Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Research Seminar
Can I tell you how much I love Cathay Pacific? No lines at the Taipei airport, smiling, helpful, efficient...do you think Erik Diestelhorst's work has anything to do with creating such a great airline?
The drive through Hong Kong is always beautiful. I went all the way to the new territories on the north side to a brand new Hyatt next to the Chinese University of Hong Kong, our host site. We started with the traditional Lion Dance, of course. This one was furnished free of charge because we were a group of 90+, and they were very good...my pictures are not, but I include them anyway.
You will notice we 90+ met in one large dining room for many of our meetings...it made it very hard to hear even the person sitting next to you. It was at a constant Chinese restaurant volume with everyone yelling to be heard...not conducive to good communication, but we made do. The senior scholars (about a dozen in number) were seated with the junior scholars, most of whom were from the mainland. They were studying everything from Daoism to cross-cultural psychology to sports and the creation of nationalism to ethnic minorities to the move to international accounting to air pollution to public healthcare...you name it, we were there. Many were Asian-Americans who were fortunate to have good Mandarin. There were also many who were struggling to improve their language skills or had no Mandarin at all. Where ever they went, their "mentors" and student friends were asking them to translate into English for them. They lived in private homes, student dormitories, offices, apartments they had found themselves...all manner of living arrangements. They were a sturdy, hardy, persistent, smart group of students...very impressive, with a sense of humor that never failed them.
We had group meetings with similar research interests. We had meetings about how to move ahead with research under very difficult conditions. We had panels that brought us up-to-date on the "1 country, 2 systems" PRC governing issues and the hazards of doing cross-cultural research. We worked hard in Hong Kong!
We were fed 5 times a day, mostly Asian food, but now and then a nod to Western food. Eating with chopsticks in front of pros is intimidating, but I am getting better...a lost art over the years in the US. The weather turned brutal...rain and bitter winds and cold, especially the night we walked up the hill to the Council's house for the reception. I don't do very well at "working the room," but I do like to sit and observe. That night was the only night we had "free" in HK, and most were so cold and so tired, we stayed on the bus and went back to the hotel. So NO shopping in HK...can you believe it?
I stop here to add pictures of HK before I travel to Macau...
The drive through Hong Kong is always beautiful. I went all the way to the new territories on the north side to a brand new Hyatt next to the Chinese University of Hong Kong, our host site. We started with the traditional Lion Dance, of course. This one was furnished free of charge because we were a group of 90+, and they were very good...my pictures are not, but I include them anyway.
You will notice we 90+ met in one large dining room for many of our meetings...it made it very hard to hear even the person sitting next to you. It was at a constant Chinese restaurant volume with everyone yelling to be heard...not conducive to good communication, but we made do. The senior scholars (about a dozen in number) were seated with the junior scholars, most of whom were from the mainland. They were studying everything from Daoism to cross-cultural psychology to sports and the creation of nationalism to ethnic minorities to the move to international accounting to air pollution to public healthcare...you name it, we were there. Many were Asian-Americans who were fortunate to have good Mandarin. There were also many who were struggling to improve their language skills or had no Mandarin at all. Where ever they went, their "mentors" and student friends were asking them to translate into English for them. They lived in private homes, student dormitories, offices, apartments they had found themselves...all manner of living arrangements. They were a sturdy, hardy, persistent, smart group of students...very impressive, with a sense of humor that never failed them.
We had group meetings with similar research interests. We had meetings about how to move ahead with research under very difficult conditions. We had panels that brought us up-to-date on the "1 country, 2 systems" PRC governing issues and the hazards of doing cross-cultural research. We worked hard in Hong Kong!
We were fed 5 times a day, mostly Asian food, but now and then a nod to Western food. Eating with chopsticks in front of pros is intimidating, but I am getting better...a lost art over the years in the US. The weather turned brutal...rain and bitter winds and cold, especially the night we walked up the hill to the Council's house for the reception. I don't do very well at "working the room," but I do like to sit and observe. That night was the only night we had "free" in HK, and most were so cold and so tired, we stayed on the bus and went back to the hotel. So NO shopping in HK...can you believe it?
I stop here to add pictures of HK before I travel to Macau...
