The travels of Justin

Last month I was answering questions about TRU and Canadian universities to Chinese parents. I’m sure China isn’t the only country that seems obsessed with ranking, but it’s a country where I have experience to talk about.

Constantly my friends and people I meet are asking me about what is the “best” university in Canada. They don’t want to know what school I think is the best, but what is ranked the highest? In a country where government decree tells you which one is the most prestigious school, I can forgive my friends with being frustrated when considering a Canadian school. No one seems to believe me that we do not have an official ranking system. “You must not know about it,” said one Chinese girl to me while her mother smiled from her side at the Beijing education expo. Canada’s most famous measure of quality and fame comes from Macleans magazine, but if that’s your only measure of education quality you’re going to have some surprises after graduation; besides, Mcleans ranks based on a variety of criteria, but that criteria is subject to critisim and — even if you do accept it at face value — it still doesn’t end with a clear numerical ranking.

For example, if one wants to compare economics PhD programs you might spend several hours digesting a site like econPhD.net which has rankings specific to “10 subdisciplines and 36 minor fields…” What this clearly demonstrates is that someone wanting to study Economic History & Thought will rank schools very differently than someone studying Financial Economics. Whether you want a career in research — and thus put a lot of weight on whether graduates from a school are often published in academic journals &mash; or you want a career that applies economics in business decision making or entrepreneural activities, you will need to rank schools based on very different criteria.

One of the things I particularly like about TRU is that it is a fantastic place for enterprising students in any field of study. TRU is a new and fast growing university. There’s no debate club, the school newspaper is irrelevant, every department has great ideas that want to materialize, and all of these present opportunities to students who want to invent, create, and provide leadership and direction to an institution in its relative infancy. A school that is growing sometimes has more opportunities with less competition than school that are entrenched. If you dream of being a newspaper editor, you can get that hands-on experience at TRU where it might be more difficult at another school. I was once that at UBC it can be almost impossible to fight through the fierce competition to participate in a study-abroad program like the one I’m a part of; even if you’re a top-student at other schools, only a limited number can go and you might not have that chance. I know that TRU is creating opportunities for students who have dreams and need help to realize them. Both types of schools have their benefits, and TRU isn’t perfect for everyone, but depending on a Mcleans-type ranking system will leave you blind to opportunities.

When asked about the TRU business program I tell people about many stories I’ve heard about ACE*TRU, the very active and successful business club has been operating professional businesses, hosting leadership and career training to students of all diciplines, and winning awards of the highest distinctions (my two-cents: someone should put those awards on that new website of theirs). If ACE*TRU can beat most famous business schools in Canada in national competitions judged by CEO’s of the nations largest corporations, it’s fair to say that if the TRU business program isn’t famous now, it’s just a matter of time; in the meantime, it’s competing at the national level which at least reflects a quality program.

While I can look upon my university with pride, I know that universities are subject to market conditions and have areas of specialty. Unlike China, graduating from a famous school will not ensure you a job, and even this is changing; in fact, Canadian business people recognize that Canadian schools each have different strengths. Macleans can aid potential students—as it is intended—but provides too limited a view of the Canadian education market to base life decisions on a ranking alone. There are perks at famous schools, but at the end of the the day it will be your individual accomplishments, your academic record, your resourcefulness, and your ability to get a job done that will ensure success in the post-graduation job market.

I’m helping out at an education expo in Beijing this weekend. I couldn’t believe that I was greeted outside the expo centre by scalpers selling tickets. “我有” (I have), is my reply, but one guy keep trying assuming that I am brushing him off instinctually. Once he realizes that I’m actually speaking Chinese with a strong accent, a TRU rep brings me my entrance badge and the scalpers are left to find their next target.

This expo brings together many schools from around the world so that parents can easily get information about each university. I think I’ve learned a lot in the past year about how difficult it can be for Chinese families to painlessly get answers about foreign schools. I remember how complicated the university system seemed to me when I was trying to enroll after working in industry for 8-years, but 15-minutes of talking with an Academic Advisor (thanks Peter!) gave me clarity and understanding. It may be some comfort to my friends to know that the systems can also seem a little strange to native English-speaking people too.

These families also face differences in how the academic system functions from country to country. For example, Chinese schools (and individual departments) are ranked numerically by the government so it’s easy to know what school is officially the best or most famous across the country or region. It’s very different in Canada where two schools can each excel in a particular aspect such as where I’ve heard some PhD programs are excellent if you want to be a published researcher while the same PhD program could be a bad choice if you prefer to work in industry.

