March 2012 FHS China Study TourOrientation Book

www.StudyCLI.org

Welcome to CLI's March 2012 FHS China Study Tour! As a

supplemental guide to your journey through China, the CLI team has

compiled this comprehensive orientation book for your living and

traveling needs. It remains our top goal to provide a safe and highly

educational learning experience for the duration of your stay in

China. Please do not hesitate to call one of our team members at any

time day or night if you have questions, concerns or translation

needs. We look forward to guiding you along your path to discovery!

Money

Postal Services

China is home to many banking networks, including the Industrial Bank of China (ICBC), the China Construction Bank, and the Bank of China. ATMs at any of these banks accept major international cards and are safe to use. Many ATMs offer 24-hour service, so you needn't worry if you find yourself without cash on hand after the sun has set.

Throughout our China travels, we’ll lead the group to an ATM at least once every four days. If you need to exchange currency or travelers' checks for RMB, arrange for a CLI group leader to bring you to a major Chinese bank. Be sure to bring your foreign currency and passport in order to complete this transaction. There should be no service charge.

CLI's staff does not recommend sending any expensive or valuable items back home through the Chinese postal service, as it can sometimes be unreliable and is generally expensive. That being said, service has significantly improved over the past several years. If you'd like to send a postcard, a CLI team member will be happy to assist you.

General Information

Safety & SecurityChina is generally a safe country in which to study and sightsee. Nevertheless, any time you are traveling, you should always take necessary precautions to ensure your own personal safety. CLI will always maintain group safety as its number one priority.

*If you experience any kind of safety emergency, please call Robbie immediately anytime day or night at 137-8858-7005.*

Recommended Safety Tips:— Keep all of your belongings in sight and be mindful of them. Hold small

personal bags close to your body, and keep them closed if possible. Pick pocketing is not a major problem in China, but it is arguably more common here than in most developed Western countries.

— In China, violent street crime and predatory behavior are rare occurrences – but it is still very important that you always take all necessary precautions to remain as safe as possible. Try your best to maintain awareness of your surroundings at all times. Never, under any circumstances, separate from the group without first seeking permission from a group leader. If a stranger makes you feel uncomfortable or in any way threatens you, immediately find and notify one of the group leaders.

— FHS and CLI maintain a zero tolerance alcohol policy. Under no circumstances will it be permitted for FHS study tour participants to consume alcohol. Please respect this regulation and remain responsible throughout your travels in China.

General Information (cont.)

Safety & Security

Medical Services

Recommended Safety Tips (cont.):—

particularly important to remember the golden rule for any pedestrian: look both ways before you step into the street. Cars often do not obey traffic signals in China. Motorcycles, electric scooters, bicycles and other pedestrians create additional safety hazards. Especially in smaller cities, traffic patterns are probably nothing like what you’re used to back home, so keep your eyes and ears open for oncoming vehicles. Proceed with caution, as there is a definite possibility that some drivers may make dangerous and reckless maneuvers when navigating the city streets.

If you find yourself in need of medical attention, please notify a member of CLI's on-site team as soon as possible. CLI emergency assistance is available around the clock, so don't hesitate to call at any time if you need to see a medical doctor.

Should you catch a minor illness such as a seasonal cold or upset stomach, CLI' staff is available to assist you in purchasing over-the-counter medicine at a local pharmacy. Let a CLI employee know that you're in need of medication, and we will be more than happy to help you find exactly what you need.

CLI’s staff is available 24/7 and is very willing to help in any way possible. Never hesitate to approach us if a health concern arises – it’s always better safe than sorry.

*China’s 24-hour emergency number is 119, but if you contract an illness or sustain an injury, please call Robbie immediately at 137-8858-7005.*

Crossing the road safely in China presents a challenge of its own. Here, it's

“Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

Special ConsiderationsCuriosity toward foreigners:

The Great Firewall:

Foreigners are a somewhat common site in major cities, but for many people in smaller cities, and especially in the countryside, you may be the first foreigner they have ever interacted with. Expect occasional staring and calls of “Hello!” The stares and greetings from strangers are innocent and not done in malice; people are truly curious, and once they discover you speak Chinese, you will have a new best friend.

