First Lushan International Language and Culture Institute - July 2011
_ By Tracy Mehoke, Northwest China Council, Portland Oregon, USA
The Lushan International Language and Culture Institute was a joint partnership between the Kuling American School Association (KASA), headed by Mr. Steve Harnsberger, the Lushan government (especially the efforts of Mr. Zheng and Ms. Zhu Dong'e ‘Heidi), and Nanjing University (coordinated by Mr. Zhang Bin, PhD and Dr. Cheng, the Dean). It was created in the spirit of building international friendship and with acknowledgment of the special place that Lushan (庐山) has in China's international history. The Lushan Institute operated for three successive summers and following the transition to new leadership on the Mountain, ceased operation in 2014.
Tracy's Blog
In July 2001, I was one of first pilot students in the first annual Lushan International Language and Culture Institute summer program. This session of the Lushan Institute ran from July 3rd until July 29th, 2011 and offered a variety of Chinese language and culture courses and activities. The program was initiated by the Kuling American School Association as a way of honoring the historical friendship between the Chinese and the American missionary families who lived on the mountain, but the goal of the program in building international friendship and understanding is not limited to any particular nationality. Of the students in the first Lushan Institute, most arrived from the United States, 2 from South Africa, 1 from Switzerland, and 1 from Australia. Two of the more 'experienced' men (now living in the United States) had spent their childhoods in China and were returning to re-capture a piece of their memories. One had even been carried up the 'Thousand Steps' stairway in sedan chairs leading up the mountain as a child, and was determined to return and walk the steps himself (he succeeded). Two of the American students were great-grandchildren of Roy Allgood, an important headmaster of the Kuling American School who had been a hero during the Japanese invasion when he worked to save the Botanical Garden from destruction. Mr. Allgood is the father of Elsa Porter, a leader of KASA who spent her childhood at Lushan and is one of key figures in seeing the relationship of Westerners from the past be rekindled in present times.
The program schedule included Chinese language classes taught by professors from Nanjing University in the mornings, Chinese culture classes including Calligraphy, Tai Chi, and Chinese Painting taught by local experts in the afternoons, and other lectures on topics such as local history and the current forest art exhibitions. Further adding to Lushan's international character, the local government regularly invites international musicians to give public performances. During July, we saw performances of bands from South Africa and from the Philippines. And, of course, we also enjoyed group trips to various historical and scenic locations on the mountainside. At the end of the program, students received credit for language courses taken from Nanjing University at an official closing ceremony.
As the pilot class, our feedback has been used to enhance the future Lushan Institute curricula, excursions, and teaching schedule. One of the things that my classmates and I particularly hoped for was to maintain the wide student diversity. Even though the first Lushan Institute had a small student body, together, we represented 4 different countries, varied backgrounds and professions, and ranged in age from high school to retired. We were a close group and the friendships we made were fantastic. I wish to emphasize that the Lushan Institute is not only for high school or college students – my fellow students and I agreed that the variety in age as well as nationality was valuable for everyone.
I really hope that future programs maintain this diversity of countries and age when receiving and selecting applicants, and I encourage all people who are interested and able to apply. I enjoyed the program immensely and learned a great deal from the mountain and its people, my fellow students, and of course, my classes. Lushan is particularly rich in historical, cultural, religious, geographical, ecological, and international significance. The local food was also particularly delicious. I recommend the program to anyone who is interested in China or Chinese language, and in international connections. And the weather in summer on the mountain was simple delightful.
To follow Tracy further in her China journey, read her blog: http://tracyupdate.wordpress.com/
The Lushan International Language and Culture Institute was a joint partnership between the Kuling American School Association (KASA), headed by Mr. Steve Harnsberger, the Lushan government (especially the efforts of Mr. Zheng and Ms. Zhu Dong'e ‘Heidi), and Nanjing University (coordinated by Mr. Zhang Bin, PhD and Dr. Cheng, the Dean). It was created in the spirit of building international friendship and with acknowledgment of the special place that Lushan (庐山) has in China's international history. The Lushan Institute operated for three successive summers and following the transition to new leadership on the Mountain, ceased operation in 2014.
Tracy's Blog
In July 2001, I was one of first pilot students in the first annual Lushan International Language and Culture Institute summer program. This session of the Lushan Institute ran from July 3rd until July 29th, 2011 and offered a variety of Chinese language and culture courses and activities. The program was initiated by the Kuling American School Association as a way of honoring the historical friendship between the Chinese and the American missionary families who lived on the mountain, but the goal of the program in building international friendship and understanding is not limited to any particular nationality. Of the students in the first Lushan Institute, most arrived from the United States, 2 from South Africa, 1 from Switzerland, and 1 from Australia. Two of the more 'experienced' men (now living in the United States) had spent their childhoods in China and were returning to re-capture a piece of their memories. One had even been carried up the 'Thousand Steps' stairway in sedan chairs leading up the mountain as a child, and was determined to return and walk the steps himself (he succeeded). Two of the American students were great-grandchildren of Roy Allgood, an important headmaster of the Kuling American School who had been a hero during the Japanese invasion when he worked to save the Botanical Garden from destruction. Mr. Allgood is the father of Elsa Porter, a leader of KASA who spent her childhood at Lushan and is one of key figures in seeing the relationship of Westerners from the past be rekindled in present times.
The program schedule included Chinese language classes taught by professors from Nanjing University in the mornings, Chinese culture classes including Calligraphy, Tai Chi, and Chinese Painting taught by local experts in the afternoons, and other lectures on topics such as local history and the current forest art exhibitions. Further adding to Lushan's international character, the local government regularly invites international musicians to give public performances. During July, we saw performances of bands from South Africa and from the Philippines. And, of course, we also enjoyed group trips to various historical and scenic locations on the mountainside. At the end of the program, students received credit for language courses taken from Nanjing University at an official closing ceremony.
As the pilot class, our feedback has been used to enhance the future Lushan Institute curricula, excursions, and teaching schedule. One of the things that my classmates and I particularly hoped for was to maintain the wide student diversity. Even though the first Lushan Institute had a small student body, together, we represented 4 different countries, varied backgrounds and professions, and ranged in age from high school to retired. We were a close group and the friendships we made were fantastic. I wish to emphasize that the Lushan Institute is not only for high school or college students – my fellow students and I agreed that the variety in age as well as nationality was valuable for everyone.
I really hope that future programs maintain this diversity of countries and age when receiving and selecting applicants, and I encourage all people who are interested and able to apply. I enjoyed the program immensely and learned a great deal from the mountain and its people, my fellow students, and of course, my classes. Lushan is particularly rich in historical, cultural, religious, geographical, ecological, and international significance. The local food was also particularly delicious. I recommend the program to anyone who is interested in China or Chinese language, and in international connections. And the weather in summer on the mountain was simple delightful.
To follow Tracy further in her China journey, read her blog: http://tracyupdate.wordpress.com/