Nin Hao (Hello),
I find it hard to believe that I will be returning home soon. It seems as though I just arrived. My time in China has been nothing short of amazing. My Chinese students have asked me what I will say if people want to know my impressions of China. I told them that I would say, "China is beautiful and so are its people and culture." I cannot find any better way to express my views of China.
As a developing world power, China faces many challenges: a huge population (1.3 billion people), pollution, expanding human rights' issues, housing issues, education, etc. But somehow, this culture of pragmatic people will find solutions to address many of these concerns. Please keep in mind, China opened her doors to the world just over 30 years ago in 1978. The progress this country has made during this period (often referred to as "economic China") is truly remarkable. For instance, China has become the major creditor nation for the United States. I can only see our relationship with China growing in the future.
Since the recent Olympics, I have witnessed from documentaries, lectures and discussions with government , academic officials and influential business personnel China's ever expanding influence throughout the world. China clearly will be a major force in the financial market. Many world leaders expect China to play a significant role in helping countries, including the United States, recover from the recession we face. At Shenzhen University, where I teach, the institution will soon break ground for the construction of a new medical school in joint partnership with Harvard University's medical school. I mention this only to underscore China's commitment to expanding the quality of higher education throughout China.
What I will miss most about China are the people, especially my students. I have received so many words of kindness and gifts from students and friends. I will treasure the memories that these gifts contain from these individuals. Many of them hope some day I will return to China. I do, too. They taught me far more about China than I taught them in my classes. I will miss their guidance on how to prepare, enjoy and drink the different types of tea for different times of the day or different seasons during the year. I will miss their patience with me in teaching me the Chinese language and culture and being able to enjoy a good laugh at my pitiful efforts at speaking Chinese, yet acting respectful of my position at the university in particular and society in general. Teachers are held in very high regard in the Chinese culture.
I will also miss the wonderful Chinese food prepared by a variety of ethnic Chinese microcultures. I plan to try and cook some of these wonderful, healthy meals when I return. I will miss the fantastic massages (and the low prices), snacks, crazy taxi drivers, going to the gym with my foreign friends (yes, that is what we are called in a nonjudgmental way) at 6:30 in the morning and sharing wonderful conversations about local topics or world issues. I will miss the once a week Irish coffee group meeting at Ivy's restaurant to discuss social issues and politics. I will miss the peaceful and scenic walks at Shenzhen. I will even miss dodging the million electric and ordinary bikes and the crowds of thousands of students walking on campus.
I need to stop listing what I will miss or I will not want to leave. No, I will leave because most of all I miss my family. It will be good to return home and see Linda and the kids, I will have so much to share with them that I need to be careful not to bore them with another "China story."
I have tried to have our officials at McKendree work with the appropriate officials at Shenzhen University to establish an exchange program with faculty and students attending each other's institution. I sincerely hope this comes to pass. The advantages of such a partnership, I believe, can truly create a win-win situation for both institutions.
I leave you with a few final pictures of China and my students and friends. See you soon!
Zia Jian (Good bye),
Dr. Haskins
