This page has advice and documents covering a wide range of issues from vaccines to food to what to pack as well as how to prepare for differences in language and culture. We hope you will refer to it frequently during the weeks and months leading up to your visit. If you have questions that are not addressed, please let us know; most likely others are wondering about the same things!
All volunteers are requested to become familiar with the signs in the documents to the right prior to arrival. It will be a great asset as you work with our children. Thank you! |
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What To Bring
One of the first things on most people's mind is what to bring. My first answer is pack light! Many airlines now only allow one free bag, so keeping to that limit is a great goal, even if it seems difficult. Based on our experience, it is very likely that you will pack some things that you really don’t need and that you will inevitably “need” some items that you did not pack. Therefore, we encourage you to relax and consider this information prayerfully, asking wisdom as to what you will most need. Guidebooks can also be very helpful when deciding what to pack.
It is also important to keep in mind the length of time you will be in China. If you are coming for a month or more, your needs will likely be quite different than a volunteer coming for just a week. China is changing rapidly; more variety and higher quality products are available every day. There are few daily necessities that are unavailable, though western brands are sometimes scarce and always more expensive. The lifestyle in China is relatively simple. The essentials are always available, but the extras may not be. Overall, the quality of consumer goods has increased but is still below most western standards. Please be aware that most products sold in America that say “Made in China” are not to be found in Chinese stores. Those goods are typically made according to American standards and are manufactured for export only. |
Take a look at the dress code documents to the right for helpful information about clothing to bring (and not bring). Bath towels, pillows, and a set of sheets is provided by New Day. However, if you have a specific preference for any of those, please feel free to bring your own.
Below is a more general list of other miscellaneous items to consider bringing with you for your general convenience:
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Health and Medical IssuesThe document to the right covers a range of health topics including hygiene, vaccinations, travel insurance and emergencies and suggested items to bring with you. See *Important Stuff* for more on Medical and Insurance.
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FoodMost visitors will eat in the New Day Dining Hall. Groups will have meals prepared for them and served buffet style at a designated table. Individuals, families and Summer Staff are welcome to utilize our cafeteria service which is available for breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday. Prices are roughly $1-3 per meal (¥5 to ¥10 RMB). We also have a gift shop where you will find snacks such as chips, drinks, candy, and ice cream. You can also order out from a restaurant, go to eat in the village or cook your own meals. There is a shared kitchen in the Guest House and a shared kitchen available for Basic Dorm residents; Efficiency Dorms each have a kitchen in the room. All are stocked with basic pots, cooking tools, plates, bowls, cups and eating utensils.
Long term foreign volunteers and Chinese co-workers are happy to help you get acquainted with eating and shopping in our local village of Qingyundian. Most basics can be purchased here at very affordable prices. Our village has a couple of small, Chinese-style grocery stores. You can purchase items such as sliced bread, yogurt, whole milk, juice, noodles, jam (but not peanut butter), and various snacks, but do not expect a wide selection or to find many familiar, western brands. Items such as sugar, flour, salt, oil, and basic seasonings are also available, but it will all be in Chinese packaging. Fresh fruit, vegetables and eggs are inexpensive and readily available at outdoor markets. On Sunday, there will be transportation available for a small fee (50RMB) into Beijing for church, and most weeks there will also be a stop at a foreign food outlet. This is where you can buy more familiar items such as cold cereal, cheese, peanut butter, canned goods, salad dressing, etc. Since western products are imported goods in China, you should expect to pay higher prices (up to $10 for a box of cold cereal, for example), but almost anything you could imagine is available if you are willing to pay for it. |
Here are some items we have found valuable to bring with you, depending on your own personal tastes and how long you will be here:
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Money
While ATMs and credit cards are beginning to be used more widely throughout Beijing and other parts of China, it is still most common to pay in cash (Chinese Yuan/RMB). You can exchange money or use an ATM at either the Beijing airport or at any number of banks throughout Beijing. There is a small bank with an ATM in our village that will let you use most ATM cards to get RMB, and you can now exchange foreign cash for RMB in our village on weekdays only. If you are changing money at the airport ONLY change money at the official currency exchange, to the right when you exit customs. Do not go with any helpful locals who offer to help you change money. If you are being picked up by a New Day driver, he or she can direct you to the right window to exchange money.
If you plan to use your foreign ATM card while in China, you should contact your bank and ask about any charges to use an ATM overseas. You should also inform them of your travel dates so they do not freeze your card once you start using it in China. It is safe to check your bank account online.
When paying for your accommodations, meals or other expenses at New Day, you will be asked to pay in cash (Chinese yuan). New Day does not take debit or credit cards or exchange foreign currencies. Groups will make a wire transfer at least one week prior to arrival to ensure that we have the cash on hand and changed to RMB before you arrive. For more details about payment options, see the Payments tab.
Travelers Checks are NOT a good idea to bring to China. They are rarely accepted, even at many banks.
If you plan to use your foreign ATM card while in China, you should contact your bank and ask about any charges to use an ATM overseas. You should also inform them of your travel dates so they do not freeze your card once you start using it in China. It is safe to check your bank account online.
