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Open Minds will Open Doors
Creative SPARK!
Janet Luongo's experience in Xian, China
November 11, 2009 |
| Dear China Friends,
 This first issue of Creative SPARK! is dedicated to Sharon Crain who invited me to speak on creativity in China, Vera Schwarcz, and my friends in China or interested in China, whose support made my first trip to China so fantastic, and my husband, Jim, who urged me to go even though he was recovering from an injury. You offered more guidance, advice and kindness than I could ever expect. The SPARK to create this newsletter was ignited in China during my trip in October where I found the strong desire among Chinese people to reach out to America. They want their noble traditions and civilization to be understood, while they also want to understand American style ingenuity and innovation that they perceive as necessary in the 21st century. Americans in turn want to learn from the Chinese about their organization, discipline and depth of culture.
China is the focus of this first issue. Other issues will be on how to spark creativity in any country; in education, business, or any endeavor imaginable.
Imagination is the key to oppportunity!
Janet
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AWAKEN CREATIVITY
MY PRESENTATION
Sharon said 40 students were registered in her course on China-U.S. Relations, but when I arrived as the guest presenter, we discovered that 300 students turned up! Many stood in the back for the entire presentation. I spoke with them for two evenings, for two hours each class. I could not have dreamed up more willing and welcoming students. Lin Fan's technological assistance and translation helped new concepts reach more students - he even added Chinese characters to my main slides. Though they are the brightest and best academically and had studied to read and write English for many years, the students rarely hear Westerners speak in person.
To aid understanding, my presentation included multiple ways to communicate: a combination of images, a few written words, words spoken slowly, body language, facial expression, and several movements, exercises and games. Students were willing to join in a yoga exercise to experience balance, brainstorm, solve puzzles, engage in the inquiry method using my art, discuss topics with a partner, share comments with the whole group, and even sing songs with me - we ended by singing "This Little Light of Mine!" |
What Students Say About Janet's Presentation
Shaanxi Normal University, Xian, China
Janet, you are so creative. You lit up the fire of my dream! Bravo. I love you. I will keep going whenever I encounter an obstacle and of course I will follow my dream (to be an actor). And thanks to Sharon I will be performing at the 12th anniversary of the Sharon Club.
- Jack
It was amazing, interesting, meaningful and most helpful. I learned from this amazing lecture that I can seek inspiration everywhere, think out of the box. I don't need to fear failures, just try more times. One thing I will do this week is get a peaceful and quiet attitude. I will challenge myself to find my inner potential.
- Xie Fangtang
Relaxed, humorous useful. What makes me most touched is the way she teaches: both sides, interactive. As a teacher in the future, I'd like my class to be active and learn with pleasure. I will try to get noticed, raise questions and take action. This week I will speak out loud when ideas jump up!
- sosowu |
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OPEN MINDS
In the past both our countries, U.S. and China, have closed doors to each other. The U.S. actually had a terrible law called the Chinese Exclusion Act. Westerners were kept out of China. Doors began creaking open in the late 1970s. That's when my dear friend Vera Schwarcz was invited as one of the first scholars to enter China, and when Sharon Crain began her own thirty year relationship, as a "Witness to Change" in China.
OPEN DOORS
 I had no idea what doors would open when Vera introduced me to Sharon Crain last year. Sharon is a photographer and lecturer on China-U.S. Relations. When she invited me to speak to her students at Shaanxi Normal University in Xi'an about creativity, I thought it would be good. I didn't expect it to be really fun, and a major highlight of my teaching career.
It was a thrill to be with Sharon as she unveiled the first copy of the book the university just published, Witness to Change: After Mao to Now.
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THE SHARON ENGLISH CLUB
 On my first night in Xi'an I met the students in the "Sharon" English club who stood outside on a chilly evening in a dark park practicing conversing in English, the international business language, which they understand to be the key to their success if they want to work for a international company or travel abroad. The formidable leaders had organized speakers, microphones, speeches and skits for the meeting. I didn't know I was on the speaker list until they called up to the stage. They gave me the warmest welcome I could imagine, their happy faces so open. They want to know everything about the customs in America. Some sounds in our two languages are difficult for foreigners. They patiently taught me a few words in Mandarin and how to pronounce them. There are about 1200 students in the English club and they are excitedly preparing an elaborate 12th year anniversary this November. Later I met the new "Sharon" English Club on the new campus of Shaanxi Normal University, which just began, and already has 200 members. They impressed me as well with their organization, enthusiasm and talents. The key with these clubs is the power of the network they are establishing. Sharon's main principles are: 1. Be a bridge between China and the U.S. 2. Follow your dream. 3. Be a vessel for each other
- hold the other's dreams and lend support in reaching it.
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CLIMB THE WALL
Professor Li Yanping arranged for student guides Song Meijing and Wang Jiayu to take me around Xian, which has ancient stone tablets with calligraphy carved on them, and one of the few city walls still intact. In my travels in China I found other walls - the Great Wall of China is a famous example - closed doors and locked gates. On this day we took a bicycle ride around the top of the wall.
 UNCOVER TREASURE
A driver and another student guide, Sophia Liu, was sent to take me to the famous terracotta warriors, an underground army that was built by the first emperor, Qin, to protect his tomb over 2000 years ago. This priceless treasure was a secret hidden until the 1970's when a poor farmer (whom I met at the site where he was signing a new book on the warriors) accidently uncovered them when he s digging a well for water. 
What treasure lies within you that is ready to be discovered?
