Myanmar Program 2010 Schedule

 
 
 

August 25, Wednesday

Depart Narita and Taipei airports for evening flight to Bangkok.

August 26, Thursday

Morning:  orientation meeting.  Afternoon:  informal discussion with Emma Larkin, author of Finding George Orwell in Burma and Nothing is LeftB, L

August 27, Friday

Morning meeting with Larry Jagan, independent journalist covering Burma for the BBC and many news organizations. Followed by lunch with Mr. Jagan. Afternoon: Briefing on Myanmar’s relations with its immediate neighbor (Thailand) and with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by Prof. Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Director, Institute for Security and International Studies. Also: meeting with staff of Burma Issues, an NGO focusing on human rights and other issues.  B, L

August 28, Saturday

Morning transfer to airport for Bangkok-Yangon flight. Meeting in Yangon with students of the Pre-Collegiate Program who will plan and lead our schedule for the day. Dinner with Myanmar students. B, L, D

August 29 - 31, Sunday-Tuesday

These days will be led mostly by the Myanmar students who will guide our entry into their society, whether through exploring the huge Shwedagone Pagoda which dominates the city, examining the colonial architecture, talking in one of the many sidewalk teashops and having dinner one evening in their homes. The emphasis is on building personal relationships as well as observing daily life. A briefing by UNICEF staff and a visit to local NGOs will introduce some of the nation’s social challenges. Japanese students will meet with Japanese Embassy officials; Taiwan students will explore Yangon’s Chinese community and meet with Taiwanese businesspeople. B, L, D

September 1, Wednesday

Morning flight to Mandalay, the historic capital and the country’s second largest city. After settling into our hotel and having lunch, we’ll visit Golden Palace Monastery and a nearby pagoda with the world’s largest stone books. Shortly before sunset, we travel to Mandalay Hill which overlooks the city, the Irrawaddy river and the far hills. B, D, L

September 2, Thursday

We visit Phaung Daw Oo School, started by a Buddhist priest to serve those children who are too poor to attend public schools; we’ll meet with the priest, with teachers and with students. In the late afternoon, we’ll have extended discussions with students at an English school. B, L, D

September 3, Friday

The group visits one of the area’s largest monasteries where thousands of young monks study and then explore the U-Bein Bridge. In the afternoon, we return to an English school where students welcome us to their homes or monasteries for dinner. B, L, D

September 4, Saturday

We float down the Irrawaddy river on a ten-hour boat trip to reach the fabled plains of Bagan, dotted by thousands of 800-year-old temples, pagodas and stupas. B, L, D

September 5-6, Sunday - Monday

With our local guide, we visit some of the most interesting of Bagan’s fabled sites, whether the huge Ananda Pahto temple or the small stupas found in the fields. We’ll also explore the local marketplace, a village-based toddy-palm enterprise and have dinner with local people. On the late afternoon of Monday, we fly back to Yangon. B, L, D

September 7, Tuesday

After a morning group reflection session, the rest of the day is free for a final, personal look at Yangon (either on one’s own or with students). That evening, we join with our local student friends for a farewell dinner. B, D

September 8, Wednesday

We board an afternoon flight to Bangkok. Japanese students depart on a late-night flight; Taiwan students rest overnight in Bangkok. B, L

September 9, Thursday

Japanese students arrive in Narita after transiting in Seoul (Incheon). Taiwanese students transfer to Bangkok airport for flight to Taipei. B

This schedule is tentative and thus may change.

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Download an application now.

Travel agency:

Nissin Travel Service Co. Ltd., Kyodo Building, Kudan 1 Go-Kan, 1-5-5 Kudan-minami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0074. Agent: Mr. Kazumi Hamamoto, tel. 5210-5765.

Phone: 03-5210-5772. Fax: 03-5210-5768.

General Travel Agency license no. 463. Agent in charge of program: Mr. Kazumi Hamamoto.

Contact Info learningacrossborders@gmail.com
Photos by Kentaro Suzuki, Shugo Yanaka, Moe Kogure, Ryoh Miyashita