A High School Thanksgiving to Remember: Exploring Chinese Medicine
High School Students in Utah explore sites in Beijing and learn about Chinese medicine in ZhangJiaKou’s Hebei North University!
Everyone looks forward to having a holiday vacation! These students however gave up eating turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce to fly to China. They took part in an educational trip that changed their lives forever. On November 21, not too long before the Thanksgiving holiday, 3 chaperones and 27 students from Utah, journeyed to China to spend their Thanksgiving break in Hebei Province’s Beijing and Zhangjiakou. This 10-day Service-Learning camp was cosponsored by Hebei North University and SPIRAL International. Hebei North University is a leading Chinese medicine university. The college was looking forward to teaching American students about traditional Chinese medicine, an alternative practice drawn from using herbs, plants, roots, and many other natural materials to treat illnesses, medical conditions, as well as build strength and vitality. Students discovered the cultural and philosophical roots of Traditional Chinese medicine, as well as explore its role in modern public health.
Touring Beijing
The first day of activities began in the Forbidden City, the ancient palace complex that was home to several Chinese emperors. Students then visited the Qianmen and Dazhalan traditional arts shopping street, then enjoyed a Chinese acrobatics performance at the Hongqiao Theater.
On the second day, the students trekked the Badaling section of the Great Wall. The students marveled at the beauty of its architecture, as well as the surrounding mountain scenery. Their next stop was the Summer Palace. Even though it wasn’t summer, the historic park is a beautiful place to visit year-round!
At night, the students went to view a dazzling light show at the Birds Nest, a site where the 2008 Olympics were held. The last stop in Beijing was the Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum and the Temple of Heaven. Hebei North University also surprised the students with a visit to the Beijing Zoo to see pandas!
Cultural Experiences in ZhangJiaKou
After visiting sites in Beijing, the students then traveled to Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province’s provincial capital city and the home of Hebei North University. The students learned even more about Chinese culture in the Weizhou Museum, visited the Yuhang Pavilion, and engaged in their first workshop of paper-cutting art.
The next day, students began the service learning portion of the trip. They first visited the Zhangjiakou Huilai Senior Center. They interacted with the local residents and learned about the daily lives of Chinese seniors. Students also learned about how Chinese medicine is a part of their lives. In the evening, the students visited a younger crowd in the Number 1 Secondary School in Zhangjiakou city. The American students engaged and had enlightening conversations with the Chinese students. This activity was the highest rated on the trip, full of unforgettable moments and new friendships.
The following day was full of activities! The day began with a visit to the Chanel Dairy Industry Model Ranch, where students got to experience the agricultural scene in China. In the afternoon, the students made their own lunch of dumplings, one of China’s most famous dishes. Later in the day, everyone experienced many of China’s intangible cultural heritage activities such as a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, an ethnic dance, calligraphy and paper cutting.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Martial Arts
On the last day of the tour, students dove deep into Traditional Chinese Medicine with several classes hosted by Hebei North University. They were introduced to the herbs and medicines and visited acupuncture and massage facilities on campus. They then changed into Tai Chi outfits for their Wushu and Tai Chi lessons. Martial arts improves the human body’s health and vitality. In the afternoon, the students visited the School of Foreign Languages to interact with more students.
On the following day, it was time to return home. Students packed their souvenirs and took with them unforgettable memories of a Thanksgiving trip they will always remember for years to come. For more about SPIRAL International’s trips, please click here!
