A Bridge to the Cultural Divide program provides students with an enriching international experience in the Peoples Republic of China. The program provides cultural and scholarly activities. In addition, each participant will establish a social network.

 

Student participants will be exposed to the following:

 

• Touring of cultural and historical sites.
• Visiting institutions of higher learning, reviewing academic programs, assessing unit organizations, and becoming familiar with specialized social networks.
• Presenting research in a poster presentation format.
• Interacting with peers, Chinese scholars and American educators.

 

 

Goals:

• To provide undergraduate students with a mechanism to experience Asian culture.
• To provide undergraduate students with a mechanism to engage in scholarly endeavors at an institution of higher learning in Asia.

Objectives:

• Create an opportunity for undergraduate students to visit the People’s Republic of China.
• Provide opportunities for undergraduate students to visit several of the most recognized historical landmarks in the world.
• Implement learning tools that enhance the undergraduate students’ knowledge of the history and culture of the People’s Republic of China.
• Provide opportunities for undergraduate students to tour and review the academic structure of several institutions of higher learning.
• Provide opportunities for undergraduate students to meet and interact in programmed forums with peers.
• Provide an opportunity for undergraduate students to engage in research at an international forum.

 

Expected Outcomes:

• Students will gain a better understanding of Chinese culture and history.
• Students will gain a better understanding of the similarities and dissimilarities between the U.S. and P.R. China.
• Students will identify and isolate myths vs. facts that were perceived prior to the visit.
• Students will be able to assess academic structures.
• Students will have an opportunity to engage in an international research forum.

 

Pre-Travel Services Provided by NAAAS & Affiliates:

• On-campus information session if ten (10) or more students register from the same institution
• SKYPE information session if nine (9) or fewer students from the same institution participate
• Assistance in acquisition of passport and visa
• Assistance in acquisition of travel insurance
• Arrange/coordinate domestic travel to international departure point (airport)
• Arrange all international airline travel
• Provide program literature that is reflective of the host institution.

 

International Services Provided Prior to and during the Visit in China:

• Arrange transportation from/to airport

• Arrange all accommodations
• Arrange all meals
• Provide local transportation
• Arrange visit/tour of two universities
• Arrange English corner meetings with Chinese students
• Arrange/schedule poster research presentations
• Publish research papers
• Provide literature related to select areas of the trip
• Provide program survey instruments
• Schedule all tours, shopping, etc.
• Arrange boat trip (Li River)
• Forward article about students to his/her home newspaper

NAAAS & Affiliates Group Participants:

 

The following individuals will travel throughout the trip with the students:

 

• Lemuel Berry, Jr., Ph.D., Executive Director, NAAAS & Affiliates
• Staff member, TBD
• Faculty scholar selected to present research at the Sino-American International Research Forum
  • Ms. Mei Chi Piletz, Jackson State University
  • Dr. Joanne Sadler, Daemen College
  • Dr. Sandra Grady, Community College of Baltimore
  • Dr. Nicole Stephens, Lincoln University
  • Dr. Vafa Kamali, University of Southern Mississippi
  • Dr. Royal Walker, University of Southern Mississippi
  • Dr. Mina Li, University of Southern Mississippi
  • Dr. Evornia Kincaid, Jackson State University

Finances:

 

The total cost (per student) for this 10-day trip is $2,695. This fee does not include the cost of travel from the home/local city to the airport selected for international departure. Students are also responsible for the cost associated with acquisition of his/her passport and visa.

 

The cost of $2,695 provides the following:

 

• International air travel
• Domestic air travel in China (Beijing/Guilin and Guilin/Shanghai)
• Hotel accommodations
• Lunch and dinner in Beijing
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner in Guilin
• Lunch and dinner in Shanghai
• Bus transportation from/to all airports
• All tours
• Technical assistance at research forum
• Translator (if necessary)
• Publication of research
• Pre-trip conference
• Educational materials

 

Students are responsible for five breakfast meals.

Payment Schedule:

 

•    $425 due with submittal of application
• $1,400 due no later than February 10, 2012
•    $870 due no later than April 2, 2012

 

Refund Policy;

• Students may cancel up to February 9, 2012 without penalty.
• A $150 service fee is charged for cancellations after February 9, 2012.
• Airline tickets will be purchased prior to February 25, 2012. Persons cancelling prior to the acquisition of the airline ticket will receive a full refund, minus the service fee ($150). Persons cancelling after the acquisition of the airline ticket are subject to airline refund policies.

Schedule of Activities:

May 25, 2012	Depart U.S. for Beijing, P.R. China
May 26, 2012	Arrive in China, check-in and evening dinner at traditional Chinese restaurant
May 27, 2012	Tour Great Wall of China and Ming Tombs, attend evening acrobatic performance, and shopping
May 28, 2012	Attend English Corner Program with students from Capital Normal University, tour Forbidden City, tour history museum, tour Tiananmen Square, and shopping
May 29, 2012	Depart for Guilin, Tour Guangxi Normal University, evening Welcome Dinner, and set-up for poster presentations
May 30, 2012	Attend Sino-American International Research Forum (10 research papers presented by scholars from U.S. and China), poster paper presentations in the University library at Guangxi Normal University, English Corner, evening tour, and shopping
May 31, 2012	Attend Sino-American International Research Forum (10 research papers presented by scholars from U.S. and China), poster paper presentations in conference facility, late afternoon tour of Elephant Hill, Jade Market, and outdoor shopping center
June 1, 2012	Boat trip down the Li River, afternoon departure to Shanghai, evening dinner with faculty and students from Fudan University
June 2, 2012	Touring and shopping, evening departure dinner
June 3, 2012	Depart for the U.S.

Mandated Student Report:

 

• Maintain written report on cultural and historical activities.
• Maintain daily record in social report booklet. The booklet will be provided upon arrival in China.
• Prepare 2-3 page report on experiences with the English Corner Program.
• Prepare a 4-5 page report that addresses significant cultural, social, and community similarities/dissimilarities between the U.S. and P.R. China.
• A student’s home institution may require completion of additional assignments.