Monday, December 20, 2010

IAR MAPPSSA Graduate Student Conference

Dear professors, graduate advisers, program secretaries, and especially graduate students,

The University of British Columbia’s Institute of Asian Research is sending out a call for papers for its annual graduate student conference, to be held on Thursday, March 17th - Friday, March 18th, 2011. The Institute of Asian Research conference is conducted by graduate students from the Masters of Arts in Asia Pacific Policy Studies (http://www.iar.ubc.ca/mapps). We greatly appreciate your help in distributing this message to your graduate students, and anyone else who may be interested in submitting papers for our symposium. Our conference aims to facilitate scholarly exchange within the academic community, and we especially encourage submissions from our international peers in the Asia-Pacific.

The Call
The 2011 Asia Pacific Policy Graduate Symposium, Transnational Policies: Connecting the Asia Pacific will seek to examine current and future policy implications in the Asia Pacific region. Although our theme deals with transnational policies, it can also apply to domestic issues that have international implications. As a graduate symposium we are hoping this event will allow students to deepen their knowledge, both inside and outside their fields of interest, as well as enhance their experience as presenters and participants in a conference setting. The critical evaluation of your research by peers and professors at the Institute of Asian Research will be tremendously beneficial for those trying to improve their research methods. This symposium should also be viewed as an excellent opportunity to network with like-minded scholars in various fields related to the Asia Pacific from North America and across Asia. Prospective presenters may have the possibility of being published in the e-journal of the College for Interdisciplinary Studies (CFIS) and the Asia Pacific Memo (see http://www.asiapacificmemo.ca/). This is a general call for graduate students from relevant disciplines to act as:

1. Paper presenters for the symposium
2. Participants who will actively discuss about presented papers

The symposium is interested in building discussions on transnational Asia-Pacific policy issues. Students in all fields are encouraged to demonstrate the policy significance of their work. We are currently exploring the use of various types of presentation styles (e.g. round-table discussions, panel discussions). The possible topics for these presentations might include, but are not limited to:

- Gender Issues
- Development
- Health
- Security
- Economics and Social Change
- Governance and Human Rights
- Media

The Submission
Those interested in participating, either as presenters and/or participants, should complete the attached submission form and send it to iar.conference@gmail.com. The pdf file can be saved using "Adobe Acrobat Reader" (8 or above) for windows users (updated versions can be found at http://www.adobe.com/products/reader.html) and can be saved using "Preview" for mac users. Please ensure that submissions are written in English and consist of only a 300 word abstract. The application deadline is Friday, January 14th, 2011. Decisions will be communicated by mid-February.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at iar.conference@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

The IAR Conference Committee
http://www.iar.ubc.ca/mapps/mappssaconference.aspx

Monday, December 6, 2010

Outreach Coordinator, Asian Studies Center at MSU

DUTIES: The outreach coordinator will strengthen the connection of the
Asian Studies Center and Michigan State University with local schools,
community colleges and communities to enhance their understanding of and
engagement with Asia. Duties include, but are not limited to: interacting
with teachers, school administrators, librarians and community
coordinators about their interests and needs, organizing school and
community outreach events, assisting teachers in developing Asia-related
curricula, and arranging workshops and other professional development
opportunities for teachers. The coordinator will also organize, develop,
and promote externally-oriented events for the Asian Studies Center,
including the S. C. Lee Scholarship Competition and Celebration, teacher
education workshops, endowed lectures, language events, orientation and
acculturation events for external visitors, community events, film
screenings, and art exhibitions and demonstrations. The coordinator will
work with the two MSU museums to create and deliver Asia-focused
activities, and with the academic colleges to plan, externally promote,
and run programs on Asia. The coordinator will also work closely with the
Asian Studies Center event coordinator and other assistants, student
workers, and interns to plan events and develop and disseminate
promotional materials, including the newsletter of the Asian Studies
Center. For more information about the Asian Studies Center, please visit
our website at http://asia.isp.msu.edu.



APPLICATIONS: Due January 1, 2011. Late submissions will be considered if
a suitable candidate pool is not identified by the deadline. For further
information, contact Ellen Acker, Asian Studies Center, 884-2120. Send
application materials electronically by January 01, 2011 to
chandr45@msu.edu, Siddharth Chandra, Director, Asian Studies Center, 301
International Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1035.



QUALIFICATIONS: Masters in relevant field. Qualifications other than
degree: Applicants must show strong interest in and knowledge of Asia,
have experience working at the K-12 level, and demonstrate excellent
skills in communication and organization. Applicants are also expected to
be energetic, proactive, detail-oriented, able to work within groups and
as an individual, and willing to work on a flexible schedule.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Part-Time Job Announcement: Events and Communications Assistant

Events and Communications Assistant

Position Description:

The Events and Communications Assistant position is located in the Sigur Center for Asian Studies at the Elliott School of International Affairs. This position is primarily responsible for assisting the Program Coordinator with Sigur Center events, which includes attending all events and assisting with event set up, tear down, photography, and other logistics. Other administrative duties relating to events and communications as assigned, such as editing flyers, sending invitation and reminder emails, tracking RSVPs, updating the website, etc. Dreamweaver and/or Vignette experience highly desireable. Federal Work Study is preferred, but not required. If you have FWS, please declare the amount of your award in your cover letter.