To my Chinese friends out there (and even my Canadian ones) who are thinking about studying abroad, don’t let all the regulations and details frustrate you. When the websites and brochures aren’t making sense to you, just pick up the phone and call the school. For my Chinese friends who have a difficult time with speaking on the phone, I know many schools (including TRU) have Chinese speaking people who can make your life easier. JIA YOU!

I left Dalian a few days ago to meet a train traveling from Beijing to Nanchang. I learned that — for reasons beyond my understanding — it is impossible to buy a train ticket for a Beijing train from anywhere outside the capital. A friend who happend to be visiting Beijing purchased the ticket for me, but made a mistake when telling me what time it departed the Beijing train station; thus, at 4 PM on the 14^th I learned that my 6 PM train had actually left at 2 PM. Luckily for me, some friends have opened their house so I can avoid hotel costs so I’m not totally stranded. In a stroke of good timing, Thompson Rivers University has asked me to represent the school at an education expo in Beijing this weekend where I’ll tell people about my experience and help answer questions about our fantastic university. On the 24^th I’ll finally catch a train to Nanchang to renew my visa, find an apartment, and make myself at home for the coming year.

Even though I’ve now been living in China for almost a whole year, my Chinese language skills are painfully limited, because I’ve been studying business classes taught in English instead of learning Mandarin. A year in Nanchang to study Chinese language will bring many challenges and opportunities, but there is a question that I always have to answer: why Nanchang?

I can understand why foreigners might ask me this question when cities like Shanghai and Beijing are famous names even to someone who might not be able to find China on a map; however, Nanchang provokes a surprising reaction from my Chinese friends. Several people have offered me jobs to stay in Tianjin so I don’t learn the “bad pronounciation” in southern China. Other people fear that because the province is the poorest &mash; or at least it’s one of the poorest — in China, I will be terribly uncomfortable and cannot possibly enjoy living there. To these nay sayers I say this: maybe you are right.

However, the partnership between TRU and Nanchang University is brand new so I will be the first representative student from TRU to test it, just as I was the first to participate in the joint program at the Tianjin University of Technolgy (天津理工大学). I guess you could say that, for me, it’s exciting to blaze a new trail for future exchange students to learn about our different cultures so we can understand each other and find common ground.

I too was worried about the strong accent of a southern province affecting my future in China and I spoke to an American friend, Michael, that I met in Tianjin. Michael completed his MBA in Tianjin on an exchange program and now lives in Guangzhou with his wife. They told me about a friend who has studied Mandarin in places far from the capital. We all agree that understanding the official standard pronounciation is vital to communicating across this vast country; however, despite being based on the Beijing accent, every region has their own way of modifying the sound — Beijing included. To communicate effectively in any part of China, one has to learn the official language and the regional changes. I have friends in Tianjin who have been to Nanchang and say they couldn’t understand anyone, so this problem will obviously confront me regardless where I study. I only hope I can learn the standard accent in the classroom, and local accent on the street and one day have the linguistic skills to talk with my friends no matter what part of this very interesting country they hail from.

When it comes to being uncomfortable and living without the amenities from home I would say that it’s true that some foreigners can’t seem to survive without a 5-star hotel. I don’t care — I came here to learn about the real China. One cannot understand the whole of China by experiencing a single city, so I consider this a great opportunity to know a very different part of the country that sounds a bit neglected by everyone except the writers at Newsweek International.

In fact, some of the photos I’ve seen of Nanchang show that it’s a beautiful city with a lot to discover, which makes me surprised when I’m confronted with people telling me to go somewhere else.

So who knows what is in store for me this year. Whatever happens, it’s certain shaping up to be another exciting year.

I spent my weekend in 北京 (Beijing) and, as always, I return home exhausted from so much walking around with a giant rucksack. I visited Beihei Park, Lotus Lane, some hutongs, the Temple of Heaven before returning home this afternoon. I guess it’s a good time to share some big news, but not without first subjecting you to a gratuitous tourist photo:

Near the Temple of Heaven

I’ve made a decision to spend another year living and studying in China. Instead of returning to Canada this summer, I will not be leaving China until the summer of 2007. TRU has established a new partnership with another school in China and I have been accepted.

My current exchange program is a direct extension of the TRU business program and is a joint-partnership with TUT in Tianjin; however, this new partnership is only for studying Mandarin Chinese at Nanchang University in the south-east province of Jiangxi. This will mean it will take me an extra year before I can obtain my BBA degree, but it contributes to the fulfillment of another long-term goal of learning a new language. If you enjoy my travel stories, then expect them to keep coming. Every part of China has its own unique properties and I’m sure I’ll have a lot more photos and tales to share. If you do not enjoy my ramblings then I’m at a total loss why you’d subject yourself to reading this message in the first place.

