Gillian Ice, Reflections

It has been a great honor to share in the joyful celebrations of the 50^th anniversary of partnership between Ohio University and Chubu University. I have been at Ohio University for close to 24 years and, over that time, my understanding and appreciation of this special partnership has grown each year as I learn more about the deep connection between Ohio and Chubu. The partnership has facilitated faculty, student and staff connections, shared research accomplishments, programmatic enrichment, and strong personal friendships. The stories and reflections shared in this volume are a testament to the breadth and depth of our partnership over the last 50 years. I believe my personal connections with Chubu are examples of the impact of this partnership for both universities. 

My first personal connection with the Chubu-OHIO partnership was as a parent. My children’s pre-school classes at the Child Development Center hosted annual picnics when the cherry trees, gifted by Chubu, bloomed. Since those first picnics, my family, like many Athens families, has enjoyed yearly picnics and lots of beautiful pictures by the sakura. As a fourth grader, my daughter came home one day and shared stories about her time with her Chubu “buddy”. She learned more about Japan and learned about the art of origami. The Chubu Buddies program at East Elementary School was impactful for my daughter, Norah and her closest friend, Lilly who are still exploring aspects of Japanese culture. Beyond Norah and Lilly, I have met parents of children across Athens who have shared similar experiences. One of the many special elements of our partnership is the ways in which the university-to-university partnership has extended into the community. 

As a long-term member of OHIO’s University International Council, I learned more about the student and faculty exchanges and the Choki English Language program. It was clear to me then that this is a unique relationship for both universities and one in which the people involved have great pride. Hearing from my colleagues about their own Chubu connections, I was inspired to forge partnerships with universities around the world, seeing the connection, impact, and personal and professional fulfillment they bring. I have formed many partnerships over the years but, of course, it takes the dedication of many to develop and maintain an enduring partnership of this magnitude. I believe the strength of our connection lies in the involvement of many disciplines, regular celebrations of achievements, and regular recommitment to do what it takes to stay engaged. That all takes committed people. 

In 2018, I had the opportunity to visit the Chubu campus as the director of the Global Health Initiative in the College of Health Sciences and Professions. I was certainly happy to make connections with academic departments and to bridge opportunities for OHIO faculty, but I gained so much personally. I had the opportunity to learn more about Japanese culture from Chubu colleagues and Dr. Chris Thompson, who was a Kohei Miura Visiting Professor at the time. Dr. Norio Hotta, who was my faculty host and a former Glidden Visiting Professor, inspired my research and teaching on aging and global health. I’ve used many examples from my experience at Chubu and Dr. Hotta’s community connections in my courses! I was also thrilled that Mr. Takeshi Okajima arranged a special amigurimi lesson with Ms. Yuko Ono because I am an avid crocheter. Sensei Ono and I crocheted a small purple hippo, which still sits in my living room. We also shared different pieces that we had created or were working on and talked about our different cultures. Oh, her work is so beautiful! We are still connected on social media, and she still inspires my creative work. I cherish the memories of my time at Chubu and the personal and professional growth that I experienced because of it. Over the years, so many of the students, faculty, and staff of both institutions have had similarly impactful personal and professional experiences. 

More recently, it was a pleasure to host President Yoshimi Takeuchi and his delegation at OHIO to celebrate the 50^th anniversary in Athens. As we gathered with various faculty, emeriti, staff, and community members, I learned even more about the nuance and history of the partnership and the many connections over the years. One of the most impactful events for me was sharing lunch with many of the former Miura Visiting Professors. I spoke with current and emeriti faculty, including emeriti Dr. David Onley who visited 40 years prior. Even after this timespan, the experience had an impact on Dr. Onley and remained a vivid and fond memory. I have no doubt that the partnership will continue to have a lasting impact on the OHIO and Chubu communities. 

As an anthropologist and global health professional, I cherish the power of cross-cultural connection and exchange of ideas. The OHIO-Chubu partnership stands as an exemplar of the power of such connection and exchange. The world is increasingly interdependent and the forces of globalization result in both connectedness and division. Now, more than ever, it is imperative to promote cross-cultural connections and idea exchange. I look forward to a bright future as we map out the goals and opportunities for the next 50 years of partnership between Ohio University and Chubu University.