China: May 2012

Why the China cross-cultural?

  • In case you have missed it, China is in the news a lot. Much of the press is bad (Tibet, human rights, tainted toys, taking our jobs, pollution); this is an opportunity to get a broader and more objective view.
  • China is an emerging superpower where incredible things are happening. What China does in the coming years will impact your life significantly. For example, China now owns the largest portion of the US national debt (allowing you to keep buying on credit!), and I don’t need to tell you how everything we seem to buy is made in China. China’s foreign policy decisions will influence what the US does more so than any other country in the coming years. We need China and they need us—learning more about the place is an important first step for all of us.
  • At no time in history has such a massive chunk of humanity experienced such incredible changes in just a few years. The place simply is mind-boggling. You can hear first hand from Chinese college students, Chinese host families, and others about these changes and what it means for them.
  • Speaking of history, China has lots of that too. You will have the chance to see really old stuff (including the amazing army of terracotta warriors that Emperor Qin buried with him when he died about 2,200 years ago) and learn things that your history teachers skipped over because they didn’t have much of a clue themselves.
  • Here is a chance to experience a culture that is very, very different from your own. Several weeks barely gets your toes wet, but it is enough to be overwhelmed and fascinated by all that you don’t know—just being in China is a cross-cultural experience.

Estimated Cost: $5,000 (subject to change)
Seminar Leaders: Leah Boyer, Mathematical Sciences, and Myrrl Byler with Mennonite Partners in China
Course: CCSSC 201 Cross-cultural Social Science (3 SH)

Recommended Immunizations
