big hand out 1 mth to go - Lord Byng Secondary School

LORD BYNG SECONDARY SCHOOL
SENIOR WIND ENSEMBLE’s
China Tour
April 27 to May 6
There is just under a week to go before the Senior Wind Ensemble will be traveling to
China. I am extremely excited about this tour as I know your son/daughter is as well.
There will be 38 students and four chaperones on this trip and the adventures that await
us should be tremendous. The four chaperones are: Ms. K. Tanner (grades 12 councilor),
Ms. L. Lan (teacher), Mr. T. Chin (teacher), and myself.
I have designed this booklet to help answer your questions about what to pack and how
best to prepare for this big adventure. We all want this tour to go as smoothly as
possible, so I ask that you read this entire booklet thoroughly so that no question is left
unanswered. If you still have questions, please e-mail or call me! My e-mail is
smaclennan@vsb.bc.ca and the school phone number is 713 8171 ext. 7726. I will reply
as soon as possible.
There are four forms (Medical Release, VSB Consent Forms (2 pages), and the Three
Strike Rule System) that must be filled out, signed (by student and parent), and
returned to me as soon as possible.
A passport is a very important document. Some thought should be given before
departure to the safekeeping of the passport while traveling. It may NOT be packed in
your checked baggage; you will need it for entry into China and upon your return to
Canada. All students with Canadian passports will need a visa as previously mentioned.
We will collect the passports once we arrive in Beijing and hold onto them until we need
them for the return flight. If a passport is lost or stolen, the process of trying to get a
replacement or a temporary travel document is usually long and tedious and seriously
interferes with the trip schedule.
Any costs incurred by losing your passport (including extra airfare and hotel
accommodations for you and a chaperone) are your responsibility. BE A GOOD
TRAVELLER; BE CAREFUL AND KNOW WHERE YOUR PASSPORT IS AT ALL
TIMES.
CUSTOMS RETURNING HOME
Keep a record of all your purchases and save your bills. If there is any doubt about the
value of your gifts, produce your receipts.
At the present time, you are allowed up to $750.00 in duty-free goods each time you
travel outside the country for 7 days or more. Every returning traveler must complete a
Customs Declaration whether you are claiming duty-free or not. Alcohol and tobacco
products are not allowed to be purchased.

PACKING HANDOUT
Even though the airline allows two checked pieces of luggage, buses have limited luggage
capacity and YOU have to carry your luggage yourself in airports and to your rooms. If
you want to carry on your instrument, you do not get to bring another carry on bag. You
can use a fanny pack or cash belt instead. Participants on the tour may take only ONE
suitcase and ONE small carry-on bag, which must fit under the seat in front of you on the
plane or in the overhead bin. Students with flutes, oboes, or clarinets must pack them in
the suitcase (in the middle for protection).
If you need to purchase new luggage, consider the following points:
- Soft sided luggage is lighter to carry and more flexible. New materials now make it
harder for soft sided luggage to be ripped or torn.
- Hard luggage offers more protection for items packed inside, but it is usually heavier
to manage.
- Luggage with wheels is easier on the arms. Attaching a luggage trolley is just one more
piece of luggage when the trolley is not in use.
Keep the weight of your checked baggage to 21 kilos. Remember you will be adding
more along the way.
ALL LUGGAGE (including hand luggage) must be CLEARLY LABELLED with your
name, address and phone number. It is also a good idea to tape your name and address
inside your luggage.
SOME HINTS
- Use a neck pouch or money belt to carry your passport and currency.
- Medication must be packed in their original containers and registered on the medical
form you give to Mr. MacLennan. If you wear contact lenses, please pack your glasses
in your carry on and carry plenty of solution in checked baggage.
- If your intend to do a lot of shopping, your luggage should be one third empty on the
way out to leave room for your purchases.
- Plan your wardrobe around one or two colour schemes so all your clothing matches.
Sweaters and pullovers are invaluable to layer your clothing as weather can be
unpredictable. Travel lightly with a minimum amount of clothing, choosing items
carefully. There is a chance that it will be very cold.
- Bring a warm waterproof jacket with a hood and sturdy walking shoes. If you don't
have a hood, a small umbrella is handy.
- BREAK IN your shoes before taking them on a trip. Your feet will thank you.
- Avoid taking anything in glass bottles. Use smaller plastic bottles and only enough for
an one week stay.
- Carry enough socks and underwear for the duration - you won't have much time to do
laundry.
- Have a roommate with whom you can share blow dryers, curling irons and converters.

- Leave valuables at home. Take only costume jewelry. Luggage insurance will only
cover a basic amount. If you are carrying an expensive camera, ensure that you are
covered for the additional amount under your home owner insurance policy.
- Expensive cameras should be registered with Canada Customs prior to departure.
PACKING LISTS
ON YOUR PERSON
___ Passport ___ Student Picture I.D. card
___ Comfortable clothes ___ copy of Birth Certificate
___ Traveler’s cheques ___ Sweater
___ Canadian money ___ Rainproof jacket with hood
___ Some Yuen (money) ___ sunglasses
FOR YOUR CARRY-ON BAG(if you aren’t carrying on your instrument)
NOTE: Place all your toiletries in plastic bags in your carry-on and your suitcase in case
of leakage. Please note that customers departing from Canada may take limited
quantities of liquids in individual containers not exceeding 3 fluid ounces or 90
ml.
Extra suggestions:
___ Gum/candy ___ Walkman, discman, or mp3 player
About personal listening devices (IPod, or mp3 player) - You are going a long way and
spending a lot of money to see and hear things that are different from Vancouver.
Personal listening devices should be kept for traveling time or if you are relaxing in your
room. They have no place on the actual excursions and the guides will be extremely
offended if you listen to one during the sightseeing tour. You will probably be asked not
to listen to your mp3 player/ IPod during landing and take-off of your flights. This is so
that you will hear any instructions and information that is being given to the passengers.
During the actual flight you may be allowed to listen to your mp3 player/ IPod; please
observe the regulations as outlined by the flight attendants.
FOR YOUR SUITCASE
IN THE BOTTOM LAYER: Place all heavy and odd-shaped articles, remembering
which side will be up when you stand it up. Wear your heaviest shoes. Tuck accessories
and underclothes between these items and along the sides. Wear your sweater; there's
plenty of room for it in the storage space on the plane. Hopefully you won’t need it.
IN THE SECOND LAYER: Place your second-best and casual outfits here. Fold your
dresses and pants once only, and place a plastic bag or socks in the crease. Shirts and
blouses are folded arm to arm, then across the chest and placed in the centre on top of the
other items. Remember that your clothing should get lighter towards the top of your
case...jeans near the bottom.

