Fulbright U.S. Student
Grantee Newsletter

Alumni Perspective: Looking for Past Life on the Tibetan Plateau

Jack Tseng, 2008-2009, China, takes video footage along the expedition route with an expanse of wind-cut rocks in the background (Tsaidam Basin, Qinghai Province, China)

The history of paleontology and geology as a scientific discipline only began in China, in earnest, during the early twentieth century; many of the first scientific explorers to the remote landscapes of the country were Europeans and Americans, and their Chinese counterparts were, at best, assistants and hired help.  Over the past 100 years, the situation has changed dramatically; today, China is one of the powerhouses of paleontology, and Chinese paleontologists and geologists are standing their ground in discovery and research.  On the expedition with me were scientists from both the older generation, trained under strong foreign influence, and the newer generation of self-confident, motivated researchers determined to make Chinese science better known and respected.

During our trip, we collected a rich array of fossils of extinct elephants, rhinos, hyenas, antelopes, and strange clawed herbivores called chalicotheres.  We used (interchangeably) both “Chinese” and “American” techniques (in which I was trained) in our fossil collection, differing mainly in the type of material used in protecting the fossil specimens for their safe transport back to the laboratory.  Many starry nights were spent around the camp stove (some desert areas were dry and windy, thus campfires were not safe around brushes) engaged in long conversations about wonderfully strange fossil animals of the past, previous explorers to the areas we were working in, and interesting scientific questions regarding past life on Earth - transcending any political boundaries.

I have learned from my Fulbright experience that the American perspective I represent is not the imperialistic image the Chinese had experienced from interactions with earlier, larger-scale joint expeditions with Western civilizations; the playing field has been leveled, and we are collectively gaining knowledge and experience from academic collaborations - regardless of the area of study or nationality of the researchers.

To comment on Jack Tseng's article on State Alumni, please click here.   

Alumni Perspective: Another Side of Sri Lanka

Alison Newman, 2008-2009, Sri Lanka, with a midwife (middle) and her interpreter (right)

I then wrote up the results and sorted through survey responses to figure out which were most important and interesting.  The maternal healthcare system in Sri Lanka is well-developed and free.  Women receive six to eight visits at their home during pregnancy and have access to clinics and hospitals for check-ups.  This is particularly impressive when you think about the U.S. and the current debate about healthcare and its costs.  From my research, it appears that language and geography still present challenges for women in the Kandy District, but given the landscape, huge hills and terrible roads, it's doing very well.

The best part of this experience was working with my interpreters.  My advisor at the University of Peradeniya helped me find four young women - three doctors and one medical student - to assist me during my project.

All of my interpreters had some difficulty understanding me because of my thick American accent.  Luckily, we adapted quickly and were able to understand each other well after a few hours.  I enjoyed the chance to talk to women my age about Sri Lanka and the U.S., and the differences and similarities between the two countries.  Two of my translators asked me about African-Americans and how they came to America.  Another asked me what I thought about gays because she had never met any.  These discussions gave me a new perspective about what it means to be an American.  I was also able to ask sensitive cultural questions about Sri Lanka.  I learned that one minor difference between the Sinhalese and Tamils (Sri Lanka's two main ethnic groups) is that the Sinhalese eat rice at every meal, whereas Tamils only have rice at lunch and would probably eat hoppers, string hoppers, or puttu at other meals.

Through my interviews and my friendships with the interpreters, my Fulbright research experience showed me a different side of the country than the one I saw traveling.

To comment on Alison Newman's article on State Alumni, please click here.