Please note that events primarily take place mid-day. For this reason, graduate students are preferred; however, juniors and seniors with availability between 10:30 am – 3 pm can apply. This is a great opportunity for someone interested in Asian Studies and International Affairs to be closely involved with Sigur Center programming.

Qualifications:

* Interest in/knowledge of Asian Studies and International Affairs

* Asian foreign language skills

* Experience living, working, or studying in Asia
* Strong customer service and interpersonal skills

* Events, communications, and/or administrative experience

* Ability to move heavy chairs and tables


Application Procedures:

* Email resume and cover letter to jhkeller@gwu.edu (Josie Keller, Sigur Center Program Coordinator).

* Please include the amount of your FWS award in your cover letter.

* Due to a high volume of applications only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. No calls, please.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Internship Opportunity at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China is offering paid internships to qualified undergraduates, graduate students, or recent graduates this coming spring in Washington, D.C. Interns must be U.S. citizens. The application deadline is December 1, 2010 for the Spring 2011internship that runs from February to May 2011. Spring internships are generally part-time; interns are expected to work from 15 to 20 hours per week but may be allowed to work additional hours. See application instructions below.

CECC internships provide significant educational and professional experience for undergraduates, graduate students, or recent graduates with a background in Chinese politics, law, and society, and strong Chinese language skills.

Interns work closely with the Commission and its staff on the full array of issues concerning human rights, the rule of law, and governance in China (including criminal justice, democratic governance institutions, environmental problems, religious freedom, freedom of expression, ethnic minority rights, women's rights, etc.).

Interns perform important research support tasks (often in Chinese), attend seminars, meet Members of Congress and experts from the United States and abroad, and draft Commission analyses.

The CECC staff is committed to interns' professional development, and holds regular roundtables for interns on important China-related issues.

Spring 2011 interns will be paid $10/hour. Those unable to apply for the spring internship may apply for the Summer (June-August) or Fall (September-December). Further details are available on the Commission's Web site at (www.cecc.govwww.cecc.gov>)

Qualifications:

* Interns must be U.S. citizens.
* Interns should have completed at least some China-related coursework. It is also desirable that they have some background in one or more of the specific human rights and rule of law issues in the CECC legislative mandate<>.
* Interns should be able to read Chinese well enough to assist with research in newspapers, journals, and on Web sites. More advanced Chinese language capability would be a plus. The successful candidate for an internship often will have lived or studied in mainland China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan.
* Although our interns are generally undergraduates, graduate students, or recent graduates, others are also welcome to apply.

Application Instructions for Spring 2011:

Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information for two references, to the CECC via e-mail to Judy Wright, Director of Administration at judy.wright@mail.house.gov<> by December 1, 2010. Applications must be received by our office no later than 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on December 1. Please discuss in your cover letter how your professional goals, interests, and background relate to the Commission's legislative mandate regarding human rights and the rule of law in China.

Alumna Jennifer Park Stout Named Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs

Jennifer Park Stout (M.A. '06) was recently named the U.S. Department of State's deputy assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs. In her new position, Ms. Stout will oversee all public diplomacy operations including Fulbright programs, cultural exchanges, and English language teaching programs.

"The region is home to a third of the world's population and to some of our most important security and trade partners," said Ms. Stout. "Americans understand that our future is linked to the future of the Asia-Pacific region, and so we remain deeply engaged."

Ms. Stout most recently served as senior advisor and director of Senate affairs in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs at the Department of State, where she coordinated the development of the department's and administration's foreign policy-related legislative priorities. Prior to joining the Department of State, Ms. Stout, who studied international affairs with a concentration in security studies at the Elliott School, spent 11 years on Capitol Hill as a staff member to Senators Joseph Biden, Patrick Leahy, and Jim Webb, and to Representative James Moran.

"After spending my entire career prior to the State Department on Capitol Hill, it has been fascinating to witness a different perspective of foreign policymaking," said Ms. Stout. "I have enjoyed the ability to focus on a particular region of the world and drill down to a more detailed level of policy. I have been impressed with the caliber of the professionals who work for the State Department and who work hard every day in support of our foreign policy goals and objectives."

Ms. Stout credits her Elliott School education with providing her a good foundation on which to pursue a career in foreign policy.

"The classes were a good mixture of theoretical and practical application and were a valuable complement to what I was getting in the workplace."

http://elliott.gwu.edu/news/briefing/nov10/stout.cfm

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Opportunity for Graduate Students to Serve as a Mentor to Elliott School Undergraduate Scholars

Coffee, Inspiration and a Stipend: Become a Mentor to an Elliott School Undergraduate Scholar!


With Thanksgiving break on the horizon and finals coming up after that, it can be difficult to see past the next econ problem set, let alone remember what inspired you to choose a career in International Affairs in the first place. Let us refresh your memory…Become a mentor to an Elliott School Undergraduate Scholar!

We are looking for graduate students to serve as mentors for promising undergraduates participating in the Elliott School Undergraduate Scholars program. Through this exciting initiative, top undergraduates work with a faculty advisor to conduct independent research on an international affairs topic and produce a 30-page paper. The Undergraduate Scholars, who also receive a research stipend, meet weekly to learn research skills and explore possible outlets to further their research (such as publication, conference participation, graduate study, Fulbright grants, and career paths).

In addition to working with a faculty advisor, another highlight of the program is that each Scholar is paired with one or two graduate student mentors. Mentors will discuss their research and professional interests in the international affairs field and serve as a research and career resource. We will do our best to pair Scholars with mentors whose expertise or interest is relevant to the research topic. Even when a Scholar’s project does not fit the mentor’s professional or academic focus, the relationship can still be meaningful.

