Discovering China

1
Discovering China

• 12/27/09 - 1/10/10

• Co-sponsored by
• The Chinese Language Council International
  (Hanban)
• The State University of New York
• The Chinese Consulate in New York

• Administered by
• The Office of International Education, University
  at Albany

2
Background Information

• Sichuan Earthquake
• SUNY - 150
• SUNY Farmingdale, 19SUNY Potsdam, 5SUNY
  Cobleskill, 18Jamestown Community College,
  5Buffalo State College, 17University at
  Buffalo, 4Herkimer Community College, 11SUNY
  Delhi, 4Clinton Community College, 10SUNY
  Maritime, 4Genesee Community College, 8SUNY
  Brockport, 4University at Albany, 6SUNY Oswego,
  4Stony Brook University, 6Monroe Community
  College, 3SUNY Plattsburgh, 6Alfred State,
  2College of Technology at Canton, 6Binghamton
  Universities, 2Alfred Ceramics, 5SUNY New
  Paltz, 1

3
Background Information

• The Chinese Language Council International
  (Hanban)
• The Chinese Consulate in New York
• SUNY
• University at Albany

4
Representing Campuses

• Albany
• Alfred Ceramic
• Alfred State
• Binghamton
• Brockport
• Buffalo
• Buffalo State
• Canton
• Clinton CCC
• Cobleskill
• Cortland
• Delhi
• ESF
• Farmingdale
• FIT
• Fredonia
• Fulton CCC
• Genesee CC

• Herkimer CCC
• Hudson Valley CC
• IT Utica/Rome
• Jamestown CC
• Maritime
• Mohawk V Monroe CCC
• Morrisville
• Niagara CCC
• Old Westbury
• Onondaga CC
• OPT
• Oswego
• Plattsburgh
• Potsdam
• Purchase
• Stony Brook
• Suffolk CCC

5
SUNY Teaching and Administrative Team

• Professor Harsh Bhasin, Stony Brook
• Professor Anthony DeBlasi, Albany
• Professor Zhongchun Jiang, Cobleskill
• Professor Donna Kowal, Brockport
• Mr. Thomas Kowal, Buffalo
• Professor Christine Lai, Buffalo State
• Mr. James Pasquill, Albany
• Ms. Yang Pisani, Albany

6
Program Itinerary
  12/27/09 Fly to China 12/28/09 Arrive in
China 12/29/09 Opening Ceremony in the GREAT HALL
OF PEOPLE 12/30/09 Site visits in
Beijing 12/31/09 New Years celebration in
Beijing 1/1/10  Site visits in
Beijing 1/2/10  Fly to Chengdu 1/3-8/10 The
group will be divided into 13 small groups,
each with its own host. Activities may vary
but all include lectures about China, Survival
Chinese, Chinese cultural activities, site
visits, etc. 1/9/10 Fly back to Beijing from
Chengdu1/10/10 Fly back to the US from Beijing
Subject to Change
7
About the Three Cities
Beijinghttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beijing Cheng
du, Sichuan Province http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Chengdu Chongqinghttp//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cho
ngqing
8
Discovering China Academic Program

• An interactive study tour consisting of guided
  excursions, site visits, ceremonies, and
  lectures.
• -Survey Chinas history, culture, and economic
  development
• - Explore monuments of Chinese civilization, past
  and present

9
Academic Work for the SUNY Course

• 1-credit S/U grade
• Pre-departure reading preparation
• During the Program
• -Active participation in program activities
• -Maintain journal of observations and critical
  reflections on your experiences in China
• Upon return
• -Submit a 5-page reflective paper that integrates
  reading selection with themes from your
  journal
• Syllabus with details to be provided

10
Academic Work for Buffalo State Course

• 3-credit course with Prof. Lai
• Pre-departure
• -View and take notes on a set of documentaries
• During the Program
• -Active participation in program activities
• -Maintain journal of observations and critical
  reflections on your experience in China
• Upon return
• -Submit a 20-page reflective journal, plus notes
  on review of documentaries
• See separate syllabus

11
Useful Words/Phrases in Chinese
12
Before the End of the Fall Semester

• Register for one credit at your home campus and
  send UAlbany your proof of registration.
• If you have not sent in UAlbanys required forms,
  please do so as soon as possible.
• Please check with your home campus for any
  necessary steps that have to be completed before
  studying abroad.
• Please sign your passport (if you havent already
  done so).

13
Before You Go to China

• Please pack lightlyyou can only check in at most
  one piece of luggage, no heavier than 40 lbs,
  free of charge on domestic flights in China.
• Please confirm your ticket 48 - 72 hours before
  the departure time with your airline.
• Please bring some cash according to your own
  spending habits.
• Please inform your bank or credit card company
  that you will be in China if you plan to use your
  debit or credit card in China.
• Please call your cell phone carrier if you plan
  to use your cell phone in China (your cell phone
  has to be on a GSM system).
• Using US cell phones (making or receiving calls)
  in China is very expensive and can cost up to 3
  per minute!
• Please understand that it may be difficult for
  your parents to reach you when you are in China
  unless you have your cell phone. The business
  centers at hotels will have a few computers with
  Internet access. You are responsible for the
  cost.
• Please come prepared with a watch and personal
  alarm clock devicewe need you to be on time for
  the daily scheduled activities in China.

