Educating Ren Tong

Yesterday, we received exciting and intimidating news. We were asked to teach at the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing for the spring semester. We are told it is a small institution, with a student population of 1,500 in training for diplomatic service.

This is exciting because we have both felt we would be returning to teach in China, and Beijing is an incredible city. We have traveled there two or three times, but only scratched the surface of all there is to do and see. There are almost 400 expatriate members of our Church in Beijing, so our faith issues will be well-met.

The intimidating part comes from the nature of the assignment. The Foreign Affairs University is where all Chinese Diplomats receive their training. The former president of the school is now Vice Premiere of China. The Premiere was the featured speaker at last year's graduation exercises.

I recently read a work of fiction featuring an American professor who was scheduled to deliver a series of lectures at Oxford University in Great Britain. He worried that he would be looked down upon as not having the polish and pomp of a proper Oxfordian, and was concerned that he would "fall on his face." After a couple of lectures had been given, he relaxed, having found that the students and faculty at Oxford had the same issues and same foibles as students and teachers everywhere. I am taking some comfort in the thought that we will find a similar experience. Even acknowledging that the students may be a cut above the average college student, they still have a lot of room to be human, and, hey, they are being trained to be diplomatic, aren't they?

20 years ago, we participated in a Sister City Friendship program between Long Beach California and Qingdao, China. We had the privilege of meeting quite a few members of China's diplomatic corps. They were memorable for their charm and grace.

We leave for China toward the end of February. Maybe I'll even learn some manners!

Enjoy!