[Indira Engel]

This presentation shed light on so many fascinating aspects regarding China's non-industrial side. Obermann's introduction was very poignant, illustrating my own misconceptions. I would have never thought of the landscape looking so similar to that of the US. It was also surprising to learn that China’s national park system is relatively new, and that, like many other parts of the world, they too have the issue of what to do with the people who rely on poaching for sustainability. I wondered about some of the abbreviations used in the video, and found clarification on a National Science Review article (Beginning: China’s national park system).

During last week’s lecture, there was mention of Chinese fishing near the Galápagos and other international waters near other South American countries (also mentioned in the Obermann Q&A). I wonder whether these countries’ unified efforts to protect their local fishing industry will pan out given that Chinese fleets outnumber their navy resources.

[Indira Engel]

I can't help but think back to the times of the Panamanian dictatorship, when the government controlled the news outlets. Propaganda shows on Sundays would tell the population that the "yankee boot" was trespassing the sovereignty of our nation. The message was repeated constantly, but there were underground groups that would network to report "real news", careful not to be discovered and "disappeared". There were 2 Panamas: the people and the government that represented them. I see this very phenomenon from this week's videos and readings. There's the CCP and the population. There's a millenary civilization with a rich history, traditions, and beliefs that define China and their people are represented throughout the world, showing a different side than what the CCP propaganda reflects.

In the Rowan Callick video, the comment that stood out for me, among others, was that China is using the same strategy used by the US in terms of foreign policy. I was a graduate of the Central American Peace Scholarships back in 1989 and as part of our English language training, US diplomats would give us lectures on the purpose of the program, the goals and expectations, and one of the lines repeated often was "we scratch your back, you scratch ours". The phrase was used to hint that in the future, when we (Panamanian students educated in the US) came back to our home country, we'd be friends of the US government and look favorably to endeavors that would benefit both countries. We understood the message and agreed that it would behoove us to support democracy over dictatorships and corrupt governments, no doubt. 

A few years ago, I learned that there was a newly appointed Chinese ambassador in Panama and he spoke near perfect Spanish (actually, Panamanian Spanish:-). Meanwhile, there was no US ambassador appointed for about 4 years. During that time, the Chinese government secured several contracts to build infrastructure and other projects that Panama welcomed to strengthen its service industry. 

[Indira Engel]

I've truly appreciated the materials provided as well as the lectures. My experiences with the Chinese culture to date have been limited to building friendships with Chinese-Panamanians (friends I met when I lived in my home country of Panama). Food and traditions were at the forefront of our exchanges. We seldom talked about politics; however, they made the point that emigrating to Panama had afforded them the opportunity to flourish economically through had work. Their deep sense of respecting their elders and caring for their family fit right in with the Panamanian culture. Upon relocating to Nebraska, I gained other experiences through college interactions. However, over time I have noticed a negative stereotype of the culture and what I perceive as a misunderstanding of the culture, perhaps selecting the negative aspects of stories and generalizing rather than trying to understand further, beyong the media hype. I'm curious about the places of worship in China. Are the people able to attend services openly? It was mentioned in some of the materials, specifically mentioning budhism. Is religion discouraged?

[Indira Engel]

I like the Liechtenstein stamp for its color choice and design. I also liked the China 2011 design for the same reason. A few years ago I joined a website for postcard exchange that allowed me to connect with over 8 people from different parts of the world. I showed the postcards to my students and encouraged them to look up the places in our world map. The stamps were very different and fascinating to look at. I believe they convey culture in a simple, yet poignant way, stimulating the mind to wonder and seek more information. 

[Indira Engel]

Hello! My name is Indy Engel and I teach Spanish to PreK-8 grade students at a small Catholic school in Omaha, Nebraska. I was born and raised in Panama, but have lived in Omaha for the last 25 years. I'm interested in culture and languages and seek to bring perspective to my young students other than what they see and experience in our little part of the world.

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