center at UND. I will post a photo later to share with you their technology in fitness equipment. They are very rudimentary in nature; the treadmill looks like one of those circular cages that mice run in. Running on top of the cage provides the treadmill. The stairmaster is also a pre-, pre-, prototype.

Witnessing life in this developing country provides a pull back to realism. For us, so much is taken for granted, and then the expectation is that we want more. For some students, all they talk about is coming to America to have opportunities and to live a lifestyle that we so boldly display. Is it so good that we flaunt our way of life and breed other materialistic cultures?