Seeking summer adventures abroad! Advice?

[AmeriFox]

Hello All. I have been surfing this web site for a long time and finally joined! Yay!

Anyways, as I have never left my home country before I am a little confused about what I need to do to go abroad (not to mention a tiny bit intimidated). I've had a major case of wanderlust for years now but have had my 'grand escape' thwarted many times and this summer I am hell bent determaned to get out of the United States and experiance a taste of the world. Even if it's just a tiny piece of it.

My school's entire Asian studies department consists of only about three teachers. Pitifull I know. So, if I want to go abroad, I'm on my own. About three or four people a year get sent to Fudan but they are ALWAYS international business. ALWAYS. A poor anthropologist like me doesn't stand a chance.

So any advice for the solo American? I have three months free and my Chinese is well... laughable. I love the language but have only been 'officially' studying it for four weeks. I've got numbers down solid. I've been counting in Chinese in my sleep I know about 50 characters so far Sad I know but I only started 3 weeks ago and I'm doing this in my spare time mostly. I do take a Chinese Anthropology class where we learn 10-15 characters a week but it's not a language class. No practical language instruction included.

What are some schools or programs that someone with almost no experiance in Chinese might thrive in? Hoping to have an adventure, learn some stuff, and meet some people while seeing just a tiny bit of the world.

Thanks for listening!

AmeriFox