Weather Alert

Saturday morning update!
Lou Pear and I will be at CAS at 8:00. We will have a late start with the formal program but we do have some forms to complete for 37 people and that will take time. So, when you arrive there will a task that you can immediately start to work on.

Take your time and come when you can. If conditions exist in your area that you are uncomfortable with, we will set another time next week to get passports etc. from you.


I know the weather does not look good tomorrow. My own sense is that it will be cold and snow removal on most roads will not be a big challenge. Now, watch me eat my words. I spent many years in Minnesota and Vermont where we had the philosophy of "living with the weather" and opting for a good judgement policy. If you are uncomfortable driving, then stay home or come when you believe you can. It will be Saturday morning and there will not be a lot of traffic on the road.

There is a degree of urgency in collecting the passports and filling out the Chinese visa forms (they must be filled out properly) and I need to prepare your business cards. If you are unable to come, we will set up a time next week so that you can personally deliver passports. I will need to be present to make sure all your information is 100 percent correct,

The day will be planned so that we can deal with multiple arrival times. Lou Pear and I will consult with each other at 6:00 AM and I will provide a posting update if this decision should change or we have a modified decision.

Seminar 2, Saturday, March 1

Connecticut Shandong Partnership Program
Sponsored by the Connecticut State Department of Education and Connecticut Association of Schools with support from the Freeman Foundation

Location:
Connecticut Association of Schools, Connecticut Principals' Center, 30 Realty Drive, Cheshire, CT
http://www.casciac.org/directions.shtml

Important: For Saturday, March 1, all participants must bring actual passports to the seminar. A separate passport size and passport quality photo must accompany the passport for the Chinese visa. We will complete the Chinese visa form necessary to apply for a Chinese visa at the seminar. You will be without your passport for at least two weeks. They will be returned to you on March 29 unless arrangements are made to personally pick up them up. Passports will not be mailed.

Time: 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM

Agenda

8:00 - 8:30 Arrival and Breakfast

8:30 - 9:00 Passports, Chinese Visa, Missing Forms, Lou Pear and Dan Gregg

9:00 - 10:15 Language and Culture, Jeff Wang

10:15 - 10:30 Break

10:30 - 12:00 Establishing a Sister School in China, The China Exchange Initiative, Charlotte Mason, Carolyn Henderson, Peihui Wang

Lunch Provided 12:00 Noon

1:00 - 2:00 Introduction to Shandong Province, Jeff Wang, Dan Gregg

Yingjie Liu, graduate student, University of Connecticut will be conducting research on the Connecticut Shandong School Partnership program. Ms. Liu is from Shandong Province and her research will also include partnership schools in Shandong. She will be attending all seminars and accompanying the sister school delegation to China.

Daniel W. Gregg, Social Studies Consultant and Director, Connecticut Shandong School Partnerships, Connecticut State Department of Education

Emergency Insurance

The following website takes you directly to an insurance plan that covers medical emergencies while we are in China. It also provides for repatration insurance. If you have an alternative plan, you can use it as well. The SOS basic Student Scholar Abroad traveler can be purchased 30 days or less. The website is: http://www.internationalsos.com/buymembership/Globaltrvlr.cfm?CTYO=USA&TripI=STU&Page=1 You can sign up directly on line and print out a form that has your proof of membership. If you choose to do this, be sure to bring the card with you when travel to China.

Chinese Culture

NAFSA: National Association of International Educators has developed a site for Chinese students coming to the United States. The website is http://www.china.nafsa.org. The culture section is particularly useful: http://www.china.nafsa.org/default.htm. Click on the "Differences between American culture" section and there is a neat chart detailing the differences in social relationships. You may want to explore the entire website.

Cell Phones

Communicating with loved ones at home is need we all have. There are easy ways to do it and there is a false sense that an American cell phone will somehow work anywhere in the world. We know it is technologically possible but rarely have participants had much success. Your telephone company will tell you that they can insert an international chip in your phone but chances are it won't work in China. After 13 trips to China I have given up. Someday it will work.

Use a telephone card if you have the need to communicate via live voice with your family. Telephone cards are available for purchase in China at most hotels and can be used in "phone booths" located in hotels. You will find that it can be very expensive calling from your room. Just remember that we will be constantly on the move and will not be able to make special stops for purchases nor be able to interrupt the schedule to make phone calls.

The internet is an easy way to communicate AND it will ensure that you do not wake anyone up in the middle of the night by forgetting the time difference. I have been able to conduct susbtantial office business via email in my hotel room and people never know that I am in China.

Securing Valuables

Being vigilant about valuables is true for travel anywhere in the world including the United States. There will be occasions when we will be in very crowded places such as the rail station where we need to be vigilant. We will stick together as a group and move as a group in China -- just like a Chinese group. In my own view, China is a very safe place. In fact, it is really a lot safer than the United States! Since we will be hauling cameras, laptops, a passport, credit cards and cash, one needs to be careful. You might want to consider getting one of those travel pouches with a lanyard for cash, credit cards and passport. Hotel rooms will have safes. Also, do not put valuables in any checked luggage

Travelers Cheques, Credit Cards, Cash

An experience with money in China can be a major lesson in Chinese culture and can be baffling to western views of how money is perceived. China is a cash society so you will need to exchange your U.S. currency for RMBs to efficiently make purchases in China. The hotel offers exchange services but often limits the amount to be exchanged each day.

