SMU Update 5/29/10

Courses have been going well and we have had some small trips to supplement our class learning. One of these included our trip to Yangshan Deep Water Terminal. This was an amazing experience and I had been looking forward to it for some time. It was pretty eye opening to view the scope of this port in person (pictures really can't do it justice). When this terminal is completed, it will be able to accommodate 15 million tons annually. It has been interesting to learn how this port has affected the competition amongst other container ports in the area. The investment and control of ports in China has changed and progressed significantly over recent years. Much of this growth was brought forth by foreign investment in the port infrastructure which was allowed by the Ministry of Communications. It has been interesting to learn some of the current port issues and the problems with over-investment.

The Marine Transportation students have also been enjoying the courses and learning experience. They have had the opportunity to use the ship simulator to practice stopping and turning in various conditions. They have expressed how state of the art the simulator is offering 360 degree views via projectors. This has proven to be a great learning aid for their classes. They have also had the opportunity to visit the lake for some hands on exercises. One of their favorite classes, Maritime Law, has been great due to the experience of the law professor. Vinnie Sciamanna mentioned that the course on Navigational Instruments has covered all of the newest equipment being used like Voyage Data Recorders but also the industry basics such as magnetic compasses. They have been enjoying their experience here thus far.

SMU Update 5/26/10

The opportunity to come to China and see the growth of the shipping industry in its purest form has been enlightening. There is no way for us to quantify the value of this learning experience abroad. I still cannot believe that I was given this opportunity and it will truly change the dynamics of all our lives. I personally can see the benefit of the cultural knowledge for my future in the maritime industry. From this short experience, I will know more than most in regards to the Chinese consumer and business operations here. Also, the network of professional connections we have established will carry with us throughout our careers. I know that many of us would likely consider employment in China after graduation. Some of us have taken the opportunity to research some companies and MBA programs in China as well. If I have discovered one thing, it is the value of learning Chinese. It has been difficult to take the time to study the language with so many distractions but I will personally strive to get a base of the language within the next year.

In conclusion, this has been a truly fulfilling experience with a lot of unexpected learning opportunities. Although there have been some hiccups, there has been nothing that we haven't been able to work past. I will look forward to recounting our trip upon our return and I will certainly be a strong advocate for the continuity of the program. I'm sure the next group of students will be very eager to travel here next spring. This is yet another addition to the MMA package that sets us apart from other Maritime Academies. It is certainly worth mentioning that there were risks taken to establish this program. I'm happy to say that those were worth it and we will be happy to offer our suggestions to strengthen the metrics of the exchange program. With several weeks left, I'm sure I will have even more feedback to share by the time we leave. I look forward to my return to MMA as well as the Board of Trustees. I hope the Committee Day meeting goes well and I will talk to all of you soon

MMA Update 05/23/10

More excerpts from a weekend in New York...

The traffic and the Subway...
Although heavy traffic and congested streets are no stranger to us, we still enjoyed every street and corner under the concrete jungle of the city. When walking down the street, we could easily find subway stations every several blocks. That’s why we all considered taking the subway to be an essential part of an authentic NYC experience. We rode it about 8 times. But, the only hard part for us was figuring out which direction each train was heading and where we could interchange to another train. So it took us time to search the map for directions.

The food and shops around...
We stopped by a restaurant for dinner before going to the Time Square the first night. Jake took us to his favorite restaurant, TGI Friday’s. I’m not sure how authentic it is but I am very thankful because the food was really fabulous there. Between the 7 of us, we racked up a $250 bill, but the meal was well worth it. There were many shops and stands selling anything you wanted to buy from souvenirs to hotdogs. I bought several of both. We bargained with venders for lower prices on the items. My roommate Brendan helped me get my favorite purchase for a great deal. It was an I heart NYC t-shirt but learning about the baseball season I will wait till I get back to Shanghai to wear it.

