One-Week Diary: A Chronicle of a Week in China

Following the popularity of last year’s China trip blog, 10 students and three faculty members from the College of the Holy Cross will chronicle their 10-day study tour to the third largest country in the world over spring break.

But don’t expect the same musings as last year, says Claudia Ross, professor of Chinese and coordinator of the Chinese program.

"There is always something new in China," she says. "While in Beijing we will experience the building frenzy that is occurring in preparation for the 2008 Olympics. This includes the construction of several subway lines, as well as streets, parks and roads — all at the same time!"

Daniel Bernard Connors ’08, Nicole Marie Farrell ’09, Nicholas Perry Hanges ’06, Sally Hile ’08, Natalie Victoria Lin ’09, Christopher James Matthews ’07, Christina Newell ’08, Stephen Schoenberger ’09, Christina Simollardes ’08 and Alexandra Winslow ’09 will share their experiences during the trip, from their takeoff at Boston’s Logan International Airport on March 3 to their observations of a rapidly-changing Beijing to their return to Worcester on March 12.

In addition to Ross, faculty members Baozhang He, visiting assistant professor in the modern languages and literatures department, and Karen Turner, professor of history, will help the students navigate their way through the culture-rich country.

The trip will give students the opportunity to see "the old" and "the new," and the professors will help them understand how dynamic growth and rapid social changes in China in the 21st century are affecting the country’s economy, environment and quality of life. The group will also examine China’s importance for America’s national security, foreign relations and trade.

Among other scheduled activities, the group will meet with Meg Maggio ’82, who is in the process of establishing her own art studio, and David Dorson ’00, a former student in Holy Cross’ Chinese language program and who is now working for Deloitte and Touche in Shangai. They will also spend an afternoon with De-Ping Yang, associate professor of physics, who will be visiting his family and doing some sightseeing.

Related information:

# China Study Tour Blog 2006