Global Cultural Walk

By Agnes Jacob-Nepomuceno, Philippines (SUSI scholar 2014)

I left my heart in San Francisco...

When it rains, it pours.

My journey:
From Athens, Greece to Athens, Ohio:

The five-week journey of the Study of the United States Institute for Journalism and Media was a gift of working diligently at the forefront of the Journalism and Broadcasting programs, as a Chairperson of the two curricular programs in the premiere university in Bicol region, Philippines. How it all started was a fruit of  being a good host for a dinner date with the accreditor from the Association of Accrediting Agencies of Universities and Colleges (AACUP), evaluator of the Broadcasting program after a two-day rigid evaluation of papers and actual visit and inspection of the facilities, classrooms, laboratory and interview with students to determine the qualification of the  submitted program for Level 1 phase in my university. A curricular program, which I consider as my brain-child.

The accreditor, who happens also to be a scholar of the United States in other programs, encouraged me to apply for the SUSI scholarship program once it is made open to the public. So when it was announced by the Manila U.S. Embassy Web Page, I excitedly downloaded the application form and after three months of waiting, and just before my mind was preoccupied with the upcoming trip to Athens, Greece, as a research paper presenter, the phone rung and a jubilant voice  suddenly filled the air when the officer of the Cultural Affairs of the embassy brought the good tidings that I was selected for the scholarship.

From the city of mythological goddesses of wisdom Athens, Greece; the birthplace of democracy  to the lovely, tranquil city of freedom-loving people of Athens, Ohio, United States of America. Aaah! The gods must have been delighted about how appreciative I am of the beauty of their temples at the same time extra happy to set foot in the place of great Greek philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Socrates to mention a few from whom the world owe much the brilliant thoughts about science, humanities, religion, politics and world affairs and its interplay to everyday living.

Beauty and wisdom from the land of gods and goddesses to an extension of  wisdom walk of Plato’s academia not in Greece this time, though but, to the historic first academia built in the land of Ohio U.S.A., the  Ohio University, the host place of the 2014 Scholars for the United States Institute for Journalism and Media (SUSI program), the place where “YOU can become your best self.” (www.ohio.edu.)

At the CNN office

The global wisdom of intellectual learning,  cultural experience  and sharing a life for five weeks with other nationalities is such an unfathomable reality, isn’t it? But no one can truly and fully comprehend the WISDOM, Oops! Not from the gods and goddesses of Greece, but from a real GOD, with reference to my personal religious beliefs and faith, who has blessed me with this BIG opportunity to mingle with colleagues who walk in the same world of profession where I am gladly walking through- the WORLD OF ACADEMIA AND MASS MEDIA.With almost 9-days left before the SUSI intensive Study Visit come to its conclusion... Alas! A more interesting, if not a-once-in-a-lifetime experience is waiting to unfold in the capital of United States of America, where the seat of government is located,  and where one will be beholden by the site and sight and actual feel of the WHITE HOUSE, to see and to be where it is would be one remarkable and magnificent way of ending a 5-week scholarship program;  a cultural walk away from fantasy to  reality; an experience that will definitely and absolutely leave indelible lasting memories in the hearts and minds of the 18 scholars from all around the world.

Last but not the least, our great thanks to the United States of America Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Washington DC whose mission for the SUSI program of fostering mutual understanding between the people of the United States and people of other countries has been achieved with the highest bar of excellence. Special mention of gratitude for my recommendation and acceptance to the SUSI 2014 scholarship , my U.S. based, SUSI- ECA program officer, KEVIN ORCHISON, of U.S. and TONY PEREZ, his counterpart in Manila, Philippines U.S. Embassy and BING LIMLINGAN, who untiringly coordinated my scholarship grant. God bless America and Philippines, great nations of freedom-loving people!

