Expanding on its memorandum of understanding with Ocean University of China (OUC), the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) is engaged in a series of lectures focused on the language, rich culture and historical legacies that capture the spirit and essence of China. Series presenter Professor William Zou, director of Translation for Ocean University, said the seminar was the first of many joint ventures the two institutes plan to participate in.

The lecture series, which is open to the public as it enters its final week, seeks to broaden the vision of the world BAMSI students live in by exposing them to a culture that dates back some 5,000 years ago. “I want them to know more about China, and in Ambassador Godfrey Eneas’ [President of BAMSI] words – to broaden their vision, to know what’s happening in places outside the Bahamas. And at the same time to introduce Chinese culture, language, which is about 5,000 years old.”

Professor Zou also had the opportunity to meet with senior government and community officials, as well as visit a number of schools, both at the senior and primary levels, in North and Central Andros. He said the students were curious about his culture and had a lot of questions for him about life in China.

Executive Director of BAMSI Dr. Raveenia Roberts-Hanna, agreed with Professor Zou’s sentiment, that the seminar provides a good opportunity for students to understand the world around them and how their lives can be impacted by the actions of those they have never met. The seminar also builds an educational platform for the students to help them envision the next stage of their academic development taking place in China.

“With the signing of the memorandum of understanding with OUC, and other top tier institutions from around the world, graduates of BAMSI now have access to leading universities where they can continue their studies in agriculture, marine science and aquaculture. This seminar helps them to envision the continuation of their academic journey in China and for many of them, it’s the first glimpse of a world beyond the Bahamas, beyond the Americas, beyond the West.”

Dr Hanna also pointed out that Bahamians have already embraced Chinese culture to a great extent – from neighbourhood grocery stores to Chinese medicine, karate and the ever flavourful Chinese cuisine. She said further that since one in five persons in the world is Chinese it is likely that Bahamians will come into contact with the culture and the language in a variety of settings. As such, the seminar provides a place of understanding – how traditions were formed, why ancient practices emerged, how the language evolved, what the characters mean. “Chinese culture is already here, saturated and intertwined in Bahamian culture so it is important that we understand the evolution of this culture and familiarize ourselves with a language that already exists within our borders.”

Ocean University of China is recognized as the driving force of that nation’s marine research and application, and heads a number of research institutions at the national level. OUC offers a wide array of academic disciplines related to the study of marine and aquatic sciences and boasts ground breaking programmes in oceanography, fisheries science, marine biology and marine geoscience. Professor Zou said his goal is to see students take advantage of the partnership to study anywhere from one semester to several years to get a higher degree. “This provides BAMSI students with an opportunity to pursue their chosen course of study.”

He further noted since the signing of the cooperative agreement between the two institutions, something needed to be done to continue the agreement, and the seminar fulfilled that role. “My coming here is the first step leading to more collaborative programmes and I’m very much impressed by the interest BAMSI students and people in Andros show in Chinese culture and language” he said.

As this nation looks to secure closer ties with China, a country of more than 1.3 billion people, Bahamians are being encouraged to visit the country as tourists, students, business persons and entrepreneurs. Professor Zou suggested that the seminar would help to promote greater people to people exchanges because the two countries have vastly different societies and environments which provide an opportunity for unique and memorable experiences.

According to Professor Zou, following the official visit to the Bahamas last summer by a delegation from Ocean University of China which met with Prime Minister Perry Christie and also visited the BAMSI campus in North Andros, he began searching for potential investors and business opportunities that might be explored in the Bahamas. He shared that before arriving in Andros in late February he spent one week in Nassau with associates from China who are interested in investing in the Bahamas.

The group has already identified clean energy as an area of interest and are looking at ways to decrease the nation’s energy bill and facilitate the widespread use of solar power – as the Bahamas struggles with electricity costs that are some five times higher than what is found in the United States.

While much of his focus has been on highlighting Chinese culture and teaching participants survival Mandarin, Professor Zou acknowledged the best part of being in Andros is the beautiful scenery and agreeable weather at this time of the year, especially as most of northern China is still experiencing cold weather. He also enjoys the local fish, particularly the snapper and said that while they do have conch in China, they serve it sliced and stir fried – which leaves it a little chewier than the Bahamian style cracked conch.

** Professor William Zou has been teaching for some 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Master of Arts degree in Journalism. He currently teaches translation at Ocean University’s College of Foreign Languages. He also teaches English newspaper reading and English news writing at OUC’s College of Literature, Journalism and Communications.