First Week at Peking University: Unfiltered Thoughts | LifeinChina ep 4

Summary

In this candid video, the creator shares their first week of studying abroad at Peking University, China, during the Moon Festival break. They discuss the challenges of learning chemistry and math in a non-native language, the time-consuming nature of lab reports, and the struggle to keep up with native Chinese speakers. Despite feeling overwhelmed and tired, they remain hopeful about adjusting to the rigorous academic environment and look forward to sharing more about their international student experience.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker is a student at Peking University in China.
• 🌕 They are experiencing a 3-day break due to the Moon Festival but had to attend classes on Saturday.
• 📝 They have a lot of homework and assignments to catch up on, especially in chemistry.
• 🧪 The chemistry lab is time-consuming, involving pre-lab reports, experiments, and unfamiliar Chinese chemistry terms.
• 📈 Math is the most challenging subject, with a focus on proving concepts rather than just solving problems.
• 📱 The student uses an iPad and the Notes app for note-taking to avoid carrying physical notebooks.
• 📅 They have a busy schedule, with classes from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on some days.
• 📉 The student feels overwhelmed and tired, struggling to keep up with the pace of studies.
• 🤝 Despite the challenges, they have made friends and are hopeful about their experience.
• 🎥 The student plans to edit and share vlogs about their life as an international student at Peking University.

Q & A

How long has the student been in school before the video was filmed?

The student has been in school for about one week before the video was filmed.

What is the reason for the 3-day break mentioned in the video?

The 3-day break is due to the Moon Festival.

Why did the student have to attend school on Saturday?

The student had to attend school on Saturday to make up for the classes they would miss on Monday.

What is the most time-consuming task the student is dealing with?

The most time-consuming task is the chemistry lab that includes pre-lab, lab report, and answering final questions.

What is the main challenge the student faces in chemistry lab?

The main challenge is unfamiliarity with Chinese terms for chemistry and lab materials.

What is the student's previous experience with math?

The student has taken calculus, AP Calculus, and IB math analysis HL from 11th and 12th grade in the US.

What is the difficulty level of the math course the student is taking in China?

The math course is more difficult than what the student has experienced before, requiring proofs and understanding of concepts like limits and epsilon-delta proofs.

What tools is the student using to assist with their studies?

The student is using an iPad with a free notes app and a traditional planner to keep organized.

How does the student feel about their current academic performance?

The student feels drained and tired, struggling to keep up with the academic workload, especially in math.

What is the student's goal regarding their classes?

The student's goal is not to fail any classes, as failing is quite common even for mainland students at Peking University.

What does the student plan to do with their vlogs?

The student plans to edit and publish their vlogs to show what life is like for international students at Peking University.