In the spirit of deeper focus on China, I’ve updated my blogroll — the list of links in the right-hand column. I think the new categories should make it a bit easier to go exploring some other things. New categories about Asia and China have been added in order to share some of the online resources I have discovered dealing with business, law, economics, and politics, such as the very excellent China Law Blog. My list is just starting to grow and suggestions are welcome.

If you can Chinese characters, you probably read the title to this message and thus already know I (我) will be going (去) to Jiangxi (江西) on the 7^th (七) month (月) of the year (年) 2006 (二〇〇六). This seems to be my favourite sentence form at the moment, so I’m using it as often as I can so it becomes more natural. Every time I want to express myself there is a pause to think about the words I will use, translate them into my very limited Chinese vocabulary, rearrange the words to be grammatically correct, and finally make my best attempt at pronouncing the words fluently and correctly. Sometimes when I rush the process I blurt out some nonsensical things that must sounds pretty funny to a native Chinese speaker. Many of my friends are always so embarrassed when they make a mistake with English, but the ability to make those mistakes represents a lot of work and progress. If I can make so many mistakes with the few words I currently know, I can only imagine what weird things I will unintentionally say as I learn more; I can only look forward to having the privilege. Now I have an extra year to find out!

The temperature dropped below zero celcius today and Ryan and I agreed that in some small way it was beginning to feel a bit like home. Maybe in Canada we’ll see people get their knickers in a knot when the stereotype of Canadians as able to handle sub-zero temperature, but we’re actually reinforcing them. People have been bundled up in heavy coats, or wearing thermal-underwear, for months now, but we can still be found wearing sweatshirts sans jacket. Our classmates heading to Canada on an exchange similar to ours must be starting to be a bit worried about the cold. If 20-degrees C is jacket weather, I can’t imagine what they’ll make of 30-below—and Kamloops is actually a pleasant and beautiful place in the winter.

This morning we had snow on the school grounds, although it must have melted by 9 AM or something. In this photo, my friend captured the dusting from her window in the foreign students dormatory.

Jill took me to check out the new E-Mart that opened a short-distance away at the curiously named “Magnetic center”. E-Mart is a big Korean-owned supermarket chain where I found a Mr. Pizza which, as you can see by this photo is “For Woman”.

When you walk into the Mr. Pizza restaurant — remember, pizza for many Chinese expensive upscale dining — the entire serving staff, wherever in the restaurant they are, bow and greet you in unison. It’s a lovely place and it’s likely where I’ll go for my next pizza craving as the pizza is much less oily than Pizza Hut.

I really need a new pair of jeans and it’s seriously difficult to find anyone who carries my size. By Chinese standards my shirts are triple-X large and it took weeks to find shoes big enough. When I tell someone the size of jeans required they’ll tell me they have none once they’ve finished laughing at me for even asking for such a thing. I’ve been told Beijing has some markets catering to foreigners where I might have better luck but without a 2-day weekend it’s awkward to make a day-trip. Thankfully I did discover they have a great selection of Korean movies which almost always have English subtitles. I’m told their horror movies can be quite gory and it’s not hard to believe judging from the covers. Many country-people were hanging out watching the demo movies and were just jaw-dropped watching me buy stuff. It was pretty clear most of these fellows had never seen a Westerner before by the way they pushed around me to see what I was buying and the shock that I’d pay with my — gasp! — Chinese bank card. After the show, I loaded up on groceries especially some foods that remind me of home. In a moment of great weakness, I bought a Christmas tree and some decorations. Although I’ll substitute milk for cream, and leave out vanilla extract in my coming batch of egg nog, it’s still going to be fun to see how it turns out. It’s almost as exciting as the pancake mix, maple syrup (in Maple Leaf bottle, no less), and breakfast sausage I found today.

All the thought of foods from home that we miss culminated in the final breakdown: Ryan and I rode 20 minutes in the strong cold winds to find a French cabernet sauvignon, sharp white cheddar, a baguette, and more for a fantastic impromptu party. I still love Chinese food, but some wine and cheese go a long way too. The only particularly eventful thing during our bike ride was being cut-off by a taxi whose rear driver-side door was fully open while driving down the road; perhaps he decided he should close it to stop the draft. I snapped a picture with my cell phone, but I’m unable to retrieve it at the moment.

