What follows is a slightly-edited version of the Fulbright Mid-Year Report that I submitted in early 1988. (Current conditions at the Foreign Affairs College in Beijing may be found here .)
PART I ADMINISTRATIVE
A. Selection and Notification: Please comment on selection procedures, notification of selection, and communications with administrative agencies. I was notified around New Years that I was nominated, and notified of selection in late February, I believe. This was timely for my planning purposes.
It was somewhat difficult before each of these two stages to assess the likelihood of my ultimate selection.
B. Communications with Fulbright agencies: Please comment on the adequacy of information and support from CIES, USIA, and the Commissions/Foundations/Embassies abroad. The people at CIES and USIA were always friendly and always returned my calls. It was difficult to get clear information on either tax or immunizations, however.
C. Transportation Arrangements: What comments or suggestions do you have with respect to visas, transportation, baggage, or shipping of effects? By following USIA instructions carefully, I had no difficulty getting my visa.
As for transportation, the Fulbright allowance was sufficient for a roundtrip business class flight from Kentucky to Beijing. I went all the way on United Air Lines, and avoided stopovers in order to lessen the chance of lost baggage.
I took the wise advice of previous Fulbrighters and brought everything I thought I would need (except books) with me as checked baggage. I checked six bags, including a computer and printer, and they all arrived at Beijing with no problem. My travel agent was even able to get the excess baggage charges waived. (The one small package I have received in the mail since I arrived in China required my spending the afternoon going all the way across town to pay the 1.2 Yuan (35) customs charge.)
My computer and printer, however, were impounded by customs at the airport in Beijing, and I did not see them again for over two weeks. Others, even on my flight, had no problem bringing in computers, however, even when they declared them. I don't know why I was singled out. Originally they wanted 4000 Yuan (over $1000) as a deposit to insure that I would take the computer out of China again (i.e., without selling it). Efforts by the Embassy staff, with the help of my Chinese institution contact person, eventually resulted in my receiving the computer without payment of any deposit.
A future Fulbrighter bringing a computer, particularly if it is large or contained in a large box marked "computer," may possibly avoid this problem by contacting the Chinese institution and requesting the institution to deal with the problem ahead of time. However, warned of the possibility of this very problem at the Washington orientation, I took such a step with no effect.
D. Orientation: Across the 120 countries with which there are Fulbright exchanges, there are a variety of options with regard to orientation, and orientation is not provided for a number of countries. We would, therefore, appreciate your comments on any kind of orientation you received, if any.
What kind of orientation did you receive prior to your assignment?
In Washington x In host country x By mailed materials x
How did you find any orientation program(s) and/or material sent either by USIA, Post, or CIES? Was the information you received useful? If so, what specifically was useful and how was it useful? The Washington orientation was enjoyable, and largely useful. First, it provided a way to meet people who would be in China at the same time. Second, the lectures and presentation by China scholars were valuable. Third, the orientation should give the chance to ask questions not covered in the written materials.
The Beijing orientation for me was a similarly positive experience. The primary benefit was getting familiar with the Embassy staff, especially those who administer the program in China. There is also on-the-spot information, and another chance to get to know other Fulbrighters who would be around China. But by the end of the Beijing orientation, some felt over-oriented and were eager to get on with the program.
Did you receive information and/or impressions that proved to be inaccurate? How can this be avoided in the future? Yes. I was given the strong impression that it would rarely be appropriate to wear a coat and tie. Many reports said that one suit would be sufficient for the entire year, and this was emphasized again at the orientation. I ignored this advice because I wanted to attempt to wear the same type of dress that I would wear in a U.S. class. For me that is a coat and tie. In a way, I think dressing down to foreign classes is a little derogatory. Students take it as a sign of respect, I think, that you dress up to teach them. Of course, lack of laundry and dry cleaning facilities would make for a different story, but these are no problem for me in Beijing.
Second, I was repeatedly told--I mean over and over again--how difficult it is to get Chinese students to speak in class. This has simply not been a problem for me. I use the same techniques that I use in U.S. law school classes to stimulate discussion, with the same relatively high degree of success. Of course many U.S. students are reluctant to talk in class, and you have to know how to call on students without threatening them. It may be, too, that I am particularly fortunate in having small classes of graduate students who are mostly fluent in English.
Naturally there is no way totally to avoid inaccurate information. In general, though, orientation is most valuable if taken in light of ones own experiences.