Submitted by, SMU Cadet Huang Yixin, “Matthew”

MMA Update 05/21/10

Excerpts from a weekend in New York...

The United Nations Building, Wall Street, the Empire State Building, Time Square, the 9-11 Memorial, the Statue of Liberty, the Central Park and other iconic New York destinations.

It was very interesting to see Wall Street. Being a business major this is the center of our industry. A great number of business transactions happen every day which affect the whole world. As China continues to develop we will surely look to NYC as an example.

On the second day in NYC, we went to see the Statue of Liberty. We left the hotel very early in the morning to beat the lines; unfortunately there were several hundred tourists with the same idea. After a short wait, we boarded a double-decker ferry which took us to the island. The top deck of the ferry had a spectacular view of Manhattan. That view continued to improve as we got closer to the Statue of Liberty. Up close, the statue and island were far more beautiful than what had expected. We spent a lot of time on the island exploring and taking pictures.

Out of all the attractions Time Square was the most fun and where we spent most our time, wandering through the busy streets. I got a strange feeling, even though I was thousands of miles away from home, I felt like I was in the streets of Shanghai. All the people going about their business and the bright lights reminded me of home. Although maybe Shanghai is much more crowded and there are significant cultural differences, I realized that they are in some ways the same. I enjoyed seeing the horses in the city. There were mounted policemen protecting the city and horse-drawn carriage rides for entertainment. Fortunately we were safe and no one forgot their keys.

Submitted by, SMU Cadet Huang Yixin, “Matthew”

SMU Update 05/17/10

On Tuesday, we visited the stele forest museum that houses over 3000 steles and is the largest collection in China. It was interesting to see all the original text carved into these stones from that time. After visiting this museum we drove back to the city and decided to bike the city wall that surrounds Xi'an. The wall is 14km and was rebuilt in the 1300's by the Ming dynasty. This was an excellent view of the inner city and we couldn't have asked for better weather. The bikes that we rented had seen their better day so a few of us had some bike troubles. We had to meet after a couple hours because we needed to be at the airport for our flight to Shanghai.

The trip to both of these cities was awesome and I think everyone will remember the experience for the rest of our lives. I could have never imagined seeing two of the greatest sites in China while I was in school.

Adam Silvis is a 2/c cadet and Student Trustee at Massachusetts Maritime Academy

SMU Update 05/15/10

In Xi'an, we arrived and met our new guide for the couple of days that we would spend here. We first went to get some food at a restaurant that was near to our hotel. We arrived at the hotel after we ate dinner and it was really nice. It was located at the center of the small downtown and it had just recently completed construction. They gave us the rest of the evening off since we had just arrived.

On Monday, we had a very nice breakfast at the hotel and met at the lobby. We climbed on the bus and our guide gave us some background on the Terracotta Warrior site. I was really excited about seeing this and I think everyone else was anticipating the visit. I have heard about this “eighth wonder of the world” for quite some time and I really couldn't believe I was able to see it in person. When we entered the building of the first tomb it was like a picture. They estimate that there are approximately 8000 of these clay soldiers buried at this site. It wasn't until 1974 when a farmer discovered one of the clay soldiers that they decided to excavate. Each soldier is built to the real scale and they all have different facial features. Experts believe the army was built to protect the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor. The majority of the army is still buried and archeologists think there could be many more pits in the area. We took quite a few photos of the soldiers and headed to the second pit where there were war chariots and infantrymen. It was unbelievable to think this place actually exists and I was so grateful to visit the site. We walked around outside and many of us bought small terracotta soldiers made by local farmers for souvenirs. A couple of us got books on the area and then had them signed by the farmer that discovered the site. He has a small office at the location and meets people as he signs books. I figured a person could retire after discovering that but I guess he likes to meet people.

