HONOLULU, HAWAII: SUN, SAND, AND FLOWER PETALS...AND A LOT OF WORKSHOP READINGS!!
Never been there, huh? Me neither. I'm referring to Hawaii and all those nearby islands...what, there are eight main ones and lots of little, isolated tops of mountains pushing out of tropical ocean waters.
I've had the good fortune to have traveled to China and Japan before--not once, but twice! Each time, for whatever reason, the doggone plane didn't land in Hawaii to refuel or pick up more passengers/freight. So, this is a first for me...as it is for most of the other educators chosen to participate in a National Endowment for the Humanities workshop, "Pearl Harbor: History, Memory, Memorial." From what I understand, there will be 25 of us, chosen from all over America! And to make things even more interesting, we will be joined by eight educators from Japan. I did not know that was going to happen, so when I read about it I was very enthused.
We are lucky that our hosts will be from the prestigious Honolulu East-West Center and their AsiaPacificED Program. They will work in partnership with the National Park Service at the USS Arizona Memorial, the NEH, with additional funding from the Arizona Memorial Museum Association and the Japan-America Society of Hawaii. Support has also been provided by the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu.
More than anything, I am especially looking forward to the experiences/expertise of my fellow teachers--the ones who are expected to shape this experience to the abilities of their particular students. Just being in Hawaii will be of immense professional and personal value to me--and I'm absolutely sure for the others involved. Having those Japanese teachers there with us is a tremendous gift, as I am sure they will provide us with insights not even imagined before this opportunity.
Indeed, it is unfortunate that this unique learning experience will be so brief! With that in mind, I intend to share as much as I can, learn as much as possible, and depart with much, much more than what I arrived with. Then the fun begins, huh? When each of us figures how to best present all of our learning and experiences to colleagues, students, and our respective community. It will be an extremely worthwhile experience...I just know it!
Oh. I think the dates for this program were not submitted above. We are Session II of the Landmarks of American History NEH Cultural Workshop for School Teachers. We'll be together from August 1 to the 8th. I feel sad already...that it's such a short time period!
I've had the good fortune to have traveled to China and Japan before--not once, but twice! Each time, for whatever reason, the doggone plane didn't land in Hawaii to refuel or pick up more passengers/freight. So, this is a first for me...as it is for most of the other educators chosen to participate in a National Endowment for the Humanities workshop, "Pearl Harbor: History, Memory, Memorial." From what I understand, there will be 25 of us, chosen from all over America! And to make things even more interesting, we will be joined by eight educators from Japan. I did not know that was going to happen, so when I read about it I was very enthused.
We are lucky that our hosts will be from the prestigious Honolulu East-West Center and their AsiaPacificED Program. They will work in partnership with the National Park Service at the USS Arizona Memorial, the NEH, with additional funding from the Arizona Memorial Museum Association and the Japan-America Society of Hawaii. Support has also been provided by the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu.
More than anything, I am especially looking forward to the experiences/expertise of my fellow teachers--the ones who are expected to shape this experience to the abilities of their particular students. Just being in Hawaii will be of immense professional and personal value to me--and I'm absolutely sure for the others involved. Having those Japanese teachers there with us is a tremendous gift, as I am sure they will provide us with insights not even imagined before this opportunity.
Indeed, it is unfortunate that this unique learning experience will be so brief! With that in mind, I intend to share as much as I can, learn as much as possible, and depart with much, much more than what I arrived with. Then the fun begins, huh? When each of us figures how to best present all of our learning and experiences to colleagues, students, and our respective community. It will be an extremely worthwhile experience...I just know it!
