tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7545976481464767022024-03-17T20:01:43.976-07:00Josh is AbroadJosh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-68922122695522370012018-08-23T21:59:00.001-07:002018-08-23T22:01:29.022-07:00Earthwatch Arizona <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This summer, I was fortunate enough to participate on an Earthwatch Senior Teacher Fellowship to Arizona. The fellowship is organized, administered, and funded through the Earthwatch Institute, an environmental advocacy organization whose mission is to engage citizens in the scientific research process and raise awareness of critical environmental issues. I was lucky enough to have participated on a previous Earthwatch expedition to Ecuador, where I studied the effects of climate change on the pupation process of caterpillars. This time, I was awarded a Senior Fellowship to Arizona to continue the same work.<br />
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As with my previous Earthwatch Fellowship, this trip embodied the idea of Citizen Science: Anyone, with the assistance of a professional scientist, can contribute to the scientific research process in meaningful ways. My job, as a Senior Fellow, was to lead workshops for the other teacher fellows that facilitate and foster dialogue on ways to incorporate our Earthwatch experience in the classroom.<br />
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Our lead researcher, Dr. Lee Dyer, has worked with Earthwatch for close to 25 years, leading over 5,000 citizen scientists on trips all over the world. One of the coolest parts of Earthwatch, however, are the varied excursions they offer for different groups of people:<br />
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<u>Student Trips</u>: The Earthwatch Ignite Program is designed for aspiring scientists in the 10th and 11th grades to participate on a fully-funded expedition. If you know somebody who would be interested, <a href="http://earthwatch.org/Education/Student-Fellowships/Ignite">here's a link to the application. </a><br />
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<u>Corporate Partnerships: </u> One of the most fascinating aspects of Earthwatch's work are their corporate partnerships. C-Level Suite executives from fortune 500 companies, including Credit Suisse and HSBC, participate on an Earthwatch expedition as part of their corporate social responsibility initiative. Dr. Dyer said that many executives start their trip either climate deniers or apathetic to climate change, and leave with a sense of passion and vigor in fighting global warming.<br />
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<u>Retail Trips: </u>For folks who aren't teachers, students, or corporate executives, it is possible to pay your own way on an Earthwatch expedition of your choosing.<br />
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I, of course, participated on the Teach Earth Fellowship for educators. For eight days, nine teacher fellows, myself, and three researchers traveled through the breathtaking landscape of southern Arizona in search of Lepidoptera, the scientific name for caterpillars.<br />
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We started our journey at the Southwest Research Station just outside of Portal, Arizona. After 3 days, we then moved west, passing through Bisbee, and finally finished in Arivaca, Arizona. At one point during our expedition, we were so close to the Mexican border that many of us received text messages from our cellphone carriers offering to buy international data plans!<br />
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<span style="font-size: 19.2px; font-weight: 700;">A Brief Description of the Research (Courtesy of Earthwatch):</span><br />
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On this project, we examine the factors that affect interactions among plants, caterpillars, and their natural enemies. This
is an important area of study for both agricultural and basic ecology. This three-tiered study system allows for insights into
“tri-trophic” interactions— in other words, it examines the relationships among three distinct levels of the food web. We conducted caterpillar research in the deserts and mountains around the Southwest Research Station in the Chiricahua
Mountains and the nearby Santa Rita Experimental Range in the Coronado National Forest. Other Earthwatch teams
conduct work throughout the year in forests and mountains in Nevada and California; a rainforest at La Selva Biological
Station in Costa Rica; a cloud forest at Yanayacu Biological Station in Ecuador; and in urban areas, swamps, and
bottomland hardwood forests around New Orleans, Louisiana.<br />
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The natural enemies of caterpillars that the project studies are called “parasitoids.” They include many species of wasps
and flies that kill caterpillars by depositing their eggs on them. This ensures that the parasitoids’ offspring will have both a
safe environment in which to grow (inside the caterpillar) and a good supply of food (caterpillar tissue). We are rearing
caterpillars of over 300 species and recording the mortality caused by the parasitoids. In addition, we isolate specific
chemical compounds from some species of caterpillars and food plants to examine them as potential defenses against
parasitoids.<br />
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By comparing the results from different sites, we can test hypotheses about the effects of climate on interactions between
caterpillars and parasitoids. Our study also collects essential natural history information about plants, caterpillars, and
parasitoids. Based on our data, we are developing models to predict which parasitoids might be used to control specific
insect pests of human crops, which will benefit farmers who are attempting to control pests without using pesticides.
Some of the species that we study (such as army worms and owl butterfly caterpillars) are agricultural pests; others (such
as some rare day flying moths) are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation.
The caterpillars we worked with are fascinating: they come in a spectacular diversity of shapes, colors, and forms that
function to defend them against their enemies. Many of the species found by this project will be new to science.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 19.2px; font-weight: 700;">The Research Process </span><br />
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In order to carry out this important research, thousands of caterpillar specimens must be collected, reared, and studied. Our team successfully completed 16 plots throughout southern Arizona. The process of setting up a plot, collecting specimens, and rearing caterpillars is quite involved:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First, a suitable site must be identified. With it's abundance of Ponderosa Pines, this proved to be an ideal location for a caterpillar plot. After the area has been outlined with rope, each tree trunk radius measured and leaf counts taken, the trees are ready for "beating."<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sometimes we had to hike into our site for the day. Pictured is a typical scene we'd find in the field. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our office for the day. This plot was located just south of Arivaca, Arizona</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmOXgDGRu5o0SJgelddpYtizyscBlRBezgg1DY3BZEvz-C_YKoNKPWcW3x5jEmBNnpRCw5FQO3Jf7BGMKswL7ffoFlulJVN3hMcV1Prvs2Q8TzB_g661a_aYHtVCQ5k5VTy6zHZk7nx4/s1600/IMG_4170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmOXgDGRu5o0SJgelddpYtizyscBlRBezgg1DY3BZEvz-C_YKoNKPWcW3x5jEmBNnpRCw5FQO3Jf7BGMKswL7ffoFlulJVN3hMcV1Prvs2Q8TzB_g661a_aYHtVCQ5k5VTy6zHZk7nx4/s320/IMG_4170.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Beat sticks and nets, pictured above, are used to retrieve the caterpillars. We literally "beat" the branches until the caterpillars fell off!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">After beating the tree, we searched for caterpillars on the net</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Victory! This little guy will be placed in a container along with the plant it was found on for further study</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Back at the lab, each caterpillar is organized based on it's host plant.<br />
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Naturally, the caterpillars defecate in the containers, which need to be cleaned. One of the main activities during our trip was to "rear" caterpillars, which meant cleaning feces and putting in fresh host plant. Otherwise, the caterpillars would die!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Back at the lab, each specimin was photographed so it could be properly classified. Pictured is a parasitized Juno Buckmoth caterpillar. Due to climate change, caterpillars are pupating quicker, thus lowering parasitism rates. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 19.2px;">Bisbee, Arizona</span></div>
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As we drove from the Southwest Research Station to Arivaca, we passed through the old mining town of Bisbee. Founded in 1880 as a copper mining town, Bisbee has since become a tourist destination, famous for it's quintessentially "Southwest" look and colorful culture:</div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpWIiQEbFvAdRqnovNsnXQtyLwHnthpUqsNd_NxLxDneoie0N5H3XGoVF4RBwwpyk53RVv7ywLihHXLRcXB-ebsbBz8JZBzOanhDescOdAQJ3tDYmaKbq5bRv2hqz4GJYc-t5gj8Hnn4/s1600/IMG_4198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpWIiQEbFvAdRqnovNsnXQtyLwHnthpUqsNd_NxLxDneoie0N5H3XGoVF4RBwwpyk53RVv7ywLihHXLRcXB-ebsbBz8JZBzOanhDescOdAQJ3tDYmaKbq5bRv2hqz4GJYc-t5gj8Hnn4/s320/IMG_4198.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">At it's height in 1930, Bisbee was home to more than 8,000 people, mostly employed in the copper mines. Today, Bisbee subsists primarily on tourism. </td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF6V03m8VaxfjGoRpJomjprCbMBPceCx1rMfo_ZHjJR5Kd6QxQW8H5BXWUJpALkFI5O5nrYpbx-WJp8m4Kk7d0yEypcFa-trxo7lz_MPSNgYmmO7R-IcqGRAdXQ9Ig-ZI6Uti-kTXzZY/s1600/IMG_4194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF6V03m8VaxfjGoRpJomjprCbMBPceCx1rMfo_ZHjJR5Kd6QxQW8H5BXWUJpALkFI5O5nrYpbx-WJp8m4Kk7d0yEypcFa-trxo7lz_MPSNgYmmO7R-IcqGRAdXQ9Ig-ZI6Uti-kTXzZY/s320/IMG_4194.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Lavender Pit operated from 1917 to 1974. At it's deepest, it measures 4,000 feet long, 5,000 feet wide, and 850 feet deep. At it's peak, all of Bisbee's mines produced 8 billion pounds of copper during the 20th century. Today, worldwide consumption of copper is 34 billion pounds per year. That equates to mining a historic Bisbee every 3 months!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3k544RLuobbGr-mDajJmnzz-jDet-8XISPhgY0xPoqfPESBF85MopBPVOXNVX_eHu_PQaL1UPqfzdXUjZazxR1mLy21NeWZxIkuXSnrRdhEF38wg6N2Dg8-R-Mm_INdbL62VYtAfCME/s1600/IMG_4201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3k544RLuobbGr-mDajJmnzz-jDet-8XISPhgY0xPoqfPESBF85MopBPVOXNVX_eHu_PQaL1UPqfzdXUjZazxR1mLy21NeWZxIkuXSnrRdhEF38wg6N2Dg8-R-Mm_INdbL62VYtAfCME/s320/IMG_4201.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Main Street Bisbee<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-z3sWc4ltrR5S70F36Lx8XoDiF97J65OE3UweBVHrUkniDPvt_6WtorH-qrLbkPMDFIJVSc3bFYZ5d7zK84raDpO-K8Chs20xQWR239SgBqWbXWbW8jAmRS6mmbkfhRNufZ4pxDT4MI/s1600/IMG_4205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-z3sWc4ltrR5S70F36Lx8XoDiF97J65OE3UweBVHrUkniDPvt_6WtorH-qrLbkPMDFIJVSc3bFYZ5d7zK84raDpO-K8Chs20xQWR239SgBqWbXWbW8jAmRS6mmbkfhRNufZ4pxDT4MI/s320/IMG_4205.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">A custom guitar shop in Bisbee</span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO_ucSxDEwAWcCPW0IZgxm4tRIwZbMbEwKx6xwTUYvmqPhPeNPz6Bpnu1AYJEmCumkkVR5St4o_zS1GEuejoaFBCnAdq2UEytrb36p-8AZIYNBf1K0o9M06Hk9Orp3jb90yCk3mAgADo/s1600/IMG_4202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRO_ucSxDEwAWcCPW0IZgxm4tRIwZbMbEwKx6xwTUYvmqPhPeNPz6Bpnu1AYJEmCumkkVR5St4o_zS1GEuejoaFBCnAdq2UEytrb36p-8AZIYNBf1K0o9M06Hk9Orp3jb90yCk3mAgADo/s320/IMG_4202.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Bisbee street art. In 2016, Bisbee was voted "Best Hippie Town in Arizona." </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 19.2px; font-weight: 700;">Unexpected Encounters</span><br />
