study tour

[clay dube]

It's probably a good idea to stock up on film prior to heading to China (if you use a film camera). Piracy is a huge problem in China and it's possible that you'd be getting fake Kodak or Fuji film, even if you are purchasing it in a large hotel or shop. On the other hand, it is readily available, so don't fret too much about running out.

Digital photographers should take advantage of sales to get memory cards to take along. Pick up a Sunday paper (3/19) for the CompUSA ad and you can get PNY 512 mb Compact Flash or Secure Digital cards for $10 (after the usual instant savings and mail-in rebate). This is a terrific deal. Memory cards tend to be cheaper here than in China or Japan.

In China and Japan, many photo shops can copy your photos from your cards to cd-roms. You can get your photos printed out cheaply in China.

[clay dube]

Many of us will stay in touch with others during the trip via email. It's cheaper and , given the time difference and phone card hassles, much easier. Most internet cafes are cheap and they are readily located. In some cases, bargains exist right within our hotels.

Please be sure that you set up at least one email account using a free service. This will enable you to easily communicate with family and friends from the road. Many of these will permit you to read your pop3 mail (e.g., your district or other account) as well (you'll need to set this up in advance as you'll need to know your server address).

I have used Yahoo mail for years and find that it works quite well. Features include spell checking, effective spam filtering, and automatic virus scanning.

http://www.my.yahoo.com

Google mail is also excellent (click here), but you may need someone who already has it to "invite" you to sign up.

Hotmail is Microsoft's offering (http://www.hotmail.com).

Others:
Excite

FastMail

Advanced

If you are setting up a Yahoo or Google account, you can also add UCLA Asia Institute and other news to your My Yahoo or Google homepage.

For Yahoo here's what you add under "rss feed": http://add.my.yahoo.com/rss?url=http://www.international.ucla.edu/asia/rss/rss.asp

For Google here's the rss feed: http://international.ucla.edu/asia/rss/rss.asp

[clay dube]

Here are Weather Underground updates for our destinations:

Beijing

Xi'an

Shanghai

Weather Channel
Luoyang

[clay dube]

Hi Folks, The current though still tentative version of the itinerary is attached.

[Anonymous]

I think this would be excellent idea for each school in our district. All of these items could be collected in China. It would enable teachers of all grade levels to incorporate Asia into their classroom. This would not take a great deal of time and would benefit the entire school.

[Anonymous]

I have received the same excitement as you have encountered. My students continue to ask question. We have looked on the map and discussed where I will be traveling. I have been monitoring the weather and discussing the geography with my students. Some of my students have been to China and have brought in pictures and souvenirs they have attained from China. My students are so excited to look at pictures from China with all of the teachers from our school in them.

[Anonymous]

Our book fair is going on this week and next and I just purchased Mrs. Frizzle Travels to Imperial China. What great timing. I plan on reading and discussing it with my kids today and tomorrow.

[clay dube]

Hi Folks,
I've attached the rooming list that our travel agent is working with. I know that some will be ecstatic and others will wonder why they couldn't get even one of the people they listed. It's partly just a function of the numbers (if four people list the same two people as their desired roommates, dissatisfaction is inevitable). We're mixing things up halfway through the trip, in part so you can get to know someone else a bit better and in part to stimulate greater discussion in the group at large. If serious problems exist, let me know and we'll see what, if anything can be done.

Having sent the hotels the rooming list should make check-in faster and increase the likelihood that if you will directly receive calls or faxes from California.

By the way, I was hugely disappointed not to have been included on anyone's list.

Friendless in Westwood,
clay

[clay dube]

Hi Folks,
You may wish to provide loved ones and even those unloved ones who might need to reach you with this website:

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/

time and date.com provides current times around the globe and also dialing instructions from here to there:

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/dialing.html?p2=33

[Anonymous]

You mean I 'm stuck with Alex for the whole trip! I'm already tired of the guy and we don't even leave until next week! 😀

Just kidding Alex. By the way do snore? :~

[Anonymous]

I've gotten shirts from Miraleste to use as my "colleague" gifts (as well as UCLA caps), but could bring more if we wanted them to be part of a larger gift. Also, I was thinking of bringing 2 yearbooks, one to be left at each site (I certainly don't need to lug them home). I can bring more if necessary. Please advise.

By the way, today begins the educator's 25% discount time at Borders for that last minute book shopping

Malynn

[Anonymous]

Malynn great idea to get shirts. I will ask Ridgecrest for shirts. My students have made book marks and I am going to laminate them. I bought carmel apple pops to take as well. I think I will go to Borders this weekend too. Thanks for the heads up.

Cathy[Edit by="crieder on Mar 24, 10:20:54 AM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I am bringing small bead bracelets for the students. Haven't gotten the peer gifts yet. Thanks for the Borders info. Enjoy the beautiful day and weekend!

[Anonymous]

I just had the idea today to have my students write in the yearbooks. On the signature pages, I'm doing topics like: favorite movie or musical group, hobbies, things I like about school, etc. I'll have my students list items to include. I hope it gives a more personal touch and allows students in China to see how we are similar and different.

Caramel pops for every kid? Wow! Over achiever. Don't forget your roommate

Malynn

[Anonymous]

I have gotten a few t-shirt from Pt. Vicente school to pass on in China. My students slao made bookmarks for the children. We attached pictures of my students to the bookmarks. They turned out really cute!

[Author]

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