CHINESE CORNER: AN IMPORT AT NO COST

By Dr. B. C. Sun, Executive Director, Little Bloomsbury Foundation

Some people have concerns about large imports from China and its impact on the American economy. As an Economist and China Advisor, I would like to propose a free import and fun-filled summer event Chinese Corner to help offset our deficit in learning from other cultures as a means to mitigating our trade deficit. We as a people have long benchmarked on our lifestyle (or the lack of disciplines thereof) within our own nation, which perhaps offers too much comfort and too little motivation to do better. Little are we concerned about how the way people in other cultures live may contribute to their competitiveness and long-term survival in the global setting. China is a great example of one of these cultures. The Chinese Corner concept was inspired by public gatherings in Chinese cities where people assemble in open areas to practice speaking English with one another. The purpose of Little Bloomsbury Foundation's 2012 Summer Community Service Presentation Chinese Corner at Great Harvest Bread is to promote "a culture of learning from other cultures" by providing a venue for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together to learn about Chinese anything and everything. It is our hope that the one-hour weekly event will further mutual understanding and friendship among people of different backgrounds and help enhance our cultural awareness and global competitiveness as a state and a nation. STRUCTURE, HOSTS, & THEMES A blog is under construction at http://www.utahchinesecorner.blogspot.com where upcoming themes and the brief bios and post-event reflections of the hosts will be posted. The event is free and open to all ages, and in support of The Cache Chamber of Commerce. It kicks off with an Opening Reception at 1 PM on Friday, June 1 at Great Harvest Bread, 55 W Center Street, Logan, featuring 10 Friday sessions at the same time and place through August 3, with a Noon Commencement Concert at Logan Tabernacle on Friday, August 10. Structure & Hosts: Two hosts, one of them an ethic Chinese, will facilitate the weekly event. Each host selects in advance a theme to facilitate a lively discussion with the audience. (The hosts may choose a common or related theme(s) and may have come together before the event to make preparations.) Approximately 15 20 minutes in total are estimated for the structured part of the event. People are then free to mix and mingle. Discussion Journaling: Hosts are encouraged to post at our blog over the weekend their timely reflections on the discussion and the implications of the learning observed in themselves and others on any aspect of education, business, and society. Themes: Depending on their background and exposure, hosts may present on any of the following themes: (1) Architecture, feng shui (), and living arrangements, (2) Business and negotiation, (3) China and other civilizations (4) Cinema, (5) Cooking and recipes, (6) Customs and habits that help the Chinese thrive, (7) Family history, (8) Han and Chinese races, (9) Home Education (), (10) Humanitarian work in China, (11) Languages, (12) Law and society, (13) Music, chess, books, and paintings or Qin qi shu hua () as referred to collectively in Chinese, (14) Philosophy and strategy, (15) Performing arts dance, acrobatics, and magic, etc., (16) Social etiquette, and (17) Technology & innovation.