Friday, September 28, 2012

Contest: KSCPP Sixth National Essay Contest


KSCPP Korean Spirit and Culture Promotion Project    

The Sixth National Essay Contest 
Award 


To foster the understanding and appreciation of  Korean history and culture, KSCPP is hosting its 6th national essay contest.  The Essay Contest is open to students at junior high school, high school, and college/university, and to the general public (ages 18 and older).  The entrants are required to read one of  the books published by KSCPP (available online for free at www.kscpp.net). 

Awards


College Students & General Public (18 & older)     
First Place: $1,000 
Second Place: $500 
Third Place: $ 200
* Honorable Mentions: $50


*The Honorable Mentions will be determined by the number of entrants.

Special Awards for Schools 
$500 will be awarded to the Schools whose students actively participated in the contest* 
*KSCPP will donate the funds to schools that are interested in teaching students about Korea. The funds should be used for the purpose of  teaching Korean history and culture (e.g. teaching materials, trips to museums, etc.).  The awards will be determined by the number of  entrants from each high school and/or the quality of  the essays submitted. 


Essay Topics


Junior High School Students
Junior high school students can read one of  the first three KSCPP series books (Admiral Yi Sunsin, King Sejong the Great, or Chung Hyo Ye) and select one topic from below. 
    a. After reading either Admiral Yi Sunsin or King Sejong the Great, discuss your impression on the leadership and character of Admiral Yi (or King Sejong the Great if  you read his book) and the lessons we can learn from him.
    b. After reading Chung Hyo Ye, discuss the values (or the stories) that you liked and why.

High School Students, College Students & General Public
All other entrants can either select a topic from the Junior High School Students topic section, or choose one of  the topics below:
   a. After reading either Fifty Wonders of  Korea Volume I, or Volume II, discuss the scientific or cultural achievements that impressed you and why.
   b. After reading Master Wonhyo, discuss your impression of  Master Wonhyo’s life and teaching.
   c. After reading the Practice of  Hong Ik Ingan, discuss your understanding of  the ideals of  Hong Ik Ingan. 
General Topic for All Entrants
Read one of  the books from KSCPP Series and discuss your impression, appreciation, or understanding of  the subjects discussed in 
the book.  

Eligibility:  Students in Junior High School, High School, and College/University, and General Public (ages 18 & older).


Instructions 
Essays must meet the following requirements: 
1. One-inch margin (top, bottom, left, and right); font size 12 (Times New Roman); double spaced; two to three pages long. 
2. Each essay must have the following information listed on the cover: 1.Name 2.Age 3. Phone Number, Mailing Address & Email 
4. School and Grade (or occupation, if  applicable) 

To Enter: Submit entries electronically to kscppcontest@msn.com with the subject heading “2012 6th Essay Contest.” Or mail to  
46-38 159th Street, Flushing, NY 11361

Deadline: Both online and offline submissions are due by January 15, 2013.  
The winners will be announced no later than March 17, 2013


If you would like to receive a copy of our book to enter the contest, please contact us using the information below. 

For more Information, please contact KSCPP at kscppcontest@msn.com or visit www.kscpp.net  
KSCPP is a 501 (c)(3) non profit organization.






Thursday, September 27, 2012

Job Opening: Japan Resource Center Librarian


Position Description Summary:

The George Washington University Libraries invites applications for the position of Japan Librarian. The incumbent will join a dynamic, multidimensional program whose members actively engage in shaping distinctive collections and services that reflect the University’s growing, rapidly evolving international focus. The Japan Resource Center (JRC) librarian is responsible for developing, planning and managing the services and collections of the JRC.

Duties and Responsibilities:


The incumbent will also conduct ongoing outreach to faculty, students and researchers focused on the study of Japan across the social sciences and humanities; provide research and instruction support; develop associated programming, and develop, evaluate and manage strong interdisciplinary collections and services in support of the University’s evolving research mission.
JRC staff members work in collaboration with other GRC staff and the broader GW Libraries community to develop coordinated services and collections. These include the Reference Services and Education and Instruction Group, the Resource Description Group, and collections librarians offering related services.
As a member of the Global Resources Center management team, the JRC librarian will participate in the ongoing development of GRC collections and services, and may actively engage in fundraising, grant writing, marketing and outreach in support of the JRC. The position reports to the Director of Global Resources.

