Alex participated in the College’s intensive summer program in Erfurt offered through UT and the University of Erfurt, Department of Media and Communication. This program brought together students from UT Austin, the University of Erfurt, University of Southern California (Annenberg School), Washington State University, and the University of Oklahoma. Students in this program enrolled in two courses taught by visiting professors from one of the US colleges and had the opportunity to engage in discussions with students and faculty from the University of Erfurt.

You can read more about Alex’s travels in/around Germany on her blog:
alexandramasterstheworld.blogspot.com

Learn more about affiliated studies programs in Germany.

A few pictures from the blog:

“There is always SOME festival going on in Erfurt we discovered.”

Barbies in Prauge! Hook ‘em Barbie (Barbie Exhibition)

Fallen Leaves: A tribute to the Jews who lost their lives in the Holocaust.

Identity in 3-D
By Katherine F
Tags America Beijing China-Taiwan relations Chinese identity culture Growing Pains identity national identity nationalism On The World Stage Shanghai social identity Taiwan The New Citizen
“Nishi zhong guo ren ma?” (“Are you a Chinese person?”)

Several dozen people asked me this question during my five weeks in China after evaluating my black hair, yellow skin and almond eyes, which contrasted with my mainly Caucasian classmates.

I found it surprisingly hard to answer. On the one hand, it seems such a straightforward question; on the other hand, there’s no easy response.

Literally translated, the question means, “Are you Chinese?” On a more significant level, however, the words can infer political connotations.

“Zhongguo,” or “Middle Kingdom,” is an old traditional name for China. After the People’s Republic of China was established in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party used “zhong guo” to refer to the People’s Republic of China and the territories it associates with the PRC. (Official documents that reference a “Taiwanese” nationality, for instance, are not accepted in China.)

Therefore, the use of the phrase “zhong guo ren,” rather than the more politically neutral “hua ren”, which refers to ethnic Chinese origin, can call an individual’s nationalism into question. And at a time when relations between China, Taiwan and the United States are very delicate, adopting one cultural identity may deeply offend those who subscribe to another.

An old saying, “Know the future through the mirror of the past,” aptly sums up the Chinese mentality toward cultural identity. The Chinese traditionally identify themselves first by their ancestral province of origin, in official documentation as well as colloquial conversation. By this rule, my paternal grandfather makes me a “fujian ren” (a pereson hailing from Fujian province), even though my father was born in Taiwan and I was born in the States.

Great Wall, China

Taiwanese identity evolved in a slightly different direction. After the Democratic People’s Party came to power in Taiwan in 1989, the government in Taipei restructured the system so that origin referenced a person’s actual birth place, and not the traditional ancestral home. In this way, my grandparents would be Chinese, my parents would be Taiwanese and I would be American, thus decreasing the number of people China could claim its own.

These subtle yet significant cultural differences are difficult enough to explain in the abstract. In the context of my own identity as a Taiwanese-American ethnic Chinese visiting “the [grand]motherland” for the first time, I often had no idea what my best answer would be to the question: Are you Chinese?

Occasionally, I would answer by referencing my connection with Taiwan. Not only were my parents born and raised in Taiwan, I spent my teenage years there, so most of my exposure to Chinese culture took place at that time.

“You Taiwanese are the ones with the [authentic] culture!” said Chang Xumin, a taxi driver from Beijing, in a complimentary tone. He was referring to how traditional Chinese characters are still used in written language in Taiwan, in contrast to the simplified character system the CCP implemented after it took control of China in 1949.

Mike Li, our guide on a tour of the Forbidden City in Bejing, seemed to share Chang’s sentiment – with a very different attitude. “When Chiang Kai-shek left China with the Kuomintang in 1949, he took a lot of the artifacts from the Forbidden City and kept them in Taiwan,” Li said. His words and tone left no question that he felt Taiwan should return the items to what Li considered their rightful home.

Forbidden City, China

And one time, I inadvertently responded to The Question by saying, “I’m from Taiwan,” no qualifiers attached. The Beijing shopkeeper I was talking to immediately blew up. “So? What of it? Isn’t that the same thing?” he said loudly as everyone turned to look at me. “We’re all the same people.”