Were there areas that should have been covered that were not? Should the orientation have included more detail in one or more subjects that were covered? Was there anything covered that should have been left out? Certainly nothing should be added, as there is ample orientation. Tax and immunization information was not lacking, it was just unclear.
The Washington orientation session led by former Fulbrighters was least valuable. Since we had read numerous reports of former Fulbrighters, the afternoon would have been better as a pure question-and-answer session, with only a short introduction. The talk by USIA Associate Director Blitz was valuable.
Were the reading materials useful? (i.e. grantee reports, country reports) Which to drop? Add? The most useful information was the supply of all of the reports of the previous two years from China Fulbright lecturers. Perhaps the most useful was that of Anthony Oberschall. I also used a short report supplied to us on "Taking your home computer to China." In addition, China Bound, put out by CSCPRC, is an excellent orientation all in itself. We were given this book at the Washington orientation, hot off the press. It should be distributed with the initial packet of information.
How can the orientation program be improved for your successors? Get a real tax lawyer who has done some research, and a real immunologist, to come and answer questions. Send out China Boundwith original packet.
Did you receive any language training from CIES? No.
Did you arrange for any language training before departure? Yes. I started tape-recorded lessons entitled Modern Chinese: A Basic Course, by the Faculty of Peking University, Dover Publications, New York. I only got through about 10 lessons, but these proved an invaluable basis for the beginning class I started soon after I arrived in China.
What opportunities are there for language training in the host country? It is pretty easy to get a private tutor. Instead, I am taking a class given here in the Friendship Hotel. It costs only 60 Yuan ($17) for a semester, and meets 2 nights/week, 2 hours each session. It also requires about 4 or 5 hours of homework per week to get the most out of the class. Another class given here is not so strenuous. I am making progress, but there is no doubt that it is a difficult language.
PART II LIVING ABROAD
A. Logistical Arrangements Abroad: Information of the following items will be helpful to program officers and future grantees. Please comment on availability and adequacy of the items described.
1. Housing I live in a hotel room in Building 4 of the Friendship Hotel. There is a large bedroom with two beds, a sitting room with chairs, desk, small table, small couch, and a bathroom, but no kitchen. I have wall-to-wall carpeting, air conditioning, heat, telephone, maid service, an everpresent thermos of hot water for tea, and constant availability of running hot water. For a bachelor like me it is perfectly comfortable.
Of my two predecessors, one lived as I do in the Friendship Hotel, the other with his family in an apartment in the Foreign Affairs College foreign experts' quarters. The relative advantages of the Friendship Hotel over living at the college are: (1) hot running water (no one at the college has ever said he or she gets this more than 2 hours per day), (2) the chance to meet a larger number and variety of other foreign teachers, (3) much easier access to organized programs like tours, Chinese classes, taiqi classes, day trips, concerts, (4) easy availability of taxis, (5) easy access to currency exchange, P.O., barber, etc. Relative disadvantages are (1) increased distance from students and colleagues at the college, (2) some inconvenience in getting up earlier to meet the car to be taken to class, (3) a little resentment from foreign colleagues at the college who themselves would much prefer to be at the Friendship Hotel (I think the college insists on housing at the college those teachers whose salary the college pays).
On balance, I am very glad I wrote to the waiban office (in May) and requested housing at the Friendship Hotel. Ask also to be put in permanent quarters immediately upon arrival. Also ask them to inform you that they will do this (I lost an $80 late arrival deposit at the Holiday Inn for the night of my arrival because I was not certain that I would be housed immediately.)
I should note that there are also apartments at the Friendship Hotel. These are less desirable than the hotel rooms, unless you really want a kitchen. I don't know if the college will put you in one, but I don't see why not. Be very clear in your request, though.
Chinese electricity is 220 v and 50 hertz. I have three types of outlets in the room. I recommend buying a transformer (rather than a converter) for any appliances you might bring, other than minor ones. (In general, a converter is a little thing that sticks into the wall socket and should not be used for long periods; a transformer has a cord and weighs at least as much as half a brick.) In my case, since I was bringing a computer, printer, SW radio, and humidifier, I ordered a 3-wire 250 watt SD-12-LRG for $27.63 plus shipping from Todd Systems, Inc., 50 Ash Street, Yonkers, N.Y. 10701, telephone (914) 963-3400. This has worked fine.
I got the three-prong transformer because my computer and printer have three-prong plugs. To ground them properly, I bought from an electrical parts store a coupling clamp to attach to a water pipe, a length of wire, and a three-wire conversion plug, as advised in the paper sent to us on taking a computer to China. I also got the little yellow "outlet analyzer," as well as a selection of plug adapters, from Radio Shack. With all of these I could have been using my computer the day I arrived, if the computer itself had not been impounded by Chinese customs.
