My name is Alex Broughton. I teach math at PVHS. I only have 2 preps and 5 periods - unlike Harley with his marathon semester (that is almost done). But, I am coaching the freshman basketball team.

I am looking forward to this year's class. Especially after being to China last spring and then Japan in the summer, the topics seem all the more relevant.

I have a wife, Narumi, and a son, Nike. He is near 14 months old. I heard Tina Fey on Leno saying that for her, living with her toddler son was like living with a drunk midget. PC? No. Accurate? Yes.

Alex,
I have always wanted to read The World is Flat. It seems so important a book. I understand the premise of the book so much more after traveling to China last spring. The world is becoming smaller and smaller and all of my studies of China are making that so much evident. I am glad you are taking this journey with me again. You were always so open and willing to learn about the culture of China and all the experience of travel had to offer. The world is so small when we learn that people in other cultures are reallly so much like us.

Cathy

Hello everybody!
Like Kate, I am new to the seminar this year. My name is Aileen Willoughby and I am the librarian at PV High. My first teaching assignment was many, many moons ago at Dorsey High School in the LAUSD, then I moved to Hamilton High, where I taught English, Ethnic Studies and beginning Japanese. I left teaching and worked in aerospace in contract administration, but after we started a family, I left the workplace altogether. I stayed home for 12 years raising my two sons and getting involved in PTA and volunteering. I loved that, too, particularly volunteering in the library of my children's elementary school (Torrance USD). That led me to consider the Library Media Teacher credential, which I enrolled in while an at-home-mom. When I finished the program, I hemmed and hawed about going back to work (I loved being at home), but the opening here at PVHS just kinda fell into place, and I've been here since the re-opening in 2002. If you ever need information or assistance with book selection or book challenges--anything related to literacy--call me and I'm happy to help. It's unfortunate that our district does not have a district librarian, but if there's anything I can do to assist you, I'm here.

Just another note: on your grey binder, there are some photos. One of them is of a Japanese dancer wearing a red kimono. This is the kind of dancing I do as a "hobby,"and for which I contacted Clayton during the summer via email while you were on the bus in China. I've studied Japanese classical dancing for most of my life (since 4-1/2 yrs old). Japanese classical dancing, or "buyo," is the dance sequences of the Kabuki plays (classic Japanese drama).

I'm looking forward to learning more about East Asia, as there is not a day that passes without news about the East Asian countries in the media. Also, as teachers in the district, we come in contact with many Asian students who are influenced by their cultures.

Looking forward to getting to know everybody.
Aileen

Hi,
I’m Christine Schumacher, a Language Arts 8 teacher at PVIS, and also
the mother of Kate, a member of our Asia class. This is our first mother/daughter class and it’s rather fun except she’s light years ahead of me with technology. I went off to college in the 60’s equipped simply with a manual typewriter, not even White-Out. As Kate mentioned in her “”Hello,” I have a two year old granddaughter from China who just joined our family last March. For me, in addition to all the delight a two-year old brings, this adoption has rekindled an interest in Asia. Way back at graduate school at UCLA, I took a random history class titled something like “”Imperial China.” Up to that point in my education, I had stuck to mainly US and European history, with a pinch of Latin American studies. Therefore, the introduction to the immensity of Chinese history that was so new and foreign to me made a lasting impression. The other day I was searching my mental files for anything I could remember about the class, and alas there was not much there. However, as I started some readings for this seminar, fleeting memories of the Zhou and Tang dynasties raced across my brain. It might be surprising what I unearth from that class 34 years ago. Of course I’m also interested in the current culture and politics of the region that this seminar offers. There’s something very invigorating about taking an academic class as a senior citizen. Certainly visiting China has always been on my husband’s and my “When We Retire” list. Maybe someday we’ll even be visiting with our wonderful, new granddaughter Yan Hua Fu Rickelman.

Hello,
My name is Teresa Beisel and I am new to the seminar this year also. I teach Algebra Accel and Algebra 1 at Ridgecrest. I am teaching 6 periods this year and tutoring and thought my schedule was full... I am excited about learning more about China and have heard how wonderful the trip was last year. After attending only 1 session, it made me realize how interesting the history of government, philosophy and economics are in China. It would be awesome if they planned another trip to China this year. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone in the seminar.

Hello everyone,
Like many of the members who have recently posted, I too am a new addition to the seminar this year. My interest in Asia goes all the way back to childhood when I witnessed the expert ping pong playing of our Japanese neighbor, Mr. Shimazu, at the ripe age of 5 and due to my friendship with his daughter, Jasmine, I was priveledged to take part in many of the family's traditions and celebrations. Later on, while completing my undergraduate work at Loyola Marymount University, I was invited into the Chinese culture by a roommate, Stephanie Louie, who exposed several of us to both the foods and traditions connected to Chinese New Year and her family. This past year, the same group reunited to celebrate another Chinese New Year commemorating our lifelong friendships and of course, the Year of the Dog. Who knows, perhaps we will make it an annual gathering...isn't this year, the Year of the Pig? Following several years of teaching in Sonoma County, the Department of Dependant Schools Overseas DODDS recruited, interviewed and then accepted my application with an invitation to teach English to the American children living on base in Japan; however, I would not be allowed to bring my husband, a New Zealand citizen along with me because he was not an American citizen. As you might imagine, I turned down the exciting offer with deep regret. Nonetheless, my interest and appreciation in Asian culture continued to grow and upon completion of my Masters in Theatre Arts, I designed a course entitled Theatre Across the Globe which touched upon both Kabuki and Noh theatre techniques. This course was taught at both the high school and conservatory levels. Upon my 21st birthday, just yesterday I believe, I remember being blindfolded and escorted into one of the most popular sushi restaurants in Northern California by a good friend who worked internationally and wanted to "expand my horizons" by introducing me to authentic Japanese cuisine (no California rolls at this place folks.) I remember finding the textures of the food repulsive initially because they were so very different from my culinary experiences. And wouldn't you know it, now sushi is one of my favorite dining choices for both nutritional and psychological fortification. As many of you have also noted in your postings, I have had the good fortune of travelling throughout Europe, Africa, Indonesia, the Caribbean and New Zealand; however, I have yet to explore Japan, China and the rest of Eastern Asia which has been a personal goal for over two decades. Travelling, for me, is not a journey to discover sights but a journey to encounter various peoples, traditions and cultures. Being of Polish and Czechoslovakian descent and participating in the making of the foods and the holiday traditions with my own family over the years has given me a solid sense of cultural identity and an appreciation for other cultures as well. With several students in each one of my English classes who speak and practice traditions from their East Asian cultures, I am very interested in learning as much as possible and passing the information along to all of my students. While I have over 16 years of teaching, along with several years of freelance writing, newspaper and television journalism as well as education in film and photography, there is still so much to learn and appreciate. My quest for developing a deeper knowledge as well as a true understanding of Asian culture firsthand is being nutured by this seminar through both lecture and participation. It is a pleasure and a priviledge to be a part of this group of educators and students.
Susan Pavelka Gregg[Edit by="spavelkagregg on Jan 9, 8:25:49 PM"][/Edit]

Cathy,
Let's talk on Saturday, Jan. 20th. Anytime that is convenient for you. I hope to be there early (by 8 at least, I hope). I can stay later, past our class, if you'd like. Lunch time . . . . Anytime!
Aileen