My kids have absolutely no intention of going to Fudan University, so why did I agree to go tour there with my friend Donna? Just for the heck of it.
Donna has lived in Shanghai since about 2001. She's originally from Chinatown and coincidentally, her younger daughter also attends BU (her son just graduated from Rutgers). Fudan University is like Harvard or Yale--one of China's top Universities (my kids would never get in there). They have a study abroad program with BU and we wanted to investigate for our kids.
I consider myself very spoiled and could have used the driver to get way out of the center of the city---but instead we braved the metro. Wanted to experience it with someone who lives there and knows how to take it. Glad we did-what an experience. So crowded, but really efficient. We rode the #10 line, a brand new line which just opened in April (Expo). Took only about 20 minutes (4 RMB or about .60 cents). Also wanted to see the metro advertising, which there's alot of (glossy lit billboards with motion).
We braved the roasting, brutal humidity and heat and walked for about 15 minutes to find the University. (follow the college students). We were way out of Shanghai but in an extremely populated, crowded place--full of Starbucks, Imax, malls, stores, etc. There was even a "parking lot" for scooters and bikes.
We met Allison-an American who runs the BU exchange program. There are 3 options: Spring/Fall/Summer semester. There's a language and culture program and another Chinese program with an internship (you don't study your major). Students live off campus in "nice" housing --she said some don't realize China is a developing country and get out of whack when they realize there are no dryers. About half the students are Chinese-American "heritage students" looking to learn Mandarin and/or more about our culture. (I want to be a heritage student).
The kids have varied experiences. Some realize how "American" they are, some realize how "Chinese" they are. Some love it, some hate it--but none of them eat in the school cafeteria because Chinese "fast food" is so cheap.
We tried to eat in the Professor's cafeteria but it was the last day of class and it was closed. We ate outside in a restaurant and believe it or not, Allison ordered the greatest food. Little pork meatballs wrapped in green beans, strange rectangular mushrooms with crabmeat inside, eggs with chives with little pine nuts (comfort food). I felt obligated to pay since I don't think my kids will go there and she took the time to tour with us.
I told her she has the greatest job in the world. Coordinating classes for excited young students. She explained her dilemma (a tri-fecta of dilemma's). American students want to be entertained. Chinese professors do not teach that way---they expect rout memory. BU has certain standards and doesn't understand the Chinese way of doing things. (ie--what is the evacuation plan in case of swine flu----guess what, this is China, there is no evacuation plan). Ok, maybe not the greatest job in the world but a life at the crossroads of so many cultures (academic, cultural, shepherding tomorrow's future).
Any kid who has a Chinese study abroad experience will have a leg up in life. I want my kids to attend this program (at least for the short summer session), but kid #1 refuses, maybe kid #2 will try it. You don't have to be a BU student, any student can transfer in to this program.
Somehow we were trapped inside the gates of the campus but found our way out. I was too tired and hot to tour all the school buildings but was glad I made the trip out there. We found our way through a maze of malls (air conditioning) + saw the robust Chinese economy in action.
I walked away in awe. Our kids are the future of the world & its such a small world.
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