Qualifications:

Minimum:

Master’s Degree in Library Science from an ALA-accredited institution, or a Master’s degree in a humanities or social sciences discipline, with coursework `relevant to the study of Japan;
Experience working with students and faculty in a college or university setting;
Reading and writing fluency in Japanese.

Desired:


PhD in a humanities or social sciences discipline, with an emphasis on the study of Japan;
Coursework in Library Science from an ALA-accredited institution, or similarly appropriate/equivalent advanced degree (e.g.MLISMIS, etc.);
Creative programming (donor events, exhibit openings, etc.) experience;
Evidence of ability to conduct classroom instruction;
Demonstrated success in developing outreach initiatives in support of academic priorities;
Excellent oral and written English-language skills;
Reading knowledge of Korean;
Interest in building digital collections and curating virtual exhibits;
Demonstrated, ability to create positive relations with faculty, students, donors and support groups;
The George Washington University is located in Washington, DC, a few minutes’ walk from the headquarters of major international organizations, think tanks, NGO’s, U.S. government agencies, and the White House. This decades-old juxtaposition has lead to a strong, synergistic relationship between the University and its internationally-focused neighbors. Notably, the University is home to the Elliott School of International Affairs, a professional school with top-tier standing. Moreover, globally-focused curricula are spread throughout the university’s schools, departments and programs.
The George Washington University Libraries has a long history of support for the University’s globally-focused mission. TheGRC has five specialized resource centers that parallel the university’s priorities; these include the Japan Resource Center, Taiwan Resource Center, China Documentation Center; and the Resource Center for Russia, Eurasia, Central and Eastern Europe; and the Middle East and North Africa Research Center (MENA). Outreach is central to the GRC mission.




Proposed Start Date: 11/30/2012

In your cover letter please provide an assessment of your skills relevant to basic qualifications.
Review of applications will begin on October 29, 2012, and continue until the position is filled. Only complete applications will be considered.

Link:https://www.gwu.jobs/postings/11599







Wednesday, September 26, 2012



Opportunities for Asian Studies Graduate Students



Job Opening: U.S.-Japan-South Korea Legislative Exchange Program (LEP/TLEP) Program Assistant

The U.S.-Japan-South Korea Legislative Exchange Program (LEP/TLEP) is conducting a search for a new program assistant. The LEP/TLEP is directed by Professor Henry R. Nau and brings together Members of the US Congress, Japanese Diet, and South Korean National Assembly twice a year to discuss issues among the three countries.
The program assistant serves as chief administrative assistant to Professor Nau. Primary responsibilities include inviting and organizing Members of Congress to travel to Tokyo/Seoul for a fall meeting (2012 meeting in Seoul) and hosting Japanese and South Korean delegations for two days of meetings in Washington in the spring. The assistant travels to Asia in the fall for approximately one week. 

Since meetings in both Washington and Tokyo/Seoul are held toward the end of each semester, this position requires a graduate student who has very strong organizational and time management skills necessary to handle all of the details of event coordination while completing his/her own semester-end course requirements. Other skills needed include a strong sense of responsibility, maturity, courtesy, and reliability. English fluency is essential. Preference will be given to those who have a strong interest in US-Japan or US-South Korean relations, are fluent in Japanese or Korean, and are committed to hold the position for a two year period (the usual MA term). Professional references are welcomed.

The position is part-time, averaging 10 hrs/week, and runs through the academic year and summer. The hourly wage is $15/hr.  Work time varies from approximately 5-8 hrs/wk (preferably spread over at least 3 working days) during the first two thirds of each semester to 20-25 hours during the last third of the semester (sometimes more if needed, including weekends). Summer work is more evenly spread out. It is possible to hold another part-time job in the summer if it is located in the DC area.

Send a cover letter stating your interest, qualifications and references, along with a complete resume to nau@gwu.edu or fax to 202-994-5477

Submit applications as soon as possible. Deadline for submission is October 15, 2012.    


Elliott School Freeman Foundation Fellowship for internships in Asia

Graduate Student Career Development (GSCD) recently received a grant to help defray the costs for students pursuing internships in Asia.  Please consider adding a work experience in Asia to compliment your academic studies at the Elliott School.