Although the relationship with the Scholar is the main benefit of graduate student participation, mentors will also receive a stipend of $200 and gain experience that they can include on their résumés.

Mentors will meet their Scholars at a kickoff reception on January 24. Each mentor/Scholar pair will have coffee together (paid for with the Scholar’s research stipend) and stay in touch throughout the spring semester as the Scholar’s project develops. At certain points in the semester, the undergraduates will share drafts of their papers. There will be a breakfast get-together for all mentors and Scholars on February 28, and then there will be a final research symposium on April 11 at which Scholars will present their research and mentors will serve as moderators.


In addition to the coffee date, mentors should plan to attend these events:

Please attend one training session.

Mentor Training Session – Wednesday, January 12, 8:00 to 9:00 am, Academic Advising Conference Room (1957 E Street NW, Suite 302); Light breakfast provided

Mentor Training Session – Tuesday, January 18, 5:00 to 6:00 pm, Academic Advising Conference Room (1957 E Street NW, Suite 302); Snacks provided

Kickoff Reception – Monday, January 24, 5:00 to 6:30 pm, Lindner Family Commons, 1957 E Street NW, 6th Floor

Scholar/Mentor Breakfast Get-Together – Monday, February 28, 8:00 to 9:30 am, Academic Advising Conference Room (1957 E Street NW, Suite 302); Light breakfast provided

Final Research Conference – Monday, April 11, 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Lindner Family Commons, 1957 E Street NW, 6th Floor


If you are interested in applying, please email the following to http://us.mc596.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=esiamentors@gmail.com by December 6:

1. A paragraph explaining why you are interested in serving as a mentor.
2. A list of the countries/regions and the functional areas in which you have expertise and/or interest
3. Your résumé.

If you have questions, please contact Annie Vinik, Associate Director of Academic Advising & Student Services.* Alternatively, if you would like to speak to a graduate student who served as a mentor last year, please contact one of the lead mentors, Anna Applefield (http://us.mc596.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aha@gwmail.gwu.edu) or Nathalie Allam (http://us.mc596.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nathalie.allam@gmail.com).

*Please note that Annie will be out of the office until Monday, November 29 and will respond to your email the week after Thanksgiving.

Full-time position available with Prof. Mike Mochizuki - Apply Today!

The Assistant to the Office of Academic Programs (within the ESIA Dean's Office) position has recently become available. This is a great opportunity to work very closely with the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, Asian Studies Professor Mike Mochizuki.

This is a great position for current graduate students since, in addition to being paid a regular salary, full-time employees at GW receive 96 percent tuition remission.

A job description can be found here: https://www.gwu.jobs/applicants/jsp/shared/position/JobDetails_css.jsp?postingId=148808.

You must apply through the link above but are strongly encouraged to let Matt Grieger at the Sigur Center know of your intent to apply.

Good luck!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The 2010 Elliott School Faculty Book Party

Come meet the Sigur Center for Asian Studies authors and congratulate them on their recent accomplishments! Authors in attendence will include:

Jonathan Chaves - West Cliff Poems: The Poetry of Weng Chuan

Bruce Dickson - Allies of the State: China's Private Entrepreneurs and Democratic Change

Barbara Miller - Cultural Anthropology in a Globalizing World, 2d edition

Henry Nau - International Relations in Perspective: A Reader
  • Wednesday, November 17, 2010
  • 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • City View Room, 7th Floor
  • 1957 E Street, NW

Monday, November 15, 2010

Fudan University for M.A. students, now in the Fall semester!

Fall semester study at Fudan University’s School of International Relations and Public Affairs is now a possibility for our M.A. students. The previous Fudan calendar provided only a spring semester option, giving M.A. students only one viable semester (their first spring semesters) an option for study abroad. The new calendar for the Fudan program taught in English will allow Western students to leave around December 20th and finish class papers back home.

Friday, November 12, 2010

In An Innovative Twist To Study Abroad

Seven Columbian College freshmen shared an intense yearlong learning experience with their peers from half-way across the globe at the National University of Singapore. The students were participants in the Dean’s Scholars in Globalization program, a highly competitive cohort experience that combines coursework with the opportunity to perform research with students at universities outside of the United States.
Information sharing is a cornerstone of the program. In addition to traveling to the host countries, participants establish a virtual relationship via teleconferences, webchats, blogs, and webcams to study significant issues in a global context. The level of collaboration between students and faculty is intense.
In addition to traveling to Singapore, participants made stops in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur and Indonesia’s Yogyakarta and Surabaya. They worked side-by-side with their counterparts, interviewing scholars, students, journalists, business people, and representatives from human rights organizations. The topics researched ranged from Facebook use in Islamic boarding schools to the nuances of modesty between men and women in Islamic society. Many of the interviews were arranged through Steele and Kuipers’ extensive regional contacts.

“I have to say that never in my 24 years of teaching have I had quite this kind of experience in which we fostered the development of a community of young scholars who were all working on research projects related to a single interdisciplinary theme, in this case ‘Media and Education in Islamic Southeast Asia,” said School of Media and Public Affairs Professor Janet Steele, who led the cohort last year with Professor of Anthropology Joel Kuipers.
To read more about this visit the GWU Columbian College Arts and Sciences Magazine:

http://magazine.columbian.gwu.edu/?p=79

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Faculty Luncheon for Sophomores Interested in Asia

The Elliott School Office of Academic Advising & Student Services

is pleased to announce a special Faculty Lunch for sophomores

considering or pursuing a major in Asian Studies or an Asia concentration.