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Last Week's TMs (Taiwan Moments)
I had just returned from my morning walk with Jong Li on Thursday, and wanted to read my US newspapers online. I took off my sweaty pants, and was sitting in my underwear when the building snapped (I could hear the sound), the blinds began to sway, and I was so disoriented I thought I was in another time zone. I quickly grabbed my pants and headed for a doorway, but the earthquake had already stopped. I really thought nothing of it until Scott and Anne sent a very quick e-mail asking if I was "OK." Not knowing exactly what they meant, I googled earthquake Taiwan 2010, and found out, yes indeed, I just had my first earthquake experience in Taiwan. A said TAS' lights went out, and they were without electricity for a short while. C was exercising on the bike at ACC, and completely missed out on the experience. K was in Shanghai. I am just grateful that it wasn't any worse, and that the world did not catch me with my pants down!
Jong Li and I had lunch in the faculty dining room on Monday, otherwise known as the "Teacher's Restaurant." It was really quite bland and awful...I will probably not return. I will take my own chili sauce if I do, as no condiments were offered. I was told it was an "all you can eat"buffet for NT$60 (US$2). We arrived shortly after it opened at 11 AM (breakfast and lunch for us), and they did not have everything out on the buffet line. I went back to the line to get cooked cabbage and some green beans that they put out late. The "boss" came over to Jong Li, and started lecturing her in Mandarin. It turns out it is more like all you can pile on your plate your first time through the line buffet...you may NOT go back...even if the buffet line wasn't ready. Tinsley showed me the student cafeterias, the Subway Shop, and a new coffee/tea shop in the student dormitory area. Most think they are located too far away from the office. They are actually only about 3-5 minutes across campus. I'm sure we will try other cafeterias, Frankly, the student food looked much better than the faculty food! Even the students know the "Teacher Restaurant" is not very good.
One of my students in the Seminar class is from Missouri and has an UG degree from Iowa Wesleyan. His best friend at college was from Taiwan, so he came here to pursue his masters, and is now working on his Ph.D at YZU. I asked if he had taken the free international students Mandarin class, and he had. He was shocked when I told him they would not let me sit in on the class, and suggested I try again. I told him I didn't think that was possible (it's not!). He got a funny look on his face, then confessed it was not very helpful to him, and he now has a private tutor. He offered to get me a private tutor, but I'm not quite ready for that right now...I need to get further into the semesters' classes before I can tell if I have the time. I'm thinking my "time" will be spent traveling...
I ask my students to introduce themselves by filling out a card. I ask them to start with their family name, given names, English name, and then to tell me what they prefer to be called. They refer to their English name as their nickname, which seems logical to me. Two students came up to me after the Friday afternoon make-up class to say one of the students was ill and could not make it to the class. I asked what her name was so that I could notate that on my attendance list. They looked at each other, chatted a bit in Mandarin, then one laughed and said "we think her name is Yvette. She doesn't like her nickname, and she has decided to change it." Now, folks, if you're unhappy with your name,...just move to Taiwan!
The garbage trucks in Neili play little electronic songs as they go about their daily pick-ups. I repeatedly hear Beethoven's "Fur Elise" being played. Itta (a marketing prof on our staff...she has a purple shirt on in the luncheon pictures) told me her dog recognizes the music, and starts barking, knowing she will be able to take a little walk outside to take out the garbage. Now, of course, every time I hear the garbage truck, I think of Itta and her dog!
I have been online updating the blog for almost 3 hours (its takes forever to get the pictures uploaded). I am now going to treat myself to a hot bath in the Kreiling's bathtub. And the tub is in a bathroom that does not flood...I don't have to squeegee today...WOO HOO!!!
Stay tuned...I am going to try to upload daily blogs from the HK Seminar.
