Session #1 - March 2 (morning), Clay Dube

[Ricardo Reyes]

Japanese food has become one of my favorites. Tokyo Central market is a regular stop on my grocery shopping stops. It has been complex at times in choosing which rice brand or type to buy. The article reinforces that Japan is a "rice-worshipping nation where rich production is politically sacrosanct." The startling description of Japan's rice crisis centers on the aging population with its older, smaller stomachs. The trends are against rice with a 20 percent drop in consumption in the last two decades while the traditional accompaniment to rice -- fish --  is down thirty percent since 2005. I am always amazed at how much a large blue fin tuna will go for at a Japanese fish auction market. The depletion of sea food with many species nearing extinction makes this last trend of declining Japanese fish consumption may be more positive than negative. However, the decline in other related products is of concern as to how the traditional Japanese farming traditions are very alarming. The average of rice farmers at 70 is a very startling fact. The economics of government subsidies has become unstainable, the article infers. Falling prices and falling demand are nothing short of disaster and my individual shock is that this could undermine Japan's traditions which are centered on its strong relationship with agriculture, traditional farming practice, and countryside culture and arts crafts. Japan's rice protectionism is under fire and the outlook of "opening" the market will undoubtedly wrench apart the fabric of Japan's balance between its rich history of self-sufficiency and the impending demise of millions of small rice farmers. These issues and trends cause me to reflect on my grandparents who were self-sustaining farmers and how my parents grew up only to move to become city dwellers. My dreams to live and work on a farm were finally dashed as my grandparents passed away and only one uncle out of 12 children, my mother the eldest, retained the inheritance through shrewd manipulations. My childhood of summers on the family ranch are but a distant memory as few of the descendants still remain tied to a farming and ranching lifestyle. I can only dream of being a teacher and part-time farmer without having claim to my ancestral lands. I would hate to see this occur in Japan as farmer's children are destined, by choice or economics, to leave their ancestral fields and traditions. 

[Gerlinde Goschi]

This was a very interesting fact I learned during this session. I didn't know that Wisconsin is such a large ginseng grower.  Thank you for sharing the websites above.  Ginseng has many health benefits including reducing inflammation as a potent antioxidant, benefit brain function, boosting the immune system, cancer-fighting properties, fighting tiredness and energy level increase, and lowering blood sugar.  While ginseng is not a miracle herb, it potentially can help.  I like the idea to create a "Did You Know?" chart about ginseng and interesting facts about it.  I could make this into a project in class and prompt students to research it further/ 

[Gerlinde Goschi]

I found the Chinese government's move to transparency described in this article a promising step.  Transparency seems not to have always been important to the government and it is progress.  The app mentioned in the article and the willingness of the government to make data about polluting factories available to the people is "a remarkable change" as Tom Levitt stated.  This Chinese citizen empowerment creates greater awareness of pollution and environmental issue.

[Brenda-Jean Shephard]

I wonder if conditions have improved at all.  It's so easy for us to take life for granted, and forget that other people in the world right now are enduring atrocities we wouldn't want to imagine.

[Kim Leng]

Hi Christine,

We are very connected to East Asia.  In thinking about future assignments for your students, I agree that there’s nothing more powerful to see that connection than the products that we use.  What if you bring everyday items to class and have students list the items and look for where those products are made?  Then have them take a look at their personal items.  Where are their phones made?  Where are their backpacks made?  Where are there shoes made?  I’m currently wearing a long sleeve shirt made in Vietnam that I got from Old Navy. And the Adidas shoe that I wore is also made in Vietnam.  The green computer bag that I have is made in Vietnam.  What?  I had no idea! In just taking a quick inventory of the items that I own, I currently own a lot of things made in Vietnam.  And my favorite slipper that I wear at home is made in China. It's going to be a challenge for me to look for an item that's made in the USA.  I think students might also discover some surprising things about the stuff they own.

[Salbador Gonzalez]

After reading all the articles, session notes and classmate posts, it is surprising to find out about the decline of the japanese rice consumption, chinese and south korean population decline. I had heard about china's pollution during the time the beijing olympics were taking place and am glad to hear some changes are happening as it not only affect China but the world. During class, it was interesting to learn about the ginseng production in the US as I would have never thought the US growing any such production. 

