Less than two days until we are en route to China! Over a year ago, the seven of us were notified that we had been accepted on this trip of a lifetime. This whole year, it's been a thought in the back of our heads, but it was never fully realized until this past month that it's really happening! Now we are in slight panic-mode. Finishing report cards, cumulative folders, end-of-year gifts, cleaning (or even packing) classrooms; all the while packing and preparing for a complete uprooting into a world unlike any we've ever experienced before. Let us back up a little bit.
Our former Superintendent traveled to China two years ago with a group of administrators from across Ohio. While there, she made a connection with the principal of a school in Wuhan and ultimately hosted the principal here in Wyoming! Once the connection was made, the wheels started turning. The idea of sending teachers to experience Chinese culture developed the following year, and through lots of conversations and planning, a tour was planned. After an application process, seven teachers were chosen from Wyoming Schools, joining almost 30 others teachers from around Ohio, to experience this trip.
We've done online coursework in preparation for the trip and had countless emails and planning meetings to hammer out the logistics. We've met with our former Superintendent, our new Superintendent (who happened to travel on the same trip!), members of the tour company taking us there, other teachers with whom we're traveling, and even Wyoming community members who have lived in or are from China.
The itinerary for the trip takes us to Bejing, Wuhan (where our sister school is), Xi'an and Shanghai. We will visit many of the popular tourist locations (Can you really go to China without visiting the Great Wall?) to experience the culture, as well as observe in our sister school and stay with families to fully experience daily life in China.
We aren't sure how often we will have internet connection (or time) to blog about our experiences, but we will definitely make an effort to stay in touch and describe our experiences and thoughts. You can bet there will be some great stories involving chopsticks and eastern toilets! (But hopefully not in the same story.) Stay tuned!
Anne, Caryn, Diann, Indrani, Jen, Marti and Stefani
Our former Superintendent traveled to China two years ago with a group of administrators from across Ohio. While there, she made a connection with the principal of a school in Wuhan and ultimately hosted the principal here in Wyoming! Once the connection was made, the wheels started turning. The idea of sending teachers to experience Chinese culture developed the following year, and through lots of conversations and planning, a tour was planned. After an application process, seven teachers were chosen from Wyoming Schools, joining almost 30 others teachers from around Ohio, to experience this trip.
We've done online coursework in preparation for the trip and had countless emails and planning meetings to hammer out the logistics. We've met with our former Superintendent, our new Superintendent (who happened to travel on the same trip!), members of the tour company taking us there, other teachers with whom we're traveling, and even Wyoming community members who have lived in or are from China.
The itinerary for the trip takes us to Bejing, Wuhan (where our sister school is), Xi'an and Shanghai. We will visit many of the popular tourist locations (Can you really go to China without visiting the Great Wall?) to experience the culture, as well as observe in our sister school and stay with families to fully experience daily life in China.
We aren't sure how often we will have internet connection (or time) to blog about our experiences, but we will definitely make an effort to stay in touch and describe our experiences and thoughts. You can bet there will be some great stories involving chopsticks and eastern toilets! (But hopefully not in the same story.) Stay tuned!
Anne, Caryn, Diann, Indrani, Jen, Marti and Stefani