Friends of the International Center, at UC San Diego Newsletter Volume XLVII, No.1 September 2019

SAVE THE DATE: FRIENDS EVENING PROGRAMS

Saturday, October 12, 2019, Friends Dinner Social: USA

Saturday, November 16, 2019, Ethnic Dinner

Saturday, December 7, 2019, Friends Dinner Social: Turkey

Saturday, February 1, 2020, Friends Dinner Social: Thailand

Saturday, February 29, 2020, Ethnic Dinner: Indonesia

Saturday, April 18, 2020, Friends Dinner Social: Colombia

Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner I hope your summer was filled with spectacular sunsets and ad- ventures and you are ready to start the 2019-2020 academic year with great enthusiasm! Our daily programs are open to all members and have been operating all summer—a huge thank you to our Program Lead- ers who do not take summers off! Friends Resale Shop will reopen on September 24th thanks to our wonderful volunteer team who would love to welcome new team members! And planning is underway for our evening programs. I hope Make Your Reservations you will join me throughout the year as we continue Friends ever- Friends Dinner Social: Marvelous Midwest USA timely mission of supporting in- Saturday, October 12, 2019, 6:00 p.m., Village 15 ternational education and friend- https://fdsmidwestusa2019.eventbrite.com ship across borders. Reservations due by Friday, October 4—space fills fast Katya Katya Newmark [email protected] Page 2

Resale Shop The Resale Shop was closed for the summer, during which time the university moved the shipping container that serves as the Shop’s extra storage facility to a different area of the valet parking lot, making room for new construction that will greatly transform the UCSD campus. Thanks to Debi Gianni’s coordination and other university staff members’ willingness both to pack and unpack the contents of the Friends Resale Shop and the Oceanids Kitchen Exchange containers, the transfer went smoothly. Please check with one Thursday partners, Renate Schmid-Schoenbein and of the other Shop volunteers about details regarding where Idit London (the latter has since returned to her native and when to drop off donations. country, Israel) put on a show for the camera— In anticipation of the Resale Shop’s reopening on Tues- counting the money! day, September 24, Shop volunteers worked hard to make the Friends shop look spiffy. Business hours are scheduled for Tuesday Please verify all dates through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and times of the September activities Friends Volunteer Hours September Calendar Sept. 2: Labor Day Holiday May 2019: 682 hours, June 2019: 408.50 July 2019: 316 hours Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24: Gus’ Table, 10:00-Noon *** Sept. 3, 10, 17, 24: FIC Craft July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019: 7,565.50 hours Circle, 1:00-3:00 Sept. 4, 18: Family Orienta- tion, 9:15 Mommy/Daddy & Me Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25: Wednesday During Yukina Nakazawa’s visit home to be with her ailing grandmother, Coffee, 10:00-Noon her son, Alex, had to be hospitalized with a serious virus infection, greatly Sept. 4, 11, 18, 25: Mommy/ delaying the family’s return to San Diego. Daddy & Me, 1:45-2:45 Meanwhile, Mariko Usui, who skillfully chaired the program for several years and had persuaded Yukina to assume the role of Mommy/ Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26: Everyday Daddy & Me Coordinator, has moved to Florida, temporarily leaving the English, 10:00-11:30 Thursday playgroup without a chair. Sept. 6, 13, 20, 27: Friday Chat, Aware of the complicated situations, the other Mommy/Daddy & 10:00-Noon Me volunteers have kept the program running smoothly and stayed in daily e-mail contact with Yukina, who was unable to book a return flight Sept. 7, 14, 21, 26: Yoga Class, from Japan until the end of August. Our compliments and thanks to all! 9:00-10:00 Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30: Tai Chi, 2:00-3:00 Sept. 10: Friends Board Family Orientation Meeting, 10:00 Eileen Tozer reports that Family Orientation has been meeting regularly Sept. 23: Fall Quarter begins twice monthly; both the attendance and length of stay at UCSD vary considerably. It is interesting to see the professions of those that have at- Sept. 24: Resale Shop will tended in the last few months; included were a pharmacist, hair stylist, reopen, Tuesday-Friday, medical student, algorithm engineer, barista, musician/teacher, applica- 10:00-1:30 tions engineer, bank teller, housewife, wife, and mother.