THE TOP LAYER: Should contain your uniform and other easily creased clothing.
Please bring two white shirts and two pairs of black socks. Always fold your clothes
where slight creases won't show...tops of slacks rather than the legs should be folded
over...Carry a coat hanger or two to hang up easily crushed items.
CHECK LIST
___ Extra pair of shoes ___ Extra sweater or pullover
___ Socks ___ Gloves
___ Underwear ___ Mini first aid kit (band-aids, aspirin, etc.)
___ Jeans and casual pants ___ Mini sewing kit
___ Medium weight tops ___ Other personal toiletries
___ Dressier clothes for ___ A few hangers
special evenings ___ Towel
___ Travel Alarm (Don't count ___ Forget anything??
on wake-up calls) ___ Music Folder
___ Accessories ___ Music Stand (wire collapsible stand)
___ SWE Uniform (vest, 2 white shirts, black pants, black socks, and black dress shoes)
___ China Shirt (just handed out)
USEFUL ITEMS TO CONSIDER PACKING:
___ Small umbrella
___ Small pair of scissors and safety pins (packed in suitcase, not in your carry-on)
___ extra pair of glasses or contact lenses if your trip will be ruined if you lose your
only pair
___ sun-glasses
___ Canadian pins, buttons etc. to give to drivers, tour escorts, guides
___ a couple of medium-sized plastic bags (kitchen-catcher garbage bags) which are
useful for soiled laundry or dirty shoes
___ a few J cloths; they have many uses including face-cloths. J-cloths can be thrown
out.
___ Something to help if you suffer from motion sickness (Gravol, Ginger Tablets or
Sea Bands)
___ shaving razor and blades (packed in suitcase, not in your carry-on)
PACKING: On returning; pack the night before you depart, and have your clothes that
you are going to wear in the morning ready to go. Always check your hotel room before
leaving and never pack on an unmade, messy bed. Look underneath the furniture and in
all the drawers and in bathrooms and closets. Report all lost items immediately to Mr.
MacLennan; insurance covers you only if proper reports have been filed. Use your
suitcase as a 'safe' when you are out for the day and lock all valuables in it. Never take
any really valuable items with you in the first place, especially jewelry.
COURTESY: Please keep or at least leave your room tidy. Be considerate of your room
mates and their clothing and luggage.

Do pack your good will and a spirit of cooperation. Remember that we travel to other
countries because they are different. Accept these differences graciously and try to
understand before you criticize.
NOW TAKE OUT ONE THIRD OF WHAT YOU HAVE PACKED AND YOU'RE
READY TO GO!
SAFETY
Talk about safety in great detail. Parents, impress upon your son/daughter
the advantages of using neck pouches or money belts to hold passports,
traveler’s cheques and currency. They should be kept hidden under a
sweater or T-shirt and not in plain sight. Small amounts of currency and
change should be readily accessible in front pants pockets or zippered
pockets. Wallets should NEVER be carried in a back pocket. Purses
should be slung diagonally across the shoulder and in front of you - not to
the side or back - with your hand on it whenever possible. It is very easy
for thieves to cut purse straps and run. Be very aware of pick pockets on
crowded public buses or metros. Never take a short cut through a park or
dark alley, even in groups of 4 or more. Stay in well lit and populated
areas.
RULES
ALL SCHOOL “CODE OF CONDUCT” RULES APPLY
THROUGHOUT THE TRIP
1. SAFETY
1. When going someplace, go with another member of the group. Inform
one of your supervisors where you are going. There should be at least
FOUR in a group, preferably more.
2. Pedestrians never have the right of way. Be very careful crossing
streets.
3. Never accept any drink from, or offer a drink to a stranger. Never tell
any stranger your room number.
4. Be extra aware in crowded areas, buses and metros.
5. Inform your supervisors if you are on medication for emergencies.
6. Your passport is the most valuable item on the trip. Keep it safe at
all times.
II. COURTESY
1. Everyone is responsible for loading, unloading and general care of
his/her own luggage.
2. No excessive noise in airports, on airplanes, in museums or especially

hotels. Hotel management always reserves the right to evict a group at
any time of day or night.
3. At no time can a male student be in a female student's room and vice
versa. There are always plenty of hotel lounges and cafes where you can
socialize.
4. There will be no socializing in hotel rooms after curfew.
5. Hotel rooms are not to be considered your room at home. There are
other guests at all times in the hotel besides you and your roommates.
6. It is expected that you will leave airplanes, coaches and your hotel
rooms in the order in which you found them. We want to leave a favorable
impression.
7. ALWAYS BE COURTEOUS to those who wait on you, friendly with
those you meet, and positive in your attitudes.
After we leave and people "talk about Canadians" or "those kids from
Vancouver", what do we want them to say about us?
Be sure to read through the power point
presentation given by Tianjiao (the tour
company) that is on the website as well.