HHS Center

I had the most amazing time in China. The family I lived with was great and so was HHS in supporting me in what I did. The language classes were really helpful and soon enabled me to communicate with my Chinese family without any problems. I am so glad I took part in this program and I feel I learned so much about the fascinating culture of China by living in a Chinese familiy for a longer time.

I stayed in Beijing for six months, taking care of a little boy as part of the Au Pair Program. It was a unique and changing experience for me. My host family are the nicest people, helped me with all my problems and accepted my fully into their family. I did not feel like a foreigner at all, I felt like part of the family and can only thank HHS for realizing this opportunity. The staff was friendly and helpful from the first contact, helped me through the application progress and found the perfect family match for me. I still remember how I came to the office for the first time and was greeted in the most welcoming and friendly way. I also remember how Deborah ordered more food than two people could have ever eaten :) I studied three years Chinese in school and though I only stayed for half a year my Chinese improved well. I am taking classes at university now and having encountered China and Chinese before helps a great deal with understanding and making others understand. I fell in love with China, Beijing, my Host Family, the food....a lot is written about China, but I can only advise you to go and make your own experiences and HHS is certainly one of the best ways to go!

I have found my internship in Shanghai to be a rewarding experience. All aspects of this programme, from the company I am working at to the service offered by HHS has been highly satisfactory. My colleagues have all been exceedingly welcoming and helpful to me. My manager, Macy Zhu, has been especially helpful and made my time at CNBM both productive and enjoyable. Macy has assigned me with tasks that have been both challenging and interesting. I have been able to develop a range of new skills which could not have been gained in a university environment.

Living and working in Beijing has been a truly incredible experience. It’s been a perfect mix of challenges, opportunities, and new insights that have immersed me into Chinese culture and the global work environment. The services and support I’ve received from the HHS Program have been exceptional. Everything concerning my preparation to my transition and accommodation were taken care of and handled smoothly. Whether it was helping me with my visa, or helping me find Mandarin lessons, the people at HHS were always very helpful, kind and reliable. Through their continued guidance and support, I have been able to adapt well and took advantage of an opportunity to extend my stay and working contract in Beijing. I would highly recommend the HHS Program to any one looking to gain international experience in China, as it has been the most valuable experience for both my personal and professional growth.

I found the orientation very helpful. Being able to meet HHS staff and speak individual was great. Also learning about the different elements in Chinese culture and the work place has been helpful. For my accommodation, I think that it is great. The apartment is very nice. Everyone who lives there is very helpful and wants me to be safe and have a good time while in Beijing. In general, everyone that I have met from HHS center have been extremely nice and more than helpful. I really appreciate it and am excited for the next few months.

Senior at Macalester College graduating in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and minors in Legal studies and Hispanic studies. This summer, after having spent the spring semester studying abroad at Peking University, I decided to stay in Beijing. The HHS Center, very quickly, found me an internship with a respected law firm. I am currently interning at a law firm called NTD specializing in the field of intellectual property. It has offices all over but I am working at the one located in the financial district of Beijing, a very newly developed area with lots of office buildings and restaurants. I think intellectual property law is an interesting field of law in which to work in China. Because China does not have a complete law system; hence, you can witness the legal developments and improvements that China has been undertaking. China introduced a modern Intellectual property system in the 1980s and in 1985 the Patent Law was implemented. In 1987, NTD was one of the 4 firms chosen by the government to represent both international and domestic clients in the area of intellectual property. Hence, NTD is an old player in a fairly new field of law in China. My internship is very interesting because I get to help out with infringement cases and investigations. I have already used my fluency in French to help out with a case by translating documents into English. My Chinese co-workers are great! They have made my internship experience thus far very worthwhile. I’ve learned a lot from talking to them over lunch dates and meetings. We exchange our cultural values and impressions; we discuss our opinions on politics in both the U.S. and China, the CCP, the education system, the economy, problems concerning employment and unaffordable housing in Beijing. I’ve even gone out with my coworkers to the Beijing Zoo and they are always inviting me to come over to their house for dinner or to teach me how to cook Chinese food. They are a great example of the friendly nature of Chinese people. Chinese people are curious about laowai, (foreigners), and genuinely care about what you have to say. My boss, although busy, has also taken the time to make sure that I feel comfortable at NTD and have the most rewarding and fulfilling time as an intern at their law firm. I could not have asked for a better boss and colleagues.

Days after applying for the program, I was contacted by an HHS Center staff person. She guided me through the process, and helped me find a wonderful host family. Everyone in HHS seems to care a lot about their program participants, they are friendly, helpful, and they are always here throughout the program if you need them. I am currently still serving in my program, and I couldn't have asked for any more of an experience. My host family is not only great, they are fun, and eager to learn of my culture, and I of theirs. Because of this program I have met people I thought I would never meet through my host family, and I've seen some very interesting things no tourist will ever get to see. Its like I've become part of the family here, my little brother and sister and very young, but it has been a good time for me to teach them english, and I learn chinese from them! There are many things to learn of the Chinese culture and even more of the people, so I highly recommend this program to anyone who really just wants to submerge themselves in the Chinese lifestyle. 3 Thumbs Up from me!