The World Expo was great. It wasn't as crowded as everyone said it would be but the major pavilions - like Saudi Arabia, Australia, and China - were packed with hundreds of people eagerly waiting to get a taste of the respective countries. Our group secured reservations to see the Chinese pavilion -- even with the reservation, we had to wait in line for nearly 3 hours just to enter. We passed the long wait time by singing, dancing, and posing for the many pictures that our line mates were taking of us. Also, two UW students were pulled out of the line to play soccer with a guy with a microphone whose job it was to entertain those in line. This turned out to be really entertaining for us.
Once inside the pavilion we were confused because we didn't know how to navigate our way through it, and there were some important things we had to see before we left! While inside we saw an inspirational movie and took a ride on a mini roller coaster. It was AWESOME and definitely worth the wait. The Chinese government went all out for this pavilion and in my opinion it was the best I've seen so far. If I had to explain what the World Expo was, I would say it was like the Auto Show but instead of fancy cars, what is catching your attention is countries.
-Ravanna Bonds El
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Meeting with Paul Swenson, director, Council of Creat Lakes Governors China Trade Office
This morning, Thursday, the group met with Paul Swenson before starting our first day at the Expo. He is from Hudson, Wisconsin, and has been living in China for the last ten years. Paul didn't start off as director of the Council of Great Lakes Governors China Trade Office, but rather in the hotel industry in Shanghai to learn the language first. He successfully worked his way up in the business world. Listening to Paul was extremely informative from a business viewpoint. I had always heard Chinese businessmen were very intense about their job, but to hear it from an American made it all so much more real. He was able to describe his difficulties since working with the Chinese and have me a deeper understanding of the Chinese and American government's relationship.
I learned how Chinese business men don't work just Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 like many businessmen in the United States, if not all day, everyday. Paul said that that has been one of the most difficult cultural adjustments he's had to make since working within the Chinese business world; his cell phone puts him on a constant call to everyone. Not only does Paul have to always have his cell phone accessible 24/7, he explained how Chinese businessmen keep tally of the positive and negative things one does within and outside the business world. For example, if you ask a question of a colleague, that equals a negative point for you, but if you answer a question then that is a possible point for you. Another good example he shared was if you were invited to go to a dance performance by another businessman, but say no because your son has a soccer game, that instantly creates a negative point for you and when you call a colleague to check on your business deal, it might just be postponed as a consequence for not attending the dance performance. It's like an invisible tally kept above your head within the business world; you'll forever either be in debt a favor of have someone owing you a favor.
I could never imagine living a career where my every move was measured, then tallied and possibly be used against me. The impression I got from Paul and his experiences in the Chinese business world is thrilling--he is kept on his toes. No day is the same. I do think his job is very important though because China is a growing economy and has a lot to offer if healthy relations are carefully created. China is slowly owning the United States' debt so if relations aren't kept in a healthy mode, things could get nasty between the US and China.
-Daniela Moody
I learned how Chinese business men don't work just Monday through Friday, 9 to 5 like many businessmen in the United States, if not all day, everyday. Paul said that that has been one of the most difficult cultural adjustments he's had to make since working within the Chinese business world; his cell phone puts him on a constant call to everyone. Not only does Paul have to always have his cell phone accessible 24/7, he explained how Chinese businessmen keep tally of the positive and negative things one does within and outside the business world. For example, if you ask a question of a colleague, that equals a negative point for you, but if you answer a question then that is a possible point for you. Another good example he shared was if you were invited to go to a dance performance by another businessman, but say no because your son has a soccer game, that instantly creates a negative point for you and when you call a colleague to check on your business deal, it might just be postponed as a consequence for not attending the dance performance. It's like an invisible tally kept above your head within the business world; you'll forever either be in debt a favor of have someone owing you a favor.
I could never imagine living a career where my every move was measured, then tallied and possibly be used against me. The impression I got from Paul and his experiences in the Chinese business world is thrilling--he is kept on his toes. No day is the same. I do think his job is very important though because China is a growing economy and has a lot to offer if healthy relations are carefully created. China is slowly owning the United States' debt so if relations aren't kept in a healthy mode, things could get nasty between the US and China.
