On November 18 RWC English Professor Stan Sulkes presented a Culturelogue on China, sharing his experiences during his sabbatical last spring as a visiting professor in Xi’an, China. Professor Sulkes titled his slide show and humorous commentary “What I saw….or What I Thought I Saw.” He arrived at Xi’an International Studies University last February and spent six months teaching literature to students whom he found very different from students here in the U.S. In China, he said, it is difficult for young people to obtain entrance into college, which is decided by test scores. Once accepted, most students must pay for their own education and extended families will often pool their money to send only one or two of their children to college.
Professor Sulkes found that the great respect the students hold for their professors can sometimes lead to problems, as few ask questions. Whereas Americans feel that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, the Chinese say that “the nail that sticks up gets hammered.” Thus, few students speak up, and doubting and challenging authority are still rare occurrences.
Over the past ten years, China has changed from a communist to a totalitarian country, where, although many ideas are changing, the government still controls the media and websites are still limited.
Censored and government controlled newspapers are displayed in a public case on campus for students to read, as few could afford to purchase one for themselves. The government’s main focus is on how to feed and provide healthcare and child care for its people, not on protecting civil rights.
Professor Sulkes’s hosts in Xi’an arranged a sobering visit for him to a small village elementary school, where, with no teachers, parents volunteer to teach the children. Supplies are limited, and few of these children will be able to attend college.
As a Westerner in China, Professor Sulkes often found himself the center of attention. His picture was taken many times with complete strangers at their request, and one of his biggest challenges was finding clothing to fit. Another challenge he found was speaking Chinese, and often his meaning was lost in translation, frequently with embarrassing results, such as when he attempted to tell a taxi driver, “I am a teacher” but actually said “I am a small rat.”
During his presentation, Professor Sulkes showed numerous slides, many of which showed people on bicycles, which remain the main mode of transportation. He also presented a few photos of time spent with his wife and daughter visiting other areas, such as The Great Wall and Shanghai.
He found the food incredibly cheap, about 10 percent of the price in the U.S., and sampled a host of mysterious dishes from Chinese printed menus. Many sights also left Professor Sulkes perplexed, such as the cow being led down Main Street or the men who struggled to move a ladder, which turned out to still have a man perched upon the top.
Chinese cookies and other foods were provided after the slide show, and many remained to talk with Professor Sulkes. The informative presentation was highly entertaining and greatly enjoyed by all who attended.