Reminiscences 2025
Like riding an on-off bus, I jumped on the May Term bus in Beijing, joining familiar faces in familiar places–China and South East Asia, and getting off the bus and joining David for further exploration of SE Asia.
The trip might have resulted in the most IWU faculty in Asia at one time, since the trip leaders were Jerry Olson, Dave Willis, and Zhen-hu Jin. And 
me. It was, however, done in reverse from the usual Asia trip, which duplicated many traditional journeys, where you wound up eventually in Beijing with an audience with the Emperor. This trip started in Beijing and eventually ended in SE Asia.
The Forbidden City. The Great Wall. Arthur Anderson (Willis and Olson 
were, after all, accountants). A few memories: the 
countdown clock in Tiananmen Square, ticking down on the “handover” of Hong Kong; Amber Kujath and others catching me with my pants (legs) down on the Great Wall. The zip offs, discovered initially at Banana Republic and used at Philmont in 1987 have become stock in trade for me. Shorts when needed, long pants when not.
Given my interest in history (my dissertation, after all, was on Americans in China and US foreign policy in 
the 20s and 30s), the Legation Quarter always fascinated me. It was, in a sense, another Forbidden City in the early 20th century, a refuge from the turmoil of China (and the attacks during the Boxer uprising). Many of the buildings remain, including the entrance to the old Japanese Legation. Several trips I had guides take us through the old area to get a sense of what life had been like; today, the embassies are housed in a new area in more modern facilities–but still closely guarded.
Hong Kong. Always a welcome place to eat, shop, and sightsee. On this trip, I arranged a visit to City University of Hong Kong, which my friend Eleanor hosted. And of course, the Peak is a visual treat. 
From there, it was on to Bangkok. And the usual glitter of the Palace grounds and area. There was also the trip to the former capital, Ayudhya, the ruins a reminder that similar religions did 
not make the Siamese and Thais best friends. The destruction caused 
Thais to move the capital to Bangkok. The business trip was to a contract manufacturer for athletic shoes, who gradually became vary defensive about its labor practices!
This was my time to get off the bus, and with David, get to KL and Indonesia.