BXAI

The Bai Xian community has continued to stand strong together while adjusting to the “new normal” in unique and creative ways. Read on for more inspiring stories from members of the BX family!

The BXAI Team

It’s been a few months since we have found ourselves in this “new normal,” but one thing that hasn’t changed is our need to stay connected with one another. Through the healing power of music, the BX team is sending love and positive vibes from our office to you, wherever you may find yourself today. We hope you enjoy our cover of “Heal the World” by Michael Jackson on YouTube or Tencent.

Chan Wai

“In times of crisis, we can choose to sit by and complain, winge, and stress (easy to do), or we can look for opportunities and try new things,” says BX friend Chan Wai, a freelance graphic recorder who found himself out of work for two months due to cancelled events. Instead of allowing himself to wallow in self-pity or despair, Wai decided to pull himself up by his bootstraps, scouring the net for free webinars (he discovered there were a plethora of them thanks to the current situation) to practice digital scribing. He then sent the graphic recordings he produced to webinar organizers free of charge as a way to explore potential new opportunities. In addition to receiving many messages of thanks, Wai was pleasantly surprised and incredibly thankful when one organizer commissioned him to cover a large-scale nine-day event featuring 18 speakers. During these unusual times, Wai believes it’s important to “power on, always be grateful, and never complain. All we need is a little bit of faith and creativity!”

Zaw Tu Hkawng

“Leadership is about communicating one’s values and beliefs clearly. It is also about preparation before disaster strikes, and in this case, managing to prevent racial discrimination and panic among the citizens,” says Zaw Tu Hkawng, Bai Xian Alumnus and Next Generation Leader from the McCain Institute, referring to Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti and his response to the ongoing pandemic. Currently working at the Mayor’s Office of International Affairs in Los Angeles, Zaw has learned valuable lessons in leadership, collaboration, and inclusion by observing Mayor Garcetti tackle COVID-19-related issues such as discrimination against Asian Americans. For Zaw, the key to surviving (and thriving!) during the pandemic is the ability to adapt – whether on a citywide level such as promoting census participation via phone, or on a personal like following a regular daily routine that nurtures his physical and mental well-being. “With creativity, mindfulness, and responsibility, I believe all of us can adapt to the ‘new normal’ and take advantage of this period as a unique time for learning and personal development.”

Takayuki Morikawa

“Even though what’s happening now is not what I envisioned, I still believe we can find opportunities that we can take advantage of during this time,” says Bai Xian Scholar Takayuki Morikawa as he reflects on the challenges he has faced over the past few months. Currently an MBA student at Tsinghua University, Takayuki admits the pandemic ushered in a strong sense of self-doubt, especially since his internship in China fell through and the job market continues to suffer. “I initially questioned my decision to quit my job and pursue an MBA, but I came to realize that this is a good time to train my resilience, review my career goals, and really consider where I want to be after graduation,” he says. “Instead of focusing solely on finding work in China, I am now exploring other areas such as consulting and management training.” To fellow scholars and alumni who are also worried about job prospects, Takayuki encourages them to participate in webinars and be proactive about finding job interviews online. And last but not least, “don’t forget to connect with others within the Bai Xian community,” he adds. “You never know where those connections will lead you!”

May we continue to stay connected to one another so that we can support and encourage each other. We look forward to seeing many of you at our soon-to-be-launched Virtual Community Events!

The Bai Xian community has continued to stand strong together while adjusting to the “new normal” in unique and creative ways. Read on for more inspiring stories from members of the BX family!

Ronna Chao

As the coronavirus outbreak continues, social distancing has become a priority but spending time alone isn’t always easy. “Self-isolation doesn’t necessarily mean loneliness, boredom, or stress,” says our CEO, Ronna Chao. “In fact, now more than ever, I believe we need to find creative ways to stay connected so that we can encourage each other and stay positive.” With that said, Ronna is sending good vibes by sharing her “Quaran-tunes” playlist, which features her favorite uplifting tracks (download here).

Ronna and Angela Cheung from our Communication and Development Committee also got creative by singing a virtual duet together last month. Check it out here!

Yasutaka Tamura

“Social distancing may have minimized connections between people, but for me, it has restored precious family time and relationships that I have missed for years,” says Yasutaka Tamura, a Japanese Bai Xian Alumnus and graduate of Fudan University who is currently pursuing further studies at Tsinghua University.

The coronavirus outbreak prompted Yasutaka to return home to Osaka at the end of January. Since then, he has been taking online classes and making informative videos about the pandemic on his social media channel. In the few months spent at home with his family, Yasutaka has seen a transformation in his relationship with his brother. “At first, it felt strange talking to him after being away for so long, but now, we are as close as we were before I moved away,” he says. “Even in the midst of difficult times, I believe there’s always a silver lining.”

Gaby Chan

“In times like these, it’s important to exercise good judgment and not panic, especially since a lot of bad actors have cropped up to take advantage of the evolving health crisis by playing on people’s fears,” says Gaby Chan, a Singaporean Bai Xian Alumna who graduated from Zhejiang University. As part of the Singapore Police Force, Gaby has been extra busy recently dealing with COVID-19-related scams and trying to caution the public against falling victim to coronavirus cons. “This period has shown me that safety and security are a shared responsibility,” she says. “We really need to be discerning in our actions – from the way we choose our sources of information to how we regulate our own behavior in a socially responsible way.”