Not sure if an internship or work experience will make a difference to employers?
Employers surveyed by GSCD for the Employment Qualifications and Skills Report rated the following qualifications as very important when making hiring decisions:

1)  International experience and contacts
2)  Foreign language skills
3)  Cross cultural competencies and communication skills

Where have previous Elliott School students interned in Asia?  A few examples of the countries/organizations past Elliott School students have interned in Asia:

* The Clinton Foundation-China
* US Department of State - Japan, Vietnam, and China
* UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office-Thailand
* US Commerce Department Foreign Commercial Services-Singapore
* Development Alternatives, Inc.-Cambodia

Graduate Student Career Development is pleased to offer Freeman Foundation competitive grants for up to $4,000 that are available immediately to students that intern in Asia. 

Please log into Elliott School Career Connection (ESCC) and check the Document Library for more information including the application for the Freeman Foundation Fellowship Grant for Internships in Asia.

If you have any questions, please email Angella Griffin, Director, GSCD at agriffin@gwu.edu



Internship Opportunity: Market Access and Compliance Unit of the International Trade Administration, Office of China and Mongolia

The Market Access and Compliance (MAC) unit helps American companies overcome trade barriers overseas and ensures that trading partners fully meet their obligations under trade agreements signed with the United States. MAC employs about 100 international trade specialists covering all of the countries in the world as well as multilateral organizations. The MAC unit includes the 1) Office of Africa, the Middle East and South Asia; 2) Office of Asia (China, Japan, and Southeast Asia); 3) Office of Europe; 4) Office of the Western Hemisphere; and 5) Trade Agreements and Compliance Office, which includes the a) Office of Multilateral Affairs covering trade-related activities of multilateral organizations such as the World Trade Organization and OECD, b) Office of Intellectual Property Rights, and c) Trade Compliance Center, which works with large and small businesses to ensure they receive the benefits of over 270 trade agreements that open foreign markets to U.S. goods and services.

To learn more about MAC, please visit their web site: http://trade.gov/mac/index.asp

General Internship Duties: Responsibilities for MAC interns will vary by office but may include: researching and analyzing trade and investment issues in particular countries on particular issue areas (e.g., government procurement, technical barriers to trade, import licensing, customs and trade facilitation for WTO Committee work or WTO/FTA negotiations); accompanying international trade specialists to meetings with other Commerce Department offices, American companies, other U.S. Government agencies, foreign governments, and/or other organizations and providing logistical support for and drafting reports on those meetings; helping prepare briefing papers and speeches; assisting international trade specialists with responding to requests from the business community for information on ways to expand its market access, remove market barriers, and benefit from trade agreements; and working with international trade specialists to develop strategies to address U.S. companies' market access and compliance concerns. 

General Qualifications: Qualifications include strong writing and verbal communication skills and an ability to work well with people. Applicants with foreign language ability are encouraged to apply as well as experience studying and/or traveling to or living in foreign countries.

Specific Qualifications Required:
  • Ability to read and speak Chinese
  • Knowledge of China and factors underlying trade and commerce
  • Ability to gather and perform basic research
  • Communication skills sufficient to assemble, organize, and report trade-related information
Please send resume and cover letter to the 
Deputy Director of the Office of China and Mongolia

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Internship Opening: Embassy of Japan


Science Researcher at the Embassy of Japan

The Embassy of Japan is seeking an individual for the position of Science Researcher. The Embassy offers group health insurance coverage, paid vacation and sick leave. Salary is commensurate with experience.

Candidate must be a U.S. citizen or a U.S. Green Card holder.

Work Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Principal Responsibilities
  • Conduct daily news and press release monitoring of science and technology (S&T) and nuclear energy policy issues relevant to the portfolios of the Science Section diplomats.
  • Write memos on S&T and nuclear energy conferences, lectures, Congressional hearings and S&T/nuclear policy developments, as well as medium and long-term research reports upon request.
  • Provide English editing services to the Science Section staff.
  • Assist with coordination and implementation of events hosted by the Science Section.
  • Provide logistical assistance for business trips to U.S. science and nuclear facilities by diplomats and visiting delegates.
  • Other responsibilities as needed and appropriate.
NOTE: The main focus is on information gathering rather than independent “policy research”.

