This post is about saying goodbye to two leaders of the University, President Shan Hong Hong and ex-Vice President Zha Ming.
Professor Shan Hong Hong
Yesterday we met with Shan Hong Hong, President of China University of Petroleum (UPC), to say goodbye (called 'Vice Chancellor' in Australia - they are responsible for the day-to-day running of the university).
The last three Presidents of UPC have been:
Professor Liu Xiu Sheng (1992-98)
Professor Tong Zhao Qi (1998-2005. He initiated the move from Dongying to Qingdao)
Professor Shan Hong Hong (2005 - present; last year there was a rumour that all the leaders would be replaced, but luckily (for us) she got an extension)
There is one statue of a former President on the UPC campus, in front of the Yi Fu Conference Center; Professor Yang Guang Hua (1980-88).
In China it is rare for a woman to achieve the top job, let alone in a science-based university such as UPC; she is obviously a very talented researcher and administrator. She was a Professor of Chemical Engineering before assuming the top role in 2005.
It's unusual for a foreign teacher to meet the president, and we were honoured that she invited us to her office (I was lucky to write a book, newspaper articles, appear on TV, etc). We chatted for about 45 minutes, much longer than expected; we had met her previously, but only for a few minutes so this was different. She is an impressive person.
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| From left: Vera, Liu Li Na (in charge of foreign teachers in the International Office); Wang Ling (also in the International Office; she acted as interpreter); me; President Shan. We were fairly crowded in her office and she explained that the Government's austerity drive meant that all leaders had 'lost' about half their office space. |
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| Another view of the meeting with President Shan. |
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| President Shan gave Vera a silk scarf. |
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| President Shan presented us with a personalised scroll. The character "Fu" means good health and good fortune. |
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| The President's office is on the 16th floor of the Admin Building - great views - and I took some photos. This photo looks directly down the main axis to the South Gate and Tang Dao Wan Bay. |
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| This photo looks kinda South-West, across the top of the Library. The orange-clad buildings are residential buildings for Undergraduates. They live 6 to a dormitory. |
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| This photo looks West. |
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| This photo looks North-West. The University's iconic Gymnasium is center-left. Construction of this campus started in 2002, and is on-going. Can you imagine that none of the tall apartment buildings in the distance existed 10 years ago! The rate of development here is phenomenal. |
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| This photo looks North, across the top o f the old Science Teaching Building and across the University Sports Oval., and over to the new Howard Johnson Hotel in the center. None of the tall buildings in the distance existed 10 years ago. |
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| Later, after the meeting with the President, the Deputy Director of the International Office, Jiang Da Sen, presented us with another scroll. We'll have to buy a bigger apartment in Canberra to be able to hang all these gifts! |
Professor Zha Ming
Professor Zha Ming was the Vice President of UPC in charge of International Affairs from 2011 - 2015. He stepped down at the end of last year.
He has authored or co-authored 10 books on geology.
We met Prof Zha and his wife Tang Qi Rong through Zhu Shan (Susie) who was my Liaison Teacher back in 2011-12.
When Prof Zha heard about the long (monthly) letters to my mother about our life in China, he suggested I turn them into a book. Depending on the result, Prof Zha said that the University would publish the book as part of its 60th Anniversary celebrations (October 2013).
I thought it would be relatively easy to convert the letters into a book, but not so. Anyway, to cut a long story short, a book finally emerged (English title: "It's all about the students"; Chinese "UPC through foreign eyes" Yang Yan Kan Shi Da).
Then Susie volunteered to translate it into Chinese. My initial reaction was that a translation would be superfluous, but I'm delighted that she insisted as the bi-lingual result makes the book much more accessible to Chinese.
Writing a book, and then having it published, is an incredible experience.
Thank you for your support and encouragement, Professor Zha and Zhu laoshi!!!
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| From left: Tang Qi Rong, Vera, Zhu Shan (Susie). Vera met with Tang Qi Rong every Wednesday for 3 years to improve her spoken English. They became good friends. |
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| From left: Zhu Shan (Susie); Tang Qi Rong; Prof Zha Ming; me; Vera. Their son did a PhD at Columbia University (in Geophysics) and is now working for Philips Conoco in Houston. |
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| Vera & I with Zhu Shan (Susie). We first met in Dongying in 2009. Later she was appointed as my Liaison Teacher (each foreign teacher is given a local 'liaison' to help us with any admin & teaching issues). She did her Masters degree at University of Western Sydney, and loved her time there. Without Susie's support the book would never have happened. She loves translation and teaching and works incredibly hard - she has just published her third book! |
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That's it for this post.
Best wishes, keep well and keep smiling.
Alex & Vera Olah
English teachers at the China University of Petroleum, Qingdao
www.upc.edu.cn
Tuesday 5 July 2016
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