When reading the imported brides article, it reminded me about the arranged marriages that would occur many decades ago in Mexico as the parents would decide who their daughters would be married to based on family interests. The more I learn about the world and its history, the more I see that there are lots of similarities in cultures but each in their own specific way. 

During class, it was interesting to see the satellite view of North Korea compared to the rest of the asian countries as I did not know North Korea would be completely in the dark during the night. That simple picture made me remember about the North Korea survivors that have had similar lifestyles compared to those of Cubans. 

In regards to the naming of the sea between Korea and Japan, never had I heard a situation in which two countries wouldn't agree on a common name. 

[Jimmy Martinez]

I also love to show the CNN/Student news in the morning because it does a great job of informing the students about current events. They watched the development of the U.S.-North Korean nuclear standoff and were well informed about the situation. Many of my students were scared of getting wiped out by massive nuclear weapons. Watching this kind of news is critical in introducing these different cultures into our students lives. Like most 8th graders my students are fascinated with technology and the Asian influence that it has on our local and national economy. Without the CNN student news I belive that many of my students would basically be cut off from learning what it going on with our foreign neighbors.

[Amy Chen]

Hi Dennis, the questions you brought up are great for a middle school discussion. When teaching History, I use GRAPES with E standing for economy. When I read this article, I also thought that the decline in rice consumption was fascinating. I woudl bring this up in my class in terms of the economy of Japan and how it has changed over the years.

[Amy Chen]

When I read about bride schools, I struggled to find a way to bring the topic into a classroom. Your reponse helped give me some ideas. This would make a good discussion for economics and social class. I could even have my students debate about bride schools and then write a persuasive essay about whether or not they find the exchange to be fair.

[Salbador Gonzalez]

Prior to this lecture, I knew China was overpopulated and that population control was in effect. What I had not known was that their efforts in reducing the amount of people would slow down drastically to the extent of not having enough people in the future to work and live in the jobs, fields and houses already in place. Let's hope this trend is leveled soon and that the rest of the world doesn't start such trends so we won't have to worry about trying to fill much needed in the workforce. 

[Salbador Gonzalez]

I as well will try to do the same in trying to teach my students with special needs more about East Asia and the unclaimed links we have to East Asia. I will focus more about East Asian cultures through dances and sports as my specialization is Adapted Physical Education. Through this course I know I will learn about more East Asian cultural traditions to teach my students about, and therefore, hopefully have my students appreciate the effect East Asia has on our society. 

Great fact in claiming we are connected to East Asia due to all the technological products sent from East Asia, and not just technology, but clothing, toys, shoes, and cars. 

[Salbador Gonzalez]

Thank you for sharing your opinion. Your opinion made me think about the possibility of female college graduates increasing throughout the future and the population of the world decreasing due to women nowadays prioritizing their careers over having many children, as was the trend many years ago. This also bring to mind what will be of men if they keep on allowing women to increase the ratio of women to men college graduates. Will men be led by female presidents, CEOs, owners and so on. Women leadership isn't a problem but men lacking ambition to succeed might be. 

[Salbador Gonzalez]

This article only comes to show what might be of the future when there are more women than men in the world. I wonder why Korea has such a problem since I have read in the past that there are 7 times more women in the world nowadays. Is it a trend or issue Korea might keep on having in the future. If it is, what will be the culture and traditions of Korea as they keep on bringing more brides from neighboring countries. Is this a problem the rest of the world will have to face in the future as well or can the rest of the world learn from Korea and be prepared for the time that issue comes to life. 

[Salbador Gonzalez]

Hello Kim, your "Did you know?" fun fact about a state made me think about using it for my physical education classes in trying to find as a class solutions for certain problems in physical activity. The facts might be logical to some students but eye-opening to others as not all students experience the same amount of physical activity in their childhood years. 

I can use this "Did You Know?" fun fact sheet to find solutions, facts about a sport or dance, game strategies, running form and maybe I can also present a skill or sport through a "Did You Know?" mentality. 

[Salbador Gonzalez]

Great questions to ask in your class but also in my physical education class from a third party perspective. My class can use these questions in order to work on our sociological skills in order to understand and appreciate our teammates, classmates, and opponents in a game setting. I can also use these questions to talk about certain sport rivalries and how are rivalries created? Are they really rivalries or is it a term tv companies use to attract more fans to their broadcasts. 

[Author]

Posts