Thursday, December 6, 2012

Flight issues resolved......sort of

Hello There Fabulous Folks,

I've been on the phone most of the day again trying to resolve the issues with the flight.  It looks like we are moving forward with the $1285 price (booking at the end of February).  Our travel agent said that there *may* be a slight fluctuation up or down due to fuel surcharges, but that we should come in right around the $1285 price.

I called around to a number of different travel agents and what they said confirmed what I already knew - the price that we are getting through the current travel agent is a great deal.  Another agent quoted me $1500, another $1600, and yet another $1400.  So I think it's time to settle this matter and move forward.

Please stay on course to submit your $100 deposit by Tuesday to Patricia at the Comm. Dept. Office in the Hugh Gillis Hall building on campus.  She has been kind enough to offer to gather all deposits and send them directly to me.

Keep in mind that the phone number that I provided you can either be talk or text, so feel free to contact me either way.

I hope you have a restful weekend.
:)
Carol

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Calls, calls, and more calls.....

After speaking with what seems like a thousand people, I still have only a few answers.  However, the travel agent got back to me and said that the price was $935 per ticket, with a $350 surcharge for fuel.   That means each ticket is going to be $1285 instead of the original quoted price. 

It's still MUCH better than the estimated $1500, but not as good as I was originally quoted (and confirmed 3 times).  I've got calls out to Air China, and two other travel agents to see what can be done to bring down the price further. 

As soon as I find out anymore information, I'll let y'all know.  I'm waiting for a few call backs that will likely take place tomorrow. 

I'm still fighting.........VERY HARD for you guys.

Carol

Flight problems......

Hello Folks,

Here's the latest update about the flight:

This morning I spoke with the travel agent about the flight.  She confirmed that the flights would be $1,065 per person.  I made sure to confirm this price at least 3 times before I sent out the email to y'all this afternoon, and before I sent a personal check for $1,600 to lock in this amazing price.  I was going along my day, chatting with students, grading papers, running errands for our Beijing trip, and my iPhone dings.  The travel agent sends me an email saying that Air China cancelled our group flight with our locked in rate of $1,065 and our rate would now be $1,385.

I'm sure you can imagine how frustrated I am at this point.  To try and take care of the issue, I have been on the phone all afternoon with Air China, our travel agent and many other people trying to get back the original rate we were quoted. 

Please know that I'm fighting as hard as I can for you guys.

Stay tuned for more details.  I will post to my blog as soon as I know more.........

Carol

Flight Deposit - IMPORTANT INFO.

Here is the email I just sent out to everyone........


Hello Beijing 2013ers,

After going back and forth with the travel agency, the Comm. Dept., and the University for the past few days, it has been decided that your deposit check for $100 will be handed into the Communication Studies Department.   Because the price for the flight was such a great deal (savings of over $400 per ticket), I had to write a personal check to the travel agency to secure that price.  If I had not sent a personal check directly to the travel agency, the prices for the flight would have been much higher.  And because I wanted my students to save as much money as possible, this is what the travel agency required.

Please drop off a check to the Communication Studies Department no later than Tuesday, December 11th at 3:00pm.  Follow these instructions:

1). Make the check out for $100, payable to Carol-Lynn Perez.
2). In the memo field in the lower left hand corner of the check write:  Flight Deposit
3). Put the check in a sealed envelope.
4). Write your name in the upper left hand corner of the envelope.
5). On the front of the envelope put it attention to: Patricia

Patricia will then forward to me all of the deposit checks at the same time on Tuesday, December 11th. Keep in mind that we will likely book at the end of February, so please be prepared for that.

In case you need to contact me for any reason please call me at (see email for phone number).  Please keep this phone number confidential, as this is my personal cell phone number.

Let me know if any questions or concerns arise.

:)
Carol

Monday, December 3, 2012

Flight Deposit

Hello World Travelers,

I have been on and off the phone all morning with the travel agent trying to figure out how they want the deposit.  Right now they are telling me that they can't charge your credit cards individually, and that they would prefer that I collect checks, and send them all to the travel agent.

You can imagine my hesitation.  What *I* want to do is have you give them your credit card information electronically so that we don't have to deal with snail mail any longer, but the travel agent seems to be resistant to that idea.

I will keep you all posted with what's going on through my blog so that you aren't inundated with emails from me.  Check back later or tomorrow for an update with what's going on with the deposit.

One things for certain - the tickets will remain at $1,065!!!!!!! 

