The University of Washington Sephardic Studies Program will host its third annual International Ladino Day, celebrating Sephardic language and culture, in a free event at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, in Room 130 of Kane Hall. The event will be followed by a kosher reception.
This year’s featured speakers are members of Los Ladineros, a long-running local Ladino conversation group, and scholars Julia Phillips Cohen of Vanderbilt University and Sarah Abrevaya Stein of the University of California, Los Angeles, who is a former faculty member of the UW History Department. Cohen and Stein’s anthology “Sephardic Lives” won the 2014 National Jewish Book Award.
Prime Minister Miro Cerar of the Republic of Slovenia met with University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce at the University of Washington on December 4, 2015 to express interest in sustained collaboration between the UW and academic institutions in Slovenia.
Vice Provost for Global Affairs Jeffrey Riedinger and UW President Ana Mari Cauce in discussion with Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Miro Cerar Photo: Piotr Horoszowski
The Slovene Prime Minister was accompanied by His Excellency Ambassador Božo Cerar, Slovene Ambassador to the U.S., Slovene Deputy Prime Minister Boris Koprivnikar, and other Slovene government officials. UW Vice Provost for Global Affairs Jeffrey Riedinger, Vice Provost for Digital Initiatives and Dean of Libraries Betsy Wilson, Divisional Dean for Humanities Michael Shapiro, Professor and Chair of Slavic Languages Katarzyna Dziwirek, Professor of Law Louis Wolcher, and Professor of Slavic Languages Michael Biggins also participated in the discussion.
Prime Minister Cerar praised the long-term impacts of the UW-University of Ljubljana Faculty Exchange, which has been in existence since 1979. He and President Cauce also discussed an initiative already underway at the UW to create an academic program in interdisciplinary Slovene studies, which would serve students at the UW and around the U.S. via distance learning.
UW graduate students working in Slovene studies, UW post-doctoral researchers from Slovenia, and two UW undergraduates recruited from Slovenia to compete as part of the UW men’s rowing team greeted the Slovene delegation at Gerberding Hall.
This was the first visit by a Slovene prime minister to the UW and took place as part of a larger Slovene trade delegation tour of five major U.S. IT hubs. Former Slovene Ambassador to the U.S. Samo Žbogar visited UW twice during his tenure, delivering a talk during a 2007 visit to a hundred students at the Jackson School of International Studies.
As climate negotiations continue in Paris, Old Weather, a citizen-science project led by a University of Washington scientist, is mining historic ships logs to get a unique peek at Arctic climate over the past two centuries.
In developing or war-ravaged countries where government censuses are few and far between, gathering data for public services or policymaking can be difficult, dangerous or near-impossible. Now, researchers with the University of Washington Information School and Computer Science and Engineering Department have devised a way to estimate the distribution of wealth and poverty in an area by studying metadata from calls and texts made on cell phones.
Getting Beyond Better: A conversation with Sally Osberg, President & CEO of the Skoll Foundation
On Thursday, December 10, 2015 the Foster School of Business’s Global Business Center will be hosting Sally Osberg, President & CEO of the Skoll Foundation, for a conversation about social entrepreneurship and her new book “Getting Beyond Better: How Social Entrepreneurship Works” co-authored with Roger L. Martin. The conversation, and questions & answer session, will be monitored by the Foster School’s Dr. Emer Dooley and will be followed by a reception where Sally Osberg will be selling and signing her new book.
This free event is open to all students, faculty, staff and community members.
Event details
Date: Thursday, December 10, 2015
Time: 6-8pm (discussion 6-7pm, reception and book signing 7-8pm)
Location: Anthony’s Forum, 3rd Floor of Dempsey Hall, University of Washington
Join UW faculty on Tuesday, Nov. 24 for a roundtable discussion on “Paris II: Making Sense of the World” in Thomson Hall 101 at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
Daniel Chirot, Herbert J. Ellison Professor of Russian and Eurasian Studies
Kathie Friedman, Associate Professor, Jackson School of International Studies
Ray Jonas, Colonel Donald W. Wiethuechter, USA Ret., Endowed Faculty Fellow in History
Reşat Kasaba, Stanley D. Golub Chair of International Studies; and Director, Jackson School of International Studies
Anand Yang, moderator; Chair, Department of History; and Tamaki Professor, International Studies
Presented by The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, the Department of History, the Center for Global Studies, the Center for West European Studies, the European Union Center of Excellence, and the Middle East Center. The Middle East Center’s sponsorship of this event does not imply that the Center endorses its content.
