Availability:
Accepting applications for Summer 2011.

China is a land of stunning contrasts hurtling towards modernity at breakneck speed.  In the past 30 years, China has broken nearly every record in the history of economic development.  Traditional neighborhoods have been replaced by glittering skyscrapers and dirt tracks, bicycles and horse carts have been replaced by superhighways, all in an astonishingly short period of time. 

The Chinese economy continues to grow at the astounding rate of approximately 10% per year and a rapidly growing number of young Chinese now enjoy a level of wealth and security that their parents and grandparents, many of whom survived by eating grass and tree bark during 20th century China’s many periods of upheaval, couldn’t possibly have imagined just 30 years ago.  Yet much of western China remains dramatically undeveloped and the country is struggling to cope with the social change, environmental degradation and growing rural/urban divide that have resulted from rapid economic development. 

With a focus on business, economics and development, our Modern Miracle summer program explores the many facets of China’s economic “miracle” and considers the implications that China’s rapid economic development and status as a rising superpower has for China, the US and the world.   Through readings, instructor lessons and guest lectures, students will learn the history and politics behind the country’s rapid economic development.  Students will also have opportunities to meet with business professionals and journalists to learn the ins and outs of doing business in China. 

Our Modern Miracle itinerary is designed to highlight many sites that are at the forefront of economic development, including factories and shipping yards where goods are manufactured and exported to the West, business and financial centers, and the booming, ultra-modern cities of China’s east coast.

In order to provide high-school students with a summer travel program that gives a balanced and comprehensive overview of the Chinese economy, our itinerary and curriculum address the social and environmental issues that a rapidly developing China may be forgetting/covering up.  The travel program will include village stays and extended travel in rural, underdeveloped areas.   Through village home-stays in impoverished communities, service-learning and interactions with migrant workers and other marginalized populations, students will explore the human face of China’s social and environmental issues.  Students will also meet with development workers to learn about the efforts of local and international NGOs to address these issues and will have the opportunity to collaborate with an NGO on a service project designed to address at least one of China’s key development issues.

As with all of our China summer travel programs, Modern Miracle students will also participate in intensive daily Mandarin classes and opportunities for additional one-on-one tutoring sessions, independent study projects (ISPs) and a comprehensive introduction to Chinese history, arts, philosophy and healing arts.

Students who desire a travel intensive overview of Chinese culture and tradition are encouraged to apply for our China Comprehensive summer program, while students for whom studying Mandarin is a top priority should consider one of our China language intensive summer programs.  For students who want to participate in China's economy themselves, Dragons offers a summer internship program in China.  Our gap year program in China runs in the fall and spring, and can accomodate both gap year students and college students taking a junior year abroad.  College credit is available for this gap year program in China.