Handbook

• Passport
  If you already have a passport, please ensure that it is valid until at least 6 months after your last day in China. If not, it must be renewed. If you do not have a passport, you should obtain one as soon as possible. Your address in Kunming will be as follows:
   

  Institute of Chinese and International Studies

  Yunnan Normal University

  Kunming, Yunnan 650092

  People's Republic of China

  To apply for a passport you will need the original or a certified copy of the following:

  • Proof of Citizenship (one of the following)
    • United States birth certificate
    • Previously issued passport
    • Proof of naturalization, if you are a naturalized citizen
  • Identification (one of the following)
    • Driver's license
    • Government ID card
    • Previously issued passport
  • Two photographs measuring 2" by 2"
  • The passport fee is $55 for a renewal and $65 for an original. New passports are usually valid for 10 years.
  We suggest that you register your passport with the U.S. Embassy immediately upon your arrival in Beijing. This will make it easier to have a new passport issued in the event that yours is lost or stolen.
   
• Chinese Visa
  By the middle of April, all students should have your passport ready. The resident director of WWU in Kunming will collect students' passports and all supporting documents and find a visa agency to apply for Chinese visa.  Students will be required to have the following documents:
  1. A valid passport
  2. One passport-size photograph
  3. Official invitation (JW202) from Yunnan University
  4. Admission Notice from Yunnan University.
  5. Application fee for a U.S. citizen: $50 for one single entry and approximate $25-$30 processing fee. Since the Embassy does not accept personal checks or mail application, you must use a money order payable to Embassy of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco and another check payable to the visa agency. Detailed information may be found at the website of Consulate General of the PRC at San Francisco.

  It usually takes ten working days to process your application through a visa agency. Once you receive your passport, please verify the following:

  1. That there is a visa stamp in your passport
  2. That it is valid for 90 days for entry into China (the number of days pertains only to the number of days for which entry to China is valid, not to the length of stay).
  It is important that you verify that you have received the proper visa. If you receive an incorrect visa, you may be fined heavily for each day of your stay in China. Once your passport and visa have been returned to you, please make a photocopy of the page with the visa stamp and send it to us so that we may verify that you have received the correct document. In doing this, we hope to prevent students from being fined for holding incorrect visas while in China.

   

• Study Tour in Beijing University of International Business & Economics (UIBE), our host institution in Beijing, will arrange a bus to pick up students who go to Beijing on the designated date and time. If you travel to Beijing separately from the group, you should inform the program director as soon as you purchase you air ticket the exact day and time of your arrival in Beijing. In this case, students are responsible for their own transportation from the airport to our host institution in Beijing. Before departure from Seattle, students will be provided with the address and the name of the place where we will stay in Beijing. It costs approximately 80-100 kuai (a 15 kuai toll fee is additional) from Beijing International Airport to UIBE. At the airport, be sure to follow the signs to the taxi station to avoid drivers who might come up to you in the airport. Also, be sure that when you go to the taxi station you ask the driver to put the meter on and also ask for a receipt.
   

• Travel in Kunming, Yunnan, and other parts of China WWU in Kunming organizes a number of local excursions for the students enrolled in the program. As you may know,  there are many places of interest and historical sites, as well as many minority ethnic communities in the city of Kunming and in the province of Yunnan, such as Dali, Xishuangbanna, Lijiang, the Stone Forest, etc. Transportation for local excursions without overnight stay is free.

  For students who wish to travel to Tibet, you should contact the Tourist Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region to obtain approval before applying for a visa at 011-86-891-6834313 (telephone) and 011-86-891-6834632 (fax).

RULES AND REGULATIONS

• Every organization needs some regulations in order to function effectively. The administration of the Program has tried to minimize these, since we plan to treat you as serious and mature adults who do not need a written rule for every occasion. Nevertheless, for your own protection, and to support the goals of the Program, some guidelines are necessary. We include these here so that you fully understand in advance the intensity of our program and what our regulations are.
   
• Language Pledge Only Chinese will be spoken, especially with other members of the group, roommates, teachers and staff. This is the Program's most important regulation and constitutes the very backbone of its philosophy. The purpose of the Language Pledge is to help you become immersed in the language and to encourage you not only to speak Chinese but to think Chinese as well. When English is spoken by students, full immersion into the language is not possible and the learning process is hindered. Only in the case of dire emergency, or if you must speak to someone who doesn't understand Chinese, should you consider reverting to English. Failure to adhere to this regulation will result in the following disciplinary action:
  • First offense: oral warning
  • Second offense: written warning
  • Third offense: one full grade reduction for courses taken in that term
  • Fourth offense: expulsion from the program
  Students who are not able to observe this rule faithfully should not be with our Program. WWU in Kunming is charged with confirming the expulsion of any student who does not conform to the Language Pledge.
   
