Chloe King, pictured scuba diving

Summer 2018 Language Fellow – Adventures in Indonesia with Chloe King

 

Chloe King scuba divingChloe King B.A. International Affairs 2019
Sigur Center 2018 Asian Language Fellow
School for International Training Indonesia, COTI Summer Studies Program, Indonesia

Chloe King is a rising senior in the Elliot School, majoring in international affairs with minors in sustainability and geographic information systems. She spent seven months in Indonesia in 2017 as a Boren Scholar, researching NGO conservation initiatives in marine ecotourism destinations around the country. A PADI Divemaster, her passion for protecting the ocean keeps pulling her back to Indonesia and some of the most diverse—and threatened—marine ecosystems in the world. 

Satellite View of Japan from space

9/13/18: Japan’s Foreign Policy during an Era of Global Turbulence: Perspectives of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan

Mr. Yukio Edano’s Remarks (in Japanese)

Mr. Yukio Edano’s Remarks (in English)

Thursday, September 13, 2018
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM
State Room – 7th Floor
1957 E St. NW
Washington DC 20052

Since its sudden and energetic entrance in Japanese politics beginning with the October 2017 snap election in Japan’s House of Representatives, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) has become the largest opposition party in Japan. CDP leader Yukio Edano – former Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan among other official positions – formed the party along the principles of progressive economics, civil rights, and pacifism, especially opposition to proposals to revise Article 9 of Japan’s postwar Constitution. As the CDP continues to make an impact in contemporary Japanese politics, what are the implications of its foreign policy perspectives for Japan, the region, and the world?

 

About the Speaker:

Headshot of Yukio Edano in white shirt

Mr. Yukio Edano is currently Leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP), the largest opposition political party in Japan. He has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1993. Mr. Edano has served in numerous cabinet-level positions in the Japanese government: Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (2011-2012), Minister for Nuclear Incident Economic Countermeasures (2011-2012), Chief Cabinet Secretary (2011), Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs (2011), and Minister of State for Government Revitalization (2010-2011). Other positions held include Secretary-General of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ, later the Democratic Party, DP) (2010), Chairman of the Party’s Research Commission on the Constitution (2004 & 2013), Chair of the Party’s Research Commission on the Constitution (2010), and Head of Working Groups for Review of Government Programs, Government Revitalization Unit (2009). He graduated from the School of Law of Tohoku University, and registered as an Attorney in 1991.

Mike Mochizuki, pictured in professional attire

Moderator: Professor Mike Mochizuki holds the Japan-U.S. Relations Chair in Memory of Gaston Sigur at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. Dr. Mochizuki was director of the Sigur Center for Asian Studies from 2001 to 2005. He co-directs the “Memory and Reconciliation in the Asia-Pacific” research and policy project of the Sigur Center. Previously, he was a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He was also Co-Director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Policy at RAND and has taught at the University of Southern California and Yale University.

International Chinese Language Program Chinese logo; text: 国际华语研习所

Summer 2018 Language Fellow – Alex Bierman’s Final Presentation

I am incredibly grateful for this summer in Taipei where my Chinese improved dramatically. For anyone looking to study abroad to study Chinese, I cannot recommend ICLP enough. The focus on listening and speaking, along with class sizes of no more than four students, forces you to truly focus on improving every aspect of your Chinese language skills.

For my final blog post, I included my final presentation for my program. For those who would like to listen, I have included the script below to follow along. Please excuse my nervousness and mistakes!