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th July 4 Picnic None of this could have been possible without all the friendly —by Jennie Chin volunteers who worked tireless- ly behind the scenes to look af- Once again Friends and Oce- ter the myriad details that make anids held its annual picnic for the this annual picnic such a success. many international visiting schol- Many thanks to Lanna Cheng for ars and their families, along with securing the Martin Johnson others who came to celebrate the House, as always the perfect ven- July 4 festivities at the Martin John- ue for this festivity. Thank you to son House at Scripps Institution of Mira Vendler and Miracema Oceanography (SIO). It was defi- Ueyoshi, who took care of check-check- nitely a picture perfect day, as the ing in the guests. Most espe- weather was clear and sunny, but cially, our thanks go to Georgina with enough shade on the decks Sham, Lynn Jahn, Ginny Young, that people could sit down and en- and Marie Perroud, who took care joy being together, as well as look This photo of Yoshito and Georgina of name tags, helping with signing at the spectacular view of the Pa- Sham sums up the friendship shown at the party up participants, shopping, prepar- cific Ocean. ing the dishes, and cleaning up We had some 50 guests that ica is the melting pot of the many afterwards, and taking care of all included Friends and the many ethnic groups who come to learn, those last minute things we forgot families who came with their love- to teach, to exchange ideas, and to about. ly children. This year we got to be able to experience the generos- As volunteers, we represent see a lot of new babies, so it was a ity of spirit between cultures. the face of not just UC San Diego, genuine pleasure to be introduced Our typical July 4th picnic fare but the larger face of the San Diego to this next generation. The won- included hotdogs, potato salad, community, and of an America that derful thing about these events is a green salad, chips and dips in welcomes with open arms and a the international gathering rep- several forms, chocolate and pea- open heart those who take the leap resented by our visitors: Colom- nut butter brownies, watermelon, into a faraway place from home. bia, Thailand, Japan, Brazil, Chi- lemonade and other beverages. And our hard work and interac- na, Germany, South Korea, India, The children were able to play ring tion comes through when we see France, Spain, Finland, Paraguay, toss and bean bag toss, and/or run the smiles, the laughter, and the and others, which reminds us that around on the grass, and all en- enjoyment of those with whom we one of the many strengths of Amer- joyed a relaxing, comfortable day. share this special day. Wednesday Coffee A Day in the Country —by Georgina Sham —by Nori Faer

Wednesday Coffee A day out in the country has continued to meet was a big hit once again! throughout the sum- On a balmy afternoon on mer with several par- August 3rd, thirty-three ticipants, in addition internationals and their ba- to Lynn Jahn and bies came to enjoy Stanley Marie Perroud, lead- and my park-like backyard. ing craft projects We will continue A feast was set out with this trend trough the fall. everyone bringing a native In August, for instance, we will dish, along with hot dogs, make pom poms. They are easy and hamburgers, and cold drinks provided by the hosts. A few stayed after- fun to make and we hope to make wards to enjoy the pool and conversation about best films they had seen. enough to redecorate the Friends Everyone left knowing a little bit more about San Diego and how varied Resale Shop. are its landscape and climate.

