Program Description
This study-abroad program allows students to experience China and Taiwan and explore the land and sea routes of the “Silk Road”. It will be offered in the summer of 2013. All enrolled students will experience China, the second largest economy in the world, and Taiwan, one of the five tigers in Asia. Students will travel to Beijing, the ancient “Silk Road” region, and Taiwan to experience Chinese culture first hand. Students will witness modern, traditional, urban, suburban and rural life in both Chinese lands on two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Students can also explore the blossoming cultural and economic scenes in many Chinese cities in this international study trip.
China is one of the world’s oldest and richest cultures. It is one of the largest trading partners of the United States. Taiwan is considered one of five Tigers in Asia, which has a long connection to the Chinese culture and its seating government a modern democratic entity. This program will be devoted to the learning of the ancient Silk Road and how contemporary Chinese relate to each other and redefine themselves to the world. We will also have a closer look into Chinese ethnic culture, religion, and its people on two Chinese lands.
During the first session of the summer, all students will travel with the class for the study trip. We will experience what life was and is like on the Silk Road. We will travel to Beijing, China, and then to the city of LanZhou, a treasure house of ethnic cultural relics. We will visit and study in Northwest Normal University and LanZhou University for short lecture program to learn of the ancient Silk Road and the ethnic Chinese food and cultural life. Study tour will include the city of Dunhuang, and a visit to the world renowned Mogao Grottoes, which feature a combination of architecture, sculptures and murals and demonstrate exchanges of eastern and western cultures during a historical periods of Northern Liang, Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, West Xia and Yuan dynasty. We will visit the capital city of Xinjiang, Urumqi, where the Heavenly Lake resides. For those who want to witness a true nature wonder, see and be amazed by visiting the Thousand Buddha Grottoes and learn about the rich tradition of the mix religions in this area.
Our travel will also include the study in the National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, and visits to the National Palace Museum and Taipei 101, etc.
After traveling with the class, students wishing to continue their studies can enroll for the second session as individual or group contract. Students enrolled for second session will continue to meet on campus during second session to work on their video or photo journals documenting the trip and reflect the learning through seminars, readings, and film discussions about other related topics and issues presented in today’s China, or using on-line resources and communication for continuous Chinese studies.
The tentative travel schedule is proposed as below. Please check with the faculty for the updates and details.
Travel/Class Schedule in a glance:
3/20, 4/18, 5/23 & 6/13 Class orientation & Trip orientation/planning, in Library 0406
6/21 Fly to Beijing from Seatac airport
6/23-30 Arrive Urumqi, China. Start travel to key Silk Road cities in Xinjiang, incl. Urumqi, Turpan, Dunhuang, and Lanzhou.
6/30 Travel to Lan Zhou and visit Northwest Normal University and Lanzhou University for lectures on Silk Road development.
7/1 Travel to Taipei, Taiwan
7/2-7/12 Start classes in National Taiwan College of Performing Arts in Taipei, Taiwan
7/12 Return to Beijing, China. Visit Beijing
7/14 Return to Seattle, Washington
7/20, 7/27 meet in TESC for class seminar and presentations
Important Date–
March 1st: Notify the faculty of your interest. Then please pay a non-refundable deposit $300 by March 15 toward your program fee at the College Cashier’s Office in program account 29022–52504, or contact Lorri Moore at 867-6867 for information.
The figures below are estimates and are provided to give you an idea of how much it would cost to participate in this study abroad program.
Study trip program fees total approximately $3600, including international and domestic airfare, double occupancy. This includes $1300.00 in land travel, covering most food, lodging (university housing and hotel stays), transportation (train and bus travel within China and Taiwan), and all admissions to major scenic sights during the trip.
(Program fees do not include personal expenses, accidentals, or tips to travel guide and driver, which average $10 per day during travel. Single occupancy also requires extra. )
Total: Program fees & TESC tuition for 8 credits 1st session. Program CRN #40061. Students wishing to pursue further research and reflection upon their return to Evergreen after our travels are encouraged to enroll for individual or group learning contracts for second session.
International and inland Airfare: from USA to Beijing, Urumqi, Lanzhou, China, from Lanzhou to Taipei, Taiwan and from Taipei back to the USA: $2300 and up. You are encouraged to pay full program group rate for best-discounted international airfare. Please contact the faculty immediately or before March 15 to lock in for the group rate.
http://www.evergreen.edu/business/studentfinancialservices/tuitionrates.htm
If you are receiving or plan to apply for financial aid for the Summer quarter, please contact the Financial Aid office and start the process well in advance. Scholarships are also available. Please check with the International Studies Advisor on campus or contact the faculty as soon as possible if you like more information on various scholarships.
See Application tab for detailed application procedures for this program. Please contact the faculty to indicate your interest and register early, as we have a limit of 20 for this summer program. Pre-Registeration for the program is recommended.
Please visit the Http://Blogs.evergreen.edu/chinese for other related Chinese language offerings and for additional study resources.
