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Lijiang is one of the only towns in China that has kept its roots, tradition and architecture. The Lijiang trip is a fairly new program to AISG as this year was only the second that juniors have gone on the trip. When asked about her first China trip, new student Alice Fiorito said, “It was very exciting and fun. I feel like the activities were very well planned.” The juniors had a range of activities that explored the culture of the citizens in Lijiang. The students were separated into three groups (Groups A, B and C) which all stayed at a different hotel or homestay.
The juniors’ trip began at 3:30 AM on Monday, September 26. They had the privilege of taking the flight that departed at 6 AM from the Baiyun airport to Lijiang. Group A and B had a tremendous start to their journey but group C’s start was a little rough. Due to a tight schedule, group C was unable to check in properly at the airport so they could not board the flight with Groups A and B. Instead, they stayed and waited for the next flight at around 12 PM to go to Kunming then to Lijiang. They arrived six hours later than the other groups due to the plane issue, but despite the interference with group C’s itinerary, students did their best to enjoy themselves. Nina Sepahi, a member of Group C, said, “We all kept really positive attitudes through it all and somehow it ended up being so much fun. I think that I’ll remember this more than whatever we did miss that first day of China trips, just because it was so memorable.” As for groups A and B, they participated in a great race around Lijiang and walked around the beautiful city.
During the next few days, the three groups had ample time to bond with each other. Some activities they participated in include hiking, biking, farming, dancing, community service and the Dragonfly challenge. This is the only China trip where students have the opportunity to dance a traditional dance with the local people. All of these activities showed the juniors how people in Lijiang live. As they hiked and biked through the old city, they witnessed splendid views of the town. Chirag Asnani said, “I enjoyed the hike the most because I got to have conversations with my good friends. There was also a very nice view that we admired.” The community service required the students to select a holiday and create a fun game based on the chosen holiday. Students interacted and played games with children at a local kindergarten. As for farming, the juniors shucked, picked, boxed, and peeled corn. As always, there are joint activities, and this year included a chance for all three groups to have a stroll on the streets and listen to a musical performance. The activities planned for this China trip allowed the students to understand and live the simple but meaningful life that the residents of Lijiang live.
The juniors stayed in Lijiang for three nights. Two nights were spent at a hotel and one night at a homestay, which provided breakfast and a comfortable area for the students to sleep. It was a good experience for the juniors because they had the chance to shuck corn for the owners and wash their own dishes.
The Lijiang trip was a full package for students to explore and learn cultural differences. It offered them a chance to live a different lifestyle and interact with people in the city.
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