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“My favorite part of the eve- ning was interacting and making connections with the people at my table. I enjoyed being placed with individuals I had never met, so I could talk to them and get to know all these new people and their roles in this process. I enjoyed the speakers talking about their experiences with the scholarship program and studying abroad. It would have been a lovely dinner without it, but that’s what made it tailored to the event and special. Again, thank you! I will keep the Friends updated during my study abroad experience!”—Hannah Saltman, Political Science major, EAP to England

A Beautiful Membership & Scholarship Awards Dinner —by Ruth Newmark with photos by Lou Adamo, Katya Newmark, and Justin Costello

The Friends of the International tographs and individual words Center’s Annual Membership of thanks—received some well- Dinner and Scholarship Awards deserved praise in response. That Ceremony, held this year on May this came from different sources is 21, 2019, is truly the highpoint of illustrated by sample quotes: our fiscal and academic year, one Our guest speaker, Prof. Ivano that entails a great deal of prepara- Caponigro, wrote: tion, and we all owe a great debt to “I don’t know how you found Katya Newmark for organizing the the energy to write such a beautiful event. The warmth that permeated message (with great photos too), so the large Student Services Center late in the day after the marathon Multipurpose Room, glowing in you have must gone through yester- different shades of blue, was suf- day (and the days before yesterday). ficient evidence that all attention It was a very successful beautiful Katya Newmark to detail was worth the effort, as celebration though, full of great a great number of people com- moments, great company, and great my favorite nights of the year. I love mented on how much they enjoyed food. I’m really glad I was able to meeting and hearing about all the themselves. give my little contribution.” students’ grand plans and upcom- Katya, who after cleaning Michelle Grandin, a volunteer ing or past adventures thanks to the up, went home to write notes of in Friends Friday Chat, who also scholarships, as well as learning thanks to the speakers, table hosts, serves as our organization’s Par- about their current research and dinner committee, and university liamentarian, commented: areas of interest. A room filled with caterers—each illustrated with pho- “The dinner is indeed one of amazing people—especially when

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you include all of you who volunteer and donate your time and money to help these students cross borders and boundaries sharing their open hearts and minds around the world. It is a great service. Thanks Katya for being at the helm of FIC, and Ruth for steering the scholarship committee.”

Table hosts: Jennifer Leighton, Emily Kawahara, Kirk Simmons, Jo Peters Jean Selzer, Rachel Rigoli, Max Reinke, Carol Robertson, Roark Miller, Tonia Pizer, Lisa Armstrong, Kim Burton, David Saide, Sabrina Kaiser, Kelly O’Sullivan Sommer, Jim Galvin, Tina Brilli, and Shelly Taskin

Students, who were asked for in where needed, including taking Jean Selzer hangs decorations feedback, responded thoughtfully: photos; Matthew Costello who “My favorite part of the event made nametags and helped with was that students were seated with transportation and photo uploads. members of the Friends community Barbara Fitzsimmons, Elisabeth and a staff member from the Study Marti, and Cindy Tozer manned the Abroad Office. It was a pleasure talk- check-in table, Candace Kohl made ing with Joan and Lou Adamo, who the lovely flower bouquets, Jean told me about how the Friends com- Selzer helped hang decorations, and munity started. Once again thank I, Ruth Newmark, took charge of the you very much for the scholarship printed dinner program and things and the invitation to the dinner. I related to scholarship awards, with enjoyed the food, the conversations, Gail Fliesbach making the Friends and becoming part of such a vibrant scholarship certificates. Bill Homeyer, bartender Lauren Vanover, and caring community.” Pensively As has been custom, Global Nancy Homeyer, and Roark Miller Davit added: “What I enjoyed least Education staff members served as about the event was the time that it table hosts introducing tablemates to was held: a Friday night would have each other. Just knowing a few facts been more convenient.”— Davit about each other greatly facilitates Martirosyan, Human Biology major, conversation; the more so, since heading to Japan (see pp. 10-11). great care is given to seating people Katya was assisted by an able together who are likely to have team, consisting of Lou Adamo who things in common. For keeping the served as photographer; Danya conversations rolling, we thank Lisa Matthew Costello checks out the Costello who helped with decora- Armstrong, Tina Brilli, Kim Burton, sound system tions; Justin Costello who stepped Jim Galvin, Courtney Giordano, Sabrina Kaiser, Emily Kawahara, Roark Miller, Jo Peters, Tonia Pizer, Rachel Rigoli , Carol Robertson, David Saide, Tricia Schueler, Kirk Simmons, Kelly O’Sullivan Som- mer, Shelly Taskin, and Max Reinke who in the last moment stepped in for Dulce Dorado. Explaining that she would attend a conference, Dulce wrote: “The Awards Dinner Cindy Tozer arranges nametags Candace Kohl and Joan Adamo is always one of the highlights of

