Fulbright

Ok, so my academic advisor Susan Shirk, who just happens to be the former Deputy Asst Secretary of State for EAP, recommends that I pursue: particularistic vs programmatic policy resulting from the electoral policy as Taiwan continues to transition into democracy. It just means: do politicians serve a broad constituent base or narrow interests. My project is coming together nicely from loose ideas. I have a dozen books out from the State Dept library on the topic of Taiwan, and a folder 2 inches thick on related academic articles that I've read. I'm 1/3 of the way through writing my 2 page proposal.

So far I have sponsors from: an AIT (US Embassy in Taiwan) Political Officer, a US Dept State Taiwan Country Desk Officer, an NTU (Taida) professor, UCSD professors, a Academia Sinica (Acad of Sciences) researcher, and a Gallop Organization researcher. It's looking great! It was also so much hard work getting these interlocutors together to support me in this project.

-----

Amaziah and Uzziah

These two OT kings reaffirm the age old principle that we are blessed when we walk with him and destroyed when we stray. It's classic, and assured. Life lived in obedience to him is life lived wisely and to the fullest. Rebelling from him gets us into so much trouble.

People mistake Christians as being "nice," but I don't agree. Being nice is a characteristic and definitely a fruit of our joy, but it's really about being "real" with people. Christians have a center in Him and the world is so superficial upon comparison. I don't like how Christians are known for being nice, I'd prefer being known for being geniune. So I will stop being nice from now on. Haha! Just kidding.

-----

Foreign Service recent FSI grads

My friends at State that just finished the Foreign Service 7 week training to become diplomats for the US. 12 of the 91 got posts in China, including my friend Jessica from UCSD IR/PS who's going to Shanghai. I'm so jealous.

But I'm actually glad that I'm not entering the foreign service now. From what I hear, you lose all privacy to diplomatic security and you can't get out without leaving State entirely. I'm not ready for a life commitment like that at my age. It was a blessing that I didn't get in last year when I went to oral exams, God always knows best and works it out for me through circumstances. Praise God! I'm much better off entering in 3 years, ideally after I'm married. 27 sounds about right.

End of an Era

I have officially ended my flirtation with the world. The world has nothing for me. My place is with the family of brother and sisters in fellowship.

Unfortunately, I'm the kind of kid that had to touch to stove to know that it's hot. The past year or so has been a good experience, but now I know what I want... and I want more peace and time with the Lord. I'm tired of the late night life and superficiality.

-----

Fulbright

I'm working so hard on my Fulbright scholarship to Taiwan. My current topic is the imbalance between domestic and foreign policy. My thought is that the domestic institutions that keep the leaders in power contrast with the well-being of the US-China-Taiwan relations. President Chen tries to appeal to the popular vote. I propose that appeasing domestic interests directly goes against maintaining international policy well-being. Therefore I propose an increase in the authority of the Foreign Minister.

Unfortunately, it's sounding more like a case study than cutting edge political science. So I think I'm going to revise to look at particularistic (narrow) vs programmatic (broad based) policy based on the Taiwanese electoral system.

What's funny is that I feel like I'm writing this proposal and putting all this work into it just to give it up. It's something that I can walk away from if He desires. Somehow, I feel like I will gladly give up this Fulbright for something more important in life. How cryptic.