• Honor Code Any form of academic dishonesty–cheating, falsification, misrepresentation, forgery, or plagiarism–is a serious offense in any academic community. At WWU in Kunming, such dishonesty will normally result in removal from the course, expulsion from the Program, or both. It is essential, therefore, that every student understand the standards of academic honesty. Plagiarism is a violation of intellectual honesty. The practice of intellectual honesty is the foundation of an academic community. Effective evaluation of student work and helpful instruction can take place only in an environment where intellectual honesty is respected. Plagiarism represents a failure to acknowledge the source of ideas or language gained from another person when used in any paper, exercise, or project submitted in a course. In all cases, the Resident Director reserves the right to suspend a student whose academic work or social conduct warrants such an action.
   
• Attendance and Class Preparation Only the most serious circumstances should prevent you from completing daily class preparations and attending every class. Our instructors have been advised that you are an extremely hardworking group, so they will expect you to be serious and conscientious students. We intend to enforce the regulations concerning attendance and class preparation strictly. Please note that students planning on traveling to Tibet for longer than one weekend may not do so during the regular semester as this would require cutting classes. Any travel that would require missing classes will not be allowed.
   
• Illegal Drugs Will Not Be Tolerated Possession of illegal drugs may result in official action by Chinese authorities. The right of "habeas corpus" does not apply abroad and pre-trial detention can last several months. Also, Chinese officials may conduct searches at customs entry and exit points for drugs and other contraband. Anyone found with contraband is subject to punishment as specified in Chinese law, and neither WWU in Kunming nor the US Embassy can interfere with the work of the Chinese legal system. For this reason, WWU in Kunming strictly forbids drug use among students enrolled in our program. If the resident director and instructors find a student using or carrying any drugs, including marijuana, within the dormitory or anywhere on campus, the student will be immediately expelled from the Program. WWU in Kunming reserves the right to dismiss from the program any student who violates the laws of the host country, including those that relate to use, possession, or distribution of drugs.
   
• Other Codes of Conduct Students are expected to return to their dorm before midnight everyday including weekends. For special reason(s) to stay out after midnight, students are required to obtain a permission from the Resident Director of the WWU in Kunming or from the principle Chinese instructor at the Center.

  Before leaving for China, all students are required to sign the following documents:

      1) Code of Conduct

      2) Participation Agreement

      3) Language Pledge

   

• Notify the Resident Director Whenever You Leave Kunming So that we may provide you with assistance in an emergency, we ask that you notify the Resident Director whenever you leave Kunming for any reason. The Resident Director reserves the right to expel from the program any student who does not comply with the aforementioned rules, is physically aggressive or destructive of property, violates the dignity or rights of others, disrupts the educational function of the Program, is otherwise harmful to its operation or its relation with the host country and affiliated institutions, or demonstrates inability to participate constructively in the Program. The Resident Director is responsible for disciplinary action. The Resident Director may issue a written warning or place a student on probation if he or she judges that the circumstances do not warrant immediate dismissal. Expulsion is accompanied by notification to the student's parents. While a glance at the above might suggest a rather rigid structure, we are sure that you will find that your lives in China will be relatively free and uncontrolled. Living abroad, in fact, requires considerable maturity and responsibility on the part of the student.  

   

     

• Medical Insurance All participants of the Program must submit proof of proper medical insurance coverage for their stay in Kunming. If you have any questions in this regard, please contact International Programs and Exchanges (360-650-3298). If you have any questions about immunizations, please contact Health Center (360-650-3400.) Please be sure to schedule the vaccinations as early as possible since many of them are administered in a series with three to six months between shots. Also, some immunizations may have slight side effects. You should bring a copy of your immunization record with you as well as an adequate supply of any prescription or non-prescription medications that you might require. Any pre-existing medical condition, especially upper respiratory and gastro-intestinal problems, may be exacerbated by life in China. If you become ill, you should seek medical attention immediately. It is a good idea to find out if you are allergic to penicillin, as it is often prescribed.
   

• Local Clinics and Hospitals for Emergencies We believe that you are likely to find Chinese medical services adequate for your needs. For minor illnesses such as colds, the flu, stomachaches, diarrhea, and sore throats, we recommend The No.1 Hospital of Yunnan University. In case of an emergency, you or the authorities should call the Director of the Chinese Center for International Students and the Resident Direction of WWU in Kunming. Family members who wish to communicate a family emergency may reach you at your phone number. If they are unable to reach you, they may call the Director of the Foreign Affairs Office at 011-86-871-551-8656.