In an effort to “harmonize” the Internet and prevent anti-government activity, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) blocks access to numerous Web sites. Facebook, YouTube, Blogspot, Twitter, and other social networking/blogging sites are among those that you cannot access without a VPN. Additionally, major social and political advocacy sites, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, are blocked. Many foreigners and locals use a VPN to get around the firewall. Some, such as www.torproject.org, can be downloaded for free, but these are not as reliable as paid networks. Witopia (www.witopia.net) offers an excellent VPN for US$60, securing your privacy and providing you with (relatively) uninterrupted Internet access.

Special Considerations (cont.)Misinformation:

Daily rest time:

Haggling/special foreigner prices:

Firecrackers and fireworks:

It's somewhat common in China for people to unintentionally mislead you rather than say they don’t know the answer to your question. Therefore, just because someone tells you a specific product is not in stock or a food item does not have particular ingredients does not mean this is necessarily so. It’s always a good idea to either be persistent or trust your instinct and ask for a second opinion.

There is a daily rest time from noon to 2:30pm that many Chinese people adhere to. Universities and most government offices close within this window, and it is therefore sometimes difficult to accomplish tasks requiring cooperation with locals during this time.

Since parts of China heavily cater to tourism and have countless visitors each year, vendors and cab drivers sometimes try to take advantage of foreigners by overcharging them for items and services. However, once they hear that you speak even the most basic Chinese, they will be much more willing to negotiate with you and will accordingly lower their prices. Almost all goods and services can be bargained for. In most bustling markets, expect to pay 25% to 30% less than the asking price for the majority of items, and in more touristy areas, the price could drop well over half.

Days are frequently punctuated by the sparkle, boom, pop, and thump of firecrackers and fireworks. Major events such as holidays, weddings, and business openings are almost always marked by the ritual of lighting firecrackers. The loud sound is used to ward off evil spirits and thus bless important events with a fresh start.

Utilizing China’s Language Environment

In order to make the most of your time studying with CLI, it’s important to constantly be pro-active and to consistently seek new opportunities to advance your Chinese. Self study, chatting with street vendors, asking your tour guides questions about learning Chinese – there are countless ways to improve and validate your Mandarin language skills. Below are a few suggestions on how to best utilize CLI’s language environment:

ring meals. These people are your teachers too. You will be amazed at the hospitality China has to offer.

— Make sure you know all 58 pinyin sounds: Do not undervalue the importance of pinyin (拼音). Once you can make all of the sounds, you can essentially say any word in Chinese. Concentrate on hearing and saying the slight variations between sounds. Tones are very important, but clear pronunciation of the pinyin sounds is still the most essential building block of spoken Mandarin.

— Speak (and think in) Chinese, regardless of your Chinese level: Whether you are an absolute beginner or the world’s greatest Mandarin linguist, you can always advance your skills by practicing the language at every turn. Take the initiative to speak with those around you every day. Chat with the local shop-owners. Ask the police questions. Talk to waiters and waitresses du

—

because we love Chinese, love sharing the language, and love that you are interested in learning Chinese. Let us know if you don’t understand something or have a specific question about the language. Be an active learner. Don’t forget that a student’s dedication and persistence is the ultimate factor that leads to success when learning a second language.

— Attitude is everything: Maintain a relentless attitude in your approach to mastering the Chinese language. If you feel you’re hitting a plateau, push even harder. Many non-native speakers have reached a high level of proficiency in the Chinese language, and with the right combination of language environment, determination and attitude, you can too.

— Make the most of China: A warm hospitality abounds in China. Have the courage to ask local residents questions, to start a conversation with a shop attendant during our daily activities, and to chat with your tour guides in Mandarin whenever possible. When it comes to spoken Chinese, there is no better way to improve than to simply speak.

— Engage with the CLI community: CLI puts a great deal of emphasis on creating a community conducive to Chinese language learning. We maintain a highly dedicated team of international educators, so do your best to actively embrace the community we’ve built.

