China 2012

	2011 China Trip		Overview of Guizhou Province

Please visit our 2011 China trip logs and the complete travel itinerary to learn more about the summer 2011 trip and to give you an idea of what to expect in 2012. (Because we are always striving to improve the quality of our overseas experiences, we are still working on the details of the 2012 trips.)

We plan to return to the ethnic Miao village of Xijiang where we will spend the majority of our time in village homestays. These homestays, which are typically the most transformative part of the service experience, will provide a unique opportunity to experience firsthand the customs, lifestyle, and challenges of the rich Miao culture. The Miao people make up the largest ethnic minority in China and today continue to practice cultural traditions that date back thousands of years. 

Our service projects will include renovation work on the Xijiang Community Center, helping your host family with day-to-day tasks, and building a terraced rice paddy. We also plan to spend a few days in the town of Kaili, volunteering to help Kaili University students improve their English skills. Cultural excursions will include instruction in making traditional batik, folk performances, and hikes to explore natural landscapes. 

There will also be time in Beijing to visit some of the "must sees" of China: The Great Wall and the Forbidden City.

The cost of the trip is $3,995 and includes everything (including airfare) except transportation to and from George School.

Important Dates:

June 25	Faculty Institute starts at George School.
June 26	Student Institute starts at George School.
June 28	Leave George School for Beijing.
June 30	Sightseeing in Beijing.
July 1	Fly to Guiyang
July 1 to July 13	Service portion of the trip in Guizhou province.
July 14	Return home.

Note: The travel dates are subject to change depending on available flights, visa and travel license restrictions.

Inspired by George School’s tradition of global service, two George School parents in China have created a new foundation that will help support George School-sponsored service trips in their country.

Qi Gao, father of Tony Gao ’10, and Gang Ren, father of Xinxing Ren ’11, have established The Sino-U.S. Cultural Communication George School Foundation to promote mutual respect and understanding between those of different cultures and social backgrounds in the United States and China.

“We appreciate all the opportunities George School gave to Tony and to the whole family,” said Qi Gao on behalf of himself and his wife, Nannan Xia. “As parents, we want to become a giving model for our son, so that he can learn to give back to people who help him.”

For an initial period of four years, The Sino-U.S. Cultural Communication George School Foundation will provide financial support to be spent in China by participants in international service learning experiences organized by George School. Because the financial commitment of The Foundation will help offset trip costs such as international and domestic travel, accommodations in China, meals, and excursions, the Global Service Program is able to offer a number of significant financial aid grants to teachers who would like to participate in the China program.

For more information, please contact Global Service Program Director, Pauline McKean, at 215.579.6541.