Information for Parents
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We are excited that your son or daughter has expressed interest in the Peking University-Yale University Joint Undergraduate Program. Studying abroad is an opportunity for undergraduate students to gain exposure to new places and cultures through which they not only learn about the world around them, but about themselves as well. Beijing can be both an exciting and challenging city. Therefore, the PKU-Yale staff is committed to providing students with guidance and resources to address the special needs of living and learning in a new culture. On this page, we hope to anticipate and address parents’ questions and concerns specific to the PKU-Yale program. We will also direct you to places to find more information. For resources concerning study abroad in general please see the Center for International Experience Predeparture Web page. Yale's Networks of SupportAlthough students may leave Yale’s campus on a term abroad, they continue to benefit from Yale’s networks of support. The PKU-Yale Program’s staff of educators and administrators in Beijing has experience working with students overseas. They are fluent in Mandarin and very familiar with China and Beijing. Students have 24-hour access to the staff; offices are a short walk from the dorm; the program provides students with local cell phones so they can call an administrator at any time. The staff also relies on a strong network of medical providers, travel resources, and contacts at PKU and around the city to enrich the participating students’ time in China. Enrichment Opportunities in ChinaFor example, the program encourages students to participate in Smiling Library book trips, which travel to schools in rural areas to donate books. The PKU-Yale Program strives not only to provide for students basic needs, but also cultivate an exciting intellectual and cultural environment. Some of these opportunities include: Culture ShockAlthough it manifests itself in different ways, culture shock is an issue that affects anyone living in a new environment. Learning to navigate the vicissitudes of a new culture can be thrilling at times and stressful at others. It is natural to experience frustration, homesickness, fatigue, and other emotional or physical responses associated with culture shock. Parents can expect their children to have varied responses to these new pressures. Phone calls and e-mails to your child are encouraged, but please keep in mind that excessive communication with friends and family from home can cause students to retreat from the new culture, ultimately hampering the adjustment process. Also, if students ever need on-site help dealing with these issues, the PKU-Yale staff has access to counselors and other medical providers. For more on mental health resources please see our Health and Safety page. Surprisingly, returning to the US can also trigger a form of reverse culture shock. Study abroad can be a fun, eye-opening experience that often prompts much reflection. Upon returning home, students may miss their life abroad, or feel distanced from home. Ultimately, most students learn to fit their study abroad experiences into the context of their life at home and can find that it often enriches their academic choices. Program CommunicationWe know that parents are often involved in many aspects of their children’s lives and believe students benefit from having interested and supportive parents. However, as is the case with most Yale departments, the bulk of communication is directed to the participating student. We would like to treat Yale students as young adults and are confident in their ability to process and respond to the information we provide. (And we hope they will share it with their parents!) We are excited to be a part of your child’s study abroad experience. If you have any questions please call our On-Campus coordinator Amy Weber at (203) 432-8685. |
Program Resources |
