The dream of a Fulbright started nearly 2 years ago when I began researching possible research partners in Taiwan. Fortunately the social work and sociology departments at National Taipei Unversity agreed to host me and support my application. Many essays and reference letters later, and after months of waiting, we received notice of the award last spring, and things got very real. Months of preperation began, health exams, X-rays, blood tests, marriage authorization, birth certificate authorization, and multiple trips to the local Taiwanese Economic Culteral Office, and today ... it all began! 12 faculty scholars and over 30 graduate students from all across the US joined our Fulbright orientation, where I learned more about other fellows - composers, artists, and political scientists. The director encouraged relationship building not sitting in libraries, cultural exchange is the first goal. They held a very elaborate reception hosted by the director of the American Institute of Taiwan (the equivalent of the embassy), Sandra Oudkirk. Many formal photos were taken along with a live band performance. I was seated at the director's table between the minister of education (I resorted to talking baseball which proved a fruitful topic) and a local geography professor (who told me about her participatory research and invited me to a local eco justice rally).
The very same day I began teaching a 2-day photovoice workshop to a group of 20 practitioners, academics, and graduate students. With the help of multiple translation devices (and a lot of patience), small groups each did mini-photovoice projects as they learned and experienced the process. By the end, they were comfortable enough to raise questions and point out places where the process might need to be adapted culturally. During workshop lunches, I met with the 2 collaborators who will partner this semester in adapting our photovoice manual to use in a local after school program serving middle schoolers. We had several rounds of me convincing them that I had no expectations or requirements but merely looked forward to supporting a project that felt meaningful to their young people. The social worker, Eating, who will co-lead the group seems amazing - radical, close to her community, and willing to figure it out together. At the end of the workshop, I sheepishly asked if a group photo was possible. They informed me that they take group photos of every event, unusually with a banner, it is the Taiwan way!
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