Spring semester is fully underway. I am teaching Sino-US Relations for the first time ever, so its taken a lot of preparation. I have filled in a lot of my own gaps in knowledge of the bilateral ties. We started with 18th and 19th century encounters, American missionaries and merchants in China juxtaposed with Chinese laborers and officials in America. Many Chinese found New York City to be too crowded and dirty and that high rise housing caused poor morals, echoing many contemporary views toward modern China in many ways. They shared the same cultural observations that distinguish life in the two cultures, but over a hundred years ago. I guess I am not so original. We then traced the bilateral relationship from 1949 to today, just passed through 1989 last class. Now, we will look at theories of international relations and how they apply, rise and fall of great powers and such, domestic interests in both countries, and the international context (Russia as playing the role China formerly did). Excellent students, very bright and knowledgeable, making good presentations. just a chore to get them off of their electronic devices (the universal bane of all professors' existence).
Also teaching a course Power in America that I taught once as a graduate student in Hawaii almost two decades ago. There, we are critically examining race, gender, class, and religion as sources of power through norm setting and cultural influence. Easier to talk about these issues in a foreign environment as they are of course very sensitive in the American classroom. As we approach the midterm, we will move on to institutions like police, courts, prisons, government (the presidency and abuse of power), and corporations.
Hard to find time to do media but have done a few tv and radio shows, and written some newspaper opinion pieces. Don't feel like searching the links. Here's one (https://news.cgtn.com/news/31676a4e326b7a6333566d54/share_p.html).
Otherwise, could not say how enjoyable India was. First time to visit. simply put: fantastic food, quite amazing, the freshness of ingredients in the curries, the tandoor options, the breads. Took a cooking class and learned how to make some of these favorites. Rajasthan has so much history from the Moghul/Mongol influence, gorgeous palaces and mansions. politically speaking, couldn't get a good handle on views toward BJP and Congress, varied a lot in people's views. certainly no one was shy to reveal their anti-Muslim attitudes. despite, or because, the large Muslim presence and mosques around New Delhi and the northwest. of course, India is far behind China in the development scale, but has richly preserved its cultural traditions. Need to think through the trip more extensively.
Fulbright hosted a wonderful conference near Dali, Yunnan and the tourist location of Brian and Jeanee Linden, two Americans who have tried to initiate a sustainable model of cultural heritage preservation and responsible tourism. They also model their lovely accommodation on the Aspen Institute to be a destination for academic groups, while residing in a courtyard mansion over a century old. I greatly enjoyed chatting with the Lindens, as Brian came to China around 1983 and basically stayed ever since, raising their children in Yunnan. Also, our Fulbright group really bonded, even participating in a collective Bai dance on our last night with some local musicians. Greatly exceeded my expectations. The U.S. State Department is such a wonderful host, and really invests its scarce resources in promoting mutual understanding through people to people exchanges that do enormously impact those who participate.
Otherwise, China keep developing, keeps growing. Beijing continues its march toward modern megalopolis. Will save for another time impressions of this great transformation. Though I met Isabel Crook, who was born in southern China in 1915 to missionary parents, married David Crook, who had come to China to support Mao's revolution in the 1940s. Both became teachers here at Beiwai, my host university. I met their son who is around 70 and lived nearly his whole life in China. Their stories of living in Beijing from 1947 until now were fascinating and only scratched the surface. Out of deference to their privacy I won't share them, but can you imagine an Anglo-Canadian couple living their lives in China through all the twists and turns of the PRC, from the Cultural Revolution and the like. She is 103 and still living in the socialist housing provided all those years ago. What amazing people and stories you find when you travel.
