On June 7th, 2014, the Confucius Institute at San Diego State University held the Chinese Bridge Summer Camp Pre-Departure Orientation at the College-Rolando Library. The purpose of the orientation was to explain to the parents and students how the travel to and from China would unfold. Confucius Institute Project Manager, Anne Chu, gave a presentation to nearly 50 parents and participating students. She first introduced Hanban and Confucius Institute for the audience to have a better idea of their mission and goals. An explanation of the flight schedule was followed with the itinerary of the summer camp. She explained the process the students would take after they arrived in China, the school in which the students would live, what they should expect, dorm rules and the expected behavior from the students.

An introduction of Hunan province was given; the students would be staying in this province for most of their trip. The introduction informed the audience about the history of the province, traditional dishes, local tourist sites, weather, and the ethnic diversity. The introduction was followed by an explanation of the cultural differences between China and the U.S., such as huge crowds and the definition of personal space. This information prepared the students to keep an open mind. Important and useful information was provided to the audience in order for them to be prepared for the trip. They were given traveling and packing tips for their stay in China, such as of what to expect on the airport, how to keep their belongings safe, money tips, suggestions on the electronic devices and important documents.

The students were encouraged to research and learn more about China and Hunan Province, as well as to practice their Chinese and create an introduction in order for them to feel prepared and get the most out of their trip. At the end of the orientation parents and students were encouraged to ask questions. Once the orientation officially finished parents and students where served refreshments. Parents showed their appreciation and satisfaction of the information given at the orientation. Many parents and students stayed afterwards to get to know each other and share their ideas and excitement about the trip.  source:http://confucius.sdsu.edu/news.html