Requirements
  • Fluent in English and proficient in Japanese.
  • Excellent communication, writing, and organizational skills.
  • Ability to use computer applications such as Microsoft Windows, Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
  • Experience working in a Japanese office preferred.
  • Knowledge about the U.S. legislative and budget processes preferred.
  • Background or work experience in S&T and/or nuclear policy preferred.
How to apply

Please submit your resume/CV with cover letter as soon as possible.
Application will be closed when we receive applications from qualified candidates.

By Mail:

Attn: Science Section
Embassy of Japan
2520 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008
By E-mail: sciencerecruit2012@ws.mofa.go.jp

 * Inquiries will not be answered by phone or in person. Selected applicants will be contacted for an interview.



Monday, September 24, 2012

Internship in Japan - A GW Student's Dream Come True


Pictures: Emi with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos


Name: Emi Lea Kamemoto
Grade: Senior, Class of 2013
Major: International Affairs Major with a Concentration in International Development and International Politics
Minor: Sociocultural Anthropology

Summer Internship: The TOMODACHI Initiative (www.usjapantomodachi.com) - a public-private partnership that seeks to create a TOMODACHI (tomodachi means friend in Japanese) Generation amongst youth in Japan and the United States by promoting the pillars of leadership, friendship, and hope through educational and cultural exchanges in the U.S. and Japan.

Where in Asia: United States Embassy of Tokyo, Japan

What did you do this summer (2012)?
I essentially worked my dream job this summer with the TOMODACHI Initiative. I was given the opportunity to help coordinate youth dialogue among Japanese and American students to discuss ways to strengthen US-Japan relations at the people-to-people level. I spoke with students from the Tohoku region, which was hardest hit by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, and prepared the first members of our TOMODACHI Generation embark on their exchange program to UC Berkeley. I utilized my English and Japanese language abilities, as well as my public speaking skills, to assist the amazing young people in Japan and the United States who are dedicated to building a better future.

How did you get the position?
I became involved in the Japanese community in D.C. right from the start by joining GWU’s Japanese American Student Alliance (JASA). Through JASA, I was introduced to all of the wonderful Japan-related organizations, including the U.S.-Japan Council, which I was particularly drawn to because of its focus on fostering people-to-people connections. Right before 2012 summer, I met with two of my acquaintances (and now friends!) from the U.S.-Japan Council for coffee, and it just so happened that the Executive Director of the TOMODACHI Initiative, Laura Abbot, was in the DC office. After rushing home to change out of my flip-flops, I met Abbot-san and spoke with her about how much I love the TOMODACHI Initiative, and a suggestion to volunteer quickly changed into an offer for a full time internship!

What did you learn from this experience, and why was it meaningful?
I think I learned that a small group of people with the right support can truly make a huge difference. The TOMODACHI Team (as we call ourselves) is no more than 5 full time employees yet this summer alone TOMODACHI sent over 500 students from Tohoku to the US on these cultural exchanges that ranged from leadership workshops, city planning and reconstruction seminars, to baseball exchanges. This team, with the help of the US Embassy in Tokyo, the U.S.-Japan Council, private companies and NGO’s has made an unquantifiable impact on these young people from Tohoku. 

What is it like to work in Japan?
Japan is HOT in the summer! I also completely forgot about the month long rainy season so if you are in East Asia over the summer, pack an umbrella, poncho, and boots! Learning polite/formal Japanese was a must, as I ran around downtown Tokyo to big offices like Coca-Cola, Apple, and Google to obtain documents, and every person in Tokyo carries a small towel or handkerchief, so I encourage everyone to buy one immediately upon landing in Japan!

What did you do on your free time?
I spent a great deal of time with my family in Tokyo and in Miyazaki Prefecture. A relaxing cup of delicious green tea and practicing calligraphy with my grandparents was a welcomed change of pace. Also, I was able to enjoy awesome yakiniku (Japanese bbq) and day trips to Kamakura, Enoshima, and Hakone with university students I met through my internship.

