Technical difficulties

 There is a robust system of information control in China.  At the moment, I cannot send any blog posts, and this message is being posted by my friend, Dennis.  Check back in a day or two, and the problem may have been corrected.

Strawberry Fields Forever

 The Chinese have different attitudes toward schedules than we and change agendas at a moment’s notice. They have more authority over their students. We were scheduled to meet with some students yesterday afternoon, but it was a very nice day, and the leaders thought we ought to go strawberry picking in a greenhouse on the age of the city instead.  So after the signing, they summoned the students to hear our presentations.

“Won’t this disrupt their schedules?” Dr. Lewis inquired. Well of course it did, but these were students, and in China students do as they’re told. 

In Jinan, greenhouse strawberries are grown in the winter.  They are juicy and delicious. We were told that the farmers make a good living, thanks to government support.

I Dare You to Eat a Cicada

The Chinese eat many things we would not. Historically, it was a very poor country, and they found their protein wherever they could.  Yesterday afternoon they served us cicadas. Roasted, they’re rather crunchy and have a flavor like bacon.  Ever polite, Dr. Lewis accepted the challenge to eat one.

We Did It!

The purpose of this trip was to formalize two academic exchanges.  Yesterday, ETSU signed the cooperation agreement with Shandong Institute of Commerce and Technology. The establishment of international partnerships is extremely formal, and the Chinese are great at formality.  Above, Dr. Lewis and the SICT president sign the relevant documents.

Drs. Lewis, Hogan, and I were awarded certificates of cultural ambassadorship and editions of the Analects of Confucius in ornate Chinese.

Moving on

From Beijing, we traveled south to Jinan on a high speed train.

 It is in places like train stations that one sees the real China, the enormous numbers of people, the blend of modern technology and ancient practices.  This woman was carting her baby boy in a straw basket.

When we arrived, our hosts assumed we’d want lunch at the Chinese MacDonald’s, but we were more interested in seeing what people actually eat here, so we went to a crowded lunch spot, where we interacted with locals, and sat on backless stools eating rice.

Every trip is different

Most of my trips to China have been for the purpose of teaching, and I’ve traveled solo, or else with my husband, Joe.  This time, I’m part of a delegation composed of   Dr. Angela Lewis, our Dean; Dr. Norma Hogan, Chair of Curriculum and Instruction and myself.  Dr. Hogan’s husband Eddie is along with us doing photography and logistics. Our goal is arranging academic exchanges with three institutions, and while Drs. Lewis and Hogan outrank me, I am the one with the longest experience in China. I’m also the only group member who speaks a bit of Chinese, so I do a lot of the planning and interface.

There’s been the usual round of meetings and sumptuous hospitality.  Below Dr. Lewis is pictured with North China University of Technology vice president Luo at our opening banquet.   

 We’ve also had a chance to do a bit of sightseeing despite the cold, and we’ve been reconnecting with former students.   Li Songshu, second from left, a graduate of our educational media program, now works for a university here in Beijing. Tang Yingjuan, far right, is a graduate of our MAT program, and runs the International Office at North China University of Technology.  

Other than cold, the chief SNAFU on this trip has been sporadic Internet access, but I’ll do my best to stay in touch.  

Morning on the Track  

Up early due to jet lag, I take a walk on the track at North China University of Technology (NCUT), where we are staying.  We arrived here at 10:00 Sunday after a  trip which took about 36 hours all told.  The track at NCUT is a morning meeting place where students and the occasional teacher walk, congregate, and work out on exercise equipment set up by the fence.

    

My skin tone and intermittent picture taking mark me an outsider, and a woman asked me what I was looking for.  Turned out she was a psychology professor interested in learning more English.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t carrying my business cards, something one should always do when traveling in China.  She promised to contact me via email.