Learning Letter, Plan of Action

Learning Letter: Plan of Action

This class really opened up my eyes to the world around me. I really enjoyed this class and all of the books that we read. My favorite books were “Kampung boy” and “This is not a dinner party”. I liked “Kampung boy” because of the style it was written in. I loved the pictures and their way of life. Seeing how the boy becomes a man and all the family traditions and tribal customs that he had to go through. The whole male circumcision was really intense but since it was made into a picture book it was more childlike and I had fun reading this book. “This is not a dinner party” was also one of my favorite books because it challenged my way of thinking. If I was made to go through that situation I don’t think I would survive. The Chinese Revolution was a very serious and I enjoyed our guest speaker who actually went through what the little girl in the book went through. The fact that she can talk about it so openly and have such a bright personality amazes me and shows a lot about her character. I had her as a teacher before and I had no idea that she had gone through such terrible heart ache. I have the up most respect for her.

My favorite project that we did in class was the group book talk section. In a previous class I had we talked about the controversial book “And Tango makes three” but we didn’t go in as deeply as I did for that project. I really enjoyed learning that the book is a true story and how huge of an uproar it caused for those working with children, in libraries, and families of the LBGTQ community. I never knew how many books were out there to better help parents explain to children that some families are different than others. I really respect that our country has changed a lot from when I was a child. I also really enjoyed hearing everyone’s groups and what topics they chose. My favorite was the step parents. My mom is a step mom and I am a step sister. I love my sister but she does cause a ripple in our family when she comes over for the weekend because she doesn’t have a good connection with my mom let alone her real father. I am in college so I can’t be there anymore to help smooth out the tension so seeing the books that are out there for her to read really opened up my eyes and I called my mom as soon as I was out of class to tell her about it.

After all that I have learned in this class about the world struggles and the different things people and children go through I plan to be more sensitive to other peoples and what they might be going through. Everyone is going through something that is significant to them and it needs to be respected. When I have children or come into contact with children in my family I hope to open their eyes to a wider variety of children’s books especially “And Tango Makes Three”. Of course I will ask the parents first but now that I have the knowledge about the book and others out there I feel more confident talking about and explain them to children and parents. Since I am graduating I plan to help out the Autism community and their families. It’s what I do now and it’s what I want to do for the rest of my life. This class really opened up my eyes and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to open up their way of thinking in a fun and challenging way. Thank you. 

Sierra Leone

     Before I started my research about Sierra Leone I have watched a few things in school about the civil war that is going on there. "The Blood Diamond" with Leonardo DiCaprio also comes to mind when I heard about our research topic. The child soldiers who are kidnapped with parents murdered in front of their eyes only to be recruited to kill.  

     

     Ok, so that was before my research and this is after. Sierra Leone is a country in West Africa that is bordered by Guinea to the northeast, Liberia to the southeast and the Atlantic Ocean to the southwest. Their capital is Freetown. Currency used her is Sierra Leonean leone. Their president is Ernest Bai Koroma. I found their national anthem to be very interesting, much different than the other ones I have come across: “High we exalt thee, realm of the free.” I found this interesting and scary at the same time since I know a little about what is really going on currently in that country. Their motto is “Unity, Freedom, Justice” another really intense saying about freedom. Another interesting fact is their official language is English, I would never have thought that before my research. Their government is Unitary state, Presidential system, and Constitutional republic.

     

     When I do research about different countries I like to look at their recommended destinations. Normally Google has beautiful pictures describing each destination, but not for Sierra Leone. The three places they recommend to visit is Freetown (their capital), Bo, and Koidu Sierra Leone. The pictures they had for these destinations had not a single person in them which I found interesting. As a whole the destinations looked very impoverished compared to other destinations in Africa. I found their GDP of $8.276 billion to be an interesting contrast to these impoverished areas.

     

     Sierra Leone is divided into four administrative regions: the Northern Province, Eastern Province, Southern Province and the Western Area. Each area is subdivided into 14 districts that have its own directly elected local government known as district council. 

Since their Independence from the United Kingdom April 27^th, 1961 to present, Sierra Leone’s politics has been dominated by two major political parties: the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC).

     

     Another thing I found interesting about Sierra Leone is that they are predominantly a Muslim country though with an influential Christian minority. Sierra Leone is regarded as one of the most religiously tolerant countries in the world. I found it interesting that my sources tried to say that religious violence is very rare in Sierra Leone even though the country itself is known for being one of the most violent in the world.

     

     Sierra Leone has relied on mining, especially diamonds, for its economic base. It is also among the largest producers of titanium and bauxite, a major producer of gold, and has one of the world’s largest deposits of rutile. Sierra Leone is home to the third-largest natural harbor in the world. Despite exploitation of this natural wealth, 70% of its people live in poverty. 

