I paid my field school deposit a day or two before I left for Vietnam so I was pretty sure the field school was happening but that wasn't confirmed until I got back and found out that nine people committed to going. I guess nine is enough to make it work.
I went to my first 'field school meeting' on March 8th. Geoff, the lead, asked who had bought their tickets. I think everyone but me put up their hand. I was "umm, are the dates set?", as usual very behind on my planning. Apparently, the group had met while I was away. I only know one person who is going, Michael. I believe there are four women and five men, plus leads Geoff for the first week and Niya for the second week.
This meeting was where I found out that google and google affiliates are not usable in China. Thus the previous post about my 'alternate' blog. joannecumberland13a.altervista.org
We also went over travel issues, health, safety, dress code (casual with covered shoulders). We will be staying with host families which was one of the main reasons I am super excited to go. This will either be the best or most awkward part of the trip. Geoff suggested some host gifts for us to take but he said to be prepared for all of the gifts we will receive. Apparently, they are so generous we should bring an extra bag. I'm not sure how I feel about this but since it is going to happen no matter what, I will swallow my guilt and just be grateful for the amazing hospitality.
I am still trying to work out my funding. I have two funds, my CUPE Professional Development fund and a Global Grant for international field schools. I have submitted my application for the Global Grant but I think that one will depend on what CUPE gives me. Plus, the final costs for the field school hasn't been quite finalized so I haven't applied for the PD funds yet. I know the costs will be covered but it is just how much by whom at this point.
The dates of the field school are May 5 to May 19. To get to China by May 5, I have to fly out on May 4. I had hoped to attach a week of vacation onto one end or the other of the field school but that isn't going to work for two reasons. One, I would be seriously pushing it for my vacation days. And two, work load, I am on a conference April 29 to May 1 and then Fall registration, my very busiest time of year, starts not long after May 19. While I'm not restricted from taking vacation at that time, I can't do that to the students and my peeps in SofB and Advising.
So, I went on my favourite travel site, Google Flights (what am I going to do without google for over two weeks!!!!). We start in Shanghai and end in Beijing. Air Canada flights from Victoria -> Shanghai, Beijing -> Victoria for only $661! So cheap. It costs more to go to Toronto. But I didn't book. I had a pretty horrendous credit card bill from Vietnam so I tried to push my luck but waiting until the new month started on my Visa on Friday,. I set up tracking on the flight. I also put in the same flights for one day earlier (May 3) to leave and one day later (May 20) to return.
On the Wednesday, I checked my tracked flights. The May 4-19 flight has jumped to over $1400!. Acck. And the May 3-20 has dropped to $618. So, I bought them that day. Not worth the risk to wait. As it turned out, the charge didn't hit my visa until Friday anyway so all's well. Plus I get two extra days. (We won't mention the one day recovery time before I got back to work).
I also quasi-booked hotel rooms for my one night in Shanghai and Beijing. They are through Booking.com so I can cancel if need be. I'm not sure where we will be staying as a group so if the price is right, I might end up staying at the same hotels so I don't have to move each time. Hotel rooms in China are not cheap.
For now, I am booked in Shanghai Fish Inn for my first night.
And Jade Garden Hotel in Beijing for my last night which claims to have an amazing buffet breakfast (which I probably won't want on my last day)
So, that's where I am at for now. Next task, give up my backpack and travel like a professional grown up with a wheelie bag. Which means find a wheelie bag I can borrow from one of my friends and family. I'm not so grown up that I am willing to commit to actually paying for one.
Also, new camera. And maybe a bird book, not that there will be much birding going on but it's the principle of the thing.
I went to my first 'field school meeting' on March 8th. Geoff, the lead, asked who had bought their tickets. I think everyone but me put up their hand. I was "umm, are the dates set?", as usual very behind on my planning. Apparently, the group had met while I was away. I only know one person who is going, Michael. I believe there are four women and five men, plus leads Geoff for the first week and Niya for the second week.
This meeting was where I found out that google and google affiliates are not usable in China. Thus the previous post about my 'alternate' blog. joannecumberland13a.altervista.org
We also went over travel issues, health, safety, dress code (casual with covered shoulders). We will be staying with host families which was one of the main reasons I am super excited to go. This will either be the best or most awkward part of the trip. Geoff suggested some host gifts for us to take but he said to be prepared for all of the gifts we will receive. Apparently, they are so generous we should bring an extra bag. I'm not sure how I feel about this but since it is going to happen no matter what, I will swallow my guilt and just be grateful for the amazing hospitality.
I am still trying to work out my funding. I have two funds, my CUPE Professional Development fund and a Global Grant for international field schools. I have submitted my application for the Global Grant but I think that one will depend on what CUPE gives me. Plus, the final costs for the field school hasn't been quite finalized so I haven't applied for the PD funds yet. I know the costs will be covered but it is just how much by whom at this point.
The dates of the field school are May 5 to May 19. To get to China by May 5, I have to fly out on May 4. I had hoped to attach a week of vacation onto one end or the other of the field school but that isn't going to work for two reasons. One, I would be seriously pushing it for my vacation days. And two, work load, I am on a conference April 29 to May 1 and then Fall registration, my very busiest time of year, starts not long after May 19. While I'm not restricted from taking vacation at that time, I can't do that to the students and my peeps in SofB and Advising.
So, I went on my favourite travel site, Google Flights (what am I going to do without google for over two weeks!!!!). We start in Shanghai and end in Beijing. Air Canada flights from Victoria -> Shanghai, Beijing -> Victoria for only $661! So cheap. It costs more to go to Toronto. But I didn't book. I had a pretty horrendous credit card bill from Vietnam so I tried to push my luck but waiting until the new month started on my Visa on Friday,. I set up tracking on the flight. I also put in the same flights for one day earlier (May 3) to leave and one day later (May 20) to return.
On the Wednesday, I checked my tracked flights. The May 4-19 flight has jumped to over $1400!. Acck. And the May 3-20 has dropped to $618. So, I bought them that day. Not worth the risk to wait. As it turned out, the charge didn't hit my visa until Friday anyway so all's well. Plus I get two extra days. (We won't mention the one day recovery time before I got back to work).
I also quasi-booked hotel rooms for my one night in Shanghai and Beijing. They are through Booking.com so I can cancel if need be. I'm not sure where we will be staying as a group so if the price is right, I might end up staying at the same hotels so I don't have to move each time. Hotel rooms in China are not cheap.
For now, I am booked in Shanghai Fish Inn for my first night.
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| Image stolen from Google Images |
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| Also stolen from Google Images |
And Jade Garden Hotel in Beijing for my last night which claims to have an amazing buffet breakfast (which I probably won't want on my last day)
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| Thanks Google |
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So, that's where I am at for now. Next task, give up my backpack and travel like a professional grown up with a wheelie bag. Which means find a wheelie bag I can borrow from one of my friends and family. I'm not so grown up that I am willing to commit to actually paying for one.
Also, new camera. And maybe a bird book, not that there will be much birding going on but it's the principle of the thing.
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