Green Across the Pacific, Inc.

"I go back to the beaten grass in the muddy track where a moose had slept nights before; the fluffy brown fur of a bear on a tree trunk, shone by the reflected light of a white paper; the grandmother hemlock we stood around and for which recited a poem; the delicate nest made of branches in the remains of a tree trunk on the ground (which is really weird)... And most of the time I remember the word "link", which was used to describe a way of natural reservation, but meant much more to me throughout my trip. When we were Keeping Track in a family-owned forest, the leading forest manager showed us some trees where mother bears hide their kids from adult males. She told us that these refuge trees and other parts of the forest must be linked with patches of trees to provide animals with a complete habitat. I looked at the trunk marked by bites and punches of the giant bears, and I realized how natural this is like the necessarily linked bathroom, dinning room, kitchen and such at our houses. This understanding came so naturally into my mind it felt like a part of my consciousness, and the environment around formed a link with my mind. It was not just that. In our visit around Vermont, we were shown a lot of scientific operations and phenomena. Our questions, however silly they may seem, were solved with thoughtful, analytical answers, most of the times connected with many fields of study. We were also encouraged to use our imagination to understand the past. It seems the experts in Vermont had a lot of cross-subject knowledge. It really feels great having the questions solved explicitly and working and inspired by someone who really feels curious to nature."

Overall I would have to say that the trip I took to China was the most enlightening and exciting cultural experience of my life. It really opened my eyes and mind to a whole new way of life and a world of opportunities. I cant wait to go back.

"I am attending classes at UVM now.... One of my classes is called Natural Resources, Race & Culture. For the first month all of my lectures dealt with issues I had witnessed first hand in China."

"I think the program GATP influence me a lot, I am so interested in biology and environmental protection that I take courses of biology at school and do projects, campaigns about environment. The programme lead me into a new world of biology."

"It was quite honestly one of the best ways I have ever spent time and I consider it an incredible opportunity for anyone to participate in"

"I'll never forget the happy days in Vermont. I remember all the details as if it happened only yesterday. Our activity was reported in Yang Cheng Evening News which is the most popular newspaper in Guangdong province. Some of the student's diaries were also in it. This programme has had a great effect."

"The ecology was special to see and experience. Now I know much about the Chinese students and their culture. My host family and I exchanged gifts. Their hospitality was so gracious, now I am indebted to return the favor. As we walked outside it struck me that we were not going to see these students again. I tried to lock faces into my mind."