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One of the most surprising and thought-provoking themes on our trip had nothing to do with caterpillars or climate change. Given our close proximity to the U.S.-Mexican border, we frequently encountered Border Patrol checkpoints and evidence of migrant crossings: </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2j-Cq8jEJgq-cv6vjidx-Ok5AM374CJEI28IiMGm8q0zkL5oJThKMK8pUlqgR4B_cU_dJkxsix1zjED_sFsdiXoFJT3CskBXoZeReBXq2R-wcRWiChrIb_DIpAS6cAVCtjQeiO8sZ8Qw/s1600/IMG_4185.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2j-Cq8jEJgq-cv6vjidx-Ok5AM374CJEI28IiMGm8q0zkL5oJThKMK8pUlqgR4B_cU_dJkxsix1zjED_sFsdiXoFJT3CskBXoZeReBXq2R-wcRWiChrIb_DIpAS6cAVCtjQeiO8sZ8Qw/s320/IMG_4185.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">While working on a caterpillar plot, we routinely found discarded backpacks, sweatshirts, bottles and canned food. Our research area overlapped with heavily traveled migrant routes into the US. </td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLApPGnWNcOB_45M5grj7BNzHjTo-YrKgHZ9cl816nzPBD5yZanSJPXOPrbVcsQ1Z-gy7LWkP1Pb5V6P9oZ0MhTvfu2olMvsIIb9TCqVDtQLFNKzal3jfOueOIR5h6uplesphSiDQkJak/s1600/IMG_4213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLApPGnWNcOB_45M5grj7BNzHjTo-YrKgHZ9cl816nzPBD5yZanSJPXOPrbVcsQ1Z-gy7LWkP1Pb5V6P9oZ0MhTvfu2olMvsIIb9TCqVDtQLFNKzal3jfOueOIR5h6uplesphSiDQkJak/s320/IMG_4213.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">During one outing, we encountered the Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans, a volunteer group that leaves water and food for migrants crossing over</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7u_jWg2089ycgYu2ZWf7aULyI4wz6B84mBa22MRjsJFN87V9DazfvO_FkI1AT2xSduBBoPmoxsMZiEpkC54pbnRg8HcUCIzXQOEayCRVsvrQB_x7VQSDfmw4hyphenhyphenfTtI972YizNGyGGu0/s1600/IMG_4218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO7u_jWg2089ycgYu2ZWf7aULyI4wz6B84mBa22MRjsJFN87V9DazfvO_FkI1AT2xSduBBoPmoxsMZiEpkC54pbnRg8HcUCIzXQOEayCRVsvrQB_x7VQSDfmw4hyphenhyphenfTtI972YizNGyGGu0/s320/IMG_4218.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Evidence of the Green Valley-Sahuarita Samaritans work: jugs of water and canned food in a dry riverbed.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPf6l5bI49zOfGpiBP2fPPQskFEWtsfCJBYE9xErkw2Uyc5-wcjXzw1A-d1T1nEEVi3RjEjIdcLt1zO0si1m6zHh21AxahqYu7m8ik-PV37X5GtCyCm4wLALDb-rHVdnEY-aRG3QEu2o/s1600/IMG_4204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCPf6l5bI49zOfGpiBP2fPPQskFEWtsfCJBYE9xErkw2Uyc5-wcjXzw1A-d1T1nEEVi3RjEjIdcLt1zO0si1m6zHh21AxahqYu7m8ik-PV37X5GtCyCm4wLALDb-rHVdnEY-aRG3QEu2o/s320/IMG_4204.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A sign in a window in Bisbee, Arizona. This store owner told us that oftentimes, pro-immigrant activists co-exist peacefully in the same communities as Border Patrol Agents, despite differing political views. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: 19.2px;">Conclusion </span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">After completing my second Earthwatch expedition, I left with a profound respect for the work of the organization, a deeper appreciation for the sheer beauty of southern Arizona, and a renewed sense of duty to protecting our planet's natural resources. Throughout our trip, we learned about the severity and seriousness of climate change on the delicate ecosystems of Southern Arizona. Along the way, I made great connections with fellow teachers, and even made some furry friends as well: </span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZhMJxW8WlkBtUPKeJ80dx-1ED6eivmqWraDLuzTD_O2Y_KjMeaLrZZHwtCGTqtQ5JNVBH6mH9LuS3lDuhLpCt62vFrAnYjoXMLfs2iRCrTYP03H9xeplwymu5v4tqdJeJmDNM1BDw28/s1600/IMG_4186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZhMJxW8WlkBtUPKeJ80dx-1ED6eivmqWraDLuzTD_O2Y_KjMeaLrZZHwtCGTqtQ5JNVBH6mH9LuS3lDuhLpCt62vFrAnYjoXMLfs2iRCrTYP03H9xeplwymu5v4tqdJeJmDNM1BDw28/s320/IMG_4186.JPG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Tobacco Hornworm mustache.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZsuKyhc7P58NhPw2uXRvDRsVCtizwPhjAf2jOxaz8pSjNbQMuMRPMMnpAFa2hV6YBUMEWXitbWkaK38do-s17rXdvXyYQbCWZaMGuoMTun2D0JPhdPfZlQreM4sy1jVZA4smpivquYo/s1600/IMG_4238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZsuKyhc7P58NhPw2uXRvDRsVCtizwPhjAf2jOxaz8pSjNbQMuMRPMMnpAFa2hV6YBUMEWXitbWkaK38do-s17rXdvXyYQbCWZaMGuoMTun2D0JPhdPfZlQreM4sy1jVZA4smpivquYo/s320/IMG_4238.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">An Aphonopelma chalcodes, commonly known as the Mexican blonde tarantula. After I picked him up, I noticed he excreted a green liquid on my hand. I later learned it was vomit. Apparently these little guys puke when they're scared! I'd be scared too if a giant picked me up! </td></tr>
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</span></h2>
<h2 style="font-family: times;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><div style="display: inline;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">After an exhausting but exhilarating week of hunting for caterpillars (f</span><a href="http://joshisabroad.blogspot.com/2016/09/earthwatch-ecuador.html" style="font-weight: normal;">or the second time!)</a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> I flew home from Arizona at 7:30pm on Sunday, August 5th. The next day, at 8am, I started a new job at a new school. As I sat in the faculty meeting that morning at work, all I could think about was this: </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_G4FF9Sj_MsnAW9fYoKdPKgv0q5Y-0H85pzSbvYgY0gnvDFXLE6uz1irVP-f2U1wcDWHVZGTWR9qN12XFqPl9ubFQ9h6eBPjQsCR3aWmv2U5R9bpFmOR8h2CAZSajLdJ6G32y0nxTSs/s1600/DSC_0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: times; font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_G4FF9Sj_MsnAW9fYoKdPKgv0q5Y-0H85pzSbvYgY0gnvDFXLE6uz1irVP-f2U1wcDWHVZGTWR9qN12XFqPl9ubFQ9h6eBPjQsCR3aWmv2U5R9bpFmOR8h2CAZSajLdJ6G32y0nxTSs/s320/DSC_0772.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Sunset over the Santa Rita Mountains</td></tr>
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</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">What a fantastic summer it's been. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Until next time... </span></div>
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<h3 style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828935249031844046noreply@blogger.com25Tucson, AZ, USA32.2226066 -110.9747108000000331.7924351 -111.62015780000003 32.6527781 -110.32926380000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-22738300932359541452018-07-23T10:53:00.002-07:002018-07-23T10:53:22.953-07:00Poland, the Resiliant <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: left;">As I have with previous travel fellowships, I asked to extend my stay after my trip finished. When considering where to explore in Europe, I decided that I wanted to see Poland. Given the country's turbulent history and connection to Ashkenazi Judaism, I felt that a trip to this Eastern European country would not only prove to be fascinating from a historical standpoint, but also provide an opportunity to learn more about my family's Polish-Jewish roots. After the conclusion of the TOP program, I spent 8 days in Poland, and was fortunate enough to be joined by my mom! Below is a map of our trip:</span></div>
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<u>Krakow </u></h3>
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We began our journey in the city of Krakow, famous for it's medieval architecture and well preserved city walls. A popular destination among travelers, Krakow hosted more than 12.9 million tourists in 2016, 2.9 million of which were foreigners. It's easy to understand why: Krakow's stunning architecture,along with it's close proximity to major tourist destinations such as the Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz/Birkenau make it quite popular. Below are some photos of Krakow's Old Town:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJlQPXCSUzu2uT1ImBZs82BkDwAJXRdDAyLi8VkFiP9oVhBbLnhdvSzlMPBwUQBoB_1AXyZw6TaeXNOrpkOENNvoT7LZU4spYiPplluheRc_AZDxfw9pCL9nmBTtgFKa0CMLS-qbXeaU/s1600/IMG_3928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJlQPXCSUzu2uT1ImBZs82BkDwAJXRdDAyLi8VkFiP9oVhBbLnhdvSzlMPBwUQBoB_1AXyZw6TaeXNOrpkOENNvoT7LZU4spYiPplluheRc_AZDxfw9pCL9nmBTtgFKa0CMLS-qbXeaU/s320/IMG_3928.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A model of Krakow as it would have appeared in the middle ages. The walls surrounding the city are now a green belt. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCRh80B3cSZi5rEAckdeKf1s-3WQRO5b00mm0rYXI2EZKvHkMUm_q6jpP05ZGv2aSRQbPSQu3u145JlNwvJSNXV87vmleiR-eApG-6m9w7joPAzXy7RnuH56JppzArtMObgpFDhiwQSQ/s1600/IMG_3915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFCRh80B3cSZi5rEAckdeKf1s-3WQRO5b00mm0rYXI2EZKvHkMUm_q6jpP05ZGv2aSRQbPSQu3u145JlNwvJSNXV87vmleiR-eApG-6m9w7joPAzXy7RnuH56JppzArtMObgpFDhiwQSQ/s320/IMG_3915.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Originally constructed in 1387, St. Mary's Basilica is one of the finest examples of Polish Gothic Architecture. It sits on the edge of the Rynek Główny (The Old Square), pictured in the center of the model in the previous photo. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzmVVK2ZOboTIj7PnlbzyUELeZBbTW-RNr1p29iVp_Rt-PqtV2-SsZBcB1MoxGS3VJ1KVe0trZhKxYURLKJE9pwYUGZFQ0PCaBZalZYQhILeEWX2v33J9Mhxe7CAyXKegU-0ioj-SCVw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-07-22+at+10.23.34+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1072" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwzmVVK2ZOboTIj7PnlbzyUELeZBbTW-RNr1p29iVp_Rt-PqtV2-SsZBcB1MoxGS3VJ1KVe0trZhKxYURLKJE9pwYUGZFQ0PCaBZalZYQhILeEWX2v33J9Mhxe7CAyXKegU-0ioj-SCVw/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-07-22+at+10.23.34+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Mary's Basilica was constructed by one of Poland's most famous rulers, Casmir III the Great. The interior of was also painted by another famous Pole, muralist Jan Matejko, during a 19th century restoration. Photo credit: flickr.com</td></tr>
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In the southern end of the Old Town sits Wawel Castle, a 14th century complex of various architectural styles:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq5fVuRclY6BztUeudFuKAPO3YOpO07_lRRQ3FYNhW30SFR40pWgh7AKhULgRXsFsQQj1qRHTy_NYSGe3enCwIwAlTn08ENO6gqJXX85Fg_idxazwI1_VmVIo_bU7DXiMNJuPP8TM8w0/s1600/IMG_3944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKq5fVuRclY6BztUeudFuKAPO3YOpO07_lRRQ3FYNhW30SFR40pWgh7AKhULgRXsFsQQj1qRHTy_NYSGe3enCwIwAlTn08ENO6gqJXX85Fg_idxazwI1_VmVIo_bU7DXiMNJuPP8TM8w0/s320/IMG_3944.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Wawel Castle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeMA5SOJS9wxbHv8pi1vV3rM8Z_3KtE9LgSXF_ZGRL7-Qbg848A9ifARvZt9v-mZC6S18eFB-ZirO7_GsYMt3VNMHlCX-Fthnu7Ayxc4zgZ46VYzn5XJ1EWR1nk74e2qR9ScQLq-su4o/s1600/IMG_3941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeMA5SOJS9wxbHv8pi1vV3rM8Z_3KtE9LgSXF_ZGRL7-Qbg848A9ifARvZt9v-mZC6S18eFB-ZirO7_GsYMt3VNMHlCX-Fthnu7Ayxc4zgZ46VYzn5XJ1EWR1nk74e2qR9ScQLq-su4o/s320/IMG_3941.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the castle complex from an adjacent tower. Like many other buildings in Krakow, Wawel Castle was also built by Casmir III the Great. Today it is one of the country's premier art museums.</td></tr>
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Another popular tourist destination in the region is the Wieliczka Salt Mine, located 30 minutes outside of Krakow. Opened in the 13th century, it became one of the longest operating salt mines until it closed in 2007. At it's peak, the mine produced 15,000 tons of salt annually. Due to the number of salt carvings and cathedrals hidden within its 2,000 chambers, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978:<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEZbTlDxn4gHcpZNeME5bmizFgI-2M6f64AyqT3YLl_z-JmXceL4CkC_9Ni-gKpRFw8lruH_TshSMZM4NvQ34I7Cg4niKMev5y6RKAKZNVAPeA79sMNyvvnNiEkQorsAvYoX4GhRVJ5s/s1600/IMG_4037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEZbTlDxn4gHcpZNeME5bmizFgI-2M6f64AyqT3YLl_z-JmXceL4CkC_9Ni-gKpRFw8lruH_TshSMZM4NvQ34I7Cg4niKMev5y6RKAKZNVAPeA79sMNyvvnNiEkQorsAvYoX4GhRVJ5s/s320/IMG_4037.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Wielizcka Salt mine has 9 levels, and covers 7.5 million cubic meters. We descended 53 flights of stairs to reach the bottom of the mine, and only walked 2% of it's tunnels during our 1.5 hour tour.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhni8JcKEUwXf8CroN8mUwj6oNWG0qpFEk28zW1yYxvWjhNnUlg38VryK-fya-npzxLb3p-3WnfJYTAQgd01XJMgMTUgLXxD5kDpyI6kyhs0HiQHxgtcOHYaqn62042VVqjWAlmj0y0sgw/s1600/IMG_3983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhni8JcKEUwXf8CroN8mUwj6oNWG0qpFEk28zW1yYxvWjhNnUlg38VryK-fya-npzxLb3p-3WnfJYTAQgd01XJMgMTUgLXxD5kDpyI6kyhs0HiQHxgtcOHYaqn62042VVqjWAlmj0y0sgw/s320/IMG_3983.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Wooden support beams throughout the mine are covered in salt</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww6galudfjPj8o-CSiXWDDwCQ9fnPpYV4rzVUTCrWsZHs8afxWTQCnKfbzAiVXKA6hy5iPgMAq7LYQJB6l4Nbjj0mOaO4YHF9aZAm5yvY6cvn7X7hjQUnFMLb6fkdePLRtR-5GIZLomw/s1600/IMG_3997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiww6galudfjPj8o-CSiXWDDwCQ9fnPpYV4rzVUTCrWsZHs8afxWTQCnKfbzAiVXKA6hy5iPgMAq7LYQJB6l4Nbjj0mOaO4YHF9aZAm5yvY6cvn7X7hjQUnFMLb6fkdePLRtR-5GIZLomw/s320/IMG_3997.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Chapels were placed throughout the salt mine to allow miners to pray for their safety during their shifts underground.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7K29x8V1yoLKbazo1IpZximTWrnTx4x1ly9zzsqBcFM1rH5gbx2Lmdvevk0NtzGDkjrkbt6F4tw41c-4JSSATYAIhA67dVq-cvNH9_skxNZFrRW0jXtxP8HiQjIlOo4wXfMyFmV8sxQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-07-22+at+11.21.08+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1068" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7K29x8V1yoLKbazo1IpZximTWrnTx4x1ly9zzsqBcFM1rH5gbx2Lmdvevk0NtzGDkjrkbt6F4tw41c-4JSSATYAIhA67dVq-cvNH9_skxNZFrRW0jXtxP8HiQjIlOo4wXfMyFmV8sxQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-07-22+at+11.21.08+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cathedral of St. Kinga, Patron Saint of Salt Miners, and carved entirely out of salt! It covers 5,000 square meters and is routinely rented out for weddings and concerts. Photo credit:www.wieliczka-saltmine.com</td></tr>
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<u>Kazimierz</u></h3>
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The most fascinating section of Krakow is Kazimierz, a neighborhood just outside the old city walls. Known as the hub of Jewish life in Krakow, and arguably the hub of pre-war Jewish life in all of Europe, Kazimierz has become a major pilgrimage site for Jews throughout the world. One of the most famous residents was Rema, a 16th century rabbinical scholar after whom the Rema Synagogue in Kazimierz is named. His codification of Jewish law was so well respected that it not only became the basis for the entire Jewish legal and cultural system, but it made Kazimierz the center of Jewish learning the world over. Because of him the neighborhood steadily grew, and before the outbreak of World War II, it was home to more than 32,000 Jews and 12 synagogues. For more than seven centuries, Jewish literacy, art, learning, mystical and political thought flourished here. Until it didn't anymore.<br />
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During World War II, over 90% of Poland's Jewish population-a staggering 3,000,000 souls, lost their lives in the Holocaust. We went to the site where 900,000 perished, Auschwitz/Birkenau, during our visit to Krakow. I struggled to write this section of the blog post for quite some time, and have concluded that neither words, nor pictures, can accurately illustrate the intensity and overbearing despair of the site. All the while, while touring Birkenau, I kept thinking of Kazimierz: What would the pre-eminent site of Jewish culture be today had this atrocity not happened? </div>
