Histories of Friendship: The Oberlin Shansi Legacy

Connection is part of Shansi’s DNA. Generations of friendship, mentorship, cooperation, and intercultural innovation were spurred by shared meals and hot cups of tea. They were born from visits to ancestral villages of colleagues and former students during seasonal festivals. They were made possible by proximity – a physical closeness afforded through meaningful and intentional immersion.
 
This season, we celebrate stories of Shansi Fellows forming rock bands with Tamil friends (who became family) in South India. We love to hear how spoken word poetry nights in Banda Aceh and Yogyakarta allow for unexpected exchanges of art, ideas, and laughter. We smile when Visiting Scholars reminisce about discussions on literary theory during their time at Oberlin that reshaped the way they approach research and teaching at their home universities in Asia.
 
The connections that Shansi forges seem more crucial in 2024. In times where borders – both literal and metaphorical – often overshadow our shared humanity, we rely on meaningful relationships to fight the mythologies of the “other” that drive fear and plant the seeds of hate.
 
This year, we invite you to join our “Connections Campaign” to build cross-cultural relationships and strengthen mutual understanding. The generous donations from our community help us continue to provide transformative opportunities in the United States and Asia while securing Shansi’s future. Visit www.shansi.org/donate to give online or complete the enclosed reply card and send a check to Oberlin Shansi, 50 North Professor Street, Oberlin, OH 44074. You can also donate appreciated stock or consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) as part of your IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Learn more about these tax-advantaged opportunities from our website or by contacting shansi@oberlin.edu.
 
Over the next two weeks you’ll hear from Elaine Wu ‘21, a three-year Shansi Fellow who continues to teach at Shanxi Agricultural University in Taigu, China, and Sharon Christy, a recent Visiting Scholar from Lady Doak College in South India. Their email messages and videos will show how their Shansi connections continue to shape their lives, world views, and sense of self. We look forward to celebrating them and the generations of Shansi friendships that make us who we are.

Sincerely,

Gavin Tritt A. Ted Samuel, Ph. D.
Executive Director Senior Director