Thoughts about session 2

[Anonymous]

I wish we had more time...

It was really interesting to learn about the effects of urbanization and the population. I did not know that the rural Chinese farmers were marrying women other nationalities in order to have a bride that would be with them in the rural areas. I had heard of other countries with the mail-order brides, but I did not realize it now reached the areas of rural China.
The demonstration of the newspaper and all the people standing on it, was a great visual. Students will be able to better understand life on a Japanese train.

Looking foward to the next session.

[Anonymous]

you have to look out for people coming the other way[Edit by="creynolds on Apr 19, 4:14:53 PM"][/Edit]
[Edit by="creynolds on Apr 19, 4:15:52 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

These photos are of a trail that leads to a restaurant

[Anonymous]

first you take a tram to get to the trail

[Anonymous]

look for a toe hold

[Anonymous]

make your way across the top

[Anonymous]

if you reach the restaurant the food is free

[Anonymous]

I have posted a series of photos that lead to a restaurant in China, if you make it to the restaurant, the food is free. Look at them in this order 1. tram to trail 2 first step 3 opposite traffic 4 toe hold 5 getting closer 6 free lunch! enjoy

[Anonymous]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! For this great opportunity to be part of this seminar. I missed the first session due to a mistake, but I'm so glad to be a part of this seminar. What I enjoyed so much is that the information presented is in "regular" form which makes it easier for me to understand and most likely to use with my students. The images, maps, and personal space simulation were a great way to present valuable information. Feeling bad that I missed the first session I tried my best to catch up on all the reading. I enjoyed all the readings especially the following:
"Don't bring me your huddle masses"-- amazing! I never even thought about immigration in Asian countries and especially Japan being so "picky" about its future citizens. Reading this article validates the idea that preference and discrimination continue to be based on race, culture and appearance.

"In Japan, Machines for Work"--Another eye opening reading. I guess in my mind I have always known that Japan is a robot country--but not as a means to replace the low population levels and to help the aging.

"Contested ground"-- reading this article allowed me to better understand what was mentioned during seminar. 😉

"The Odd Couple"-- as I read this article the image of the Koreas at night kept flashing. As I learned more about how well South Korea is doing over North Korea the more I wished I could be like a bird and fly in into both of the Koreas to see how one country can be complete opposites. One idea that continues to strike me is if North Korea falls will South Korea be able to handle and support the fallen?

"With Wounded Pride, Unemployed Koreans Quietly Turn to Manual Labor"-- My heart goes out to all of those white collar workers who after sacrificing so much and preparing themselves, due to the economy their careers have vanished. Not only have their careers vanished but also must now deal with the stigma and shame associated with losing a job. Any honest work is decent work, but to have worked so hard to reach a career and due to the economy have it vanished-- I don't know how I would react.

Beneath Booming Cities, China's Future is Drying Up"-- I didn't know China had a water problem. When I visited Beijing in 2002 I did notice the tons of people and huge apartment buildings, but I didn't connect the water problem. Now even that 2012 movie makes sense how China would invest so much money on the massive dam project. I like the line that China is doing what California has done in the past-- divert the water and bring it to the people.

"How to Tell Your Friends from The Japs"-- I will use this article to with my students in the next few days for our Farewell To Manzanar Unit. This article help to point out the stereotypes and discrimination of the time period.

Great reading, just wish I had more time 😉

[Anonymous]

Last week's session, like the first one, was amazing. Dube's Powerpoint presentations are second to none. I need to learn to do that with my class. I have been taking vigorous notes in class and sharing these facts with my wife whose family is Japanese.
The fact that South Korea has more abortions than live births per capita is quite frightening. What does that say about the values of these people?
I also enjoyed hearing the various ecnonomic numbers from the different south Asian countries. We spend so much more on our housing than do the Japanese. Then again, the amount they spend on food is equally astounding.

[Anonymous]

I thought that we covered an enormous amount of material in a very short time. I, and I am sure others, had much to contribute to the content. There would also be alot of unanswered questions we never got the time (opportunity) to ask. Other than that, I learned alot of things about East Asia that I was never acquainted with. For this I am grateful. I am in the class to learn. "Keep up the good work."

M. Gutierrez

[Anonymous]

Session 2- So much great information. Thank you. One interesting observation from last week is that once again women's education comes to the forefront as an economic indicator for a society and predictor of population control.
For the classroom:
I like the idea of comparing Japan and Medieval Europe castles, feudal system, and warriors. I will have student groups decide on their project to present to the class. Some groups are narrowing their focus to weapons (of course they are all boys), and another group is planning to create floorplans of two actual castles, then retell a story of a battle that took place there. They are coming up with some interesting ideas incorporating higher order content with creative projects.

An interesting book on Korea is "Still Life With Rice" by Helie Lee. It it the story of Helie's grandmother before and after the Japanese occupation in Korea. The sequel "In the Absence of Sun" concerns her family's attempts to get Helie's uncle out of North Korea. They are true stories. Helie lives in LA. [Edit by="jsimon on Apr 20, 4:22:22 PM"][/Edit]

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed seeing the satelite image of Asia at night. I think all of my students would enjoy looking at it too. My middle school students could do a population analysis with this and then do a little bit of research to find out why there aren't any lights in N. Korea. I don't think they know much if anything about N.Korea in the first place so what they find might surprise them.

[Anonymous]

Ridding China of bad customs was a fascinating read! I saw the clip from the film we were invited, alas, I could not go, that dealt with foot binding and I cringed. The thought that came to my mind was "who hasn't experienced the discomfort of too tight shoes?" To live like that on a 24hr basis, must have been true pain. It reminded me of the novel Red Scarf Girl when Li speaks of her friend's Grandma having to struggle up and down steps in her bound feet... I still don't understand why this was instituted by the Song dynasty. I know I can look it up, I probably will afterwards.
What struck me was the awesome document of the woman who was advocating womans' rights! Talk about gumption!! I do not have my reader with me, I left it sitting on my desk at school, but what a great source to compare and contrast with say, the Seneca Falls Declaration on the Rights of Women. Once again, perspective is key.
Oh, by the way, Red Scarf Girl, is a novel that was the subject of a seminar that was held a bit earlier than our sessions began. This is a powerful tool to use if we want our students to know one particular experience of what it was like to be a teenager during Mao's Cultural Revolution and the emphasis on getting rid of the "Four Olds."

[Anonymous]

One image that remains in my mind is that of North Korea (the satellite image at night)--there was literally one speck of light in that country; that speaks so much about its economic status. Another image that I kept talking about to my sister after class was the one where if you divide the line in (almost) in half, only 3% of the Chinese population lives in the 55% aerial section whereas 97% of the Chinese population lives in the 45% section (correct me if the numbers are off; I was astounded with the magnitude of the numbers).

On another note, I was also fascinated to learn that most of Japan and South Korea are filled with the forest/mountains. No one wonder they don't have any place to stand! (Especially Japan--I can't wait to see the professional pushers?)

Japan's debt to the world was another fascinating number--I thought they were rich because I see so many Japanese everywhere whenever I travel to another country. I even saw them in Morocco once!!!

There are so much information already; I can't wait for the next class.

[Author]

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