Cultural Bridge Experiences
|
Here is a section dedicated to empowering cultural
bridge people I have met through various professional context. Working
in a team with such cultural bridge people literally grabs
my spirit. Somehow it creates an environment where I become
keenly attentive, feel so connected and empowered with whom I am working,
become very open (at heart), and appreciative of everything that life
has to offer. It only happens every so often, so when it does, I want
to treasure them and remember them. Hopefully, doing so will allow me
to create this type of environment more proactively as opposed to waiting
for happenstance.
|
Istanbul
(2005)
-- Here is
a brief solo trip to Istanbul, where I spent the first two days
on my own, not knowing the language, people, or the city. When I
then reconnected with a former WMU student and a SIIC buddy in Istanbul,
they made me realize that I am not as independent as I'd like to
think I am. Traveling into an unfamiliar territory always has a
cleansing effect on me, making me humble and appreciate people's
generosity and kindness. Here is my attempt to become a famous Hollywood
director -- click on the pictures to see Istanbul
"The Movie" (you will need a free-downloadable
RealPlayer to play this movie).
|
|
Recruiting
in Japan (2004)
-- Ms.
Kawakami, a counselor from Gateway 21, and I worked extremely
well as a team and had some key advising sessions with students
who attended the StudyUSA 2004 Fair. Literally, we could see the
light bulb going up in students' mind (sometime flashing) in Osaka
and Nagoya, and I believe this was largely due to our passion for
student development and international experiences. Best of luck
to Kawakami-san... she will be a tremendous asset to the future
of international education in Japan.
|
| Summer
Institute for Intercultural Communication (2003)
-- This three-week
internship in helping to run an intercultural communication summer
workshops was again a powerful experience that opened up my senses
to variety of interactions with people from diverse cultural background.
Since it happens to many people who attend SIIC, it makes me believe
that this type of powerful environment can be facilitated, and that
it is not all dependent on happenstance. Here are photos. |
| NAFSA Conference
in San Diego (2000) --
A group of 4 Japanese students (myself
included) met in San Diego. This was the first time that these four
people have come together as a group. Mission: we were to prepare
and present a session in five days. Here are photos. |
|