Media Visits:Thanks to my SUSI friends:
The SUSI scholarship program for all its noble intentions provides a fertile avenue for learning the rich culture of United States vis-a-vis its impact to the world. From re-visiting its history by way of live theatrical performance, Tecumseh in Chillicothe where one’s knowledge has been fully widened by the learning on how the native Americans fought hard to maintain its land, but succumb to the great wisdom of sharing the same land and be one great nation, under the banner of united states, and how certain community is able to maintain its laid-back community living in the midst of progress in Amish Country in Sugarcreek as mirrored crystal-clear through an existing community newspaper, called The Budget; towards further  understanding of how an African-based newspaper, Call and Post survived newspapership since 1960 without failing to look back into the history of music via the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to watching live newscast and observing its production processes in WOIO/WUAB-TV reflective of what America is today; to visit in the epicenter of the  renowned civil rights movement, Martin Luther King Jr in Atlanta and Jimmy Carter’s Library and Museum,  and experiencing happiness in the World of Coca-Cola and how it evolved and influenced universal Pop Culture and entering the global cable news, CNN and be amused by state-of-the-art broadcast facilities and its huge broadcast studio; to the beauty of man’s ingenuity through the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California and treading with excitement to the GOOGLE headquarters; to magnificent exclusive tour inside the $400 million complex in the home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team in At&T Park; to meeting top editors of the Wired Magazine and, of course, walking down the financial district of SF and mixing with multi-national busy public plus a fun-filled ride in the SF’s historic cable car. And just yesterday, it was indeed a opportune SUSI event to be walking through the capital of Ohio, Columbus White House and  to be extra proud of having experience observing how the top editors of Columbus Dispatch conduct their deliberation of news stories that will be published daily. These and many unwritten events  in this platform are  all worth-remembering cultural study tours provided by the SUSI program.
While the 2014 Scholars for the United States Institute for Journalism and Media will come to grip with its ending; it is but just a start of a lifetime professional and personal collaboration among the 18 scholars and their OHIO UNIVERSITY Institute of International Journalism mentors and partners under the tutelage of the Scripps College of Communication. A university that will forever be close to the hearts of the scholars; the academia, which provided a safe haven that will always be a HOME for the SUSI scholars of 2014. 

Kudos to the men and women of the SUSI program headed by its Director, DR. YUSUF KALYANGO; Prof. Mary Rogus, Program Dean; Prof. Jatin Srivastata, Research Coordinator; and Prof. Bill Reader, Academic Coordinator.

See you in the Alumni Homecoming!

After my personal netbook containing all documentations had encounter malfunction, I rightfully extended gratitude to my SUSI sis, Brendah Bukowa of Zambia for the use of her computer. A proof of cultural solidarity and friendship in the SUSI program.

Wanted: Amish, Haruki Murakami and authenticity

By Nargiza Ryskulova, Kyrgyzstan (SUSI scholar 2014) 

An Amish community member

iPhones, selfies, duckfaces! We are the generation of people nurtured by the American dream and Black Friday sales. The dream is BIG: bigger homes, better jobs, better pays, more money, achievements, miles, bigger-sized meals, slimmer bodies, more calories burned, more points won, more technology dominated life. But there are always outsiders, hippies in 60s, down-shifters in 1990s, hipsters in 2000s and many others, who choose other things to pursue than the quantity of items and acknowledgments owned. One of them is authenticity. Being truthful to our own traditions, values and choices is perhaps one of the biggest challenges in generation of trend-setters and Instagram followers.

Authenticity in living:
Thanks to SUSI, about a week ago we visited Amish country and it was a chapter of 1Q84 come alive. We met with two Amish community members, and just like characters in Murakami’s novel both of them reasonably successful in their businesses, modest about their achievements and loyal to their community. They were intelligent and cracked wicked jokes. Most of all, they were authentic to their way of living, communities and families.
The Amish:
Exactly a year ago, I read Haruki Murakami’s novel 1Q84. The author means a lot to me. Not only, he makes me question “what if”, he teaches authenticity in every line in his every book. In his latest novel, he wrote about a secluded religious group, which choose to lead simpler lifestyle in modern Japan.