-Daniela Moody
First Night In China
It didn't hit me until we arrived that we were in China. Now that we are here the only world I have is "amazing." At first, jet lag had the best of me but as my realization set in that I was in a different country took hold, my eyes were excited and ready to explore. Our first night out, we went to dinner at a really nice restaurant called Ye Shanghai.
This was an amazing way to get acquainted with the food because we were able to to try a little bit of everything. At first I was a bit skeptical to try the food but I remembered in the workshop when Katrina Flores told us to remain open and to be willing to try food that we may not get in the U.S. With that thought lingering, I took a deep breath and tried what was given to me and it was wonderful! There were spices, smells and consistencies that I have never experienced before!
The best part of it all was getting to use the little bit of mandarin that we learned such as "hello" and "thank you." After dinner we took a trip to Xin Tian Di. This area was basically the "Times square" of Shanghai. Big buildings, tons of lights, and many people walking around buying and selling things. IT was interesting to see this part of the city because on our way into Shanghai, on the bus, we passed very poor neighborhoods then there was a very abrupt shift to a more upper class area. As we walked around and experienced the streets and shops of the city, the feeling was a mix of excitement.
It was a bit too soon to take it all in. That night we slept like babies and as we woke, the journey had its doors wide open and we all stepped through. I can't wait to see where it takes us.
-Krystal Gartley
This was an amazing way to get acquainted with the food because we were able to to try a little bit of everything. At first I was a bit skeptical to try the food but I remembered in the workshop when Katrina Flores told us to remain open and to be willing to try food that we may not get in the U.S. With that thought lingering, I took a deep breath and tried what was given to me and it was wonderful! There were spices, smells and consistencies that I have never experienced before!
The best part of it all was getting to use the little bit of mandarin that we learned such as "hello" and "thank you." After dinner we took a trip to Xin Tian Di. This area was basically the "Times square" of Shanghai. Big buildings, tons of lights, and many people walking around buying and selling things. IT was interesting to see this part of the city because on our way into Shanghai, on the bus, we passed very poor neighborhoods then there was a very abrupt shift to a more upper class area. As we walked around and experienced the streets and shops of the city, the feeling was a mix of excitement.
It was a bit too soon to take it all in. That night we slept like babies and as we woke, the journey had its doors wide open and we all stepped through. I can't wait to see where it takes us.
-Krystal Gartley
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Day One
A photo from inside the Hong Kong Airport
We finally left! Twenty hours later, the CAE China expedition group is in Hong Kong, waiting for its flight to Shanghai, China. We arrived in Hong Kong after a 13 hour flight from Los Angeles. The students are feeling excited, though tired. For many students, this is their first international trip. The trip still seems a little surreal to the staff and students of CAE. The fact that we are now on the other side of the world is a daunting thought.
The view from the Hong Kong airport is of the ocean. We saw the sun rise over the Pacific Ocean and a beautiful vista of mountains in the distance. Everyone is mentally preparing themselves, remembering all of the advice and precautions we need to be mindful of in China.
Our legs may be stiff, but our spirits are high as we anticipating finally landing in Shanghai and the day's planned activities: lunch and dinner in the famous Xin Tian Di restaurant and shopping district.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Our Current Knowledge about Chinese Culture
Our group of students has a diverse background of studies here at Madison, so it follows that our knowledge of Chinese Culture would be equally diverse. Luckily, we have gained knowledge through our readings and workshops but we know there is still lots to learn. We asked ourselves where we stood in our background on China and Chinese culture and here is how we responded.
How knowledgeable do you feel about Chinese culture? Where or how have you gotten your knowledge about China/Chinese culture/Chinese people?
