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Wednesday, Apr. 6, 2005 | ||
What do you think of this story? | PTC kids headed to ChinaMost people have only started to make plans for their summer vacation just recently but Rising Starr Middle School students and Peachtree City residents Amy and Bradley Bonecutter, already know where they are going this summer and it is far away from the more traditional destinations. As part of the People to People student ambassador program, the Bonecutters will be traveling to China for a 17 day trip that will take them to such destinations as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. While traveling throughout the country and seeing the sights, the students on the program will also spend some time with families in China, which is one of the things that bradley is looking forward to. I think being able to really interact with the families and learn about their culture will be cool, he said. Amy is looking forward to seeing the country prepare for the Olympics. People to People was founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. His belief was that ordinary citizens of different nations, if able to communicate directly, would solve their differences nd find a way to live in peace. Students that become a part of the program are nominated by a teacher or a former student ambassador for a specific trip. The person who make the nominations remains anonymous and the nominated students then go through a process of meetings and interviews before being selected. Forty students are selected for the trip and the students must attend monthly meetings where they do research projets and learn about the country they will be visiting. Each student is teamed up with a partner and must do a project on a certain aspect of the countrys culture or history. Bradleys project is on the Yuan Dynasty, while Amys project is on the Terra Cotta Warriors. During the bus rides to different parts of the country, the students will give a brief recap of their project. Students who participate in the People to people program will also receive high school social studies credit. This wont be the first time that the Bonecutters will have traveled so far out of the country. They went with their family to Bolivia in 2001 to visit firends who were part of the Bolivian Christian Veterinary Mission. While there they helped renovate a house to an orphanage. To prepare for their trip, the students have been told about some of the customs. Chinese people are modest by nature and dont stand out, so the students have been told not to dress too flashy. They have also learned that it is considered rude for people to show the bottoms of their feet. When visiting temples, girls are also told that they must wear pants. The Bonecutters are both good students who are very interested in the world around them. Bradley hopes to become a pilot one day, while Amy is hoping to continue to travel in the future. Bradley is a member of the football team who is interested in science and english, while Amy is involved in volleyball and the Junior BETA Club and is interested in math and english. They will both represet this countury well this summer and are looking forward to the experience. The trip, Gateway to China will cost approximately $5,500 a student and both of the Bonecutters are seeking financial help to make the trip possible. They have addressed businesses, family members and representatives for sponsorships. if you would like to help the Bonecutters go to China this summer, please send donations to Bradley and Amy Bonecutter, 117 Terrace Tay, Peachtree City, Ga. 30269. | |
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