Reflection: First week, May 24-28

Fortunately, I was able to participate in the Mortenson Center program.
Due to Corona, we participants were two years late to come here, but as soon as I stepped out of the airport, I felt a return to ordinary life. This is USA!

In addtion, from Japan to the U.S. I was required these things to board an airplane.
ESTA, vaccination certificate(app), and negative certificate of PCR test within 24 hours.

From the Champaign airport to Newman Hall where we stay, we’re driven by taxi.
After we arrived, Vuyo, one of the associates who were already there, showed our rooms and facilities in Newman Hall. We also learned that communication with the associates and staff was done through an application called “WhatsApp”.That is similar to “LINE” in Japan.

The first day started with self-introductions, where associates members got to know each other regarding their countries, organizations, current jobs, carreers, and personalities. If had it not been for this place, we’d never have met! I was struck by this diversity. After that, Clara explained the entire training program and made us aware of what we’d learn and what our goals were in this program.

Lunch with a library buddy
During the program, one person who belongs to the University of Illinois will be assigned to each associate. Library buddies and associates meet at the first lunch and then contact each other individually.We are supposed to take various consultations and recreational activity, which are very reassuring!

Leadership Training
With a facilitator from Learning Alliances Company, we analyzed our own style in the workplace through the “DiSC” assessment method. It is divided into four main behavioral styles, from which three more characteristics are applied to find out where we are. I was an “SC” type. This analysis is not to determine the superiority or inferiority of types, but to know each other’s type so that we can have a good relationship and know how to collaborate rather than conflicts.

Visit CITL
We visited the Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning for sessions followed by a tour of the lab. They learn and conduct various initiatives to support education and realize that the experts in many fields should be adopting new technologies to structuring theire services.

Weekend Party
It was an honor for associates to be invited to the welcome party this weekend. Barbara’s house! We were very impressed with a hospitality of UIUC staffs.

2022 Mortenson associates

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