Location:

Beijing, China

Program Type:

Study Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Term:

Fall Semester, Spring Semester

Program Overview

Program Description:

Tibetan Buddhism, Taoism, community service, brush painting and calligraphy, Mandarin and Tibetan language study, folk dancing, music, community service, and much more will be included in this Global Learning Across Borders (Global LAB) semester program which offers participants an authentic, hands-on introduction to the remarkable cultures and traditions of both the “The Middle Kingdom” and Tibet.

Global Learning Across Borders' China/Tibet semester will feature cultural, religious and language study in multiple, varied regions of the People's Republic of China, including: orientation and exploration in the economic boomtown of Guangzhou; volunteering at a medical clinic in Guangdong Province; first-hand experience of the natural and cultural diversity of Yunnan Province; study Islam and Tibetan Buddhism in Xining; service work at a rural Tibetan school in Amdo; homestays in Emei, Sichuan; study of Mandarin and Tibetan language; cultural instruction of Martial Arts, brushpainting, or calligraphy in Lijiang or Dali; engage with Chinese students during a stay at Zhanjiang Normal University; and pursue various independent study projects during the semester to reinforce the cultural immersion experience.

An intense appreciation for the diversity and complexity of Chinese and Tibetan culture, people, language, history, geography, and Buddhist practices. This semester provides a unique opportunity to witness the stark juxtaposition of evolving modernity and enduring tradition across China--from rural to urban to all gradients in between.

Setting Description:

The semester will take in a variety of settings from urban to rural: bustling Guangzhou; the southern provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and naturally striking Yunnan; city of Xining, the cultural heart of the Tibetan region of Amdo; Chengdu on the northern edge of the Tibetan plateau; Sichuan province; an excursion to Zhongdian (aka “Shangalila"); the coastal city of Zhanjiang; the UNESCO world heritage city of Lijiang; and a brief visit to Hong Kong.

Cost:

$12,295, excluding international airfare.