Keep your group leaders informed: All of the group leaders at CLI are here

Our tour guides, language instructors, local directors and network of friends are all here to guide you on your path to proficiency – be sure to engage!

“Only as high as I reach can I grow, only as far as I seek can I go, only as deep as I look can I see, only as much as I dream can I be.” – Dr. Seuss

FHS March 2012 China Study Tour

Hello international scholars! Below you will find our tentative schedule of activities and events for our travels through Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai. As the purpose of this schedule is to offer a general idea of the places we will be visiting, some dates and times are subject to change.

Beijing 北京 | Xi’an 西安 | Shanghai 上海

(BEIJING)

(BEIJING)

(BEIJING TO XI’AN)

(XI’AN)

DAY 1 | SUNDAY, MARCH 18 (ARRIVE IN BEIJING)

DAY 2 | MONDAY, MARCH 19

DAY 3 | TUESDAY, MARCH 20

DAY 4 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21

DAY 5 | THURSDAY, MARCH 22

Afternoon Arrive in Beijing at 3:30pm and Bus to HeyuanEvening Welcome Dinner at Peking Duck Restaurant

Morning Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden CityAfternoon Tour of Beijing’s Ancient Hutong District

Lunch at Local Family’s Home–Ascend the Beijing Drum Tower–

Evening Dinner at Xinjiang Specialty Restaurant

8:00am Visit Peking University’s Branch High School

Tour campus and engage in cross-cultural exchange –activities

Morning/Afternoon The Great Wall of China (at Mutianyu, 慕田峪)Evening Dinner and Shopping in Wangjujing

9:00am Explore the Temple of HeavenEarly Afternoon Visit the Site of the 2008 Beijing OlympicsLate Afternoon Fly to Xi’an (5:55pm to 8:00pm, dinner and snacks on plane)Evening Check into the Lotus Hotel, Xi’an Orientation

9:00am The Terracotta Army

Visit 2000-year-old burial site of China’s first emperor–Afternoon Ascend the Famed Giant Goose PagodaEvening Dinner in Downtown Xi’an

8:00am Program Orientation at Heyuan

DAY 6 | FRIDAY, MARCH 23 (XI’AN)8:30am

Visit the Bell Tower and the Great Mosque–Afternoon Chinese language and Cultural Activities

Calligraphy lessons and a FHS ping pong tournament!–Evening Dinner in the Muslim Quarter

5:40am Fly to Shanghai (8:00am to 9:55am)

Check into the Jinjiang Inn near the Bund–Noon Lunch near Hotel and Shanghai OrientationAfternoon City Tour of Shanghai: China’s Economic Capital

Ascend the SWFC (China’s tallest skyscraper)–Evening Dinner on the Bund and Guided Tour

11:00am Visit Yu Garden and Old Town Shanghai

Tea sampling at traditional teahouse–Afternoon Shanghai Points of Interest Tour: Past, Present and Future

Jade Buddha Temple, Silk Factory and Planning Museum–Evening Shanghai’s Famous Acrobat Show

8:30am Company Visit to International FirmAfternoon Travel Excursion to the Zhouzhuang Water VillageEvening Farewell Dinner!

8:00am Fly to the USA (Depart Pudong Airport at 12:10pm)

Bicycle Ride atop the Ancient City Walls of Xi’an

DAY 7 | SATURDAY, MARCH 24 (XI’AN TO SHANGHAI)

DAY 8 | SUNDAY, MARCH 25 (SHANGHAI)

DAY 9 | MONDAY, MARCH 26 (SHANGHAI)

DAY 10 | TUESDAY, MARCH 27 (SHANGHAI TO WASHINGTON DULLES)

24-Hour AssistanceThroughout the duration of your stay with CLI, please do not hesitate to call one of our faculty leaders at any time day or night if you have questions, concerns or translation issues.

Robbie Fried (罗中立) 137-8858-7005Dr. Yan Xue (薛老师) 182-9004-6822TJ Johnson (詹森先生) 182-9004-7090

Welcome to FHS’s March 2012 China Study Tour!

W: www.StudyCLI.org | E: info@studycli.org | USA: (888) 781.8383 | PRC: (+86) 137.8858.7005