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Post-war Kazimierz was home to a mere 5,000 Jews, which slowly dwindled as the 20th century came to a close. Emigration to the new country of Israel, as well as religious persecution of Jews under Communism, seemed to rob the community of it's soul. However, with the fall of Communism in 1989, and the success of 1993's Schindler's List, which details Oskar Schindler's quest to save Kazimierz's Jewish residents from the Nazi's, the neighborhood has taken on a new, albeit it unique, life as a tourist destination. By the year 2000, an estimated 150 Jews lived in the entire city of Krakow, a 99.994% drop since it's height in 1938. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This stretch of Jewish restaurants, known by locals as "Jewish Disneyland" features classic Ashkenazi cuisine and Klezmer music. None of these establishments are owned by Jews. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the most perturbing sights during our trip to Poland were these Hasidim figurines in a tourist gift shop, sporting what appears to be a talmud and a gold coin. This perpetual reinforcement of negative stereotypes of Jews as money hoarders in 2018 is alive and well.</td></tr>
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Fortunately, there is a museum dedicated to the complicated relationship between Poland and it's Jewish community. Tucked away on a side street of Kazimierz is the Galicia Museum, which operates one of the most prominent Jewish and Holocaust education programs in the world. It's permanent exhibition, "Traces of Memory: A Contemporary Look at the Jewish Past in Poland" illustrates the complex process of memory and responsibility and diversity of narratives as it relates to Holocaust. The exhibition highlights not only Poles who were complicit in turning in Jews, but others who risked their lives saving Jews from the Holocaust. It also illustrates the complex present day issue of preservation and memory of pre-war Jewish sites. Some sites, such as the Rema Synagogue in Kazmierez, has not only been restored, but has an active congregation as well. Other sites have not fared so well: <br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68hHHDi6M0z3D2QXIyLfRMD8kck23-p-HU7jNEE4jW6zTbkjPuP0Uc05PE2PjOOrta9b6FtVZs4dxfsG4brKyj23JY8RYuij_esjHazyAf4tsM9BwnE7voJDYVgIWR0u5rxKJzrkzBVk/s1600/IMG_3971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi68hHHDi6M0z3D2QXIyLfRMD8kck23-p-HU7jNEE4jW6zTbkjPuP0Uc05PE2PjOOrta9b6FtVZs4dxfsG4brKyj23JY8RYuij_esjHazyAf4tsM9BwnE7voJDYVgIWR0u5rxKJzrkzBVk/s320/IMG_3971.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The New Cemetery, located on the edge of Kazimierz, is still in disrepair, 70 years after the end of the war. Both the Nazis and local Poles used headstones as paving blocks, both during and after World War II.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0iv-0wKkdNuJHX53wijkL2Xb_LzlLJz1ibE5dQ5xvAu1dupMwtufqTVsFc-c1O6UJaVMGstjeUU-vGKQ5gQvJEx2SrWABUqmpBF2F7SWOQOPiY_CeOVEPOYkXHnWyBsedDT8gluesZ8/s1600/IMG_3972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1023" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0iv-0wKkdNuJHX53wijkL2Xb_LzlLJz1ibE5dQ5xvAu1dupMwtufqTVsFc-c1O6UJaVMGstjeUU-vGKQ5gQvJEx2SrWABUqmpBF2F7SWOQOPiY_CeOVEPOYkXHnWyBsedDT8gluesZ8/s320/IMG_3972.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The wall of the Rema Synagogue in Kazimierz is made of desecrated headstones from World War II. It is only one of two synagogues in Kazimierz today with an active minyan, or quorum of 10 Jewish adults necessary to hold a service.</td></tr>
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Fortunately, we did experience some uplifting moments during our time in Kazimierz. Hours after visiting Auschwitz/Birkenau, we stumbled upon the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Krakow. We learned that this JCC is a bit different from the ones we know at home: It was founded in 2008 by the Prince of Wales, who upon visiting Kazimierz, learned that the once grand center of Jewish life lacked a community center. Today, it operates as a pre-school, senior center, welfare services, and outreach center for Polish-Jewish relations.<br />
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Upon entering the building, we quickly realized that almost all of the volunteers, with the exception of the executive director, <i>were not Jewish. </i>I asked one man in his mid 20's why he volunteers his time at the JCC when he doesn't have any Jewish roots of his own. He told me, that as a life long resident of Kazimierz, he feels a connection to the Jewish community. His grandfather, he told me, hid a Jewish family in his basement during the war. That family has been living in Israel for the last 50 years. "Jewish history is Polish history" he said.<br />
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Luckily for us, we were just in time to listen to Sophie, a Holocaust survivor and life-long resident of Krakow, speak to a group of visiting scholars. Sophie recounted her life in hiding: Born in 1935, her and her mother's Polish sounding last name allowed them to live the duration of the war as Christians. She attended Sunday School, was baptized, and had a first communion. Although her father was murdered in Auschwitz, She and her mother survived the war. After she was denied a passport to Israel in the 1950's, she decided to make her permanent home in Poland. In 1968, after an additional 20,000 Polish Jews emigrated to Israel and the United states amid growing persecution of freedom of speech by the Communists, Sophie stayed. It wasn't until the Late 1990's did she return to her Jewish roots, at which time she became involved in the Krakow JCC.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYEDg585Mjua1R4aw2froPKENXCiKCOgw1O29bTrMOxtqhxjbuHJUk9uu7PZpIvfpf3YB9ss5kLZcG9X0z-zIZdAJXRc7n4X34C1_jM6RyIgiRO05_FgRKXoQ9ZMCG3vqkxmeMyZEAfQ/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYEDg585Mjua1R4aw2froPKENXCiKCOgw1O29bTrMOxtqhxjbuHJUk9uu7PZpIvfpf3YB9ss5kLZcG9X0z-zIZdAJXRc7n4X34C1_jM6RyIgiRO05_FgRKXoQ9ZMCG3vqkxmeMyZEAfQ/s320/IMG_4041.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie and I. The sign behind us reads "Building a Jewish Future in Krakow." </td></tr>
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After a wonderful evening at the JCC of Krakow, we went to bed early- we had a train to catch to our next destination, Warsaw! </div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<u>Warsaw </u></h3>
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After a 3 hour train ride, and an <i>almost missed</i> train connection in Krakow, we arrived at the central train station in Warsaw. The capital city of 1.7 million inhabitants, locally known as Varsovians, features varied architectural styles that reflect it's turbulent history. From gothic churches to Soviet era apartment blocks and modern skyscrapers, Warsaw proved to be an engaging and stimulating end to our vacation.<br />
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One of the most recommended museums in the city is POLIN: Museum of the History of Poland's Jews. Aptly located on the site of the Warsaw Ghetto, POLIN outlines the rich history of the Jewish community in Poland over the past 1,000 years. Some highlights include an artifact of the first sentence written in Yiddish in the year 1272, a recreation of a beautiful wooden Synagogue from Lithuania, artifacts from the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943, and a tragic exhibit on the Holocaust. After my visit, I wasn't surprised to learn that POLIN won the 2016 European Museum of the Year Award. This is a must-see if you visit Warsaw.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bm1BulZIUeCwpa8OxaQrt4hUTSMYI9FTwXl5g2-Vl9FSD1udlIHoAInFZ4mES8qayTY9PBAyGtn_pAkbT0bTpl1dIKAfZ7uk5lNicc861APQVCAWCNE4WunwW_uT0_SAVraVaIlwrbo/s1600/IMG_4058+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9bm1BulZIUeCwpa8OxaQrt4hUTSMYI9FTwXl5g2-Vl9FSD1udlIHoAInFZ4mES8qayTY9PBAyGtn_pAkbT0bTpl1dIKAfZ7uk5lNicc861APQVCAWCNE4WunwW_uT0_SAVraVaIlwrbo/s400/IMG_4058+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Replica of the Gwózdziec Synagogue in Lithuania. Erected in 1650, it is one of the finest examples of wood-framed synagogues in Eastern Europe. It was destroyed during World War I, and recreated between 2011 and 2013 specifically for the POLIN Museum. </td></tr>
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In addition to learning about the city's Jewish history, I was equally as interested in learning about the city's past. During the 20th century, Poland was the site of some of century's most violent events.<br />
On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded the country and would occupy the area until 1945. In 1940, the Germans forcibly relocated all of the city's Jewish residents into an area that would become known as the the Warsaw Ghetto. Squalid living conditions, overcrowding, and a lack of food eventually led to an armed revolt in the Spring of 1943. This resulted in the death of over 13,000 Jews, with the remaining 50,000 residents deported to Treblinka Concentration Camp. The ghetto was subsequently leveled by the Germans. Although the revolt was unsuccessful, it planted the seed for a second, much bigger rebellion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3A3twvWIwBmlep6PZZ2qeX1DNV_fJnbGUwTgb2wl1alygoWpSnfniZ51zi4EG_nDOjn5DxJjC1ay_rbEz21u5nMIuC56vLRWk8KvDC7q46K2KuSd7VelLY69nEdy_DUNFxk4alSXlmI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+9.45.05+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="1030" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3A3twvWIwBmlep6PZZ2qeX1DNV_fJnbGUwTgb2wl1alygoWpSnfniZ51zi4EG_nDOjn5DxJjC1ay_rbEz21u5nMIuC56vLRWk8KvDC7q46K2KuSd7VelLY69nEdy_DUNFxk4alSXlmI/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+9.45.05+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking through Warsaw, we stumbled upon this plaque on the ground, commemorating the original location of the Warsaw Ghetto wall. </td></tr>
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By the middle of 1944, more than 600,000 of the Warsaw's 1.3 million people had fled, were murdered, or deported to concentration camps by the occupying German forces. On August 1st, a ragtag group of Polish rebels fought against a much larger, better equipped army in an attempt to take back the city. Only expecting to last a few days, the uprising lasted until October 2nd, 1944 and ended with a ceasefire. 64 days after the uprising began, only 1,000 residents remained.<br />
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This heroic chapter in Warsaw's history is magnificently documented at the Warsaw Uprising Museum, aptly located in the Wola District, where the fiercest fighting occurred. The museum highlights the atrocities committed by the Germans as well as the valiant efforts of the Polish Underground Resistance:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDtBfHye_Y5qOVjHXokBF_n58gSruq0w-hxwgmTwH38MVl-iKaWTa8smDUpQh4I8PK4_CTsh1G_3c3I-ftRpN7Nqb_SbmYEiOcJNEyZVq6GdLlXK3W-fci3pVinpf5dRWcNoOtuc-evs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+9.10.39+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1364" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDtBfHye_Y5qOVjHXokBF_n58gSruq0w-hxwgmTwH38MVl-iKaWTa8smDUpQh4I8PK4_CTsh1G_3c3I-ftRpN7Nqb_SbmYEiOcJNEyZVq6GdLlXK3W-fci3pVinpf5dRWcNoOtuc-evs/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+9.10.39+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the exhibition layout to the soundtrack, the museum encapsulates the feeling of chaos and destruction. Throughout the exhibit, audible sounds of gunfire, explosions and heartbeats add a level of anxiety and uncertainty.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ27q2q5mENr04gt5-M3MGKR1hD9jsLjqvlf4G3dPQCkZhlFH2RaPGfQUgX08SAyGAPWy3lVcgqHS3C7MGCRSmwL8gzPo4MYcQEaTWD5tJfs8ucRib6xrT5wxFilFaVbojMbkWVjuxT8/s1600/IMG_4131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ27q2q5mENr04gt5-M3MGKR1hD9jsLjqvlf4G3dPQCkZhlFH2RaPGfQUgX08SAyGAPWy3lVcgqHS3C7MGCRSmwL8gzPo4MYcQEaTWD5tJfs8ucRib6xrT5wxFilFaVbojMbkWVjuxT8/s400/IMG_4131.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately, Poland was surrounded by the two largest armies in Europe. To the West, the Nazis. To the East, the Soviets. As the Uprising raged on, the Soviet Red Army waited just over the Vistula River, intentionally staying away. Once the Uprising ended, they invaded, drove the Germans out, and controlled the city for the next 45 years.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPkxi0_sA-MEMpF8ZcPJ52i6WW18eaec7GsSkkfAZeYeQFdjweI647M2lQ7NoLQcXIcjrc7PsLamUYAKKIu59Auazo6eTVvwDED4IlO7rFq3k9lPTytL2TDWHSEdihScRnrNwKt3jXdc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+9.15.28+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="964" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWPkxi0_sA-MEMpF8ZcPJ52i6WW18eaec7GsSkkfAZeYeQFdjweI647M2lQ7NoLQcXIcjrc7PsLamUYAKKIu59Auazo6eTVvwDED4IlO7rFq3k9lPTytL2TDWHSEdihScRnrNwKt3jXdc/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+9.15.28+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">By the end of the war, Warsaw lay in ruins. </span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdleOmvk0AxxA8BJ92zfjE00lWz8Zrm6gndi2VTPi3sZKTJjkSOFPArNqNn4CMtI0OD46N6UqlGSITOYAfGYZlO4oDSSyT5n6ZI2DT62yJEKwG0FXOkQWBqVUUSrh5yCjrSIVfpTBmqDk/s1600/IMG_4101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdleOmvk0AxxA8BJ92zfjE00lWz8Zrm6gndi2VTPi3sZKTJjkSOFPArNqNn4CMtI0OD46N6UqlGSITOYAfGYZlO4oDSSyT5n6ZI2DT62yJEKwG0FXOkQWBqVUUSrh5yCjrSIVfpTBmqDk/s320/IMG_4101.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Scars from the Warsaw Uprising are still visible to this day. Pictured are bullet holes dating back to World War II. We were told by locals that this particular wall was the site of impromptu executions of Polish resistance fighters by German soldiers. <br /></td></tr>
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In a tragic turn of events, World War II did not grant Poland it's freedom. The country fell under Communist rule and became a satellite state of The USSR until 1989. Warsaw lay in ruins, and the Soviet Union decided to rebuild the city in it's own image:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVICJgwKVEqXzKC3ewp1TnVajprkY-ztyrFz9Jh5-QSEP3GnD3H03pUaiYawkajoTCuKEF0NZ-1pNlW42kx2IGH79Eiq3nbl2P2idrb3juTlyFfHqNjxskA8bL-UqIxWBlEUbysvQyhk8/s1600/6C9D20C0-6467-4C0B-BA1A-9B8B010658FF.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVICJgwKVEqXzKC3ewp1TnVajprkY-ztyrFz9Jh5-QSEP3GnD3H03pUaiYawkajoTCuKEF0NZ-1pNlW42kx2IGH79Eiq3nbl2P2idrb3juTlyFfHqNjxskA8bL-UqIxWBlEUbysvQyhk8/s320/6C9D20C0-6467-4C0B-BA1A-9B8B010658FF.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured is a collage of statues to the Proletariat in Constitution Square. Each statue represents a different type of worker, from coal miners, to teachers, and brick layers. </td></tr>