中國侵略台灣的威脅究竟到了什麼程度呢?根據目前的局勢,我的觀點是,現在中國侵略台灣的威脅實在不大。因為時間不夠的關係,以及有歷史以來,台灣的前途一直為外國局勢所影響,再說蔡英文好像不願意公開宣布台灣獨立。因此我會跳過有關目前台灣政局的說明,直接談一談美中政府對兩岸局勢的影響。最後,再做個總結。
關於現在美國的政治情形,川普總統在政治上,給美國帶來了根本的改變。這十五年來美國對亞洲的政策一向很謹慎,現在卻不是。不過,這並不代表川普的策略完全沒有益處。其實他拉近了美台的關係,比如最近美國宣布了一些支持台灣的政策。此外,川普的意見常說變就變,使得全球各國的政府都小心翼翼。連在中美貿易戰爭下,台灣也沒受到實際的威脅。由此可見,不論川普小小的言行如何支持台灣,中國似乎都不會認真地考慮侵略台灣。至於可以持續多久,恐怕就無法知道了。
雖然中國向來主張兩岸統一,然而一直以來都缺乏軍事能力。跟過去1995年到1996年【台海危機】那個時代的中國政府比起來,現在的卻十分不同。在那個時期,中國主席—江澤民沒有他的前任那麼有威嚴。於是,在政治上,他面臨了一些障礙,比如政治派系的問題。由於當時台灣總統李登輝訪美,因此從其他政治局人員來的壓力都落在江澤民的頭上,並且勸他以強硬的態度向美台政府表態。時過境遷後,從2012年起,習近平所領導的政府則很穩定。無論貪污或者政黨之間的鬥爭,都大致被習近平消滅了。同時恢復了人民對共產黨的信心。既然中國人民那麼崇拜習近平,他就不必急於侵略台灣了。假如發動侵略,結果失敗了或沒有完全成功,那麼共產黨的合法性就會消失。
不過,在習近平主席的心目中,無論如何,有一天兩岸必須統一。由於目前的現狀絕不是永存的,因此台灣一刻也不能鬆懈,以免猝不及防。總而言之,我的結論是,台灣最好保持自己的軍勢,要不然得付出失去民主自由的代價。

headshot of Alex Bierman with brick backgroundAlex Bierman, M.A. Security Policy Studies 2019
Sigur Center 2018 Asian Language Fellow
National Taiwan University, Taiwan

Alex Bierman is a M.A. candidate in Security Policy Studies focusing on East Asian security and cyber security. His interests include U.S. policy towards East Asia, Cross-Strait policy, and Chinese politics.

group photo of friends at dinner in Taiwan

Summer 2018 Language Fellow – Last Weeks at ACC

Hi everyone! For my last blog post, I made a short vlog of my last weeks in Beijing. My friends and I performed at a talent show, ate hotpot, went to Beijing’s famous Beihai Park, and visited the Lama Temple, among other things.

 

 

picture of Katherine Alesio with crowds in the backgroundKatherine Alesio

B.S. Civil Engineering, B.A. Chinese Language and Literature 2020

Sigur Center 2018 Asian Language Study in Asia Grant Recipient

Minzu University of China – Associated Colleges in China Program

Taipei skyline at dusk

Summer 2018 Language Fellow – Time & Memories

My Final Vlog of the Summer.

While these were my personal experiences, they don’t even begin to contain all that this beautiful country has to offer. I suggest you go see it for yourself!

 

 

Zeynep Hale Teke selfie while outdoorsZeynep Hale Teke, B.A. Applied Mathematics 2019
Sigur Center 2018 Asian Language Fellow
Taiwan Mandarin Institute, Taiwan

Hale is a rising senior studying Applied Mathematics in the College of Arts & Sciences department at GW. She fell in love with Mandarin and Chinese culture (especially the bits involving food) after her first Chinese class freshman year and does not plan to stop studying it until mastery. Her eyes not only opened to the infinite wonders, sounds, and beauties of Taiwan, but also how deep the Mandarin language really is.

corner of a building in Tainan, Taiwan at night with street lights illuminating the streets

Summer 2018 Language Fellow – Tainan

For my last weekend, I took a trip to Tainan, Taiwan’s original capital. The city is most famous for its alleys chock full of little snack shops, the food, the first Confucius Temple in Taiwan, and the Dutch forts scattered around the city and surrounding area. Unfortunately, when I was there, Tainan was experiencing the effects of a nearby 颱風 (typhoon) and it rained almost 14 inches in the two days I was there. This is apparently the average rain fall of July and August combined. so, advice for anyone hoping to go to Tainan…. Wait until the summer is over.

