What does it take to transform a seemingly ordinary vacation into an extraordinary journey of discovery? Any Grand Circle traveler will tell you it’s not a question of what, but who—and the answer is our resident expert Program Directors. No matter where in the world you venture with us, these skilled and knowledgeable travel professionals will be by your side, every step of the way.
Over the years, I’ve heard from many travelers who, impressed by the caliber of our Program Directors, wonder how all of these talented women and men manage to find their way to Grand Circle. While everyone’s personal stories and experiences vary, many of our Program Directors are motivated by the same passion for travel and desire to connect with others that encouraged Jia ("Patrick") Guan—a Program Director for our China’s Cultural Capitals and China & the Yangtze River vacations—to become a professional guide.
Program Director Spotlight: Meet Jia (Patrick) Guan
“Traveling is more eye-opening than reading,” the ancient Chinese thinker and philosopher Confucius said. Born in a blue-collar worker’s family in the 1970s, I never imagined that I would be able to make any journey 100 miles away from home before I went to high school. At that time, people’s lives were hard and few people could afford to travel, even within China. So as a young boy, I could do nothing but read as many books as possible. I was particularly taken with history books; to me, what made the subject so interesting was that so many people’s personal stories were hidden inside.
By reading all kinds of books and studying hard, I soon became one of the top students in my high school. In the early 1990s, I was given a chance to attend a student exchange program in the U.S. This trip—which included a stay in Georgetown, Maryland, and visits to Williamsburg, Virginia, and the World Trade Center in New York—changed my whole point of view of the world.
In the ‘80s and early ‘90s, the Chinese government and people were still in a mindset of “Cold War” thinking. The propaganda I heard in my youth made me believe that the U.S. was a “paper tiger”—seemingly ferocious, but ultimately impotent. But seeing is believing! I discovered the U.S. was not a tiger made of paper after all, but one made of iron and steel. Moreover, the people I met there were very nice to me and the country itself was so beautiful.
Soon after I returned to China, I found I had to take my National University Entrance Exam (it’s like China’s version of the SAT) and begin thinking about my future studies. Inspired by my recent experience, I chose Tourism as my major, and became a student at the Beijing Second Foreign Language Institute. As a freshman, I took a part-time job as a waiter at a local bar so I could start a “traveling fund” and visit other cities in China. By the time I was a junior, I had passed the National Tour Guide Qualification Exam and earned my National Tour Guide License. Finally, I had become a professional English-speaking Chinese guide.
However, things rarely go the way we expect them to. After just a few years as a tour guide, I was offered a great opportunity to work in the Beijing office of a famous foreign company. As I was a young man, I decided to try something new in another field—so China soon found itself with one more white-collar worker and one less travel guide. In my new role, I made and answered phone calls, sent faxes, wrote reports, and made Excel spreadsheets for my manager. I tried my best to accomplish what I was there to do and was promoted quickly. But the day-by-day office work made me feel alone, confused, and isolated.
As I looked back and reflected upon what had happened to me, I realized that this office job was not what I wanted for my career. Instead, I found that I was still deeply in love with the idea of being a professional travel guide: It allows me to learn more by visiting different parts of my country—and the wider world—and guiding people makes me feel relaxed, comfortable, and open. So I listened to my heart, quit the office job, and began leading trips in China again.
Now, more than ten years later, I still truly and deeply enjoy my job. After leading so many groups in China, I feel that my travelers have a much better understanding of the people, culture, and history of my country. And that makes me feel extremely happy and satisfied.
Learn more about Chinese culture on our China’s Cultural Capitals and China & the Yangtze River vacations.