Reflections on Session #1 (9/24)

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed class on Sept. 24th. After the lecture I realized how much I don't know about East Asia in general. I also realized that I don't follow world news like I should. I am grateful for the information and knowledge that was presented. I didn't realize that mineral resources in the ocean in East Asia have caused water disputes. These mineral resources are a cause of great interest since we are such large consumers of gasoline.
I was also very interested in the information presented about communist China. I recently went on a 2 week trip to Budapest, Hungary. I found their history with communism fascinating. I have a difficult time trying to imagine what it would be like living under a communist government. The Chinese government owns all of the TV, print, and radio. All of the internet has government filters. What would it be like to live under such censorship?
At the end of the lecture I was amazed to see the satellite picture of Korea showing N. Korea as very dark. I could hardly believe the difference between North and South Korea. Communism governments are so repressive. From Monday's class I gained a greater appreciation of living in a democracy with the freedoms I enjoy every day.

[Anonymous]

It is good to know that there will be a variety of topics covered. I'm curious about the many different aspects of the East Asian countries we are going to study. How they differ politically, geographically, economically, educationally, and the social and philosophical/religious aspects. I think that understanding different worldviews are essential for finding common ground and understanding. So many of the parents that I work with as a guidance counselor in our high school have expectations and hopes for their children that stem from experiences and worldviews that I know nothing about. Having some insight to what they are experiencing and how that affects their expectations when they arrive here is a great way to bridge gaps and help me meet the students and parents where they are first needing the support. Just listening to the power point the first night was a glimpse into many of the differences and I am sure that the discussions and ideas shared will be very interesting during the seminars to follow.
edited by dsciarrotta on 10/7/2012

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Dear Colleagues,

Please write a short (1 paragraph) reflection on the reading material or discussion from Monday, Sept. 24.

Best,
Ying Jia
edited by yhuang on 9/27/2012

[Anonymous]

I was so impressed with Clay and his wealth of knowledge on Asian history, culture, etc. I can only imagine how disappointed my parents would be if they found out that this white guy knew more about my heritage than I do and on top of that, he also spoke more Chinese than I do. I am truly a disgrace to my family.

I found it interesting that people often neglect Russia when discussing Asia. I have a few friends from India and they acknowledge that India is in Asia but refuse to consider themselves Asian.

[Author]

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