Just Call Me Willie

One of the things students want to know is what to call me. I said well you don't have to call me Dr. Kennan. So, one of our number came up with the idea of calling me Willie. I allowed as how she might be the first student in the course to receive an "F". This seemed to discourage the Willie idea for now. I suggested "Sir" which doesn't seem to have gotten much traction just yet but I'm hoping for the best.

Our group toured the Singapore Botanical Gardens yesterday (it's 6 a.m. Monday the 12th now). I think some of the group got bored quickly but the quality of the gardens are spectacular for anybody who likes gardening. The lanscaping is perfect, so clean and well kept everywhere you look. The variety of plants and trees is just amazing. In particular, the Orchid Garden is really amazing and I could have stayed there all day. Sara Franklin noted that the park was open until 7 p.m. and I think I must have said something like, "OK, let's stay until it closes." That suggestion was not well received.

I ought to make note of the VIP orchids which are new varieties named for famous people. So, there is the Laura Bush orchid with her picture accepting the honor. There is one for Kofi Annan, Margaret Thatcher, etc., and all are quite beautiful.

A small group went with me to Orchard Road (major shopping area) to a restaurant called Dim Tai Fung. It is without a doubt the best Chinese restaurant I have eaten at and it's apparerntly well thought of world wide. It's moderately priced and, in particular, the dumplings are just out of this world. I really enjoyed watching the chefs making the food, they are really dedicated to their craft.

Food is so important here. There are, of course, wonderful places which represent their cultures: Chinese, Malaysian, Indian, Peranakin, etc. But there is also this wonderful fusion of cuisines and cultures so that you find the most unique and tastey ideas in cooking.

I am always amazed that a single party democracy works as well as it does. It's clean and it's safe here and the government is always attending to something: new roads, buses, MRT stops, shopping, dining . . . everything. I understand that some people are suspicious of the government because it does, in subtle and not so subtle ways, limit the freedom of individuals. The tradeoff is safety, security, benefits, and economic success. At least the government here can make decisions and get things done. For example, the government is to spend $40 billion on transportation to improve the MRT, roads, and buses. In Virginia the state government has been trying for several years without success to agree to a comprehensive transportation package for Nothern Virginia without success. Perhaps we should invite the Singaporeans to come help us out.

Today, we visit National University of Singapore and Dr. Linda Perry for some talk about communication in Singapore. The program there prepares professional communicators very much as does our program at RU. I think it's great for the students to meet their counterparts who study and teach the same discipline in which they are majors.

Tomorrow we'll me with IPRS Singapore and the head of public relations for the Singaporean government. Wednesday we bus to Kuala Lumpur and begin to experience the joys and frustrations of the real Southeast Asia. I say that because Singapore is Asia 101 but good preparation for what is to come. I'm waiting for the first trip challenge, I'll let you know.

All the best to all.