Location: N/A
Welcome to the GoBeyond China trip logs! Below is a little bit about the staff that will be leading this summer. Enjoy!
EVAN SAWAN – Evan was bitten by the travel bug at a young age while attending middle and high school in Qatar and had since been exploring different corners of Southeast and Eastern Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas. He joined ActionQuest (AQ) as a scuba diving shipmate in the British Virgin Islands (BVIs) and Thailand and later came back to the BVIs as a scuba instructor. While traveling between dive sites with his Open Water and Advanced students, he tested his sailing abilities and achieved his Flotilla Skipper license. His growing interest in the marine environment from an international perspective led to a degree in Marine Affairs with minors in Business and Modern Languages (Spanish & French focus). His Spanish came in handy, working with GB in Costa Rica and Peru, and GB China allowed him to take on a brand new, fascinating language. During the school year before Peru, he was working up in the mountains of California as a science teacher and recently achieved his Wilderness First Responder certification. Now he’s brushing up on his Mandarin to prepare for his return to GB China this summer!
LONG YUN – Growing up in Kunming, Long Yun began studying Martial Arts when she was six years old. In 2006, Long Yun became a Martial Arts teacher, working with groups of international students and Chinese youth interested in entering Gong Fu competitions. In 2010, Long Yun spent a year teaching Chinese and Gong Fu in northern Thailand, where she gained a rudimentary understanding of the language and culture. She has continued to dedicate her life to teaching and cares deeply about passing on her knowledge of Chinese culture and history to anyone who shares her passions. She remains incredibly excited about exploring new facets of Chinese culture with her students. In her free-time, Long Yun enjoys yoga, pilates, biking, hiking, running marathons and exploring new places and cultures. She also likes reading, writing, experimenting in the kitchen, and is gradually learning the art of baking.