Update 2nd November

What’s happening…

You must be wondering why we did not mention much about how we got on with our studies so far and about the campus. Well, we sort of waited to see how this went before we let you in a bit more on it.

So far, we do really enjoy all the subjects we take. You know what, we have not failed any test yet. Our classmates are all nice and also very bright. Yes, all of them, except one, are younger than Nicholas and Douglas. Just imagine these two old Asian folks sitting in their midst. Kind of like Asian parents with a family of American kids. We have great fun in class. We have this professor (Professor Genthner) who even hand-wrestled with a girl student to make the point of gender differences in our Human Sexuality course. Last Friday, some students dressed up for the class. One even came in a World War 1 uniform. It was the day our adult student, Jackie, brought her son (Aaron) to the class. That was real cool.

The professors are great too. Each has their uniqueness. They are not just great teachers but have such a caring heart for their students.

The fun side of university life does help greatly with the ‘pain’ of the course assignments and tests.

We did a fair bit travelling also in the last few weeks. On 16 and 17 October, Matthew travelled with Professor Freudenburg to Altanta where the professor spoke to a group of university professors on family life.

Then, we were off to the FFPN function in Nebraska. We had a tremendous time there. Professor Fruedenburg, his wife Jennifer, Matthew and Rose landed at Ohama airport and took a 2.5-hour drive to Norfolk, a farming community. First, we met this most lovely and energetic 90 year-old lady, Adelaide Schewe (we all call her ‘Addie’), the first cousin of Professor Freudenburg, who hosted us at her beautiful house.

After seeing many cornfields at where we stayed in Michigan, we were wondering what kind of machine (they call it ‘Combine’ here) they were going to use to harvest such big fields of corn. It was explained to us that such a machine convert the whole corn plant into corn kernels in a split second. Addie arranged for us to not just to see a combine but to ride on one. I rode on a combine driven by a cool guy called Chad, a third generation farmer. Rose went onto a truck that carried the corn.

That afternoon of 17 October, we also traced the root of Professor Freudenburg to the house where he lived in the first four years of his life. We also visited the graves of his parents. It was a very meaningful journey for all of us to do that.

For Friday night and whole day Saturday, Professor Freudenburg conducted the FFPN seminar. His wife, Jennifer, and Matthew also conducted one session each. On Saturday evening, we were treated to a delicious dinner at another Freudenburg family member’s (Elaine) place.

On Sunday (18th October), Matthew & Rose spoke on Malaysia at a special function.

On the following Saturday, Professor Frendenburg and Matthew went to Richville, 3 hours drive time north of Ann Arbor to conduct another FFPN seminar. There, after the seminar, we visited the largest Christmas store in the world at Frankenmuth.

On the weather front, we are going below zero degree Celsius at night now. It is getting very cold now. Everyone is telling us that the worst is yet to come. We have yet to see snow. On the bright side, the trees here are turning into beautiful colours. This is a nice blessing from the changing season.

What’s ahead!
Professor Freudenburg and Matthew will be going to Cincinnati, Ohio next weekend for a FFPN seminar.

A Week In Passing

Six Weeks Update

What’s happening…

Now I know what studies can do to our time schedule! Six weeks into the semester and we are already swamped. I hope I do not develop the habit of updating this blog once every six weeks.

What do we do every weekday? What do you think? Readings and assignments. This student life is in full swing. So far, our brains are still staying with us.

It’s an exciting time for us as the subjects we take are all very interesting, especially Family Life Methodology Education, Parenting Education and Guidance, and Child Psychology. They are just the expansion of the areas of family life that we have been involved in over the last decade or so. On top of this, these are up-to-date and cutting edge stuff. The cream that tops it all is the emphasis not just on theory but the applications.

We have many ‘aha’ moments and paradigm shifts in several key areas of family life learning.

The privilege of having two professors (Professor Freudenburg and Professor Doyle) guiding us personally on the learning process is just tremendous.

Matthew started co-teaching with the professors in two courses. It’s quite a different environment at an American university, even compared to universities in New Zealand that we are familiar with. The students are generally very expressive and very bright and eager to learn.

The visits (one on Sunday 21st September) to the sites where students on practicum and internship are just a clear example. Another is the visit to the baby delivery facility on 16th September as part of the Child Psychology class.

Oh yes! We also have a lot of goodies to eat at classes, especially those under Professor Doyle.

We went to Grand Rapids (where the HQ of Amway Corporation is located) and Grand Haven, northeast of here, for the weekend of 27th September, again for the Family Friendly Partners Network (FFPN) assignment of Professor Freudenburg.

Last weekend, Professor Freudenburg and Matthew went to Wausau, Wisconsin, to conduct another FFPN seminar. It was quite an experience seeing the changing autumn colours of the tress from the air and on the ground.

Yes, the weather is getting colder. It was averaging about 10 degrees Celsius in the morning two weeks ago. But this week it averages about 15 degrees. Trees are changing their colours fast these few days. Officially, autumn (called ‘fall’ here because it’s the time of the year when the leaves of many trees fall or trees go ‘botak’) started on 22nd September. I took photos of a particular tree outside our office to show how the colours are changing rapidly now. The scenery is just so amazing.

Just Pondering…..

If you ask us to use one word to describe what we are learning here, we would tell you it’s all about ‘relationships’. It is about building stronger relationships in the family.. between husband and wife and between parents and children.

It is just great to learn of the recent research findings on various family relationship issues. I am personally just astounded by the extensive impacts of family relationships on the development of a human being. The ripple effects are felt well beyond childhood stage, right into adulthood.

I will update more on this when I am able to collect thoughts to share in the coming days.

Meantime, invest in your own family. This is a sure ‘bet’, even in the midst of the crumbling world economy.

What’s ahead!

Professor Freudenburg and Matthew will be going to Atlanta on Wednesday (15th October) where the professor will be a keynote speaker. We will be back on Thursday night and fly off on Friday morning to Nebraska to conduct another FFPN seminar. Rose and Matthew and Jennifer Freudenburg will all be going there until the Sunday evening.

A Week In Passing

Acknowledgement…This blog is updated with the creative input of Miss Trish Wong, an incredibly talented multi-media IT savvy young lady. She may be contacted at <blueshores86@yahoo.com>