Join us for lunch with Professors Shawn McHale and Edward McCord!

Tuesday, November 16

12:00 to 1:30 pm

Sigur Center for Asian Studies

1957 E Street, Suite 503


RSVP to esiasophomores@gmail.com now!

In the subject line, please specify “Asian Studies.”

Twelve attendees will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please only RSVP if you are a sophomore and are certain that you will be able to attend.

You will hear back within 48 hours whether you have secured a spot.

At the luncheon, Professors McHale and McCord will discuss their academic backgrounds and research and will answer students’ questions about their own academic plans, as well as about opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom.

This event is part of the Elliott School’s efforts to offer special opportunities and programming to sophomores as they transition from first-year life and prepare to move on to the heart of the curriculum, declare their concentrations, and plan for internships, study abroad – and even life after GW!

The luncheon also falls under of GW’s observance of International Education Week, a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education. International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. Our celebration includes a variety of programs that highlight the international richness of our community and the many international opportunities available to our students. More information on GW’s observance of International Education Week is available here.

A student experience in North Korea


My family’s connection in North Korea has encouraged me to learn more about my heritage, and as a result, I have always had a vested interest in North Korea and its politics. While I have always dreamed of somehow visiting the Northern half of the peninsula to personally talk to residents and better understand the country, the opportunity suddenly appeared before me in the form of the Pyongyang Project. While I was initially skeptical of its authenticity as an organization, I decided that the chance to experience North Korea exponentially outweighed my initial suspicions. I applied for the August program and arranged my flights into Beijing.
Once I arrived in Beijing, I went to the designated hotel and met the founders of the Pyongyang Project. I was honestly expecting older men to greet me at the entrance, but was very surprised to meet two young men. Nick Young and Matt Reichel are recent graduates from Brown University, and despite their youth, they were very organized and capable in running the organization. They planned our lodging in several cities throughout northeastern China and North Korea, took us to delicious restaurants, and even arranged several activities for us.
However, all the fun we experienced in China was nothing compared to our excitement as we prepared to depart from the Shenyang Taoxian Airport to Pyongyang via Koryo Airlines. To be quite frank, I was absolutely terrified once I arrived on the tiny plane. I was going to risk my life riding a 1980s Soviet plane. But I was able to distract myself from my fears by talking to my fellow passengers who were students from Chosun University, a North Korean government sponsored university. These students held no citizenship, but did have Japanese permanent residency cards. They looked very excited to visit their “motherland,” talked about what they wanted to do once they arrived and even prepared themselves by wearing their North Korean pins.
I became friendly with one particular girl. While she was indoctrinated with North Korean philosophies, she also embodied Western culture; she sported a stylish Fendi purse and was passionate about fashion and American pop culture. She even expressed interest in possibly visiting both South Korea and the United States and asked me several question about my experiences in both countries. I was very intrigued by this girl who worships the Great Leader Kim Il-Sung, adores Lady Gaga, believes in the Juche ideology, and keeps up with the latest fashion trends.
After an hour flight, we arrived in North Korea’s Sunan International Airport, probably the smallest airport in the world. There were only five airplanes lined on the side and the terminal included customs, baggage claim, and security all in one big room. We had our phones taken from us, and I was surprised to see that the North Korean customs officer could distinguish an iPhone from an iPod. While we were waiting for our luggage (which was placed on a tiny manually controlled conveyer belt), we noticed that we were not the only foreigners in the country; we talked to several German, Dutch, Saudi, and Chinese nationals among others and most seemed to be visiting North Korea for business purposes.
We met our three North Korean guides who were extremely friendly (although they were frequently critical of each other – correcting minor errors and such) and well spoken in English. They were particularly fascinated with the Korean-Americans in the group and spoke to us in Korean. I became particularly friendly with Mr. Kim, and we spoke of many different topics. Although he tended to avoid answering the more sensitive questions, he demonstrated an extensive knowledge of the outside world due to his interactions with foreigners. Even when I showed him pictures of Seoul, he did not seem surprised by its level of technological development (most North Koreans are taught that South Koreans live in extreme poverty). Mr. Kim, however, was not aware of Kim Jong-un attended school in Switzerland or was even in the country.
Our tour guides strictly controlled our schedule, what we were supposed to see and do, and tried to severely limit our interactions with the local populations. They first took us the much-anticipated Arirang Mass Games where we watched hundreds of thousands of people act as one, performing stunning acrobatic feats and dances. The most popular act was undoubtedly the children’s performance, in which thousands of boys and girls tumbled and cheered for the Great Leader. The most astonishing part of the Mass Games was the mosaic background; tens of thousands of people each flip through a book with colored pages to create an enormous mural. Despite the vast crowds that have shown up for this event, I noticed that most of them were foreigners, mainly Chinese tourists.
We arrived in our “five-star” hotel, and we were served essentially Western cuisine during our stay. In the morning we went to Kim Il-Sung’s mausoleum, and it was so big that it took us almost twenty to thirty minutes to weave through the pavilion and the inside of the building. When we arrived in the main room that housed the Great Leader’s dead body, we bowed to it four times and then left for the pavilion. There, we observed that the North Korean women were dressed in bright and gaudy hanboks (Korean traditional dress) for this particular occasion. Although it is illegal to take pictures of North Korean soldiers, I managed to sneak quite a few, as they marched by me.