US Immigration

When I was researching about US immigration this was the first website that popped up.  http://www.uscis.gov/ it is called the US citizenship and immigration cervices. Anyone who has any questions or is thinking about moving to the US and applying for a visa should go there to find out their information. When looking through the website I found an award section which I thought was pretty interesting. It is called the Outstanding American by Choice initiative recognizes the outstanding achievements of naturalized U.S. citizens. Through civic participation, professional achievement, and responsible citizenship, recipients of this honor have demonstrated their commitment to this country and to the common civic values that unite us as Americans. Throughout the year, USCIS will recognize naturalized citizens who have made significant contributions to both their community and their adopted country. January 2014 Alejandro N. Mayorkas who is a deputy secretary of the department of homeland security won who currently lives in Washington and is from the District of Colombia. In that position, he led a workforce of 18,000 members throughout more than 250 offices worldwide and oversaw a $3 billion annual budget. While at USCIS he oversaw a number of important programs and enhancements, including the implementation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).

There is a lot of media covering this topic as well. When I was first given this assignment it made me think of the show "Border Wars" which I watch all the time with my roommates. This show really shows what border patrol men go through every day and night. It is a VERY dangerous job. From what I noticed most of the people trying to cross find their opportunities at night. This can be scary for the patrol men because viability is limited; they don’t know if these men are armed with guns also trying to smuggle drugs across the border which makes it just as scary for the normal civilian trying to make it into America. One episode of the show had a rescue mission retrieving 4 bodies that had drown in the river trying to cross. It was so sad and pretty traumatizing to see.

From the show, book “Crossing the Wire” and in class we had a discussion about how dangerous and expensive it is to cross into America. Why would someone risk their lives or die trying to come into America? Already living in America it is hard to really understand why this happens but when you live in a country that is highly poverished and it is the only chance you have at having a decent life you can start to see why. One trouble that I found really interesting was the use of coyote’s in helping those cross the border. Almost no one tries this venture on their own because if you do and a coyote finds this out you can be killed. That’s how they make their money. For $4,000-6,000 you can have a coyote help you cross the border and if you don’t make it the first time you have a total of 3 tries for that amount of money. 

"REVOLUTION Is Not a Dinner Party"

     I really enjoyed this book! I didn’t have a lot of knowledge about the Chinese revolution before I read this book. I loved how I got to learn about the Chinese revolution through the mind of a child. When you are a child going through something as huge as a revolution, adults tend to keep you in the dark. My guess is trying to save the innocents, making sure that she isn’t exposed to the bad things but that is inevitable in this book. You can see this probably all around the world where parents keep their children out of the loop because of their age. They want the kids to be kids and let the grown-ups worry.

     I liked how at first the story was happy and cheerful. Ling and her father were very close and I thought it was awesome how close of a bond they had. One of my favorite parts was when he would let her put rubber bands in his hair while he read a magazine. That’s love right there. Even Ling could tell in the beginning that things were starting to change. Her mother was on edge most of the time and would always be scolding Ling. Ling didn’t fully understand why; she just thought something was wrong with her which made me sad.

     In the beginning I knew that Comrade Li was going to be a bad man. It was interesting again to see this through a child view. He would ask for groceries from them and in return he would do some magic tricks of fold “magical” origami birds. I could see how this would be enticing for a little girl. Being his neighbor she was one of the only people that were able to look inside Comrade Li’s apartment. She would see everyone’s mail stacked up and how perfectly neat his bead was made. This gave you a look into what type of person he was before all the bad things started to happen. As the story went on, I started to hate Comrade Li just like the little girl.

     This story was very powerful emotionally. The things that happened in this book to “build a better China” blew my mind. I could never imagine what I would do in their families’ situation.  It broke my heart when after Mr. and Mrs. Wong were taken to working camps they barged into Ling’s home and practically destroyed everything. I was on edge the whole time I was reading this part. The fact that they were trying to make they were trying to make the whole country into a bunch of robots. No one could have any choices. The fact that they ripped up Ling’s flower bed comforter just because it wasn’t the Chairman Mao revolutionary blue, made me sick. When they ripped apart Lings childhood, most prized possession right in front of her I felt her anger when she said “I hate you!!” At that moment I really did hate him just like Ling. 

Nepal / India Research

     

     Nepal is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. They are officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The capital is Kathmandu. The currency used her is Nepalese rupee. The prime ministers name is Sushil Koirala with a population of 27.47 in 2012. The government in Napal is federal republic, federation, and republic. The official language is called Nepali. Some popular destinations are Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan National Park.

