reading - in manchuria ch. 1-3

[Anonymous]

I've been writing side notes throughout these chapters in the book for uses in my 7th grade HSS/ELA cross curricular activities:

• The section with the comment about Beijing- everyone want to live there. (multiple instances of countryside v. city)(Chapter 1) Students could view population textual documents in multiple areas and cost of living and analyze. DBQ
• Frances at SFO and her viewing the fountain and thinking that Beijing could use the water and comparison to the water droughts. (Chapter 2)
• Her interaction with the immigration/customs agent and the photo id versus what she looked like. Cultural differences. Also what happens with social media (Chapter 2)
• The social norms and how those can be different in families and cultures, countries etc. I had an incident where I had visited a family and they brought up very taboo topics, I felt uncomfortable and they thought I was being rude for not talking about the topics. These could be topics where we can use it to not only write but research cultural norms in China (Chapter 2)
• The story of how he met his wife, use it as a plot warm up (Chapter 3)
• The Changchun Railway section in Chapter 3 could be used as a research project and its importance in the region.
• Pages 34-36 were heavy with characterization and pages 36-38 were heavy with instances of point of view. I'd love to use to switch it up.
• At the beginning of the year, our class creates class norms which I could use page 43's Modern Pedagogy of class as a way to introduce it. Exposure is key.

[Anonymous]

The first chapter is all about Meyer setting the scene, helping us appreciate Wasteland and Manchuria. What do you see with your mind as you read?

• I had a feeling of being cold, especially with Meyers's four layers of cold. I kept wondering about the traditions that they held on to and those that were obliterated with the Cultural Revolution. I was grateful for the maps that were provided, but I also found myself going back to our itinerary to see if we'd be visiting the places he named. I kept wondering how much more the areas would have changed since Meyers's first visit in the 90s.

Chapter 2 is Meyer's explanation of how he came to be in Manchuria and in this particular village. We meet his wife, who has links to the village, but who spent much of her China years in cities. What sorts of cultural differences and similarities between China and the US does Meyer highlight?

• One of the things that struck me as I read was how there was national news. Things seemed much more controlled there: the stories that are shared, the advertisements that are placed before the people. We, in America, seem to pride ourselves on having the freedom of speech and examining multiple perspectives and speaking up and out against things that we deem unjust. In China, according to Meyers, that was something that you didn't do.
• Public displays of affection are frowned upon in China, whereas in America, you see people holding hands and kissing in public.
• Frances talks about growing up and not having much but that there wasn't much to want when she was younger. I look at children in America today and there is so much to want! The latest phone, the latest fashion, the brand names! Not only is there a lot to want, it's ridiculously expensive! That definitely is a way for children to be separated and really know what poor is like early in life.

Chapter 3 explores Frances's family background. What qualities is Meyer drawn to? What, for him, separates people from Northeast China from those from other places in China?

• I was struck by Meyers's description of Frances - that her skin was tanned like a peasant's no light like a city person's. The color issue is inescapable, no matter where you go!
• The idea of remembering seems to be recurring. Meyers says that living in rural society makes memory superfluous. He says that everything is known in the countryside and that people in the cities are the ones who fear forgetting. I'm still wrestling with the meaning of that statement, but I keep feeling like the people in the Northeast, for quite a while, were almost forgotten - unless, of course, the agribusinesses wanted the land.

[clay dube]

Each participant needs to post something for each section of the two assigned books. You are free to raise questions, to highlight passages you found especially illuminating, to discuss how you might use this section or something from this section with students. Or perhaps you'll find links to ideas or places discussed in the books. In this thread, let's discuss the opening three chapters of Michael Meyer's In Manchuria. We'll raise questions, but you are free to discuss whatever you find interesting in this particular section.

First a link, the public radio program This American Life recently rebroadcast a show first aired in 2012 called Americans in China. It includes a segment featuring Meyer reading what became the first chapter of his book, "Winter Solstice."
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/467/americans-in-china

The first chapter is all about Meyer setting the scene, helping us appreciate Wasteland and Manchuria. What do you see with your mind as you read?
Chapter 2 is Meyer's explanation of how he came to be in Manchuria and in this particular village. We meet his wife, who has links to the village, but who spent much of her China years in cities. What sorts of cultural differences and similarities between China and the US does Meyer highlight?
Chapter 3 explores Frances's family background. What qualities is Meyer drawn to? What, for him, separates people from Northeast China from those from other places in China?

[Author]

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