What was a memorable moment in your internship?
Preparing a speech to give in front of Secretary Hillary Clinton.
Secretary Clinton wanted to meet with Japanese and American students while she visited Tokyo, so I was asked to prepare some remarks about our TOMODACHI Generation. I spent time with Mark Davidson-san, the Minister of Public Affairs at the US Embassy, to go over my speech, and he particularly liked my metaphor comparing the rush hour Tokyo trains to the closeness I hope Japanese and Americans can achieve.  Unfortunately, a change in schedule prevented me from giving my speech directly to Secretary Clinton, but I was still able to share my thoughts with Ambassador John Roos, and my great aunt all the way in Kyushu was able to see my face on television!

Did what you study in GW help?
If it weren’t for my involvement in JASA and my sorority, Kappa Phi Lambda, I don’t think I would have been prepared to handle the level of responsibility I was given. I was in contact with top-level business leaders and had to manage different projects all at the same time. Having worked as president of JASA during the aftermath of March 11th, I felt prepared for the workload, and Kappa Phi Lambda has taught me everything I know about time management and making lasting relationships. Professor Mochizuki’s International Affairs of East Asia class was also a saving grace as I met many of the key players in the current events we spoke of!

Any last words?
Please support the TOMODACHI Initiative and feel free to contact me about information regarding involvement in the Japanese community in DC or in TOMODACHI.

For this fall semester, Emi will be attending Nanzan University in Nagoya, Japan. 

Friday, September 21, 2012

Grants for Internships Abroad


Graduate Student Career Development (GSCD) recently received a grant to help defray the costs for students pursuing internships in Asia.  Please consider adding a work experience in Asia to compliment your academic studies at the Elliott School.
Not sure if an internship or work experience will make a difference to employers?
Employers surveyed by GSCD for the Employment Qualifications and Skills Report rated the following qualifications as very important when making hiring decisions:
1)  International experience and contacts
2)  Foreign language skills
3)  Cross cultural competencies and communication skills
Where have previous Elliott School students interned in Asia?  A few examples of the countries/organizations past Elliott School students have interned in Asia:
• The Clinton Foundation-China
• US Department of State – Japan, Vietnam, and China
• UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Office-Thailand
• US Commerce Department Foreign Commercial Services-Singapore
• Development Alternatives, Inc.-Cambodia
Graduate Student Career Development is pleased to offer Freeman Foundation competitive grants for up to $4,000 that are available immediately to students that intern in Asia. 
Please log into Elliott School Career Connection (ESCC) and check the Document Library for more information including the application for the Freeman Foundation Fellowship Grant for Internships in Asia.
If you have any questions, please email Angella Griffin, Director, GSCD at agriffin@gwu.edu 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

云南日记


When I applied for the Sigur Center Grant in February this year, I had already been in China for over eight months, since early June of the previous year.  At the time, I was enrolled in my second semester of study abroad through the Associated Colleges in China program in Beijing.  Having lived in the People’s Republic of China for so long, a key interest of mine was to examine the contrast, whether culturally, politically, or economically,  between the Communist-ruled Mainland and Taiwan. Furthermore, I was interested in learning traditional characters and furthering my level of Chinese proficiency. Because of the opportunities made available by the generous Sigur Center Grant, I can report that all of my goals were fulfilled. Yet the grant allowed me to do more than just go to Taiwan. Below, I will explain both my experience in the official program in Taiwan, as well as time in Yunnan for the two months prior to that, made possible by the Sigur Center Grant.

The program I was admitted to, and for which I applied to the Sigur Center Grant was the short-term Summer semester at National Chengchi University.  The program did not start until July 1st of this year. The ACC spring term ended, however, at the end of April. During the two-month gap between semesters I traveled to Yunnan province to take summer language courses at Yunnan Nationalities University.

My time in Yunnan was my first opportunity to use my newly attained Chinese skills while living entirely independently in China. I first toured the north of the province for about two weeks, during which time I traveled to Xianggelila. My arrival to the so-called Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture marked my first time being in a historically Tibetan region. 