Welcome fellow TRU students and faculty who’ve found my site through TRU World’s “What’s New” page. Feel free to poke around, comment and ask questions, and enjoy some photos from other parts of the globe. If you ever get bored of reading election coverage, visit anytime and I’ll do my best to bore you with something different. Certainly there’s nothing boring about being in China. Even though we have nothing “scheduled” outside of our classes, every day is full. And apparently, clips of me in the audience of the English competition are still being aired every Wednesday and Sunday night, so I’m often being told, “I just saw you on TV.”

Today was another typical day: Woke up. Had a bizzare experience at the Bank of China (very helpful people though, at my branch). Went to my Mandarin language class where our teacher patiently tried to explain advanced dimensional concepts of “left” and “right”, or “up” and “down” (next I know someone will start claiming there’s a 4^th dimension, geesh!). Tried not to giggle at all the “flair” worn by our servers at the Tianjin TGI Friday’s while enjoying a meal ordered from a menu we can read. Walking back to our dorm, we hummed Christmas carols thinking of our Canadian friends and family. They are likely being forced to endure never-ending Christmas music at malls and stores. If I catch a local markets at peak time, I can close my eyes, imagine the irritating artificial store lighting, and push my way through the crowd while imagining it’s Boxing Day and everyone can buy new jeans for CAD$15 or less. Mind your pockets!

I think the only food I occassionally miss is my grandma’s delicious pumpkin pie, but somehow the flavour wouldn’t be the same without the company of family. I’m determinded to find a way to make egg nog though, to (probably) offend my classmates tastebuds and toast to the good health and prosperity of my friends—wherever on this great globe they may be.

Time for sleep. 再见 for now!

Just after mentioning I’ll be on hosting a live TV show, I’m replaced by someone from a rival university. Actually, I think the station director found someone else before he received my confirmation. I was really looking forward to representing my universities; although, there’s no denying that I’m also glad to have more time for school.

Ryan and I biked over to one of many internet cafe’s tonight. I was looking forward to uploading the rest of my Xi’an and other photos, but like many of the internet cafe’s here, the computers do not have USB access. It’s a pain sometimes. We really are lucky at TRU in Kamloops to have access to big computer labs with unrestricted access and free printing. So now, you can enjoy or ignore the photos of Xi’an I uploaded last night and I’ll finish the rest later this week when my homework is done and I’ve memorized a few more characters.

Today we were treated to a lunch feast by three classmates who’ve become good friends. The food was from a province I can pronounce, but can’t spell, and was freakin’ fantastic! We’re both convinced food will be a little bland in comparison when we get back to Canada, although we could easily have a big peppered steak one of these days. After lunch, we played billiards for an hour which cost us a whopping RMB$9 (just over a buck). From there, we whipped over to class (yes, even on Sunday), took our notes, and then went for a cheap dinner at the school canteen. If it wasn’t for our Sunday class, we would have had time to go halloween costume shopping, but ces’t la vie!

It’s 2 AM and I should be in bed. I have two more sleep’s until I fly to Beijing. I’ve just had a great time visiting with so many great people. Even the pronounciation of my Chinese name has been corrected by someone in line at the consulate; it may be good to be able to pronounce my own name before I try anyone elses.

Our visa’s are processed. Wednesday at 1 PM, it’s off we go for a great adventure and a fantastic learning experience.

I just got word on the street that Kamloops will be getting another radio station. Great music isn’t exactly what I’d put at the top of my list of reasons to go to Kamloops, but it’s a great little city regardless. There are a surprising number of concerts by big- and small-time acts that take place around there, and the support for arts and culture is very strong. The CRTC ruling will be big news around town, I would imagine.

In 5 short hours I’ll be catching a bus to Kamloops to take care of some arrangements for my China trip. Especially when I’m walking, I even find our 18-degree celsius temperatures warm enough. Environment Canada says to expect highs of 30-degrees back in Kamloops!

As I take another look to Tianjin, China, it’s currently 26-degrees at 5 PM. Over the last few weeks I’ve noticed the ocassional thunderstorm appear on my weather icon in the homepage right-column. I’m surprised at how similar in temperature Tianjin appears to be, although Kamloops is very dry in comparison.

Just by looking at this climate information page for Tianjin the 30’s are as hot as it usually gets, while Kamloops usually tops at 38. At their heights, Tianjin can get as much as 175 mm of rain in July, while Kamloops gets a peak of 30 mm in August.

My friend from Hong Kong was right in suggesting I pack lots of shorts and t-shirts to Tianjin. I never doubted her, but it’ll be another thing to experience it for myself.