I STONGLY ADVISE that you not bother with travelers cheques. They can be difficult and sometimes almost impossible to use in China. We wasted an hour at a bank last fall simply cashing a travelers cheque. You may get advice from your local bank or other vendors here in the U.S. that their cheques can be used in China. DO NOT BELIEVE THEM! Yes, they can probably be used but you would have to go to a specific bank to exchange. You can bring travelers cheques and try to use them but be prepared to bring them back home. We will not have time to stop at a bank so please have multiple exchange options.

You can easily exchange U.S. currency but you will probably want to limit how much you bring. I suggest bringing hundred dollar bills based on how big a spender you are. Make sure the bills are new, clean with no markings. The Chinese WILL NOT exchange money that has any kind of writing or markings on it or looks old! Cash can be exchanged at the hotel and will require your passport to process the exchange.

You can use credit cards in most stores and state owned gift shops. For purchase from vendors on the street or purchases in antique and night markets you must have cash. It is also wise to have small bills and not ask for change from large bills. They will insist that you buy more and hold the return of your change. They will give it back but you may not be accustomed to patience required to gracefully and firmly decline additional purchases. You can also use bank cards at ATM machines to obtain RMBs but we are not always near one and we cannot make special stops. If you plan to make large purchases, it might be a good idea to let your credit card company know that you are going to China. You cannot get RMBs outside of China.

If by chance you have difficulty exchanging in a timely fashion and need a small amount to get you through a day, I am sure our group will be bonded enough to help you out with a short term loan. Hotels have hours for exchanging funds and usually we can get it done in the evening after we arrive at the hotel or in the morning prior to departure. Please plan ahead so our bus departure is not held up because you are exchanging money.

Powering Electronics

Internet access is readily available in most of the hotels we will be staying in. My hunch is that you can hook up a personal computer at our Beijing hotel at little or no charge. Jinan should be okay too but there will be hotels that are problematic. You can look up the hotels when we have them booked on the internet and see what kind of internet service they have. You may find that your time is more valuable exploring China than spending too much time trying to make your equipment work. Most hotels have a business center with a small bank of computers with a charge. The cost varies widely from the very inexpensive to the outrageous. Yes, the market economy is working in China!

You do not need a converter if your equipment is designed for world-wide access (see link below) but you will need adaptors since the wall sockets are different. A converter is a device that changes power from from 220 to 110 and will be necessary if your equipment is designed for 110 only. You may need adaptors for access to power for charging camera batteries. Check out the hotlink to World Electric Power Guide http://kropla.com/electric.htm. It has a picture to show whether your computer electric cable is designed for world-wide access. Please carefully examine your power accessible electronic gear to make sure you have the correct equipment. I take no responsibility for fried electronic equipment!

If you bring your own hair dryer you will need a converter. I suggest you not bring it since most hotels will have them and they do take up space in your suitcase. Yes, I have had a number of fried hair dryers. A source for 220v small electrics for those who want hair dryers is http://www.exportappliances.com/HairDryers.htm. DO NOT buy a voltage converter for a hair dryer or a curler. It will instantly fry!!!

Office Max and Staples carry adapters. The same kit has the adaptors you will need for powering camera batteries and computers but the converter sometimes included is not designed for electronic equipment. Radio Shack has converters.

Health and Medical

It is advisable to carry with you basic medical and contact information for emergency purposes. If you are taking medication, bring along an ample supply and make sure you have the generic name just in case. Please consult you physical for immunizations you may need. Generally, for the area we are going in northern China, immunizations are similar to what is recommended in the United States.

It is also advisable to obtain evacuation insurance such as SOS or equivalent. SOS can be obtained by going to their website. Google will find it for you quickly.

Do not forget to bring any prescribed medications or hygienic necessities. While drug stores are available in China, keep in mind that we will be on the move and running a tight schedule. So please stock up on medical and hygienic items you will need in SMALL packaging. Some things to consider bringing:

- Tissues and moist towelettes (in portage packages)
- Multiple packages of tissue (the small pocket size) for use in toilet's
- Waterless anti-bacterial hand cleaner (SMALL container)
- Necessary prescription medication and list of generic names
- Common medications including aspirin, antacid, eyewash, decongestants, cough syrup or throat lozenges etc.
- Medication for diarrhea and constipation
- Bandaids, q-tips
- A SMALL first-aid kit -- really small of basics that may include some of above.

If you run out of an item or forget something in your hotel room, chances are your colleagues will be supplied. Western toliets will be available in the hotels but chances are very good that the schools you visit will be the Asian squat style so be prepared. You will need to bring you own tissues. Tissues are not available in public bathrooms. Tissues are placed in a small basket and not in the the commode! The concept of privacy in public areas is different than in the United States. Sometimes the bathrooms are not as enclosed as we are used to. Don't worry people do respect space. This should be rare but just in case ........... Don't be surprised if the public bathrooms are a bit gross.

Probably the most important health consideration is to drink clean water. This is true in many countries including our own. Do not drink any tap water! Drink bottled water. Your hotel room may have a large container of hot water that has been boiled. You can use that to make tea -- the tea bags will be there too! Bottled water will probably be in the hotel room as well. Bottled water is everywhere and very easy to purchase. We will have cases of water on the bus at all times. The water provided in restaurants should be okay. I suggest that you brush your teeth and clean your brush with bottled water.

The key to good health is to get as much rest as you can, drink bottled water, and relax. There will be no reason to be anxious about China. You will be surrounded by your colleagues or Chinese hosts and you will taken care of.