:)
Carol

Monday, October 29, 2012

Deposit Reminder

Hello Folks,

Here is the email I sent on October 23rd:











I have been in contact with the travel agent, among many other people regarding the trip.  As it stands now, there are a few things you should follow up on ASAP: 

1). Passport, passport, passport.  If you have not included the information about your passport on your application, please send it to me ASAP.  If you have not already applied for a passport, you'll need to do that ASAP (that means this week).  Check the expiration date of your passport - it needs to be valid until at least 2014 (or 6 months after the trip).

2). Please email me your deposit check ASAP to the following address:

Carol-Lynn Perez
P.O. Box 931
Placerville, CA 95667-0931


The check should be made out to me (I will coordinate the Visa application and such, so I'll need your deposit as soon as possible).  The check amount:  $170.  Once I receive your check I will send you the Student Handbook so you can get started reading all about China and the wonderful experience that awaits you. 

The check should be postmarked by October 29th, which is this coming Monday, so please get it in the mail very soon.

3). I am planning the syllabus and have most of the readings put together.  As you know from the orientation meetings, there will be some work due during the Spring 2013 semester.  Most of the work will pertain to the readings, so I can send you a list of readings/books as soon as I receive your deposit check.  It would be a good idea to start the readings over the Christmas break, just to get a head start. 

Once again, I need to request that y'all get the word out about the trip.  We still need a few more folks for the trip - so bring a friend and have them contact me as soon as humanly possible.

:)
Carol

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Visa's

Hello Study Abroad Students,

I hope you all have had a good couple of weeks since we met.

I have an email out to the person who will be handling our Visa's and plane tickets.  Keep your fingers crossed that she'll get back to me ASAP so I can finally fill y'all in on where/when to send your deposit.

Remember, email me with any questions you might have.

:)
Carol

Friday, October 5, 2012

Orientation Meetings

Hello Folks,

I'm so glad to have met most of you this week for the orientation meetings.  We have some great folks going on the trip.

Here are some reminders about what we covered this week in the orientation meetings:

1). Deposit of $170 is due at the end of the month.  I'm waiting to hear back from the FLP department regarding how they want the deposits given.  Once your deposit is received, I will send you the student handbook so you can get started reading through it.  The handbook has quite a few tips for students that are really helpful in the 'planning' process.  (Your $170 deposit is for your Visa application).

2). The flight is approximately $1500.  This amount should be available to you by the end of November.  That means that if the travel agent pulls the trigger because she found the best deal on tickets, we need to be ready to give her our passport and credit card information.

3). The remaining approximately $2500 is due in May of 2013.  This is when you will register for the class and pay for your tuition.

4). You must apply for a passport ASAP if you do not already have one.  This is serious business folks!  If you need to renew your passport, do it ASAP, meaning Monday.  New passport applications take 6-8 weeks to process.  That means that you need to apply for the passport THIS COMING WEEK if you want to get your passport in time to book the flight.

5). Please also note that your passport MUST be valid until at least 6 months after we return from our trip.  So in short, your passport must be valid until 2014.

6). I will try not to clog your email inboxes with too much information, so I'll send you a nudge here and there to check this blog.  But it would be great if you simply checked the Beijing blog often to see if there are any updates.

7). If you need course accommodations, please make an appointment with Stephanie Coopman as soon as possible.  She will handle all course accommodations.

8). There is one thing I forgot to mention in the orientation meetings:  During Spring 2013 semester we will have 2 mandatory meetings, most likely on Saturdays.  These meeting dates have yet to be determined, but they are mandatory for everyone who is traveling to Beijing.  In the meetings we will cover quite a bit of information regarding our travels, coursework, etc.....  In short, the meetings must be attended by everyone, no exceptions. 

I will update my blog again next week when I have heard back from the FLP department regarding deposits.

:)
Carol

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

SJSU Study Abroad 2013


Visit Beijing and earn four upper division unites in communication studies!

During the summer of 2013 I will be leading an intercultural communication study abroad program to China, with a special emphasis on tourism, modernity, and urban life.



Students will stay at Communication University of China, which provides comfortable dormitory housing, low-cost meals, and easy access to the sights of Beijing. Classes focus on conversation and real-life exploration, and you will have lots of free time. That means opportunities to climb the Great Wall, wander the Forbidden City, experience the Peking Opera, and more.

Great Wall

Forbidden City
Peking Opera


Pricing (excluding airfare and visa fees) is about $2,500, which covers housing, course fees, food, and several local tours. Cost for airfare and visa fees is estimated at an additional $1,500. The course meets COMM 161F requirements, but course substitutions can be made if you've already taken that class. If you a communication major, you should apply for this terrific opportunity.

Want to learn more:

Please contact me for more information. I am currently putting together a list of students who are interested in traveling with me to Beijing for the Study Abroad Program during Summer 2013.

I look forward to hearing from you.