This is some important information regarding your visa application. First of all, if you haven't received your visa application materials (namely, a letter of admission from Fudan University and a required accompanying form) then please contact the IP office to get these materials immediately. Second, if you're not starting to work on applying for your visa, you should start now; it is far better to get it early than too late. Visas can be a little complicated and unpredictable, so don't wait until the last minute in case there are issues to take care of!

There are a few other important things to mention however:
1) BEFORE you do apply for your visa, however, I need to point out that your admission letter from Fudan needs to be signed and dated by you. Please see the image accompanying this blog, and sign/date the letter where it indicates. I'm also going to be emailing all of you about this specifically, but I wanted to post this here as another reminder.

2) If you can read Chinese (then good for you!) you'll notice that the application form mentions needing to have a physical exam accompanying your visa application. This is a little complicated, but the important information for now regarding this is that you DO NOT need to get an exam for this particular visa application.

If you are only studying in Shanghai for the semester, you won't have to get an exam at all; it is only required if you are studying in China longer than 6 months. HOWEVER, if you are studying for two semesters, a physical exam will probably be required when we renew your visa in China. If there is a way we can work around this, we will, but if not, it is something everyone staying for the year will have to do, and if that's the case, we'll make a big group trip to the hospital in Shanghai to get it done. The advantage of doing it in China, however, is that it saves you the hassle of having to get the exam certified in the US before submitting it with your visa application. I know this might be a little complicated, but again - for now, all you need to know is that you DO NOT need to get a physical exam or blood test done while applying for this visa.

3) Regarding the same issue as above, if asked by the consulate when applying for the visa, you should tell them that you are studying in Shanghai from September-December (the same dates noted on the admission letter from Fudan). Again, technically, you are admitted by Fudan for two terms of 3.5 months; you'll extend your visa once here, but if you say you are studying for a year, this will be in conflict with the admission letter you have, and may require a different letter and a comprehensive physical examination PRIOR to leaving.

4) Finally, once you get your visa, please email us and let us know what the details of your visa are; ie, if you get a multiple entry visa, etc. Some regional consulates may have slightly differing policies regarding this; ultimately, you should get a multiple entry visa (especially if you're only here for the semester), but if you're staying for both semesters, once you're here and get your visa renewed, we'll be able to make sure it is valid for multiple entries. Because of the Olympics, visa policies have been increasingly conservative in the short-term to make sure that tourists don't 'overstay' their visit and just stay in China - each individual consulate has ultimate authority to decide what type of visa to grant or deny though. This will relax post-Olympics, but in the meantime, don't panic if you aren't given a multiple entry visa the first time when applying.

If you have any questions or problems, PLEASE feel free to contact us. Above all, make sure you are on top of your visa application - it is your responsibility to get this done, and without a visa, your studies in Shanghai will look a lot like Malibu (because that's where you'll be)!

Well, the news all of you have been waiting for is finally official: the Shanghai Jia is officially ours. (Note: the 'Shanghai Jia,' 上海家,is what I'll be calling it – is just means 'Shanghai House' or 'Shanghai Home.') Needless to say, this is a historical moment for the program; really, finding the 'right' facility is in some ways one of the most important parts of the program, as it is the place you will be calling home for either the semester or year.

Actually, the property has been officially ours for about 3 weeks now, I've just been far too busy to get to the announcement on the blog. After signing the lease, we've been busy working on getting renovations scheduled and started, which will begin shortly. If I remember correctly, Charles Hall, the IP Dean, showed some pictures of the Jia at the program orientation, but I'll post some more here for your viewing enjoyment too. William and I looked at literally dozens of properties; the reality is, there are only so many places in a city that could really work as a 'Pepperdine House.' The 'big-4' qualifications for the Jia, as I saw them, were: 1) Adequate size 2) Convenient/ Ideal Location 3) Not made of cardboard, or popsicle sticks 4) Has the right 'personality'. Although the pictures don't really do it justice, you can see that the facility is actually comprised of 3 buildings; buildings one and two are shown in the first picture (building two has the large green-box looking thing on top), and the next picture shows the garden in the middle, with building three at the back of the garden. In the right part of that same picture, you can seen the entrance gate to the facility where the guard sits. The other pictures show the stairwell in building one, as well as a classroom - just to give you a sample. Keep in mind that although the Jia is already 'up to our standard', we'll be spending the next 3 months in renovations to make it even better - adding bathrooms and showers, a student lounge, and some extensive changes to the garden. I think you'll be pleased.