The next day, we were bussed to Wonsan, a port city on the eastern coast, where we all went to the beach and enjoyed ourselves. The most significant aspect of this trip was our tour guides’ lack of scrutiny or control over our actions on the beach. We were free to whatever we wanted on the beach, even talk to the local residents. I took advantage of this opportunity and acquainted myself with a family who offered me some of their packed lunch and introduced themselves. The mother and father owns a state-run market, and their elder daughter serves in the North Korean military while their younger son attends middle school. I asked them if their life was difficult, and they said that while times are difficult and rice is scarce nowadays, they find pleasure in just coming to the beach and spending their time together as a family.
Another group of people I talked to were older men who traveled from Pyongyang to enjoy the day in the beach. They said that it was difficult to obtain permission from the government to travel outside of their home cities and even finding a means of travel was almost impossible. Then, the gentlemen offered to buy me beer (a bottle of Heineken for $2), and we talked about the United States. They asked me questions about life in America and were fascinated with the pictures I showed them of South Korea. I asked them how they felt about America and South Korea, and they demonstrated no animosity towards both nations. In fact, they felt as though North Korea could become allies with America if President Obama were to accept Kim Jong-Il’s offer of friendship and that South Korea desperately wants to unite with the north (a large portion of South Koreans citizens are against reunification).
After spending the night in Wonsan, we drove back to Pyongyang and immediately drove southwards to Kaesong. It was then I learned that all roads lead to the capital in order to prevent rebellions and insurrections. In Kaesong, I noticed that the city was considerably less developed than Pyongyang or even Wonsan; there were dirt roads, most of the buildings looked dilapidated and the people’s clothing looked outdated and worn. However, the city felt more familiar to me because it resembled South Korea in term of food and the traditional architecture. In our hotel, I asked Mr. Lee to let me leave the hotel for a little bit so I could take a few pictures, and he was reluctant at first but obliged after I kept begging him and offered him $20. It was a very brief excursion though, probably did not even last one minute, and the streets were deserted. After 10pm, electricity stopped running, but that didn’t stop us from socializing with our tour guides and drinking beer by candlelight.
We drove further south to the DMZ where we met a military officer who acted as our tour guide. He went into extensive detail about the Korean War, of course form the North Korean perspective. I was particularly surprised by how lax the North Korean soldiers seemed to be; they freely let us wander around the museums and the Pamunjeon as long as we didn’t cross the line into South Korea, and take as many pictures as we wanted to, including soldiers. I remember going to the DMZ from the south and it was so much stricter, as we had to follow our tour guide at all times and were limited to taking photos at a certain time. We even saw tourists from the South Korean border and while we waved at them, they unfortunately did offer us the same courtesy.
Afterwards, we drove up to the Sariwon commune, which was probably the lowest point of the trip; it is essentially a model farm that constantly boasts of the many times the Great Leader and the Dear Leader have visited the commune and praised its innovative farming techniques. They even have a museum, which includes the chair Kim Il-Sung sat on as well as the bowl and chopsticks he once used. Then, we drove back to Pyongyang and made it in time for the Pyongyang Circus. I noticed that the entire audience consisted of military personnel, so it was interesting to see break away from their hardened image as soldiers and just laugh like normal people. While the circus was highly entertaining, I was disturbed by one of their propaganda acts that criticized Lee Myung-Bak and claimed that the Cheonan incident was a complex CIA conspiracy to implicate North Korea.
We also attended the Children’s Palace to watch artistically talented girls and boys perform for a mostly foreign audience. Adorable little boys and girls sang about North Korea’s strong military, which was accompanied by projections of military vehicles and Kim Jong-Il’s salutations to his soldiers. They also performed with traditional instruments and dances, while others used Western instruments. The children were phenomenal, and after the performances, we met them and gave them candy and school supplies. We were so impressed that we kept on talking about the Children’s Palace all day until we thought of the pain the children had to endure and how much they had to sacrifice, including school. They were essentially used by the government as pawns to endear tourists.
As we spent our last day in North Korea, we toured Pyongyang to the capital’s main landmarks and even went to the Planetarium located in a technology and science research community (which ironically also fell victim to the city’s many blackouts). We watched the sunset over the city. Of course, we spent the night drinking bottle after bottle of Western whiskey, North Korean beer and soju (which has over 10% more alcohol than the standard in South Korea). With hangovers and stomachaches, we headed for the airport and had a slightly bumpy right back to (relative) freedom and capitalism in China.

The writer, Debbie Kye, is a junior double majoring in Asian Studies and International Affairs. She traveled to North Korea during summer 2010 as part of a delegation with the Pyongyang Project.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Call for Papers for the 13th Annual Southest Asian Studies Graduate Conference at Cornell University

Call for Papers

The Cornell Southeast Asia Program invites submission for its 13th Annual Southeast Asian Studies Graduate Conference. This annual event will be held at the Kahin Center for Advanced Research on Southeast Asia at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York on March 11-13, 2011.