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the year for me, because of how Since the dinner serves as the an- it allows many of our students to nual event at which our membership pursue their dreams and participate gathers to elect new officers, a quick in transformational experiences business meeting took place with abroad, so I regret not being able Linda Ferri, Chair of the Friends to attend this year. However, many Nominating Committee, presenting of the staff from the International the proposed slate of officers for the Students & Programs Office (ISPO) year 2019-2020. There being no fur- will be there to celebrate the Friends ther nominations from the floor and and our students. Sending my very Friends Scholarship Committee member the Parliamentarian having vouched best wishes for a successful event Kathleen Micheletti and husband Andy for the fact that a quorum of eligible next week.” A further note of thanks Micheletti with scholarship recipient voters was present, the following goes to Friends member Jean Selzer were elected by acclamation: Katya and to Jennifer Leighton in the UC and Succatash with Chinese Stir-Fried Newmark (President), Georgina San Diego Development Office for Vegetables. Sham (Vice President, Membership), rounding out the table hosts. Inspired by a quote from Ellie Jean Selzer (Recording Secretary), The theme of this year’s dinner Krieger: “Comfort food is the food Linda Ferri (Treasurer), and Renate menu was “New Comforts to Be that makes us feel good—satisfied, Schmid-Schoenbein (Correspond- Discovered” and the multi-coursed calm, cared for and carefree. It’s ing Secretary). meal cleverly paired what generally food that fills us up emotionally On behalf of the Friends board, are accepted by those growing up in and physically… Finding comfort in Linda gave a warm speech thank- the United States as comfort foods food is a basic human experience,” ing Katya for her loving care of our with similarly–considered dishes the dinner guests were treated to a organization and presented her in other countries. Thus American delicious dessert consisting of a tiny with a small gift. Tomato Soup was paired with Mexi- Pecan Tart paired with Greek Baklava Katya proceeded to introduce can Sopa de Lima, Buffalo Wings with and a Chocolate Truffle paired with Kirk Simmons, Dean of Global Ed- Korean Gojuchang Wings. Urged to try Brazilian Brigadeiro. ucation, lamenting his announced something new, the main course fea- Having now tasted some old retirement at the end of June 2019. tured Chicken Pot Pie paired with Af- and some new dishes, the menu Katya referenced that she and Kirk rican Bobotie, classic Meatloaf paired reminded us that “As you move shared seven years of working to- with Vietnamese Meatballs, Macaroni outside your comfort zone, what was gether during which time Friends and Cheese with German Käsespätzle, once the unknown and frightening enjoyed his full support at a chal- becomes your new normal.” (Robin lenging time of transition that cov- Sharma) ered the loss of our physical home

Mexican and U.S. soup course pairings

Nominating Committee Chair Jean Selzer, Katya Newmark, Georgina Sham, Linda Ferri and Renate Schmid-Schoenbein

Slate of Officers for the Year 2019-2020 President: Katya Newmark Vice President, Membership: Georgina Sham Recording Secretary: Jean Selzer Treasurer: Linda Ferri The catering crew receives a warm Corresponding Secretary: Renate Schmid-Schoenbein round of applause