Prior to being selected as a participant for this trip I did not have much knowledge about China or Chinese culture. Since participating in the workshops, reading the assigned book, and checking out the Learn@UW site for additional reading materials, I feel that I can now travel to the country with a confidence of being able to acknowledge and show respect for all it has to offer. I have a better understanding of China’s government and its people’s way of life. Having speakers attend the workshops has been most insightful has each has firsthand experience being in China and being immersed in its culture. Being able to get advice from those with experience has helped to calm some of the nervousness I have had about traveling abroad for the first time and being somewhere where my language isn’t native.
Antonette Guider
I feel generally pretty ignorant about Chinese culture, though our travel orientation has certainly helped to give me at least minimal knowledge about Chinese history and culture. I feel that I have gotten the majority of my knowledge about China/Chinese culture from US newspapers or US movies (although I have seen quite a few Chinese movies over the years). US newspapers focus almost exclusively on Chinese government, and so is not a good source of information about Chinese people/culture. I think it is almost always a mistake to confuse a country's government with its people since they often don't agree on many policies or government policies don't reflect the values of the people they govern. US movies seem to focus mostly on either a China in the past or Chinese "gangsters," not on the lives of average Chinese folk--leaving me pretty unaware of the daily experience of most Chinese.
Cristina Springfield
I know a decent amount of knowledge about the Chinese culture and the technology there. The English language is a very RARE thing to find in terms of people speaking it. Apparently, a lot of signs are written in English, but in terms of English being spoken by the Chinese people residing there, it's very rare. Another knowledgeable fact that I know is that the U.S. dollar is worth $8 or $9 in China. The exchange rate is what a lot of tourists enjoy because we will be able to shop and buy lots of clothing, shoes, etc. for a very cheap price. Shopping will also help us experience the different styles of clothing that China has to offer. The knowledge that I've obtained for China and the culture is simply through T.V. and Internet. These resources have provided the largest amount of information to myself and others about China and the people. I'm very excited to experience China, the culture, the people, the food, and everything else China has to offer when we go to the world expo.
Dan Torres
On a scale of 1 thru 10, 1 being completely lost about Chinese culture, I'd probably rate myself about a 5. I've learned that one should always take your shoes off when entering someone's home or should bring a gift of gratitude when invited over for dinner. One part of the Chinese culture that I'm not used to at all is being aggressive when using public transportation or even waiting in line to use the ATM. It makes sense why one should be so aggressive considering the extremely large population, but it still caught me off guard and something I will have to learn to accept when being pushed or skipped. Something else I found very interesting about the Chinese culture is how during the summer time, women will ride their bikes around town wearing large visor hats and long gloves to prevent themselves from getting darker. This sounded crazy to me because many American girls spent countless hours trying to maintain a nice tan, or even spend ridiculous amounts of money to stay tanned, whereas the Chinese feel the whiter you are, the more beautiful you are. One last part of Chinese culture, specifically the youth's culture that surprised, is how much they embrace hip hop culture. I've always known that break dancing is popular for Chinese youth, but it never really dawned on me that hip hop culture was just as popular there as it is here in the United States.
I've learned most about the Chinese culture by listening to the workshops in which students or staff shares their experiences about being immersed within the Chinese culture. I feel like those accounts have been the most useful in comparison to books I've been reading. Hearing personal experiences makes it all seem so much more real. I've also done research online here and there.
Daniela Moody
I feel that I know enough to get bye in a conversation about China’s history and culture. The book that we read really helped in understanding the culture and history in a nutshell. But I feel still there is much to learn and I know that on this trip I will learn far more that what any book can show me. 2000 years worth of history cannot be learned in a short time.
Adam Lopez
I feel very unsure about true Chinese culture. I have only really experienced filtered Chinese-American culture in dingy “Chinese restaurants” and crude generalizations in TV shows or comedies. Even what I have experienced talking with Chinese-American students or international Chinese students does not truly show Chinese culture or Chinese people, since their experiences were shared here in America- in popular American culture. However, the video from Katrina Brown on cultural differences was very informative, and the book China in the 21st Century, by Jeffrey Wasserstrom, helped give some insight to the shared experiences of Chinese people over the last two thousand years. I am looking forward to experiencing Chinese culture by awkwardly navigating my way through two massive Chinese cities.
