Going+to+China+FAQs

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The trip:
**1.** **Why should I go to China?** Because it will change your life! You’ll improve your Chinese skills and experience life in another country in a way that few people do. You’ll experience independence from your parents that will require more responsibility than you are used to. You will grow and mature. You will eat good food.

**2.** **What are the dates of the trip?** The trip usually runs from late March to Mid May. The 2011 trip will begin on March 25 and end on May 14. Times will be announced when they are available.

**3.** **What is the itinerary for the trip?** You’ll arrive in Beijing on Saturday March 26 and stay until Monday night March 28. After an overnight train to Xi’an, you’ll meet your hosts and stay in Xi’an until May 10 when you fly to Shanghai. You fly home on Saturday May 14.

**4.** **Did you just write “overnight train”? How will we sleep?** The overnight train has sleeper rooms. Each room has 4 berths, and a little table. Things do get crowded as you’ll have to keep your luggage with you. It’s actually great fun. In Beijing and Shanghai you’ll sleep in very fancy hotels. Each of you will have your own bed but there will be two people to each room.

**5.** **How much does the trip cost?** $3900 includes all transportation, tours of Beijing and Shanghai, visa, and insurance. Your fee also helps to pay the travel expenses for your teacher.

**6.** **Can you give us more detail on our time in Beijing and Shanghai?** Sure, here’s a link to the itinerary sent by Richard Wang our travel agent in China.

**7.** **What happens when we arrive in Xi’an?** People from the Tangnan School will pick you up at the train station and bring you to the school. You will meet your host parents and be taken “home”. Later that afternoon you will have a banquet lunch with Madame Jaio (the Superintendent) and then the tour the school and surrounding neighborhood. That evening (around 6:30) you will go home with your host sibling.

**8.** **Will I have to give a speech or perform?** Yes, you’ll have to introduce yourself to the whole school at morning meeting on your second or third day in Xi’an. You’ll have to say, in Chinese, your name, how glad you are to be there, and something you like or are looking forward to. You will have to give this little speech a couple of times. So memorize it. You will also have to perform a song at an assembly/talent show after a few days. Finally, one or two of you may read your goodbye essay, in Chinese, at the closing banquet.

Hosts and life in Xi’an:
**9.** **What will my host be like?** It will be awhile until you know your host, but you can expect your host sibling to be about your age, speak English well, work hard at school, and be an only child.

**10.** **What will my host’s home be like?** The hosts all live in apartment buildings. These are usually high rise complexes. You will have your own room and a western style toilet. The family will have a computer with an internet connection. You’ll find the apartment to be quite comfortable but you may be surprised by how small the kitchen is. There may be limits to the use of hot water. The apartments are within a walk or short bus ride of the school.

**11.** **Will I have to do the laundry?** Most likely, the host mother will do the laundry for you. However, don’t expect that each article of clothing will be washed after one wearing. Water is limited in Xi’an so everyone wears clothes a couple of times before washing. The same goes for showers; you may wear that dirt for a couple days. It is the norm there.

**12.** **What is a typical day in Xi’an like?** You will come to school with your host sibling each morning. You will take two classes with the Chinese students and then study Chinese language for two hours. You will have lunch in the school cafeteria and then learn about Chinese culture (dance, music, Tai Chi, cooking, calligraphy, art etc). You will also have time to work on your Sharon studies and some analysis/discussion of life in China with your teacher. Your host sibling will pick you up at about 6:30 for the trip home.

**13.** **What about weekends?** Some Friday afternoons you may have an outing to downtime Xi’an for dinner and shopping. But only if you are good! On most Saturdays, you will take trips with some of the Tangnan teachers. Most of these trips are to parks and museums. Generally, you will go to a restaurant for lunch but be home for dinner. You’ll spend Sundays with your host families. Xi'an travel info

**14.** **What’s the weather like?** Last year the group experienced snow and 70o in the span of 8 days. Beijing was cold but Shanghai was very hot. So, be prepared for a range of temps. Bring a rain jacket, though it didn’t rain much in Xi’an. Also, in Xi’an there are amazing wind storms that bring in sands (loess, to be exact) from the Gobi Desert.

**15.** **Will I be safe?** Without a doubt. Many students say they have never felt safer. On trips you will be accompanied by tour guides and teachers. You will travel to school and back with your host. Eventually, you will get comfortable enough to walk to a store from school or from home. You should be sure to carry a card with the school and home addresses in Chinese in case you want to take a taxi.

16. I**s it OK for me to drive while I’m in China.** Don’t be ridiculous and never ask that again.

**17.** **What if I get sick?** The question really shouldn’t be if, but when. Your immune system will have to do some adapting so you can expect to get stop and respiratory problems. These are normal for travelers to other parts of the world. When this happens, your Chinese hosts and teachers will offer you tea and Chinese herbs that will help. It isn’t easy to find ibuprofen, acetaminophen or other over the counter medicines that we use so bring your favorites with you. There is also a school doctor who can help with minor injuries (but don’t expect to find ice). If you have a more severe illness, there is a hospital very near the school. If you must go to the hospital, remember that you will have your Sharon teacher and a Tangnan teacher with you.

