Blogging from China- Rainbow World

It was really quite random.  I knew that I would be taking a Sabbatical in the Fall 2012 so when an email arrived in my box announcing the possibility of an educators’ tour to China sponsored by Emory University, I replied that I might be interested if it was going to take place after the Jewish holidays, we would not be flying on Shabbat…all the typical requests.  Over the course of six months, there was the occasional update…everything was tentative. I was beginning to think that it was going to fizzle.  Then came the announcement that everything was a “go” and I really could not think of a reason to back out.  My bucket list includes skydiving, jumping off the Stratosphere in Vegas, and learning Spanish; I had never even thought about China. 

Once committed, my doubts began to grow:  I would know nobody on the tour. How would I handle the hassles of being diabetic?  How would I manage the kosher aspect?   But I was in and there was no turning back.

My first introduction to the group was about a week before departure.  After meeting everyone, I realized that though this was billed as an educator’s trip, there were only three non-Emory University people that were going to China: me, the President of Holy Spirit, and his wife.  

Whatever the original intent might have been, I learned a lot from interacting with a unique group of individuals.   

·         Hong Li (actually it is really Li Hong- family names come first), our trip coordinator is a native of Beijing who currently serves as a Chinese language instructor at Emory.  When we took a rickshaw tour of old Beijing, we learned that every street has a common bath house- there is running water but no private lavatories.  (It was great for those of us with smaller bladders.)  This is where Hong grew up and where her mother stills lives.

·         Two of the our group members were black (Fun fact- both lived in Montana at the same time but did not cross paths) Ozzie works in the Provost’s Office and is responsible for diversity issues and Leilah, a Fulbright Scholar, administers to the needs of Emory University’s large foreign student population. 

·         One woman, who is gay and a native of Mississippi works with gender diversity; another woman is married to a Coptic Egyptian and works in university relations. 

·         The President of Holy Spirit, who I had only met once, is from England and his wife, who runs the independent study foreign languages department, is Italian. 

Our worlds intersected for that week and it was fascinating to hear the stories and viewpoints of people who came from diverse backgrounds.  The conversations were influenced by the immersion into Chinese culture.  When I mentioned how odd it seemed to see so many Caucasian models on Shanghai billboards, it led to a conversation regarding what is considered beautiful and what messaging did the advertisements make. Hong shared that there are Asian women who continue to have their eyelids altered. Many of the urban Chinese see the West as setting the standards for beauty.  Discussions ranged from religion to culture to values.   And sometimes, people just talked about their dogs (not my favorite discourse).

Stories unfolded in puzzle pieces…lots of commonalities and lots of differences.

For me personally, it was very different being the only Jewish participant.  I sat out the shopping in Shanghai because of Shabbat (but did skip a museum on Sunday to make sure I could support local Chinese businesses by purchasing brand name knock offs); was constantly having to ask questions about the food placed in front of me; and often found myself explaining Jewish ways.  The group was always respectful and supportive but there were times where I did feel my Jewishness in ways not typical to my daily routine.

I came away with a deeper appreciation of what America is all about and who I am.  We were black, white and Asian; gay and straight; old and young; Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant; born of British, Italian, Russian, Polish, Native American, Scottish, and African ancestries.  It was the quintessential melting pot.  When you view this against the backdrop of a nation made up of a 92% Han majority and where minorities tend to segregate themselves within their own provinces; you begin to understand the gift of diversity that our nation provides.  Crossing paths with so many different cultures and backgrounds leads to an appreciation of what others have to offer.  As our recent elections demonstrated, we are challenged to deal with divergent views while celebrating a common belief in the American dream.

What touched me most about China was my interactions with her people.  From the formal meetings with officials and university leaders discussing culture and opportunities; to the high school students worrying about college; and to university leaders concerned about parent expectations, natural resources and war;   I was constantly reminded of the fact that we are all a part of the Family of Man. 

I hope that there will come a day where we can all truly celebrate the richness that diversity brings and how much there is to learn from different cultures and peoples.