The two Amish community members we met

Just like Murakami’s characters, the Amish members were worth of admiration and their lifestyle choices were healthier than the US citizens. Their lifestyle was a reaction to over-consumerist American society.  They motivated their choices with desire to remain truthful to their traditions, to preserve values of simple living, family and grace. They also spoke about spiritual slavery of modern living and technology.

Seeing the Amish up close and speaking to them made me sympathetic for their choices and their struggle. To preserve their values and traditions, they have to ensure to protect their children from outside influence, they have to fit their lives in the shape of modernity, long distances, free market and very hectic work schedules by rejecting many opportunities and eliminating these opportunities for their youth.

To preserve their faith and their church they have to obey the rules strictly and exclude those, who don’t. They strive for authenticity in the most extreme ways , or rather in every possible way , starting from clothing to travelling. And like every thing extreme it might go wrong or right.
In Murakami’s 1Q84, things took unexpected turn, developing in the most outrageous ways, just as things usually unfold when a cause becomes more important than life. For the Amish in the USA the struggle is still ongoing and will continue, while the question about possibility of striving for authenticity without running away from life remains open.

A City Worth Falling For

By Sayf Mohamed, Tunisia (SUSI scholar 2014)

I was very lucky to have participated in the Study of the US institute for media and journalism. Although time is passing away quickly, it has impressed me deeply as a opportunity of wonderful experiences with friendly and cooperative International and American colleagues making me feel at home. 

My visit and experience in the United States was a great asset to my education and scientific research as well as giving me a better understanding of the American culture and environment. Though I really miss my family and friends back home in Tunisia, I am really getting used to staying here in small Athens with my new best friends. The greatest thing about this program is that I got to learn about the US culture and Media along with the cultures and politics of 17 other countries thanks to my fellow SUSIs, and I am not talking about historical and general overviews that we can get on Wikipedia, this is first-hand experience. 

I am also staggered by the quality of the distinguished faculty members, I have been offered the possibility of continuing my PhD here at OU and I am seriously considering it, for I am sure Athens is study friendly place and the help and guidance that I can get would be beneficial.

I had the opportunity to lecture about my beloved Tunisia and its media system, to attend academic conferences, and to visit some of the most important Media corporations. Among which was CNN headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Coming from a country where news feed is always on top of the hour; TV channels such as CNN are playing a major role in shaping the political environment in the Arab world. We had the honor of meeting Eli Flournoy, CNN senior director and discussing the different reporting techniques and practices.

Last week, we went to San Francisco where we stayed at the Embassy Hotel. The idea that I had about this city is that it is industrial, businesslike, cold and uni-colored, a blue collar environment. However, the culture of San Francisco is major and diverse in terms of arts, music, cuisine, festivals, museums, and architecture. San Francisco's diversity of cultures along with its eccentricities is so great that it can greatly influence anyone who visits this city. It is set along the water, with rolling hills and a unique mix of architecture. It contains some of the most notable landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. We only had two days, I had a few tours, as a way to familiarize myself with the city, and I discovered dazzling museums, cool neighborhoods, and, quite possibly, the best ice cream on earth. 

The first day we went to Pier 39 with sea lions, waterfront dining, street performers, live music, shopping. I had the best crabs in a nice restaurant by the pier, and then we had to climb up heading to Lombard Avenue which is best known for the one-way section in which the roadway has eight sharp turns that have earned the street the distinction of being "the crookedest street in the world." One of the best examples of multicultural San Francisco is The Chinatown, centered on Grant Avenue and Stockton Street is the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese community outside Asia and is the oldest of the four notable Chinatowns in the city, it is an enclave that continues to retain its own customs, languages, places of worship, social clubs, and identity.