                

     Kathmandu like I said earlier is the capital of Nepal and the largest urban agglomerate. It is one of the World’s least expensive cities and its real estate is among the least expensive in the world. The population here is 700,000. I found this to be really interesting, why is the capital of Nepal have the cheapest real estate in the world? The more I researched I found that Kathmandu is also one of the least developed cities in the world but most developed in Nepal which I also found super interesting. The agglomerate consists of Kathmandu Metropolitan City at the core. The sister cities are Patan, Kirtipur, Thimi, and Bhaktapur. Their motto is my legacy, my pride, my Kathmandu. Kathmandu is also a common place to travel and ranked third among the top 10 travel destination on the rise in the world by TripAdvisor and ranked first in Asia which I found really interesting as well. Religious and cultural festivities form a major part of the lives or people living here. The people living here follow Hinduism and many others follow Buddhism. I also found it interesting that the cities literacy rate is at a 98% for it being one of the poorest and underdeveloped cities of Nepal.

                

     Pokhara is a sub-metropolitan city in Nepal. They are the thirst most populous, with a population of 264,991 inhabitants. It serves as a headquarters of Kaski District, Gandaki Zone and Western Development Region. Pokhara is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal. Three out of the ten highest mountains in the world (Dhaulagiri, Annapurina, and Manaslu) are within 30 miles of the city so that the northern skyline of the city offers a very close view of the Himalayas. This I found really interesting and all of the pictures of this city look absolutely breath taking! This makes sense for it being a popular tourist city in the country with the close mountain ranges that attract hikers and mountain climbers from all around the world. Many go there for the great Himalayan trails. Many residences are British Gurkha soldiers which makes Pokhara the most expensive city in the country. This I found really interesting as well. Ethnicities in the country are Khas, Gurung, Magar, Newar, and Thakali.

                

     Another popular tourist area is Chitwan National park also the first national park in Nepal. It was established in 1973 and granted the statues of a World Heritage Site in 1984. It is located in the subtropical Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal in the Chitwan District. Adjacent to the east of the park is Parsa Wildlife Reserve; contiguous in the south is the Indian Tiger Reserve Valmiki National Park. I found this to be really interesting because this means there are a lot of rare and endangered animals in this area. This would be amazing to visit and go see these animals. 

Museum Display

     This is mama Gibbs. My mom had me at the young age of 16 and I changed her life forever. Obviously raising a child as a teenager is a constant struggle but we got through it together. This has influenced my cultural identity and shaped the way I see and define family. Because of all that we went through together our bond is stronger than anything I can explain. Because of my mom I learned humility, compassion, and hard work. This has shaped my future career path in working with children. I want to help and make a different in my surrounding communities because of all of the qualities my mom has helped me possess. 

     This is my grandpa Alan. He originates from the Hawaiian island of Maui. Since I am a fourth Hawaiian I have a native middle name, Mapuana, which means beautiful windblown fragrance. My mom, aunts, and cousins all have Hawaiian middle names as well. For my high school graduation we had a luau. We pretty much have a luau to celebrate any special event with the entire family. My grandpa has help shape my cultural identity from the way I eat, to the race I identify with, along with the way I celebrate important events in my life. I love my grandpa. <3   

     This is a picture of St. Aloysius in Spokane, WA at the Gonzaga Campus. St. Al's is a catholic church that also has a private school from pre-k to the 8th grade. My whole family is Catholic. I first went to private school for pre-k. Then I went to public school till 6th grade and went back to private school for the 7th and the 8th grade. Being Catholic and going to private school has shaped my cultural identity in many ways. Church taught me values that I still hold strong today. I hate it when people steal, I can not lie to save my life, and I believe in giving back to the community. 

     This is my whole world, my puppy love. She is much bigger now but I love looking at her puppy pictures, she was a little fluff ball. Having a dog in college has shaped my cultural identity for the better. She has taught me the meaning of responsibility. When she was younger... getting up in the middle of the night, taking her to the bathroom/potty training, and teaching her tricks. She can sit, play dead, roll over, stand up, and speak. Every day I take her on a walk, to the bathroom, cleanup after her, and give her love and affection. On Christmas day she had an accident and fell out of the back of my boyfriends, little brothers, truck and broke her femur. This has to be one of the hardest things I have had to overcome in my entire life. She had to have reconstructive surgery where she needed a metal place and screws. I work everyday to pay off the money that has been loaned to me. Overall she has shaped my cultural identity into being hardworking and an affectionate caregiver. I love her with all I have. 

     This is me at Silver Mountain. This winter I would try to go snowboarding at least once a week if not all weekend. My boyfriend is an avid snowboarder so he was my sensei, my teacher. I had always tried snowboard as a kid but I never had anyone to push me like he has. I can finally go up and down the mountain on my own which is huge progress. I like to follow the group with a GoPro and record everyone doing trick and going off jumps since I am not at that level yet. Snowboarding has influenced my cultural identity in the way of being an outlet for me. I have fallen in love with snowboarding and consider it a hobby of mine. There's nothing better than listening to your favorite music, going down the beautiful mountain, and just letting go of all the worries and stress of the world. What I love most about snowboarding is how it makes me feel so relaxed and happy. 

