SIFT – The Sage China Connection

China is amazing.  I would like to thank everyone who made this happen.  This is an absolutely priceless experience.  Beijing was filled with so much to see: The Great Wall, The Temple of Heavens, Tienanmen Square, The Forbidden City and The Summer Palace.    Beijing’s amazing sights enlightened us as American students of the Chinese culture.  The symbolic meaning of the heavenly circle to the peach shaped lake which symbolizes longevity.  The knowledge enabled us as students to understand how the traditional practices of the culture play into the everyday life of the Chinese people.   Every tradition created, building constructed, and ritual practiced held a meaning.  Even today this part of the culture stands for the Chinese people.  

Xi’an was a city which welcomed us Sage students to eat delicious dumplings and visit the Terracotta Warriors which stand guard till this day for the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.  The last day at Xi’an was a spiritual one.  The group decided to challenge ourselves in climbing a 15 story pagoda. It was said the higher you were, the closer to God you were.  All of the Sage MBA group came as close to God as that pogoda would let us, while tour guide John sat at the bottom talking to himself.  LOL… Finally an esquisite trip to the Jade factory concluded our visit to Xi’an.

Guilin is the paradise of China.  The scenary was breathtaking and the people were fabulous.  This is what I would love to call traditional China.  Guilin holds the record of our group as a favorite.

Final destination, Shanghai.  Time for school.  The staff welcomed us with open arms in an opening ceremony which made me as an American student attending a Chinese Unitversity feel proud.  The week was filled with activities which including stimulating lectures.  All lectures were given by gifted faculty here at SIFT.  All knowledge learned in our weeks of touring was irreplacable when applying it to the exercises in class.  Today, 5/22/2009, SIFT lectures came to a closing.  SIFT prepared a closing ceremony which provided us with extrodinary certificates.  The students and faculty held a party for the closing ceremony with the Sage Students as the guests of honor.  Besides SIFT and Sage, North Dakota University and Stetson joined us.  I felt extremely welcomed and honored.  SIFT students and faculty are amazing.  I can confidently say, I am proud of my fellow classmates and myself.  We have become like family and there was no one better to go on this trip with than those who attended.  If I had to do it all over, I wouldn’t change a thing.

XIE XIE
-Rachel

P.S.  We still have three days, it;s not over yet!