We had some lunch after visiting the site then headed to the Huaqing Hot Springs. This is a recreated site but there are many of the original hot springs still there. It was used by the emperors between 221 BC and 907 AD. It was interesting to walk around and see the area. After the hot springs, we visited the city center and the Pagoda's that sit in the park. They are over 1000 years old and sit next to the largest fountain in China. Many of us came back to this site for the evening light show that was performed which was spectacular.

Adam Silvis is a 2/c cadet and Student Trustee at Massachusetts Maritime Academy

SMU Update 05/13/10

On Sunday, we visited Tiananmen Square in the morning and walked around the area. I found this to be another important part of the trip because of the historical significance of this area. I walked around for awhile and took in the site because this is yet another place that I never thought I would be standing. We then headed to the entrance of the Forbidden City. At the entrance, you can see a large picture of Chairman Mao and the large gate that opens to the historical city. We walked around once we entered the city and the buildings were really magnificent. This place served as a political center for emperors for about 500 years from the Ming to the Qing Dynasties. It is listed as a World Heritage site as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. My favorite part of the tour was the Imperial Garden inside the inner court area. We had to leave the Forbidden city for the airport to catch our plane to Xi'an.

Adam Silvis is a 2/c cadet and Student Trustee at Massachusetts Maritime Academy

SMU Update 05/11/10

Saturday we had some breakfast at the hotel then headed to meet the bus. This was probably the best day of the trip as we were going to the Great Wall. After a decent drive to the tourist entrance of the Great Wall. It was amazing to the see this mountainous area covered in old remnants of the wall from so many years ago. The section we visited was well preserved and served as an entry for tourists. We all were given a time to meet back at the bus and away we went. The majority of the group went up the side of the wall that was less crowded. I couldn't believe how steep the wall was and it was a challenge for some people to make it to the top watch tower. It really makes you wonder how man could construct such an amazing architectural wonder. I couldn't help but stop and stare at the amazing scenery. The wall goes up over the mountains and down into the valleys with such ease and for the time it was built that must have been a feat. We all got quite a few pictures and I went down the wall as far as we were allowed. There was a man at the top of the watch tower selling small commemorative plates that we had our names engraved on. I was really reluctant to leave the wall when the time was up and I certainly could have used several days to walk around. I would have never guessed that I could have climbed the wall at such a young age.

Upon leaving the wall, we made our way to the lunch restaurant that is primarily dedicated to western visitors. We had a nice lunch then drove to the site of the Ming Dynasty tombs. This area has significant meaning to local Chinese and I think they appreciate the site more than a westerner. The Dingling tomb is where we entered and it is the only tomb that has been excavated. The layout of the tombs and buildings all have significant meaning and most historical experts find the place very interesting. We walked through the underground tomb then made our way to the entrance. The next site we visited was the Summer Palace. This is yet another UNESCO World Heritage site and really showcases the art and landscaping of the time. It is positions next to the Kunming lake and is another significant place for Chinese locals. There is a very large corridor that extends next to the lake. The ceiling of the corridor is covered in paintings that show the art of the time. We left Summer Palace and went to have another dinner before returning to the hotel and enjoying another free evening in Beijing.


Adam Silvis is a 2/c cadet and Student Trustee at Massachusetts Maritime Academy

SMU Update 05/09/10

Friday we had to meet in the lobby early to leave for our trip to Beijing. After a several hour flight we arrived at the airport and met with our guide who would be taking us around for the next few days. The plan was to then head to the 2008 Olympic stadium and walk around inside for a while. It was really interesting to see the stadium and it definitely looks smaller than on the television. We had a traditional lunch shortly after the stadium visit then drove to Tian Tan (the Temple of Heaven). This is a group of Taoist buildings that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built around the same time as the Forbidden City. The history and culture was really evident here. We walked around to several of the temples but we were short on time because the entrance to some of the sections were closed for the day. We had another traditional meal for dinner and headed to the hotel for a free evening.

Adam Silvis is a 2/c cadet and Student Trustee at Massachusetts Maritime Academy