GFA Passport 2012-2013

PASSPORT

2012-2013

GFA GLOBAL TRIPS Winter and Spring Trips French Canadian Winter in Montreal Language, Culture and History in Puerto Rico Model UN in Berlin Summer Trips China: Ancient and Modern Art & Architecture in the Great Cities of Europe Turkey: Where East Meets West Service Learning and Teacher Training in Rwanda South Africa: Whizzkids United Field Study in Bermuda Service Learning and Language Immersion in Peru Colombia: A Journey Through the Coffee Axis

Dear GFA Students and Parents, In the following pages you will find brief descriptions and preliminary dates and prices for the exciting slate of trips that GFA will be offering throughout the 2012-2013 academic year. As you know, last year we ran a wide range of trips including Peru, South Africa, China, The Island School in the Bahamas, and a Middle School French language trip to Quebec. This year we will be offering more trips than ever before in an effort to maximize the opportunity for students to experience diverse perspectives around the world through service learning, cultural immersion or field research. You will notice not only a wide range of destinations, but also a variety of goals and purposes of our World Perspectives Program trips.

This year in the Upper School we are offering service learning opportunities in Peru, Colombia, South Africa and Rwanda. Cultural immersion trips are also being offered in China and Turkey with an emphasis on the historical, economic and political context of the respective regions. Additionally, art students will travel to Italy and Austria to study and photograph architecture. Finally, students who are participating in Model UN will travel to Germany while Marine Biology and Environmental Science students will travel to do field research in Bermuda.

In the Middle School, we will offer trips to Montreal for French Language students and Puerto Rico for Spanish Language students.

I urge you to consider the richness of learning that takes place as part of traveling abroad on a cultural immersion or service learning opportunity. Observation and interaction with other communities around the globe contribute to a greater cultural understanding of oneself. While the format of the Passport allows only brief descriptions of each trip, we have included the contact information of each head chaperone should you have any questions. We also invite Upper School parents to attend a presentation on any of the trips following US Parent Visiting night. These presentations will provide a more detailed description of the trip as well as an opportunity for you to meet the chaperone and ask questions.

Please don’t hesitate to check the World Perspectives Program website for more detailed information about application materials, timelines, financial aid and Global Service Scholarship information. We are excited to offer these trips and we look forward to discussing them with you in the following weeks!

Jihad Mirza Director of Global Studies jmirza@gfacademy.org (203) 349-7416

FRENCH Canadian Winter in MontrEal Head chaperone: Anne Reynaud Date: Feb. 15-18, 2013 Group Size: 50-60 Approximate cost: $800

Contact info: areynaud@gfacademy.org; (203) 349-7311

This year, the Middle School French students are invited to go to Montreal over the President’s Day weekend leaving early on Friday, February 15th and returning in the evening on Monday the 18th. Montréal is the largest city in the province of Quebec. It is a vibrant city often referred to as “Canada’s cultural capital” and was recently named a UNESCO city of design. During this trip, students will have a chance to practice their French, but they will also take part in various activities, such as snow tubing, attending a hockey game, visiting old Montreal, and an evening in an authentic sugar shack.

All these activities will enable students to discover the French Canadian culture through first-hand experience.

language, culture and history in puerto rico Head chaperone: Anne Reynaud Date: June 11-15, 2013 Group size: 15-20 Destination: Puerto Rico Approximate cost: $1800

Contact info: areynaud@gfacademy.org; (203) 349-7311

* this trip will run every three years

The Middle School language department is very excited to offer a 5-day trip to Puerto Rico to our Middle School students currently studying Spanish. Puerto Rico, officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico), is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. It is a beautiful island with a rich history and culture and is an ideal place for our students to practice Spanish. During our visit, students will discover historic Old San Juan. Steeped in Spanish tradition, the original city was founded in 1521 as a fortress enclave. After a day in San Juan, we will transfer to Fajardo, a quintessential coastal city known for delicious seafood, a breathtaking bay and sparkling waters for snorkeling where we will take a kayak evening tour of the bioluminescent bay. This bay is inhabited by microscopic dinoflagellates. On day three, students will enjoy snorkeling in clear waters and go for an excursion in the Yunque rain forest.

On the last full day on the island, students will transfer back to San Juan and will explore the massive cave system known as Camuy Caverns.

model U.n. in berlin

Contact info: vllanquezonta@gfacademy.org; (203) 349-7403

Head chaperone: Victor Llanque Date: Nov. 14-17, 2012 Group size: 5 Destination: Berlin, Germany Approximate cost: $2300 to $2500 Prerequisites: Students must be active members of GFA’s MUN Club and they must attend one MUN conference in the U.S. prior to going to Berlin

GFA’s Model United Nations Club will travel to Berlin again to be part of the 21st Annual Berlin Model United Nations Conference (BERMUN).

Applications were accepted during the summer of 2012 for this year’s conference. If you want to apply for next year, join MUN club. This conference will provide an authentic simulation of the United Nations and a chance for students to interact with more than 700 people from around the world. GFA students will represent the Hellenic Republic (Greece) and will be at the center of debates on strategies to improve the global economy.