I thought about telling him that many people in Taiwan disagree, both politically and ethnically. However, I didn’t feel like that argument was mine to make since I am, after all, ethnically Chinese.

The younger generation Chinese, those nearer my age tended to respond more favorably to references to Taiwan. “I love Taiwan!” exclaimed Jarry Rin, a sophomore English-language major at the Xian Institute of Physical Education. “To visit there is my dream.”

The notion that American-born Chinese have a better life than those who stay in their country of origin is a fairly widespread one in China and Taiwan – and in some aspects it may be true in areas of international education or career opportunities.

“I wish my grandfather had left China [like yours],” said Xu Chao wistfully, a senior at the Zhejiang Institute of Technology in Hangzhou. “He was part of the KMT movement [defeated by the Communists in 1949], and after [the Communists] took control, life was very hard for my family. Perhaps if our family had gone to Taiwan, I might have had the chance to grow up in America as well.”

Wu Qiong, a translator for CET Academic Programs and a Beijing native, asked some of my classmates about me because she had a hard time understanding how I could be at once Chinese and American. “She wondered if you felt different from the rest of [us students],” said a classmate, Rebecca Davis. “She said, ‘I was surprised to see someone who looked Asian like me in your group.’”

The American melting-pot culture emphasizes identity as a fluid construct left to individual preference. With that definition in mind, I sometimes responded by saying that I was an “ABC” – slang for American-born Chinese.

Even now, at the end of my China tour, I’m still not sure how best to describe myself. Sometimes, I just smile and say, “Yes” for the sake of brevity.

And in a way, that answer is also true.

Huaihai

Xie Jia Qiao

Learn more about UT’s Maymester Programs.

Read other articles from this program at China on the Move

Beautiful pictures of Erfurt provide by a UT student participating on this summer’s SPICE Program, in conjunction with UT’s College of Communication.

Learn more about this affiliated studies program coordinated through the College of Communication.

Wow, this class is over. No more Prague. I cannot believe that these six weeks are already over. That is just unbelievable. Though it is not completely true. I will be in Prague on July 15th because I have to catch a plane, but no more Prague stories. No more documentary in Prague. No more Czech film history. No more fun times with Czech Buddies—well, not really Czech buddies, but with all of the kids that I have met on this program. Everyone here on this program is so nice and tons of fun to be around. I am not sure what will be next for all of us, but I hope that it is the very best.

I am so happy that I decided to do ‘Image and Sound in Prague’. I never thought that I would be living in Prague, and now I have. Living in Prague has been one of the best experiences I have ever had in my entire life. I learned a lot. I grew a lot. And one thing for sure that I have learned is if you are sick, slow down and relax—don’t keep going. The doctor told me that all I needed was rest and that the medicine would just aid the symptoms. Of course, I did not listen, I wanted to edit, and I wanted to experience Prague.

Anyway, there is a different person inside of me, having a more open view on the world and knowing so much more about culture and realizing that there is still so much in this world that I do not have a clue about. You think you know quite a bit and then you experience something new, and Prague was definitely that. This experience has inspired me to live life to its absolute fullest. I cannot let things get me down whether it is a death in the family, sickness, or whatnot—life goes on. Ob-la-dee. Ob-la-da.

Things I will miss about Prague (in no particular order):

- Dogs everywhere! I wish I lived here just so I could bring a dog to work with me.
- Veg Food and their schnitzel—well, pretty much everything that I have had there.
I wish there was a Veg Food back in Austin. I would probably go there every week and get one of the specials.
- Country Life’s tofu burgers.
- Pork with bacon covered in cheese. Find it at a restaurant at Hradčanská.
- Cool breezes.
- Listening to other languages being spoken other than English.
- Line drying my clothes. I think I will be doing that when I go back to the States.
- Listening to the bands playing outside of my window.
- Having my windows open all day.