Graduate students at any stage engaged in original research related to Southeast Asia. are encouraged to apply Graduate students whose papers fall under any of the following categories are welcome to apply:


· Gender Studies

· Social and Economic Development

· Culture/Musicology/Art

· History

· Religion

· Politics/Government/International Relations

· Linguistics


Submission Information

Please submit an abstract and a 1 page curriculum vita to the following email address: seapgradconference@gmail.com. All abstracts should be limited to 300 words (using 1” margins on all sides, Times New Roman, and 12 pt font size) and sent in MS Word format. Please name your abstract using your first initial and last name (for example, jsmith.doc for John Smith’s abstract). The subject of the message should specify “Abstract”, and the body should include the following information:

Author’s name(s), affiliation and e-mail address

Title of paper

Paper category


SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 10, 2011
NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE: Late January 2011

COMMITMENT TO PRESENT: January 28, 2011

Final papers will be due by February 28, 2011. Papers must be in English. Presentations should be no more than 20 minutes and will be followed by 10 minutes of discussion.


Go to http://www.einaudi.cornell.edu/southeastasia/academics/2011spring.asp for more information.

Monday, November 8, 2010

TLC Language Programs - Summer 2011

Summer 2011 Programs for Intensive Southeast Asia Language Study

Please click on the respective programs you are interested in for more details and application deadlines.

1. Southeast Asian Studies Summer Institute
2. Khmer Language and Culture Study Program

3. Advanced Study of Khmer

4. Advanced Filipino Abroad Program


5. Advanced Study of Thai

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Internship at Freeman Chair in China Studies (CSIS)

Subject: Internship Posting: Freeman Chair in China Studies (CSIS)


The Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS is currently seeking an unpaid intern to work 30-40 hours a week for the spring 2011 semester. The applicant, preferably a recent college graduate or graduate student, should be interested in U.S.-China relations and Chinese foreign policy, particularly China-Taiwan and China-North Korea. Ideally, the applicant should be fluent in Mandarin Chinese and able to research and translate from Chinese research sources into English. Strong writing skills are a must. Excellent communication skills and attention to detail are a requisite. This position is also expected to provide administrative support to program meetings, conferences and other tasks as required.

Eligibility:

-- Must be at least a college junior in good standing, an advanced student or a recent graduate.

-- Must have at least a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) from an accredited U.S. institution or equivalent from a non-U.S. institution.

-- Must be eligible to work in the United States.

To apply: http://www.csisopportunities.org/internships/application/

Deadline for applications: November 30, 2010

Friday, October 29, 2010

Sakura Educational Exchange USA: Temporary Part-Time Positions Available - Cultural Assistant

Sakura Educational Exchange USA, a nonprofit international student exchange organization in Rockville, MD is seeking energetic, international-minded, fun-loving, dedicated people interested in working with visiting Japanese high school students in March 2011

Postion: Cultural Assistant

Dates: 1st Program: TBA- Full Day Orientation in Rockville, MD
TBA- Full day Orientation at Sleep Inn/ Crowne Plaza, Rockville, MD
Tue. March 15, 2011 - Sat. March 28, 2011 - Full time including weekends and lodging in Rockville, MD
Hours: vary depending on the day's activities but basically 24/7 except occasional mornings off

2nd Program: Tue. July 5, 2011- Orientation in Rockville, MD
Wed. July 6, 2011 through Tue. July 12, 2011- Full time 24/7 including lodging in Rockville, MD

Salary: 1st program: $1,000 - $1,300 (total) depending on experience and responsibilities
2nd program: $450 - $550 (total) depending on experience and responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Transport and Set up SEE-USA temporary office at hotel
  • Participate in orientation/training sessions before students arrive
  • Manage his/her assigned group of 10-15 Japanese high school students
  • Participate with the students in all study abroad activities including outings, school visits, sports special events, volunteer projects, English/communication games, meals etc.
  • Initiate conversations, songs, and games in English with the students
  • Study and follow the schedule and assigned activities to your fullest ability
  • Contribute with an energetic spirit and outgoing attitude with a focused direction
Requirements:
  • Completion of at least two years of college/university study
  • Interest in working with high school age international students
  • Openness and sensitivity to cultural differences
  • Flexibility; Ability to work well in a team with leadership qualities
  • Knowledge of camp songs and a willingness to entertain as well as direct the students
  • Outgoing, friendly, cheerful, and highly extroverted personality
Positions available: 13

Sakura Educational Exchange USA: Temporary Part-Time Positions Available

Sakura Educational Exchange USA, a nonprofit international student exchange organization in Rockville, MD is seeking energetic, international-minded, fun-loving, dedicated people interested in working with visiting Japanese high school students in March 2011

Position: English Instructor

Date and Hours:
Approximately 15 total teaching hours during 6 weekday mornings in March 2011
Exact dates: TBD
Orientation (unpaid): TBD

Location: Based out of Hotel in Rockville, MD

Salary: Hourly salary commensurate with experience

Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Teach conversational English to groups of 14-18 Japanese high school students who are participating in a short-term (2 week) study abroad program
  • Follow set experiential, theme-based curriculum provided by SEE-USA
  • Enthusiastic, hands-on teaching style required
Requirements:
  • Completion of a bachelor's degree in Education, ESL, or related field
  • Interest in working with high school age international students
  • Flexibility; Openness and sensitivity to cultural differences
  • Prior ESL teaching experience required

If interested, please email resume and letter of interest:
Attn: Stephanie Libonati, Program Manager
Sakura Educational Exchange USA


Thursday, October 28, 2010

Spring 2011 Asian Studies Course Lists Now Available

A listing of all Spring 2011 Asia-focused courses is now available at the Sigur Center website. Go to http://www.gwu.edu/~sigur/about/updates.cfm and click on the first bullet point to access this resource. Keep in mind that the spreadsheet is divided into three different sections:EALL for language classes, Undergrad, and Graduate. These sections can be accessed through the tabs located at the bottom left corner of the spreadsheet.