Here are some things I brought with me that I am really glad I brought: hometown phone book, lots of contact lens fluid, lip balm, business cards, small screw driver, scissors, typing paper, miniature am/fm radio, a good short wave radio, 35 mm camera, a calculator, lots of personal checks, alarm clock, duplicate stamps from my collection (make great gifts), flight bag (for short trips), small adjustable wrench, extension cords, oral thermometer, razor knife (good for opening book boxes), post-it pads, glue sticks (Chinese envelopes have no gum, although contrary to what you will be told, Chinese stamps usually do have gum), batteries, scotch tape, China: a Travel Survival Kit (this book has a snide tone and underestimates everything, but it is very useful), hangers, computer, printer, surge suppressor, extra ribbons, large garbage bags (to cover the computer & printer), bulletins from my school, photos of my home and office in the U.S., Pinyin-English dictionary, Beijing Street Guide (booklet of detailed CIA-prepared maps of Beijing, order from NTIS, Department of Commerce, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161, tel. (703) 487-4650 for orders & 4660 for customer service, publication no. P.B.86-928305, $25.50 plus $3 postage, for small streets the maps are great, but many highway improvements built recently have made the booklet less useful, and there are some errors in the labelling of places).
Also bring 15 or more small (1" x 1 1/2" or so) photos of yourself; you will be asked for them immediately in order to get all of the necessary ID cards. If you don't bring them, however, they can be made at 4 for $2.20 at the CITIC Building ground floor photo shop.
Here are some things I brought that I could have done without: humidifier (haven't used it yet), bicycle pump (the valves are different, so it is useless, and cheap ones are easily available), envelopes, cough drops, tissue, film (all 4 are plentiful and reasonable here), Polaroid camera, shower clogs (rooms here come with them), roach poison (there are some roaches, but they are slow and few enough to kill manually), stuff for the kitchen (it turned out that I have no kitchen).
2. Household Furniture and Furnishing How Arranged? My room is furnished. I brought no furniture.
3. Food I eat regularly in the "expert's dining room" of the Friendship Hotel, a short walk from my hotel building. For lunch and dinner there is usually a choice of about 3 or 4 Chinese entrees and about 4 or 5 "western" entrees. The food is OK to good, and with my pink Friendship Hotel experts' card entitling me to half price, I rarely pay more than the equivalent of $2, usually less.
4. Schooling for Children. Not applicable to me.
5. Local transportation (necessity of a car) For my classes, a car from the Foreign Affairs College picks me up and brings me back to the Hotel. Usually two other professors accompany me. One of these bought a car, but finally sold it after a solid week of bureaucratic hassle (obtaining about 20 documents all stamped in various offices around the city) had not resulted in completion of the first of several steps (customs, medical exam, tax, drivers license, car registration, security check) needed to drive ones own car in China.
Fortunately, registering a bicycle is much simpler. I am glad I bought a bike within a week of my arrival. Some colleagues thought they would do without one, and when they finally broke down and bought one, the nice fall bicycling weather was gone. New Chinese bicycles need to have the nuts and bolts tightened immediately so that they don't fall apart on the first ride. (It's the way they're sent from the factory.) My contact person helped me get this done, and also helped me buy a lock and get the bike registered. (It is no longer true that you need a letter from your work unit to buy a good bicycle at the Friendship Store.)
The other major means of transportation are bus (frequent and cheap, but crowded and slow), and taxi (reasonable by U.S. standards, but expensive by PRC standards, and usually available only at or near hotels). In addition, a Friendship Hotel foreign experts shuttle bus goes to the Friendship Store and other downtown points every afternoon at 1:30 (returning before 5:30) for a nominal fee.
6. Clothing Here's what I brought: Several sweaters, several trousers and jeans, rain coat, winter jacket, light jacket, 1 pair shorts, 8 suits or sport coats, lots of ties, lots of dress shirts, 2 umbrellas, lots of golf shirts and T-shirts, lots of underwear and socks, a swimsuit, 2 pair pajamas, 4 pair shoes, 1 pair running shoes, 1 pair gloves. This has proved ample, particularly in light of the prompt laundry and dry cleaning at the Friendship Hotel. Four or five suits or sport coats would have been enough. Although I am almost 6'2", I was able to replace my winter jacket with a nice down jacket for 110 Yuan ($30).
