This is the second summer that I have worked for the Chemistry REU [Research Experience for Undergraduates] program. Here, I am a resource for undergraduates who come to do research at UM for 10 weeks, having done research for 2 years in the department.
A big part of this program is the UM/China exchange. Three years ago, 3 UM students went to China and 3 came to the US. Now, the program has expanded to both chemistry and biology and the 24 [that would be an 8 fold increase] students arrived about 18 hours ago. After a 2AM pizza party, 2.5 hour [rather extended] tour of campus, a trip to the Arb, and dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings [amazingly only cost just under $500 to feed 26 people], I would have to conclude that the program is officially off to a great start. I am very much in awe of these students. Most are just a year or two younger than me, and they all decided to fly half-way across the world to live, study, and do scientific research for 10 weeks in a country that does not speak my native language. And... most of them came with one [relatively] small roller suitcase. Adventurous and efficient! In all seriousness, it's really cool to watch them joke around, take a ton of pictures in the city, worry about the future [do I really enjoy my field? Masters of Ph. D. program? Should I come to study in America?], and ask a million random American culture questions. It fondly reminds me of when I have traveled abroad and this really shows me how universal the spirit of adventure and exploration is among [what appear to be] two vastly different cultures.
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Tracy, that's amazing. I'm so jealous. :)
ReplyDeleteReading this, Tracy, I wonder what you learned about the experience of being a stranger in a strange land that might be applicable to the experiences of some of your students. They spend a lot of time in school, to be sure, but for a lot of them school isn't the most hospitable environment, and it can be one where they are on their guard a lot, perhaps feeling ill at ease.
ReplyDeleteAre there any connections here that you see?
Hey Jeff,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the question- I think the first thing that pops into my head is the idea of things being "lost in translation." [thing=many every day conversations, activities, etc.] Schools have quite distinct cultures: some thrive in the environment, some do not. The idea of "fitting into" a particular culture, I'd imagine, can affect a wide-range of students.
Asking questions has helped a lot with the Chinese students. Oftentimes it feels rather uncomfortable ["is it *really* ok to ask this?"] but I think responses have been honest and rarely do I regret asking. For instance, I have been able to engage in some really interesting conversations about spirituality/faith, mandatory military service, and censorship.