The "Chinese Dream" versus the "American Dream"--a GW Business School Event Comparing Socio-Economic Trends in the United States and China

Please join Dr. Feng, Vice President of Horizon Research & Consultancy Group, next Tuesday from 5:00-6:00PM when he will discuss Horizon's "Chinese Dream" report.

Presentation: “Chinese Dream” explores the evolution of aspirations in Chinese society, as contrasted against traditional Chinese values and the “American Dream”. The presentation will be valuable to students and faculty who are interested in Chinese socio-economic trends.

Q&A / Networking: Following the presentation, Dr. Feng and members of Horizon Group’s senior management will answer questions regarding China’s consulting industry.

Internship Opportunities: This would be an ideal opportunity to discuss company internship opportunities with senior managers. Horizon has offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou and consults many Fortune 500 companies, foreign governments and domestic companies.

Dr. Feng will be accompanied by three senior company managers:
  • Mr. Shuil WANG, Director of Automobile Sector
  • Mr. Lingtao MENG, Director of Management Consulting Sector
  • Mr. Wei Xiong, Senior Manager of Urban Development & Real Estate Sector
Date: November 2, 2010 (Tuesday)
Time: 5:00PM - 6:00PM (Presentation 5:00-5:40PM) + (Informal networking 5:40-6:00PM)
Location: Duques Hall - Room 652 (22nd Street between G & H)
No RSVP Required - Walk-ins Welcome

Please contact Erik (ewalenza@gwmail.gwu.edu) if you have questions.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Call for Papers for the 14th Harvard East Asia Society Graduate Student Conference

The Harvard East Asia Society (HEAS) Graduate Student Conference is an annual conference that invites graduate students from around the world to present papers from all disciplines on topics related to East or Inner Asia. Papers focusing on Chinese, Korean, Japanese or Vietnamese diaspora in any region of the world are also welcome.

Abstract submissions are currently being accepted for the 14th HEAS conference to be held from February 25 to 27, 2011 at Harvard University. The call for papers deadline is February 25, 2011.

For more information about the 14th HEAS conference, you can visit the website at http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~heas/conference. If you have any questions regarding the conference, you can email the HEAS Conference Committee at heasconference@gmail.com.

Friday, October 22, 2010

The America Institute of Indian Studies Language Program

"The American Institute of Indian Studies welcomes applications for its summer 2011 and academic year 2011-2012 language programs. Programs to be offered include Hindi (Jaipur), Bengali (Kolkata), Punjabi (Chandigarh), Tamil (Madurai); Marathi (Pune), Urdu (Lucknow), Telugu (Vizag), Malayalam (Thiruvananthapuram) and Sanskrit (Pune) and Pali/Prakrit (Pune). We will offer other Indian languages upon request. All academic year applicants should have the equivalent of two years of prior language study. For regular summer Sanskrit, we require the equivalent of two years of prior study; for summer Bengali, Hindi and Tamil we require the equivalent of one year of prior study. For summer Urdu, we require the equivalent of one year of either Hindi or Urdu. We can offer courses at all levels, including beginning, in other Indian languages for the summer. Summer students should apply for FLAS (graduate students) if available for funding to cover the costs of the program. Funding for Hindi, Bengali, Punjabi and Urdu may be available through the U.S. State Department's CLS program (see www.clscholarship.org .) Academic year students are eligible to apply for an AIIS fellowship which would cover all expenses for the program. AIIS is also offering a fall semester program. We offer Hindi and Urdu at all levels for the fall; we require two years of prior language study for other languages for the fall. The application deadline is January 31, 2011. Applications can be downloaded from the AIIS web site atwww.indiastudies.org . For more information: Phone: 773-702-8638. Email:aiis@uchicago.edu."

-Note that there have been previous occasions when students with no prior language study were accepted to the program. Therefore students wishing to apply are encouraged to contact the American Institute for Indian Studies to find out if certain individual cases count as exceptions.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

The 2010 Elliott School Undergraduate Scholars Research Papers

In Fall 2009, Elliott School undergraduates submitted research proposals in hopes of becoming Elliott School Undergraduate Scholars during the Spring 2010 semester. Their research proposals expanded upon topics that the students began exploring in a GW classroom or while studying abroad. Some had taken a course with their faculty advisors before, while others planned to work with a particular professor for the first time. All the student scholars submitted proposals that identified a niche within international affairs on which their research could shed new light, successfully taking an idea with great potential and converting it into a compelling piece of scholarship.

When a student's application is accepted into this program, several cornerstone relationships are developed between the student and other members of the university. These relationships are with faculty advisors, graduate student mentors, outside speakers, and other undergraduate scholars in the program. The bonds with these different people offer invaluable insights into the subject matter as well as topical and practical support. These key relationships are complimented by weekly meetings and research stipends that help boost the quality of research.
At the end of the program, student scholars deliver their final presentations and share their findings that will certainly serve as assets as they advance in in their academic and professional careers, particularly as they apply to graduate school or grants and fellowships.

It is also worth noting that participating in the Undergraduate Scholars Research Papers Program takes the place of a 3 credit class.

