Garfield-Palouse students

Story and photo courtesy

Dennis Griner

Forty-five Garfield-Palouse High School students and their advisors, Dennis Griner and Scott Thompson, met with Ruth A. Kurzbauer at the University of Idaho’s Student Union Building Monday, March 3. Kurzbauer, an international relations professional and former U.S. consulate officer, has had a long career as a U.S. Department of State and Information Agency officer. She has spent several years as the Global Affairs Officer in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, China, and has an extensive background in Chinese and Southeast Asian issues.

Kurzbauer spent an hour and a half with Gar-Pal students providing them an overview of the role of diplomacy in international issues. Using examples from China, Ukraine, North Korea and other areas of world concern, she explained the role of a professional diplomat. Diplomacy, she explained, happens at various levels. Kurzbauer expanded her presentation by elaborating on the role that private diplomacy plays in international relationships.

Non-governmental groups such as the Peace Corps, Doctors Without Borders, missionary organizations and even private citizens touring the various countries have an impact on the relationship between foreign nations and the United States. Her experience was at the professional level where she was responsible to officially advocate, explain and promote U.S. policy. A significant part of her job centered on bridging the cultural gaps that exist between the U.S. view of the world and that of her assigned nation.

Students were most interested in hearing of the changes that are taking place in China. Kurzbauer gave numerous examples from her 30 years of service. Change in China, she noted, can be reflected in the changes within the major cities. Among the numerous examples given was the fact that when Kurzbauer was first stationed in Beijing in 1986, the highest building in the city (population 21 million) was the U.S. embassy’s staff housing complex. It was just 12 stories high. Today, the Beijing skyline is similar to New York City’s Manhattan skyline with massive skyscrapers.

The students were also interested in how the government controlled the private lives of young people in China.

In the 1980s, the government controlled most aspects of the daily life of its citizens.

In the area of education, she noted that thirty years ago the government would choose which students would receive a college education.

Upon graduation, the government provided them a job, but individuals had no choice in the process and even where they were to live was decided by the government.

At the time, college students had to ask the government for permission to marry, but permission was seldom given.

Today by contrast, Chinese young people have greater opportunities to attend a university.

Marriage no longer requires the government’s permission and students must seek employment after graduation from college.

Life for the college student is similar to their Western counterparts.

After the presentation by Kurzbauer, the students were divided into teams of six and met with graduate students from the Martin Institute of International Studies. In these small groups, students continued to discuss the information given in the general presentation. Ms. Kurzbauer and Dr. Bill Smith, Director of the Martin Institute, moved among the groups and provided additional insight to the topics being discussed. All in all, it was a highly successful day that provided the Gar-Pal students a unique insight into the world of U.S. diplomacy.