Our group has just begun their journey home after spending our final days together at the foothills of the Great Wall. During these final days, we reflected on our time together, processed our experiences, and discussed how we might articulate our......Read More
China: Mandarin Language Intensive (4-week) - Group A, China: Mandarin Language Intensive (4-week) - Group B
All students and instructors returning to Los Angeles on the group flight are now at their gate in Beijing and ready for the flight back to LA. Thanks so much to all students, parents, instructors, homestay families, language teachers, ISP mentors,......Read More
China: Mandarin Language Intensive (4-week) - Group A, China: Mandarin Language Intensive (4-week) - Group B
Dear Families & Friends, It is hard to believe that almost four weeks have passed since your student embarked on this incredible adventure! It won’t be long until students will be boarding their planes back home. We are sure you are anxiously......Read More
Currently we are on our way to Kunming from our rural stay in Bangdong. In Kunming we will be having our X-phase before we fly to Beijing for our final days on this course. Our X-phase is a day that is completely directed by us students. We have......Read More
Today was our last full day in Bangdong. Despite being sad about our approaching departure, we had a great day. It started off with our last Chinese class of this course, which led to an amazing lunch made by a local family and ended with a......Read More
This morning I followed my Chinese mother and sister to work to get the experience of their everyday lives. We went very early to the fields to pick up tea and later brought it back, after 2 hours, to the tea house. We set the tea on pans in order......Read More
Yesterday afternoon we had the chance to meet Matt, an American from Washington state spending two years in Bangdong as part of the ICWA (institute of current world affairs) program. Meeting Matt was perhaps the most anticipated event of the......Read More
Today we had the opportunity to experience a day in the life of a local Chinese family. We were able to shadow our families, helping out in any way we could while getting to know each other a little more. Most families work in the field picking tea......Read More
A light hit the left side of my face. My friend pointed out the strange shadow it created. She commanded me to stay motionless or else I would disturb the shadow. I strained with my eyes to see it without moving my head. It could not be done. If I......Read More
After a long day of travel, we finally arrived at our rural homestay. It’s called Bangdong village （邦东乡）， located 3 hours away from the nearest main city Lincang(临沧). By the end of our stay, we will have been here for 7 days. On......Read More
To Those Back Home,I know I promised to send you updates. This is my first after two weeks. Sorry about that. My time in China has been eventful so far. I’m not to sure what to tell you guys. I could tell you about our orientation period,......Read More
Group updates! Marcus: we are adjusting to a new pace of life, getting to know our home stays, and learning about local life (tea harvesting, markets, etc.) Gus – We just arrived at the village a couple days ago. At the moment, I’m......Read More
你好！我叫吴丽丽。我是从美国来的。我家有五口人，他们是爸爸妈妈哥哥姐姐和我。在昆明，我和我的同学们都跟（homestayfamily） 一起住了。 我和我的（homestayfamily）......Read More
One more photo from the group’s recent hiking in the Cang Mountains of Dali. The group has now arrived in Bangdong Village to begin their rural homestay. More soon!...Read More
The group is currently exploring the historic town of Dali, home to a tradition of natural indigo textile dyeing. The workshop pictured here is in an ethnically Bai village outside of town. In Dali, the group will be hiking and learning about local......Read More
Time flies! It is already the second to last day with Kunming homestay families so we got together tonight for a local meal to celebrate and for the students to express thanks to their homestay families. We gather for Chinese lessons and Independent......Read More
