Hi everyone:
We are only 5 days away from our trip to China....can't believe how time fly.
I know everyone has been packing and trying to get everything ready for the trip, but there is one other thing I want to make sure you are bringing, and that is for the train ride in China. The policy for checking in the luggage on the train is you have to have a lock on all the zippers, this is to prevent thief from stealing your belongings in your luggage. At this moment there are positive and negative reasons for checking in luggage, but I want everyone to bring locks for your luggage just in case we do get it checked it.
The positive reason for checking in for the train ride is we won't have to carry our luggage when we go on and get off the train, the negative reason is there is a chance (as there is always) when you do not have your luggage near you that it might get lost, or stolen. Either decision you should always bring your valuable stuff on the carry on bag. We can make a decision when I see everyone in China. But this is a good time to think about it as you are packing your stuff. By the way there is a place on the bottom of the bed to store all the luggage, there might be a limited space, but from my experience it wasn't a big deal.
If you are planning on using the lock while on international flight, you might be asked to unlock it as I think the airline require you to have all bags unlocked in case they want to search it. But having it in China is no problem.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Ready...Set...PACK
Hey Everyone:
I'm glad you guys are making this blog your home base for this tour, I was hoping it will get noticed and used before the tour. I want to make a announcement regarding your baggage, there might be an error regarding what I put down earlier for the weight of the check in luggage.
Based on the domestic flight regulation you could bring one checked in luggage, which is less than 50lb, now if you want to bring more stuff you can still bring it but just keep in mind that will have to be a carry on. Once you have arrived to Shanghai you can bring more stuff on the international airline when you are traveling back to America, so you can purchase what ever you couldn't buy in the other cities in Shanghai. But there are things that only the other cities sell (specialty items), so I would recommend bring less stuff when you go to China, and bring more stuff you might possibly want. If you are going with a friend it might be a good idea to split who brings the toothpaste, shampoo/condition, hair gel, spray, curling iron, hair dryer...... those stuff by itself doesn't seem like much but when they are together they weight a ton. And as for clothing the less you bring the easier your packing will be, and the less chance you will loose anything in the hotel.
Here is a sample list of clothing, items I might bring...as an example
1. 4 tops (very light, different color)
2. 1 pair of shorts
3. 1 pair of Capri (different color from my shorts)
4. 1 long sleeve zip up sweater
5. 1 pair of jeans/long pants
6. 1 skirt (light, that will match with at least 2 of my tops)
8. poncho (it's much better than umbrella as you can climb a wall if it rains)
9. suntan lotion (MUST BRING)
10. medication or travel kit for 2 weeks (bandage....)
*They will have toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, soap, shampoo/conditioner in the hotel, so that is your choice.
So that's the basic idea for what to bring on the trip, just keep in mind what ever you have to bring, you also have to pack every time you leave for the hotel, and unpack when ever you go to a hotel. So don't bring anything that is too valuable, and the less the better.
Happy Packing:D
Jennifer - your know it all traveler:D
I'm glad you guys are making this blog your home base for this tour, I was hoping it will get noticed and used before the tour. I want to make a announcement regarding your baggage, there might be an error regarding what I put down earlier for the weight of the check in luggage.
Based on the domestic flight regulation you could bring one checked in luggage, which is less than 50lb, now if you want to bring more stuff you can still bring it but just keep in mind that will have to be a carry on. Once you have arrived to Shanghai you can bring more stuff on the international airline when you are traveling back to America, so you can purchase what ever you couldn't buy in the other cities in Shanghai. But there are things that only the other cities sell (specialty items), so I would recommend bring less stuff when you go to China, and bring more stuff you might possibly want. If you are going with a friend it might be a good idea to split who brings the toothpaste, shampoo/condition, hair gel, spray, curling iron, hair dryer...... those stuff by itself doesn't seem like much but when they are together they weight a ton. And as for clothing the less you bring the easier your packing will be, and the less chance you will loose anything in the hotel.
Here is a sample list of clothing, items I might bring...as an example
1. 4 tops (very light, different color)
2. 1 pair of shorts
3. 1 pair of Capri (different color from my shorts)
4. 1 long sleeve zip up sweater
5. 1 pair of jeans/long pants
6. 1 skirt (light, that will match with at least 2 of my tops)
8. poncho (it's much better than umbrella as you can climb a wall if it rains)
9. suntan lotion (MUST BRING)
10. medication or travel kit for 2 weeks (bandage....)
*They will have toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, soap, shampoo/conditioner in the hotel, so that is your choice.
So that's the basic idea for what to bring on the trip, just keep in mind what ever you have to bring, you also have to pack every time you leave for the hotel, and unpack when ever you go to a hotel. So don't bring anything that is too valuable, and the less the better.
Happy Packing:D
Jennifer - your know it all traveler:D
Monday, July 6, 2009
Introduction
Hi. My name is Cheryl Sonna. I live in Chicago and teach Spanish & French at a suburban high school. I look forward to the trip & to meeting all of you. We are in for an adventure!
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Questions
Can't find where my original questions were posted, so will try again. First, will we need to take something a little nicer for the presentations or special programs? Second, will there be somewhere to do laundry? If not, do you have any idea how much the hotel might charge? Next, you mentioned we might want to bring another suitcase to bring back stuff we buy. One place said our luggage can only be 70 pounds. Will this be the same coming home? Last, on the tip money- does it need to be 112 one dollar bills (US) or does the demomination, such as $5, $10 or $20 matter? I want to do everything correctly. I am going to weigh my suitcases tonight! I would rather bring less clothes and bring back more stuff- I'm so excited. Now I can focus completely on the trip and getting ready. No more school business- for now....