Thomas Sannito
I feel semi-comfortable with Chinese culture. I learned many useful tips from our workshop speakers. One of our speakers told us that we are suppose to tap the table with two fingers if we are given tea to say thanks. A memorable experiencing of trying to learn about the Chinese culture was when another student and I told the cashier of a Chinese restaurant that we were traveling to China. He was very happy to learn that we were going there, and he decided to give us some tips and try to teach us some useful Chinese phrases. Some cultural norms from my ethnicity also transfers, such as not wearing shoes into a house or elders being much respected. I am more worried about the language barrier because I will only be able to memorize a few words and phrases in a small amount of time.
Saeng Douangdara
How knowledgeable do you feel about Chinese culture? Where or how have you gotten your knowledge about China/Chinese culture/Chinese people?
Prior to being selected as a participant for this trip I did not have much knowledge about China or Chinese culture. Since participating in the workshops, reading the assigned book, and checking out the Learn@UW site for additional reading materials, I feel that I can now travel to the country with a confidence of being able to acknowledge and show respect for all it has to offer. I have a better understanding of China’s government and its people’s way of life. Having speakers attend the workshops has been most insightful has each has firsthand experience being in China and being immersed in its culture. Being able to get advice from those with experience has helped to calm some of the nervousness I have had about traveling abroad for the first time and being somewhere where my language isn’t native.
Antonette Guider
I feel generally pretty ignorant about Chinese culture, though our travel orientation has certainly helped to give me at least minimal knowledge about Chinese history and culture. I feel that I have gotten the majority of my knowledge about China/Chinese culture from US newspapers or US movies (although I have seen quite a few Chinese movies over the years). US newspapers focus almost exclusively on Chinese government, and so is not a good source of information about Chinese people/culture. I think it is almost always a mistake to confuse a country's government with its people since they often don't agree on many policies or government policies don't reflect the values of the people they govern. US movies seem to focus mostly on either a China in the past or Chinese "gangsters," not on the lives of average Chinese folk--leaving me pretty unaware of the daily experience of most Chinese.
Cristina Springfield
I know a decent amount of knowledge about the Chinese culture and the technology there. The English language is a very RARE thing to find in terms of people speaking it. Apparently, a lot of signs are written in English, but in terms of English being spoken by the Chinese people residing there, it's very rare. Another knowledgeable fact that I know is that the U.S. dollar is worth $8 or $9 in China. The exchange rate is what a lot of tourists enjoy because we will be able to shop and buy lots of clothing, shoes, etc. for a very cheap price. Shopping will also help us experience the different styles of clothing that China has to offer. The knowledge that I've obtained for China and the culture is simply through T.V. and Internet. These resources have provided the largest amount of information to myself and others about China and the people. I'm very excited to experience China, the culture, the people, the food, and everything else China has to offer when we go to the world expo.
Dan Torres
On a scale of 1 thru 10, 1 being completely lost about Chinese culture, I'd probably rate myself about a 5. I've learned that one should always take your shoes off when entering someone's home or should bring a gift of gratitude when invited over for dinner. One part of the Chinese culture that I'm not used to at all is being aggressive when using public transportation or even waiting in line to use the ATM. It makes sense why one should be so aggressive considering the extremely large population, but it still caught me off guard and something I will have to learn to accept when being pushed or skipped. Something else I found very interesting about the Chinese culture is how during the summer time, women will ride their bikes around town wearing large visor hats and long gloves to prevent themselves from getting darker. This sounded crazy to me because many American girls spent countless hours trying to maintain a nice tan, or even spend ridiculous amounts of money to stay tanned, whereas the Chinese feel the whiter you are, the more beautiful you are. One last part of Chinese culture, specifically the youth's culture that surprised, is how much they embrace hip hop culture. I've always known that break dancing is popular for Chinese youth, but it never really dawned on me that hip hop culture was just as popular there as it is here in the United States.
