Interest Meeting for China Trip October 29, 2014 Laurel International Corp.

Meeting Objectives Introduce Laurel International Corp. A quick look at BJ #50 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

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

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

Beijing #50 HS A top public school in Dongcheng District, BJ Founded in ,000 students Grades 7-12

2010/06FHS principal visited China 2010/08BJ #50 HS Assistant Principal visited U.S. 2010/10BJ #50 HS students visited U.S. 2011/04FHS students visited China 2011/12 BJ #50 HS principal Mr. Yu visited FHS The sister school partnership agreement was officially signed Exchange visits by both schools’ students every year Milestones of Sister School Partnership

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 Q Just overtook US as world's largest economy according to IMF China has the longest, continuous civilization in the world - some 5,000 years “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

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

A Recent German Study - Long Term (10 year) Effects of 6-Week Exchange Programs A nice experience to have (20%) Mosaic (20%) Domino (30%) Turning point (30%) Nice experience Mosaic Domino Turning point

Xi’an Shanghai Beijing D.C. Traveling Route

Tentative Itinerary Day #DateTimeCityActivity 1Fri, 3/20AMD.C.D.C. Beijing 2Sat, 3/21Day timeBJ Arrive at BJ; welcoming ceremony at school; guest students are picked up by host families, chaperons check into hotel 3Sun, 3/22 Day time BJ Guest and host students tour Great Wall & Olympic Village EveningSee an acrobatics show 4Mon, 3/23Whole dayBJGuest students shadow host students at school 5Tue, 3/24Whole dayBJGuest students take Chinese culture classes at school 6Wed, 3/25Whole dayBJGuest students tour Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City 7Thu, 3/26 AM BJ Guest students take Chinese culture classes at school NoonFarewell Party PMTravelBJ (high speed) Xi’an 8Fri, 3/27 Day time Xi’an Tour Terra-cotta Warriors Museum & City Wall EveningDumpling Feast & Tang Dynasty’s music and dance show 9Sat, 3/28 AMTravelXi’an Shanghai PM Shanghai Visit Silk Factory & Chenghuang Temple NightHuangpu River cruise 10Sun, 3/29 AMShanghaiVisit Pudong Business Development District PMTravelShanghai D.C. EveningD.C.Arrive at D.C.

Timeline for Trip Participants Submit completed information sheet by end of November Submit $500 deposit by winter break Submit $2,500 fee, get int’l air ticket, submit visa application materials by Jan, 2015 Attend the pre-trip meeting in Mar, 2015

Cultural Exchange is about SHARING & LEARNING