Charlene Tevis
6th grade Art teacher
Rosenberg, TX
Charlene Tevis
6th grade Art teacher
Rosenberg, TX
Thursday, July 2, 2009
China trip...excitement builds
All of the emails back and forth have been great...builds the excitement...answers questions...brings new questions to mind.
If Jen can share more information about Feb. geog. conference I may be interested! Clare and I are creating a 'Five Themes of Geography of China' program from our trip experience. We will be presenting it in September at the National Council for Geographic Education Annual Conference in Puerto Rico. We hope to use this presentation in other places, too.
I am bringing (from the Michigan Geograhpic Alliance) 8 inflatable beach ball globes; copies of the National Geographic China map; bookmarks; and MyWonderfulWorld postcards to share with the teachers we meet in China. Will have some to share with our travel partners, also! Trying to collect Michigan quarters from the state series for students we meet.
Looking forward to meeting everyone and traveling with my 'girlfriends' from Michigan and Virginia.
Kristi
If Jen can share more information about Feb. geog. conference I may be interested! Clare and I are creating a 'Five Themes of Geography of China' program from our trip experience. We will be presenting it in September at the National Council for Geographic Education Annual Conference in Puerto Rico. We hope to use this presentation in other places, too.
I am bringing (from the Michigan Geograhpic Alliance) 8 inflatable beach ball globes; copies of the National Geographic China map; bookmarks; and MyWonderfulWorld postcards to share with the teachers we meet in China. Will have some to share with our travel partners, also! Trying to collect Michigan quarters from the state series for students we meet.
Looking forward to meeting everyone and traveling with my 'girlfriends' from Michigan and Virginia.
Kristi
Just something to think about....teaching...traveling..
As we are nearing our trip if you have ideas, or are planning on implementing what you learn on the trip to your classroom I would love to hear from you. I was just told that one of the Geography conferences in February would love to have one of our participants do a workshop on how they implemented this trip to their classroom.
If you are interested you can post it or email me, jc120882@hotmail.com
If you are interested you can post it or email me, jc120882@hotmail.com
Welcome to the Tour
Hi everyone, welcome to the 2009 Educators Tour to China blog. I wish I had thought about this earlier so everyone can start sharing their questions, answers, thoughts, excitements...but it's not too late as we are starting our 14 days of count down to the day of the trip.
If you have questions or want to share your answers, or just your thoughts on the trip, please do so. I will start off by saying
Welcome on the tour, and I can't wait to meet everyone on the trip.
I have post a few things I want you to think about as we are nearing the trip. If you feel there are more that I haven't answer, please let me know, I just wrote those off the top of my head. I will be checking this blog everyday.
- Clothing (Bring light and flexible, something you can climb stairs with)
- Protection (Sun screen greater than 40, hats, a money belt)
- Money (Bring a variety forms of money, such as cash and cashiers check)
- Luggage ( Make sure you make some room for items you are going to purchase when you come back from China, there have been too many instances where participants had to purchase extra luggage because they couldn't fit the extra items they bought in China)
- Medicine (If you are on any medication, make sure they bring enough for 2 weeks)
- Plane ride (Bring something to entertain yourself on the 16 hr or so to and back from China; also make sure you are putting any carry on liquid item in a plastic bag as required by the airport)
- Contact with family/friend (Purchase phone card in China, they will be sold in hotels; also each hotel will have a business room where you can email your family and friends for a fee)
- If you are bringing any electronic device, such as a razor, digital camera, blow dryer,... make sure you also purchase a voltage transfer device, China's voltage is 220, different than America so you need to purchase one (walmart has it) to make sure yours doesn't get over charged and break.
- Tour schools (We will be visiting 2 schools, so if you like you can bring small gifts for the students, most likely you will only really talk to 2-3 students so bring coins or American pins so you can exchange with them)
If you have questions or want to share your answers, or just your thoughts on the trip, please do so. I will start off by saying
Welcome on the tour, and I can't wait to meet everyone on the trip.
I have post a few things I want you to think about as we are nearing the trip. If you feel there are more that I haven't answer, please let me know, I just wrote those off the top of my head. I will be checking this blog everyday.
- Clothing (Bring light and flexible, something you can climb stairs with)
- Protection (Sun screen greater than 40, hats, a money belt)
- Money (Bring a variety forms of money, such as cash and cashiers check)
- Luggage ( Make sure you make some room for items you are going to purchase when you come back from China, there have been too many instances where participants had to purchase extra luggage because they couldn't fit the extra items they bought in China)
- Medicine (If you are on any medication, make sure they bring enough for 2 weeks)
- Plane ride (Bring something to entertain yourself on the 16 hr or so to and back from China; also make sure you are putting any carry on liquid item in a plastic bag as required by the airport)
- Contact with family/friend (Purchase phone card in China, they will be sold in hotels; also each hotel will have a business room where you can email your family and friends for a fee)
- If you are bringing any electronic device, such as a razor, digital camera, blow dryer,... make sure you also purchase a voltage transfer device, China's voltage is 220, different than America so you need to purchase one (walmart has it) to make sure yours doesn't get over charged and break.
- Tour schools (We will be visiting 2 schools, so if you like you can bring small gifts for the students, most likely you will only really talk to 2-3 students so bring coins or American pins so you can exchange with them)
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