• Orientation Before departure from Seattle, the International Programs and Exchanges will arrange a pre-departure orientation for all students. When students arrive Kunming, there will be an on-site orientation.  These orientation periods include an informational meeting and local sightseeing. In addition, short excursions are made to neighborhood restaurants, the post office, the medical center and shopping centers. The three to four hour informational meeting covers studying, eating, living, health care, some safety tips, transportation and travel. Of course, there will also be opportunities for students to ask questions and bring up individual concerns.
   
• Housing Yunnan Normal University is located in the city of Kunming, which has a large number of restaurants, shopping centers, and office buildings. Getting around in Kunming is very cheap and convenient with the city buses and taxis available in the area surrounding the University. All students will be housed in the Foreign Students’ Dormitory, in doubles. Each room is equipped with two beds, two desks with chairs, two lamps, a telephone and a television. Students are responsible for all their long distance phone calls and internet access. Each room has its own bathroom with shower, sink, and toilet. Hot water is available in the evening and morning. There is a reception area where you can meet guests, and a cafe next door. An Internet Café is a few minutes away from the dormitory; students will have to pay a small fee to log on to the Internet. All tap water must be boiled before consumption. Each room has one thermos. The hot water is good for coffee, tea, and instant noodles. Each floor in the building has its own cleaning staff in charge of vacuuming, mopping, and picking up the sheets and towels from each room. The rooms are provided with pillowcases, sheets, blankets, towels, etc., which are changed every week. Please be courteous to the dormitory staff and maintain good relations with them. This is obviously in your own interest. The same applies to your contacts with the staff of the dining hall. There is a laundry service available as well. You may leave your clothes to be washed to the cleaning stuff. The laundry service is free but you need provide the detergent.
   
• Host Family Based on the low demand from students on weekend stay with a host family in the previous years, the 2005 summer program plans to cancel this program.
   
• Phone Number Please make sure that your parents or guardian have the address and telephone number of the Institute of Chinese and International Studies: 011-86-871-551-8656 (phone), 011-86-871-551-6804 (fax). The resident director's phone number is 011-86-871-?. You will be given your room number and individual phone number upon arrival, numbers you should give your parents or guardian. Your telephone line is direct, so your parents or guardian do not have to go through a switchboard operator in order to reach you. For phone calls to the U.S., we suggest that students acquire a calling card either before or after their arrival in Beijing and Kunming. 
   
• Address in English

  [Your Name]

  WWU in Kunming, Institute of Chinese and International Studies

  Yunnan Normal University 650092

  Kunming, Yunnan

  People's Republic of China

• Currency
  • Renminbi (RMB), the basic unit of Chinese currency, is also called "yuan", which is divided into ten "jiao" or "mao", which are in turn divided into ten "fen". The recent average rate of exchange has been between 8.1 and 8.3 RMB to the dollar.
  • Currency upon arrival and departure: You cannot secure Chinese currency outside of China, but you should be able to exchange currency at the airport upon arrival. You can exchange Renminbi for U.S., Canadian, or Hong Kong currency upon departure or take it with you if you plan to return. Make sure that you keep your exchange receipts because you will be asked to show them when you turn in your Chinese currency upon departure.
  • Access to funds in China: If you have an American Express card or an American (or Hong Kong) checking account, you can purchase traveler’s checks for up to that company’s limit (currently around $1,000 per month) in Beijing. If you have another major credit card, such as Visa or MasterCard, you can get cash advances from the Bank of China and selected luxury hotels in many major cities. The use of ATM cards is strongly discouraged, since most Chinese banks do not recognize the American banking system. Many students have had trouble using ATM cards that their banks have insisted will work in China. We recommend that you use only American Express, as it is the best known company in China.
  • Money can be sent to you in China in at least two ways. It can be wired through a bank or it can be sent as an international money order (available at most post offices in the U.S.). In China it normally takes a day or two for wired money to clear but three weeks to a month for international money orders. In an emergency, the person sending you money should check with Western Union and, if he or she is an account holder, with American Express for possible ways of wiring money more quickly.

  • We recommend bringing adequate funds with you in order to avoid requiring emergency funds being sent from the United States. The best way to do this is to bring extra money in the form of American Express Travelers Checks (the unused portion may be redeposited into an account upon returning to the United States), or bring an American Express Card with personal checks.

