And they’re off!
Julie Farrell, Participant
The group departed from Beijing as scheduled....Read More
Colorado Academy China
Goodbyes from Beijing
Julie Farrell, Instructor
Our whirlwind few days in the Chinese capital included a toasty tour of the Forbidden City and an equally roasty hike up to the Great Wall. Fueled by ice cream, fresh watermelon and strong wills, the group has braved the Beijing heat with humor and......Read More
Homestay Lessons
Kayla, Participant
Last night I walked into my homestay bedroom and saw exactly what I was afraid of seeing: a massive spider on the wall right next to my bed. This was the largest spider I have ever seen in my life, and the night before this one it had stationed......Read More
The Real Farm Animals of Tibet
Anna Fucarino (feat. content from Kayla Wolins & Lily Brinker), Participant
Over the course of our homestay, me and a couple other of students have been naming all of the animals that reside in the village and have also given them intricate backstories. Our first animal (and one of our favorites) is a small pink piglet who......Read More
La Yue Village Homestays
Petal Niles, Instructor
Our second morning in La Yue Shan again saw trails of mist hugging the lush mountainside. From the stream at the bottom of the village we followed Yang Laoshi up the trails towards the clouds. We passed outcrops of rock roses, rhododendron not yet......Read More
The Trip So Far
Lily Brinker, Participant
The first handful of days in China have all been busy and extremely interesting. Our visit to the school in Chengdu was eventful, and despite us only being there for a short time, the entirety of our experience has been great so far. On top of......Read More
School Stay Reflection
Sean Paton, Participant
Hello everybody, we’ve had some very interesting experiences in China so far. One of those experiences was at a local Chinese boarding school, “Hua Shang”. It’s a school that brings in kids from the country side and from rural communities......Read More
Goodbye Huashang, Hello Hot Pot
Simon, Dragons Admin
After saying goodbye to Huashang this morning the group returned to Chengdu. The students explored People’s Park and got to try hot pot for the first time. Finally, lead panda researcher Jake Owens talked with us about his work and the biology of......Read More
Team Updates
Dragons Team, Participant
Our stay at Huashang Vocational School continues with a jam-packed schedule and back-to-back cultural activities! Here are some brief updates from our team: Jasmine: Hey family. What’s up guys? I miss you guys a lot. We are at a school right now.......Read More
School Exchange
Petal and Julie, Participant
Today we received a warm and exciting welcome from the Huashang Technical School community. From lessons on learning how to live in a Chinese dorm room (blankets folded to perfection!) to a basketball game and trying out traditional Han dress,......Read More
Students and Teachers Have Arrived in Chengdu!
Julie Farrell, Participant
After the long flights, our intrepid team is headed straight to bed to rest up for tomorrow’s full day of activities!...Read More
In Transit to China
Petal Niles, Participant
Students and teachers are on their way! Julie and I look forward to meeting everyone at the airport for a welcome to Sichuan and the journey ahead....Read More
Packing Reminders
Julie Farrell & Petal Niles, Instructor
Hi all! As you prep for our trip, remember–you’ll thank yourself for packing light! We’re covering a lot of ground, so being able to comfortably carry your packs on your own is essential. With that said, here are a few items......Read More
Greetings from your Instructor!
Julie Farrell, Participant
大家好！ I’m Julie Farrell (but will also answer to 范竹丽, “other Julie,” etc.), and though I’ve met most of you over Skype already, I’ll give you a bit more context about myself and what I do here in Sichuan. I......Read More
Updated Itinerary
Julie Farrell and Petal Niles, Participant
Hello Friends and Families of Colorado Academy, We’re delighted to be traveling with you in China in just a few short weeks. As the chaos of the end-of-the-year ensues, we invite you take a moment to review our revised itinerary, check......Read More
你好！Greetings from Your Instructor
Petal Niles, Participant
Greetings Travelers! It was because of Wei Laoshi I first found myself in Beijing studying Mandarin when I was fifteen so it is always special to get to travel with you all! I am currently based in Claremont, California where I study law and......Read More