Oh. I think the dates for this program were not submitted above. We are Session II of the Landmarks of American History NEH Cultural Workshop for School Teachers. We'll be together from August 1 to the 8th. I feel sad already...that it's such a short time period!
posted by John Davidek, Fulbright South Africa-2006 @ 2:05 PM
7 Comments
7 Comments:
Hi John,
I am really looking forward to the experience in Hawaii. Like you I've flown over Hawaii without stopping. This past winter I had the chance to spend a month in Australia (Sydney) on a Rotary exchange. It would have been nice stopping in Hawaii to break up the 14 hour flight from LAX! I'm actually hoping to go to China next year with the Freeman Institute.
Can't wait to meet you!
Hello Craig!
Good to hear from you/thanks for leaving a comment! It appears that you are quite an accomplished fellow and I can't wait to meet you too...I'm sure we'll represent our great state of Michigan with distinction. Speaking of distinction, your Australia experience sounds very interesting, as are your plans for China. I had a Fulbright-Hayes summer experience in China a while back/perhaps I can offer you some suggestions, etc. You look like a football sort of guy--coach, play? I did both. Importantly, are you a Spartan or with those Other Guys?
Thank you for the comment on my site :) I would love to visit Hawaii myself someday. i must say I am envious you have traveled to China and Japan twice! I have always wanted to go to both places as well
Hey John,
Actually, I never played nor coached any sports. I was born with a heart defect and had two open-heart surgeries before I was 15, so I wasn't able to play, and therefore, never got interested in sports. I hate to say it, but I am a Wolverine fan. I've been going to the U of M hospital since I was 2 months old, so I feel a certain allegiance ;-) However, I do actually like MSU. It's a great school, just the other one is better :D
Craig...so much for my ability to "read" someone's photograph! You just looked like a big, strapping fellow with that square-jawed, athletic look. My bad. Anyway, nice of you to say something kind about my Spartans. For the rest of our Hawaii colleagues: only folks from Michigan truly understand the intense rivalry between MSU and UM, especially when it comes to football and basketball. Right now, as you know, UM doesn't come up to the level of play of the Spartans when it comes to roundball. With football, well, the Wolverines are superior. I'm wondering if their new coach will be able to keep their level of play where it was when Coach Carr called it quits. I'm hoping our guys can take advantage of any lapse in Wolverine play, but I doubt that will happen. MSU missed their opportunity to sign one of our students at Flint SW Academy: Mark Ingram. The all-state running back will take his skills to Alabama this fall. I think Mark walked all over your high school team last fall...as he did most schools in the Saginaw Valley.
John, I'm sure you all will find your Hawaii workshop educationally and culturally rewarding. I don't share your anticipation that your Japanese counterparts will provide all sorts of unimagined insights. For example, I would not be at all surprised if you hear all kinds of subtle justifications for Japan's motives for their period of aggression. I will be very surprised if you hear any apologies for Japanese atrocities during WWII.
I can't imagine that your workshops will not provide some oportunity for rest and relaxation. I strongly recommend that you try to visit the Arizona Memorial. The Memorial itself is very impressive, but when you peer down into the depths and see the sunken remains of the ship and the oil slick that still is seeping to the surface....it can be a very emotional experience. As you know, John, I've spent lots of time in Hawaii during my frequent military transits of the Pacific during the Vietnam War and I felt a special bond with the men who remain entombed in the Arizona.
Rest easy, bro Bill. One of our hosts for the intensive study of the events of Pearl Harbor is the National Park Service, which operates the USS Arizona Memorial; and the Arizona Memorial Museum Association, a nonprofit that supports the educational activities at the Arizona Memorial. Remember, I'm also there to learn more about Flint's Medal of Honor Awardee, Owen Francis Patrick Hammerberg. He gave his life in attempting to save two fellow divers in Pearl Harbor near the end of the war. Hammerberg lost his life, but saved the lives of two fellow divers. My students and I want to honor the memory of Hammerberg's sacrifice by helping to construct a memorial at the intersection of Miller Road and Hammerberg Road in Flint. Naming an access road after this brave hero is one thing; we want to see a proper, easily recognizable memorial erected--that is one of my goals in participating in this workshop.
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