Useful Links

Shanghai Waves Announcements

August 25, 2008: I've reposted the "Why Shanghai?" Video Promo here. If you're a new student that is looking into the Shanghai program, or an old student wanting to get warm fuzzy feelings about the city before you arrive, or if you're an old, fuzzy person in general - then this video is for you.

August 24, 2008: Check back soon for a 'last minute things to pack' blog - you might want to pick up a few of these items before coming over!

Program Blog

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Important! Applying for your VISA


This is some important information regarding your visa application. First of all, if you haven't received your visa application materials (namely, a letter of admission from Fudan University and a required accompanying form) then please contact the IP office to get these materials immediately. Second, if you're not starting to work on applying for your visa, you should start now; it is far better to get it early than too late. Visas can be a little complicated and unpredictable, so don't wait until the last minute in case there are issues to take care of!

There are a few other important things to mention however:
1) BEFORE you do apply for your visa, however, I need to point out that your admission letter from Fudan needs to be signed and dated by you. Please see the image accompanying this blog, and sign/date the letter where it indicates. I'm also going to be emailing all of you about this specifically, but I wanted to post this here as another reminder.

2) If you can read Chinese (then good for you!) you'll notice that the application form mentions needing to have a physical exam accompanying your visa application. This is a little complicated, but the important information for now regarding this is that you DO NOT need to get an exam for this particular visa application.

If you are only studying in Shanghai for the semester, you won't have to get an exam at all; it is only required if you are studying in China longer than 6 months. HOWEVER, if you are studying for two semesters, a physical exam will probably be required when we renew your visa in China. If there is a way we can work around this, we will, but if not, it is something everyone staying for the year will have to do, and if that's the case, we'll make a big group trip to the hospital in Shanghai to get it done. The advantage of doing it in China, however, is that it saves you the hassle of having to get the exam certified in the US before submitting it with your visa application. I know this might be a little complicated, but again - for now, all you need to know is that you DO NOT need to get a physical exam or blood test done while applying for this visa.

3) Regarding the same issue as above, if asked by the consulate when applying for the visa, you should tell them that you are studying in Shanghai from September-December (the same dates noted on the admission letter from Fudan). Again, technically, you are admitted by Fudan for two terms of 3.5 months; you'll extend your visa once here, but if you say you are studying for a year, this will be in conflict with the admission letter you have, and may require a different letter and a comprehensive physical examination PRIOR to leaving.

4) Finally, once you get your visa, please email us and let us know what the details of your visa are; ie, if you get a multiple entry visa, etc. Some regional consulates may have slightly differing policies regarding this; ultimately, you should get a multiple entry visa (especially if you're only here for the semester), but if you're staying for both semesters, once you're here and get your visa renewed, we'll be able to make sure it is valid for multiple entries. Because of the Olympics, visa policies have been increasingly conservative in the short-term to make sure that tourists don't 'overstay' their visit and just stay in China - each individual consulate has ultimate authority to decide what type of visa to grant or deny though. This will relax post-Olympics, but in the meantime, don't panic if you aren't given a multiple entry visa the first time when applying.

If you have any questions or problems, PLEASE feel free to contact us. Above all, make sure you are on top of your visa application - it is your responsibility to get this done, and without a visa, your studies in Shanghai will look a lot like Malibu (because that's where you'll be)!

posted by Chris at 11:17 PM 0 Comments

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Down & Back Up, and Other Random Updates
Well, for those of you that fervently check for updates, the site was down for a little over 24 hours yesterday. As much as I'd love to say it was because of some vast governmental conspiracy to use the Great Firewall of China to keep me from disseminating information to you... it wasn't. Just a problem with the server (which is in the US). I wouldn't even mention it, but we got some emails and calls - so now you have the whole story.

A few other updates: I had an email awhile back from Cliff Champion asking if I could give any more information about the facility, such as where people will be living, what kind of stuff will be inside, etc. I'm posting my response here so you can see it too.

"Thanks for the email - hope your summer is going well. I'll maybe write a bit more about some of this stuff in the next blog - but some of the more specific details, I think we're going to keep under wraps until you guys get here. I don't know yet. Really, when you guys arrive, you'll be the first Pepperdine people other than us to see the 'finished' facility - so it's kind of a special deal.

What I can tell you - and which I'll mention publically on the blog, but you can hear first since you asked - is that there is a full kitchen that all the students can use, a large student lounge that will have a more-than-comfortable TV/entertainment system, a separate laundry room, several places that will have computer stations, rather than a single computer lab, and that students will be living in each of the three buildings - there are basically 3 living 'areas' between the buildings. There will even be furniture in the rooms (that's a joke, by the way). We'll also have wireless internet throughout the buildings, and a library-ish room that sort of doubles with a reception area and some of the computer stations. I can also say there will be some extensive changes to the 'garden' in the middle of the property. What I probably won't release until everyone arrives - or at least until much closer until you arrive - is the exact layout of the buildings and some of the specific renovation plans, or where guys/girls living areas will be exactly... we have to keep something a surprise!

Either way, I am very confident it's going to be great for our needs - there will, of course, be kinks to work out, and we'll be depending on all of you to tell us what does and doesn't work for future years, but overall, it should be great.

Hope that satisfies some of the curiosity. Get ready to eat lots of Chinese food!"

As an additional side note, we officially moved into our offices in the Jia two weeks ago. Renovations began shortly after that, and are moving along very quickly. On any given day we have about 40 guys smashing walls, and digging up garden plants, and generally making what looks like a set for 'Saving Private Ryan' in the driveway. Even though the Jia was in great shape already, the changes we're making will make a big difference (especially in your ability to take showers).

Hope all is well with your summers, whatever you may be doing - if you have any questions that come up, don't hesitate to get in touch with me via the contact page!

posted by Chris at 4:55 PM 0 Comments