LUBBOCK, TX — Back here in the United States, colleges have been struggling with a critical decision: with rates of COVID-19 showing a potential slowing, is it safe to plan for “business as usual” in the Fall 2020?
Author: Nick Bowman
Nick Bowman (Ph.D, Michigan State University) is Associate Professor of Journalism and Creative Media Industries in the College of Media and Communication, Texas Tech University.
From a warm frying pan to a red-hot fryer.
LUBBOCK, TX — It’s been just over one month since I repatriated back to the United States, as the Fulbright program shuttered all 2020 grants and asked us to return to our homes. Concerns over COVID-19’s spread in the US lead to emergency declarations, travel bans, and various other concerns that made remaining overseas untenable….
Damn you, Heraclitus.
LUBBOCK, TX — I’m sure that we’ve heard the line before: The only thing that is certain is change. Damn you, Heraclitus.
Halting my zoom.
LUBBOCK, TX — As with most of my colleagues around the United States and around the world, COVID-19 has forces rapid, quick, and somewhat radical changes to how we conduct our business. One of the most dramatic changes has been to our classrooms, where concerns over close quarters and personal contact have compelled many college…
The Late Show.
LUBBOCK, TX — It’s been nearly three weeks since being called back from Taipei to West Texas, and we’ve been making the adjustment well enough. Like so many of my colleagues all over the world, we’ve made extensive use of Zoom’s live-streaming capabilities — even more impressive, given how many others are also relying on…
All that barbaric, beautiful jazz.
LUBBOCK, TX — Teaching at NCCU has been a pretty rewarding experience so far. This week was a planned distance learning exercise—although I didn’t plan on that distance being nearly 8000 miles, the result of being called back to the US about four months early. Rather, the students were given a break from in-class meetings…
Goodbye, Taiwan*.
UNITED AIRLINES, FLIGHT 872 — Six hours from the US coast, and our flight has been turbulent. More turbulent than normal. Perhaps it’s a harbinger of what I can expect when I land. Rewinding 48 hours ago, and I was preparing for Jaime to arrive in Taipei. We’re a few weeks into the semester at…
Healthcare? $5.01 per visit.
MUZHA DISTRICT, TAIPEI — For about a week or so now, I’ve been bugged by a very annoying earache. Waking up with a bit of build-up and generally, feeling like I’ve gone for a sleep-swim every night. Fortunately, I’m one of the 99% of Taiwanese who are covered by National Health Insurance.
Those first few days of class.
NATIONAL CHENGCHI UNIVERSITY, TAIPEI — Walking toward campus, a few final hurdles to clear. I’m up early and I’ve got a breakfast routine down. There’s a few coffeeshops dotting the campus perimeter: Starbucks, Louisa Coffee, and a really good spot on campus that I can’t quite seem to get the name of. They’re all pretty…
Safely, back to school.
NATIONAL CHENGCHI UNIVERSITY — With delays due to COVID-19 concerns pushing us back one week, our first official day of the Spring 2020 semester at the National Chengchi University. I’ve been around universities for nearly 20 years, and the energy and excitement of a new semester never dull. The weather always seems a bit nicer,…