Freeman Experiment Teacher’s Project 2008
The Experiment in International Living
World Learning
Graduate Studies Program – School for International Training
Brattleboro, Vermont
"The Experiment in International Living provides individuals an opportunity to explore the world and learn first hand about different cultures. These cross-cultural adventures challenge participants to break stereotypes, reduce xenophobia, and celebrate the diversity of life." The Experiment in International Living
Vermont teacher-ambassadors standing along the Yi River in front of the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang,
Henan Province, People's Republic of China. From left to right are Kelly Rounds, Shi Wentao (National
Tour Guide), Amanda Harris, Bill Herrington, Jessica Lamb, Maureen Burke, Tifin Calcagni, Bruce Garrow
(Team Leader), Rosemary Fitzsimons, Linda Donaghue, Brad Houk, and Bruce Marshall, July, 2008
(photo courtesy of Linda Donaghue).
Students at Number 5 Experimental Elementary School learning new games
from the Freeman teacher-ambassadors. In the foreground, students learning
to play duck-duck-goose; in the background, Shi Wentao and Brad Houk
teaching the game of slap-jack, in Luoyang City, Henan Province, People's
Republic of China, July, 2008 (photo courtesy of Bill Herrington).
During the spring of 2008, Brad Houk (along with nine other Vermont educators and a team leader) was selected to be part of the Freeman Experiment Teacher's Project. The Vermont Freeman team traveled independently to San Francisco before meeting up at the SFO International Airport. From there, they traveled closely together through China for the next 22 days. It was a trip that evolved into an incredible journey (and will be documented on this website). This website is dedicated to the team, the experiences they shared, the purpose of the journey (as described above), and those who made the journey possible: the Freeman Foundation, The Experiment in International Living, and World Learning. The purpose of this website is to share not only the experiences of the journey in China, but of those that followed in Vermont while working and
sharing in the classroom, the school, and the community.
A few of the team's hosts in Luoyang City, Henan Province, People's Republic
of China (July, 2008).
"Overview: Starting in 1999, The Experiment in International Living and Freeman Foundation partnered to launch the Freeman Experiment Teacher's Project. The goal of this collaboration is to infuse knowledge about and excitement for Asia into the classrooms, schools, and communities of Vermont through the creation of dynamic immersion programs for teachers and teachers in training. These projects combine elements of classic Experiment in International Living programs with a focus on specific Asian topics. Teachers from a select group of public and private schools throughout Vermont and New York City and teachers in training at select colleges have been invited to consider the opportunity.
"The Freeman Experiment Teacher's Project engages Teacher Ambassadors in a cross-cultural orientation and homestay. In addition, Teacher Ambassadors become immersed in Chinese culture through visits to local schools, hands-on activities, excursions to historic temples, shrines, and monuments, and in-depth exploration with in-country experts working with the Hebei Foreign Service Center in China. Please refer to the itinerary for more details.
"The Freeman Experiment Teacher's Project seeks to break new ground in cross-cultural education for teachers. These projects challenge teachers to develop a deeper understanding of how to communicate across cultural, national, racial, and linguistic borders while preparing them to integrate their international experience into their classrooms, schools, and communities upon return." The Experiment in International Living General Information for Programs in China
A Selected Entry from Brad Houk's Journal
15-17 July 2008
Brad Houk, a student of Mandarin Chinese, conversing with passengers
on a train between Beijing and Zhengzhou, Henan Province, People's
Republic of China, July, 2008 (photo courtesy of Rosemary Fitzsimons).
Brad teaches at the Opportunities In Learning alternative program for
the Windsor Southwest Supervisory Union, Chester, Vermont, USA.
Itinerary: Experiment 2008
MEETING PLACE – SAN FRANCISCO (SFO), July 17
Meet up with your group at 7:00am on July 17, 2008 at the United Airlines departure counter in the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Flight: United Airlines #889: Departs at 11:07am; arrives in Beijing at 2:25pm
ORIENTATION – BEIJING, July 18-21
Spend your first three days acclimating to Chinese culture and Mandarin language. You and your group will explore diverse neighborhoods, sample Chinese cuisine, and get to know each other and Chinese culture during group discussions. Activities include a visit to the Forbidden City, dinner at a traditional cabaret tea-house, a trip to the Summer palace, and a Peking Duck dinner. Accommodations: Orient Hotel, 101 JiaoDaoKou East Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
HOMESTAYS AND TRAVEL
LUOYANG, XI’AN, and GUIZHOU PROVINCE, July 22- August 3
Transfer to Luoyang by train. Spend the evening exploring a night market and preparing for your first homestay. In the morning, stroll around the People’s Square and join locals practicing Tai Ji. Accommodations: New Friendship Hotel, 6 Xiyuan Road, Luoyang.
Take a bus to your rural homestay community and prepare to meet your new Chinese family! For the next three days, you will live with a host family in this Luoyang village. The homestay allows you an opportunity to become fully immersed in the daily life of a Chinese family and community. During your homestay, you will get together with your group to participate in activities and excursions throughout the area. You might bicycle to Longmen Grottoes, visit the tomb museum outside the town, play mahjong with your family, or learn how to do Chinese calligraphy.
Say goodbye to your host family as you board an afternoon train to Xi’an. You will spend one night in Xi’an preparing for your second homestay. Accommodations: Xi’an Foreign Languages University Hotel, 373 Chang’an South Road, Xi’an.
Meet your new homestay family in the morning to begin your four-day urban homestay in Xi’an. During this homestay, activities include a visit to the Liang Cun yaodong cave village, trips to the market with your family, visiting the nearby Han Yan Tombs and museum, attending a Tang music performance, and an excursion to the famous Terra Cotta Warriors.
Transfer by plane to Guiyang and overnight in a hotel before your next homestay. Accommodations: Ramada Hotel, 1 Beijing Rd, Guiyang.
Travel by bus to Xijiang Village to begin your Miao village homestay and see an evening performance in your new host community. While in the Miao village you will visit a Sunday market, practice your Chinese language skills, and take a day trip to another local minority village. Your last night will be in Kaili. Accommodations: Guotai Hotel, 6 Beijing East Road, Kaili
DEPARTURE – SHANGHAI, August 4-6
Transfer back to Guiyang for an afternoon flight to Shanghai. Spend your final days in China exploring bustling Shanghai. Activities will include a visit to the Yu Yuan Gardens, time for shopping along Nanjing Road and the Bund, an acrobatics performance, and discussions about re-entry before your journey home. Accommodations: Jinshajiang Hotel, 801 Jinshajiang Rd, Shanghai
Flight: United Airlines #858 departs Shanghai at 12:25pm; arrives in San Francisco at 8:27am.
This itinerary was written by the Experiment in International Living and sent to all team members.
Max, a student at Opportunties In Learning, is wearing a
Kazakh camel fur hat, Mongolian sheepskin jacket with a horse-
hair collar, and Chinese herder's cotton sash during Brad's world
cultures social studies class.
Special thanks to Rosemary Fitzsimons, Amanda Harris, Tifin Calcagni and Bill Herrington for the use of their photographs. All other photographs, drawings and prose by Brad Houk unless otherwise noted.
Copyright © 2008 by Brad Houk, All Rights Reserved
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