Feverish Changes
Sep. 21st, 2005 12:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tiaramerchgirlThe odd feeling I got when I came to Japan wasn't culture shock. It was a fever coming on.
Right now I'm at home resting - I'd rather rest now and miss a Community Impact day, than collapse again during our first Japanese Celebration. The CI project I signed up for was ratehr unpopular (cooking with international people) but hopefully it'll go well.
I'm not sure I mentioned this in my last entry, but Irina is here! Now we have a full group. She's quite cool, though understandably overwhelmed. Hopefully we'll be good friends.
We had an UWP corporate update yesterday from Bob. Our group was involved in quite a number of discussions regarding the program's future and from our feedback, some major changes are being implemented starting next semester.
1. The name of the program will be changed to Up With People Global Education Program. This takes advantage of the Up With People branding that has been established for over 40 years, and helps reconnect the program to alumni and anyone else involved with UWP's history. Also, there were tons of feedback from our group about the word "Leadership" being misleading (to the point that if anyone says "Let's talk about leadership" everyone starts laughing) so this name makes it more accurate.
2. There will not be any more college-style classes on the road. There will still be some form of education (a-la Stone Soup)but there will not be a split between those taking the classes and those doing internships. This allows for everyone to participate fully and gain the same experience together. Also, this allows for the internship opportunities to be spaced out during the week, not just during one day.
3. Because of the lack of classes, the partnership with University of Colorado - Denver has been mutually suspended. Instead, UWP will be looking for partnerships with international universities to recognize the program as a whole - for instance, their current partnership with Hawaii Pacific University allows students from there to gain credit for the whole trip. (Brandy, who is from HPU, and Christie from Northeartern, have this arrangement.)
4. Also because of the lack of classes, the tuition has been lowered to US$11,800 per person. I'm sure my parents are cursing me now.
5. The tour has been extended for 3 weeks - 4 weeks orientation in Denver, and a proper "on the road" city. Right now it's 2 weeks orientation and 1 "practice on the road" week in Denver. This allows for more teambuilding time and more time to fully understand the Celebration.
6. There will be efforts to make the Celebration more professionally produced. It will still very much be a student production, there won't be a sudden emphasis on recruiting performing arts students, and it won't be the major gala that UWP used to perform. But with the added time, there would be more opportunities to polish up the show.
This will be very interesting to watch, especially since I'm thinking of working on the road with them next semester if everything goes well. Hopefully this will bring greater benefits to the program and there won't be so many teething problems. It's great that they really listened to us and made the effort to incorporate our ideas.
World Expo tomorrow, lunch now. Woo!
Right now I'm at home resting - I'd rather rest now and miss a Community Impact day, than collapse again during our first Japanese Celebration. The CI project I signed up for was ratehr unpopular (cooking with international people) but hopefully it'll go well.
I'm not sure I mentioned this in my last entry, but Irina is here! Now we have a full group. She's quite cool, though understandably overwhelmed. Hopefully we'll be good friends.
We had an UWP corporate update yesterday from Bob. Our group was involved in quite a number of discussions regarding the program's future and from our feedback, some major changes are being implemented starting next semester.
1. The name of the program will be changed to Up With People Global Education Program. This takes advantage of the Up With People branding that has been established for over 40 years, and helps reconnect the program to alumni and anyone else involved with UWP's history. Also, there were tons of feedback from our group about the word "Leadership" being misleading (to the point that if anyone says "Let's talk about leadership" everyone starts laughing) so this name makes it more accurate.
2. There will not be any more college-style classes on the road. There will still be some form of education (a-la Stone Soup)but there will not be a split between those taking the classes and those doing internships. This allows for everyone to participate fully and gain the same experience together. Also, this allows for the internship opportunities to be spaced out during the week, not just during one day.
3. Because of the lack of classes, the partnership with University of Colorado - Denver has been mutually suspended. Instead, UWP will be looking for partnerships with international universities to recognize the program as a whole - for instance, their current partnership with Hawaii Pacific University allows students from there to gain credit for the whole trip. (Brandy, who is from HPU, and Christie from Northeartern, have this arrangement.)
4. Also because of the lack of classes, the tuition has been lowered to US$11,800 per person. I'm sure my parents are cursing me now.
5. The tour has been extended for 3 weeks - 4 weeks orientation in Denver, and a proper "on the road" city. Right now it's 2 weeks orientation and 1 "practice on the road" week in Denver. This allows for more teambuilding time and more time to fully understand the Celebration.
6. There will be efforts to make the Celebration more professionally produced. It will still very much be a student production, there won't be a sudden emphasis on recruiting performing arts students, and it won't be the major gala that UWP used to perform. But with the added time, there would be more opportunities to polish up the show.
This will be very interesting to watch, especially since I'm thinking of working on the road with them next semester if everything goes well. Hopefully this will bring greater benefits to the program and there won't be so many teething problems. It's great that they really listened to us and made the effort to incorporate our ideas.
World Expo tomorrow, lunch now. Woo!
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no subject
Date: 2005-09-21 03:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-22 03:11 am (UTC)We are here always praying for you and you think we are cursing you for the saving we could have if you took the next program!!Even if it was free next term, we will not be bothered about it!!!You haven't got the slightest idea how much we love you and what we will do for you!!! When will you grow up and learn to appreciate the things that we do for you? Like everybody else we also have feelings and can get hurt by remarks that we don't deserve!!And imagine when it comes from a person who is the dearest of all!!! We can see you know how to appreciate people and how to make some people happy by remembering them. Don't we come to your mind? Read your diary and you will understand!Love.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-22 12:26 pm (UTC)Hi
Date: 2005-09-22 08:35 am (UTC)Interesting changes!!! I was looking forward to leadership classes, but at the same time I wanted to do an internship... I'm happy that they thought about the fact that everyone will have opportunity to do internship and at the same time some classes( i hope classes will be interesting).
Looking forward in hearing news from Japan...
Zeljka
no subject
Date: 2005-09-22 10:05 pm (UTC)So you're thinking of workinf for them next semester, eh? Would it be paid or voluntary? Have you spoke to them or the parentals about it? I think its ann interesting idea and I hope it goes well ...
I'm not sure I can do italy as I might have a performance on the 13th . You need to find out how far away from your hostel the airport is and find out whether you can stay there an extra day. I wish you were coming here - you could hang round with me for christmas and we could have had a fun sisterly time together :)
Love you lots
Kakak
no subject
Date: 2005-09-23 02:41 am (UTC).......regarding that remark,I think you were trying to be funny!!
Sometimes our choice of words may make all the difference between what we actually meant and what it appears to mean! Anyway, don't bother about it. Enjoy yourself and good luck. Love.
Dad