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One of the most controversial yet iconic examples of the Soviet era of Warsaw is the Palace of Culture and Science. Constructed in 1955 as a "gift" to the people of Poland from Joseph Stalin himself, the building is the tallest in Poland and serves as an enduring symbol of the city.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_wtaj4N3SLKlK-wNG7TAtoxfZDBzj9zVz7lBrSfkOP4F5N4c3q1K1PGOsCQ7-RLy_CG9gVYSUND8yinC7U43OU4XG55XC1XE7FHt0wAV2zSIgScpYArYnh2-N69xyttlwZLjJ7dmXpE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-07-22+at+1.16.24+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="758" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_wtaj4N3SLKlK-wNG7TAtoxfZDBzj9zVz7lBrSfkOP4F5N4c3q1K1PGOsCQ7-RLy_CG9gVYSUND8yinC7U43OU4XG55XC1XE7FHt0wAV2zSIgScpYArYnh2-N69xyttlwZLjJ7dmXpE/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-07-22+at+1.16.24+PM.png" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
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The Palace of Culture and Science was a gift from the Soviet Union in 1955. To this day, Varsovians debate the merit of this building: Is it a source of civic pride or a reminder of Stalinist persecution? </div>
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Communist Poland was a difficult place. We took a fantastic tour through Warsaw Adventures called "Off the Beaten Path Poland" where we learned about life under Communism during the mid 20th century. One of the most memorable experiences we had was a visit to a milk bar, a typical cafeteria that serves cheap food. Milk bars have come to represent the shortage economy, where common goods were hard to come by. Today, not too many remain, but the one we visited had a shocking recreation of a typical table layout: </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milk bars routinely bolted down silverware and bowls to the tables to prevent theft because household goods were scarce and highly valued during communist times. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZjkb9PlIhP1S_WYzSAYzOvj6KiGfPizx6kwG00qFQrcHBytvCXtFBXyD-nHRnQsvkQ9u7p_Wu78UljIb_K0Qbar8qKDpqidEqI9GI9AnSEWn76GbDR_hW1RX-Z1obx7cPGtabl4nMDM/s1600/IMG_4113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZjkb9PlIhP1S_WYzSAYzOvj6KiGfPizx6kwG00qFQrcHBytvCXtFBXyD-nHRnQsvkQ9u7p_Wu78UljIb_K0Qbar8qKDpqidEqI9GI9AnSEWn76GbDR_hW1RX-Z1obx7cPGtabl4nMDM/s320/IMG_4113.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Czar PRL: LIfe Under Communism Museum displays artifacts from Communist Poland. Pictured is a state-issued radio, bust of Vladamir Lenin, and manual for the Proletariat</td></tr>
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We also paid a visit to the Neon Museum in the Praga District. The museum presents over 100 Communist-era neon signs found throughout Warsaw. Unlike neon signs in the West, which were used to advertise products in the Capitalist system, Neon in the Eastern Soviet Bloc took on a different meaning. It signified the prosperity and wealth of the Communist state, since no advertising was necessary. You could only buy state-sanctioned goods and services, anyways. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />Since there were no brand names or privately own shops in communist Warsaw, neon signs simply advertised generic terms such as "jewelry" or "theatre."</td></tr>
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In 1989, Poland finally, after 50 years, became independent. The next 30 years were, and continue to be, a period of intense cultural, economic and social growth for the country. As we toured around Warsaw, this growth was clear. Skyscrapers and cranes dot the skyline. New restaurants, shops, and bars are opening weekly, and tourism is on the rise. Yet one of the most impressive places we saw was the city's Old Town. Completely leveled during World War II, it has been entirely rebuilt: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsWx2rPVL63ulKdDwGqU9IWIYHdD0GqTBGnqF_r7QTu4ZvEaSWj-nwfCYGvN4mmVSDx3r3Wu0W_C_XjHa5W4KXu6CB-27ULH9-SCgQJD6B82Ks3mnIiLSSUGWVY28ErL2I7L-PN269W4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+10.23.55+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1044" data-original-width="1600" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEsWx2rPVL63ulKdDwGqU9IWIYHdD0GqTBGnqF_r7QTu4ZvEaSWj-nwfCYGvN4mmVSDx3r3Wu0W_C_XjHa5W4KXu6CB-27ULH9-SCgQJD6B82Ks3mnIiLSSUGWVY28ErL2I7L-PN269W4/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+10.23.55+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Town after World War II </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Town today</td></tr>
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In addition to reconstructing it's Old Town, there is a thriving cultural scene in Warsaw as well. Varsovians are opening award-winning restaurants and bars, and beautiful green spaces abound: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7z8j11whl0NZa33IPTzjvYoRlyUCEVUEtWpaBnrQnTcvIm4QHNHCZ0vzM0J1ukRZIfJkdXEjHrx60g_620Dcjllted7KuD-VqeTdoF6QONwoCM5eQ1L62S7pugYmdaCyrXoX9MGMKK4/s1600/8588E073-F7BB-4D9E-B76E-25FAFB1E290E.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin7z8j11whl0NZa33IPTzjvYoRlyUCEVUEtWpaBnrQnTcvIm4QHNHCZ0vzM0J1ukRZIfJkdXEjHrx60g_620Dcjllted7KuD-VqeTdoF6QONwoCM5eQ1L62S7pugYmdaCyrXoX9MGMKK4/s320/8588E073-F7BB-4D9E-B76E-25FAFB1E290E.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A collage of the Łazienki Park, the largest park in the city. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hala Kozyki is a modern, chic food hall that rivals Chelsea Market or Grand Central Market. We had the most delicious Oysters there! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Night Market is a weekly food pop-up event held in an old train station. It reminded me very much of Smorgasburg in Los Angeles and Brooklyn.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufG8ACv-jFwqfS1Xv-ZFtuL_n_-E7GPuhpSyX_wPxP6lZQu39Oxp6_BLir12k88RWbSWHd2629eVAv4tTS35DKqlpf9jspiNyuQpN_Uv9yGZSTnAi1ETgxYCSWfm0amUjrJ5OoV1B4Kk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+10.26.16+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="672" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufG8ACv-jFwqfS1Xv-ZFtuL_n_-E7GPuhpSyX_wPxP6lZQu39Oxp6_BLir12k88RWbSWHd2629eVAv4tTS35DKqlpf9jspiNyuQpN_Uv9yGZSTnAi1ETgxYCSWfm0amUjrJ5OoV1B4Kk/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+10.26.16+AM.png" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Millenial Varsovians, born after the end of Communism, have a fresh perspective on the city's turbulent past, as evidenced by these socks. Pictured are a playful take on the Palace of Culture and Science, a controversial symbol of the Communist Era.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcVVLk_P-E_9kRx-pvksKF6Gq456VF_HbmPucKw4fsv9bStMzvHLPnN9EuDX9i4fJ7OT_b7ov7R7bStE5AJdsJ01lPpgk_H6wBVEdk-198pRFA9L078CSsxBXuPDEbQDNVEIOunQmGlc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+10.37.32+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1290" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcVVLk_P-E_9kRx-pvksKF6Gq456VF_HbmPucKw4fsv9bStMzvHLPnN9EuDX9i4fJ7OT_b7ov7R7bStE5AJdsJ01lPpgk_H6wBVEdk-198pRFA9L078CSsxBXuPDEbQDNVEIOunQmGlc/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-07-23+at+10.37.32+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warsaw's affordable cost of living and cheap real estate are attracting multi-national companies from around the world. Photo Courtesy: Youtube.com<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Our 8 days in Poland proved to be enlightening, emotional, and inspirational. We came here not knowing much about neither our ancestral roots nor the history of this dynamic country, and left with both a more profound appreciation for our culture and an immense respect for the Polish people. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> For a country that</span><span style="font-size: small;"> has been occupied, destroyed, and persecuted to such a great extent, Poland in the 21st century is a dynamic, engaging, and attractive place. And for that reason I decided to entitle this post "Poland, the Resilient." If you find yourself in Eastern Europe, this place is an absolute must-see. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Until next time... </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828935249031844046noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-29481880164425965572018-07-22T07:14:00.001-07:002018-07-22T07:19:08.263-07:00Transatlantic Outreach Program, Germany<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This past summer, I was awarded a fellowship to travel to Germany for two weeks as a 2018 Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP) Fellow. Initiated in 2002, The TOP Program is a public/private partnership that seeks to be a leading provider of curriculum and study tour experiences relevant to contemporary Germany for educators. It is a subsidiary of the Goethe Instit, a non-profit German cultural institution that seeks to promote intercultural exchange around the world. Over two jam-packed weeks, 15 STEM educators from around the country toured cultural sites, schools, and environmentally progressive institutions with the hopes of promoting intercultural understanding between our home communities and Germany. Our two main themes for the study tour were Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education and vocational education:<br />
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We stayed in four areas during our trip: the small town of Adelsheim, Stuttgart, Duisburg, and Berlin.
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<u>Adelsheim</u></h3>
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Our first destination was the Landesschulzentrum fur Umwelterziehung (LSZU), a school which offers teachers and pupils of all types of schools in the Baden-Wùrttemberg area the opportunity to intensively study environmental education. Teachers from the surrounding region can attend professional development at the school and bring their classes to the LSZU to use their facilities for instruction. For the first few days of the study tour, we engaged in professional development with German STEM teachers: <span style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the LSZU, we participated in a wonderful experiential lesson for middle school students on the importance of buying fair trade chocolate. The "fair trade" sticker on chocolate certifies that it was not only grown and harvested in a sustainable way, but that it fairly compensates every party involved in the production process. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The LSZU, along with the German education system as a whole, utilizes the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) goals set out by the United Nations. Here, the ESD goals are stated in German. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A farmhouse with solar panel roofing just outside of Adelsheim. Wind turbines and solar panels are quite common in Germany, even in the countryside. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbr26oeZ01jgZL87-lmuiZa5OgfzrUz4UtROXwa0AQlOseMxeaG98JqJg4gHztboS1SJEXRhrjkeIruxV-wHx73YL5rnf5MPibCpDR6cm6SlN03ZgIImFZDjNRJ0dAkzddSLzYRaBkVnQ/s1600/b255e6ec-f75d-4cc9-9005-87ed6207ddc3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbr26oeZ01jgZL87-lmuiZa5OgfzrUz4UtROXwa0AQlOseMxeaG98JqJg4gHztboS1SJEXRhrjkeIruxV-wHx73YL5rnf5MPibCpDR6cm6SlN03ZgIImFZDjNRJ0dAkzddSLzYRaBkVnQ/s320/b255e6ec-f75d-4cc9-9005-87ed6207ddc3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our time in Adelsheim was wonderful. We met and collaborated with fantastic STEM educators and gained valuable lesson plan ideas to better implement ESD curriculum in our own school communities.<br />
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<u>Stuttgart</u></h3>
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Our second destination was Stuttgart, a manufacturing hub of approximately 600,000 people. Stuttgart is also the home to Bosch, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche's corporate headquarters. Our first stop was the Robert Bosch Ausbildungszentrum to learn about the vocational training program for high school age students.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">The private sector in Germany operates on a similar apprentice model. </span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Students can choose either the apprenticeship program or dual bachelor degree program. Unlike the United States, Germany does not adopt a "college for all" attitude. Instead, with the help of public-private partnerships, students with an interest in vocational trades can receive on the job skills training from top employers like Bosch. </span></h3>
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In addition to our visit at Bosch, we also visited Trumpf, one of the world's largest producers of machine parts for factories. We were able to visit the factory floor and learn more about the intricate production methods used to punch, shape, bend and manufacture machine tools.<br />
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At Trumpf, the demand for industrial engineers, mechanics, and computer programmers underscores the importance of aligning K-12 STEM instruction with the needs of private industry. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This machine has 2,200 pound per square inch of punching power, and completes 1,000 strokes per minute, making it the fastest punching machine in the world!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The finished product! Pieces such as these are used in manufacturing facilities all over the world to produce numerous products you've probably used.<br />
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In addition to learning about vocational education programs at large companies, we also had some free time as well. We visited the Mercedes Benz Museum, located on the campus of their corporate headquarters. The museum chronicles the fascinating history of the 92 year old company as it adapted to the various trials and tribulations of 20th century Germany: </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first truck ever produced was by the parent company of Mercedes Benz in 1898. It had an impressive 12 horsepower! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1902 Maybach with a top speed of 50mph. Wilhelm Maybach, the inventor of this car, named his company after his daughter, Mercedes. Maybach eventually merged with Karl Benz, forming the Mercedes-Benz we know today. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Various midcentury limited-edition Mercedes on display. The 300slr, on the far left, is worth an estimated 68 million dollars! This is one of two known to exist in the entire world. </td></tr>