Jong Li and I had lunch in the faculty dining room on Monday, otherwise known as the "Teacher's Restaurant." It was really quite bland and awful...I will probably not return. I will take my own chili sauce if I do, as no condiments were offered. I was told it was an "all you can eat"buffet for NT$60 (US$2). We arrived shortly after it opened at 11 AM (breakfast and lunch for us), and they did not have everything out on the buffet line. I went back to the line to get cooked cabbage and some green beans that they put out late. The "boss" came over to Jong Li, and started lecturing her in Mandarin. It turns out it is more like all you can pile on your plate your first time through the line buffet...you may NOT go back...even if the buffet line wasn't ready. Tinsley showed me the student cafeterias, the Subway Shop, and a new coffee/tea shop in the student dormitory area. Most think they are located too far away from the office. They are actually only about 3-5 minutes across campus. I'm sure we will try other cafeterias, Frankly, the student food looked much better than the faculty food! Even the students know the "Teacher Restaurant" is not very good.
One of my students in the Seminar class is from Missouri and has an UG degree from Iowa Wesleyan. His best friend at college was from Taiwan, so he came here to pursue his masters, and is now working on his Ph.D at YZU. I asked if he had taken the free international students Mandarin class, and he had. He was shocked when I told him they would not let me sit in on the class, and suggested I try again. I told him I didn't think that was possible (it's not!). He got a funny look on his face, then confessed it was not very helpful to him, and he now has a private tutor. He offered to get me a private tutor, but I'm not quite ready for that right now...I need to get further into the semesters' classes before I can tell if I have the time. I'm thinking my "time" will be spent traveling...
I ask my students to introduce themselves by filling out a card. I ask them to start with their family name, given names, English name, and then to tell me what they prefer to be called. They refer to their English name as their nickname, which seems logical to me. Two students came up to me after the Friday afternoon make-up class to say one of the students was ill and could not make it to the class. I asked what her name was so that I could notate that on my attendance list. They looked at each other, chatted a bit in Mandarin, then one laughed and said "we think her name is Yvette. She doesn't like her nickname, and she has decided to change it." Now, folks, if you're unhappy with your name,...just move to Taiwan!
The garbage trucks in Neili play little electronic songs as they go about their daily pick-ups. I repeatedly hear Beethoven's "Fur Elise" being played. Itta (a marketing prof on our staff...she has a purple shirt on in the luncheon pictures) told me her dog recognizes the music, and starts barking, knowing she will be able to take a little walk outside to take out the garbage. Now, of course, every time I hear the garbage truck, I think of Itta and her dog!
I have been online updating the blog for almost 3 hours (its takes forever to get the pictures uploaded). I am now going to treat myself to a hot bath in the Kreiling's bathtub. And the tub is in a bathroom that does not flood...I don't have to squeegee today...WOO HOO!!!
Stay tuned...I am going to try to upload daily blogs from the HK Seminar.
The Welcome Lunch with all of my Colleagues
Seated to my left around the table are Drs. Ting Fang, Colin, Robin, Grace (the original Chair who got the Fulbright process started), Itta, Lauren, Jane (my supportive Chair), Shih, Larry, and Gordon. My thanks to Tinsley for taking all of the pictures.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Back in the Classroom
I often wonder if I should sit down each night and write the blog...but that turns it into a daily journal. I must say "the morning after" I view my experiences a little differently than I do at the end of a very exhausting day. So this is the week that was..
I taught 6 3-hour classes this week (pictures forthcoming). Monday Tinsley and worked feverishly to copy the handouts I would use in the first day of classes. I met my first UG class Tuesday morning, and 28 of the 31 enrolled students attended. None had gone to the portal to get the syllabus or the lecture notes. None had a book. None were prepared to take any notes. Day 1 is commonly known as rule day, but most students think of it as get-in-and-get-out-of-the-classroom-quickly day. They were surprised to find I had prepared 3 hours of introductions and activities. As one student so succinctly put it, they were in "culture shock." This is actually not much different than my US classrooms, as most profs will tell you. Off they went to the copy shop and to portal to get themselves organized. One prof said they work so hard in elementary and high school that, once they get into a good college, they think they don't have to work. This is true in other Asian countries as well. I explained to them that future employers would be looking at their transcripts and this was not a time to put studying at the end of their "to do" list.
The second 3- hour class of the day was my MBA class. 28 of the 34 enrollees showed up. 2 quickly learned they did not belong in the class as they did not have the pre-reqs or the English skills required for the class. I was told that the finance majors were told they had to take this class. We formed teams and went charging ahead. I was almost sick at the end of the day...7 hours of teaching, plus prep...and it will continue this way for the semester.