7. Medical and Dental services There is a clinic in the Friendship Hotel Building 4. I have been there twice, each time for a cough. Each visit to the doctor, including medicine, cost about the equivalent of $4.
Despite the fact that each Fulbright lecturer had a physical exam in the U.S., and in addition had obtained an AIDS test to get the visa, all of us in Beijing and Tianjin had to go to get a blood test, X-ray, and in some cases a full physical exam, in order to get a residence permit (green) card. My work unit paid for me and provided transportation, and a disposable syringe was used.
Before coming to China, I got a TB skin test, a typhoid booster, a series of 3 Japanese encephalitis shots (a list of where to obtain these is in China Bound), and 2 hepatitis B shots (of a series of 3--I brought the third with me packed in ice in a small thermos). I also got 5 cc of gamma globulin just before I left. How many of these shots are really needed I'm not sure, but only the hepatitis B was expensive (on the order of $100).
I brought Pepto Bismol tablets with me and have used them. I also brought cough drops, but these are easily available here. I wish I had brought several bottles of cough syrup with expectorant.
B. Outside Activities: Are members of your family working or doing volunteer work, or studying or involved in community activities in the host country? Please comment. I am here by myself. In my free time I am taking Chinese lessons twice a week, and taiqi (Chinese shadowboxing) lessons twice a week.
C. Financial: Detailed information on how the grant meets maintenance expenses in the host country is helpful to future grantees and to program administrators. Please comment on the adequacy of the grant in terms as specific as possible on the cost of living: housing, transportation, food, local or other taxes on goods or income. To aid future grantees in their planning, it would be helpful in you could include a sample monthly budget. I receive half-salary from my home university as sabbatical pay, which along with the Fulbright grant makes me about as well paid as if I had continued to teach at home. By the standard of most other (non-Fulbright) foreigners teaching in China, however, I am rich. Funds from both sources are deposited in my U.S. bank checking account. With my American Express card (be sure to get one), I cash a personal check every month or so. This is easy to do in Beijing at the Bank of China City Branch, No. 32 Deng Shi Kou Xi Jie (north of Beijing Hotel, open 9-12 & 1:30-5:30). I get FEC (foreign exchange currency) at the current rate of 3.71/dollar. FEC's are theoretically equal in value to Renminbi (people's money), but generally much more desired by merchants, etc. (FEC are worth up to 50% more on the black market, I'm told).
My housing is somehow paid for directly by my host college, and transportation to the college for classes is provided. Local transportation costs are negligible unless you take lots of taxis. Typical meal costs for one person, converted to dollars, are: lunch or dinner at the experts' dining room: $1.50, lunch at the student dining room at the college: 20 cents, dinner at a hotel for foreigners: $14, dinner at a restaurant for Chinese: $4, ice cream and hot tea in the lobby of the Shangrila Hotel: $5.
In the month of October I spent $93 on meals, about $10 on taxis, $20 on laundry. These do not include expenses of a 4-day trip to Shandong, an overnight trip to the West Tombs, and a weekend trip to Datong. The Datong trip, organized by the Friendship Hotel, cost $56.60.
I am not paying any Chinese taxes that I know of. After looking at the actual wording of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code as it applies to 1987, I am forced to the conclusion that my Fulbright grant is taxable. (I don't see how I can claim that my "tax home" is China when I am here on a temporary basis and have a home and job waiting for me in the U.S.) Since this is probably true for most Fulbright lecturers, it would be nice if the USIA, after consulting with the IRS, could withhold tax from the stipend. Withholding of course will not prevent anyone from seeking a refund on whatever ground, but it would have eliminated the need for me to take steps to insure that I do not owe the government a lot of taxes next year. I arranged to have a large additional sum withheld each month from my home university sabbatical check. This step was especially necessary since I will be seeking an extension of time to file my return in August rather than April, and I don't want to pay interest or penalties.
PART III PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
A. The Academic Program
1. Assignment for lecturers: Please describe in detail the academic assignment. The intent here is to provide information useful to future grantees offering instruction in the same subject matter field. It would be helpful if you would include the courses you are teaching; level and number of students; texts or other materials used; type of exams or other evaluations used; students' preparations for and reaction to your classes and teaching style. Did you know before you departed the U.S. what courses you would be teaching? Who provided this information? I teach public international law and torts in the graduate program of the Institute of International Law of the College of Foreign Affairs. There are 13 students now enrolled in the second year of the graduate program for international law; 8 specialize in public international law, 5 in private international law. The 8 public international law students form the nucleus of my course in public international law. 2 of the private international law students are also enrolled, and there are 3 auditors (young teachers). Similarly, the 5 private international law students form the core of the torts class, with 4 students from the public international law program also enrolled, and 4 auditors. So there are 13 in each class. Most will work in the foreign ministry or become teachers.