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One of the most memorable experiences in Stuttgart was a delicious meal at a Turkish restaurant. With more than 4 million people of Turkish ancestry in Germany, Turks are the most sizable minority population in the country. Oktay Ince, a TOP Fellow of Turkish descent, introduced us to the varied and delicious cuisine of his home country: </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a delicious mug of Ayran, a cold savory yogurt based beverage. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ordered <i>way too much </i>food at dinner! Fortunately, during our train ride from Stuttgart to Duisburg the next day, we feasted on Turkish leftovers while cruising at 186 miles an hour on the bullet train! </td></tr>
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<u>Duisburg</u></h3>
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<span id="goog_1977171403"></span><span id="goog_1977171404"></span>Our next stop was Duisburg, an industrial city in the state of North Rhine Westphalia. The greater Duisburg-Essen-Dusseldorf area has a strong history of steel and coal production and is currently undergoing a transformation to renewable energy production. Our first activity was a tour of the inner harbor of Duisburg, one of the largest river-adjacent harbors in the world:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 2000, 50% of all steel production in Germany occurred in Duisburg. The port provided a convenient way to export coal and steel products all over the world.<br />
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One of the most fascinating excursions during the whole trip was to the Zollverein Industrial Complex just outside of Essen, Germany. Founded in 1847, this coal and coking plant operated continuously until 1986. Today, it is a testament to the industrial strength of the area as well as a relic of a bygone era of fossil fuel consumption:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Covering 13 square kilometers, the Zollverien Industrial Complex miraculously survived numerous bombing campaigns by the Allied forces during World War II.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJEzBnSJROqR7QRjUwwBF86RnpmjBSnp43rk9DXzsRPlQDr9jOFY62FBG8GRplI61fRyaJc-ah7k1ITcMdElrekicdjI2m4aG5KfmNJL1ieeWQseoKBBYLtTBxuNOR_kaqhaytMG8vvk/s1600/f56f83ef-191e-4bb9-85c6-7d312092c22e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPJEzBnSJROqR7QRjUwwBF86RnpmjBSnp43rk9DXzsRPlQDr9jOFY62FBG8GRplI61fRyaJc-ah7k1ITcMdElrekicdjI2m4aG5KfmNJL1ieeWQseoKBBYLtTBxuNOR_kaqhaytMG8vvk/s320/f56f83ef-191e-4bb9-85c6-7d312092c22e.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The complex was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqdIoX-eoFXZxSgRbVT2uSp_E6brc2uZhVpmn7alONpBo3mrFhvUb364ZnosNuuR5lLpl22yNCwei7NxExzT4IF-oGgoshjp16W59YLynxNqioG3W9EQE0xmLBIvkHbJGITkIQUEZlX0/s1600/84f0ad32-62d8-4174-8878-4b20de99c680+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqdIoX-eoFXZxSgRbVT2uSp_E6brc2uZhVpmn7alONpBo3mrFhvUb364ZnosNuuR5lLpl22yNCwei7NxExzT4IF-oGgoshjp16W59YLynxNqioG3W9EQE0xmLBIvkHbJGITkIQUEZlX0/s320/84f0ad32-62d8-4174-8878-4b20de99c680+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">By the turn of the 20th century, the North Rhine-Westphalia region had highest concentration of jobs in Europe, thanks to it's strong steel and coal industry. Today, 1 in 3 jobs in the region are in the elder care industry.<br />
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The State of North Rhine Westphalia has been undergoing a dramatic shift away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy since the turn of the 21st century. Evidence of this shift can be seen throughout the region: </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iUohGBLgT-vTiAHONsw7aM0GU6PfEFR2W4b31cN-rH8FkUZsHL_SMU7YQhrqj9obhhaJZgFoF5kyNgFHCt4Odql7b6asRWbUa-kXIcyBDDWZuv7Rd3KGL1oMDtl8u5HYdIzjSJ9Ty_M/s1600/312044b5-b6a4-4942-a286-7089ea8b4a15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iUohGBLgT-vTiAHONsw7aM0GU6PfEFR2W4b31cN-rH8FkUZsHL_SMU7YQhrqj9obhhaJZgFoF5kyNgFHCt4Odql7b6asRWbUa-kXIcyBDDWZuv7Rd3KGL1oMDtl8u5HYdIzjSJ9Ty_M/s400/312044b5-b6a4-4942-a286-7089ea8b4a15.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This mural was found on the side of a former coking plant. One quote that stands out says:<br />
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"Remember the earth is not dying, it is being murdered and the people murdering it have names and addresses..."</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkjDp3NMSkNvbwR1p7mpqmK8T2euTpJHTeO_rKp_hEm_PfOoHfYnL9ofHh6kERR6YokyIv2oDqp34TgwRUk9VMHXKWjI5Zw4lphODULoiELOdKBi3_5RgIq2sskoq1cUbwHqSHYN-XNs/s1600/IMG_3718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkjDp3NMSkNvbwR1p7mpqmK8T2euTpJHTeO_rKp_hEm_PfOoHfYnL9ofHh6kERR6YokyIv2oDqp34TgwRUk9VMHXKWjI5Zw4lphODULoiELOdKBi3_5RgIq2sskoq1cUbwHqSHYN-XNs/s320/IMG_3718.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Even in a region that relied so heavily on steel and coal for more than a century, they have openly embraced the shift to renewable energy, as evidenced by these provocative murals of pollution<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2UShQwQfDnoV1QPcdpmWkim8CefHQJvMMC6Knc1aAvs7NQ8xt9Ist931-jB8-i4WTMUBeLwmYH_qwyriQpCmmnUuY-rWdEoMzcPGhZx8I_X39PUaOjcJaXbbV1fTsfcBqiBg0RzdpeY/s1600/IMG_3780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2UShQwQfDnoV1QPcdpmWkim8CefHQJvMMC6Knc1aAvs7NQ8xt9Ist931-jB8-i4WTMUBeLwmYH_qwyriQpCmmnUuY-rWdEoMzcPGhZx8I_X39PUaOjcJaXbbV1fTsfcBqiBg0RzdpeY/s320/IMG_3780.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Receptacles like this are common throughout Germany, and illustrate the willingness of Germans to take a few extra seconds to ensure that their trash is properly recycled</td></tr>
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We also visited the Europaschule Krupp-Gymnasium, an upper-secondary school that specializes in STEM instruction. Given the high percentage of immigrant families in North Rhine Westphalia, 57% of the students are either immigrants or children of immigrants, with a vast majority from Turkey. They boast an impressive pass rate on the Abitur, a college entrance exam similar to the SAT. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOI_W3GbJ8wA_UkO-qwcP-dvazvpj-23V_mJn1MOtRptnjOsyj8kV-e-egrRrVKeg6yB9kIjag7NHWNp59foLEOg93tDrrlbvn0sY3EbERyHdfGrktaNAmJcJdu6uCZZwP_ab4ZsVoj-Q/s1600/IMG_3776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOI_W3GbJ8wA_UkO-qwcP-dvazvpj-23V_mJn1MOtRptnjOsyj8kV-e-egrRrVKeg6yB9kIjag7NHWNp59foLEOg93tDrrlbvn0sY3EbERyHdfGrktaNAmJcJdu6uCZZwP_ab4ZsVoj-Q/s320/IMG_3776.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">MINT, (The German equivalent of STEM) is intertwined in every aspect of the school. Europaschule recently celebrated it's 105th anniversary!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw63N64KYvqXV9kyGfTnV9l1ciAh_cOfl13FuybQs2ySn3ZLCreZ9UQLN3Ka818zq2Mct52LPAbLU6hlVHqnG3fxHp6kuGYXBD-pbU3uuIHliwN1xXVxDV5Xp3kspyMUUXQcUnxbH6k_M/s1600/PHOTO-2018-07-09-13-58-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw63N64KYvqXV9kyGfTnV9l1ciAh_cOfl13FuybQs2ySn3ZLCreZ9UQLN3Ka818zq2Mct52LPAbLU6hlVHqnG3fxHp6kuGYXBD-pbU3uuIHliwN1xXVxDV5Xp3kspyMUUXQcUnxbH6k_M/s320/PHOTO-2018-07-09-13-58-04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TOP Fellows Paul Desruisseaux and Deb Wines assisting students in dissecting a pig heart</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yR-r89x-mD7zamoBs01cUZVPFo08IUsABNpOZFM316Xt-h83Vkx4cyykHbh7TwtTbV7Y6Hh-HMv4BzXUQhTuejUVsgyTOqxjxZYDvrJ9yDSL4ZfbJHmx1lyfyUg0jjYhShRLclZ5u00/s1600/PHOTO-2018-07-09-07-50-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7yR-r89x-mD7zamoBs01cUZVPFo08IUsABNpOZFM316Xt-h83Vkx4cyykHbh7TwtTbV7Y6Hh-HMv4BzXUQhTuejUVsgyTOqxjxZYDvrJ9yDSL4ZfbJHmx1lyfyUg0jjYhShRLclZ5u00/s320/PHOTO-2018-07-09-07-50-12.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We also paid a visit to the Phänomenia Erfahrungsfeld, an experiential playground for children to learn about science concepts. Pictured is yours truly in an optical allusion! </td></tr>
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Next, we went to the Future through Innovotion (zdi) Centre Bochum IST(Innovation Centre School and Technology), a vocational track school that prepares students for vocational occupations at companies like Bosch or Trumpf. There, the principal recounted issues all too familiar to American educators: A lack of interest in STEM, difficulty finding qualified instructors, and the challenge of providing quality STEM education in an era of shrinking budgets. The next day, we boarded a train for our final destination, Berlin!</div>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<u>Berlin</u></h3>
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After a 3 hour ride from Essen to Berlin, we finally arrived at the capital city. We began with a tour of famous sites and monuments: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKW_04C-Y0PCF5aAH_8_TWXQy_pzmNxBsKi84FkmJL0KBVtcgkTu534bRf6OnrgVRYaNPESuYsgigOAPfBmXnjhU65CvKrzndJ8_QhbjSAwvNgfXry8htjvnYZ4E1R7LzHjfHWF3nkv4/s1600/b360c815-5bb4-4eb5-b133-2867fbb59d94.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKW_04C-Y0PCF5aAH_8_TWXQy_pzmNxBsKi84FkmJL0KBVtcgkTu534bRf6OnrgVRYaNPESuYsgigOAPfBmXnjhU65CvKrzndJ8_QhbjSAwvNgfXry8htjvnYZ4E1R7LzHjfHWF3nkv4/s320/b360c815-5bb4-4eb5-b133-2867fbb59d94.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Berlin Victory Column, erected in 1873 to celebrate the victory in the Danish-Prussian and Austro-Prussian War</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-R3Ef8rG3zKbZQLzm5RFEkFwTnfFZ-vJhqJharOXX3Ys6fRE-vzm8DrF4FRLRT40EElkRvbsOS-S0gQ0tYtZCsMZiJsX6ap_PpgZONo8dHC8_mfvib8zMX7nQ1x3HMhwSrIrZuzBw5E/s1600/IMG_3790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-R3Ef8rG3zKbZQLzm5RFEkFwTnfFZ-vJhqJharOXX3Ys6fRE-vzm8DrF4FRLRT40EElkRvbsOS-S0gQ0tYtZCsMZiJsX6ap_PpgZONo8dHC8_mfvib8zMX7nQ1x3HMhwSrIrZuzBw5E/s320/IMG_3790.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Berlin Wall, a 96 mile concrete barricade that stood for 28 years </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJdJc0VCN6vh9SYSHKlX7PFB5xKev0NwUZy6P4g8BER_VB_6kdg1q8esdofpyM__Sev74KurzD3jd72KQFQGtZ8Gzgja8tD10kn8cqNZtL1xS-qOImGqAnkmcq3wHweQrrLTW4qBIjTw/s1600/IMG_3825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJdJc0VCN6vh9SYSHKlX7PFB5xKev0NwUZy6P4g8BER_VB_6kdg1q8esdofpyM__Sev74KurzD3jd72KQFQGtZ8Gzgja8tD10kn8cqNZtL1xS-qOImGqAnkmcq3wHweQrrLTW4qBIjTw/s320/IMG_3825.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Berlin from the top of the Berlin Cathedral </td></tr>
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While the history of the capital city is fascinating, we were there to learn about STEM. We took a memorable day trip to the Feldheim renewable energy village, located 37 miles southwest of Berlin. This village of 150 people relies exclusively on wind and solar energy: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2aDGZe_B6oV5LfHHzrQ_2-SY5WlPALRGeWemL1kY4wJ7REFv3KDGeb8vNoBqqEUS5gL-Y2pkHIKTpA10VR6KfvgTymrNG_LDDrGJn3wNRxD-qAALA1Kz-nqUrcOTdGIqXrbYX_VfTIA/s1600/IMG_3840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2aDGZe_B6oV5LfHHzrQ_2-SY5WlPALRGeWemL1kY4wJ7REFv3KDGeb8vNoBqqEUS5gL-Y2pkHIKTpA10VR6KfvgTymrNG_LDDrGJn3wNRxD-qAALA1Kz-nqUrcOTdGIqXrbYX_VfTIA/s320/IMG_3840.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At 149 meteres tall, these wind turbines produce 7 million kilowatts of electricity a year! The average lifespan is 20 years. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizokaFvDfx_JpxjoCSPQvsXLaqx963HHDPb5xvxCjsc8qJx0FGJENHPLv-U_3FOR0c6CuKM_mXtR0j9u1Knk3cUj0PEPhJVO0xgWwT1QUueaAFw6_kCK4FcF8kJF87YjNZPOJ5li0mrIo/s1600/IMG_3847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizokaFvDfx_JpxjoCSPQvsXLaqx963HHDPb5xvxCjsc8qJx0FGJENHPLv-U_3FOR0c6CuKM_mXtR0j9u1Knk3cUj0PEPhJVO0xgWwT1QUueaAFw6_kCK4FcF8kJF87YjNZPOJ5li0mrIo/s320/IMG_3847.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the service elevator to reach the rotor. You could easily fit 25 people inside the base of the largest wind turbines </td></tr>
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We also visited the ReDi School of digital Integration, a non-profit digital school for tech-interested newcomers in Germany. They offer students training and the opportunity to collaborate with start-up and digital technology firms. With 55,000 available jobs in the tech sector, ReDi School looks to equip the under and unemployed with the skills necessary to access 21st century tech careers. Microsoft, Cisco, Facebook and others partner with the Redi School to teach Python Data Science, IT support and other skills to a largely immigrant student body, free of charge. Given the increasing number of refugees in Germany, ReDi school serves as a vital resource for newcomers to access the burgeoning job market. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7eHT9GzUCoCINFtCuDavGjm1hv7qCCG9XbfG8iNfuh6prtJCnYZL11WAulWkcDVhUHBgtOraMsKoRDxnYOwNfw1CKcZNsnGqAh3bMCbFQbhfFVOLBzf8zhEngBAnDtXQ5Pl3_ezdsOs/s1600/PHOTO-2018-07-13-15-28-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd7eHT9GzUCoCINFtCuDavGjm1hv7qCCG9XbfG8iNfuh6prtJCnYZL11WAulWkcDVhUHBgtOraMsKoRDxnYOwNfw1CKcZNsnGqAh3bMCbFQbhfFVOLBzf8zhEngBAnDtXQ5Pl3_ezdsOs/s320/PHOTO-2018-07-13-15-28-34.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More than 43 nationalities are represented at the ReDi school. Pictured are student's brainstorming ideas on future classes. The philosophy at ReDi School is simple: Stop talking about refugees, and start talking with refugees. </td></tr>
