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Lunar New Year Celebration
Feb 9 | 10am - 4pm
Asian Centre
To celebrate this most important holiday in both Chinese and Korean cultures, we would like to sincerely invite you to come and enjoy our wonderful performances, great food, interesting hands-on activities, and a meaningful seminar. You will gain more cultural knowledge, make new friends, and win special prizes!
Click here to watch a fun video made by our students in anticipation of this event.
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Jinhua Chen awarded UBC Killam Research Prize
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Jinhua Chen has been awarded a UBC Killam Research Prize. Established in 1986, the UBC Killam Research Prizes are awarded annually to top campus researchers in recognition of outstanding research and scholarly contributions. Dr. Chen’s contributions developed primarily from a persistent interest in trans-national narratives in the history and contemporary practice of Buddhism across East Asia.
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2018S course schedule is now available online!
Featured Courses:
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ASIA 211: Sex, Sexual Ethics, and Asian Religions
Sex and sexual ethics in the scriptures, monastic rules, rituals, and narratives of Asian religions, such as Sikhism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
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ASIA 304: Survey of South and Southeast Asian Performing Arts
An historical perspective on the performing arts of South and Southeast Asia, highlighting the role of music, dance, and the dramatic arts in the lives of actors and audiences. Option to complete a practicum performance.
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DEPARTMENT EVENTS |
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Asian Canadian History and Film: "Random Acts of Legacy"
With Ali Kazimi Feb 7-9 | Various Times
Please join Ali Kazimi (documentary filmmaker, York University) for a screening of his award-winning film “Random Acts of Legacy” (2016) and for a screening of student documentary films on Punjabi Canadian history, in discussion with Ali Kazimi. “Random Acts of Legacy” utilizes an abandoned set of home movies to explore the extraordinary, and yet very normal, lives of a Chinese American family from the time of the Great Depression to the post-war period.
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Always Liminal, Always in Transition: Reading Hong Kong as Staircase City
With Dr. Louis Lo
Feb 9th | 2pm
Dr. Louis Lo will demonstrate in this talk how the perception of Hong Kong is transformed and re-imagined by considering the city as a landscape punctuated and even constructed by stairs. By examining the impact and socio-cultural effects of escalators, such as high-speed gentrification, the closure of local shops, and the loss of genuine public spaces, and comparing these mechanical movers with stairs, he will argue that staircases expose the nature of a classed society and represent a nostalgia that is potentially productive.
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Celebrate Language: International Mother Language Day
Feb 15th | 3:30pm
UNESCO proclaimed February 21 as the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) in 1999 to celebrate and protect the diverse languages of the world. This year IMLD will be celebrated at CISAR with multilingual presentations, performances, and multicultural festivities.
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Hong Kong Nationalism and the Chinese Dream in the Age of Global Capitalism
With Dr. Wai Kit Choi
Feb 15th | 5:30pm
Scholars and pundits continue to discuss the issue of Hong Kong’s right to self-determination under Chinese rule even after the Umbrella Movement has ended. The one perspective that frames the conflicts between Hong Kong and China in nationalist terms has attracted much attention in particular.
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Behind the Scenes: Transnational Ties Between the Hollywood and Hong Kong Entertainment Industries
With Dr. Sylvia J. Martin
February 16th | 1:30pm
Drawing upon anthropological fieldwork conducted with media professionals in the commercial film and TV industries of Los Angeles and Hong Kong, Dr. Martin examines commonalities between the two national entertainment industries.
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Powerful Imagination: Chinese Maritime Networks of the Fifteenth Century in the Eighteenth Century World
With Dr. Bruce Rusk
February 16th | 2-4pm | Buchanan Tower Rm. 1197
This talk examines the early maritime power of the early Ming court (ca. 1400–1435) as imagined in early eighteenth century China. Both historical documents and fictionalized retellings created memories of a distinct mode of imperial power and of the goods that came along with it.
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The Harjit Kaur Sidhu Memorial Program: Celebrating Punjabi Language and Culture at UBC
With Punjabi language filmmaker Gurvinder Singh
March 2 - 4
This year's program, spread over three days, will screen and discuss the films Awazzan, Anhe Godhe da Daan, and Chauthi Koot.
