CHINA'S NEXT LEADERS - Xinzheng, China May 2016

CHINA'S NEXT LEADERS

 Xinzheng , China May-June 2016

Sias University, we're here!

When Eileen left Sias University in June 2013, after having spent seven extraordinary weeks volunteering as a facilitator with the World Academy for the Future of Women, she was relatively sure she would be back. Her hope was that she and Mike could return together someday.

That dream came true in May 2016, when we arrived on campus to volunteer as co-facilitators for the last module.

Eileen, Suzanne and Jackie

We arrived in time for the Women's Symposium which brings in global speakers. Eileen ran a workshop about making global connections and one group of engineers, in particular, were particularly excited to meet Mike and solicit his career wisdom. 

Another plus was getting to meet other speakers from around the world,  including Zach Walker, who we later visited in Singapore. Zach was quite the favorite among the blushing young Chinese women.

Parades are an elaborate affair

We were treated as VIPs, and had a chance to travel to the Shaolin Temple and watch the extraordinary performance.  There were also the graduation ceremonies and all the pomp, circumstance, parades and hoopla that came with it.

We then started our module as co-facilitators. We knew that Founder Jerrie Ueberle would be there the entire time, which meant we were pretty much on call 24/7.  

Mike --a natural at teaching

But we didn't realize that we were stepping into a program that was on the verge of collapse, with the student leadership team ready to quit, animosity between Jerrie's assistant Monday (since rechristened Mandy) and the rest of the group--a divisive atmosphere with mutiny on the horizon. Our stalwart predecessors, Denise and Gary Love, looked like they had been through the wars. They were also our apartment mates.

Next year's leadership team

As it turned out, they had to leave early because of Denise's knee injury (water from a leak in the bathroom. Hello Sias!) and we were immediately thrust into the maelstrom.

Slowly but surely we began to make changes. We listened to complaints and wiped up tears. We inspired and cajoled. And not only did we deliver five weeks of quality leadership lessons, but we helped select the next year's leadership team, held a leadership training retreat and put everyone on a course that we hoped would lead to a successful new year.

This means "Eileen" in Chinese

Always time for karaoke

Mike not only got his first real taste of teaching, but he successfully went solo when Eileen went to deliver a speech to Zhengzhou Normal University.

It wasn't all work. We had a fun weekend in Luoyang where we saw Longmen Grottoes. There was also a memorable afternoon of karaoke in town and numerous special times with our very special students. One of our students, Cherry, came to our apartment to perform the traditional Chinese tea ceremony. Not only did she do a beautiful job, but she left us with gifts of tea and our own teacups.

Soul mates? Good luck?

The traveling pandas

Our last days were filled with appreciation, both on the part of Jerrie and the Academy members, for our efforts. There was a book of memories and assorted gifts, including our twin pandas, which we promised would accompany us in our travels.

Needless to say, our time at Sias was precious and memorable.

Saying good-bye was difficult