Four UW dancers and Harry the Husky took part in the UW’s events in China, courtesy of the Pac-12 Conference. Here in the second post about the group’s experiences, Annie Millspaugh and Julia Tran discuss the announcement of the Pac-12’s partnership with China’s Letv, as well as a traditional tea ceremony.
Annie Millspaugh, sophomore, Dana Point, CA
Annie Millspaugh (third from right) with Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, fellow UW dancers, and Harry the Husky at the announcement of the Pac-12’s partnership with Letv
Before the start of this trip, I didn’t understand why we were playing our opening basketball game in China. Our trip was sponsored by Alibaba and after attending their academic program at the Alibaba campus and the press conference with Pac-12 with Letv, I was able to gain a lot more insight on the importance behind this historic basketball game. This game was not just about basketball; it was a chance for us to learn more about China and their culture, and for Alibaba to expand their organization internationally.
This game was live streamed on Letv in China and on the Pac-12 network in the U.S. Letv held a press conference with the Pac-12, and they announced all of the details behind their partnership, along with their plans to stream many more live Pac-12 sporting events in China. The sporting events include basketball, football, and soccer games. This game was the first live Pac-12 basketball game to be played and streamed in China.
During the press conference, Larry Scott spoke about Pac-12 and it’s tradition of being known as “The Conference of Champions.” It led me to reflect on the many years of success and championships Pac-12 has had. The Pac-12 includes some of most prestigious universities in the country and has won numerous NCAA championships throughout its history. Hearing this speech made me very proud to help promote the Pac-12 and represent the University of Washington.
This new partnership is not just about the excitement and competition behind these games, it is about providing inspiration to Chinese students and sports participants. I felt very honored to be a part of this inspiration and motivation for Chinese student athletes to continue fighting to reach their goals. To know that you are an icon for success in the minds of many Chinese students and athletes felt very surreal and rewarding. I really enjoyed getting to experience this amazing culture and learn more about the building of relationships between China and the U.S. It gives me a lot of pride to be a part of such an amazing organization and knowing that there will be much more success to come.
Julia Tran, sophomore, Portland, OR
It’s hard to recall a more riveting moment on the sidelines than when Andrew Andrews shot that three-pointer that put the Huskies up 71-67 with only 3 minutes left on the clock. Cheering on our team, who was predicted to lose, as they won in a foreign country in front of our international fans was definitely a surreal experience.
Though cheering that game was unforgettable and definitely one of the greatest parts of our trip, some of the most memorable experiences I took away from this trip was also being immersed in China’s rich culture. One of my personal favorite experiences was witnessing a traditional tea ceremony in “Old Chinatown”—the traditional district of commerce surrounding Chenghuag Miao, the City God Temple of Shanghai. The tea ceremony took place atop a building that overlooked the traditional Chinese architecture that populated the area. Standing tall with sweeping gabled roofs that floated over traditionally colored red and gold bases, the buildings emanated majesty. It’s hard for this neighborhood not to leave a lasting impression even after you’ve left.
Julia Tran (left) during the tea ceremony in Shanghai, with coach Sheila Sampatacos
As an avid tea drinker, some of the best mornings are when my apartment-mates and I sit around the kitchen island drinking steaming cups of tea. But even so, I always saw tea as a soothing remedy to drink when it’s chilly or when I need to relax. In China however, drinking tea is largely a social event—an opportunity to get together and enjoy time spent with friends. Being exposed to a new culture and sampling the various types of tea with my coach and teammates was an exciting experience for all of us. There was an irreproducible warmth and enthusiasm in the atmosphere when smelling the different types of tea leaves, tasting them, and finding which brews we liked or didn’t like. After taking part in the tea ceremony it’s not hard to understand why tea is so commonly used for social gatherings; it’s amazing how something so simplistic can bring people closer together. Seeing the value of tea in Chinese communities and the parallelism of tea and companionship in their culture has those made those cold mornings drinking tea with my friends more cherished.