**18.** **How can I communicate with my loving parents while I’m in China?** The best way to communicate with parents, friends and relatives back home is through Skype (skype.com). You can make very inexpensive phone calls through skype over the internet. If your host has a webcam, you can see your wonderful parents and blow them kisses.

Food:
**19.** **What’s the food like?** Beijing and Xi’an are in the wheat growing area. Therefore, you can expect to eat a lot of noodles and dumplings. In Beijing (and Shanghai) you will be taken to tourist oriented restaurants. Beijing Duck is amazing. It’s even better at the second banquet in Xi’an (but don’t tell the people in Beijing that!) Xi’an also has a strong Muslim influence, so roast or BBQ lamb and beef are common. The food there can be quite hot. In Xi’an you should seek out Hot Pot, in which you make your own soup. There are many places to eat near the campus. These range from carts that serve breakfast (quite good) to fast food places like we have here. There is also a supermarket near the school if you want to pick up comfort foods (peanut butter, cereal, yogurt, jellyfish etc.). In Shanghai, the food is very similar to what you would get in a Chinese restaurant around here. What to eat in Xi'an

**20.** **What if I have a food allergy or dietary restrictions?** This is very difficult. You can certainly communicate that your host family and they will certainly comply. It will be much harder to eat in the restaurants and at school. The folks in China do not have the safety guidelines we do and they aren’t really aware of the food allergies that we can have. In addition, almost every dish contains a little meat, egg, and might have some nuts. You can let the server know this, but there can no guarantee that what you get will be safe. For instance, even if the waiter understands that you are allergic to peanuts, will the cook realize that applies to peanut oil? You may want your hosts to pack a lunch for you to bring to school. On the other hand, China is perfect for the lactose intolerant.

Gifts and Money:
**21.** **What about gifts for my hosts and friends?** Gift giving is an important custom in China. You should plan on bringing small gifts to give your host family (which may include grandparents and cousins). You may also want to bring small gifts for friends you make in school. You will probably want to give a gift when you leave, but that might best be purchased in China. Do not be surprised if the receiver of the gift does not open it in front of you. You do not have to wrap the presents, it's not the custom in China. And please remember: It truly is the thought (and not the value!) that counts. Some gift ideas: T-shirts with College (Harvard, MIT) and sports logos Scented soaps Fruit flavored (blueberry, orange etc.) teas Pictures of Boston and Sharon Maple syrup Coffee Red is a good luck color Please don’t bring: Anything white or green Things made in China

**22.** **What are good things to buy and bring home?** You will find both items that will make you think of China and knock off items that will make you think of the US. While in China you will visit a Jade factory at the beginning of the trip. This is a government controlled store and has real Jade. At the end of the trip you will visit a Silk factory that is equally reliable. Real also means that these places can be more expensive. At all other times you should beware of jade and silk as they may be fakes. You will probably find real silk at department stores but not at the street vendors. You will also find street vendors who sell Tommy Hilfiger and Rolex. Be careful. In Beijing you will go to a tea store for lessons on Chinese tea. You may want to buy tea, cups and pots here, but they will also be available in Xi’an and be cheaper. Stay away from electronics which are actually more expensive in China. Small gifts for friends back home might include: small kites, woven hangings, paper cuts, calligraphy brushes, scrolls.

**23.** **How much money will I need?** In theory, you can bring nothing. OK, that’s not realistic. All major meals and accommodations are paid for, so you will need money for snacks, drinks at lunch (these are not served—the students drink soup), visits to fast food places when ya just gotta have it, and souvenirs for friends family and self. Things there are cheaper than here but you can still spend a lot. You will probably want to bring $200-$300 in Chinese money (Yuen) with you. But you may need more.

**24.** **How can I get money?** The best strategy is to have a debit card that your parents can refill for you. Visa, Mastercard and AAA cards are accepted in many places. There are also a great many bank machines that will recognize those cards. The street vendors and small stores will need cash, but the jade, silk and larger stores will accept credit cards. Changing US dollars into RMB (Chinese money) is time consuming and difficult.

What to bring/prepare:
**25.** **Should I have a cell phone?** A cell phone will come in handy to talk with your teacher/chaperone, classmates and fellow travelers. You can bring one from the home if it works with a Sim Card. It may be possible to buy a cheap one over there, but that probably isn’t necessary.

**26.** **Should I bring a computer?** You can, but it is not really necessary and it is another thing to take care of. Most of the host families do not have wifi, but it may be possible to connect to there computer network with an Ethernet cable. The same is true at school. In Beijing and Shanghai, you can expect to pay an extra charge for using the internet. On the other hand, you will want to check email, perhaps send assignments to teachers, write essays and blog entries and do other things on a computer. Each host family will have a computer and there is one in the classroom you will use.

**27.** **Should I see a Doctor before I go? Do I need shots?** Yes. Your Doctor will want to know where you are going. They can access the CDC page to find out recommended inoculations. Last year, the Chinese government was requiring H1N1 shots. We aren’t sure if this rule is still in effect. Otherwise, they are ones that you would normally have here in the US. You should obtain a record of your inoculations from your Doctor.