I became easily immersed in a microcosmic Asian world, filled with herbal shops, temples, pagoda roofs and dragon parades. The Mission District of San Francisco is one of the most distinct neighborhoods in the city. Its uniqueness comes from a complex history which has resulted in a rich, diverse culture. And guess what! I had a delicious dinner at an Afghani restaurant.

Although the Mission District has been known for its Hispanic and Latino population, it is quite culturally diverse, as it has been a “stop-over” for many immigrants. The Mission District is startling when you first get there: A mix of Latino culture, Hipster bars, artisan restaurants, and funky shops, a very alive place that is well worth exploring. I can say that I fell for Frisco, as opposed to some northern states; I didn’t feel as a tourist anymore.

As we are approaching the end of this program I can say that it is by far one of the most interesting experiences and I genuinely hope that our interaction and collaboration whether with fellow SUSIs or OU faculty would last and prosper, we’ve already talked about future opportunities where we can visit each other or collaborate on joint research or studies.

Day 32 with SUSI

By CHIU Lai Yu Bonnie, Hong Kong (SUSI scholar 2014)

I have been travelling in the United States for more than a month now. Every day is meaningful! Every day is enjoyable! I just cannot believe that I am actually counting down the final days of this program. My feelings are very mixed: I really want to stay longer as it’s so fun and inspiring to be here but at the same time, I miss my husband, my kids and things close to me in Hong Kong. There are too many things on my mind that I want to write about and share with my colleagues and friends. I simply do not know where to start. I will perhaps start with what I have achieved and what I will work on after this trip.

Apart from those diversified arranged lectures and visits arranged for us (such assports advertising, CNN global news gathering, the operation of Wired magazine, the Budget newspaper and learning about the Amish culture etc.), we had attended several self-explored and self-guided lectures during this program including but not limited to:

 CORE 101 Introduction To Shopping Communication
(Many of us walked around Chinatown, Little Italy and Fisherman’s Wharf; “handled” discounted items from Banana Republic, Calvin Klein, Forever 21, Macy’s etc. in San Franciso. Some of us got a very nice and elegant handbag forUS$8!!!!! Yes, US$8 dollars! I got my favorite Calvin Klein’s tops with 40% off and I was so happy that I almost wanted to cry!!)

FGSS 182 Feminism In Community: Community Engagement In Big Sales At Outlet Malls (at Prime, Maryland)(We will be taking this advanced course later this week in Maryland. I am very excited indeed and some scholars actually went to Wal-Mart to buy an empty suitcase for it!)

 ECON 128 The Nature Of Fine-dining(We dined at the Sun-Dial Upscale Restaurant, a revolving restaurant in Atlanta while appreciating the sunset and the night scenery of Atlanta. I loved my strawberry Gazpacho and grilled salmon! It took the restaurant one whole hour to have a 360 degree panorama turn and we were all busy taking pictures with different views outside of the windows.)

BIO 327 Marine Biology’s Practicum And Participatory Communication(We ate and tried delicious seafood including San Francisco’s famous cioppino, clams, crabs, shrimps and chowder etc with white wine at a restaurant with sea view. It was so yummy that we barely spoke during our lunch there.)

SOC 015 Clubbing, Consumption And Society(Some of us went to a nightclub called Havana to experience club culture, triedLatin dancing and tried tequila shots there in Atlanta. I went to Lenox Square and grabbed 2 half-priced Coach handbags in 10 minutes!!!!)

CULT 282 Symphony And Culture(I went to see “Pixar in Concert” at Davies Symphony Hall in San Franciso. Before the show, I walked around all of the nearby buildings including the Opera House etc. The first show started in San Franciso 2 years ago and after that therehas since been similar shows in 85 different countries worldwide. The beauty of the hall stunned me and the San Francisco Orchestra performed very well.)

MUS 101 Jazz and Anthropology: (Some colleagues went to a pub with livejazz music in downtown San Franciso after their Afghanistani meal).