Asia Related Student Research Papers:
  • Beyond Border: The Growth and Implications of Cross-Border Mergers & Acquisitions by Chinese & Indian Firms by Evan J. Doran
  • American Soft Power and the International Student: The Generation of Korean Students from 1950s and 1960s by Harald Olsen
  • Military Effectiveness vs. Political Legitimacy: ISAF in Afghanistan by Patricia A. Puttmann
  • Tobacco Control in India and the U.S. by Elizabeth Orlan
  • Picture Perfect: Mining and Media in the International Perception of Peru in China by Chenkai (Jazzy) Zhu
  • Professor Llewelyn Hughes, faculty in the the Asian Studies Program, served as a faculty adviser to Jung Joo Oh on her paper The Geopolitics of Securing Oil Rents: Energy Security From the Supply Side Perspective.

If you are an GWU undergraduate in the Elliott School and have an interest in either reading the 2010 Elliott School Undergraduate Scholars Research Papers or applying for the next program, come by the GWU Sigur Center for Asian Studies at 1957 E St. NW suite 503. We have a copy of the current research papers book on our coffee table available for anyone to read. Also feel free to come and discuss entering the program with any of our staff. We will be happy to help.

Friday, October 15, 2010

2010-2011 Fulbright Scholarship Recipients

Over half of the 19 GWU community members that were named Fulbright Scholars this year are conducting research or teaching in Asia. The awardees heading to Asia consist of 7 students and 3 faculty members.

The 7 student recipients include: Geoffrey Cain, Alison Dieringer, Matthew LeDuc, Swetha Ramaswamy, Megan Schmidt-Sane, Jessica Thompson, and Hedwig Waters.

Geoffrey Cain of Burr Ridge, IL was awarded a Fulbright research grant to Vietnam. Geoffrey’s research will focus on the role of the media in branding Vietnam as a rising economic powerhouse. Graduating in 2008 with a BA in International Affairs, Geoffrey has worked as a journalist covering Asia for TIME Magazine, The Economist, and the United Nations news wire service, IRIN. Upon completing his Fulbright, he looks forward to beginning his deferred acceptance into the MA program in Southeast Asian Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London.

Alison Dieringer of Parksburg, PA was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Indonesia. She will be teaching at a high school on one of the three major islands of Indonesia (Java, Sumatra or Sulawesi). In her free time Alison hopes to become fluent in Bahasa Indonesia, assist her school with after school initiatives and volunteer with her community. A May 2010 graduate of the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs with a BA in International Affairs and Economics, Alison plans to pursue either an MA in public policy or a PhD in economics upon returning from her Fulbright experience.

Matthew LeDuc was awarded a Fulbright research grant to India. He graduated from GW with an MA in Anthropology in 2010 and was a TA for Barbara Miller, Professor of Anthropology.

Swetha Ramaswamy of Cupertino, CA was awarded a Fulbright research grant to Nepal. Swetha’s research will focus on the social and economic status of women ages 15 to 24 who have migrated from rural to urban areas to work in Kathmandu’s carpet factories. As part of her project she will be affiliated with Tribhuvan University’s Central Department for Population Studies and the Women's Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC), a non-governmental organization dedicated to the safety of migrant workers. Swetha graduated in May 2010 from the George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs with a BA in International Affairs and History and a specialization in international development. In the future Swetha hopes to work with an NGO on poverty alleviation and women's development.

Megan Schmidt-Sane of Medina, OH was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Bac Lieu University in Vietnam. When she is not teaching, Megan plans to do volunteer work in HIV/AIDS prevention or awareness education and study Vietnamese language. Graduating from The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs in May 2008 with BA in International Affairs, Megan hopes to enter a graduate program in either human rights law or education and public health after completing her Fulbright.

Jessica Thompson of Peoria, IL was awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) to Danang University of Technology in Vietnam. As a May 2010 graduate of The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs with a BA in International Affairs, Jessica previously studied abroad in Vietnam during her junior year. Aside from teaching, Jessica looks forward to improving her Vietnamese language skills and hopes to volunteer with an organization engaged in social work while also continuing her research on Vietnamese higher education reform.

Hedwig Waters of Washington, DC was awarded a Fulbright research grant to Mongolia. As an affiliate of the Itgel Foundation, Hedwig will be researching ways to promote healthy body image and nutritional practices in the hopes of curtailing rising eating disorder levels among modern Mongolian women. A January 2009 graduate of The George Washington University's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences with a BA in Anthropology, Hedwig hopes to use the knowledge gained from her Fulbright experience to create photography exhibitions and to pursue further research on changing body and femininity ideals in developing countries through a masters and possible doctorate in gender anthropology.

The 3 Faculty Recipients Include: Joel Kuipers, Donna Scarboro, and Dennis Johnson.

Joel Kuipers, professor of anthropology and international affairs, will study the role of language in every day Islamic piety on the island of Java in Yogyakarta, a small province of Indonesia.

Donna Scarboro, associate vice president for international programs and professorial lecturer in English, completed a summer 2010 Fulbright International Education Administration study trip to Japan, which included visits to Tokyo, Kyoto and Hiroshima.

Dennis Johnson, assistant dean of the Graduate School of Political management and professor of political management, will teach courses on American domestic public policy and national political institutions at Jinan University in Guangzhou, China and will travel widely throughout the country to give lectures on current American politics and policy.

Congratulations to these GW students and faculty going to Asia!