My Year Abroad at UC Berkeley

My Year Abroad at UC Berkeley

930408 Jessica Jou

Often, the first question asked of me when I returned from studying abroad was, “Did you gain any weight? Aren’t you so sick of fast food? I think your face is a tad rounder.” Patiently, I usually replied with a smile and a polite, “I don’t think I have, no.” But what I desperately wanted to say was, “There is a lot more to hamburgers, pizza, and French fries at Berkeley.” It was an extraordinary journey and I will tell you about it.

First of all, I would like to give my greatest thanks to the NTHU Division of International and Continuing Education and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company for offering this extraordinary opportunity. I would also like to thank Kuo-Hua Huang, who also studied at Berkeley a few years ago, and the Dean of the Life Science department Professor Lu for offering very useful and valuable information. Without their help, the application process would never have been so smooth.

The program I enrolled in at UCB is called International Concurrent Enrollment. The application process involves filling out an application form online and a letter of recommendation from a professor who will supervise your studies during that year. To obtain this letter, I sent emails to Professor Mu-Ming Poo, who I am extremely thankful for accommodating me in his laboratory and supervising my research throughout the year. In the email, I introduced myself and gave a brief summary of what I wished to accomplish in his lab the coming year. After some correspondence and getting acquainted, I was accepted into his laboratory as a research assistant. Once these were obtained and the application had gone through, I started looking for housing and discussed the course selection with the Dean to make sure the credits were transferable. Before I knew it, I was on the plane to sunny California.

UC Berkeley is a very eclectic place. During my first semester, I stayed at the International House where more than three quarters of the residents come from foreign countries. In addition to the many programs already planned by the staff, the international students also manage to accommodate their own customs and celebrations into the culture of the I-House. Each week during Coffee Hour, a different country would be responsible for presenting the House with food, music, and a brief introduction of the where they are from. In addition, residents also abide to a strict meal plan only available at the I-House where we have most of our meals together. With the unspoken policy being to sit wherever there is space, all residents dine with fellow residents who come from all over the globe! During the first semester, this was an ideal place to meet many people, exercise globalization, and have fun! Yet after a semester, I decided to move to a quieter apartment for a different view of student life at Berkeley.

Most people associate UC Berkeley with excellent staff and research institutes, which I quickly realized was very close to the truth. Each semester I enrolled in three major classes and a four-credit laboratory research. Immediately, I realized how competitive the classes were, especially with the pre-med students who were very passionate in their studies. In addition to classes, professors and teaching assistants offered office hours to supplement their very well organized classes. Studying at UCB always composed of very detailed notes taken in class, additional material given by the TAs, and Blacklightning Notes which are notes taken by professional note takers who transcribe every word the professors utter. This complete package ensures a most thorough and exhaustive learning experience. In addition, discussions held during office hours were always very lively where the professors are showered with very creative questions. Passionate students definitely pushed their fellow peers to do the same. In fact, it gets to a point where during finals, the libraries are so packed and crowded that student actually camp out in order to reserve their seats. Other than their backpacks and textbooks, you may often see students carrying a sleeping bag and a toothbrush to the library. After classes, I spent most of my time working in Professor Poo’s Neuroscience laboratory where I worked with an Italian post doc on rats. I embarked on an individual research project where I had to conduct surgeries, transfusions, and operate the confocal microscopes. I am extremely thankful to Professor Poo for his intelligent suggestions and an opportunity to work with the greatest in the field.

Besides academics, what you’ll have to experience on your own is the diversity of the population at Berkeley where embedded within a very large population of extremely hard-working students are free-lance artists, homeless beggars, and alien individuals. Some ask for money, deliver passionate orations on politics, freedom, or express their musical talent with guitars, African trumpets, or even trash bins. The Cal Performances program on campus is also an amazing opportunity to see Russian ballets, the Chinese Peony Pavilion, and even Yo-Yo Ma where students can purchase rush tickets for only $10! As if this weren’t enough, San Francisco is just a half hour BART ride away. On certain weekends, my friends and I would spend whole days exploring the city on foot, whether it be shopping on Powell Street, going to the Museum of Modern Art, the SF Symphony or just sightseeing. Other weekends, many of us get together in study groups to review and discuss the week’s material or just to wind down and relax.

Words alone could never explain the impact this year has had on me. Not only did I learn to juggle every day necessities such as cooking, cleaning, and administrative errands, I also had to learn to adjust to different studying habits, becoming more initiative when asking questions, and even becoming more open-minded in the brink of so much diversity. I believe this is a very valuable opportunity in which only NTHU students are privileged to apply. It has been a great year and if anyone should have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me!