Interest Meeting for China TripOctober 28, 2014

Laurel International Corp.

Meeting Objectives

• Introduce Laurel International Corp.

• A quick look at BJ #22 HS

• Review milestones of sister school partnership

• Explain why visiting China by high school students

• Share China visit itinerary

• Timeline for trip participants

• Q & A

Laurel International Corp.

• Founded in 1992

• Mission: To promote educational and culture exchanges between US and China

• Offices in Rockville, MD & Beijing, China

• Scope of business- Educational exchange programs

- Sister school partnership

- Summer programs (Model UN, volunteering, internship)

- American public high school diploma program

- Executive training programs for Chinese government- Agriculture

- Law

- Public administration

- Finance

Our Partners

• K-12 public schools - VA: Loudoun County, Fairfax County

- MD: Montgomery County, Howard County

- Kansas & Wisconsin

• Vocational schools & special education schools

• Public/private universities- MD, VA, FL, MO, SD, CA

• Others- International Judicial Academy

- American Councils for International Education

- Disney

- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Beijing #22 HS

• A top public school in Dongcheng District, BJ

• Founded in 1924

• 2,400 students

• Grades 7-12

2012/06Former Principal Mr. Anderson visited China

2012/10BJ #22 HS Principal Mr. Gao and students visited U.S.

2014/04BRHS Former Assistant Principal Mr. Tyson and students visited BJ #22 HS

Milestones of Sister School Partnership

Why Visiting China

• The world’s most populous country, with 1.3 billion officially

• 21 cities with population over 5 million (compared to 2 in the US)

• The world’s fastest growing economy, annual average growth rate of over 9.5% for 28 years in a row

• The world’s second-largest economy in Q2 2010

• Just overtook US as world's largest economy according to IMF

• China has the longest, continuous civilization in the world - some 5,000 years

• “During the 21st century, the only solution to our social problems greatly relies on both the doctrines of Confucius and Mencius.” - Dr. Arnold Toynbee, a British historian, philosopher of history

• Incredible food, varying across province and landscape

Why Exchange Visits by High School Students

• To understand the Chinese culture and Chinese people’s daily life

• To enhance cross-cultural communication skills

• To gain another perspective

• To become more tolerant of differences

• To be more adaptive and creative

• To grow up as a global citizen

• To contribute to the world peace and development

Trip Basics

• Nature: Educational trip

• Guiding principles: safety is the first priority, students centered

• Dates: Leave on Fri, Mar 27 and return to U.S. on Sun, Apr 5

• Cities: Beijing 6 days, Xi’an 1 day, Shanghai 1 day

• Activities: Shadow host students and attend Chinese culture classes, sightseeing

• Meals: all included, host family, school cafeteria and restaurants

• Lodging: host family condos and hotels (similar to Holiday Inn)

• Transportation: Host parents drop off/pick up kids at school, private shuttle bus

D.C.

Traveling Route

Xi’anShanghai

Beijing

Tentative Itinerary

Day # Date Time City Activity

1 Fri, 3/27 AM D.C. D.C. Beijing

2 Sat, 3/28 Day time BJArrive at BJ; welcoming ceremony at school; guest students are picked up by host families, chaperons check into hotel

3 Sun, 3/29Day time

BJGuest and host students tour Great Wall & Olympic Village

Evening See an acrobatics show

4 Mon, 3/30 Whole dayBJ Guest students shadow host students at school

5 Tue, 3/31 Whole dayBJ Guest students take Chinese culture classes at school

6 Wed, 4/1 Whole dayBJ Guest students tour Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City

7 Thu, 4/2

AMBJ

Guest students take Chinese culture classes at school

Noon Farewell Party

PM Travel BJ (high speed) Xi’an

8 Fri, 4/3Day time

Xi’anTour Terra-cotta Warriors Museum & City Wall

Evening Dumpling Feast & Tang Dynasty’s music and dance show

9 Sat, 4/4

AM Travel Xi’an Shanghai

PMShanghai

Visit Silk Factory & Chenghuang Temple

Night Huangpu River cruise

10 Sun, 4/5

AM Shanghai Visit Pudong Business Development District

PM Travel Shanghai D.C.

Evening D.C. Arrive at D.C.

Timeline for Trip Participants

• Submit completed information sheet by end of November

• Submit $500 deposit by winter break

• Turn in remaining balance due ($2,500), get int’l air ticket, submit visa application materials by Jan, 2015

• Attend the pre-trip meeting in Mar, 2015

- Pack-up checklist

- Medical emergency

- Present exchange

- Reminders for students

Cultural Exchange is about SHARING & LEARNING