CNN iReport

To me, one of  the best things about Second Life is the opportunity it gives for meeting people from all over the world and learning about different cultures.  A great place to do this is on Info Island International, which is run by the Alliance Library System and contains areas dedicated to different cultures.  I recently visited the China Cafe and spoke with its manager Elaine Tulip, a librarian with the Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries, and ling Markstein, who gives classes on different aspects of Chinese culture, and lives near Beijing.

While Elaine Tulip's main work in SL is for the Chicago Public Libraries, she also has an interest in Chinese culture and that is how her involvement with the China Cafe began. She answered a request for collaboration that was posted on the SLED listserv by a teacher in Shanghai who taught conversational English.  Elaine was able to arrange for space to be made available, courtesy of the Alliance Library System, and worked with the builder, Gospel Voom, as well as in consultation with the Chinese teacher to create the building. The China Cafe opened on Oct. 14, 2007.  The original teacher was unable to continue working at the China Cafe and that position was recently filled by ling Markstein.

The China Cafe has four floors. The first one is the central greeting area, where I met with Elaine and ling, and where the picture of us sitting having tea was taken.  On the second floor is the classroom space; pillows can be rezzed in a circular or grid pattern there, depending on the kind of class taking place. The Crane Hall Library is on the third floor.  It contains books of poetry and literature (I found works by Edgar Allan Poe and Emily Dickinson), books on Chinese culture and a filing cabinet with notes from the lectures that have been given at the China Cafe.  An exhibition space is on the fourth floor and a tai chi and meditation area on the roof. A great deal of attention has been paid to detail.  For instance, three different kinds of teas are offered in the greeting space, black, green and jasmine.  The type of teapot used depends on the kind of tea brewed, so you will find three different kinds of teapots, all custom made. Go check it out. (In the picture we are drinking green tea)

While the original mission was to provide a place for Chinese speakers to learn and practice English, the scope has broadened.  Special events and classes are held. I attended one class given by ling Markstein on Chinese wedding customs.  A diverse group of people were at the lecture, some of Chinese heritage, and others like me who are not, but all met together at the China Cafe to learn more about Chinese culture.  Elaine said that at a recent lecture there was a discussion about how to address young women in China nowadays. Apparently there are a number of different ways and ling was able to help those of Chinese heritage but not in China to discover some alternatives. I mention this because it is a good example of the informal way people can learn from each other about the ordinary everyday things which can help all of us to communicate, something that is invaluable in the global community in which we all now live.

The China Cafe and adjacent Japanese Gardens are on Info Island International (23, 198, 31) At the moment ling Markstein's classes on different aspects of Chinese culture are offered at 5 am and 5 pm sl time on Thursdays, but this is subject to change.  Join the China Cafe Group to receive notices of lectures and activities. There is also a China Cafe blog, http://chinacafe.cuipblogs.org/