Newspapers / Meredith College Student Newspaper / Nov. 1, 1995, edition 1 / Page 5
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November 1,1995 Campus News 5 Gang brings China to Meredith By: Betsy Stewart With his briefcase in hand and a smile as big as China on his face, Gong Huan-Gang is a familiar sight injoyner Hall this semester. Gong is visiting professor of politics from Dongbei University of Finance and Economics in Dalian Province, People’s Republic of China. He is teaching at Meredith under the auspices of the Kenan Grant, which has funded a series of faculty exchanges with Dongbei University, since 1992. Gong is teaching two classes this semester; China Today and Introduc tion to Chinese Language. He says it is very difficult to learn Chinese in only three months, but his students are eager. “1 like the students here,” Gong said. “They are quite smart, quite po lite, quite gentle. They are quite smart to learn a foreign language, and they are quite keen to learn about what happens in China.” At Dongbei University, where he is associate professor and deputy dean, Gong teaches classes in foreign trade practices and international trade. These classes are important, Gong says, be cause Dalian, a border province, is one of 15 Special Economic Zones in China. It is one of China’s most important industrial bases with steel, coal and other natural resources. Dalian is sec ond only to Shanghai in its importance as a harbor city. . Gong holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in eco nomics. This is his first trip outside of China. His wife, who works in a bank, and his eight-year-old son are at home. He says he misses them, and adds that his semester at Meredith “is a task, an obligation 1 have to finish and do it well.” What is his favorite American food? Hot dogs! Gong is living at the Lemmon House on Faircloth Street and eats most of his meals in the Belk Dining Hall. He said, “in the cafeteria I think most of the vegetables are overcooked, but with such a big number of students it Holiday Special Look Greats Feel Good! 5 visits $15.00 W visits $25.00 1 Nionih $45.00 1st visit FREE 9 Buck Jonas Rd. • RaWgh, NC 27S06 • PJ33-67a9 AH Visits must be used by 12/20/95, Month can be purchased up to 11/20/95 Best Rates in fown-Bulbs changed regularly-Less than three miles from main gate. 233-6799 Gong Huan-Gang is difficult to meet everybody’s satis faction.” In comparing education in China with what he has seen at Meredith, Gong notes one major difference. “Most of the Chinese students have to compete to get a chance to be a uni versity student, and it is much more difficult. Here it is only a question of money. In Cliina you have to com pete, and only a few of the senior students, no more than ten percent, get in. ” Gong said the hardest task is to get into graduate school, and for some majors there are no master’s or doc toral programs available. Many Chi nese students go abroad to study, Gong added, and they go to Japan, the U. S. or Europe. Japan is a frequent choice because of its proximity, and because many students speak Japanese as well as Chinese. Gong’s first impression of America was that we have “too many cars, no body walks on the street and every body is busy, quite busy.” He visited the NC State Fair and noted that it is similar to national fairs held in China. “It was the first time for me to see so many American people gathered to gether,” he said. “This is quite an important experi ence,” Gong said, “and I have learned a lot. America is a highly-developed country. People here are quite busy, busy with their own business. They have little time to chat. The American economy is quite well organized and everybody is busy here, except me sometimes, “ he smiled. Gong will return home at semester’s end and is looking forward to spend ing three days in New York City after he leaves Raleigh. A friend in China told him, “if you love somebody, send him to New York—it’s a paradise. If you hate somebody, send him to New York—it’s a hell.” Gong is anxious to see New York, whether it be paradise or hell, for himself. Counseling Center No Show By Dina Di Maio Turnout has been low at the coun seling center’s seminar series, “Be yond Meredith,” said Sanne Martin, seminar director. Turnout has grown since the be ginning of the semester, but it is still not as large as she would like it, said Martin. “We’re hoping for 20 people, but we’re always getting 10,” Martin said. Two reasons forthe low attendance: advertising is difficult and students are busy. Because the counseling center is paying for the seminars, it is spending as much as possible on advertising. Martin said the counseling center sent brochures to students and also posted flyers and posters. The counseling center is now using other channels to advertise. See Center Page 7 Wanted!!! Individuals, Student Organizations to Pfoiuote SPRING BREAK Earn MONEY md EREE TRIPS CALL INTER-CAMl>U$ PROGRAMS http://wwwicpt.com 1-800“3276013
Meredith College Student Newspaper
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Nov. 1, 1995, edition 1
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