One group of students goes through the entire 3-year graduate program in international law before another is started. The college will therefore not be seeking a law specialist next year, I am told, so that much of what I describe will be of little use to my successors at the Foreign Affairs College, at least until two or three years from now when another international law professor will be needed to do what I am doing.
The English is excellent for all of the students who studied English as their primary foreign language. Some (3 in one class, 1 in the other), however, studied Russian, Japanese or French primarily, with English as a secondary foreign language. For these students my class is difficult, and doubtless much is lost on them. My director originally suggested that I have one of the English-speaking students translate, but this did not work well. The better English-speaking students were reluctant to translate and thus slow down and burden the class. So I have been teaching in English, trying to speak slowly and clearly, writing main points on the board, etc. I hope that the 4 students for whom English is a problem are getting help from their colleagues, and there is at least a little evidence of this.
All of the predictions that Chinese students will be reluctant to participate in class have not proven true for me. Of course some are reticent, but no more so than in a U.S. law school class. Frequently I will ask one person a question and 4 or 5 will speak out. I have been calling on students the way I would in a class of 13 students at the law school in Kentucky, with no untoward effects. In fact, the classes are lively. The students also ask questions freely.
The torts class meets Monday only from 8-10. I use the Prosser 6th edition. The students seem particularly to enjoy this class. The public international law class meets Tuesday and Friday from 8-10. Because the students have already studied international law extensively in Chinese, the subject is not as fascinating to them as the torts. But I think it is valuable to go over the basic principles of international law in English, led by a person with an American perspective. I am using the latest Sweeney, Oliver, and Leech book, supplemented by my own materials. The readings in both courses have been difficult, but the students generally prepare extremely diligently.
I have had one fellow Fulbright lecturer as a guest speaker so far. Joe Dellapenna was kind enough to speak to my tort class on "Remedies for Breach of Contract under American Law." The subject complemented the torts class in an excellent fashion, and his presentation was extraordinarily well received. The students in the very next class were asking for more guest speakers.
I gave a "practice" take-home midterm to my international law students. They worked on it diligently, and I conducted individual consultations on the results. I was very pleased with the quality of the answers (but remember that I am not used to grading take-homes, as opposed to timed exams). Two students had to give the answers in Chinese, and I have had their answers translated. The students were so pleased with the exercise that I decided to do the same thing in the torts class. I have warned them all, though, that the final will not be a take-home. I am now thinking in terms of a final in which they will have 2 hours to read and translate the test, and then 3 or 4 hours to write the answers (with a break for lunch and the essential nap).
At the advice of my predecessor from the year before last, I wrote the college on May 2 requesting information on what classes I would be teaching and how many students there would be. The letter was referred to my director, who wrote back on May 23 with a description of the graduate program in international law, the courses I was requested to teach, and the number of students. I relied upon the letter in obtaining books, and the letter turned out to be very accurate.
I think my successor, who presumably will not be in the Institute of International Law, should request similar information by immediately writing the head of the college's "foreign affairs office" (waiban) at the address on the cover sheet.
2. Organization of the Department or Program in which the grantee teaches. Please discuss such elements as: (a) Departmental specializations; (b) Courses offered in grantee's field of specialization; (c) Methods of instruction; (d) Examination requirements. In some cases, it may be useful to contrast this to what it is like at your home institution. The college was created in 1955 out of the People's University Diplomacy School. It was closed in 1969 and reactivated in 1980. Undergraduates can get a double B.A. by studying 4 years of English, French, or Japanese and 2 years of international law, international relations, or international economics. There are M.A. programs in English, French, International Law, History of PRC External Relations, and International Economic Relations. The International Law graduate program is described above. There are also some inservice training programs run by the college.
There are about 1000 resident students, plus night language students. In addition to the Department of Professional Studies, 2 Departments of Foreign Languages, and a Department of Inservice Training, there are 2 institutes, an Institute of International Relations and an Institute of International Law. Of the 196 faculty members, 64 are professors and associate professors, 60 are lecturers, and the rest are teaching assistants, assistant professors, or tutors. I'm not sure these terms correspond to our terms. There are about 10 foreign professors or teachers at the college, about half from the U.S.
