Eric's Beijing Diary

We had a graduation cermony today for the IC design students. This is a cooperative program with Florida International University. Students are given two master's degrees, one from Florida, and one from the unmiversity here (BUAA). Joint degrees are all the rage in China now. Western universities are rushing to get on board. For the Chinese students, it is a popular concept, becuase it allows them to "study abroad" without going there. For the western universities, it becomes a good way to attract the best students, because they are able to identify which students would be the best candidates for their PhD programs. And, of course, it gives them a golden opportunity to expand their programs in a country that has huge supply of students.

This evening, I went to a Japanese restaurant that Kat (former English teacher at Beihang) told me about today. I think I'm back in business. That place is not bad. Katsudon for 16 kuai. As I have said before, if you like to eat Japanese food, Beijing is the best place to be. The meal I had this evening would cost four or five times as much in Japan. When I go to Tokyo, I eat at McDonald's.