Interview: Teaching and Philosophy, China and Australia, Part 2

Andrea directing TEDx event

In Part 2 of my interview with Andrea, the focus changes from her educational experiences in China with the Gaokao and her university there to her experience of transferring to the University of Melbourne in Australia for an undergraduate and then a Masters program. She highlights her leadership in creating a TEDx talk as well as some of the issues that a student faces transitioning to a new country and culture. Those seeking wise guidance will see why Andrea will make a great teacher.

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What was the biggest challenge when you arrived at your new school? Were the classes easier or harder than you expected? Can you describe a favourite class or two and say why you liked them?  How approachable were the teachers? Did you find it easy to make friends with others? Do students tend to hang out in groups (Chinese with Chinese etc.)? How smart are most of the students? Do they really care about learning?

I liked my philosophy subject matter but the class was made up of overwhelmingly local students who did not share the same culture with me and was not used to having Asian students in class. While I already looked different, my lack of understanding of their culture and their lack of communication with me made it hard for me to feel comfortable in the community, particularly in the beginning. As for the subject itself, it was not as hard as I imagined or as my first philosophy subject at La Trobe University.

Confucius

Once I “re-started” in my new university, the biggest challenge I faced was not the language barrier but the difficulty of integrating into the local culture. It was sometimes even hard to understand the “subtext” of people and the sub-culture among local young people. They were mostly very creative, intelligent, humorous and passionate in a way that sometimes confused me. This to some extent made my study harder in that the misunderstanding and a feeling of awkwardness in class impacted my performance and confidence.

It also made it hard to make friends with classmates. Most friends I made in my first semester at Melbourne University were mainly Asian overseas students. However, it was interesting that I tended to keep certain distance from the Chinese student group that was relatively exclusive to Chinese. My academic background made it hard for me to find close friends in the group that is mainly made up of students doing other majors where there were many more Chinese students. There were very few Chinese students studying philosophy. With the increase of my knowledge and understanding of western culture acquired in my studies, I ended up being in the middle of nowhere—somewhere between the core Chinese student group and the local arts students.

I also found that interacting with an Australian roommate to be educational and challenging too. We had agreed to ask each other for permission if we had guest, but she often brought her boyfriend over without discussing it. For her roommate, the boyfriend was just a part of her experience at school and she expected me to simply accept this. I was uncomfortable with the situation and it made for some tension.

What activities did you take part in? Have you been able to travel much in the country?

I took part in few extra curricular activities during my exchange semester in Australia which I call a purely “academic meditation” period. In the first semester at Melbourne University, I tried a number of different activities, including volunteering as an English tutor of primary school students with a refugee background; involved in a Microfinance club, etc. this was a process of exploration during which I was actively “finding myself”, in other words, looking for something that can be my “call”.

In the second semester, I started volunteering at a youth-run not-for-profit organization that connects people learning different languages. My own experience of and interest in learning foreign languages made me stay here for almost two years. Language is an ideal for people from different cultures to come closer to each other, which provided a good starting point for me to understand the local culture. I made friends with a groups of young people, including Australian born Asians, Chinese students as well as white Australians. This became my home group in Australia where I could always feel comfortable to go back to whenever I felt like it. It gave me those best moments in this country.

Simon Griffith: beer and toilet paper TEDx

The other really unforgettable experience for me was to create the local TEDx event at Melbourne University. It felt fantastic to start from a mere idea in mind to a big amazing team and over a thousand followers. It was a turning point since which I no longer doubted myself. I took a risk to create something big and it worked and this gave me more confidence to try new things.  As many of my friends told me, it is rare for international students to achieve this. To such comments, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I was impressed by how much I got done as well; but on the other hand, I don’t think the language and culture barrier should place people in an inferior or disadvantaged position. Another underlying concern I had with this initiative was that my effort was not purely original; I learned to replicate much of it from a highly recognized platform, which to some extent reflects the stereotype people have about the lack of creativity of Chinese students. But it is rare for someone to create something new without using previous work so the ambition and an ability to synthesize and network all underscore what many in business describe as creativity.

