VOICES FIELD FROM

“In the past year, I’ve received much more from my colleagues, rugby community, and friends than what I’ve given myself. My colleagues welcomed me into the Lao Rugby family... I’ve had the chance to meet people in the office, at trainings, and on the pitch who constantly demonstrate what it means to to be dedicated to a cause that’s bigger than themselves and to endure and never give up despite the hardships. Everyday I’m surrounded by people, both at work and outside of it, who have big hearts, who are compassionate and always extending a hand to offer support. I am forever grateful for PiA for introducing me to the people at Lao Rugby and in Laos. Through work, I’ve had the opportunity to interact and collaborate with individuals who are the definition of dedicated and hard working for a selfless cause. Just being in their presence is an honor in and of itself. The 9 Lao fellows of 2015-2016 have been some of the most inspiring, intelligent, unique, and wholesome people I’ve ever met. I still have so much to learn from the people here, and they are the reason why I decided to stay on for another year.”

Stephanie Kim Lao Rugby Federation Vientiane, Laos

“I live alone here. It’s the first time I have done so in my life. For the first few days I would just walk up and down the main street of UB rather than just sit in my room. In each of my first few afternoons, I saw around twenty middle-aged Mongolian men sitting at lunch tables behind the Police Station playing chess. I used to play competitive chess (until a striking defeat in a Southern California tournament to Sky, my chess teacher’s son, which I thought gave him a type of unfair competitive edge. I’ll never relent). Nevertheless, the game is a point of pride for me, and on my fourth day, I approached the tables expecting to glide to a victory. I got whooped, badly. But two men, without words, took the time to replay several moves for me. They taught me several mistakes in my opening moves. Since then, I’ve gone back and these regulars have warmly welcomed me back. They’re eager to beat me in chess, and then try to explain my errors. They don’t know anything about me past my name, and I can’t pronounce their names well enough to commit them to memory. We bond over the game, over the strategy, over the clandestine maneuvers and their laughter after a swift checkmate. I don’t think I’ll ever be good enough at Mongolian to hold long conversations or discuss the intricacies of a Sicilian Defense -- however I would like to ask them how they are, to learn their names, and let them know that I’m thankful that they invited me in to play a game in their neighborhood.”

Jesse Brooks Institute of Finance and Economics

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

“After about a year of living in the same neighborhood I developed a strong sense of community with the people in my neighborhood. One of the best parts of my PiA experience was the opportunity to live in a part of the city where I could practice my Chinese everyday, and live as locally as possible. I built up a patchwork community of the people who I encountered on a daily basis. Even though it wasn’t a formalized community, it offered me a sense of belonging and purpose. And that was an integral part of the overall positive experience I had working with PiA.

I became close with the families who ran my favorite restaurants, the apartment building supervisor, the bus driver, the woman who helped me with my bicycle, and so many other individuals throughout the community. I spent time talking and bonding with these folks and developed really positive friendships that made me feel like a local, and made me feel like Hangzhou was my home. I liked that when I came back from a business trip the woman at my local dumpling shop would ask me where I had gone and genuinely cared about how it went. I liked that I knew her whole family and they would always sit and chat with me for a few minutes after I had finished my meal. It was really nice not to feel like an outsider, and to have built up this community of people who mean a lot to me.”

Noah Willingham Zhejiang University of Technology Hangzhou, China

“Having been in Phnom Penh for just over a month now, I have gotten past the ‘acclimation phase.’ This was a selfish phase that involved me learning how to exist and participate in this city. Now, I’m onto a much more open learning phase, during which I realize everyday how little I knew the day before. My personal mission during this year is understanding. I want to understand the folds of this country deeply. I know the stories of the people of this country are rich, varied, and often unbelievable. My inability to share in the Khmer language is a massive obstacle in my learning about their personal histories. I believe learning the stories of the people of Cambodia will define my year here. Learning Khmer will be the most important step I can take in becoming closer to this culture, its people, and their stories.”