The more I am at the Jia, the more I am convinced that it was unwittingly prepared just for our program.  First, it is a wonderful representation of Shanghai's diverse history. Constructed in 1937 (the same year that George Pepperdine College was founded), the original facility was built toward the end of the foreign concession period of Shanghai's history, when the city was still divided in control by foreign colonial powers. The facility was built to house the Chinese owners of a German-affiliated paint company, and reflects a European "garden-villa" style residence. During the rise of the communist party, the house, along with many other residences of it's size, was controlled by the government and made a home for multiple families in order to 'redistribute wealth' amongst the working classes. In the 1970's and 80's, when China began opening up to more economic development, the property served as offices for several businesses. The facilities and property were renovated and expanded in the late 1990's, adding 2 additional buildings. Its location places it in one of the most historic and convenient locations in the city.

The Shanghai Jia is located in the beautiful and historical Jìngān district – exactly a 10-minute walk west from JingAn temple. Although accessible to the heart of JingAn district, the house sits off of the historic and quaint Yuyuan Road, Lane 532, which is full of preserved, historical residences. Within a 10-minute walk of the Shanghai Jia, students can reach the historic JingAn Temple and park, the Jiuguang (shopping mall), a fantastic mix of local and western restaurants, side-alley markets, two subway stations (JingAn Temple and Jiangsu Rd on line 2), and a major business district that features some of Shanghai's largest commercial high-rises. It's the best blend of familiar, western places, sprinkled with 'real China' markets, noodle-shops, baozi stands, and quaint alleys where you can play 'name-that-smell' to your heart's content. It is also located 1.5 km north of the American consulate and the Héngshān International Community Church. Besides the student rooms and a faculty apartment, the property also features a private flower garden, and accommodates the program offices, 3 classrooms, a library and computer lab, and a large student lounge room. Basically, it's great - and stood neck and shoulders above every other place we saw.

I also want to take a moment here to mention something that is particularly relevant in light of the topic of this blog. As I'm sure many of you have been reading in the papers recently, just as Pepperdine has found it's 'home' in Shanghai in the last few weeks, literally hundreds of thousands of people in central China have lost theirs. The Sichuan earthquake, which happened just 2 weeks ago, continues to affect the lives of millions of people across China. Although the earthquake was too far away from Shanghai to affect the city with any direct damage, many have lost friends or family members in this terrible disaster. As of today, over 62,000 people are confirmed dead, and that number is expected to rise above 80,000 in the following weeks.

A week ago today, on the 1-week anniversary of the first earthquake (which has continued to cause aftershocks), all of China began 3 days of mourning with 3 minutes of silent reflection for the earthquake victims. William and I were on our way to a meeting with the renovation company, and stopped with the other cars in the middle of Nanjing Road in the heart of Shanghai. Thousands of people came out of their office buildings, shops, and homes, and stood silently for three minutes to pay respect for those killed or injured in the quake; the stillness was surreal, especially knowing that it was not just silencing the usual breakneck pace of Shanghai, but of the entire country. For the next three days, the government mandated that all public entertainment would be suspended in mourning for the victims. For 72 hours, every television station either went off-air, or broadcast one of two national news channels, which showed only 24/7 coverage of the earthquake relief effort.

I mention this because, although you are not in Shanghai yet, this is a major part of the 'China' that you are about to enter into and experience. As you prepare to come to Shanghai this summer, take a moment to pray for those that are affected right now – those that have lost homes, children, parents and other loved ones.  Pray for those in Myanmar as well, who are facing the same – and most likely, without the prospect of substantial help or relief arriving any time soon. We are exceptionally blessed to be where we are with the provisions for the program, and to have such an exceptional group coming this first year; as you get ready to depart for the 'Motherland,' foster an expectancy to learn and grow deeply, and in doing both, to better serve...the need is great.

 

I'm pleased to announce that as of a little more than a week ago, Pepperdine has begun an academic partnership with Fudan University (复旦大学). Our signing ceremony was an event of great pomp and circumstance (as you can see for yourself from the pictures); Charles Hall, the Dean of International Programs (whom many of you may already know) came to Shanghai specifically for the event. If you don’t like reading details, the rest of what follows can be summed up as 'awesomeness.'