Sammy Liu

“In these difficult times, it is touching to see compassionate and selfless acts appearing here and there across Hong Kong, where people are able to give out as opposed to store up,” says Sammy Liu from BXAI’s Communications and Development team.

Along with her church family, Sammy has been reaching out to people in need around the city, and has personally witnessed the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the underserved. Some are struggling to feed their families while others are unable to obtain basic hygiene supplies. Sammy and her peers try to connect with the marginalized and unnoticed by fulfilling some of their immediate needs, “Besides offering words of love and encouragement, we try to meet their physical needs as well,” she says.

Kim Daum

As part of the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Bai Xian Alumna Kim Daum experienced the last-minute cancellation of the torch relay, the reimagined handover ceremony, the shutdown of Athens, and an emotional flight back to Japan carrying the Olympic flame. “I will never forget the tears we shared when the flight took off from Athens Airport – after all the uncertainties and cancellations, we were finally going home,” she recalls.

These days, Daum is creating social media content to combat the growing fear and discrimination generated by the pandemic. “Early on, my colleagues and I created and posted a ‘Cheer up China’ video on the Tokyo 2020 Douyin and Weibo accounts, which garnered many comments from Chinese viewers thanking Japan for its support,” she says. “After the Games were postponed, we saw comments flooding in from the Chinese saying ‘Cheer up, Japan.’ Ultimately, we are all sailors on the same boat. I really hope this outbreak can bring the world together in unity.”

Watch this space for more encouraging stories from our community! And as always, stay safe and be well!

During these challenging times, being a part of a strong community is more important than ever. Even with social distancing, we should stay connected with one another (either online or by phone) so that we can support and encourage each other, maintain a positive outlook, and ultimately overcome adversity. Here, members of the Bai Xian community share stories of hope, opportunity, and gratitude.

Becky Yip

Like many of our scholars, Becky Yip, a Hong Kong Bai Xian Scholar pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical medicine at Fudan University, returned home for Chinese New Year and is currently taking her classes online. In response to the many heartwarming stories she has heard during the coronavirus outbreak – from international/interregional assistance and donation of medical supplies, to Taiwanese students from her school sending masks to hospitals in Shanghai – Becky believes that “every effort counts” in times like these. “Infectious disease can easily become a threat to public health,” says Becky. “But if we all pitch in as a community; we can overcome this together.”

Cary Ho

“When I was visiting the Giza Pyramids during a recent trip with my friends, I heard passersby call us ‘Corona’ while other people tried to take photos of us,” says Cary Ho from BXAI’s Communications and Development team. Recalling her trip to Egypt early this year, Cary remembers personally experiencing how misunderstanding creates barriers between people from different places and cultures. “I felt shocked and saddened,” she says. “But then it challenged me to think about how we can take on this fight against prejudice and stereotyping – perhaps we should take the first step and start with ourselves.”

Kazuki Miyazaki

As a response to the flood of comments surfacing online about the coronavirus outbreak, many of which were insensitive and unkind, Japanese Bai Xian Scholar Kazuki Miyazaki, who has travelled all across China, produced feature videos to post on his social media channel, sharing about the beauty of Wuhan and his personal observations during his time in Guangzhou. As part of the Bai Xian community, Kazuki believes our privilege also comes with a responsibility to contribute to the society as best we can. “We are the people of Asia – we know Asia and we are connected to Asia. There are many ways we as Bai Xian Scholars can take action during this challenging time to promote peace and mutual understanding.”

Jean Sung

From facing inequalities to fighting the pandemic, all of us find ourselves in uncertain times. According to Ms. Jean Sung, Board and Executive Committee Member of BXAI, this is a critical time to prepare young people to seek opportunities and embrace challenges with resilience and grit in this ever-changing environment. “When we integrate respect and understanding into learning, we can eliminate bias and prejudice, reduce injustice, and create a community where we learn together, and live harmoniously in the same home – our planet Earth,” says Jean.

Soojung Ro

“My family members dial into a video group call twice a week to ensure everyone is safe. We are super worried about each other but we are enduring this situation calmly,” says South Korean Bai Xian Scholar Soojung Ro, whose family hails from Seoul and the hard-hit city of Daegu. A student at Tsinghua University, Soojung has been on campus since January and is working on her graduation thesis. “In the midst of the prolonged outbreak, people seem to be losing courage and patience. Even with social distancing, we need to try and find innovative ways to connect with and encourage one another to overcome all the negativity that builds up in our minds,” she says. “I also want to express my respect and gratitude to the medical teams around the world,” she says. “You are the real heroes!”

Stay tuned for more community updates, and most importantly, stay well!

Last Tuesday, Bai Xian Asia Institute (Japan) Inc. (BXAIJ) ushered in the new decade at their annual New Year’s party in Tokyo that saw over 80 guests in attendance, including Bai Xian friends, alumni, scholars, and representatives from our six Japanese Partner Universities. Distinguished guests Mr. Yoshihiro Watanabe, President of BXAIJ; Mr. Satonobu Matsunaga, Leader of the International Strategy Team at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Mr. Tatsukuni Uchida, Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Zhang Yaqiang, Councilor of the Chinese Embassy in Japan, and Prof. Katsuichi Uchida, President of BXAI, each took to the stage to give welcome remarks as well as their personal perspectives and outlooks on the coming year, while our CEO, Ms. Ronna Chao, delivered a New Year’s message via video, where she encouraged scholars and alumni to continue building community with one another.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, and a special thank you goes to BXAIJ for being such a great host. Warm wishes to everyone for a rewarding year ahead!