Dan’s recent email to the group re: his health center visit reminded me to make this post. Per previous emails to you, our informal discussions, status reports, and most importantly, the “legal paperwork” each of you filled out when you signed up for the trip in January, it’s up to each of of you as individuals to decide what medical prevention steps you wish to take before you leave for China on June 15. Dr. Wu and I (and Cal Poly) are not medical professionals and cannot provide you with medical advice. Thus, to that end, per the paperwork you filled out in January you were directed to monitor the WHO, US Embassy in China (see, e.g., their link on Travel Advisories), the CDC, US State Department, etc. web sites (see the “Links” section of this blog where each is posted) and/or work with your medical doctor and/or the health clinic on campus re: how you wish to proceed on the medical front. We CAN report that there are no required shots to enter and travel in China that we are aware of, although I have known some who travel to China get a Hepatitis B and C shot before they leave the US (I personally have no plans to do that). The places we will visit in China most would describe as less ”risky” from a health standpoint than the places many of you will subsequently visit in Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, etc. Again, though, how you proceed and whether the steps you take are prudent or financial overkill are up to you to work with a medical professional to decide. Re: the avian flu issue, that, of course, is something in particular we need to continue to monitor and per the web sites I note above China remains in the clear on that front — note that we primarly visit the metropolitan areas of Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing, with the exception of the more rural areas near Suzhou and Hangzhou. Of course, if a new material public development appears on the avian flu front (or the political risk front) we will report it to the group and decide how to proceed.
April 29th, 2006
Please watch this very well done PBS documentary video on China that is just over one hour: “The Tank Man”.
No question it highlights some of China’s warts. In fact, it’s so well done and so nicely ties together so many of the threads that we will raise in some of our predeparture sessions and in a number of our blog posts thus far that I am requiring you to watch it and enter a blog comment on it. The last 25 minutes of the show in particular raise some interesting business issues that we will be exposed to on the trip.
As you watch it, look for the political-economic “deal with the devil” the Chinese government has struck with its people in order to move forward and try to put the past behind them, and consider whether, at this point in China’s history, the pros of that deal outweigh the cons. In other words, is democracy, with its reputation for gridlock and maintaining the status quo, the medicine today’s China needs at this point in its history; and in considering that question give pause to evaluate whether Winston Churchill’s famous words of, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time,” apply to today’s China.
Also, did you know that during that dark episode in China’s history in 1989, there were at least two camps/interest groups in the square those nights protesting — those advocating democratic reform and those concerned that China was moving too fast with economic change/market reforms thereby creating haves and have nots? So was the CCP crushing of these protests an attack on democracy/democratic reform and/or an attempt to keep and allow market reforms to keep moving along so China could modernize? How do you know? Discuss and defend your answer.
Finally, here is the million dollar question: Would China be where it is today if Ti**anm** Sq*#r^ had not happened? Would its economic miracle have taken place if that dark day of Ti$7^#m*n Sq*^r# had not taken place? (I may address this question in greater detail at one of our predeparture sessions if we have time, and I will re-ask this question of you when we are in China and you see with your own eyes what is happening in that emerging market.)
Prof. Carr June 4, 2008 addendum: See also this related, Wall Street Journal article that just came out, Generation Gap Over Ti**anm** Sq*#r^. Why do you think the youth of today’s China are as pro government and nationalistic, and not more skeptical of government? Discuss and defend your answer.
April 14th, 2006
Here’s an interesting link re: suggestions for how Americans should behave when traveling abroad.
Also, the WSJ had an article yesterday on the same topic and changing American images abroad.
Your thoughts and comments?
April 13th, 2006
Some have inquired about insurance for the trip. Remember that you purchased a required travel medical insurance policy (from Acordia Somerton Company) when you applied for the trip and delivered your first payment to Cal Poly Extended Education. That said, it is important that you personally read over the policy to familiarize yourself with the policy coverage and scope, limits, exclusions, etc. Overall it’s pretty well written, is understandable and is in laymen’s terms. Knowing what you are/are not insured and covered for is also a good business practice so get into the habit of reading your policies! This is the standard policy that Cal Poly Extended Education has students purchase for events and trips like ours. This policy is posted in the “Documents” section of this blog. If you/your famliy feel this policy/coverage is insufficient it will be up to you to work with your own insurance carrier to purchase additional/supplementary coverage. Note that the policy does have an exclusion for injuries and related medical bills incurred as a result of alcohol or drugs, certain extreme adventure type activities you might be tempted to engage in on your own free time, etc. Also note that you have purchased the basic coverage listed in the policy, not the optional bells and whistles that you will see described and discussed in the policy.
April 6th, 2006