Unlike most of Pepperdine's other programs, which typically hire local faculty directly, Chinese law dictates that all teaching must be done through an approved educational institution, which is ultimately overseen by the Ministry of Education (whom I lovingly refer to as 'Moe'). Even the Pepperdine visiting faculty must be invited as a 'guest lecturer' of sorts to teach students in the program. Classes, visa assistance, and all teaching services must be provided through an academic partner – there is no other option, and this makes a university partner here extremely important.

Our search for a university partner started this past fall; William and I began by arranging meetings with virtually every major university in Shanghai. Although we considered many factors, three qualities were of the utmost importance: academic reputation and quality, the ability to offer the kinds of classes we need in English, and people at the university that were genuinely interested in an academic collaboration and who seemed easy to work with. After meeting with every major university in Shanghai over a period of several months, only a few rose to the top of candidate list – and ultimately, our final candidate was easy to choose based on it's ideal fit with these qualities.

Fudan University is the perfect match for Pepperdine's Shanghai Program. Although rankings vary depending on who is conducting the rating, Fudan is consistently ranked 3rd or 4th among all universities in China. This is true even of casual encounters on the street; Fudan is known throughout all of China as being one of the top universities in the entire country – truly an 'Ivy League' of the Chinese University system. In particular, Fudan is most renowned for it's strength in the humanities: history, language, culture, literature, art, etc. – which is exactly what we need offered in most of the general education requirements of our classes. Needless to say, Fudan also attracts the highest caliber of faculty in Asia.

On top of studying in one of the most unique and exciting cities in the world, you will now have the privilege of saying that you did so in a program that was partnered with one of the top universities in China and Asia. This is a huge step in the development of the program – in fact, it is the foundation of virtually everything else. For a more detailed history of Fudan, visit the Wikipedia entry for the University or Fudan's English site.

If you're reading this, chances are you are one of the few, the chosen, the adventurous - you are in the first class of Pepperdine's Shanghai program! You will be the first Pepperdine class to experience living in one of Asia's fastest growing economic centers; the first to study Chinese language and culture in the Motherland; the first to experience life in a city where the ancient runs into the modern around every street corner and says, "let's boogie." Of course, you'll also be the first to experience chou dofu (literally, 'rotten tofu', chicken-feet snacks, the 'name that smell' game, and what I like to call the 'squatty potty tango.' You'll learn to speak, and even read Chinese (just how much is up to you), travel to exotic Asian locations and enjoy and participate in a dynamic international fellowship and spiritual environment. You'll also experience the joys and frustrations of living in a radically different culture, and paradigms shifts that will challenge and develop your perspective of the world and personal character. For all of the above, and for the opportunity to be a part of that experience with you, I am incredibly excited.

I absolutely believe that China is one of the most strategic and fascinating places to be in the world right now, and Pepperdine's launch of a full-time program in Shanghai couldn't be happening at a better time or in a better place. Having the ability to understand and interface with Chinese culture firsthand will be an experience that I am sure will serve you well, and more importantly, that will equip you to serve throughout the rest of your life. It's not that you should delude yourself into thinking that you'll be the first foreigners ever to 'discover China' (a mistake I'll go into detail about in a future blog), but there is a reality that you are on a 'frontier' of sorts - certainly for Pepperdine, but also for your peers. You are pioneers - but as you'll hear me repeat many times throughout the year, pioneers make something out of whatever it is they've got. And if all you've got is an overflowing squatty potty...(insert personal creativity here, and a story you can impress or disgust your friends for years to come).

Although I can't make any promises, my goal will be to post a blog here every two weeks (probably on Mondays) until the start of the program. You'll be getting first-hand updates on progress with all the details of the program as they develop - especially about our university partnership and the Shanghai home (which from here on out, we will all refer to as the 'Shanghai Jia, 上海家). Besides program updates, I'll also be posting about life in Shanghai, Chinese culture and just about anything else I think you'll find interesting as it relates to the program.

The other purpose of this blog is to create a space for us to all start communicating; if you have questions, comments, or just want a place to revel in the fact that you're awesome because you're going to Shanghai - now you have that space.

You should have gotten a separate email from me about posting a 'group biography' - I'll post everything here once I hear back from everyone. Until you arrive, this is our Shanghai Jia - so make it your own, and get used to sharing space! Please feel free to keep the program and all the developments in your prayers, and allow yourself to remain expectant for all that God wants to do in you through your experience in China.