Taylor Holloran

ChildFund

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

“Teaching is awesome. I mean it’s like a roller coaster. Or like trying to balance 27 plates with only four limbs and a head. I love it. I’m actually making my first quiz right now - it’s weird to be on the sausages. Kanoa and I have been frequenting a night market close to my place and we just sit on plastic chairs and rave about the food, while surrounded by students and vendors and occasional farangs. Every one just comes together and is excited.”

Katya Alexeeva Payap University

Chiang

Mai, Thailand

“Catherine’s chemistry students invited us to a welcoming party for new students in the department. The “party” was more like a talent showcase, featuring singing, dancing, Catherine and a student in a viola-accordion duet, Gerard singing Kesha, and Catherine and I battling it out for musical chairs champ.”

Amalya Megerman Shihezi University Shihezi, China

UPDATES FROM HQ: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MAGGIE DILLON

Dear Friends of PiA:

Every fall, the PiA team crisscrosses the continent in an effort to visit every PiA Fellow and partner in Asia, as well as to re-connect and catch up with our alumni and friends who call towns and cities across Asia home. Whether they are lending a couch or a comfy bed to crash on (or a mosquito net to crash under!), lending a ride on their motorbike or helping us hail a finger cab in Almaty, leading us to the best xiaolongbao stall at the night market or treating us to the best string hopper biriyani in town, our Fellows, partners, alumni and friends never fail to make us weary travelers feel welcome and at home.

At PiA, we talk about the word “community” a lot. We invite applicants to reflect on the concept of community in their applications, asking them “What is the best community you have ever been a part of?” We discuss community in our interviews with potential applicants, asking them what they hope to learn from their new communities in Asia and how they want to contribute to their communities later in life. We emphasize the importance of building and maintaining interdependent communities at orientation and throughout our Fellows’ experiences in Asia, underscoring the service ethos of PiA: community always comes first.

Community is indeed so important to us that it’s one of the main pillars of our tagline: “A change in perspective. A job that matters. Community for life.” In this edition of Pacific Bridges, we’ll be focusing on “community for life,” and celebrating the unique and special communities PiAers are a part of, immerse themselves in, create, and contribute to throughout their lifetimes. First, though, some updates on, you guessed it, the PiA community:

New Partners

This fall, we are thrilled to welcome a host of new partners to the PiA community, including: American University of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan), Dhamma Moli International Buddhist Education Center (Myanmar), Global Environmental Initiative (China), International Water Management Institute (Nepal), Lake House (Sri Lanka), Luang Prabang Film Festival (Laos), Population Services International (Myanmar & Nepal), Rato Bangala School (Nepal), University of Macau (Macau SAR), and World Education (Nepal).

Passing the Baton

PiA is lucky to have a remarkably engaged and extremely generous (in every way!) Board of Trustees, whose commitment and dedication to the organization are second to none. In 2016, PiA welcomed the following long-standing Trustees, whose energy, efforts and contributions have made PiA as strong as it is today, to the Emeritus Board: Andy Brown, Robert Knapp, Scott Seligman, Alison Yu, Nancy Broadbent Casserley, W. Bruce Comer III, Steven Diamond, Joel Epstein, Karen Karp, Melanie Kirkpatrick, Nozomi Terao, Lynn White III, Marvin Suomi, Constance McPhee, and Josef Silverstein. Collectively, these incredible individuals have served nearly 300 years as Trustees. We could not be more grateful and indebted to them for their dedication to Princeton in Asia.

In addition, Rick Berry (PiA ’76, Japan) stepped down after 8 years of dedicated service as Chair, and Russell DaSilva (PiA ’76, Japan) stepped down after over a decade of service as Chair of the Executive Committee. We thank Rick and Russell for their tremendous service, and congratulate Sharon Volckhausen (PiA ’91, Korea) and Elizabeth Chandler, who were elected to three-year terms as Chair and Vice Chair of the Board.

Working with PiA’s Trustees – unparalleled in their intelligence, commitment, generosity, and spirit - is one of the highlights of what is, without a doubt, the best job in the world. We thank them for their service and their stewardship!

As always, we are incredibly grateful for all that you do for PiA. Thank you for your generosity, engagement, commitment and support, which make PiA the most special community we have ever been a part of.

With fondness and gratitude, and on behalf of the PiA team,

Maggie Dillon Executive Director