1. During the last month, what is ONE significant challenge you have SUCCESSFULLY faced or resolved?

As part of my research, I am conducting a couple different surveys, one is about travel behavior and experiences and the other is about physical activity. Once I developed the survey questionnaires, I needed to translate them into Chinese. I had one of the Chinese students helping me translate the questions. What I didn’t realize was how differently we would need to phrase the questions so they would make sense on the Chinese version – a direct, literal translation of most of them would have been like reading “Chinglish” to us. After several modifications, we got the surveys finished though. Assuming I get to do more work in China or in Asia in general, this experience should help with the development of surveys on future projects.

2. During the last month, what is ONE challenge you have NOT been able to resolve? In your 1+ paragraph response:

The food in China is great, and, luckily, most restaurants, in Shanghai at least, have picture menus or some English translation. But, several of them do not. There are a few, in particular, very close to my apartment, which look very good, but the menus are all in Chinese. I can look for a few characters that I know, or try to ask the waitress for random stuff that I think they might have, but it’s much easier to just find another place. I need to learn more Chinese.

3. During the past 2-3 weeks, what is one trait/practice/behavior/way of life that you have observed in China that is most different from your native culture/background?

I think everyone who spends some time in China notices driving behavior is much different here. What I think is interesting is the amount of horn honking here and the reasons that the Chinese use their horn. When I first got to China, it really annoyed me. After a couple of months, I have grown accustomed to it. Honking your horn here is like using headlights, or a turn signal, or the review mirror. It lets people know where you are and where you are going. It lets pedestrians know you are near them so they don’t step in front of you. At home, the horn is also used to alert people, but not to the extent that it is here. Here, they use it as a proactive tool more than a reactive one.

4. Identify and describe one specific goal for personal and/or professional development that is related to your IREE experience and would be pursued after your return from China (e.g. during Fall 2010 and beyond).

Having spent time on two different research projects in China now, I have a strong desire to pursue more research opportunities here. I feel like I can build on the work I have done so far, and aspects of the transportation system here that I would like to explore. To be successful at that, I plan to continue learning Chinese. Communication with professors, students, and other colleagues in China would be greatly improved, and those connections could be strengthened if I understood more of the language.