One of our personal favorites from the ceremony was the jasmine flower tea. This tea is especially used for tea shows, as a welcoming gesture to guests, and very common for gatherings with friends. This tea is interesting because it has an element of entertainment: the guests choose the closed jasmine blossom to use for the tea, which then blooms upon steeping in hot water and reveals a different flower with each blossom. Because of this, it is known as the “lucky draw tea.”
Furthermore, we learned that tea in China is not only used as an enjoyable drink, but also valued as a health promoter, and even as medical treatments. The most popular ones being: oolong tea, which is good for energy, body warmth, and weight loss (in Chinese culture it is even used to wash the dishes!), and green tea, China’s national tea, which is also referred to as “long life tea” for its antioxidants and its believed anti-radiation, anti-cancer, and anti-aging properties. Medicinal teas are used for a wide array of things, including sore throats, detoxification, liver protection, and the cleansing of the lungs. In Chinese culture drinking these medicine teas three times a day for three months is considered a treatment.
A set of tea cups is used for tea ceremonies and sampling teas. The thin top piece is used to smell the tea’s fragrance, while its long structure holds the flavor of the tea longer. It can be rubbed against the face, hands, and eyes to give warmth to the drinker. The bottom piece is where the tea is sipped from.
It was such a grand experience feeling directly immersed in the Chinese culture. It was eye-opening to see the value of tea in China, and fascinating seeing how tea is emphasized and used differently in places compared with back at home. What I loved most is how tea represented well-being and community in China; the room was filled with positivity and eagerness to learn about Chinese traditions and try new things and flavors. It was unique witnessing how something like enjoying a communal pot of tea could cultivate such blissful feelings between people and unite our two cultures. It was a truly memorable experience that I’m glad I got to share with my teammates.
Four UW dancers and Harry the Husky took part in the University’s events in China, courtesy of the Pac-12 Conference. Here Jordan French and Becca Love share some of their experiences at Alibaba headquarters and Lingyin Temple, both in Hangzhou.
Jordan French, senior, Olympia, WA
Team captain Jordan French (center) with fellow UW dancers and coach Sheila Sampatacos at Alibaba headquarters the day before Singles Day, the biggest e-commerce day in the world
As a political economy major, I knew my week-long journey to China with the Pac-12 would be extremely interesting and educational. However, I never could have dreamed of what would be presented to me as we stepped on the Alibaba campus the day before the largest e-commerce day in the world.
When thinking about huge online shopping days, we usually think of Cyber Monday—the Monday after Black Friday. However, the sales made annually on that day do not even begin to compare to the amount of sales made through Alibaba on Singles Day, even though the company does not actually directly produce anything (similar to Amazon or eBay).
Singles Day is a holiday that has essentially become the opposite of Valentines Day in China—a day to celebrate being single. This holiday originated in the 1990s and has quickly become widely recognized all over the country. When choosing a day for this holiday, it seemed obvious the date should contain a lot of “1”s to represent the singleness encompassed in the entire spirit of the holiday. Thus, Singles Day — and, eventually (after Alibaba decided to take advantage of the day in 2009) the largest e-commerce day in the world — lands on 11/11 of every year. Although the holiday was not originally e-commerce focused, the idea of treating ones self became more and more relevant, therefore making the day one of the largest e-spending days in the world.
Jack Ma (center) poses with Larry Scott, Ana Mari Cauce, UW dancers and Harry the Husky at Alibaba headquarters
While listening to Alibaba co-founder Jane Jiang and Head of International Corporate Affairs Jim Wilkinson speak on behalf of their company, I could tell they were extremely prideful of what Alibaba does. They shared their experiences with the company and showed us how they have changed the world. As Americans, we think of online shopping as a luxury, but many people in rural Asia consider it an absolute necessity since the mobile age began. People often do not have the resources to drive all the way to a supermarket, and companies like Alibaba help them purchase their basic necessities, and even get them delivered within 72 hours anywhere in the world (only 24 hours in big Chinese cities).
Moreover, Alibaba changed the buying world by creating trust between buyers and sellers. Before Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, created Alipay, consumers were always skeptical of handing money over to a producer because the producer might just give them a fake item, or not send anything at all. Alipay created a middleman that keeps the money until the item is received and verified—promoting more trust and ultimately more e-commerce. As of 2014, the average Alibaba customer buys 58 times a year, which proves that e-commerce at this scale is more than just a frivolous luxury, but rather a necessity for many people.