I've learned most about the Chinese culture by listening to the workshops in which students or staff shares their experiences about being immersed within the Chinese culture. I feel like those accounts have been the most useful in comparison to books I've been reading. Hearing personal experiences makes it all seem so much more real. I've also done research online here and there.
Daniela Moody
I feel that I know enough to get bye in a conversation about China’s history and culture. The book that we read really helped in understanding the culture and history in a nutshell. But I feel still there is much to learn and I know that on this trip I will learn far more that what any book can show me. 2000 years worth of history cannot be learned in a short time.
Adam Lopez
I feel very unsure about true Chinese culture. I have only really experienced filtered Chinese-American culture in dingy “Chinese restaurants” and crude generalizations in TV shows or comedies. Even what I have experienced talking with Chinese-American students or international Chinese students does not truly show Chinese culture or Chinese people, since their experiences were shared here in America- in popular American culture. However, the video from Katrina Brown on cultural differences was very informative, and the book China in the 21st Century, by Jeffrey Wasserstrom, helped give some insight to the shared experiences of Chinese people over the last two thousand years. I am looking forward to experiencing Chinese culture by awkwardly navigating my way through two massive Chinese cities.
Thomas Sannito
I feel semi-comfortable with Chinese culture. I learned many useful tips from our workshop speakers. One of our speakers told us that we are suppose to tap the table with two fingers if we are given tea to say thanks. A memorable experiencing of trying to learn about the Chinese culture was when another student and I told the cashier of a Chinese restaurant that we were traveling to China. He was very happy to learn that we were going there, and he decided to give us some tips and try to teach us some useful Chinese phrases. Some cultural norms from my ethnicity also transfers, such as not wearing shoes into a house or elders being much respected. I am more worried about the language barrier because I will only be able to memorize a few words and phrases in a small amount of time.
Saeng Douangdara
Thank You CAE Sponsors!
Center for Academic Excellence students are very grateful for those individuals and groups who have supported our expedition financially. We recognize that this trip would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors who support global relations and cultivating global citizenship. We would like to recognize and thank these important individuals and groups for providing us with the opportunity to gain cultural knowledge about China. We will bring this knowledge and our experiences back to the University to share with our peers.
Damon Williams the Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate Damon Williams
Gary Sandefur the Dean of the College of Letters and Science
Gilles Bousquet the Vice Provost for Globalization, and Head of UW-Madison's International Studies Division
PEOPLE Program of UW-Madison
Student Academic Affairs Office (SAA)
Pathway Student Academic Services
Academic Advancement Program (AAP)
In addition to financial assistance, many other individuals have worked hard changing the idea of an international trip into reality! We would also like to thank Erin Polnaszek the Study Abroad Advisor for China for assisting us in planning as well as Professor Tuli for speaking with the students and his helpful advise on leading a delegation. Xiaojum Lu from the Bacteriology Department helped us immensely by translating letters from UW-Madison Staff into Chinese. Finally, we would like to thank the AAP and Pathways staff who have supported our trip, especially Tanya Figueroa who helped organize our fundraisers and workshops, and Jan Lucchesi who is acting as our point person in the USA while we travel abroad.
Furthermore, we held a raffle on August 10th to help support our trip. We would like to recognize our family and friends who purchased tickets along with many staff members from a plethora of offices at UW-Madison. We greatly appreciate the continual support of staff and their dedication to improving the Wisconsin Experience for students. Finally, we would like to thank the Sitta family for donating Packer tickets to our raffle, Badger Trips and Ann Groves Lloyd for donating the Las Vegas land package, and DeVon Williams for donating a travel voucher through Our World Travel, and finally, Fresh City Market for donating ice cream during the ticket drawing.
Many other people and organizations have helped us along the way with planning, organization, cultural education and advice, and continual support of our students. Thank you again to everyone who has helped us in any capacity!