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That evening, we went on a walking tour of Berlin monuments. Free of tourists, the walk provided a great opportunity to familiarize ourselves with a few important historical locations:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazmpQ72TieTPQmRNmYBp_ghaxnV1KpJUrqXhp1_wirPOOKQRSKplrejAd3PnJ4fOwdGOg-V_24gyPSxiKe70uqoPII5c9N_yi27QHOJsEsj2kht18Bb8WwUXJWc4nmfdplLx7zqiv_KE/s1600/3670344e-5a88-40e1-903e-879b60de6c04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazmpQ72TieTPQmRNmYBp_ghaxnV1KpJUrqXhp1_wirPOOKQRSKplrejAd3PnJ4fOwdGOg-V_24gyPSxiKe70uqoPII5c9N_yi27QHOJsEsj2kht18Bb8WwUXJWc4nmfdplLx7zqiv_KE/s320/3670344e-5a88-40e1-903e-879b60de6c04.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Brandenburg Gate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6H4V8Pfmm9HwdLb60gE-Y5LMo3T8Gf1HuMlOWg-lLEZ8MdYXcFLzzYK5FPnML74TFxek9pZtYZ4EA24fRe_Tk2aWhtL5jsytei793i9OpIFZvOgo0YSvaW5-ebv8Sr76MIPswrLwBTc/s1600/a59cb29d-7056-455e-87cf-f52df01e6a82.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6H4V8Pfmm9HwdLb60gE-Y5LMo3T8Gf1HuMlOWg-lLEZ8MdYXcFLzzYK5FPnML74TFxek9pZtYZ4EA24fRe_Tk2aWhtL5jsytei793i9OpIFZvOgo0YSvaW5-ebv8Sr76MIPswrLwBTc/s320/a59cb29d-7056-455e-87cf-f52df01e6a82.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checkpoint Charlie</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPkGMqZgACvJY2orxL5VzWWKghAasOMx-RTQtggkxptxNwNajzklPlGZwZS9WH7floJ53n0dllBybTU-_oREackuztOLFHS1zC_bW9tZ_9nKhCHA-ddvaJ2zIdpY07CP1UNJTfa0xYsU/s1600/IMG_3863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPkGMqZgACvJY2orxL5VzWWKghAasOMx-RTQtggkxptxNwNajzklPlGZwZS9WH7floJ53n0dllBybTU-_oREackuztOLFHS1zC_bW9tZ_9nKhCHA-ddvaJ2zIdpY07CP1UNJTfa0xYsU/s320/IMG_3863.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The site of Hitler's Bunker, and presumed site of his suicide attempt. It is nothing more than a parking lot. </td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<u>Remembrance Culture </u></h3>
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During the trip, one of my personal goals was to learn more about Remembrance Culture in Germany. Remembrance Culture refers to the way in which a society interacts with and remembers it's past. In an attempt to respectfully and honestly address the war, tyranny and genocide committed by the Third Reich during the 20th century, Germany has enacted a multitude of memorials, plaques, and monuments to the victims of National Socialism: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpgT1GiMgecvnmf4rJBUj06xiR35A8MJY6hY-xeiaEj6tMV0-x-UjWlU47I1nhGjZEIyzWGgcEXuQjAGj7T8ATueOet_Hy95rsVYDdz_l_Uahz7dcG-wqegJ6GKa7LKyIXghISODBOq4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-07-22+at+6.30.26+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="992" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpgT1GiMgecvnmf4rJBUj06xiR35A8MJY6hY-xeiaEj6tMV0-x-UjWlU47I1nhGjZEIyzWGgcEXuQjAGj7T8ATueOet_Hy95rsVYDdz_l_Uahz7dcG-wqegJ6GKa7LKyIXghISODBOq4/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-07-22+at+6.30.26+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stumbling blocks are raised inscriptions that commemorate the former residences of victims of Nazism. They are designed to protrude from the ground as a way of forcing passerby to notice them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLH-0v99xV_fF1NLzHjxGrknKX3RXM_1glqyhwz1uHP3A2COi9Drm1fEMgvqSYKw0PupIipSi9QToojqjFu4CfApCcMlqRG5yhHCGJYA-j03XoKEJw-7vKZCdYxaPnY1ERPihnuaPV4k/s1600/F5712B33-04E5-4D52-ACEE-6CFA44DEA6E4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLH-0v99xV_fF1NLzHjxGrknKX3RXM_1glqyhwz1uHP3A2COi9Drm1fEMgvqSYKw0PupIipSi9QToojqjFu4CfApCcMlqRG5yhHCGJYA-j03XoKEJw-7vKZCdYxaPnY1ERPihnuaPV4k/s400/F5712B33-04E5-4D52-ACEE-6CFA44DEA6E4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Holocaust Memorial at the site of the Stuttgart Deportation site, where the Jewish community was deported to various concentration camps<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIT_ruSQCuX1BnG1Q4kbOVe5934M5qojhzdQr0IMcmREEg5m5isC_PqxswTA8uWsrV7O6eVAwOcbZuxQ3InfDcdzttHnnNXXWhZZi5AU7H0FTGQYCTI9GOKzHHh9M7xgEuyG931QzpNms/s1600/IMG_3713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIT_ruSQCuX1BnG1Q4kbOVe5934M5qojhzdQr0IMcmREEg5m5isC_PqxswTA8uWsrV7O6eVAwOcbZuxQ3InfDcdzttHnnNXXWhZZi5AU7H0FTGQYCTI9GOKzHHh9M7xgEuyG931QzpNms/s320/IMG_3713.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">At the only active synagogue in Duisburg, a police truck stands on watch, 24/7, 365 to prevent vandalism. Per federal law, all synagogues must be protected by the police<br />
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<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<u>In Conclusion</u></h2>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">The previous two weeks in Germany have been one of the best professional development experiences I've ever had. I was thoroughly impressed with the thoughtful planning that went into providing a thematically-relevant tour of STEM and vocational education. Equally impressive were my colleagues on the trip: we boasted 3 (!!) PhDs, one state teacher of the year, and decades of teaching and leadership experience. One of the personal highlights for me was watching my colleagues light up when we encountered a theme that directly related to their field. For example, when we visited Adelsheim, the environmental science teachers lit up at the opportunity to learn more about and contribute to environmental education. During our visit to Bosch and Trumpf, the technology and engineering teachers marveled at the technological prowess of the 16 year old apprentices, and the biology teachers lit up at the opportunity to dissect a pig's heart with German high school students. Overall, the TOP Program gave me a much deeper and profound appreciation for modern Germany and a ton of lesson plan ideas! </span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Until next time... </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828935249031844046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-25559131628775388022017-11-29T06:13:00.002-08:002017-11-29T06:28:30.095-08:00The United Arab Emirates, a Nation of Superlatives<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: black; color: #c9c9c9; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">As I was planning my itinerary between Los Angeles and Manama, Bahrain, I asked how much money it would cost to extend my layover in Dubai. As I have with other fellowship programs, I knew that it would cost a bit extra, but it was definitely worth it. For $150, I spent an additional four days touring the United Arab Emirates. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT84AI9I7tQvRRR57AS1O7t5QUC3fI3kITeAfjG7yr4hDD9KKxJU3zQeBz80NwYZSGGVZbCoy0cxsNHmHHJE6TH3QJczhQPdjiyG-GYK_s_Td5kt04TjsKdgoFctecnUtnoTD6hXP-oU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+4.37.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT84AI9I7tQvRRR57AS1O7t5QUC3fI3kITeAfjG7yr4hDD9KKxJU3zQeBz80NwYZSGGVZbCoy0cxsNHmHHJE6TH3QJczhQPdjiyG-GYK_s_Td5kt04TjsKdgoFctecnUtnoTD6hXP-oU/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+4.37.42+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>
The UAE is located just east of Saudi Arabia and north of Oman. For reference, Bahrain is located in the top left of the photo, a short two hour flight away. </h4>
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After checking into my hotel, I took off on foot to explore the neighborhood. I stayed in Old Dubai, one of the most historic and "authentic" neighborhoods in the entire country.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQme0xp5dQbA2q8dQI1Q60pN4VQziyKBVuHqqwQPIbepuGV1Jmf0smp7Wrh3Woz18t-uGx4DqWtU0cWL2hkatHdJ9Bbt5JcwPGMJzQchQW6JrKva5aj8EH09ieq-nSsHY2NjgxlHCsyY/s1600/IMG_2712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQme0xp5dQbA2q8dQI1Q60pN4VQziyKBVuHqqwQPIbepuGV1Jmf0smp7Wrh3Woz18t-uGx4DqWtU0cWL2hkatHdJ9Bbt5JcwPGMJzQchQW6JrKva5aj8EH09ieq-nSsHY2NjgxlHCsyY/s320/IMG_2712.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portraits of the ruling family must be featured in every public building. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvFR7wE-9POTMi2BaiV_Bbupb1deWETntXkbmwHoGL1L_Xjf6NQnlHEw-N__mHLvUEVLECDYQklRcIHRyrc17tL3u__jzci5SEjFPPoOQRtg-fLOCsq6I7Xi3czUIx9pN19h0RpgPPpM/s1600/IMG_2611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivvFR7wE-9POTMi2BaiV_Bbupb1deWETntXkbmwHoGL1L_Xjf6NQnlHEw-N__mHLvUEVLECDYQklRcIHRyrc17tL3u__jzci5SEjFPPoOQRtg-fLOCsq6I7Xi3czUIx9pN19h0RpgPPpM/s320/IMG_2611.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As is common in many Arab countries, the ruling family and national flag are featured prominently throughout the country. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydyQVntGBWonuGBIRXT-UFdhqBKCCAnLsiFGyD-9x_EZr5u5Ju8tWMtAVsfXalwtlWT9THrQekdcvESV3ZTT0GO-XKIEdvtIqsOqMrRnWTlII8fIQQAxLYsObtiaq76iwhkzKMuMv__Q/s1600/IMG_2618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydyQVntGBWonuGBIRXT-UFdhqBKCCAnLsiFGyD-9x_EZr5u5Ju8tWMtAVsfXalwtlWT9THrQekdcvESV3ZTT0GO-XKIEdvtIqsOqMrRnWTlII8fIQQAxLYsObtiaq76iwhkzKMuMv__Q/s320/IMG_2618.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical street in Old Dubai. Note the minaret in the background, where the Imam will call to prayer over the loudspeaker.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6BPRlpQcCGPE_3YJDvAiWXb3VvQdtam0uHCb16tYS8C4-KJl0iDNy5MHLh4sv6Hes33oX7ce7tpTZE0B1_v_Du0CUbCU29slu7O6jSxfLKbPHl2E_V9P5fxyY_NVCXo7gLl5GxMbx9I/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6BPRlpQcCGPE_3YJDvAiWXb3VvQdtam0uHCb16tYS8C4-KJl0iDNy5MHLh4sv6Hes33oX7ce7tpTZE0B1_v_Du0CUbCU29slu7O6jSxfLKbPHl2E_V9P5fxyY_NVCXo7gLl5GxMbx9I/s320/IMG_2830.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Once the Imam calls to prayer, the pious will stop what they are doing to pray on the street. In Islam, it is customary to pray five times a day. </td></tr>
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One of the most interesting places in Old Dubai is the Dubai Museum. Located in the Al Fahidi Fort, the museum features artifacts and displays from the Emirates past as well as exhibitions on traditional Emirati culture. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzR6uv5CFcUq19L4J4KTKuDCJOKN7BKN9B2lo03vkvFJl4XWtbCPxmQxehOoUZiTDqXhfZ1idNLrTUo57jAumSBiM8QUoKbDT81RyjiW0D8Mqs8GgyNDVrrfvxU48_cDYGeBIF06siorE/s1600/IMG_2631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzR6uv5CFcUq19L4J4KTKuDCJOKN7BKN9B2lo03vkvFJl4XWtbCPxmQxehOoUZiTDqXhfZ1idNLrTUo57jAumSBiM8QUoKbDT81RyjiW0D8Mqs8GgyNDVrrfvxU48_cDYGeBIF06siorE/s320/IMG_2631.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dubai Museum welcomes more than 600,000 visitors every year from around the world. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5D3m7wHE4div3cLqjAKsxwChiNwXNutRuidgMOnc4h5wddCy22ZTkIblHb65rOJTYu-GnlDz0YMozGsLPlf4ujqMEaVp23wiG1WSlaLqKWRAzRPmTVhYu0t-rkPRe6EzLT8JVMQLSqkk/s1600/IMG_2632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5D3m7wHE4div3cLqjAKsxwChiNwXNutRuidgMOnc4h5wddCy22ZTkIblHb65rOJTYu-GnlDz0YMozGsLPlf4ujqMEaVp23wiG1WSlaLqKWRAzRPmTVhYu0t-rkPRe6EzLT8JVMQLSqkk/s320/IMG_2632.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An original wall from the Al Fahidi Fort. Built in 1787, it is the oldest building in Dubai.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wx47EVs6q8gO28FHhoQLbB7eVasLDStXcvuzJw5CHQ3AXoJ13BBFZR1AofKwFQiquDNg5YyM_hJ1aEaEcjgpfRpP-Yc7c-uyxYXuLgTSAkc2JY4jdJtv0XSPAs9O6RZgNg33xvEK8dA/s1600/IMG_2628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Wx47EVs6q8gO28FHhoQLbB7eVasLDStXcvuzJw5CHQ3AXoJ13BBFZR1AofKwFQiquDNg5YyM_hJ1aEaEcjgpfRpP-Yc7c-uyxYXuLgTSAkc2JY4jdJtv0XSPAs9O6RZgNg33xvEK8dA/s320/IMG_2628.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outside of Al Fahidi Fort with the UAE flag in the foreground. Before 1971, there were 7 independent Emirates. In 1971, Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan united the Emirates to create a new country, the United Arab Emirates</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzTmrwC71P2nYpPkvAJY54U1wUVZqMDP2tIPrAQJy3mz9eOY_Sn5PxpMlx_CI9JSX7ZJqE7tSswtCdc2GPR0FBwtwXUsv_f2PzpYVvDsjErRKh0HKPAJYL33MI0wALEo-uipIebJySJw/s1600/IMG_2659.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzTmrwC71P2nYpPkvAJY54U1wUVZqMDP2tIPrAQJy3mz9eOY_Sn5PxpMlx_CI9JSX7ZJqE7tSswtCdc2GPR0FBwtwXUsv_f2PzpYVvDsjErRKh0HKPAJYL33MI0wALEo-uipIebJySJw/s320/IMG_2659.PNG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A mannequin reading a papyrus manuscript. I'm reading my iPhone. </td></tr>
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A short walk from the Dubai museum is the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, which dates back to the 1890s. Walkable streets are punctuated with hip coffee shops, restaurants and fascinating street art: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-DqzkJZWzqKynK4izybT2rE6AmTf8CERbFln4l1kPMkvMA-PlWqphvYu7QPUVkS_mGUOIkQsfjfzyry218Kdf16xcxnNN88F2LXtgJx_IGkJAFn6dIXy431XmuPldd1qJzUzWxMAMts/s1600/IMG_E2823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0-DqzkJZWzqKynK4izybT2rE6AmTf8CERbFln4l1kPMkvMA-PlWqphvYu7QPUVkS_mGUOIkQsfjfzyry218Kdf16xcxnNN88F2LXtgJx_IGkJAFn6dIXy431XmuPldd1qJzUzWxMAMts/s320/IMG_E2823.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Public art can be found at every turn in Al Fahidi </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugtM1ViDe6qbt_aLTsVG_1H88Kk38EeQTLsY-4xhn8V1uNBgzvgfFgBSixiBJCYweGDtM4io5BeAzOTnSHwYyM9aClyXEXwxLXxm4f7ZqrufaY0Dz3vVCissRCv7bDYOttyIByuPVvpc/s1600/IMG_2822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugtM1ViDe6qbt_aLTsVG_1H88Kk38EeQTLsY-4xhn8V1uNBgzvgfFgBSixiBJCYweGDtM4io5BeAzOTnSHwYyM9aClyXEXwxLXxm4f7ZqrufaY0Dz3vVCissRCv7bDYOttyIByuPVvpc/s320/IMG_2822.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Al Fahidi Neighborhood was saved from demolition by a conservation group in the 1980s, and has since been designated a historical site.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50cdX4tf7vuEuOinf_k1tGmtGweymfpW506XogOUWHW4Tt2zd22fd9d7jf2Hju7rctWhbjfg8pAfCWnBxmJYJq2CYIe6H_PbUy8l6oHu0ytJXuASU3HY04Ow6LmglhSU02NL4QuFML5w/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi50cdX4tf7vuEuOinf_k1tGmtGweymfpW506XogOUWHW4Tt2zd22fd9d7jf2Hju7rctWhbjfg8pAfCWnBxmJYJq2CYIe6H_PbUy8l6oHu0ytJXuASU3HY04Ow6LmglhSU02NL4QuFML5w/s320/IMG_2808.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The XVA Art Hotel in Al Fahidi.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfXKt7iqntWLLSozQ0u8BhwvPEJZnZWC5o1dLGtTMz-Cuc8i8-UWzme86wuEzwBM1nKht6y-iB6VWTF5tGci6RTeLTB4TOAiyToQ8Bgod0bT8qorJNsIKQcEoyGjIFqdck0KvFFlmpRc/s1600/IMG_2805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfXKt7iqntWLLSozQ0u8BhwvPEJZnZWC5o1dLGtTMz-Cuc8i8-UWzme86wuEzwBM1nKht6y-iB6VWTF5tGci6RTeLTB4TOAiyToQ8Bgod0bT8qorJNsIKQcEoyGjIFqdck0KvFFlmpRc/s320/IMG_2805.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One art gallery featured a humorous take on daily life in Dubai. Given the extreme heat in the summer, this artist suggests that playing golf in the summer is a bad idea.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJcX4mFx5BkK7RGL8O3aM0C1lthOsqFlOidFHU2biVJRXbq1JslQzhTYh2iPsCtiOxtYW93tSjpc4kFIRXtg3vykfFCxvCi4pAEzNHrnYndGNzuqaPUgTOQLOif4HDnCH-f5M4XyrZDk/s1600/IMG_2802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 12.8px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJcX4mFx5BkK7RGL8O3aM0C1lthOsqFlOidFHU2biVJRXbq1JslQzhTYh2iPsCtiOxtYW93tSjpc4kFIRXtg3vykfFCxvCi4pAEzNHrnYndGNzuqaPUgTOQLOif4HDnCH-f5M4XyrZDk/s320/IMG_2802.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A unique take on Russian nesting dolls, with an Emirati twist.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