 

Picture of Lexi Wong in pink shirtLexi Wong M.A. International Affairs 2019
Sigur Center 2018 Asian Language Fellow
National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei

Lexi Wong is a Sigur Center 2018 Asian Language Fellow studying Mandarin in Taipei, Taiwan at National Taiwan Normal University’s Mandarin Training Center. Lexi is currently a first-year graduate student at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs where she is studying International Affairs with a regional concentration on Asia. 

hand holding a glass of beer with purple light in the background

Summer 2018 Language Fellow – Qingdao: Ganbei with the World

Hi everyone! Last weekend some classmates and I made the trip to Qingdao, a relatively famous city in Shandong Prefecture known as the home of Tsingtao Beer, to experience the city’s annual beer festival and get a taste of life in Qingdao. I’ve made a short travel video covering our experiences, hope you enjoy!

 

 

headshot of Katherine Alesio

Katherine Alesio
B.S. Civil Engineering, B.A. Chinese Language and Literature 2020
Sigur Center 2018 Asian Language Study in Asia Grant Recipient
Minzu University of China – Associated Colleges in China Program

Taiwanese city view at night from a stadium

Summer 2018 Language Fellow – TMI & Baseball in Taiwan

Hello again. This is my first vlog!

 

 

Zeynep Hale Teke selfie while outdoorsZeynep Hale Teke, B.A. Applied Mathematics 2019
Sigur Center 2018 Asian Language Fellow
Taiwan Mandarin Institute, Taiwan

Hale is a rising senior studying Applied Mathematics in the College of Arts & Sciences department at GW. She fell in love with Mandarin and Chinese culture (especially the bits involving food) after her first Chinese class freshman year and does not plan to stop studying it until mastery. Her eyes not only opened to the infinite wonders, sounds, and beauties of Taiwan, but also how deep the Mandarin language really is.

street in Taiwan at night with neon light signs

Summer 2018 Language Fellow – The Freshness of it All

gate at the National Palace Museum in China
National Palace Museum

a temple in China at night

an art district in China featuring mopeds
Art District featuring famous Mopeds
Mao Kong village in China seen from a cable car
MaoKong Village from the cable car!

Sometimes I ask myself: What did I gain the most, so far, from my time here?

I could, of course, take a shortcut and give myself the obvious answer. I could say that my Mandarin language ability improved tremendously. That I learn about 200 to 250 words a week. That I can understand roughly 75% 0f what the locals were talking about on a bad day. That I no longer feel the horrible, incessant nauseated feeling in my stomach whenever I have to speak with someone who I can’t speak with in English. That, at some point, I wasn’t just talking AT people or vice versa, but actually having a conversation. However, this would not even be breaking the cusp of all that I learned in Taipei.

If you learn something from every piece of dialogue, interaction, or experience, then my time here has been an unending flood of information.

I assimilated to the food etiquette and committed to memory the names of dishes, crazy snacks, and beverages. Embedded into my mind is the sunset at Tamsui River and the Lovers’ Bridge.  I was taught how to drive a motorcycle/moped cross-country without a care in the world. I was schooled on how to bargain and had to (literally) pay to get to that level. Most importantly, though, I learned to listen.

I listened to the long historical and nostalgic recounts of the elderly or the street vendor owners. I listened to the sound of the wind, easily foreboding a flood or storm. I listened to the sound of high school girls giggling on my metro rides. I listened for the swipes of the paintbrushes or the drums in the artsy districts.

I listened for love, vitality, humor. I listened for life. And I heard.

This may be a romanticized and possibly vague way of expressing myself, but I truly want to impress in you that each soft whisper, scream, or mumble you come across will be unique to your own perceptions, your own colorings of the world around you.

Each of the small, even boring events of day to day life just tickled my fancy. I know for certain that I will miss the smell of the rain in the trees of Yangmingshan National Park. I will miss the bubble tea I buy every day from the same auntie and her daughter down the street. I will even miss my 9AM classes, where my teachers would break out into grins after seeing me arrive panting.

I think… I have gained a happiness that is exclusive to my time on this tiny island and that will remain a part of my youthful memories. AH – so fresh.

