100 degrees and open windows

A few days ago Bailey, a contract teacher from the US, and I were sitting in a hot office with our interpreter, Mr. L., sweating miserably as we struggled with the university's computer grading system.  Every teacher knows the potential for confusion and frustration when entering end of semester grades on an unfamiliar system.  That alone is challenging enough, but we also had the added joy of not being able to read anything on our screens, so Mr. L. had to hop back and forth between our computers translating.

I arrived at 9 am, completely drenched in sweat from my climb up the mountain to the upper campus.  The temperature was already 88 degrees; it just doesn't cool off much at night.  All week Chongqing's weather has been hot and humid with temperatures ranging from 80 degrees at night to 100 degrees during the day.  We get those temperatures in Idaho, but it's the 45%-100% humidity that's killing me.  Friends from Iowa say that's the way it is in the midwest.  How do people survive?  Some local Chinese friends speculate that the lake from Three Gorges Dam affects Chongqing weather.  I missed the full explanation about the reasons.

Bailey and I roasted for hours in that office where the air conditioner didn't work and the windows were open.  Even if the AC did work, the windows would still be open.  Mr. L. would get us both going, and then leave us to cool off in the office across the hall where the windows were open and the AC was running full blast.  Leaving windows open in winter and summer is a way of life in China.  In winter, there's no heat in Chongqing so people use space heaters and bundle up in quilted snowmobile suit looking pajamas, and they leave the windows open.  In summer, the AC is on and the windows are open.  They believe it's important to have "fresh air," otherwise we will get sick.  Never mind that Chongqing is one of the most polluted cities in the world and breathing the "fresh air" is actually like smoking cigarettes. 

Health aside, I'm really questioning the environmental ethics of this practice.  Isn't everyone in the world supposed to conserve energy?  Look for ways to reduce our carbon footprint?  Global warming is happening and it's everyone's problem.  

Mr. L. didn't listen to my mild protest about having the AC on with the window open in the adjacent office, so I tried:  "If we close the windows in both offices, maybe this office could cool off too."  Nope, apparently not.

At one point Bailey looked over at me with sweat clouded eyes, or maybe it was her I'm-going-to-kill look, and said, "I'm 45 minutes from blowing."  All I could do was laugh, I mean, that precise time only comes from experience.  Almost 6 hours later, we were finally done entering grades, exhausted, needing showers, and feeling that end of semester teacher euphoria.
  

future diplomats

The spring semester concludes soon, so I’m reflecting on how things went in my classes and on the Chinese education system in general.

preparing to negotiate

One class I taught was International Communication and Negotiation, a fun and exciting class to teach because I had no prior experience with these subjects.  I now know significantly more than when I started, so I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn new information and expand my understanding.  Teaching a new subject is really energizing; it’s good for me.

This class is part of the International Relations Department, so some of these bilingual students will find jobs in diplomacy.  I’m curious about these students’ world view.  Their understanding of current events and history is filtered through the government and may not match the world view of other countries.  For example, last week was the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations, an event that has been erased from China’s version of history, so whole generations here do not know about it.  If PCVs talk to students about this taboo topic, we get sent home; it’s that serious.  I wonder if, when, and how the government tells its future diplomats and officials about the events of Tiananmen Square. 

 

As part of the final exam for this course, I asked this question:

The conclusion of Negotiation Theory and Practice, A Review of the Literature article says: “By looking at the other side as a partner rather than an opponent and by working together, negotiators have an opportunity to craft a solution that will be beneficial to both sides.”

Do you agree or disagree with this statement.  Give 3 supporting reasons why.

negotiation practice

In disagreeing with this quote, one student gave this reason:

“From my country’s history contracts, it’s not fair.  It’s not beneficial to us.  The invaded countries forced our country to sign the contracts.  Should we look at the other side as a partner? The answer is “NO”!”  

This kind of suspicion, mistrust, or maybe even animosity is common in China; it’s what students are taught and I’m concerned about the effect of this attitude in diplomacy.  My students really like me and enjoy spending time with me, so I don’t take their attitude personally; it’s just part of their culture.  Trying to present a different world view is part of the work Peace Corps does; we put a friendly face to the word “American.”  Maybe down the road, as these students become involved in international relations, they’ll become more worldly and open-minded, I hope.

About a month ago, I was confronted with anti-US attitudes at the library English corner.  In an environment of friendship and cultural exchange, it was a rare negative encounter that left me a little shaken and dismayed.  I was also confused: if they hate the US, why are they practicing English?  Weird stuff comes up at English corner and I take the opportunity to correct misunderstanding, like when someone says 9/11 was a conspiracy.  So that day, a friendly, smiling woman said that she was really happy when she heard about the 9/11 attacks because she hates the US, but then she realized it’s possible to hate a country and like the people.  I don’t understand hate, and that’s about all I could say to her.

More weird stuff came from an older man visiting from Beijing, who said he had started a tourism business and an Internet search engine and also worked for the military.  He explained to me that the US wants to take over China, sending people to work in China who actually work for the C.I.A., implying that I am here as part of the China takeover.  I tried various tactics to redirect the conversation to safer territory, “How do you like Chongqing food?” Nothing worked; he kept at me.  Finally I said, “I’m sure you believe what you’re saying, but it’s wrong.  You’re upsetting me and I can’t talk to you anymore.”  I turned my back to him, giving my attention to other people and he left a short time later.

Do educated Chinese people actually learn about and understand the US, American people, and world events?  I don’t know, I have doubts.  I hope the recent meeting between President Obama and Xi Jinping helps generate some positive dialogue in China, but the reality of that happening might be remote. 

"invited to tea"

China is being “invited to tea” in the US.  This phrase refers to when the Chinese government calls on individuals who are suspected of questionable behavior to explain themselves.  For example, if a student visits off-limits websites, they might be contacted to explain their actions, otherwise known as “invited to tea.”  Apparently this is fairly common and not just for radical political dissidents who very vocally express opposition ideas.  How the government knows who is doing what is the question I’m asking.  How is it possible to keep track of 1.3 billion people?

Later this week, Chinese leaders will be in California to discuss accusations of cybersyping.  The country with no free flow of information and extreme censorship is a source of hacking into sensitive US military and corporate information?  Amazing irony.

Getting out past the “Great Firewall” is a daily challenge requiring a VPN.  Since I teach without textbooks, I find all of my material using the Internet; without it, I couldn’t teach.  My Internet connection is unstable and occasionally I need my VPN provider to build new “tunnels.”  …. We need tunnels to “go over the wall.”  Facebook is blocked.  YouTube is blocked.  Like many US teachers, I use YouTube to download teaching videos to show my classes.  Just this afternoon I downloaded a TED talk on negotiating peace.  My students ask about how I get on YouTube, so I just say, “you have to pay,” and leave it at that.  I’m not about to tell them about illegal VPNs.

I’ve heard the argument that government censorship of information is necessary to prevent wrong information or incomplete information from confusing people.  It’s a belief that the government knows what is correct and best.

critical thinking in action: student responses on the
Free Flow of Information Theory

In a way, it makes sense that hacking and spying are coming from China.  Could it be an extension of the copying culture?   Chinese businesses are well known for copying everything from consumer goods to whole towns.  Students believe copying is fine.  Teachers seem to accept the practice.  I’ve explained US school policies about plagiarism, and I ask my students to do their own work, thinking, but it’s really, really challenging for them.  Critical and creative thinking are not a focus in the Chinese education system.