[Miguel Diaz]

According to the information presented in Video #1: “Geography and Demographics Basics,” North Korea, Japan, and China all are experiencing a growth in aging populations. The implications (related to caring for the elderly) for the East Asian societies are very similar to those which are being encountered by Western culture such as the United States. In the west, an aging population poses fiscal challenges for policymakers. And, it places challenges for young taxpayers. The challenges are a little bit different in Asia due to the cultural expectations which are placed on younger generations. In China, for example, the expectation that the young are supposed to care for the elderly is still prevalent. It is not uncommon for married couples to care for and live with their elderly parents. Oftentimes, at least one pair of grandparents lives with a married couple. While some of the older generations in China have access to retirement plans and healthcare, many don’t, so they need to rely on family for support. South Korea and Japan also have similar expectations of filial piety as does China. 

[Miguel Diaz]

According to the information presented in Video #1: “Geography and Demographics Basics,” usable/potable water is in short supply in supply in Japan, China, and the entire Korean peninsula. The problem of water in the far East is one that will fit nicely into my courses in southern California. While southern California does not suffer from land scarcity, the lack of freshwater has been a problem for Southern California for decades. I will teach my students, for example, that a large portion of our water in the Los Angeles area comes from elsewhere, such as Northern California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, via the California aqueduct.  I would like to teach a lesson to my students which compares the California aqueduct system to the aqueduct that moves water from Southern to Northern China.

[Miguel Diaz]

Hello. My name is Miguel Diaz. I am currently teaching grade 4 at LAUSD. Before I returned to the Los Angeles area in early 2020, I spent over 17 years living and teaching in Asia. The majority of my teaching years were spent in China, however, I also spent about half a year teaching in Japan and one month in South Korea. I have taught students ranging from grades 1-10. For the past eight years, I worked at a small private school in Shanghia, China where we taught advanced children's literature and writing. I would like to continue to learn about Asia so that I can share all the wonders with my students.

[Author]

Posts