Things I will not miss (in order):
- Warm milk. From having four glasses of milk everyday back in the States from zero was kind of difficult.
- Stinginess on ice cream.
- Sauerkraut with every single meal, which is pretty much the only vegetable you see.
- Not having air conditioning. I did not mind so much. It just really hit you when it was a really hot day.

Learn more about UT Faculty Led Programs.

Name: Megan H
Major: Advertising
Host City/Country: Auckland, New Zealand
Program Name: IES Auckland- Affiliated Program

Highlights
More than I can name! Meeting new people from around the world, traveling all around the south pacific, learning the in’s and out’s of a culture that I knew very little about (Maori), etc…

Experience Impacts
Study abroad definitely gave me a different perspective about the world, especially about what the U.S deems important versus what other countries deem important. I learned to be critical of things that I once would not have questioned but also to appreciate things that I previously had not. I studied marketing and politics while I was there. Both programs were excellent. Kiwis are very practical and matter-of-fact, but also extremely down-to-earth, so studying with them was a great experience!

“Don’t Miss” Recommendation
Eat lots of Kumura! It is absolutely amazing. Also, New Zealand is known for it’s outdoor activities, so go prepared to be an avid outdoorsmen. Try zorbing, glacier hiking, and learn to surf! Be sure to check out the Ispace events through the University of Auckland. They will introduce you to the city and help you meet fellow students.

Learn more about UT Affiliated Programs in New Zealand.

Glacier Hiking in Franz Joesph

Name: Ali S
Major: Political Communication Studies
Host city/country: Wellington, New Zealand
Program Name: University of Wellington- Exchange Program

Highlights
The city of Wellington is absolutely amazing; it’s a harbor city and right on the water. It has a big city vibe, but only has about 370,00 people (but is still the 2nd largest city in NZ). Kiwi’s as they are called, are the most generous and out right nice people I have ever met. Everything about the country was amazing. The landscape is phenomenal. It is straight out of Lord of the Rings, literally!

Experience Impacts
This experience was absolutely life changing. I learned so much about myself and what I want to do with my life. Traveling and experiencing different cultures is something that I now know I want to do with the rest of my life. Learning at not only a different university, but also a different country gave me a great perspective on learning. It forced me to think differently.

“Don’t Miss” Recommendation
Don’t miss TRAVELING! The South Island of NZ is absolutely beautiful. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Also, within Welligton, Top 10: 1. Te Papa Museum. 2. Wellington Botanic Gardens. 3. Cuba St. 4. Courtenany Place. 5. Mt. Victoria. 6. Harbor/waterfront. 7. Parliament. 8. Views from Kelburn Campus. 9. Kiwi’s (people & fruit). 10. The toned legs you get from walking up the most insane hills of your life!

Learn more about UT Exchange Programs in New Zealand.

Name: Brenton R.
Major: Corporate Communications
Host City/Country: Brisbane, Australia
Program Name: University of Queensland - Exchange Program

Highlights
- Spring Break trip to Uluru (Ayer’s Rock in the middle of the Outback), Cairns and Port Douglas to dive the Great Barrier Reef, and to Sydney to stay for 3 days on Bondi Beach in the city
- Buying and learning how to play a didgeridoo
- Meeting and hanging out with people from all over the world, including Australia and New Zealand
- Two week road trip in a camper van down the east coast from Brisbane to Nimbin, to Newcastle, to Blue Mountains, to Sydney, to Canberra, to Snowy Mountains, to the Coast of Victoria, to Wilson’s Promontory, to Melbourne with my good friends from Mexico and Amsterdam; meeting up with our German friends in Melbourne, then flying to Auckland, New Zealand to meet more friends and spend a week going around the North Island of New Zealand, to Paihia, Whangarei, Rotorua, Lake Taupu to bungee jump, and Wellington.
- Taking a trip to Fiji for a week
- My amazing group of friends

“Don’t Miss” Recommendation
Weekend trips to Byron Bay…do whatever possible to rent a car and take some trips down to the beaches, they are amazing and the atmosphere and clubs are even better; road trips in general.

Learn more about UT Exchange Programs in Australia.

http://jean-arlene.blogspot.com/

Learn more about the EUSA Internship Program.