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THE POWER
OF NETWORK 
Sharon's colleague, Dr. Li Yanping, opened doors for me in the education department. I addressed graduate students and teachers, and her class in comparative education. It was fascinating to see Dr. Albert Zeng's art class in progress, with very talented students working on an assignment often given in America - collage. The classroom was complete with a color wheel on the wall and casts from the Italian Renaissance, just like in college classrooms I know.
It was a pleasure to meet performing arts Professor Niu Xiaomu. Since we could not speak each other's languages, we communicated with our eyes and smiles and pictures and then she brought out gongs and spontaneously performed an improvised dance (look for video soon.) I met graduate students who work as staff on the impressive Art Education Journal, edited by Dr. Zeng.
The sumptuous banquet with  Sharon and Dr. Li at the end of the week provided by Vice Deans Wei Zhao and Huaroong Zhao was a grand finale to a marvelous week that was deeply appreciated. The network of people building bridges between China and the USA is very strong. Sharon introduced me to a family of filmmakers who she connected to her mentor, An Wei who arranged for them to film the educational reform in his village. I look forward to seeing the work of Harrison, Vera Schwarcz student at Wesleyan, and his parents Denny Gordon and Geoff Schaaf, who are Hollywood writers and producers.
I am grateful for all the education my guides gave me about China. This is how the network worked: I merely asked Dr. Li Yanping for a recommendation of a hotel in Shanghai, where I was headed before I flew home. She remembered a student and former leader in the Sharon Club who is now in Shanghai studying for his PhD.
 Zhang Bin spent two hours taking a bus and subway to the airport so he could meet me personally, then commandeered my bags and took me back the same route, which cost me less than a taxi, but something I could never have negotiated on my own. He found me a simple hotel that had all the basics - hot shower and internet - also at a greatly reduced price, and arranged the most adorable guide, Fanny Liu, who spent two and a half days showing me around Shanghai. I even met helpful people on the plane, such as M.I.T. professor originally from Xian, Chunqi Li, who was very generous with insights regarding differences in education between the U.S. and China.
It was a charmed journey - thanks to helping hands that reached out to me every step of my way! | |
SPARKED!NEW CREATIVE SPINOFFS
China is undergoing a Renaissance and the contrasts are vivid between tradition and modern, old and new, East and West. I couldn't put my camera down - people welcomed being filmed - it was a filmmaker's paradise.
Now I want to do my part in sharing what I learned to help other people from America take the journey. I will be creating short films for first time visitors to China so they will have a better idea of what to expect now - things change so rapidly. I will also put together a booklet of tips I got from Vera Schwarcz, Sharon Crain, Matthew Hu, and many others who guided me along the way. If anyone is interested in contributing - by adding your own section of information for the first time visitor or reviewing my draft - please let me know.
I am also working on an article about schools in America that are successful in developing creativity that I was asked to write for the Art Education Journal published at Shaanxi Normal University. Dr. Albert Zeng wants me to focus on the H.O.T. (Higher Order Thinking) schools in Connecticut that use the arts to teach across all disciplines. My book on creativity, 365 Daily Affirmations on Creativity, is in the hands of the university publisher. The people I met are eager to expand into thinking "out of the box."
I will be creating a video of my talk on creativity. Look for my announcement.
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| PHOTOGRAPHS
Please click on links below to view them - you can download or order.
Beijing, China: Best Shots
VIDEO
A few short clips will be available soon. I want to post on video sharing sites that are accessible in China - please advise.
KEEP IN TOUCH I will send you shortly a sample of my newsletter, Create a Life You Love, which is about how to nourish yourself so you flourish, about making choices in all areas of your life so you can create health and happiness for yourself and others. The current issue focuses on the delicious food I experienced in China. (You can unsubscribe from these newsletters by clicking a button at the bottom)
FAST FORWARDUntil I enter all the email addresses, please forward to other people you know who might enjoy my messages. They can subscribe at no charge. It will be fun, as Sharon Crain says, to "be a bridge between China and America."
The door is open.
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What readers say about Janet Luongo's book,
365 Daily Affirmations for Creativity
 I invited Janet to China to speak about creativity to help my students develop their full potential. Last year I took only one book to China when I went to mount my exhibit of photographs - it was her book. It inspired me every day. - Sharon Crain, lecturer at Shaanxi Teachers University, Xian, China
Janet Luongo has created a recipe that is just right for a more creative life. -
Bob Danzig, former CEO of Hearst Newspapers, author There is Only One You.
Foreign rights have been purchased in Nigeria, Colombia, and Korea and a foreign edition has just been printed in India. - Hannacroix Creek Books, U.S. Publisher
Order 365 Daily Affirmations for Creativity - see link below for best prices
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 Open Minds Open Doors, LLC, was established in 2002 as a speaking and seminar company to develop creativity in individuals by Janet Luongo, who was a professor of public speaking at the time. Focused originally on university students, the enterprise expanded to include clients in health, the arts, government, business, non-profit organizations and all levels of education.
The vision: innovative sustainable solutions to pressing local and global problems.
Janet Luongo, M.S. Ed, is the author of 365 Daily Affirmations for Creativity. She earned a Master of Science in Education from the City University of New York, certification as an art teacher from the state of Connecticut, and certification in Integrative Nutrition from Columbia University Teachers College. She is a past chapter president of the National Speakers Association, an artist with international exhibits, founder of a non profit for women artists, and an award-winning museum professional.
Janet currently produces films for her TV show, Nourish & Flourish TV, speaks internationally on creativity and wellness, and coaches groups and individuals to reach their full potential.
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