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pathway to a much better life. And when it was time for me to leave and go far away to pursue my studies, I could see the sadness in their eyes, but they always encouraged me to go, and never complained about my choice of traveling and being away from them. “Whenever I go back to Italy and Kim Burton and Kirk Simmons Ivano Caponigro talk to young people and students, I encourage them to travel. I do the and the need to find alternate spac- love with (good!) baked potatoes. same with my students in my classes es where Friends could hold activi- My English was non-existent (I had here at UC San Diego and with all ties. She followed this by reading learned it on my own by reading those students I meet in my role at a letter from Vice Chancellor of books) and I had a hard time under- Study Abroad. Student Affairs, Alysson Satter- standing anything; I felt lost many “Let me conclude with a quote lund, thanking Dean Simmons for times, but I also became aware that from The Shadow-Line a short novel his service, and introduced Chip I was stronger than I thought. by Joseph Conrad, a traveler who Schooley, Professor of Medicine, “This experience also helped moved from Poland to the UK and currently serving as Senior Direc- me decide to pursue my Ph.D. in became one of the most important tor of International Initiatives and linguistics at UCLA a few years English writers ever. As typical in interim Faculty Director, Global later. I left my hometown, Milan, Conrad, this short novel depicts Education. to fly to Los Angeles without ever the development of a young man In a bittersweet speech, Dean having been in LA or in the USA who is traveling on the sea as the Simmons echoed Katya’s remarks, before, knowing that I was leaving captain of the vessel he’s traveling stressing how he will miss working my family, friends, and country for on.” Citing Conrad, Prof. Caponigro with the UCSD international com- at least five years. I didn’t know at concluded his talk: munity and Friends. that time that it would be 22 years “’The road would be long. All Our guest speaker, Ivano Ca- up to today, and going. roads are long that lead towards ponigro, Associate Professor of “The experience at UCLA is the one’s heart’s desire. But this road Linguistics and Associate Faculty best I’ve ever had in all my life at my mind’s eye could see on a chart, Director of Study Abroad, offered any level: intellectual, social, human. professionally, with all its implica- a passionate account of the value I grew up a lot. It was not always tions and difficulties, yet simple of international education. Taking easy, sometimes it was really hard, enough in a way. One is a seaman traveling as the theme of his talk, but I gained so much and learned or one is not. And I had no doubt of he used his own experience as il- so much about myself. I learned to being one.’” lustration. speak English (finally!); I learned Prof. Caponigro’s moving talk “My first true experience with to write papers and do research; I received enthusiastic applause. traveling was in college, many years learned to be a true scholar. I met Later, several students commented ago. I was studying philosophy in great people, some of whom are still that they felt inspired, yet also re- Italy and decided to go to Cam- close friends.” assured, eager to embark on their bridge University for a semester. Speaking to many students own travels. First time on an airplane, first time in the audience, Prof. Caponigro in an English-speaking country, first continued: “I’m a first-generation ************ time away alone for several months. college student. My parents were The October and November It was scary, exciting, and eye open- born right after World War II from Newsletter issues will cover the ing. I loved their small classes, the a very poor family. My mother equally inspiring talks by Matthew libraries, the amazing bookstores went to five years of elementary Wills and James Garrafa Luna, where you could sit for hours and school and my dad to three years our two student speakers, and the read without purchasing anything, of evening elementary school. They presentation of the Friends 2019 the midday free concerts in the col- had to start working as kids to help scholarship recipients. leges. I didn’t like the rain so much, themselves and their families. They but loved the green grass. I didn’t encouraged me to study from early like their food so much, but I fell in on, telling me that it would be the