When paying for your accommodations, meals or other expenses at New Day, you will be asked to pay in cash (Chinese yuan). New Day does not take debit or credit cards or exchange foreign currencies. Groups will make a wire transfer at least one week prior to arrival to ensure that we have the cash on hand and changed to RMB before you arrive. For more details about payment options, see the Payments tab.
Travelers Checks are NOT a good idea to bring to China. They are rarely accepted, even at many banks.
Transportation
In our village of Qingyundian, most people get around the areas close to New Day by walking, biking, or using electric tricycles or riding small motorcycles or mopeds.
Most foreigners at New Day hire Chinese drivers to take them into Beijing, to and from the airport, and to areas like the Great Wall and Summer Palace. It takes about one hour by car to get into Beijing, and about two hours to get to the Great Wall. We have several local Chinese who serve as our drivers. They keep their cars clean and well maintained and also know how to find the typical restaurants, stores and sites in Beijing that foreigners commonly visit. Depending on where you are going and how many hours you will use the driver, the cost will be between $30 and $75 per trip which you will pay to New Day. When carpooling with other people, you can divide the overall cost among you.
Public transportation is available as an inexpensive alternative. You can take a local bus into the city and arrive at a central subway stop near Tiananmen Square. It takes roughly an hour and a half to get into Beijing by bus. A shorter (half hour) bus ride will take you to a subway station outside the city, and you can continue into the city from there. Buses are often very crowded and some do not have air conditioning. It is common to stand for the entire trip. When traveling by bus, we highly recommend traveling in groups, especially with local Chinese friends. For your own safety, we do not allow New Day visitors to travel into Beijing individually; the buddy system is always best.
The subway system in Beijing is very clean and easy to navigate. Taxis are also readily available in Beijing. We recommend carrying a good pocket sized map of Beijing, complete with a map of the subway system.
Most foreigners at New Day hire Chinese drivers to take them into Beijing, to and from the airport, and to areas like the Great Wall and Summer Palace. It takes about one hour by car to get into Beijing, and about two hours to get to the Great Wall. We have several local Chinese who serve as our drivers. They keep their cars clean and well maintained and also know how to find the typical restaurants, stores and sites in Beijing that foreigners commonly visit. Depending on where you are going and how many hours you will use the driver, the cost will be between $30 and $75 per trip which you will pay to New Day. When carpooling with other people, you can divide the overall cost among you.
Public transportation is available as an inexpensive alternative. You can take a local bus into the city and arrive at a central subway stop near Tiananmen Square. It takes roughly an hour and a half to get into Beijing by bus. A shorter (half hour) bus ride will take you to a subway station outside the city, and you can continue into the city from there. Buses are often very crowded and some do not have air conditioning. It is common to stand for the entire trip. When traveling by bus, we highly recommend traveling in groups, especially with local Chinese friends. For your own safety, we do not allow New Day visitors to travel into Beijing individually; the buddy system is always best.
The subway system in Beijing is very clean and easy to navigate. Taxis are also readily available in Beijing. We recommend carrying a good pocket sized map of Beijing, complete with a map of the subway system.
Keeping In TouchStaying connected to loved ones back home is important. These are the best and most inexpensive ways we have found to keep in touch:
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Letters and Care Packages Packages and letters are wonderful to receive while you’re in China. Depending on the country of origin, it takes about 8-10 days for a package to arrive and up to 30 days for a letter to arrive. Please send to the following address: New Day Creations Attn: (Your Name) Qingyundian Township Daxing District Beijing, P.R. China 102605 Letters and cards will come directly to New Day and are delivered to the Volunteer Services Department, which will then be passed along to you. Packages are delivered to the village Post Office, and then a package slip is delivered to New Day. When you receive a package slip, you must go with the slip and your passport to the Post Office to retrieve your parcel. |
Culture and LanguageWhether this is your first trip overseas or you are an experienced international traveler, even an experienced China traveler, it is always a good idea to remind yourself that adjusting to the differences of another culture can be stressful. Please read the article on culture shock (right) and consider reading one or more of the books on the resource list. Just being aware of the changes you will experience will help alleviate some of their impact.
One excellent way to prepare for your trip which will be fun and maybe a little frustrating, but with some effort can really pay off is to learn a bit of Chinese. A simple phrasebook is a good place to start, especially if you don't have much time. If you want to put in more effort, check your library for Rosetta Stone or Pimsleur dvds which you can check out. Links to several online learning tools are shown at right, but do some searching to find a program that works for you. New Day also offers two weeks of basic Chinese language classes to our onsite volunteers. You will be able to find a time when you do not have a volunteer assignment to learn a little Chinese and connect with the staff and local residents. |
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Spiritual PreparationComing overseas to live and serve, whether for a week, a month or much longer, is both an exciting and daunting journey, and it can also be a very spiritually intense time. As you prepare to serve in China, we highly encourage you to ask God to open your heart to the ways in which He wants to change you through your time overseas. Ask Him to reveal these things to you while you are here. This process can feel quite painful or lonely at times, but it is all a part of God’s refining process in our lives.
The document at right has some helpful information about the spiritual challenges you may experience as well as a great number of resources for preparing spiritually for your time in China. |
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