Extra Budget Items for VIPKid Field Trip
While the tour price of the VIPKid is actually quite reasonable, it is only a portion of the budget you need for this trip. First, you must book your own flights. Also, my son and I added a few days in Shanghai as well as a quick jaunt to Hong Kong so that I could […]
Should I use WeChat?
WeChat is an app available for your phone that is more or less a Chinese government allowed combination of Facebook, Facebook Messenger, YouTube, Instagram, and Whatsapp all rolled up in one. You can message people as well as call or video chat with them. This is the one service that we found words very well […]
Traveling in a Group
The VIPKid Field Trip was basically a group tour with some VIPKid activities mixed in. The travel agency we used was great and our tour guide was amazing. However, if you have never traveled in a group tour setting, there are some things that you may need to consider. I do recommend that the first […]
The Realities of Jet Lag
I had always heard of jet lag and had experienced it when I traveled to Europe, but the jet lag I experienced on this trip to China was extreme. I’m not sure if this had to do with my age, the shorter travel stay while I was away, or the different direction I was flying, […]
Extreme Bargaining in China
Bargaining in China is an expected part of your shopping experience. While I have visited other cultures, they did not seem as extreme as what I experienced in China. So be prepared for a very unique experience. We had a few minutes at the famous Pearl Market in Beijing to do some shopping. There were […]
Tipping in China
For the most part, gratuity is not accepted in China. Our tour guide explained to us that she had seen Americans leave a tip at the lunch table, and the waiter chased them down the street to give back their money. It is not culturally acceptable to give a tip for service. If you had […]
What to Pack for your China trip in Winter
The biggest variable for what to pack is your clothing. First of all, that is a broad statement. It is the same as saying “what should I pack to visit America in winter”. There are many more variables that you must take into consideration. Our trip visited Beijing, Shanghai, and my son and I took […]
Help Getting your Chinese Visa
In order to travel to China, you must have a Chinese visa. There are several companies that help you with this process. Typically, I am comfortable with doing my own paperwork, but we had a slight problem. In order to get your visa for China, you must have at least 3 months left on your […]
VIPKid Field Trip to China – Introduction
On September 17, the Weekly Teacher Update included a little blurb about a Field Trip to China scheduled for November 13-21. At first, I didn’t really give it much thought because traveling to China seemed impossible. I’m not sure exactly why I looked at the information further, but it sounded like fun (and was a […]