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we had. Your quiet courtyard is Visit an beautiful. Lingjun likes the por- American Home celain you put in food. I enjoy the talk with you and James. Max also A variety of people participate in the likes mango juice. Friends Visit an American Home pro- “The baked pears are foods gram, hosting UCSD international we have never tried before. It is scholars, many of whom come with bizarre, but tasteful. On the way their families. To wit, several are home, we relish the delicious gin- members of Oceanids, such as Judith Lingjun Yan, son Max, Jim Bunch, ger cake. We really enjoyed a relax- Wesling and Jan Ouren. and host, Jan Ouren ing and happy time this afternoon To quote Elisabeth Marti, “Jan and evening. Thank you again for has hosted international visitors for In June, Jan hosted Shiwei your hospitality.” at least the last two years, maybe Duan, his wife, Lingjun Yan, and If you would like more infor- longer, and hosts two or tree times their son Max, who wrote their host- mation on hosting an international a year, which is great. For a spring ess the following note: scholar, please get in touch with gathering at her home, Jan also in- “Thank you very much for Visit an American Home Chair, vited Jim Bunch, a fellow Oceanid, hosting our family this afternoon Elisabeth Marti, at: hostFIC@ucsd. currently serving as the organiza- and evening. Please check the at- edu. tion’s treasurer.” tached picture for the joyful time Membership Please welcome new members Anne Maxine’s daughter, Nadine Wilson, de Pastors & Guillaume Chevance. who informed: “Maxine May Ru- We are saddened to report the bendunst Bloor was born May 10, loss of two Friends Life Members. 1937 in New Haven, Connecticut. In June Brad Baehr, Barbara … During her career as an RN she Baehr’s son, notified us that his worked in emergency and surgical mom had died. “My mother, passed- nursing, post-operative recovery, as away on June 12th, 2019, just over well as teaching multiple nursing two months after her ninety-ninth disciplines. Maxine married Dr. Co- Beach Party birthday.” lin M. Bloor in 1959 and they moved Barbara could often be seen at to La Jolla upon the establishment “Come Have S’More Fun!” read the the Faculty Club with her English of UCSD’s School of Medicine in invitation to the latest beach party in Action tutees (mainly medical 1968. While raising their three chil- organized by Cindy Tozer and held scholars), with whom she would stay dren, Maxine was an active parent on July 19 at La Jolla Shores by the in touch long after the international in all their activities… [while] also lifeguard station. scholars had returned to their na- contributing to the San Diego and Notices went to Friday Chatters, tive country, continuing to edit their university communities,” including who were urged to bring family and scholarly papers as needed. Friends of the International Center. friends and asked to bring a favorite For many years, Barbara wrote We send our sympathy to Na- dish to share, while Cindy provided about her tutoring experiences in dine & Ollie Wilson, Life Members all things necessary for the bonfire the Friends Newsletter. She was and strong supporters of our orga- and s’mores. recognized for her stellar devotion to the English in Action program by being honored twice as Tutor of the English Conversation Year: first in 1986 and once again in 2005. She is sorely missed, and Gus’ Table, the Tuesday morning conversation group, led by Nori Faer and Friends send our condolenes to the ably assisted by Jei Yoon Park, Susan Graceman, and Claire Harootunian, Baehr family. keeps finding interesting subjects to discuss, subjects that range from how A month earlier, we learned of to raise children to how to declutter one’s stuff or whatever other topic Jei, the death of Maxine Bloor from who sends out weekly notices, may dream up.

