A Blog on McConnell Center Life

As one who suffers deeply from allergies, my trip to China wracked my nerves for how badly the air pollutants would aggravate my sinuses. I don’t often brag about my test scores, but I did happen to score in the 99 th percentile for most allergic in the US last year. Before the trip, rumors of sneezes rocketing black grog haunted my congested head, and so I packed 15 high-grade filter masks that I could use just in case my reactions became unbearable. I did not use a single one. For all the hype, China’s inner cities of Shanghai and Beijing harbored air only moderately more contaminated than what I am used to in the United States. At least from what I detected, the Chinese have successfully mitigated the extensive air pollution they have suffered from in past years.   I attribute a significant amount of this progress to their intentionality in integrating greenery among the tons of concrete making up the cities. Arriving first in Shanghai, I quickly realized the canopy ...

Easton Depp ('19) Something I have noticed since my very first day in China has been the stark difference in the McConnell Scholars' decision-making process and that of the Chinese students. Our class has a very democratic way of making decisions, one that was almost too democratic at the beginning of the trip: Everyone gets a chance to give input on each decision. Over the past week we have refined this process to make it more useful and streamlined, but it still stands in stark contrast with that of the Chinese process: one of absolute obedience to authority.   One of our student guides commented on the difference noting, "Why do you all spend so much time on making decisions? Just have the leader make the call and everyone else can follow along." Time and time again, that attitude has been reflected in the behavior of the guides towards our group. The guides will pick one person who is the leader of our group and will proceed to communicate in...

Nicole Fielder ('19) Each year, the McConnell Center ships off their batch of rising seniors to enjoy the splendors of China. This year, it was our turn. One would think that having three years to prepare might cushion the blow of culture shock, but alas. We had our fair share of struggles. The language barrier proved a challenge not only for the obvious reasons, but also for generating resonance. I had to look to what I already knew about China to lend the sites meaning. What I discovered to be among the most exciting in China was what I used to dread. I took Asian Art History in my first semester and performed so poorly that I chose to retake it this past year. The material was difficult, in large part, due to those same language barriers. But the second time around, something clicked. Understanding the utility and significance of ancient Chinese art helped me get into that cultural mindset. It’s hard for an American to fathom a culture that has existed twenty times long...

Eric Bush ('20) Imagine if Donald Trump was constitutionally required to appear before Congress each week and be  berated  questioned by Chuck Schumer. In the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister has to do just that. Each week, she must answer questions from the opposition leader and other MPs.  I first encountered this so-called “Question Time” early one summer morning years ago when I was flipping through channels. I noticed that CSPAN was airing proceedings of the British Parliament live (the UK is five hours ahead) and, out of curiosity, decided to watch it. This was the first time I had watched the House of Commons in action, and I was amazed by the intense debate, boos, and cheers–a sharp contrast to the typical order of the U.S. Congress. That morning began my ongoing fascination with Parliament, an institution that has promoted civil liberties, democracy, and accountability in government.  McConnell Scholars wait for entry into the House of Commons ...

Bridget Kim ('19) I am so lucky. During such a drama-centric period of my life, I am so utterly, monumentally lucky to have experienced the fascinating magic of scrumptious theatre in these past two whirlwind weeks. In the fall, I'm going into my last year as an undergraduate at the University of Louisville studying Political Science and Theatre Arts, and the stunning serendipity of the Oxford Society's focus on both of those subjects has given me enough imaginative fuel to propel me through the rest of my life. I always felt that politics and dramatics were two lovers bound by their incessant quarrels over legitimacy and legacy and who gets custody of the kids, but getting to travel to Oxford and London in the Summer of 2018 has secured the notion as confirmation of that entangled relationship. Feasting on the Royal Shakespeare Company's Romeo and Juliet, stomping through a gut-busting Kinky Boots in the West End, and standing as a groundling through The Merchant o...

Bridget Kim ('19) At the point that I write this, I have been traveling for four weeks with five left to go. From Oxford to London to Shanghai and now to Xi'an, an important realization for me has been the difference between active and passive traveling. In the UK, our group of sixteen strong, led by clear authority figures, allowed my mind to periodically wander and float along the stained glass dreamscapes of the churches without much fear of losing anyone or myself. In China, our smaller group of eleven faces fiercer complications, some of which are the expected cultural differences, while others involve the social dynamics within the group itself. I feel foolish for coming to a country without speaking a lick of the language; this means every moment of interaction requires absolute and intense attention to details, body language, social context. A blessing and a curse. For me, active traveling requires a fairly consistent mental willingness to make decisions and a...

Isaac Feinn ('19) Last week, we attended the second lecture of our summer study in China, this one titled, “Does Taiwan Matter to the United States?” As I have never studied the issue of Taiwan Reunification, I excitedly awaited not only to hear from a Chinese professor, but also from one while I’m currently in China. The setting seemingly enhanced the lecture. Minutes into the lecture, I knew I would leave having formed an opinion one way or the other regarding whether the United States should actively facilitate a deal integrating Taiwan into the PRC or continue occupying it for strategic reasons. Proponents of the first advocate for what is called Taiwan Reunification, while the group advocating for the latter refer to themselves as Taiwan Card Players. Just because of my personal bias towards US advantage, I thought I would leave calling myself a Card Player, as the group gets its name for leveraging Taiwan – or “playing their cards” - against China to check its growing g...

Easton Depp ('19) We are all guilty of it, myself included. Hiding behind a cell phone or camera in the midst of a historical site; missing the experience in the process of taking photos. I don't mean to sound like a hipster, yet there is something to be said for taking in an experience and simply sitting in contemplation of a site. Often that pure awe is exchanged for the chaos of flickering camera shutters and rapid flashes. Contrary to my classmate Isaac , I argue that photography detracts from the experience of a historical site similar to the ones we visited in Oxford and London. First, let's be frank here. Of the 100 or so photos you will take, you may revisit 5 to 10 of them. And that is good! There is nothing wrong spending some time to snap a few photos to remember something or to capture a beautiful landscape. Ironically enough, Isaac has some photos of me taking pictures of a site. But the difference can be seen in how the photos were taken. Many of my photo...

Georgiana Sook ('19) “The world surely has not another place like Oxford; it is a despair to see such a place and ever to leave it, for it would take a lifetime and more than one to comprehend and enjoy it satisfactorily.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne   I have found articulating my experience of Oxford, England to be extraordinarily difficult. In many ways, the memories mirror the first few morning moments that follow a really good dream. Every fiber of my being wants to fight off consciousness and allow myself to be lulled back into the bliss of a world that felt more make-believe than any real place I’ve ever been. The soft glow around every scene whispers, “it’s only a dream; it’s only a dream.” And yet, a deep-rooted nostalgia washes over me, making me ache in a way that only the absence of a real person, place or thing can.   A bit like lost love, the initial stages of despair almost cause regret of ever experiencing it in the first place. Continued travelin...