14
What to Pack?

• A set of dressy clothes for the formal opening
  and closing ceremonies.
• Casual clothes for everyday usedark colors are
  preferable so you do not have to do laundry
  often.
• A warm winter jacket, gloves, etc. (Be prepared
  to spend time walking outdoors in cold weather.)
• A pair of comfortable walking shoes.
• EpiPen if you have severe food allergies.
• Prescription drugs that you need to take on a
  regular basisplease bring your doctors notes
  and please pack the medicine in your carry-on
  luggage.
• Over-the-counter medications such as Advil,
  aspirin, Pepto Bismol, vitamins, laxatives,
  heartburn relief, anti-histamine, skin
  irritation, anti-diarrhea, athletes foot and
  motion sickness (if you think you might need
  them).
• Toiletries such as cotton balls, deodorant, lip
  balm, tampons, and saline solution for sensitive
  eyes. (Keep in mind that the brands you are used
  to may not be available in China.)
• Disinfectant wipes, travel-size first aid kit.
• Small gifts for people that you may meet and
  become friends with.

15
The Day of Your Travel

• Make sure you have your passport.
• Go to the right airport and allow yourself ample
  time at the airport for check-in.
• Have your ticket confirmation number on hand.
• Have your China Emergency Contact CardUAlbany
  will send this to you.
• Have your insurance informationUAlbany will send
  this to you.
• Have your wallet with money in it.
• Your luggage will be checked all the way to
  Beijing even if you are going to have a layover
  in Chicago or San Francisco.
• Please find your groupat least one faculty/staff
  member will travel with each group from the US to
  Beijing.

16
How We Get to China
Chicago to Beijing flies over North Pole.
San Francisco to Beijing flies over the Pacific
Ocean.
17
Room and Board

• The group is going to live in double rooms at
  hotels and/or international guest houses for the
  duration in China. On-site laundry services are
  available and you are responsible for the cost.
• Roommates are assigned by the host. Please
  refrain from switching rooms on your own.
• Only same-sex students can stay in the same room
  unless you are married and your spouse is also a
  program participant. The Chinese will take this
  very seriously.
• The cost of your hotel rooms are covered by the
  host but you are responsible for any additional
  costs during your stay. Please pay for these upon
  check-out. If you fail to do so, UAlbany will
  bill you upon request by our host, at which point
  other charges may be added.
• Group meals are provided. Vegetarian food will be
  available. Please understand that other dietary
  needs will be very hard to accommodate by our
  host, so plan accordingly.

18
Rules and Regulations while in China

• Please obey Chinese laws and regulations.
• Please be respectful of our host and the people
  you meet.
• Please attend all the arranged program activities
  and be punctual.
• SUNY rules and regulations travel with the group
  so please act accordingly.
• Absolutely no underage drinking and no binge
  drinking.
• Absolutely no drug use.
• Please always keep in mind that you are
  representing your home campus, SUNY and the
  United States, so act accordingly.

19
Health Issues

• For immunization information, Please visit
  Http//www.cdc.gov/travel.
• The most common health issues experienced by
  foreign visitors to China are digestive and upper
  respiratory system problems. Please take note of
  this if you have allergies or asthma, and bring
  medication if necessary.
• If you have food allergies, be extremely careful
  before you eat. When in doubt, do not eat any
  questionable foods.
• If you have allergies to any medications, please
  make sure you write it on the China Emergency
  Contact Card.
• Do not drink tap water and avoid using ice for
  drinks.

20
Safety Issues

• Stay with the group as much as possible.
• If you decide to go out at night, please go with
  a group of friends. Let one of the SUNY staff
  members know where you plan to go, when you plan
  to go, and what you plan to do.
• Be aware of your surroundings when you are not
  with the group.
• Be careful when you cross streets.
• Be careful with your belongings, especially when
  in a crowd.
• Do not abuse alcohol.
• Absolutely no drug use.

21
Money Matters

• Your bill will be sent by UAlbany in December.
• Your domestic transportation in China, field
  trips arranged by the Program, and group meals
  are all covered.
• Most ATM cards can be used to withdraw money in
  Chinathe exchange rate is better but your bank
  and/or the bank in China may charge fees.
• Major credit cards can be used in China.
• Please also bring some cash just in case your
  credit card or debit card does not work. Currency
  exchange is available at airports and hotels.

22
A Few Suggestions

• Be flexible and understanding.
• Be respectful and appreciative.
• Remember that you are not there to judge you are
  there to experience and to learn. Use your
  curiosity, not your criticism.
• Remember that even if things do not happen the
  way you want while in China, you will be back to
  the US in 14 days.
• Try to speak Chinese whenever you can even if you
  only know a few words - the Chinese really
  appreciate the effort.
• Prepare a list of things that you expect to
  learn.
• Before departure, write down your thoughts about
  China and its people, and then compare it with
  your experiences upon your return.

23

• Keep Your China Experience Alive

• Start to read more about China.
• Take Chinese language or China related courses at
  your home campus.
• Consider returning to China for a longer period
  of timehttp//www.sunysystemabroad.com/programs
  .php

24

• Emergency Contact Numbers

• When you are in China
• 131-543-53466 this phone number can only
  take calls originating from China, and it has to
  be a real emergency.
• When you are in the US
• 518-591-8170
• Please keep in mind and also remind your family
  that China is 13 hours ahead of the Eastern
  Standard Time.

25

• Useful Websites about China

• www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China ChinaWikipedia
•  
• http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/country_pr
  ofiles/1287798.stm
• BBC Country Profile China
• http//topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/c
  ountriesandterritories/china/index.html The New
  York TimesChina
• https//www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world
  -factbook/geos/ch.html
• CIAThe World FactbookChina
•  www.chinadaily.com.cn/ China Daily Website
•  http//www.china.org.cn/ Chinas getting ready
  for the Olympics
•  http//www.chinatoday.com/ China General
  Information
•  http//www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/china/
  Lonely Planet Travel Guide
•  http//www.cnto.org/ China Tourism Site

26
(No Transcript)
27
Thanks for your time and have a great experience
in China ! Office of International Education
University at Albany