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The 1st UBC Cantonese Singing Contest: The Final Round
March 9 | 7pm
The final round of the contest will be held in the Lower Atrium of the Nest. Come cheer on the contestants!
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The John Howes Lecture in Japanese Studies
Stolen Secrets: Intercepting Dispatches between Wartime Berlin and Japan
With Dr. Peter Kornicki
March 13 | 6pm
Guest speaker Dr. Peter Kornicki will discuss the British efforts during World War II to read the dispatches of Japanese diplomats in Europe, including those of Oshima Hiroshi, long-serving ambassador in Berlin.
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City Inscribed
Event Series
Jan 17 - June 22
The UBC Hong Kong Studies Initiative is pleased to present “City Inscribed,” a series of public lectures and events in celebration of the launch of “Literature of Hong Kong” (ASIA 324) at the University of British Columbia. All of the lectures and events are free and open to the public.
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OPPORTUNITIES |
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2018 Annual BC Japanese Contest still accepting applications
The Annual British Columbia Japanese Speech Contest is open to British Columbia and Yukon residents who speak Japanese as a foreign or second language. The 2018 Contest will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at the Halpern Centre, Simon Fraser University. Deadline to apply is Monday, February 5th, 2018 at 5pm.
MOA is hiring Student Guides and Event Staff
The UBC Museum of Anthropology is now hiring for MOA Student Tour Guides and Museum Assistants for evening functions and public programmes. These positions are for Spring and Summer 2018, and ongoing beyond that for registered UBC Students. Apply by February 8th through UBC Careers Online.
Liu Xiaobo Fellowship – Fellowships at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China
The Liu Xiaobo Fellowship provides significant educational and professional experience for individuals with a background in Chinese politics, law, and society, in addition to strong Chinese language skills. Deadline for summer term applicants is February 15th, 2018.
Apply for Chinese government scholarships
The Chinese government offers scholarships to students from British Columbia to study at a Chinese university. It is a valuable opportunity to gain exposure to Chinese language, culture and business practices, and to develop enriching, life-long relationships. Deadline to apply is February 28th, 2018.
2018 Global English Camp Internship Program in Japan
This internship program is designed to promote cultural and language exchange between Japanese high school students and native English speaking university students. Deadline to apply is February 29th, 2018.
Canada-China Scholars' Exchange Program
Global Affairs Canada and the Chinese Ministry of Education are offering short-term scholarships to Canadians wishing to study abroad in China. Deadline to apply is March 6th, 2018.
Hou Family Fellowship in Taiwan Studies
The Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University is pleased to announce the 2018-19 competition for the Hou Family Fellowship in Taiwan Studies. The fellowship will be for a period of three to twelve months from August 1, 2018 to July 31, 2019, with residency at Harvard University. Deadline to apply is March 14, 2018.
2018 Huayu Enrichment Scholarship
This scholarship aims to encourage international students to study Huayu courses in the Republic of China (Taiwan); and to provide them with opportunities to increase their understanding of Taiwanese culture and society, and promote mutual understanding and interactions between Taiwan and the international community. Deadline to apply is March 31st, 2018.
2018 Taiwan Scholarship
The Taiwan Scholarship Program was established by the Republic of China (Taiwan) --- the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to encourage outstanding international students to undertake degree programs in Taiwan. Deadline to apply is March 31st, 2018.
Summoning the Senses: a new art exhibit at the Asian Centre foyer
Visit the Asian Centre foyer in the New Year for a new art exhibit featuring artworks by UBC Asian Studies alumni, Amy Ebrahimian. Summoning the Senses is a multi-media exhibit inspired by eighteen months of academic exchange and personal travels throughout India which aims to incite curiosity and encourage adventure.
Seeking Volunteers for Research Study on Music and Immersion in RPGs
Conducted as part of a PhD dissertation in Musicology at UBC, this study aims to learn more about how music interacts with different types of video game landscapes to make players feel like they are actually “in” virtual worlds while they play RPGs.Contact Marina Gallagher (PhD student, Musicology), at marina.gallagher@alumni.ubc.ca
Free round-trip tickets for students travelling to Hong Kong
Students selected to receive a round-trip flight, sponsored by Hong Kong Airlines, will become part of APF Canada’s cross-Canada network of Asia enthusiasts and other students travelling to Asia as part of the Asia Connect program. Applications will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis.