SPORT 2460 Trekking Science within Google Community: (We walked around Google offices and appreciated the working atmosphere there due to the fact that our bus-driver dropped us off at the wrong place. But I need to thank him for that as it was a very nice walk by which we saw bicycles, cars, road signs etc. which all have “Google” colors or names).

We had taken many other “courses” which of are a similar nature and I was really enjoying myself in all of the “courses” above and I passed them with “distinction”. 

As for the future collaboration, Professor Yusuf  Kalyango and Professor Mary T. Rogus had mentioned to us about the idea of writing a book together. Every one of us contributed some information from our country or city and then they would compile it. I have been working hard on my research topic and hope one day a paper will be published. I have narrowed down the scope of my research paper: either taking a documented approach, i.e. examining on the details of every court case or taking a qualitative and quantitative approach, i.e. send out a questionnaire to a targeted group such as university students or journalists to ask them their concept about the right to be forgotten etc. and then to analyze the results thereafter.

I am very grateful to my research partner, Dr. Kevin Grieves, who has been supervising me even when he is on leave. Sri Lanka scholar Mr. Aruna Lokuliyana and I have been discussing the possibility of writing a research paper together on social media using a comparative approach; I have talked about using “Skype” to give a guest lecture with some of our scholars on editing, gender issues, diplomatic issues etc... I had meetings with many faculty members here at Ohio University to discuss on future collaboration. Special thanks to Dr. Scott Titsworth, Dean, Scripps College of Communication, Dr. Michelle Ferrier, Associate Dean, Scripps College of Communication, Dr. Bob Stewart, Director of Scripps School of Journalism as they had all spent time to see me. I have already connected them and with my relevant colleagues in Hong Kong for further correspondence related to student exchange programs, joint PhD programs, exchange of faculty members via short conferences or teaching, joint publication etc.  Without the great support of Professor Yusuf  Kalyango, Professor Mary T. Rogus, Professor  Bill Reader and Professor Jatin Srivastava, I would not have so many ideas on how to have more collaborative projects in the future. Thus, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank them all. 

I had been thinking of thanking Mary in person in the last 4 years. It so happened that this foundation is situated at Bay Village, very near to Cleveland. When the SUSI program brought us to visit Cleveland, I met Mary for about 2 hours during our free-time.  Both of us cried during our first meeting (I know it was very strange but I guess only we who have had the condition could understand such empathy) as we shared the same similar terrible experience. I donated some funds to the foundation, interviewed her and have planned to write an article to promote this foundation. I had also offered to translate the whole website in Chinese so that more Chinese-speaking mothers could be helped. I am very appreciative to the fact that an American like Mary can help save lives and change the world by her individual efforts!!! I need to learn from her and I hope all twin babies can survive such an ordeal! Moreover, in this year, the SUSI program had 3 (including me) scholars out of 18 that have twins. We plan to write a book together about twins in different countries and we hope that any money gained from the sales of the books will be sent to charity!!!

One final but important sharing here: SUSI did me a great favor in accomplishing my personal agenda in doing some charitable work for twins in the future. I put my story very precisely: when I carried my twin boys 4 years ago, I had a rare condition called Twin-to-twin-transfusion Syndrome (TTTS). It was very dangerous and I had to do 2 laser operations to save my boys’ lives when they were still inside me. I was so worried about the lives of them and I cried almost every day when bed-resting at the hospital or at home for about 6 months. Accidentally, I found a website: http://www.tttsfoundation.org/ , which is operated by a foundation called Twin to Twin Transfusion Foundation.  The president and founder of the foundation, Mary Slaman, lost one of her twin sons 25 years ago due to this terrible condition and then she set up this foundation to help mothers all over the world. I visited this website to gain all kinds of support every day during my most difficult times. It did not just give me a lot of information about TTTS, more importantly, it encouraged me by reinforcing the message: our kids can make it!!! With the miracle of God’s grace, my boys are healthy, smart and have just turned 3 recently.