The next day, I ventured into "new" Dubai to experience a number of extraordinary superlatives the country proudly claims-the largest indoor mall in the world, the (3rd) largest indoor ski slope in the world, the tallest tower in the world, the highest observation deck in the world, the largest fountain show in the world, and the largest man-made island in the world: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Hs5rh81arQRwmXEGgi26hNzcPlZFKyS3-adExDfKetoX5FclKIPsDuyBTFQDLCMNWF5uuPB2DppA0143w60ejls9i9lEvS8_P9UcOOFRK9xu7O1YuCrc8CXzZpERGQz4wuuw_AyvaXo/s1600/IMG_2671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Hs5rh81arQRwmXEGgi26hNzcPlZFKyS3-adExDfKetoX5FclKIPsDuyBTFQDLCMNWF5uuPB2DppA0143w60ejls9i9lEvS8_P9UcOOFRK9xu7O1YuCrc8CXzZpERGQz4wuuw_AyvaXo/s320/IMG_2671.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With more than 1200 shops in 13 million square feet of retail space, the Dubai Mall is bigger than 50 football fields! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFKMrniQy_TMepJgrmHTl3DMJ9jpxXk6eQOt7EHnXsV5dEo_30HSFc05QGnXji9ZIwxEPHKudHbxWSkHvnse-_gpDZbtExPixWcJ1E6h3YVKIuZGDlyElA_li5sbiYGudBDFnBDSQsRw/s1600/IMG_2676.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFKMrniQy_TMepJgrmHTl3DMJ9jpxXk6eQOt7EHnXsV5dEo_30HSFc05QGnXji9ZIwxEPHKudHbxWSkHvnse-_gpDZbtExPixWcJ1E6h3YVKIuZGDlyElA_li5sbiYGudBDFnBDSQsRw/s320/IMG_2676.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The waterfalls at the Dubai Mall are more than three stories high</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpftg4Ten2vOiFZIhhxmv2d3XPh28S5yp15FYqvH1mW4F6MN8KG0smvXjVEOd9GggXs7FVr20ayJ73Pl-EJ5ww_S6M_A_uNcRxt7QlNTT_drG2Jd1EutNx8x4LcDSmAq6yVSqYx6bC18s/s1600/IMG_2692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpftg4Ten2vOiFZIhhxmv2d3XPh28S5yp15FYqvH1mW4F6MN8KG0smvXjVEOd9GggXs7FVr20ayJ73Pl-EJ5ww_S6M_A_uNcRxt7QlNTT_drG2Jd1EutNx8x4LcDSmAq6yVSqYx6bC18s/s320/IMG_2692.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fountains featured right outside the mall in Burj Khalifa Lake. Below is a video of the fountain show:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MELNJRJMK-Q/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MELNJRJMK-Q?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVndNOsb0RU2wst-d1QZGTW_LWOTez6Kr0UUT9laJZvrualxq20E4Z2T_gnN7F5EBfiqVmSvtBiaqfsZbLQ7TzTrZL1oFWtBg72YaEYOCFjFkLNQZmv1BOnmcu6hjEBLthvp2wm-6czYU/s1600/IMG_2689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVndNOsb0RU2wst-d1QZGTW_LWOTez6Kr0UUT9laJZvrualxq20E4Z2T_gnN7F5EBfiqVmSvtBiaqfsZbLQ7TzTrZL1oFWtBg72YaEYOCFjFkLNQZmv1BOnmcu6hjEBLthvp2wm-6czYU/s320/IMG_2689.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At 160 stories tall, the Burj Khalifa is not only the tallest structure in the world, but it it also holds the record for the highest observation deck in the world, elevator with the longest travel distance in the world, and the highest occupied floor in the world. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhrTiUpJMJuisbkx5uszlppP2r_OTzrgsxfe01RtH7a7TBM2e2Zs7Vbo6uueboLHXxJ3QHXT5EgQXUXp9N_eNfuzcUClc8hPUsA4vFGVS6YCfoZ2e6c9fP-U80gkF-B0tlrxgdaOF1PU/s1600/IMG_2703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhrTiUpJMJuisbkx5uszlppP2r_OTzrgsxfe01RtH7a7TBM2e2Zs7Vbo6uueboLHXxJ3QHXT5EgQXUXp9N_eNfuzcUClc8hPUsA4vFGVS6YCfoZ2e6c9fP-U80gkF-B0tlrxgdaOF1PU/s320/IMG_2703.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Burj Khalifa. Most of the skyline was built within the last 15 years<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVESCvS6PE2ldhSRMd_5uZEh-bKa1Qn6YbtBaxsJ9rBHL7z1MnvxzBXR0-fpttB_kUe9QkV0ZPapK-JmxfN9QZOk6YeZByYYI6Ihc1emaKOILJkb0RT4M-EkLhtvghyDoAG71ERsoF6U/s1600/IMG_2983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVESCvS6PE2ldhSRMd_5uZEh-bKa1Qn6YbtBaxsJ9rBHL7z1MnvxzBXR0-fpttB_kUe9QkV0ZPapK-JmxfN9QZOk6YeZByYYI6Ihc1emaKOILJkb0RT4M-EkLhtvghyDoAG71ERsoF6U/s320/IMG_2983.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SkiDubai is the worlds third largest indoor ski slope, and is kept at a chilly 28 degrees year round. With highs in the summer reaching 120 degrees, Ski Dubai is a shocking 92 degrees cooler!<br />
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I also visited Palm Jumeirah, an artificial archipelago constructed in the shape of a palm frond. As the ultimate example of land reclamation, Palm Jumeirah has increased Dubai's coastline by 320 miles and holds the record as the world's largest man-made island. Unfortunately, recent geologic surveys suggest that it is actually <i>sinking </i>at a rate of 5 millimeters a year:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAGCtqLuJrBcpEM2TKzEHzv0t2owr3cHHtrv81-1Ac4tH0gh0vdWV1QHyq-AkAGrFwhk4y7XuRjAoselY4mLqD64ArhtkbublaoG40iYzlPx1bKpPhE0dtmu-mjQBlFs6rRTUPe7BMmY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-29+at+5.11.18+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAGCtqLuJrBcpEM2TKzEHzv0t2owr3cHHtrv81-1Ac4tH0gh0vdWV1QHyq-AkAGrFwhk4y7XuRjAoselY4mLqD64ArhtkbublaoG40iYzlPx1bKpPhE0dtmu-mjQBlFs6rRTUPe7BMmY/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-11-29+at+5.11.18+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approximately 10,000 people call Palm Jumeirah home. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6g4pZF92f8UjfBbmsrCeYoQskO2ySWRbLk4lbbRh34ehj3V_S_8XrmeYWDEBeaAoVEcBuSyPaZfuCNutAHgvQgw0QgpPZjMGIh0ve_3llMZoFml3HMxbvRbvIqBeGcRCP-8YWcRXRpbw/s1600/IMG_2989.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6g4pZF92f8UjfBbmsrCeYoQskO2ySWRbLk4lbbRh34ehj3V_S_8XrmeYWDEBeaAoVEcBuSyPaZfuCNutAHgvQgw0QgpPZjMGIh0ve_3llMZoFml3HMxbvRbvIqBeGcRCP-8YWcRXRpbw/s320/IMG_2989.PNG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A screen capture of my cell phone to prove I actually visited! The Palm Jumeirah monorail runs along the spine of the island, and takes 10 minutes to reach end to end.<br />
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The following day, I ventured south to visit the Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Without a doubt, the highlight of the city is the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque. Named after Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyen, the ruler who united the Emirates in 1971, this mosque can hold up to 40,000 worshippers:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3ub-WMRBbxS3AiWW4m-3kYVHm7q_oVa-wSNHoXcnpkNZoI8KLmR0BaB8suQ9xE0RGaw0R_QOhGDpuS2ZbY-quSxsapc-Q_XlC7fh4GhPcFoKyr1zhQ0D79tI1QjnGvQ-U1rfrMEgJjw/s1600/IMG_2772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3ub-WMRBbxS3AiWW4m-3kYVHm7q_oVa-wSNHoXcnpkNZoI8KLmR0BaB8suQ9xE0RGaw0R_QOhGDpuS2ZbY-quSxsapc-Q_XlC7fh4GhPcFoKyr1zhQ0D79tI1QjnGvQ-U1rfrMEgJjw/s320/IMG_2772.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>
The outer dome is 279 feet high</h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKbkICb8_iCU1YvBHGzxtQazdQMfvncAUiiu_E9IuysFeN4bmOznF4cIhYcpcHAJFkmjLr0BG_JIhQW7-5NaBWzKOY2W6DYJIq3M65HX_d4yRKJilFYGmAxHxz7Ae6USYBXijzwgPq3g/s1600/IMG_2759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKbkICb8_iCU1YvBHGzxtQazdQMfvncAUiiu_E9IuysFeN4bmOznF4cIhYcpcHAJFkmjLr0BG_JIhQW7-5NaBWzKOY2W6DYJIq3M65HX_d4yRKJilFYGmAxHxz7Ae6USYBXijzwgPq3g/s320/IMG_2759.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>
The courtyard measures 180,000 square feet and is considered to be the largest example of marble mosaic in the world </h4>
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The Sheikh Zayed Grad Mosque has seven imported chandeliers from the Faustig Company in Munich, Germany. Each chandelier incorporates millions of Swarovski crystals. The largest chandelier measures 33 feet in diameter and is 49 feet high. </h4>
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During my tour to Abu Dhabi, I befriended two women from Atlanta and one woman from Perth, Australia. Since each lady had a son around my age, and I mentioned that I was looking to buy a present for my mom, they enthusiastically offered to help. After the tour ended, we ventured to the Gold Souk in Dubai in search of a gift for my mom. Little did I know, these ladies ran a hard bargain. Not only did they help me score a great deal on a 18 karat gold chain and pendant, but they also got the merchant to buy us dinner and beverages in the process! Thank you very much for the help-my mom loved her present! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of the goods available in the Gold Souk. </td></tr>
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The next day, I went on a desert safari. We rode in a 1950 Series 1 Land Rover deep into the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve to try our luck and see Arabian oryxes: </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The 1950 Land Rover Series 1 was revolutionary for the Middle East because it was the first all terrain vehicle that could successfully navigate the difficult desert landscape. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve is the UAE's first national park. Arabian Oryx, desert monitors, gazelles, and Gordons Wildcats live within it's boundaries. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sunset over the sand dunes</td></tr>
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Overall, Dubai was a stimulating, albeit perplexing experience. I found the UAE to be an unintentionally fascinating country due to it's immigration laws and demographics of it's 9 million inhabitants. It is clearly a country of immigrants, with most people coming from the Phillipines and South Asia. Anecdotally, of the 700,000 Filipinos in the UAE, it appeared that they dominated the service industry while the construction industry employed a majority of people from South Asia. From my experience, it seemed that of the 240,000 UK expats in the country, most worked in managerial roles in either the oil and gas industry or in finance and banking.<br />
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Below is a demographic breakdown of the UAE from 2015:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">50% of the population, (roughly 4 million people) are from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and India. Most Indians, from my time there, seem to come from the Muslim state of Kerla in the south of the country. </td></tr>
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Interestingly, although Emiratis only compose 20% (other sources claim as low as 10%) of the population, they receive tremendous benefits from the government: They do not pay taxes, and the government subsidizes their college education, pays their rent, and all of their utilities. As a result, it is extremely difficult to become a naturalized citizen. One of my tour guides said that if two Emiratis marry, the government will not only pay for their wedding, but give them a $30,000 gift as well! Needless to say, many folks try and become citizens, but the vast majority live as permanent residents their entire lives.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Pakistani restaurant proudly displaying the UAE flag, a perfect representation of the cultural melting pot that is Dubai. </td></tr>
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If you have an opportunity to make it to the Middle East, make sure to visit the UAE. It's definitely worth the visit!<br />
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Until next time... </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828935249031844046noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-36759646625663263072017-11-27T04:45:00.000-08:002018-05-19T15:57:11.777-07:00Teachers Educating Across Cultures in Harmony (TEACH) Fellowship, Bahrain <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Over Thanksgiving Break, I was fortunate enough to participate on a Teachers Educating Across Cultures in Harmony (TEACH) Fellowship to the Kingdom of Bahrain. The fellowship was financed, organized, and administered by the </span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Bilateral </span><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">U.S. Arab Chamber of Commerce, an organization whose aim is to foster strategic connections, economic growth, and educational advancement with key decision-makers in the United States and the Middle East/North Africa. In order to realize this goal, the Chamber has developed the TEACH Fellowship to the Kingdom of Bahrain to help strengthen ties between the two nations. The program's mission is to develop mutual understanding and respect between both countries with the hopes that educators will then return to their classrooms and communities to spread goodwill. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><br />Interestingly, upon telling folks about my trip, I was usually met with confusion. "Where is Bahrain?" they would ask. This small island country is situated in the Persian Gulf, just east of Saudi Arabia and north of Qatar: </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">This tiny but fascinating country is home to approximately 1.5 million people in 295 square miles. For reference, LA County is home to 10 million people in 502 square miles!</span></span></h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Bahrain is a small but charming country that is definitely worth the visit!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Over four jam-packed days, myself and seven educators from around the country toured cultural and historical sites, met with prominent non profits and companies, and visited schools. I was flattered to be part of such an accomplished group of teachers-One lady was named 2015 Wisconsin State Teacher of the Year, and another was awarded a $175,000 grant from the state of North Carolina to overhaul math education in her school district! We were an exceptionally well-travelled group as well, with every member participating on multiple teacher travel fellowships. It was a truly phenomenal group of people. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">Our first site visit was the to the Shaik Ebrahim Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Center for Culture, a series of exhibits and galleries situated in turn-of the century antique buildings. The center was established in 2002 as a gathering point for intellectual thought, intercultural exchange, and research. Since it's inception, it has hosted more than 200 speakers, philosophers poets and thinkers on a variety of topics related to the Arab World. The physical spaces were a stunning display of antiquity and modernity: </span></span></span></div>