2018 Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition
The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is an academic competition that assists current graduate students with fostering effective presentation and communication skills. Participants have just three minutes to explain the breadth and significance of their research project to a non-specialist audience. Deadlines TBA.
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ON & OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS |
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Wartime Japan as a Divided, Ambivalent Entity: The Eurasian Experience
Feb 7 | 12:30pm | Room 604, Asian Centre
Dr. Shunya Yoshimi, “Scales of History: Resonant Vibration between Family History and Global History
Feb 9 | 4:00pm | Lillooet Room, IK Barber Learning Centre
CKR-CJR Conference “Multiculturalism and Migration in Trans-Border Asia: Japan, Korea, and the Philippines”
Feb 9 | 9:00am | Room 120, C.K. Choi Building
Crowdfunding the Hospital
Feb 9 | 2:00pm | 1600 Canfor Policy Room, SFU Harbour Centre
Unscripted: Salesman in China
Feb 11 | 2:00pm | Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond, BC
Lind Initiative 2018 Speaker Series
Jan 11 - Feb 26 | Multiple events | Multiple locations on UBC campus
Nine Dragons - the world premiere production of this stylish murder mystery set in colonial Hong Kong
Apr 12 - Apr 21 | Multiple events | Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond
Use coupon code MYSTERYHKSI for $5 discount on checkout (offer ends Feb 15)
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT INTERVIEW |
The Alumni Spotlight is an interview series where we interview Asia Studies alumni about their career paths, how they became interested in Asian Studies and for any advice that would be useful to our students. This interview features Oliver Ormrod, BA ’02 in Asian Studies. Ormrod currently works in Worlwide Corporate PR at UNIQLO. This interview was originally published in 2013.
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Oliver Ormrod, BA '02
Worldwide Corporate PR at UNIQLO
Please tell us a bit about yourself. Where do you live? What are you currently doing?
I currently live in Tokyo, and work on the Corporate PR team for UNIQLO holding company Fast Retailing. I am also elected to the Board of Governors for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Japan (CCCJ).
How did you start working abroad?
I studied in Japan as an exchange student in high school, which lead me to major in Asian Studies at UBC. In third year, I did an exchange to Korea through UBC for a year, which allowed me, after completing my BA, to secure a scholarship from the Korean government to pursue an MA in Korean Language and Literature, with a focus on intercultural communications.
After completing the MA, I began working with Burson-Marsteller, an international PR consulting company, in Seoul. After two years, I moved to Tokyo with Kreab Gavin Anderson, another international agency, specialized in corporate/financial PR. After accumulating experience there, I moved across to Fast Retailing, to support worldwide corporate PR.
In this process, the support of friends and contacts proved invaluable, in facilitating introductions and exploring the options. Person to person connections really made all the difference.
How is working and living abroad as a foreigner?
Working in communications allows me to act as a bridge between my host country and home, which is very rewarding. It is kind of like diplomacy for the private sector.
Tokyo is cosmopolitan and fast moving – there really is always something new to discover. It takes time to build a local community for yourself, but that is part of the adventure.
Any advice for other alumni that are hoping to go abroad?
In my experience, you add the most value by understanding where you are, while remembering where you are from – thus fostering communication between your adopted home and your place of birth. Many Japanese businesses are focused on opportunities for overseas growth, and Canadian candidates can be attractive, given our multicultural nature. It is worth highlighting this in exploring opportunities, as it is a real differentiator.
Japan offers a lot of diversity, and where you land plays a big role in your experience. Although many of the jobs are in Tokyo, some find living outside the big city initially the best means of learning the language and getting a sense of the more traditional social values.
More than anything, make friends, and help people when you can. What goes around, does come around.
What is one of your funniest or awkward mistakes as a foreigner?
I am sure I have committed many mistakes that people have just been too polite to point out. One that comes to mind is, in learning Japanese, I assumed at first that if someone uses casual language with me, I am free to respond in the same way, even if they are much older than me. This is of course not the case, and lucky for me, people have been generally pretty understanding, and I have never gotten myself into significant trouble.
Read the full interview |
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