Many thanks for enrolling me in this program. I hope when we are approaching the end of this program it would only mean that we will be entering a new era of further collaboration.

OMG! I have been proven wrong…USA is not what I saw on TV.

By Brenda Bukowa, Zambia (SUSI scholar 2014)

Before 19^th June 2014, I dreaded the thought of living or even studying in the USA. I had the image of USA that depicted a country that doesn’t sleep, I country full of crime and a country that has celebrities at every corner and paparazzi’s chasing after them.

I am sure you are thinking to yourselves, “what is wrong with this image of USA, why wouldn’t one want to live in such a country?” well I am goner say, I am quite strange and I love to just be in a place that is quite and where people mind their business. 

My ideal "place of paradise" is one where birds sing and preferably fly backwards, where water flows and produce a melody and spring fresh smell that can take any baby to sleep, where people are friendly and where the glass and trees are green and produce a fragrance that would substitute for perfume on any given day.  This place in my description I prefer to call “heaven”

Athens in the day, my "little slice of Heaven"

Before, flying to USA and participating in a 6 week long exchange at Ohio University, I knew I was going to live in some high-rise building and busy streets but, hell No! I was proved wrong. Remember, my description of paradise above? I have been shown a slice of paradise in USA. Athens they call it, is a beautiful quiet town situated along the Hocking River in the Southeastern part of Ohio State.  I have seen a couple of police cars but haven’t heard any sirens…amazing right? Especially that the image of US is one of police and sirens…well at least to me.

Athens Sunshine breaks through in the early hours of the day

This will blow your mind; Athens pet population is composed of a dozen squirrels every few meters along the relatively busy driveways and paths. Are you asking what I am talking about? Yes... I am talking about those little characters in the movie “Alvin and the chipmunks”, now this time in their live form. It is amazing how the little creatures move about freely and happily. By now I am sure you are getting hold of what I mean by Athens being a "little slice of heaven".

Get over the excitement about squirrels, and imagine the fact that Athens doesn’t only boast of Squirrels but a variety of birds and animals that would leave any persons mouth open in disbelief.  

Forget Athens, for a little while and come with me to Cleveland (located in northeastern Ohio on the Southern shore of lake Erie approximately 60 miles (97 km) west of the Pennsylvania border), and let’s meet the Amish people. I know you have come across a number of writings, documentary films and drawings on these people. Take a moment however, and imagine life without TV, Cell phones (imagine no IPhones) and computers. Take another thought and imagine how your life would be without these gadgets, unbearable right?...mine too, but this is the life that these people live 24/7, 365 days a year. I will be honest, I have never come across a land as beautiful as the Amish country, this is another slice of heaven that I am sure was left behind on earth for Americans to enjoy.

An Amish pair Lester and Mary Beachy

Forget about heaven for a moment and lets talk about the Amish lifestyle. In addition to not having the modern telecommunications gadgets, these people follow strict Christian beliefs, and only reach up to a certain level in their formal education (I know you are asking “like seriously?”) it is interesting to note that their lives are centered on using their hands to make a living and for them this is enough.

These people also do not believe in “sex before marriage” and their women once married have to be full time housewives and this is not negotiable.

I have had a great time in the USA and every night before sleeping I smile and think of how wrong I was to misjudge this beautiful country in the manner I did.

However, they say to every beautiful thing there are one or two things that could go wrong. My journey in America is no exception, I am sad to note that I am soon going to need new clothes and this is because I am loving the food a bit too much that my jeans and dresses and a lot more other garments are getting a bit too small for my size (now talk of spending a few hundred dollars for a new wardrobe, not a good thing right?)

My thai lunch, this and a lot more food are a favourite of mine

Brenda Bukowa (Lecturer and Media Consultant). University of Zambia, Department of Mass Communication. Email; bukowab1@yahoo.com, brenda.bukowa@unza.zm