The university said I could attend the Asian Fulbright Research seminar next week in Hong Kong and Macau if I made up the classes that I would miss. The UG class could not all meet at the same time, so I offered to teach the class twice on Friday. The MBA class chose to come back on Wednesday morning for the make-up. By Wednesday morning all of the Finance majors had dropped the class, and I went from 34 enrolled students to 19 actual students. 17 of the 19 were able to attend the make-up class. They are very good students and very neat people, so I am very happy at how this turned out...despite the fact that I had planned for twice that many students. We re-grouped and we are carrying on. They will give their first presentations at our next class, an external environmental analysis of an assigned case.
22 of the 31 students in the UG class came to one of the two Friday sessions...I thought a very good turnout as Fridays are always filled with jobs and cram schools and other classes. The UGs were much more prepared and ready to work, but still fearful of discussing the cases in small groups or answering any questions. I am confident that will change as some students were already responding.
The third class was my first 3-hour seminar on Thursday afternoon. The class had grown to at least 57, but I have no access to portal to get names or to post material...a real "ooops!" when you are expected to teach half the semester and give the mid-term grades. I wanted to use a video case from the Stanford leadership series and spent hours trying to download and save. I finally succeeded, but the next day I was denied access! A frantic e-mail to the only person I know at the Leadership office said try again...they were using a new program. This time I spent hours and hours (18?) trying to download. Every time I would get to 90% saved our system would shut me down. I finally got up during the middle of the night when there is less system traffic, and spent 3 hours downloading...and it worked! Again, the students were not used to my teaching methods or the case studies and surveys I used, but practicing in class helped them to understand what my expectations are. One of the students politely asked me at the end of class if I would upload the work on portal. I told her I had no access, but that I would ask the head of the seminar, Dr. Larry, if he would do it. The others don't really teach...they just have guest speakers, and the students don't have to do any work. No wonder they have problems with English speaking, reading, and writing...no practice. Suffice it to say that the first two weeks of the seminar have now been uploaded by Dr. Larry. When I FINALLY get my lesson plans done for the next 4 seminars, they will go up on portal also.
Now onto the other news of the week...
Thursday the College of Management had a welcome lunch for me (pictures forthcoming). Wednesday one of the profs, Grace, had come to my office to chat and ask if two of her students could be excused from Thursday seminar to help her gather data. As she was leaving, she said see you tomorrow at the luncheon. When I asked "what luncheon?" she replied "your welcoming luncheon." I never did get the e-mail invitation, so it was very lucky that she came by to chat. We had a 7 course luncheon, and I loved every bite! Following my self-introduction, we went around the table and each prof introduced themselves and told about their research...VERY INTERESTING...they are extremely good researchers and teachers, and I am very proud to be part of their department.
I taught 6 3-hour classes this week (pictures forthcoming). Monday Tinsley and worked feverishly to copy the handouts I would use in the first day of classes. I met my first UG class Tuesday morning, and 28 of the 31 enrolled students attended. None had gone to the portal to get the syllabus or the lecture notes. None had a book. None were prepared to take any notes. Day 1 is commonly known as rule day, but most students think of it as get-in-and-get-out-of-the-classroom-quickly day. They were surprised to find I had prepared 3 hours of introductions and activities. As one student so succinctly put it, they were in "culture shock." This is actually not much different than my US classrooms, as most profs will tell you. Off they went to the copy shop and to portal to get themselves organized. One prof said they work so hard in elementary and high school that, once they get into a good college, they think they don't have to work. This is true in other Asian countries as well. I explained to them that future employers would be looking at their transcripts and this was not a time to put studying at the end of their "to do" list.
The second 3- hour class of the day was my MBA class. 28 of the 34 enrollees showed up. 2 quickly learned they did not belong in the class as they did not have the pre-reqs or the English skills required for the class. I was told that the finance majors were told they had to take this class. We formed teams and went charging ahead. I was almost sick at the end of the day...7 hours of teaching, plus prep...and it will continue this way for the semester.
