Dear Westridge China Trip Participants,

Hi! My name is Lin Fu and I will be one of the Global LAB program directors for your trip. Since we won't be meeting face to face until our departure date, I want to take this chance to introduce myself to all of you.

I graduated from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in May 2006 with a degree in International Economics, concentrating on economic growth, transition, and development. After graduation, I spent about six months in East Asia, traveling around China and then studying cross-strait relations and Taiwanese political economy in Taiwan on a Georgetown-National Chengchi University China Studies Fellowship. I am currently a project management consultant within IBM's Global Business Services division, a position I started after getting back to the States in January of last year.

Growing up, I spent most of my summers in China. I'm of Chinese descent and have many relatives there. At the risk of sounding like a tourism pamphlet, I'll say that China –as a rapidly developing country– offers a fascinating juxtaposition of the traditional and the modern. Our itinerary in Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai will serve to underscore this point and will give you a taste of what China is like today. I know you will enjoy our 12 days there.

If I had to give just once piece of advice, it would be to keep an open mind and have fun! I can't wait to meet everyone.

Lin

Posted by Global LAB at 12:13 AM | Permalink

Hi everyone. This is Cliff Emmanuel, one of your Global LAB Co-Directors. This trip marks my sixth visit to China, and my second time leading a group of high school students to the country. Like most of you, my “China experience” begins in high school, with a trip to South and West China during my sophomore summer. I went on to study social science research at Harvard and was able to return to China during my undergraduate studies – first as a study abroad student in Beijing and later as a volunteer/research project leader in rural southeast China. Following my graduation I returned to Beijing, where I studied at Peking University on a fellowship from Harvard and interned at the United Nations Development Programme.

I am currently researching Asian regional environmental initiatives at the Asia Society in my hometown, New York. This summer I will join the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company as a business analyst, where I plan to focus on improving the energy infrastructure in East Asia.

In my spare time, I enjoy photography, cycling, and basketball, but my true passion is traveling and making new friends around the world. I’m very excited to be returning to China with all of you, and am looking forward to introducing you to a place and people that I’ve come to love over the years.

Cliff

Posted by Global LAB at 12:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Michelle at the Amber Fort, near Jaipur, India (Photo credit: Misha Clasby)

Dear Westridge School China Program Participants:

I began studying Chinese in preparation for a move to Taiwan with my family when I was twelve years old. I had no idea then how much time in Asia would direct the rest of my life. I have now been speaking Mandarin and spending time in Asia for almost thirty years. After graduating from high school in Taipei, I spent a year studying at Fudan University in Shanghai, China. My graduate work was done in the field of International Education, with my field work focused on the plight of Tibetan refugees.

Continue reading "Greetings from Michelle Bos-Lun, Director of China Programs" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 9:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Lin and Cliff called to report that the Westridge group arrived in Beijing
and checked into their hotel. They had an interesting visit to the Lama
Temple and got to see the Olympic "Bird's Nest" site in the afternoon.
There should be more information coming later today about their first
day's adventures.

Note: Friends and family of the Westridge China group are encouraged to
check back on the blog frequently over the next 10 days as there should be
plenty of exciting updates and pictures.

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 4:16 AM | Permalink

Touring the Lama Temple

After a short layover in Seoul, we arrived in Beijing this morning, a little
bit tired, but very excited. There were some itinerary changes, so we ended
up visiting the Lama Temple as well as the site for the 2008 Olympics.
Located in the northeastern part of Beijing, the Lama Temple is a Tibetan
Buddhist temple and monastery that is known for its combination of Han
Chinese and Tibetan styles of architecture and artwork.

Continue reading "Day 1: Sunday, March 16" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 4:18 AM | Permalink

Day 1 Mar 15, 2008 Saturday: Depart LAX

Day 2 Mar 16 Sunday: Arrive in Beijing

Morning: Meet local guides at the Beijing International Airport. Global LAB leaders will lead the group in orientation activities including familiarization with Chinese history and culture as well as reminders of group and individual behavioral guidelines for health and safety.

Afternoon: Visit the Lama Temple, the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibet and see Olympic sites.

