Dr. Phillips High School::CIS

The China Project

In 2003 and 2004,Dr. Phillips High School was one of 12 schools in the nation to be chosen by the U.S. Department of State and the government of China for a special exchange grant! The grant allowed 9 students and 2 teachers from Guangya High School to visit our country for 3 weeks. The students arrived from Dujiangyan, China, in the Province of Sichuan. The ultimate aim of the U.S. State Department and CIS was to increase the understanding between the two countries. The Chinese students were hosted by 9 CIS students. During their stay here in Central Florida, they not only attended classes with their host students, but they also explored Kennedy Space Center, SeaWorld, Epcot, and other Florida sites. The American and Chinese teams had the opportunity to work on a special project dealing with the conditions of Florida Rivers.

The State Department funding also allowed 9 American students and 2 teachers to travel to China for three weeks. While there, the Americans lived with Chinese families and explored Sichuan Province and the Tibetan region of China. Many of us went snow-skiing for the first time, since our trip occurred during winter holidays. Our special environmental project in China included planting trees to prevent erosion into the river. By living and studying together, we strengthened understanding of cultures, increased knowledge and acceptance, and most importantly, developed long-term friendships. We were twinned with a school next to the China Panda Reserve and had an exciting experience!