The university said I could attend the Asian Fulbright Research seminar next week in Hong Kong and Macau if I made up the classes that I would miss. The UG class could not all meet at the same time, so I offered to teach the class twice on Friday. The MBA class chose to come back on Wednesday morning for the make-up. By Wednesday morning all of the Finance majors had dropped the class, and I went from 34 enrolled students to 19 actual students. 17 of the 19 were able to attend the make-up class. They are very good students and very neat people, so I am very happy at how this turned out...despite the fact that I had planned for twice that many students. We re-grouped and we are carrying on. They will give their first presentations at our next class, an external environmental analysis of an assigned case.
22 of the 31 students in the UG class came to one of the two Friday sessions...I thought a very good turnout as Fridays are always filled with jobs and cram schools and other classes. The UGs were much more prepared and ready to work, but still fearful of discussing the cases in small groups or answering any questions. I am confident that will change as some students were already responding.
The third class was my first 3-hour seminar on Thursday afternoon. The class had grown to at least 57, but I have no access to portal to get names or to post material...a real "ooops!" when you are expected to teach half the semester and give the mid-term grades. I wanted to use a video case from the Stanford leadership series and spent hours trying to download and save. I finally succeeded, but the next day I was denied access! A frantic e-mail to the only person I know at the Leadership office said try again...they were using a new program. This time I spent hours and hours (18?) trying to download. Every time I would get to 90% saved our system would shut me down. I finally got up during the middle of the night when there is less system traffic, and spent 3 hours downloading...and it worked! Again, the students were not used to my teaching methods or the case studies and surveys I used, but practicing in class helped them to understand what my expectations are. One of the students politely asked me at the end of class if I would upload the work on portal. I told her I had no access, but that I would ask the head of the seminar, Dr. Larry, if he would do it. The others don't really teach...they just have guest speakers, and the students don't have to do any work. No wonder they have problems with English speaking, reading, and writing...no practice. Suffice it to say that the first two weeks of the seminar have now been uploaded by Dr. Larry. When I FINALLY get my lesson plans done for the next 4 seminars, they will go up on portal also.
Now onto the other news of the week...
Thursday the College of Management had a welcome lunch for me (pictures forthcoming). Wednesday one of the profs, Grace, had come to my office to chat and ask if two of her students could be excused from Thursday seminar to help her gather data. As she was leaving, she said see you tomorrow at the luncheon. When I asked "what luncheon?" she replied "your welcoming luncheon." I never did get the e-mail invitation, so it was very lucky that she came by to chat. We had a 7 course luncheon, and I loved every bite! Following my self-introduction, we went around the table and each prof introduced themselves and told about their research...VERY INTERESTING...they are extremely good researchers and teachers, and I am very proud to be part of their department.
As I was getting on the elevator Friday noon after morning make-up class, a gentleman in a YZU jacket looked at me, then asked if I was working here. I replied I was visiting professor of management for the semester, then asked if he also worked here. He replied "I am the President!" Astonishing! I told him I had personal greetings from the head of Taiwan Fulbright, Dr. Chen, to deliver to him. We agreed to meet after I return from the research seminar. Now that was a very fun way to meet the President!
I walked to the flower shop twice this week to pick up my orchid plants from Mandy...finally succeeding on Friday. I now have a purple orchid planted with ivy and decorative gold twigs and pink ribbons in my room, and a similar white orchid planter in my office...each for a total price of us$12 each including the bowl. What a treat!!!
I also met another Fulbright professor from the University of Tulsa who is teaching English for 6 weeks. They strapped a microphone on him and stood him in front of the class of 37 (the norm here...no wonder my students are in culture shock), and he rebelled. He took off the microphone, and broke his students into small groups that he is now meeting once a week in his office. His Dean said you are teaching twice the required hours, but he replied it was the only way he could actually help his students learn to write in English. As he noted, it is going to be hard enough as some cannot even speak English very well. His wife accompanied him, and they live in this dorm on the top floor in a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment. I am so envious! I would kill to have two bedrooms, so I could entertain visitors...but singles don't get that option. Their daughter will be here from Philadelphia next week.
Onward and upward...time for the long trip into Tian Mu. I will leave for HK and return from Macau at the Kreiling's place. Next Saturday is the TAS Spring Dinner and Ball. I will not return to Neili until the following Monday...but there will be lots of posts before then...CHEERS!
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