 

 

Zeynep Hale Teke selfie while outdoorsZeynep Hale Teke, B.A. Applied Mathematics 2019
Sigur Center 2018 Asian Language Fellow
Taiwan Mandarin Institute, Taiwan

Hale is a rising senior studying Applied Mathematics in the College of Arts & Sciences department at GW. She fell in love with Mandarin and Chinese culture (especially the bits involving food) after her first Chinese class freshman year and does not plan to stop studying it until mastery. Her eyes not only opened to the infinite wonders, sounds, and beauties of Taiwan, but also how deep the Mandarin language really is.

cat and book with Chinese scripts on a desk

Summer 2018 Language Fellow – How to Live Like an MTC Student

Though it hasn’t been long since I last posted, my time in Taipei is quickly drawing to a close. Soon I will return to the arduous life of a graduate student. Time passes surprisingly quickly when you are bent over your textbook, trying to discern the delicate strokes of each 繁體字 (traditional character). There’s no shortage of things to do in Taipei and the surrounding area but on a weekday I usually end up doing this:

5:45 a.m. I wake up every day at this time despite my repeated attempts to sleep in until 6:30.

6:45 a.m. I walk under as much as shade as possible to the Being Fit x 7-11 Gym on Songjiang Nanjing Road. Though it’s pretty cool at this time of day (84 degrees qualifies as cool at this point in the summer), the sun is brutal. Luckily, the gym is air conditioned and according to the TV screen at the entrance, has extra clean air. I’m wondering when American 7-11’s will open gyms and if they could ever be popular.

8:00 a.m. I like to eat some surprisingly fresh fruit in the 7-11 (coming to store near you in America?) then walk over to the local breakfast place. Though many Taiwanese breakfast places are now offering Western style breakfast in the manner of peanut butter toast, sandwiches, or eggs and bacon, traditional Taiwanese breakfast for me is what is called a 蔥蛋 (Onion Egg). Sometimes, this delicious egg wrapped in a mysterious Taiwanese tortilla. Another choice for breakfast is 蔥抓餅 (green onion pancake) that I can grab on my way to class.

10:20 a.m.-1:10 p.m. For three hours, my 9 classmates and I work with our teacher, 吳老師 (Ms. Wu) to improve our Chinese. This usually includes forming sentences with new vocabulary, reading, and learning new grammar.

2:20 p.m.-4:10 p.m. For lunch I like to go to the cafe right next to MTC’s building or a vegetarian 自助餐廳 (self-serve canteen). After lunch, I usually return to the library and study some more.

4:20 p.m.-5:10 p.m. Since my class is after this, I have a number of options to learn Chinese. I can go to the library and study amongst my peers (which include students from countries all over the world, professionals, monks, nuns, retired folks, and people from any occupation you can imagine).

If I don’t have anything in particular to study, I can head to one of the required classes. There’s a number of options available, from Chinese in the Media (last class we discussed a famous Youtuber’s visit to the hidden 小吃店 (snack shops) of 淡水), Chinese Cuisine and Dining ( last class, we discussed 東坡肉 -a cut of pork marinated with a strong history behind it), to Taiwanese for Beginners. Participating in these classes usually involves answering questions or roleplaying.

Sometimes, MTC has a showing of a famous Taiwanese TV show called 光陰的故事 (Time Story). This series spans several generations of five families in a small village. Expect high drama with occasional public service announcements (the last one encouraged people to donate blood). Otherwise, I stay in the library or head out to a cafe (a cafe that preferably has a resident cat) for tea where I can study or read (see picture for my reading list).

Roald Dahl book translated into Chinese
I like to pretend I look super smart when reading 瑪蒂達 but this book is at a 10-year-old reading level in Chinese as well.

 

 

Finally, after watching Time Story, I head back to my humble apartment at then to another self-serve vegetarian buffet.

Picture of Lexi Wong in pink shirtLexi Wong M.A. International Affairs 2019
Sigur Center 2018 Asian Language Fellow
National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei

Lexi Wong is a Sigur Center 2018 Asian Language Fellow studying Mandarin in Taipei, Taiwan at National Taiwan Normal University’s Mandarin Training Center. Lexi is currently a first-year graduate student at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs where she is studying International Affairs with a regional concentration on Asia.