It's still hard to think that in a month I'll be in Europe. I'm exicted for this trip. If one doesn't count Canada or Mexico than I've never visited another country. I've never been anywhere in Europe. I think what I'm most looking foward to is getting the chance to visit Athens. I'm also glad I'm going to be traveling around to several different countries. After this trip I'll be able to return to europe and have a better understanding of what to expect and what I want out of the trip. At this point I'm just exicted to be going somewhere. I don't really know what to expect of what I want out of this. I just know that I'm ready to see as much as I can.

Because we have not yet left, it's hard to know whether the people of China share PLU's commitment to justice, health, sustainability, and peace. I hope that my experiences and conversations during the trip will help me to learn more about these values, and the ways in which China is viewing and addressing them.

With our trip to China only a few weeks away, I keep thinking about what I am looking forward to. The course is looking at the various art forms in China and the effects globalization and modernity has had on Chinese traditions. As a psychology major, I'm really interested in how art forms reflect one's culture and identity, and what it might mean for a group of people when those traditional values are threatened.

I've also loved learning about other cultures. They've always fascinated me, but I've never had the opportunity to really experience other cultures. I'm so excited to have this op

The question asked of the J-term trip to China is, "Do people in your host culture share PLU's stated commitment to educating for justice, health, sustainability, and peace?" Having not exactly been their yet, I know no exact details. Many could say through biased mouthes that any country opposed to another countries supposed set of definitions for those afore mentioned factors of education that the country does not share those commitments. But I expect to find at the base of things that they do hold such goals as important.

Goals such as justice, health, sustainability, and peace are rather general pillars of order for any society and I believe are the goals that every individual entity (be it a nation or single human being) strives for, often indirectly.

For the past I don't know how many years, my family has traveled about, to various states and countries. To this day, I've been to Canada, Mexico, Japan, Korea, Ireland, and I'm not sure how many different states. I think it's safe to say that I've kind of grown fond of it, being able to travel to a distant, alien enviornment and being dropped straight into it with little knowledge of what to expect from the experience.

As a freshman student here at PLU interested in Music and Communications, Its absolutely terrific that I get to travel abroad to China my first year in college. The course will cover any number of topics of the emerging super power but will concentrate on cultural past to present. I became interested in this trip through Prof. Youtz's Music/Culture class in which I was taught about the history of musical tradition in China. Being the music nut I am, I could'nt really pass up the oppritunity to travel to one of the worlds oldest nations and study their experience with musical expression. Also, I am eager to travel to a country that isn't governed democratically and discover how they live their lives.

We have not left for China yet, so I am also wondering if they share PLU's values. I will, however, look into it as I experience the Chinese culture.

As we travel briefly in several European cities, I look forward to observing the differences in cultures and the different ways of life in each country. It will be amazing to see important sites of philisophical thought as well as amazing historical locations.

I am most looking forward to travelling in Greece, as it is a country I have never been to, but have heard much about. Our day in Corinth will surely be a highlight!

i can't wait to leave

As instructor for the Arts of China course this J term, I am very much looking forward to introducing the students in our group to some of the wonderful artistic traditions in China that I love.

I remember when I did not have any particlar understanding or appreciation for these non-Western traditions, and I remember clearly those "AHA!" moments of discovery when I suddenly found that I understood them- like opening a door that had always been there and discovering a beautiful new world behind it.

Usually those AHA moments have happened to me when I was "on the road"- deeply immersed in a culture by living and traveling in it. I hope to be able to give our group some opportunities for these moments during our three weeks together in China.