This conference will thus help them better understand the complexity of tackling global problems. Before students arrive in Berlin, they will spend many hours researching issues that are important to Greece while also practicing their debate skills. For those students taking our course on International Relations, this conference will be an opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom. Lastly, in addition to attending the conference, we will also explore the historic city of Berlin, visiting landmarks like the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and parts of the Berlin Wall.

china: ancient and modern Head chaperone: Tina Zhang Date: June 12-26, 2013 Group size: 8-12 Destination: Suzhou, Nanjing, Hong Kong Approximate cost: TBD Contact info: tzhang@gfacademy.org; (203) 349-7315

Traveling through China allows our students to take in its beauty, culture and changes brought about by modernization. This year, we are pleased to offer a cultural immersion experience in Suzhou to visit GFA’s sister school there. Students will then travel to nearby Nanjing, the southern capital of China, not only to see its rich historical places, but also as a departure point to visit one of the most beautiful mountains of China, Huang Shan.

We’ll visit the famed Three Gorges dam, a panda reserve in Chengdu, and come back via the megalopolis known as Hong Kong. Through our travels, we will learn more about the various peoples and customs that make up this large and fascinating country.

Art & architecture in the great cities of europe

Contact info: lwaldstein@gfacademy.org; (203) 349-7421

Head chaperone: Lisa Waldstein Date: Mid-June 2013 10-12 days Group Size: 8-12 Destination: Italy and Austria Approximate cost: $3600 Prerequisites: Preference will be given to students enrolled in art classes and with an interest in visual art and architecture

This trip is being offered for the first time at GFA. Students will be responsible for researching a topic of interest and to share the research at the appropriate place during the trip. Students will spend four nights in Milan with day trips to both Torino and Pavia. While there, they will see da Vinci’s The Last Supper, The Duomo, Pavia Certosa, Rivoli and its art museum, the Monumental Cemetery and the Fashion District. One dinner will be in the Naviglio. They will then spend two nights in Venice where they will explore the city’s canals, bridges, gondolas, masks, glass, paper and exhibits at the Guggenheim Museum. Traveling by sleeper train to Vienna, they will have another three days to visit sites such as the Stephansplatz, Hundrtwasser, Bad Blumau, the Opera House, Kunstmuseum, Schonnebrun Palace and the Prater. Each participant is expected to document the trip through photographs and sketches, producing a visual journal of what they have seen. A secondary goal of the trip is to familiarize students with travel and cultural traditions of these great cities.

turkey: where east meets West Head chaperone: TBA Date: Mid June 2013 Group size: 10-12 Destination: Istanbul Approximate cost: $3500 to $4000

Contact info: wabel@gfacademy.org; (203) 349-7440

GFA is pleased to offer, for the first time, a trip to Turkey. This trip will focus on cultural immersion in the historically and culturally rich city of Istanbul and the surrounding area. Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a vibrant representation of many cultures. Students will have the opportunity to go sightseeing around the city and visit important historical sites such as Hagia Sophia, which was built as the centerpiece of Orthodox Christianity, became a mosque for centuries, and is now a place of peace open to all.

Students will also visit Topkapi Palace to learn more about Roman and Ottoman, as well as Turkish history. We will set aside time to explore the exquisite local cuisine and to visit the Bosphorous Strait on a boat trip to see the point where Europe and Asia meet. Working with the World Leadership School, students will visit a Kurdish high school with a possible opportunity of a homestay. Students will work to further their understanding of complex global issues in the region.

service learning and teacher training in rwanda

Contact info: rhartt@gfacademy.org; (203) 349-7320

Head chaperone: Robbi Hartt Date: Mid-Late June 2013 12-14 days Group size: 4-6 Destination: Kigali, Rwanda Approximate cost: $4000 Prerequisites: Entering grades 9-12, students will be required to do background reading and attend an orientation before leaving

Rising from its devastating past in 1994, the tiny country of Rwanda is teaching the world the importance of reconciliation and is becoming an example through its “Vision 2020� medical, economic and education goals.

It is moving from a subsistence agriculture economy to a knowledge-based society by training the next generation of teachers, doctors, public servants and private entrepreneurs.

Our journey will immerse students into the Rwandan culture, from the bustling city of Kigali to the lush green forests, expansive tea and coffee fields, and grassy plains filled with safari animals. Students will experience life in traditional homes, study the history of the government and its struggles, and have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Rwandans through work with local organizations. Building on our partnership with IEE (International Education Exchange), students will design hands-on workshops for teacher trainers and lead afterschool clubs at partner schools. Service learning opportunities include a fun run with Komera scholars, visiting with patients at the Partners In Health site in Rwinkwavu, observing a village reconciliation meeting through Prison Fellowship International, and sharing soccer and computer skills with students at Roz Carr’s Imbabazi orphanage.

south africa: Whizzkids united Head chaperone: Victor Llanque Date: June 14-29, 2013 Group Size: 6-10 Destination: South Africa Approximate cost:

$5000 to $5500

Contact info: vllanquezonta@gfacademy.org; (203) 349-7403

Prerequisites: Any current 9th, 10th or 11th grade student who is committed to learning about global health in the context of service learning

After a successful visit last year, GFA is offering a trip to South Africa once more for Upper School students. We will continue the work that we did last summer in and near Durban with Whizzkids United, an organization whose mission is “To deliver effective HIV prevention, care, treatment and support to youth worldwide through the medium of football� (soccer). Students will have the chance to learn through service alongside the staff and volunteers of Whizzkids United as they work with the youth on a life skills curriculum in local schools in the Durban area of South Africa. Our students will also work with older students and members of the Whizzkids United staff teaching computer skills. We will stay in a local guesthouse and have an opportunity to experience typical South African braaie (barbecues) and meet a crosssection of South Africans. After our time with Whizzkids, we will end our trip with a visit to Cape Town where we will tour important local sites such as Table Mountain and Robben Island. This is a unique opportunity to learn about a beautiful country and to work with a world-famous organization that educates about and combats HIV. Students will be given a selected reading list of articles and novels, and we will hold some discussions in the evenings based on the readings and our experiences.

Field Study in Bermuda

Contact info: tcunha@gfacademy.org; (203) 349-7410

Head chaperone: Tamar Cunha Date: June 15-22, 2013 Group size: 8-16 Destination: Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences, St. George Approximate cost: $2500 Prerequisites: Completion of Biology, scuba certified, previous experience at Island School is a plus but not necessary

This scientific excursion will take Upper School students interested in scuba diving, marine biology and environmental science research to the Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences (BIOS). There, students will be immersed in this world-renowned research facility, diving, collecting data and exploring the natural history of the island. This is a trip for students who like to explore the world around them and make a difference. Students will learn new techniques that they can use to continue scuba diving or to continue in research at GFA. Students will live on the BIOS campus and have the opportunity to work with researchers. During the week, students will learn diving research techniques, sample fish populations, examine coral health, visit research labs and learn about current projects. We will also be contributing to a woodland restoration project and conducting plastic transects to combine oceanic island ecology with community service. On the weekend and in the evening students will go to local caves, beaches and the military forts of Bermuda while learning about Bermudian history and culture.

Service Learning and Language Immersion in peru Head chaperone: Elena Aniel Date: June 13-27, 2013 Group size: 4-12 Destination: Cusco, Ollantaytambo Approximate cost: $4500 to $5000 Prerequisites: Completion of Spanish 2 Contact info: eanielquiroga@gfacademy.org; (203) 349-7439

A small group of Spanish language students will travel to the Sacred Valley in Peru for a 14-day language immersion and community service experience with the World Leadership School. While there will be no formal language classes, students will practice Spanish constantly as they learn traditional basket weaving or antique pottery techniques. A mix of service learning, adventure and leadership training, the trip will provide students with the opportunity to raft the Rio Urubamba, camp on the Incan ruins of Puma Marca and visit the unforgettable Machu Picchu. Living with local families in rural Piscacucho, students will join the local school every day for community service (painting, light construction, planting trees). Before our arrival, the local community will determine the service project. Students will raise funds throughout the year in order to cover the cost of the project for the community. Many GFA students will have been in contact with the people in Ollantaytambo during the school year as a part of their Spanish curriculum.

colOmbia: a journey through the coffee axis Head chaperone: Veronica Lima Date: Late June 2013 10-12 days Group size: 5-10 Approximate cost: $3,000 - $3,500 Prerequisties: Completion of Spanish 2 Contact info: vlima@gfacademy.org; (203) 349-7415

This Spanish immersion trip will take students beyond the busy streets of Bogotá and over the country’s central mountain range to Colombia’s coffee axis, a lush and historical land painted with vibrant coffee plantations, colorful architecture, snow-capped peaks and ecologically conscious national parks and nature reserves. Students will visit three main cities in the coffee axis—Manizales, Pereira and Salento. While in Manizales, students will tour the city, spend a day on a working coffee plantation and attend workshops at a nature reserve. Next, students will explore Pereira, the warmest city in the coffee axis. There they will enjoy the city sights, visit one of its many universities and receive formal Spanish classes at a coffee farm. The next stop will be Salento, a traditional colonial town. Here students will stay on a dairy ranch, ride horses through the surrounding mountains and hike the majestic Cocora Valley. We will also take day trips to the National Coffee Park and to Panaca, an agricultural theme park. The last two days in Colombia will be spent in Bogotá where students will have the chance to visit several of the capital’s main attractions before heading home.

HOW TO APPLY: Turn in the following materials to Mr. Abel no later than November 8.

1. World Perspectives Trip Application 2. Student Contract/Parent Consent 3. A clear photocopy of the student’s passport 4. Statement of Understanding (Please note that these documents are tripspecific and are only accessible from the individual trip pages) 5. Non-refundable Deposit (Amounts vary by trip; please check individual trip pages) 6. Additional forms specific to tour companies (if applicable) 7. Signed Financial Aid agreement (If applicable this form will be mailed to your home) All materials are available from the World Perspectives Program website: www.gfacademy.org/worldperspectives/