**28.** **What should I pack?** Less than you think. You will probably want to buy some T-shirts while there and you can get most toiletries at the local supermarket. You will also be given a Tangnan uniform This consists of a sweatshirt and sweatpants. You do not need to wear this every day, but it does save on clothing needs. You will not need to “dress up” but you may want a nice sweater. Shorts are not commonly worn in China. Given the weather range you’ll experience, you will want to dress in layers. Some things you will want to pack: Rain jacket (which may function as an outer layer) Sneakers/hiking shoes (two pairs total) Sandals or flip flops Socks and underwear (as much as you can fit) Two pairs of pants (such as jeans or khakis). You may also want a skirt. Belt Three or four T-shirts Two or three long sleeve shirts. A sweater, fleece and/or sweatshirt Water proof hat Batteries (Chinese ones are not very good) Electrical adapter Camera with extra cards Small bottle of shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush (you can buy more in Xi’an) OTC medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, Emergen-c, antacids, sunscreen, Dramamine, laxatives etc.) (that’s all I can think of right now. I’ll add more as I think of it.) You may want more of anything on the list. Pack as much as you can but pay attention to the weight limits. Remember that there are stores in Xi’an and you can buy shoes, pants, shirts and just about anything else there. In addition, you can send home some of the colder weather clothes you will need early in the trip to make room for any summer clothes you buy while there.

**29.** **How much can I pack?** Generally, you can check in a bag with up to 50 lbs international flights from the US. You can also have a smaller carry-on bag and a purse or small backpack. Anything beyond that will require an additional fee. In 2010 the group flew United. Here is a link for more info The limit is 44 lbs within China, so that becomes a limit for the flight between Xi’an and Shanghai. Anything beyond that will require an additional fee. Here is a link for more info.

**30.** **Will I need electrical adapters?** Many of the sockets in China can fit both Chinese and American plugs but it is best to bring a plug adapter with you. Computers and iPODs come with their own transformers but smaller items such as curling irons and blow dryers (but why do you want to bring those anyway?) need transformers. For more info, check out this link.

**31.** **What can I bring on the plane?** First, make sure you follow the TSA guidelines You can bring one small bag and a personal bag such as a purse or small backpack. Please be sure that you follow the TSA requirements for liquids. Obviously, no lighters or knives are allowed. It’s best to have no metal on you as you go through the scanners. You will need to have your boarding pass and passport with you at all times as you go through security. You should use TSA approved locks on your luggage. Finally, expect to remove your computer from your bag, remove your shoes, empty your pockets and be frisked. The rules in China are essentially the same.

Academic and Social Responsibilities:
**32.** **How am I expected to behave?** You will be in China to learn Chinese and about China. It is expected that you will be active in that learning. You must also realize that you are an ambassador of the US and SHS and behave accordingly. So, behave like the polite, intelligent, respectful young person that you are. You will have many conversations about life in the US. Answer honestly. You will also be curious about life in China. Ask whatever you want but be sensitive and expect to not always get a clear answer. You'll notce that the Chinese are much more willing to ask about money than we do (How much does your father make?) but more reticent to discuss politics ("We are not our government and we don't always understand what they do.") You should abide by SHS handbook expectations (within reason—e.g. you can use an iPod while traveling). You should expect to do your school work for Tangnan, SHS and your teacher/chaperone. You must listen to your teachers and hosts and do as requested. You should not plan on drinking or smoking or staying out late (late is defined as the earlier of the times your host parents or actual parents would expect you home).

**33.** **Will going to China affect my grades and learning at SHS?** Yes. At least that has been the experience for many of your predecessors. Your teachers will give you assignments such as reading from your text and answering questions, worksheets, and essays. You may get a special project that relates to your stay in China. However, you will be missing the valuable experience in your classroom with your teachers and classmates. Some of your teachers may waive assignments that you miss while in China but others may not. In that case, you may find that you will have a lot of material to make up when you return. You may find that you will be less prepared for the final exam due to your missed class time.

**34.** **So that means I won’t get into college, right?** Don’t be crazy. Of course you’ll get in college. Any drop in grade would be more than offset by the fact you spent seven weeks living in China. Colleges love that stuff. More than they love an A. Really. They do. Ask your guidance counselor.

**35.** **What do I need to do to prepare academically?** You must talk to all your teachers and get the assignments you need to do while in China. Please give a copy of the assignments to your teacher/chaperone. If you have text book work to do, copy the chapters or see if you can access an on-line version to save weight. If you will just miss a test that will be given after we leave, see if you can take an early version. This will help avoid incompletes.

**36.** **What are my academic responsibilities while in China?** Simply stated, you will need to be the most responsible, independent student you have ever been. You will have time each day to do work for SHS. You must do it! Expect to help each other. Expect to ask your teacher/chaperone for help. Remember that you will also have academic responsibility to the exchange. That means you will have some reading, discussing and writing to do while there. That includes weekly blog entries so the folks back home can know what you are up to.

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