 It was there that I was able to witness first-hand the current state of Tibetan life in China. The first thing that I noticed was the infrequency of written Tibetan on public signs and advertisements, either entirely gone in the case of road signs, or placed in small font beneath the Chinese characters. Oral usage of the language, too, was evidently on the decline, for example the taxi drivers in Deqin city who, although all ethnic Tibetans, generally spoke a mixture of Mandarin and Tibetan with one another. Everywhere, too, were the signs of the Chinese authorities’ efforts to pacify and integrate the region with mainstream Han society. It was precisely because of major infrastructure projects pushed rapidly over the past few years that I was able to take the harrowing bus ride from Xianggelila to Deqin, the furthest one can go towards Tibet without a special permit. All along the highway currently under expansion are signs urging residents to strive for a strong and harmonious society, which can only be achieved through ethnic unity and peace.  Alongside this are other signs urging the opening up and development of the region.

I also had the opportunities to talk to various Tibetans while I was in Yunnan, who gave me some insight into the Tibetan issue. One taxi driver I met had pictures of the Dalai Lama on his dashboard, and explained that he considered the man to be a great spiritual leader. A Tibetan college student, however, thought him instead to be a traitor to the Tibetan people. She further elaborated that her family thanks the Communist Party every day for liberating them from the Dalai clique, and for bringing wealth and development to the Tibetans.

I began to notice striking differences culturally and philosophically between college-educated and non-educated Tibetans in Yunnan. Another college student, who had never left Yunnan province before, when asked where she would go in China if she could only visit one place, replied that she would visit Yannan, because she loves Chairman Mao. What the two students above and other young Tibetan students I met in Yunnan had in common were fluency in Mandarin with limited proficiency in the Tibetan language, and political views largely in line with the official view.  Less educated Tibetans that I met were more likely to speak Tibetan as a mother language with limited Mandarin ability, and also to have a stronger sense of ethnic identity, which would seem to suggest that secondary and higher education in China today is a powerful tool for advancing the ideological and practical goals of the state.

By studying Chinese in Yunnan, I also had the opportunity to meet a diverse group of Chinese language students from across Asia, including students of national and social backgrounds significantly underrepresented outside of the region.  Indeed, the majority of foreign students at the university were a mix of Laotian, Vietnamese, Thai, Cambodian, and Burmese. One friend was actually from Kachin state, a member of the Jingpo minority group that straddles Kachin and Yunnan provinces. Her family originally had been entirely in Yunnan province until her side of the family fled to the Burmese side during the Great Leap Forward.

 
Nevertheless, I was able to use my connection to her family members still in Yunnan to tour Dehong state in southwestern Yunnan for over a week. I first went to the Yingjiang county seat to stay with the family of her aunt, who works as a Burmese language interpreter for the county government.

  From there I proceeded to Kachang township, which is located along the mountainous border with northeastern Burma. In Kachang I was taken on a motorcycle tour of the area by a friend who works for the township government, though we had to slog the vehicle through mudslides blocking the road.






 Even in such a remote area, the signs of China’s efforts to integrate the nation through infrastructure and communication links are everywhere. Almost all parts of the area now have full cell phone coverage, hydroelectricity, and especially important, roads of a high enough quality for freight shipping. All along the roads towards Burma are massive sawmills, supplied by trucks carrying in what is frequently timber from old growth forests across the border, such as is depicted below:


 Almost all of the Chinese side is deforested, save for a rare few protected trees.

After winding our way down the mountain roads, often having to cross landslides blocking the road, we eventually made it to the Burmese border.


 Just across the river, the contrast and separation between modern day China and Burma is striking. On the Burmese side there are no power lines, and no running water. The village directly across the friendship bridge consists of a cluster of bamboo shacks built precariously along the edge of the hill. 


All along the hillside, too, are fields that have been burned through from the jungle to provide subsistence levels of agricultural production.  


The villages around Kachang consist primarily of Jingpo. The Jingpo, interestingly enough, practice a form of Baptist Christianity brought to Kachin state in the late 19th century by American missionaries, which subsequently spread from the Burmese Jingpo to their counterparts in Yunnan.



Later in the week I traveled to the official border crossing between China and Burma, in Ruili, which is one of the largest centers of trade between China and Burma. There, another friend of mine who works in the jade industry was able to drive me around to sites of interest. The town is fairly lacking in sites, though, except for the numerous Burmese jade markets selling exorbitantly priced items, and the raucous border checkpoints. 


