Design and Technology faculty Sven Travis reports from Beijing:

20 adventurous Parsons students from seven programs and three schools (along with two AMT faculty) are currently participating in the ninth annual AMT China trip. Between May 24-June 15th, the group is visiting Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, and Beijing.

During the trip, the group has undertaken workshops with Tongji University and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in Shanghai, the China Academy of Art in Hanghzhou, and Tsinghua University and the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Projects involve various media experimentation, including use of Raspberry Pi and Banana Pi micro-computers, as well as panoramic and time-lapse pieces. Students undertake work related to their own disciplines, and often work in groups with students from Chinese universities.

Of course there is plenty of exploring as well. Local cultural sites and planned day bus trips are regular parts of the experience. Just a few examples are excursions to see the Victoria’s Peak in Hong Kong, the Big Buddha outside of Hong Kong, West Lake in Hangzhou, the Communist Museum and Jing’An Temple in Shanghai, and of course the full table in Beijing: Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, the Olympic Park, and many others. And then there is food to investigate: group dinners in each location are a regular part of the fare. Vegan master Sven has introduced everyone to several Buddhist restaurants, but nonetheless there seems to be no shortage of meat.

The trip wraps up June 15th, with everybody going their own way for the summer, tired but excited, and richer for the experience.

HEY FROM CHINA!