 What I learned form the TEDx experience is that much of the subject matter has to do with efficiency and the use of technology—the focus has been on efficiency. For me, there are bigger issues. If I could create my own TEDx talk from scratch I would focus more on altruism. I want this platform to functions as a means of social change. It may seem odd, to think how toilet paper can change the world but it can. The ways in which this product is marketed right now focuses on profit. I am not against profit but I see that there are ways that this product could be used to teach people about environmental issues. Or beer. African beer could be marketed in a way that at least some money from each sale could go directly into supporting the economies and the poor in Africa. Each of us then can be philanthropical simply by the choices we make on which products we use. My study I philosophy has taught me to think about issues from an ethical perspective rather than simply an economic one. 

Platforms like TEDx can teach how both of these often walled off branches of knowledge can be brought together. In part this may stem from my culture, where the ideal is important. Where 4 generations in a household signifies an ideal rather than an economic problem.

Family and the rule of people rather than the rule of law tends to be more in China. This of course has positives and negatives, but each culture can learn from the other and benefit from the cross-fertilization of ideas. I worry when I see some schools bring in Chinese students who may not be adequately prepared to do well simply because they can pay fees. When this happens student are no longer the focus. Education, whether in TEDx presentations or in university enrolment, needs to stay true to the mission of creating citizens who care about their place in family and society.

What things would you highlight to encourage students to study in Australia? Are there any things you wish were better about your education there?

 This is an open society that embraces all kinds of cultures and values. All you need is courage and confidence. The more you stay as the person who you are, the more appreciated you are. However, despite the culture as such, the local policies were truly deplorable in that all sorts of expenses for overseas students are significantly higher than that of locals, reflecting an essentially negative attitude towards overseas students. It seems that many places in the world see international students as economic commodities rather than as students first.

You graduated with a degree but decided to stay on for graduate study. What are you studying and why did you choose this area? What are your career plans?

 I am studying for a Masters of Teaching (secondary) degree at the moment that would probably lead me into the career of teaching. This is partly out of a sense of job insecurity from my arts degree, and partly due to my interest in education. Another pragmatic reason is that teachers are highly needed in Australia which may allow overseas teacher candidates to stay in the country. The three reasons pushed me into this course. On the other hand, I am also considering careers in academic research or working in governmental bodies. I have learned that I have leadership abilities and the abilities to cross cultures and languages at a high level. Not many have these skills and there are many paths I can take as a result. I am beginning to think I have the ability to accomplish projects and so I have begun to set high goals.

 My graduate study is much more practical compared to my undergraduate experience. I was critical of it in the beginning based on its lack of intellectual inspiration compared to the study of philosophy, but later on as the course unfolded it turned out to be a worthwhile experience. The most unforgettable experience was the placement at a local high school where I spend a month or so with year 7 and 8 girls and went through their ups and downs together with them. This was the first time I was given a chance to possibly make changes to the minds of some young people and I believe at least I succeeded on few students which was priceless.

How have you changed as a result of your going so far from home to pursue your education? Do you find that when you visit home that people seem different to you? Do they think you are different?

 I think I have become more independent and determinant. Before I left home, I was used to the overwhelming power from my parents, particularly my mom who is a very capable and independent woman. I was so used to her leadership and protection that I wasn’t even aware that I had always had a safety net below me whatever I did, until at some point I realised that she could no longer help me, especially in major decisions in that she has no idea about “the foreign countries”. This was the first time I found out that the safety net was gone, and I had to stand on my own feet, which was also necessary for me to learn to be independent.

At the same time, it was inevitable that I took on some western culture, such as taste of cultural products, ways of thinking, and especially values that came from my undergraduate studies. This not only drew a line between me and other Chinese students in Australia, it also widened the gap between me and my peers in China. We found it hard to understand and communicate with each other due to our different upbringing and values. My group of friends gradually became those who also study overseas, such as the US.