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Scholarship Letters Ecology of Coral Reefs in French Polynesia First, please let me express my over- (Centre de Recherches Insulaires et across multiple weeks, under multiple whelming gratitude for your award. I Observatoire de l’Environnement), my conditions—from sunny to stormy—to don’t have words enough to express host organization in French Polynesia. get a representative picture of animal my thanks to the Friends of the In- The award further helped cover behavior during this time. ternational Center for awarding me flight costs, as getting myself and I further collected otoliths (the the 2018 fellowship. The award itself my scientific/diving equipment to ear bones of fish) from specimens, reads for academic excellence and out- the island of Mo’oorea, French Poly- which will be used to age fish species standing contribution to international nesia—in the middle of the South Pa- for which we know very little. Otoliths, friendship and understanding and I cific—was not cheap! Another portion which are hard structures behind the am not exaggerating when I say that, of the funding went towards servicing brain of bony fishes, have rings much as a young scientist, of all the awards my dive equipment prior to departing; like tree rings that can be counted to I have been humbled and honored to with such a heavy scientific dive load determine the age of a particular fish. receive, I am the most honored to re- of up to 4-5 dives a day, it was criti- This information gives us insight into ceive this fellowship. I think one of the cal that I have working equipment to population dynamics and the relative most valuable lessons we can take keep me alive while I conducted this “health” of a fish population. The spe- away from higher education is how research! cies for which I am investigating this to be a better human in this world, The habitat models of the sites are all important forage fish.that is, and there are so few outlets that have been fully processed and will prey fish for the fish eaten in artisanal express appreciation for this under- soon be made available on the 100-Is- coral reef fisheries. Their population valued outcome of higher education. land Challenge YouTube channel dynamics are important for the entire Particularly in my field—that of coral (https://www.youtube.com/chan- coral reef fishery, but critically under- reef ecology and conservation ecol- nel/UCR6xc-3SFGmqdYthU8VrgsQ) studied. ogy—the human dimension can only for public viewing. Two interns, an The results of this work will even- be ignored at our own peril, and the undergraduate at Princeton and a tually become several scientific pub- peril of the ecosystems and organ- Masters student at the University lications and have further produced isms which we seek to protect. Our of Bordeaux, helped collect the data material that will be used for out- fates are intertwined. during the fieldwork and are now us- reach with the public, allowing us to In terms of the financial award, ing these underwater ‘maps’ for their bring the amazing underwater world the funds greatly eased my personal own theses. of coral reefs to everyone with access financial burden for this project and Mo’orea is a particularly interest- to the Internet. I will share these docu- allowed this work to become a real- ing system to look at, as reefs at this ments and products as they become ity. I used the funding to purchase island suffered extreme coral decline available, and in the meantime, I’d like a Garmin GPS unit to mark and re- between 1991 and 2014 due to two to express my sincere gratitude to locate sites where I was conducting cyclones, five bleaching episodes, and the Friends of the International Cen- 3D stereo video monitoring of coral an outbreak of the crown-of-thorns ter and Carol and Stuart Smith for reef fish populations, taking thou- seastar (which kills coral) leading to this award, that has enabled not only sands of pictures of the habitat to <1% coral cover in 2010. Despite my own research, but the research reconstruct a detailed map of the these disturbances, coral cover at and mentorship of two other young ecosystem, and collecting specimens several locations has recovered to scientists. I am truly humbled and for biodiversity research. The ability to pre-disturbance levels of ~50%. grateful. navigate to site coordinates via GPS For my thesis work, I am cur- Beverly French is especially important in these fragile rently in the process of coding hun- Ph.D. student, ecosystems, as it means that I did not dreds of hours of the 3D stereovideo Scripps Institution have to disrupt the ecosystem in any footage to determine differences in of Oceanography way to mark and re-locate the sites. space-use between coral reef fish I also used the device to navigate to species across a daily cycle, from coordinates where monitoring was al- dawn to dusk. In order to get the nec- ready being conducted by the CRIOBE essary replication, this required diving