The Institute of International Law has 21 faculty members. Director Ma Jun specializes in public international law, and vice-director Yao Zhuang specializes in private international law. Five of the faculty members are abroad, and of the rest I have only met 5 or 6 young instructors, several of whom audit my classes. The institute is also the home of the Chinese Society of International Law. It produces the Chinese Yearbook of International Law and a periodical collection of documents called International Law Materials.
The Foreign Affairs Office of the college (waiban office) is headed by Mr. Chu Guangyou. The office has five or six staff, members including Mr. Zhou Aimin, who has been helpful to me on several occasions.
The academic calendar for this year (1987-88) is as follows:
3. For Researchers [not applicable]
4. Professional Relationships: Comment on your professional relationships with (a) the host institution, (b) Deans and department heads, and (c) faculty associates I have had cordial relations with the Institute's director, although she does not speak English and we speak through an interpreter. After a month I requested a meeting to discuss two items. Preliminarily she complimented me by saying that the graduate students were pleased with my courses. First, I tried unsuccessfully to persuade her that the students be allowed to keep the books that I had brought for their class use.
The second item for discussion was next semester's classes. Here she agreed with my suggestion that I continue the torts class next semester (it had been planned for one semester only--not enough for a class that meets once per week). In her original letter last spring she had suggested instead a course on the relation of international law to domestic law; I suggested now that I include that as part of the second semester continuation of the public international law course. She also agreed to this.
We also talked about some other matters. I was still not sure how to determine grades for the students, whether to have a midterm, etc. She said this was up to me. She asked me if my classes could be tape recorded. I said of course.
I was given an office (to share with two other foreign teachers) finally in November. Although I had requested one much earlier, this occurred the day after I spent the morning in my classroom studying. I suspect that someone thought that was unsuitable.
I have had very cordial relations with young instructors who audit my classes or otherwise consult with me.
I have started taking lunch with my students on the days on which I have class. This has increased informal communication. I get along extremely well with the students.
B. Educational Resources (1.) Books (a) Did you receive a book allowance as part of your grant? How did you use it? Yes, I received $2500. I spent $650 on law books, and also persuaded a lawbook publisher to donate the equivalent value of a superseded edition of a casebook.
I purchased and donated seven years' worth of International Legal Materials, and these have been put in the small Institute library (as opposed to the college library). They are in a locked cabinet, but available on request I think. I have plenty of money in my book budget left, and plan to buy needed public and private international law books either for the institute library or the college library. I have already obtained a few suggestions from faculty and staff.
(b) Did you encounter any problems shipping books via air pouch? If so, please make suggestions for improvements. No problems whatsoever. All books I sent in June, plus all books ordered from the publisher, plus all the International Legal Materials, were waiting for me at the college on my arrival in Beijing. A late box I had sent in August arrived a couple of weeks later.
(c) Please comment on the availability of text and reference works for your course(s) of instruction. Book sources including libraries, USIA schools, or other academic institutions should be mentioned. The college library has some treatises, and for instance, a full set of Foreign Relations of the United States (remaining volumes were recently donated by USIA). But there is nothing like the rudimentary law library needed to assign any kind of research to a law student. I do not know of any law library in Beijing, although I once heard that there was an effort to set one up.
(d) Can books be ordered from the United States through local suppliers? What is the normal length of time from order to delivery? I have not tried this yet.
(e) Is the lack of textbooks a serious impediment to effective teaching? If so, what are the alternatives? I have the textbooks needed to teach effectively.
(f) What should the visiting lecturer or teacher do before leaving the United States to meet minimum book needs? IfI you are teaching law, you may be able to get one of the lawbook publishers to donate superseded texts. They are most likely to donate books that have only recently been superseded (after a year they dispose of superseded books). Otherwise they may sell you current texts at some discount (say 20%). Have the publisher send the books directly to the USIA address, using the marking instructions sent to you by USIA. Find out your needs early by corresponding with the host institution, and mail your books by the end of June.
2. Collateral Resources: With a similar reference to the foregoing, please describe the availability and need for educational materials, audio-visual aids, and laboratory equipment. The college has a satellite dish and all kinds of video equipment. I don't use video equipment for law classes. My main collateral resource is chalk. There is plenty of chalk available, but it is more brittle than U.S. chalk. It is usable, but if you write on the blackboard a lot, it wouldn't hurt to bring several boxes of chalk.