  Security is extremely tight in Ruili, which is, of course, situated so near the Golden Triangle. As a foreigner,  I was required to register at the police office, and undergo questioning. Upon leaving Ruili municipality, all traffic at the time, including my bus, was stopped at a military checkpoint in order to undergo extensive inspection. All passengers on the bus were interrogated in an effort to weed out potential drug runners. In addition, the soldiers searched every possible opening in the bus, including the air conditioning and ventilation system, undercarriage, and every single passenger’s luggage. Ironically, the only person whose luggage they did not inspect was the one foreigner aboard, thankfully, since I had a lot of tea packaged in black plastic bags, which would have been a hassle to prove that it was simply tea. After returning to Kunming, I had to immediately prepare for my most important trip, my twenty-four hour train to Guangzhou, from where I then proceeded, at long last, to Taipei, to begin my official summer program.  

Taiwan in the Global Context Recap

The program I participated in was through a direct exchange between GW and National Chengchi University of Taiwan. There, I took a 4-week class titled “Taiwan in the Global Context,” as well as a six-week class for advanced Chinese. The summer program at Chengchi was evidently not anticipating many advanced speakers of Chinese, since they only allotted one teacher for advanced Chinese, with the rest allotted to several divisions of beginner’s level, as well as one class for legacy learners who had no formal education in written Chinese. As a result, several people who were not advanced learners of Chinese, yet still wanted a more challenging class than the second-highest class which still taught beginner’s level characters, came into my class later on.
The most interesting part of the course, “Taiwan in the Global Context”, was the four lectures taught by Professor Tang Shaocheng regarding Taiwanese National Identity and its implications for Cross-Straits relations. The course emphasized that the most strongly prevailing issue in cross-straits relations is Beijing’s One-China policy, which states that Taiwan is the inseparable sovereign territory of China. A key background issue that is frequently underemphasized in the West, is that to many Mainland Chinese, Taiwan’s existence as a de facto separate entity from the Mainland is a remaining legacy of China’s century of humiliation begun in 1840 with the First Opium War, and that reunification would be a key step towards restoring national pride. 



 Another crucial issue we studied in depth was the issue of mutual nonrecognition. As explained by our most frequent lecturer, Professor Tang Shaocheng, Mainland China implicitly supports the Republic of China maintaining Article 4’s claims to sovereignty over the Mainland, as any change would be seen as Taiwan’s formal splitting of links with Mainland China and thus an act of independence.
            Professor Tang is also one of the leading Taiwanese scholars in the field of international relations today.  Largely based on a policy memo Professor Tang submitted, Ma Ying-Jiu developed the "special relationship" designation for relations with Beijing. As I learned in the class, both the KMT and CCP accept the concept of one Chinese nation; only the DPP supports a Taiwanese national identity. However, the KMT supports one-nation, one-state under ROC leadership of all of China, while the CCP advocates one-nation two systems, currently being implemented in the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions.
            An additional area of note was the opinions of the Taiwanese public regarding cross-straits issues. Since 1990 the general trend in public opinion is that since 1990 approximately sixty percent of Taiwanese have wanted to maintain the status quo relationship with the Mainland, twenty percent support independence, and ten percent of Taiwanese support unification. However, a majority of Taiwanese support reunification with the Mainland under the prerequisites of political reforms in the Mainland and an island-wide popular referendum. Dr. Tang also noted the increasing divergence culturally between Mainlanders and Taiwanese, which has played an important role in decreasing the number of Taiwanese who identify themselves as singularly Chinese as represented by the PRC.  This also feeds into another interesting concept, that of ROC-Chinese versus PRC-Chinese, which leads to the conclusion that most Taiwanese now identify themselves as Taiwan Chinese, members of the greater Chinese nation, but with certain special characteristics as a result of being Taiwanese.
          One last interesting point that Dr. Tang makes which I had not before considered is the idea that if either Taiwan, Tibet, or Xinjiang provinces made formal moves towards independence from the PRC, it could lead to a domino effect in the other two. Therefore, in the eyes of policymakers in Beijing, the Taiwan issue involves the very integrity of the PRC, and that force has to be considered an option in the case of Taiwanese independence to avert the risk of the disintegration of the People’s Republic of China. 
             Before I went to Taiwan, I had very limited knowledge on the subject matter of Cross-Straits relations or Taiwanese history. However, as a result of taking the Taiwan in the Global Context course offered as an exchange with GW, not to mention just being in Taiwan, I learned a lot about the issues.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Job Opening: Graduate Student Position at the Global Resource Center