• Spending Money As stated in the previous section, we suggest that you travel to China with an adequate supply of money in the form of traveler’s checks. Although tuition, textbooks, and travel costs have been paid before departure for China, participants are responsible for paying their room, meals and all incidental costs, e.g., personal entertainment, shopping, etc. Please keep in mind that it is wiser to buy gifts later during your stay in China. Students are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with price ranges, quality of products and shops before purchasing items for friends and family. Although it is tempting to start buying right away, most students find that they are able to spend money more wisely as they become more accustomed to their surroundings. The amount of spending money you should bring depends on the amount of shopping and independent travel you wish to do in China. Also, with recent economic changes, prices have increased suddenly and significantly, and may do so again. Therefore, it is a good idea to bring more money than you think you will need.
   
• Food and Meals Students are not required to eat together as a group except for the lunch on Friday. Students have their choice of either eating in the foreign students’ cafeteria, Chinese students’ dorm or going out to eat at various restaurants. The main purpose of this arrangement is to provide opportunities for students to meet local citizens through eating out and to encourage students to experience Chinese culture. Thus, unless prevented by medical, moral or religious restrictions, all students are expected to experience all aspects of Chinese cuisine, which is a significant aspect of the culture. As of this writing, we have found that an average of $3 is the typical expense for three simple meals a day, assuming that you stay away from expensive restaurants.

WHAT TO BRING

• Clothing Sturdy, washable, comfortable clothing that can stand strong detergent, mud, rain, mildew, and coal dust is best for all seasons. Aim to stay cool in the summer and warm in the fall and winter. Style is not as important as comfort and general tidiness.
  • Summer: The average temperature in Kunming is around 20-22C during the summer. Use your own judgment and dress accordingly. Sandals are common for men and women. Also bring sneakers and walking shoes, cotton socks, a bathing suit, cool pajamas, a light bathrobe, and loose summer trousers.
  • Fall and winter: Dark colors are recommended, and you should think in terms of dressing in multiple layers for warmth. Plan to bring warm socks, sweaters, turtlenecks, flannel and corduroy shirts, loose wool pants, warm, mud-proof boots, gloves and coats. There is no heat in your dorm during the fall. You are strongly recommended to bring at least one really warm coat with you.
  Long underwear and woolen or silk undershirts are available in Chinese stores, but the quality varies and sizes are generally smaller than those in the US. Many Americans have recommended that you bring polypropylene long underwear and socks. Sweatpants and a sweatshirt (available locally, though all-cotton sweat clothes from North America are warmer) can be substituted for warm pajamas, but you might want to bring a warm ski cap or stocking cap to sleep in or wear during the day. You should be aware that Yunnan University dormitory is generally not kept as warm as an American dormitory. Scarves and various styles of hats are sold in China. A roomy unlined plastic raincoat is good for windy, rainy days and should be large enough to fit over other winter clothes (e.g., sweater, jacket, etc., which are worn indoors and outdoors on cold days). Warm coats and jackets can be bought in China, though you may need to hire a tailor if your arms are longer or your build is bulkier than that of the average Chinese. Down jackets and vests are very popular and quite inexpensive in China, although you might not be able to find your size because clothes of all sizes in China are generally smaller than those in the US.) When choosing a coat, you might consider buying one with an inside zippered pocket for money and valuables, since pickpockets on crowded city buses are becoming more numerous. Rubber rain boots can be purchased in China (up to men’s size 10-1/2). Good sunglasses (not available in China) will protect your eyes from glare and the ubiquitous dust and grime, especially if you wear contact lenses. You will also need a collapsible umbrella, available very inexpensively in China.
   
• Toiletries American and many joint-venture products such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soaps, shampoos, and other toiletries are available in Kunming. American tampons can be purchased in Walmart, and joint-venture brands are sold in local Chinese stores. It is recommended, however, that if you have a strong preference for a specific brand of toiletry, bring extra since some students found it difficult to find an adequate supply while in China. It is also a good idea to bring your own deodorant, since it is very expensive in China. If you wear contact lenses, bring some solution. Bring a pair of glasses in case your eyes become too irritated to wear your contacts. It is also wise to bring a copy of your eyeglass prescription. When traveling around China, it is a good idea to carry a small first-aid kit equipped with aspirin, antibiotic ointment, and Band-Aids.
   
