Teacher-Chaperone+Info

Welcome to the Sharon China Exchange Wiki!
Please check out the links on the right for more information. toc

I’m thinking of applying to be a China Exchange chaperone. Am I crazy?
Perhaps, but not because you want to go to China. This trip is a special opportunity to do more than visit China. You will get to live in China and get to know its people, customs and schools. You will experience China as very few Americans have.

Sounds good so far, but I do get to do some visiting, right?
Of course. The exchange starts with 3 days in Beijing and ends with 3 days in Shanghai. While in those cities you will see the sites (Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Bund, the Expo Center) you will be given tours/lessons on jade, tea and silk, you will eat well and stay at fancy hotels.

OK, but what happens in between?
You’ll live in Xi’an and work at the Gaoxin Tangnan School.

Any sites worth seeing there?
How about an ancient city wall, the start (or end) of the Silk Road, and those Terra Cotta warriors you may have heard about.

Where will I live?
The school has a small dormitory for teachers and some middle schoolers (different floor and very quiet). You will have your own room. The room has its own bathroom, microwave, hot and cold water dispenser, hot pot, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, water heater, internet connection and there’s a bed, desk and closet. There’s a TV but the channel selection is limited.

How about food?
The school will give you three meals a day. There is a cafeteria downstairs for all three meals and one in the classroom building for lunch. The food consists of typical fair that includes dumplings, noodles, many stir fried fresh vegetables and meats. The school will provide you with a meal card that will be more than ample for these meals. There is also a local supermarket at which you can get yogurt, cereal, ducks, peanut butter, dumplings, crabs, chocolate, tea, soda and red bean ice cream. You can also buy clothes, toiletries, electronics, jewelry, and just about anything else there. It is a large supermarket. Do bring you own bags, they charge for those.

But what If I get a craving for some other food?
While there are no White Castles in China, you can find McDonald's, Subway, KFC, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut, Haagen Daz, and Starbucks near the school. But, hey, you’re in China. Why do you want to go to these places?

By “some other food” I meant other Chinese foods.
Oh. They have plenty of that too. There are street vendors selling just about everything (and I do mean everything) as well as many restaurants in the vicinity. Food in Xi’an is a bit different than the Chinese food we get here because it is not Cantonese. The emphasis is on noodles and dumplings, not rice. And, there is a strong Central Asian Muslim influence so you get lots of roasted, spicy meats. There is also a Mongolian influence exhibited in hot pot (i.e. Shabu, here). Seriously, the food is amazing. And if you do seek more familiar fare, there is a “western” style hotel and restaurant near the school. Oh, and there is an Italian restaurant too!

Umm, do I have to go to these places alone?
Perhaps, but you’ll make many friends among the staff at the school. You’ll certainly get invited to visit your colleagues’ homes and take a trip or two on the weekends. In addition you will meet Richard, our travel agent in China who will take you out for a couple of dinners. Finally, there will be the teacher from Brookline who will probably be an important companion.

Speaking of home, how will I keep in contact?
You will be able to use the internet for email but not Facebook, and you can Skype if you have a computer with a camera. WiFi is scarce (except at Starbucks) but your room, office and classroom are all wired.

Who will take care of me?
Each year the school appoints a teacher whose sole job is to take care of you and your students. In 2010 the job belonged to Sally who many of us met when she came here in the fall. This teacher will set up the home stays, student schedules, weekend outings for the group and will act as your liaison and translator to the administration.

Sounds good so far. Now about the kids…
Yes, the students are the reason you are there. You will be acting “in loco parentis”. That means that you are responsible (with help from their hosts) for their health and safety. Some of your responsibilities will include making sure they all come back, making sure they get their SHS homework done, making sure they are good students in China, assessing their work for the China Exchange @Curriculum, chaperoning weekend activities and, most of all, making sure they all come back.

Do I have any duties leading up to the trip?
Yes, you’ll certainly want to be on the committee to select the students. Once we have our cohort, you will meet with them during Eagle block (once a cycle) and after school to plan their curriculum, plan the gifts, plan the performance and get to know them. We’ll also have meetings with the parents. In addition, you’ll be encouraged to spend time with the Chinese teacher and students who visit us in the fall. That will include an opportunity to spend a weekend in New York City, all expenses paid.

What if one of the kids gets sick?
There is a small medical staff at the school that can help with simple things like stomach aches and sprained ankles. If something more serious arises, you, your liaison and their host parents will take them to the doctor or hospital. We will have insurance for each person. So far we have been very lucky in this regard.

What if an emergency develops? Will I have any money?
Yes, you will have traveler’s checks or a debit card for times you need to spend money for the group. You’ll have to keep records and keep receipts. That’s almost as important as making sure all the kids come back.

What do I do while the kids are in class?
Most likely you will post their journals, do your own writing, post pictures, visit classes, talk shop with the Chinese teachers, explain the two party political system or the Electoral College if you are ambitious. It can be quite interesting.

I’ve heard there are banquets…
At least two major banquets (and probably three) will be held in your honor. At the first you will exchange gifts with the school leaders as they welcome you. At the last you will say a tearful goodbye to your new friends. At both you can expect to make a small speech. If you are lucky you may get to eat as much Peking duck as you can imagine at one of these. And jellyfish.

Any other speeches?
Yes, the entire school will assemble to greet you on the second day. A few days after that, various students (including those from SHS) will put on performances for their Sophomore class. At both you’ll do some public speaking.

How about gifts?
You should expect to bring some personal gifts to the school leaders and your liaison. They will most likely reciprocate with lavish riches from the east. In addition, the students and you will bring some gifts to their school. The China exchange program will pay for these.

Can I expect to buy treasures for my friends?
Absolutely. You will be able to buy jade, silk, tea, pearls, artwork and trinkets. Just be careful what you buy from street vendors. On the other hand, bargaining with the street vendors for a knock off Rolex or Tommy Hilfiger underwear is fun.

What happens to my classes?
The administration will hire your colleagues and/or substitutes that will teach your classes. You will be able to direct the curriculum before you go and from China as you see fit.

What about money?
All air and hotel expenses are paid by the program. The school provides the three meals. Should you want to buy food for your room, go to Haagen Daz (it costs a fortune!) or buy souvenirs, that cost is yours. You will receive your full pay for the time you are in China. There is no additional stipend.

Do I need to speak Chinese?
I'm sure it would help but you can do quite well without it. There are English teachers at the school who will want to speak English with you and want to you explain our language's idiosyncrasies. The liaison teacher is a big help. Stores have signs and people who speak a little English. Everyone wants to help you no matter the language barrier. And expect people to approach you so they can practice their English. You can meet many people just sitting outside at Starbucks.

What about a visa, a passport, flight info, immunizations and other stuff about being in China?
Relax, there's plenty of time for the details. However, you can check the links at the bottom of the page and the Going to China FAQs page for more info.

OK, so how do I apply?
You can download an application by clicking the link below (or at the top of the page). Please complete it and return it to Jim Dixon or Kristina Dahlen by May 27. After that, we’ll have interviews and the committee (most likely Jim, Kristina, and an administrator) will make a decision. Please see Jim with any questions.



The 2010 trip:
Here is the blog that we kept during our 49 days in China. 49 days, 40 entries, not bad. China Exchange 2010 Blog

For both of these links, you'll have to register for the site. Please let me know if these links don't work. 2010 photo album on Snapfish [|2010 video album] On Flip Video

Information for travelers:
[|State Department info on China] Xi'an travel info CDC travel info for China [|China health info] The US Travel Security Administration US Embassy in Beijing China electricity adapters What to eat in Xi'an

China News:
China Daily China.org