Job Description:

We are seeking a customer service- and detail-oriented individual to: 1) assist the Global
Resources Center patrons in the use of our collections and services; and 2) help maintain
collections in the Global Resources Center and process new materials. All employees are
trained to use the library’s online system and other research-oriented databases.

Position Requirements:
• Ability to work 15-20 hours per week

• Availability to work some evenings and weekends
• Facility with the Japanese or Korean language
• Academic background in international affairs or a related field

Wage:
 For graduate students starts at $12


For more information, or to submit a resume,
please contact:
The Global Resources Center
Gelman Library, Room 708
2130 H St., NW
(202) 994-7105; EMAIL: grc@gwu.edu


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Elliott School Alumni Tammy Duckworth speaks at Democratic National Convention



CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth on Tuesday night used her brief time on the Democratic National Convention to tout home-state President Barack Obama rather than her own political future.

For Duckworth, who is running in a northwest suburban district against tea party-backed freshman Republican Rep. Joe Walsh, it was the second appearance on the national stage in two consecutive conventions. The story of her rescue after the Blackhawk assault helicopter she was piloting was shot down in Iraq in 2004 provided the theme for her speech.

“In that moment, my survival — and the survival of my entire crew — depended on all of us pulling together. And even though they were wounded themselves, and insurgents were nearby, they simply refused to leave a fallen comrade behind. Their heroism is why I’m alive today,” said Duckworth, who lost both legs and partial use of her right arm in the attack.

“Ultimately that is what this election is about,” said Duckworth, who drew chants of “USA! USA!” “It’s about whether we do for our fellow Americans what my crew did for me, whether we’ll look out for the hardest hit and the disabled, whether we’ll pull together in a time of need, whether we’ll refuse to give up until the job is done.”

A former assistant secretary in the Obama administration’s Veterans Affairs department and former director of Illinois’ Department of Veterans Affairs, Duckworth promoted the Democratic president’s efforts as commander in chief, including ending the Iraq War, refocusing military to Afghanistan and “eradicating” terrorist leaders including Osama bin Laden. She drew chants of “USA, USA.”

She also noted his work to eliminate Don’t Ask Don’t Tell regarding gays in the military and allowing women to serve in more combat roles, saying “don’t you think it’s time that we stopped being surprised that America’s daughters are just as capable of doing their jobs and defending liberty as her sons.” She accused Republican nominee Mitt Romney of ignoring the military in his acceptance speech in Tampa last week.

Duckworth only made mention of her own campaign in introducing herself to the audience as someone running in Illinois’ new 8th District, which was drawn by Democrats mindful of her as a candidate.

Both Walsh and Duckworth sought to use the speech as a campaign fundraising opportunity in e-mails to supporters. Walsh, who opted to stay home and campaign instead of attending the GOP convention, criticized Duckworth throughout the day.

“The Democratic Party insiders gave her a prime time slot on opening night because she has always been the preferred pick of the Democratic elite,” Walsh wrote in an email to supporters.

“After all, she’s been Blago’s bureaucrat and Rahm’s pick for a generously drawn district,” he said, referring to imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, under whom she served at the state’s veterans’ agency and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Unfortunately, the time she dedicates to being a political celebrity comes at the expense of listening to voter’s concerns and addressing the issues that matter most.”

Prior to her speech, Duckworth maintained that Walsh had “put the tea party in front of his own constituents.”

She said the biggest difference between herself and the freshman Republican was “understanding your responsibilities as a member of Congress.” Noting controversial comments Walsh has made ranging from her military service to suggesting followers of radical Islam were in the northwest suburbs, Duckworth said as a member of Congress, “you’re not speaking just for yourself. You’re speaking for your district and for your country.”

Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-duckworth-touts-obama-record-at-dnc-convention-20120904,0,5000768.story