Overall, it was incredible to see how much impact one company could have on the world. Beyond the macro scope of things, it was amazing to see how much pride people took in being a part of the Alibaba Corporation. Employees were sleeping in tents at the headquarters before Singles Day this year just so they could get as much work done as possible, and everyone still seemed eager and excited for 11/11 to hit. The amount of dedication coming from Jack Ma throughout the years after starting Alibaba only two decades ago, has been passed down through the ranks of his employees, and it shows in the way they speak so highly of the company. I feel so incredibly lucky that I got the chance to hear about and witness first hand the type of work that goes into running a company like Alibaba, and the huge ways in which e-commerce has changed the world for the better.
Becca Love, freshman, Rancho Bernardo, CA
Becca Love at Lignyin Temple in Hangzhou, China
The Lingyin Temple, located in Hangzhou, is enclosed by picturesque forestry. This temple, also known as Temple of the Soul’s Retreat, is one of the largest and most visited Buddhist temples in China. Our wonderful guide, Cindy, began the tour by showing us one of the hills that surround the temple’s outskirts. This hill which is known as Feilai Peak, is covered in wooden Buddhist cave and rock carvings. As I was climbing up the hill, I was in awe at how incredibly detailed and unique each carving is. Feilai Peak’s tranquil and isolated environment created one of the most beautiful scenes I have ever witnessed and set the perfect tone for the rest of the tour.
After we explored Feilai Peak, Cindy gave each one of us incense that consisted of exactly three sticks, symbolizing abstinence from temptation, healing, and wealth. As a group, we lit our incense, faced the temple, and began the prayer ritual. Holding the incense with both hands high on our forehead, we bowed three times towards the temple, turned to the right, and repeated this pattern to the remaining three sides. The four sides represent a different prayer subject: good fortune, happiness, good health, and prosperity. After we finished praying, we placed our incense in a large, smoking, bathtub-like bucket. I immediately felt overwhelmed and caught myself grinning from ear to ear. When I saw my teammates and coach in the same fashion, I knew the peace and happiness I was experiencing was universal.
I walked away and onto the rest of the tour with a bittersweet feeling because I knew that partaking in that ritual in this special place was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, the rest of the temple continued to astonish me. Entering the main hall of the temple was surreal. Three huge, golden statues instantly grabbed my attention. The center statue, personifying Buddha as Shakyamuni, is the largest wooden statue in China. Watching people kneel and pray towards this statue was so powerful. This hall greatly differs from the last hall we entered, which houses 500 Arhats. Each Arhat is distinctive in various features, but the main focus of the hall points towards the four Bodhisattva statues at the center. These select statues represent great wisdom, great practice, great compassion, and realization of great vow. Everything throughout the entire temple is exceptionally ornate. It was difficult to peel my eyes away and leave the beautiful city of Hangzhou.
I am so grateful that I was lucky enough to see and engage in the culture at the Lingyin Temple. I will never forget this journey.
The capstone to the UW’s week of events in China was a gathering of alumni from across Asia following the Huskies’ 77-71 victory over Texas in the Pac-12 China Game.
The raucous crowd cheered the players, Coach Romar and President Cauce, took pictures with members of the UW Cheer & Dance squad, and met friends and fellow Huskies from more than a half dozen chapters around the region.
When the Huskies and Longhorns tipped off, it was just like any other college basketball game. The stands were filled with cheering alumni decked out in their school colors. UW Cheer & Dance and Harry the Husky rallied fans. There were even contests during timeouts, a “kiss cam” and a halftime show.
But a closer look at the bilingual signage, and hearing announcements in Mandarin and English, made it clear this was like no other college basketball game.
The Pac-12 China Game in Shanghai marked the first time an American basketball league – college or professional – had held a regular-season contest in China. And it capped the end of months of preparation by the UW men’s basketball team for its week-long experience in the world’s most populous nation.
A wall of purple backed up the Husky bench, with alumni from all over the region and even the United States streaming to the Mercedes-Benz Arena to cheer on the team. It was close all the way, and tied at halftime, but in a fitting crescendo to the week, the UW beat Texas 77-71.