What kind of student should consider going abroad? What kind of student might not like it?

 Those students who may think it a good idea to study abroad are: first, have sufficient economic resource to support their living and studying overseas; second, are resilient and confident enough to endure the loneliness and adaptive to new environments; and third, desire freedom in academics and ideas. Those who are used to stick to their family and hometown and loves peaceful life in a same place may consider it a better option to live against this “grant trend of modernity”.

Do you have any advice about how to prepare for the challenges of doing what you have done? What would you say to parents who are hesitant about supporting the wish of their child to go abroad?

Resilience and open-mindedness are quite important to prepare for the challenge of living and studying overseas independently. A mindset that is willing to accept all kinds of tough facts is crucial so as to calmly go through arguments with landlords, confusions about transport, huge amounts of assignment in strikingly short time, necessity to cook and clean the room, etc. Above all, if the student does not see much value in going abroad and would not make good use of the expensive opportunity, it may not be sensible to pay the dear price of missing and worrying about the kid in most time of the year, let alone the considerable financial sacrifice. However, for those who do have such passion to “go global” and improve themselves, and also are “wealthy and mentally resilient” enough, I see no point in preventing them from following their heart.

Andrea’s own question: since you spend most time of each year away from home, how do you balance the time and effort spend on your family members and your study and life in Melbourne? What do you do when you are homesick?

To be honest, I am not juggling these issues very well. The only time I talk to my parents online is when I have dinner facing the computer, so that I won’t “waste any time”. However, while I am engaged in more and more activities and have more friends, my life in Australia became less regular and came to involve more activities that are considered as “extra” by my parents. It is inherent in their mind that a regular and peaceful life with the closest family is ideal. I sometimes look at their pictures or just talk to them when I miss them, but I never say that. It is not common in my family culture to say anything emotional to each other. However, I do feel terribly sorry sometimes to make this decision to stay overseas long term. It is very challenging to leave home and family for my education and possibly my future.

The amount of great advice in Andrea's words is hard to overestimate. Her honesty about her challenges should help to prepare any student going to another country prepare for culture shock and moments of isolation and confusion.

Unlike many students who have large numbers o fellow students from their country around them, Andrea made a choice to immerse herself in the language and culture of Australia. I talking with her I can attest her Australian accent is as good as a naïve as least to my American ear. We are genetically wired to seek out like-minded and like looking people. To make a conscious effort to break away from the comforts of home, language and culture is courageous. Too many people who have never spent significant amounts of time in another culture do not appreciate how hard this is.

We learn by experiencing both success and setbacks. I admire Andrea for her success with TEDx. In her comments she had been far too modest. As the founder of TExUNIMelb she has brought a huge range of speakers to address global and local issues. A glance at their website will impress anyone.  SImon Griffith's  talk on beer and toilet paper proves that  all of us can be philanthropists..That she has organised all this while a full time student underscores her commitment to making change globally. Some of us in a lifetime devoted to education have reached far fewer people than she has in just a few years.

Eris and Andrea

I also admire her for her willingness to work through the initial alienation she felt among native Aussies so that now she is an active participant in the culture and country. Her comments about these challenges should be used by educators everywhere as useful guidelines for hose preparing for a huge life change and a sometimes-difficult transition. If she were in the US I would bring her in as a speaker for orientation programs for students from China.

It is timely that a just published article  encourages those of us who speak English to learn another language. The words and grammar are only a part of the story. The culture of any country is embedded in language and to learn to be fluent in another language is to be fluent in another culture. Andrea says this beautifully and has lived it fully. I have talked with many people and interviewed thousands but my talks with her, across the world via Skype, were more informative and inspiring than many I have have had with people who are professors or long time teachers. She has much to contribute to the world; I am lucky I have had a chance to see her now on the beginning of a great journey.