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from our Russian professor about from the city: from the sweet or how contemporary Russians feel savory vereniki dumplings, to pishki about their place in this city. (like doughnuts), to borscht, to many, I have the privilege of living with many cups of tea. I have tried many a host family and have spent a lot of different cafés and restaurants with time with my host mother, Nadejda. my friends, and am getting better at She doesn’t speak any English, and conversing with our servers. my Russian leaves a lot to be de- One of my favorite memories sired, but we’ve managed to learn so far was getting to attend the cel- quite a bit about one another. Last ebration of the Scarlet Sails. It is a night I cooked a spaghetti dinner yearly citywide festival for all of the for her and we made an apple pie secondary school graduates. I was together. She has already taken me lucky enough to attend a concert to a basen, or sauna pool-house, the in Palace Square with a couple of mall, and tomorrow we will go watch my CIEE [Council on International Smolny Cathedral a musical. Educational Exchange] friends, and I have tried all kinds of foods watched the most brilliant fireworks June 27, 2019 I’ve ever seen on the bank of the Hello Friends! Neva. The show was complete with I am writing from my host family’s the passing of the Russian Ship with apartment along the bank of the all-red sails proudly displayed. These Neva River. I’ve been here almost sails are supposed to symbolize new two weeks now, and the city contin- hope, and it was a truly powerful ues to surprise me. I have visited the experience to see how invested the Hermitage, Peter and Paul’s For- city was in this celebration. tress-—the origin of the city—attend- I have learned a lot simply by ed class across from the beautiful walking through the streets, or people- Smolny Cathedral, visited a Russian watching on the metro, about the banya, and much, much more! differences between Russia and the In my class, The Cultural Myths U.S. I’ve seen how most of the people and Realities of St. Petersburg, we I have met have lived in this city their focus on looking at the contradic- entire lives, and how most people tions nestled in the literature and would like to one day leave Russia. history of St. Petersburg, and the Thank you Friends! notion of a “beautiful, yet tragic” city. Erin Ling We have studied the works of Gogol Erin at Enotovil, a place in St. Peters- Cognitive Science and and Pushkin, and have learned a lot burg where one can play with raccoons Political Science majors

On Jul 17, 2019 so you can imagine my surprise re- traditional side of Japan as opposed Dear Friends of the International garding the reversal of my situation to the futuristic, neon, metropolitan Center, having to serve as an older brother Japan. So far, my favorite place is I am currently studying in Osaka, to these two boys. My host parents the city of Kyoto, which weaves an Japan as part of a UCEAP summer speak English, so communication is old town filled with winding streets laboratory research program. I am not a problem, but the seven-year-old and buried shrines into a bustling halfway into my program and have son only speaks Japanese, so our modern city. decided to share a few of my mem- communication consists of pointing While traveling in Kyoto, my friend orable experiences as well as con- and Google translate. My two host and I were approached by three trasting those experiences with my brothers have taught me responsi- Japanese university students who time studying in Scotland. bility and patience, and to appreciate offered to give us a tour of Kiyomizu- I am staying with a host family my own parents who had to deal with Dera Temple. This was one of many who have two sons, one 18 months my mischievous behavior as a child. instances where I experienced the old and the other seven years old. I On the weekends, I explore Ja- warm hospitality of the Japanese. am the youngest of three brothers, pan. I am mainly attracted to the Another instance was when I was

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developed country, its traditions and Japan and Scotland are two differ- etiquette codes still remain. Things ent countries with different cultures. such as eating a quick snack while I am keenly aware that I’m not the walking or blowing your nose in public same traveler in Japan that I was in can come off as rude. The Japanese Scotland. My decisions need to be are respectful and hospitable, but ex- more calculated—I need to consider pect that you to show them the same the risks of my actions and weigh not respect in return. only how will this decision affect me, I had a phenomenal time studying but how will it affect my host family? in Scotland. Living in Scotland was not I have learned to experience Japan in Kyoto’s Gion district; It was raining so different from being in the United independent of my time in Scotland. and my friend and I were exploring States: there was little to no difficulty Currently, I am on Google maps Gion’s alleyways when a Japanese communicating and the culture shock looking for a new city to travel to this woman invited us into a studio where wasn’t as pronounced as being in Ja- upcoming weekend, but I can’t seem a koto concert was being held. There pan. Scotland was where I lived with to decide between Kanazawa and were about twenty people at the ven- friends and I first learned to cook, Takayama. Whichever one I settle on, ue. The koto players were delighted to take a train, book a flight and hotel on I am sure it will be great. see two foreigners present and came my own, but through all these “firsts” I Davit Martirosyan to talk to us afterwards. was still learning the basics of how to Human Biology major Although Japan is an extremely be an adult.

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September 2019 Friends of the International Center, UCSD Newsletter