Educational Exchange Trip to China - Laurel International Corp.

1. Interest Meeting for China TripOctober 28, 2014 Laurel International Corp.

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. Beijing #22 HS • A top public school in Dongcheng District, BJ • Founded in 1924 • 2,400 students • Grades 7-12

6. Milestones of Sister School Partnership

7. 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 5,000years • “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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Traveling Route D.C. Beijing Xi’an Shanghai

11. Tentative Itinerary

12. 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

13. Cultural Exchangeis aboutSHARING&LEARNING