The Lama Temple also known as the "Palace of Peace and Harmony Lama Temple", or the "Yonghe Lamasery”, is a temple and monastery of the Geluk School of Tibetan Buddhism located in the northeastern part of Beijing. It is one of the largest Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the world, though many of the monks are Inner Mongolian and ethnicities other than Tibetan. The building and the artworks of the temple combine Han Chinese and Tibetan styles. Students will be encouraged to meet and talk with monks at the temple.

The students will see some of the venues for this summer’s Olympic Games including the new National Stadium (commonly referred to as the Bird’s Nest) and National Aquatics Center.

Continue reading "Revised Itinerary" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 12:32 PM | Permalink

*What did you like most about our activities today?*

Jessica: I really like the Peking opera performance. It wasn't what I was
expecting; it was really cool, especially the acrobatics.

Shaina: I liked the detail of the Forbidden City and the bargaining at the
Silk Market.

Katia: I won't ever give a clock to anyone as a hostess gift. (Note: After
visiting the Hall of Clocks in the Forbidden City, the group learned that in
Chinese culture, one should never give a clock as a gift because clocks
symbolize death and thus would bring bad luck to the receiver.)

Continue reading "Day 2: Monday, March 17: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Peking Opera" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 3:29 AM | Permalink

On the Great Wall

Jessica: I didn't know how I would react being on the Great Wall of China. I
loved it. It was so incredible to see how far I'd walked.

Shelby: What really left an impression was what we saw outside our windows
on our ride to the Great Wall to China. You could see how people live.
And, a lot of buildings here are older than our country. It's weird to see
that.

Continue reading "Day 3, Tuesday, March 18: Great Wall, Beijing Opera, Ming Tombs" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 7:27 PM | Permalink

Beijing locals practicing traditional ribbon dance

Continue reading "Day 4, Wednesday, March 19: Taichi Lessons, Temple of Heaven, and Beijing Zoo" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 5:10 PM | Permalink

Shelby, Amanda, and Katia learn a new dance from their enthusiastic teacher

Continue reading "Day 5, Thursday, March 20: Zhenghua Tourism School" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 12:56 PM | Permalink

Misty morning over Beijing's Back Lake

Continue reading "Day 6, Friday, March 21" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 12:57 PM | Permalink

Continue reading "Day 7, Saturday, March 22" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 11:11 PM | Permalink

The group in front of the Terracotta Warriors Museum

Continue reading "Day 8, Sunday, March 23" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 11:12 PM | Permalink

Hannah: Before visiting the Lama Temple, I had always been interested in
Buddhist religion and philosophy, but now after seeing the temple, I realize
what a huge impact the Buddhist faith has had on this country and this
culture. When I get back home, I'm definitely going to continue researching
Buddhist ideas and implementing certain aspects of the religion into my own
life.

Noura: The Olympic training school we visited was really cool. The kids
doing wushu (Chinese martial arts) was really incredible.

Jessica: Seeing the gymnasts [at the Shichahai Sports Academy] was really
sad. It made me so sad to see that little girl, who was so young and so
talented, crying because her foot was hurt.

Continue reading "March 23: Reflections from the Last Few Days" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 11:12 PM | Permalink

Construction on China's tallest building-the Shanghai World Financial Center

Continue reading "Day 9, Monday, March 24" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 3:53 AM | Permalink

The group traveled by train to Xi'an, arriving the morning of Saturday, March 22nd. As trains are still the most popular form of traveling in China, our overnight train ride was a worthwhile experience for the group to have. On our first day in Xi'an, we visited Great Mosque of Xi'an, the Shaanxi Historical Museum, and the Wild Goose Pagoda. That night, we enjoyed a relaxing hotpot dinner at our hotel. The next day, we visited the Bell Tower, the Terracotta Warriors, and then biked around the old city walls.

Continue reading "Lin's Recap of Xi'an and Shanghai" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 3:53 AM | Permalink

Wow!! The history we encountered. This makes me realize just how young America is and also makes me sad because we encouraged or insisted that folks "blend in" and not hold onto their cultures when they came here. I mentioned this to several of the students as we approached the Forbidden City. Everytime I experience a People in their original environment, not within the restrictions put on them by American Society, I learn a lot. It usually is a humbling experience as I have to contend with not knowing the language or the customs and just hoping to be accepted and being allowed to be an observer.

Continue reading "Some thoughts from Dr. Shannon" »

Posted by Aaron Bos-Lun at 3:46 PM | Permalink