Response to "Kampung Boy"

     I really enjoyed reading “Kampung Boy” because of how easy it was to read along with the cartoons. I really felt that I got a sense of Kampungs customs and daily living. After reading this book I have a better understanding of a different culture in Malaysia.

     I thought it was really interesting how they mentioned all of the rituals a Kampung boy has to go through from birth to ten years of age. I liked that when it came to performing any ritual, grandma was there to take care of the children and was the one hosting the ritual parties. The one practice that seriously made me question my way of thinking was the circumcision ritual… The fact that they do it at ten years old instead of birth blew my mind. I liked how they showed everyone eating at this ritual except the boys getting the circumcision. Who would want to eat when they know that’s about to happen to them? I also thought it was funny how the book was through the point of view of a ten year old. When Tok Modin, the circumciser, offered the boys “chocolates” they were of course like ok I’ll have some chocolate but it ended up being pain medicine for the procedure. The only thing I can see in our culture that maybe relates to this would be lolly pops that are given to children after they see the doctor as a sort of reward.
     With any sort of ritual and celebration there are lots and lots of food, which doesn't seem too different from other cultures. What was interesting was how involved food was in their life. Food served as payment for school and rewards for helping out in the community as well as during celebratory rituals. The boys from the school would watch after their teacher’s fruit trees and as a reward they would be able to eat the fruit as they sat there. After reading this book I really wanted to try their traditional cake called kueh bengkang. It was made of rice flour, coconut milk, egg, and palm tree sugar which sounds super delicious. It made my mouth water reading that part. I also liked how descriptive the author was when talking about how they would bake a cake without an oven. I used to be a camp counselor and I found it very interesting how they used a fire below and a fire on top to cook their cake.
     In class we discussed a lot about their education system. I am glad that this book went over that section so we all have a better understanding of why Islam is the primary religion in Malaysia and how their school system actually works. I thought it was important to see how their schooling was conducted. They were very different from an American school system. The teacher would be paid in food and supplies such as wood and fish. Only four students in this book passed the exam to go to a bigger city for schooling beyond elementary. This can be a huge incite to why the people in this area are the way that they are, a humble people. They remember where they came from after they make it to a big city. I really enjoyed this book overall and encourage anyone who comes across it to read it! 

Research on Malaysia

     Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy in Asia. Kuala Lumpur is the largest city and capital. This country consists of thirteen states and three federal territories and has a population of 29.24 million as of 2012. Their government consists of an elective monarchy, constitutional monarchy, democracy, and parliamentary system. Their motto is "Bersekutu Bertambah Mutu" which means "Unity Is Strength". Their King is Abdul Halim. The Prime Minister is Naijib Tun Razak. The Deputy Prime Minister is Muhyiddin Yassin. Putrajaya is the seat of the federal government.

     Malaysia has many different ethnic groups, the largest being: Malays, Chinese, and Indians. Malay's make up more than 50% of the ethnic population, Chinese 25%, Indians 10%. Together they make up their own unique heritage and culture within Malaysia.

     Malay's first religions were Theravada Buddhism and Hinduism but were later converted to Islam. This change was influenced by the royal court of Melaka. They are known for their rich arts heritage and gentile mannerisms.

     Many of the Chinese population in Malaysia migrated during the 19th century. Chinese here are known for their diligence and strong business sense. There are three subgroups who speak a different dialect of the Chinese language and live in separate regions. They are the Hokkien, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

     Indians, being the smallest ethnic population, traveled to Malaysia during the British colonial rule. Many Indians traveled here in search of a better life in hopes of getting out of the caste system. This ethnic group is mainly Hindu bring with them spicy cuisine and a colorful culture.

     Malaysia is known for their colorful holidays and festivals. The most observed national holiday is Hari Merdeka also known as Independence Day on August 31st. Other notable national holidays are Labour Day, May 1st and the King's birthday, the first week of June. Many Muslim holidays are prominent here. They also celebrate festivals such as the Chinese New year. Hindus in Malaysia celebrate Deepavali, the festival of lights.

     Popular sports in Malaysia include football, badminton, field hockey, bowls, tennis, squash, martial arts, and skate boarding. Football being the most popular sport in this country, they are trying to bid to be the joint host for 2034 FIFA World Cup. Malaysia has been one of three countries to hold the badminton match called the Thomas Cup. The men's national field hockey team ranked 13th in the world as of November 2013.

     One thing that I found that was really interesting was that Malaysia has its own Formula One track call the Sepang International Circuit. It held its first Grand Prix in 1999. Malaysia also competes in the Olympic games and has been in all of them except one. They are known for medals in Badminton and Platform diving.