• Office Supplies Standard desk supplies like paper, paper clips, pencils and sharpeners, file cards, and envelopes can be found in Chinese stationery stores (though supplies are irregular). All international post offices provide boxes/packaging services for a small fee, and because all the contents of your package must be seen by a post office official before it can be sent, they prefer that you use their services.
   
• Electrical Appliances
  • It is very important for you to bring your own CD/cassett player to Kunming. Soon after your arrival, you will be given an assignment that requires you to listen to audio tapes/CDs. The deadline for this assignment is such that you will not have enough time to purchase a audio player in China. You may also want to bring a player for relaxation. Bring your own tapes and head cleaner, and bring or plan to make a cloth to protect your machine from dust.
  • You should also bring heavy-duty AA batteries.
  • The electric current is 220 volts, 50 cycles. Therefore, you will need a supply of converters to convert U.S. equipment from 110 volts if you bring a portable stereo. It is also a good idea to take adapters with you for your various appliances, since outlets in China are much different from outlets in the U.S. You may find these items at Radioshack and most stores that specialize in electrical appliances. An alternative is to buy Chinese-made electronics, though the quality is less consistent. Walkmans, small cassette players, and various sized batteries are all sold in China.
  • Computers: If you wish to use e-mail, it is recommended that you bring your own computer or use the Internet Café near your dorm. If you bring your own computer, we recommend that you purchase access to the Internet via ChinaNet, as it is the most economical provider. Since most laptops have adjustable power, students should not have trouble with the difference in voltage. Students should, however, check their computers to see if converters will be required.

• Internet Café There are a number of Internet Cafés near the dormitory. Some of them have as many as 20-30 PC computers. While surfing the net, one can also have a cup of coffee or soft drink there. The rate for internet access is 2 RMB per hour.
   
• List of Suggested Items (Students returned from Kunming mentioned that you don't need all the items listed below.)
  Backpack for traveling
  Deodorant
  Razor blades 
  CD player 
  Shaving cream
  Lotion
  Adapter(s)
  Converter(s)
  Music tapes/CDs
  Tampons
  American Express traveler’s checks
  Contact lens solution
  Credit cards
  Toothpaste/floss
  Pictures of family & U.S.
  Pens (ballpoint, fine point, colored)
  Vitamins
  Batteries
  Cold medicine
  Earplugs
  Aspirin
  Good socks
  Kaopectate/Imodium
  Sneakers
  Pepto-Bismol
  Insect repellent
  Cough drops
  A portable alarm clock
  Sunglasses
  China guide books
  Sunscreen
  camera
  Money belt
  Passport-sized pictures for ID’s-about 5

ACADEMIC PROGRAM AND COURSE LIST

• Classes normally meet four to five hours daily, five days a week, including an half hour of taiji, an half hour of review, one hour of lecture, one hour of drill, a half hour of individual session, and two hour of elective course every other day. Students should be aware that the WWU in Kunming is a competitive program. In addition to daily classes, students should expect to spend at least another three to four hours daily on class preparation and self-study.
   
• Course List for the Summer 2006
  • Intermediate Chinese  10 credits
  • Advanced Chinese 10 credits
  • Chinese Culture 3 credits
  • Taiji 1 credits
  • Calligraphy 1 credits

Projected TUITION AND FEES (2006)

• Program cost and Payment Schedule
  • Summer only:
    • Tuition: $2,800 (for seven weeks)
    • Room: $220 ($4 per day)
    • Study tour in Beijing $350 (for one week including hotel, tickets for tour sites and most meals)
  • Other cost (estimated)
    • Airfare: $1400
    • Meal: $4 per day
    • Personal expanses: $500
  • Payment schedule and tuition reimbursement policy
    • $400 non-refundable deposit which will be credited to your tuition later is due to the Resident Director by April 29. You may use money order or traveler's check payable to the Center of Chinese for International Students. The remaining balance of tuition and room must be paid in full on July 1 to the Center of Chinese for International Students, Yunnan University (After June 17, no part of comprehensive fee is refundable)
    • Study Tour in Beijing: $350 is due to the Resident Director by April 29, 2006.

• Financial Aid Anyone holding transferable financial grants must notify the Program in writing of the amount of scholarship aid expected this year. Please ask your Financial Aid Office to either e-mail us or fax us your tentative award package. It is not the Program responsibility to solicit this information from the granting institutions. If you do plan to transfer your financial aid to WWU in Kunming, write to the proper authorities immediately, requesting that your scholarship be transferred to the Institute of Chinese and International Studies, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, P. R. China. Please call the office of International Programs and Exchanges, WWU, for information about payment methods at 650-3298.

FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING KUNMING

SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN NOW