Welcome to Chow Fun Tours, LLC. My name is Lauren Drazen, and I am the owner and operator of the company. My greatest joy is introducing Americans to the people, places and traditions of China and the rest of the world. Although my main expertise is in China, I lead groups to many other countries, including Spain, Portugal and Uganda.
My background is varied. I majored in Chinese language and culture at Dartmouth College. After college, I worked at a small import company, traveling back and forth to China about six times per year, for up to six weeks at a time. That was in the early 1990's. After I got married and started thinking about a family, I left the business world. I earned my Master's in Curriculum and Teaching at Michigan State University. I taught grades 1, 2 and 5.
I moved to Connecticut in 1999 and taught Chinese in public high school for twelve years. During that time, I led eleven student trips to China. Through my privately-owned business, Chow Fun Tours, I run trips for students, women, the local Jewish Community Center and families and couples.
My specialty is bringing Americans in contact with the people to learn about their lives. My goal is to show people the "must see" highlights of each country in addition to the "hidden gems" and rural way of life. I believe that travel will change your life and give you a greater appreciation of the world around you. Your only regret upon boarding the plane home will be that you did not have more time on your journey.
--Lauren Drazen, Owner/Operator, Chow Fun Tours, LLC
My background is varied. I majored in Chinese language and culture at Dartmouth College. After college, I worked at a small import company, traveling back and forth to China about six times per year, for up to six weeks at a time. That was in the early 1990's. After I got married and started thinking about a family, I left the business world. I earned my Master's in Curriculum and Teaching at Michigan State University. I taught grades 1, 2 and 5.
I moved to Connecticut in 1999 and taught Chinese in public high school for twelve years. During that time, I led eleven student trips to China. Through my privately-owned business, Chow Fun Tours, I run trips for students, women, the local Jewish Community Center and families and couples.
My specialty is bringing Americans in contact with the people to learn about their lives. My goal is to show people the "must see" highlights of each country in addition to the "hidden gems" and rural way of life. I believe that travel will change your life and give you a greater appreciation of the world around you. Your only regret upon boarding the plane home will be that you did not have more time on your journey.
--Lauren Drazen, Owner/Operator, Chow Fun Tours, LLC