Damon Williams the Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate Damon WilliamsGary Sandefur the Dean of the College of Letters and Science
Gilles Bousquet the Vice Provost for Globalization, and Head of UW-Madison's International Studies Division
PEOPLE Program of UW-Madison
Student Academic Affairs Office (SAA)
Pathway Student Academic Services
Academic Advancement Program (AAP)
In addition to financial assistance, many other individuals have worked hard changing the idea of an international trip into reality! We would also like to thank Erin Polnaszek the Study Abroad Advisor for China for assisting us in planning as well as Professor Tuli for speaking with the students and his helpful advise on leading a delegation. Xiaojum Lu from the Bacteriology Department helped us immensely by translating letters from UW-Madison Staff into Chinese. Finally, we would like to thank the AAP and Pathways staff who have supported our trip, especially Tanya Figueroa who helped organize our fundraisers and workshops, and Jan Lucchesi who is acting as our point person in the USA while we travel abroad.
Furthermore, we held a raffle on August 10th to help support our trip. We would like to recognize our family and friends who purchased tickets along with many staff members from a plethora of offices at UW-Madison. We greatly appreciate the continual support of staff and their dedication to improving the Wisconsin Experience for students. Finally, we would like to thank the Sitta family for donating Packer tickets to our raffle, Badger Trips and Ann Groves Lloyd for donating the Las Vegas land package, and DeVon Williams for donating a travel voucher through Our World Travel, and finally, Fresh City Market for donating ice cream during the ticket drawing.
Many other people and organizations have helped us along the way with planning, organization, cultural education and advice, and continual support of our students. Thank you again to everyone who has helped us in any capacity!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Trip Preparations!
We can't believe we are almost leaving! It has been a very busy summer with all the preparations for the trip, workshops, fundraising events, and normal summer activities. While some of us have traveled in the past, others have not been out of the country or even on a plane. Below are some details on how we have been preparing both physically and mentally for the trip to China!
I have been preparing for the
Claudia Coria-Luna
Mentally I’ve been telling myself that it’s going to be very hot and a positive attitude will be essential to make of this trip a great adventure and experience. I will try to do my best to understand and respect all of the other students and staff participating in this trip because it will be the first time that many of them will be over sea and far away from home. I’ve been getting ready physically by making appointment with my doctor and making sure that I have all of the vaccines that I need before I visit
Julissa Oquendo
Preparing for the trip for me includes developing an awareness of where I will be traveling to and being informed of cultural norms by reading and talking to people who have done international travel and gather advice from them. Also shopping/packing, getting clothing that will work best for the climate and keep me cool and getting good walking shoes is very important. I found out at the 3rd workshop from the guest speaker that the walking distance of the Expo is roughly from
Mentally I have just been trying to stay calm and relax and not get overwhelmed with the thought of the unknown and try to embrace the new experience before me.
Antonette Guider
I have been preparing physically for this trip to China by working out at the Natatorium with Ravanna Bonds El everyday(Monday-Friday) from 9am-11:30am, as well as playing basketball with a group of middle aged men as well as the students from the Summer Collegiate Experience. I would say I'm well prepared physically for this trip.
Mentally, it's a different story. The 16 hour (or what ever it is) flight is going to be very brutal. I've never been in the same car or plane for more than 4 hours. It'll be very interesting. Also being jet-legged when we arrive to
Dan Torres
I've definitely started my packing list and my shopping list! I've also been reading blogs about the World Expo, as well as travel Web sites and travel books about visiting
Cristina Springfield
I have been preparing for this trip for a while now, both mentally and physically. I am preparing by taking everything in and thinking a lot about what I will be experiencing and my role as UW ambassador. I have spent a lot of time looking at the World Expo website; that site is incredible. It has allowed me to understand what I should expect once we are there. Physically, I have been running a lot to not be too tired when we are doing a lot of walking at the Expo. I have also shopped for clothes to keep me cool in the anticipated hot/humid weather in
Cristina Barrera
I've been preparing for
Daniela Moody
Yes, I have been preparing for the trip. I have been reading articles relating to
Adam Lopez
Most of my preparation has come from the workshops. I have been keeping notes on ideas I should remember when I am in
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