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Gerlinde GoschiI found the Historie Proleme: Intrusion of Commodore Matthew Perry's Flotilla part of Prof. Yamashita's presentation fascinating. Some facts I learned surprised me. These included the negotiations by Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry and the time span these took as well as the closure of Japan since 1639 except for China, Korea, and Holland. Perry's visits in 1853 & 1854 caused the "opening" of Japan, however, the "climate" in the archipelago - urbaniztation, commercialization, and intellectual & cultural changes - facilitated this as well as the threatening power of the Paixhan guns on the four warships. The first formal diplomatic relations between Japan and the United States were established at the Convention of Kangawa putting an end to isonationalism. While I knew that Japan was "closed" to trade, I didn't realize the complexity of events inside the country and outside. Prof. Yamashita explained these in a lucid, logical, and very interesting way. Thank you!
I also enjoyed the professor's candidness regarding the Tom Cruise movie "The Last Samurai." I chuckled because all my friends who viewed it, shared his opinion about the movie. I am planning to watch "Twilight Samurai," the Japanese movie about warriors in 1860 as soon as my time will permit.
Gerlinde GoschiI enjoyed my conversation with Prof. Dube's regarding the lack of detailed information about East Asia in history books. I couldn't agree more with Prof. Dube's statement that we grew up learning about the Silk Road and Marco Polo mostly. This is certainly true for me. I learned more about the histroy of East Asia during my Book Club meetings. I enjoyed books like Shangai Girls by Lisa See, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, and Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie. These great reads granted me the opportunity to learn about periods of East Asian history I have not known much about. The Little Chinese Seamstress is a great novel about two friends who have been forced to move to a mountain village for re-education during China's Cultural Revolution and how a whole new world opens up to them when they devour some banned books of Western Classics.
Gerlinde GoschiI enjoyed Prof. Dube's presentation on East Asia as I learned many facts I have not been exposed to before. While I was aware of the pollution in China, I did not realize the extent of it. I am first grade teacher who works at a "Green Ribbon" school. Every April, we talk extensively about Earth Day and how we are able to help. My students are very environmentally concious and our school recycles religiously. My plan is to teach a mini lesson incorporating the article Can China fix its mammoth water crisis before it's too late? The article mentions World Water Day. I researched this. In 2018 it is on Thursday, March 22. I will introduce this day to my class this school year. The lesson would include the images from the article, explaining the concept of the sponge cities and how these conserve water. I would also research for a short video clip about the Huai River as well as mention Huo Daishan's environmental work. Using him as an example, I would brainstorm with my class to answer the question how first graders would follow Huo Daishan's lead in their own neighborhoods?
Gerlinde GoschiHello! My name Gerlinde (Goschi) O'Neill. I am a first grade German Language Arts teacher at an IB immersion school, Goethe International Charter School. I am excited to learn more about East Asia and to exchange ideas with all of you. I have been a teacher for more than ten years in the LA area. I worked in the inner city, private, public, and charter schools. I love my profession and thrive to learn new things every day.