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An example of the narrow alleyways that criss-cross the neighborhood. </h3>
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One of the many rooms for study. Note the pictures of the royal family on the back wall. </h4>
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Books written in Arabic. Like other Semitic languages such as Hebrew, books are read from right to left. </h4>
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A date palm in a traditional turn of the century building. Date palms are an integral part of Arabic culture because of the wood and (delicious) dates they provide. </h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7BwSjjVOGbNZvKkxNlDPjFX1sBGJMpEcvVS5iVfXB_xHRBnxADLZhzcNBwJafGU4lTU-Jv_2roKKzNefuHQptMvpzZqwecGEB9lxkkFr0jSCzGDYBLpVJ89L89CHRJeCCpGh5a2MBcc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+1.37.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7BwSjjVOGbNZvKkxNlDPjFX1sBGJMpEcvVS5iVfXB_xHRBnxADLZhzcNBwJafGU4lTU-Jv_2roKKzNefuHQptMvpzZqwecGEB9lxkkFr0jSCzGDYBLpVJ89L89CHRJeCCpGh5a2MBcc/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+1.37.44+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: black;">One of the most impressive sites we visited was the Qal'at al-Bahrain (</span></span></span><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span dir="rtl" lang="ar" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" xml:lang="ar">قلعة البحرين</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">) </span><span style="font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">B</span></span></span><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">ahrain Fort. Given it's strategic position on the coastline of a heavily travelled trade route, the Bahrain Fort has been occupied by various peoples for the last 5,000 years, including the Dilmun Civilization and the Portuguese: </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the Bahrain Fort. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Flag of Bahrain. The triangles on the white represent the 5 pillars of Islam and the white represents mother of pearl, a valuable natural resource indigenous to the area. </td></tr>
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One of the most prominent themes we encountered on our trip is the controversial process of "reclaiming" land in Bahrain. For a small country with a booming economy, real estate is at a premium. In order for the economy grow, the government literally fills in the sea, creating new landforms:<br />
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The left image shows Bahrain in 2002, and the right image shows Bahrain in 2014. Note the tremendous addition of new land in the northern part of the country. </h4>
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Environmentalists say that land reclamation is harming the delicate ecosystem along Bahrain's coasts, but development agencies and the government argue that more space is needed to grow the economy. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This impressive skyline was built entirely on reclaimed land. The Bahrain World Trade Center on the left has won numerous awards for its creative architecture. </td></tr>
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After our visit to the Bahrain Fort, we went to the Bahrain National Museum, which sits on a piece of reclaimed land. Established in 1988, the museum was constructed at a cost of $30 million, and houses treasures and antiquities from the island's past: </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A recreation of a pearling vessel. Before modern technology, divers would hold their breath for up to 3 minutes as they collected mollusks. </td></tr>
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A Qu'ran made of Mother of Pearl. </h4>
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One of the most fascinating aspects of the museum was the history of pearling in the region. I had noticed that pearls play a prominent part of the Gulf region's culture: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Qukh8w5jZNV-wrpUMO4_q3Q4mxy52QEeGj3zc6MwSwzwIei_TnqR4yGVhUSXfZm3kiX1dG5rqbo0dRbWRnehT1Ygmrs558l-xQgIT5MLdnI0xR4Xjk0chXvuRP221kloZ_4urNnWWNU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.19.30+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Qukh8w5jZNV-wrpUMO4_q3Q4mxy52QEeGj3zc6MwSwzwIei_TnqR4yGVhUSXfZm3kiX1dG5rqbo0dRbWRnehT1Ygmrs558l-xQgIT5MLdnI0xR4Xjk0chXvuRP221kloZ_4urNnWWNU/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.19.30+AM.png" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
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By 1928, revenues from the pearl trade accounted for approximately 90% of the country's revenue!</h4>
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The Great Depression led to a precipitous decline in the demand for pearls, and fake pearls from Japan and China decimated the Gulf region's pearl industry. By 1954, there were only 11 pearling boats. Fortunately, oil was discovered in Bahrain in 1932, and has become the country's leading export. </h4>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IhSjIryBh3wkYT25fQEo1AweXX4NGDatRz3-Fd9UhSUOK7Q_vmneh8wQQ6Dk8NduQptOhRgGRgsFCdgdB4nkfqos2TEV0onF9yPlPxE-elkPjKAwT_xRptns0lq20MxwafC9qlc9TSI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.11.38+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1IhSjIryBh3wkYT25fQEo1AweXX4NGDatRz3-Fd9UhSUOK7Q_vmneh8wQQ6Dk8NduQptOhRgGRgsFCdgdB4nkfqos2TEV0onF9yPlPxE-elkPjKAwT_xRptns0lq20MxwafC9qlc9TSI/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.11.38+AM.png" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
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Interestingly, the only available wood in the region are palms. Since summers reach a stifling 120 degrees, homes were built of porous palm fronds. In addition to palm dates, the fronds were a crucial part of Arabic culture and civilization. </h4>
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The next day, we visited the Al Fateh Grand Mosque. Built in 1987 and covering a whopping 6,500 square meters, this mosque can hold over 7,000 worshippers at a time! It was a sight to behold: </div>
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Not surprisingly, the Al Fateh Grand Mosque is the premier tourist destination in Bahrain. This place is stunning!</h4>
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A hallway made of imported Italian marble </h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici2Fpm4iNyLq75aRrlPDt5b5pbeuYrcYojaSSf61SPCQKgvzDThPKUMnH-2mQdeos2X8xAnufxDQEUoEtdBXPrJpT_ifPIYzdr-cWli-c5WWPrV9eL1kWBTG0ppLqPz2XlkKbMtksvo0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.01.20+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEici2Fpm4iNyLq75aRrlPDt5b5pbeuYrcYojaSSf61SPCQKgvzDThPKUMnH-2mQdeos2X8xAnufxDQEUoEtdBXPrJpT_ifPIYzdr-cWli-c5WWPrV9eL1kWBTG0ppLqPz2XlkKbMtksvo0/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.01.20+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This chandelier was constructed and imported from Austria. The dome in the background is the largest fiberglass dome in the world. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_0mAtKwaAM5MCERe6POeO_rl1uAWBRxGCjJFuZv2LgR8pNjQDj0uPM3SN8925qOx5KGFE-pASZaUn8Y6tGAsIbmycgwnBZ1b6G-1fGKFkEBCVnAcsvH_3rRi5tLcpz2c2lFAlr_Fydk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.04.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_0mAtKwaAM5MCERe6POeO_rl1uAWBRxGCjJFuZv2LgR8pNjQDj0uPM3SN8925qOx5KGFE-pASZaUn8Y6tGAsIbmycgwnBZ1b6G-1fGKFkEBCVnAcsvH_3rRi5tLcpz2c2lFAlr_Fydk/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.04.14+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During our visit, the Mosque was hosting a world qualifying competition. Men from around the Arab World gathered to compete to see who could recite the longest memorized passage from the Qur'an. Judges marked them for errors and omissions. </td></tr>
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That night, we ventured to the Bab Al-Bahrain Souk. This tightly packed commercial zone featured competing merchants gesturing for our business. It reminded me very much of Santee Alley in Los Angeles. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A spice vendor selling food stuffs from the Near East and South Asia. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical street scene at the Souk. Interestingly enough, most of the goods sold were not from the region, but rather from India! Approximately 50% of Bahrain's residents are immigrants from India.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkvH4ELtMTz7xu_eEfnhRk1Vl2xPZvYd_Mdm6Job95pEjZAsBisiIVOC65eeKdhf3nfc2BJm3m1U61GFnKDwlDzgCyXOUHnNxTCVkJmXMP-6J-CFXCzg1GL8Swq19rc_RcYQ2d6xhE3g/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.44.54+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkvH4ELtMTz7xu_eEfnhRk1Vl2xPZvYd_Mdm6Job95pEjZAsBisiIVOC65eeKdhf3nfc2BJm3m1U61GFnKDwlDzgCyXOUHnNxTCVkJmXMP-6J-CFXCzg1GL8Swq19rc_RcYQ2d6xhE3g/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.44.54+AM.png" width="238" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A merchant decided to dress me in a Keffiyah, the traditional headwear for Arab men. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bahrain is clearly unaffected by globalization. </td></tr>
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In addition to cultural and religious site visits, we also had the opportunity to visit two different schools in Bahrain. The first school we visited, Bahrain Bayan, opened in 1982. This private, K-12 school serves mostly Bahraini and Saudi Arabian children, but all classes are taught in English. High School students use the International Baccalaureate curriculum.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bahrain Bayan School is the premier private school in the country. Almost every student graduates bilingual in English and Arabic, and many gain admission to top universities in the UK and the US. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz5G-3hJWm7K2bjj2RIsZjO8bcLWF0uWb0iUY0NIfHqDlRqdsuoF99NI8-J2-IUlsDQZiZ6luT_P3H1OpPVlBA-vuCRNU9fDXcYlRP5eEmIFITWb2fWrl4LDV0nYmDZeQ9O2Ww-OPVso/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.53.03+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZz5G-3hJWm7K2bjj2RIsZjO8bcLWF0uWb0iUY0NIfHqDlRqdsuoF99NI8-J2-IUlsDQZiZ6luT_P3H1OpPVlBA-vuCRNU9fDXcYlRP5eEmIFITWb2fWrl4LDV0nYmDZeQ9O2Ww-OPVso/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+2.53.03+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faculty and Staff of Bahrain Bayan with TEACH Fellows. Funny enough, Mr. Hamoud, the gentleman next to me in the front, used to be a Corrections Officer in LA for the California Youth Authority! Needless to say, as Dean of Students at Bahrain's top private school, he doesn't have the same disciplinary problems he had back in Southern California. </td></tr>
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We also had the opportunity to visit St. Christopher's School, one of the oldest and most prestigious British private schools in the Middle East. This school mostly serves British expatriate children whose parents are working in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia in the oil and gas or international finance industry. According to the headmaster, most companies will subsidize tuition for up to 3 children to attend private school while abroad. Although classes are taught exclusively in English, the student body is exceptionally diverse, with over 60 different countries represented.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05y5b0Y7U92JnFAsvsTsE3EMR_M4KmUKuH6znuQBadrrnZtU_KD7DkKAROTBmBSXVXP8usH5TXL2g2RnKhP_TXC_8Y7U5GN83IvCpGx4YkZoFiOKidzxfMDmVnyMrpna2lptYp7PAIbo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+3.10.54+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05y5b0Y7U92JnFAsvsTsE3EMR_M4KmUKuH6znuQBadrrnZtU_KD7DkKAROTBmBSXVXP8usH5TXL2g2RnKhP_TXC_8Y7U5GN83IvCpGx4YkZoFiOKidzxfMDmVnyMrpna2lptYp7PAIbo/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+3.10.54+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our student tour guides told us that most students stay for approximately 2-4 years before relocating to another country due to their parents jobs. Most also go on to top universities in Europe and the UK.<br />
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We also visited with a few non-profit education organizations working to close the achievement gap in Bahrain. The first non profit we visited was INJAZ Bahrain, an organization whose aim is to inspire and prepare young Bahrainis to succeed in the global economy. INJAZ brokers relationships between Bahraini professionals in a variety of fields and students in order to help youth grow their skills in the areas of entrepreneurship, personal finance, and public speaking.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxv7YqzQPWIT_SZzoD87VMB1HxKlD86LhGtbNKk3dpyy6LBTszBQvPGqCZfwO_Nc2byk1l9Q40Fbd_WSP31yfu4oZHv5SE_e7suZFSMPvDTRnwD-STBgfkhc5VQYA36S2AG53tsYLy9yU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+3.23.17+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxv7YqzQPWIT_SZzoD87VMB1HxKlD86LhGtbNKk3dpyy6LBTszBQvPGqCZfwO_Nc2byk1l9Q40Fbd_WSP31yfu4oZHv5SE_e7suZFSMPvDTRnwD-STBgfkhc5VQYA36S2AG53tsYLy9yU/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+3.23.17+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like other nonprofits around the world, INJAZ Bahrain struggles for funding, and due to low salaries in the non profit world, struggles to find and retain good talent. Nonetheless, their impact is tremendous: 32,000 students have been connected with 1,200 professionals.<br />
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We met with the Bahrain Economic Development Board, whose mission is to promote economic development in the country. They also release an annual report on the state of Bahraini education and offer solutions on ways to strengthen the education infrastructure of the country. Their annual report, which documents everything from enrollment to college graduation rates, offered a unique glimpse into the country's education system:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNr4vxqcSUtLBBElIkO1K59cc70thRTCESAMnOGWGUODoKfpmBUKunFdojX-h-O8CjG7qwkb5EN7MBjBWGKIYImQNQL9CLcL28yK16Jsb-tOaVqLwg7i1ofWkJxoebZ2yiZU2r2NRR1M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+3.40.06+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNr4vxqcSUtLBBElIkO1K59cc70thRTCESAMnOGWGUODoKfpmBUKunFdojX-h-O8CjG7qwkb5EN7MBjBWGKIYImQNQL9CLcL28yK16Jsb-tOaVqLwg7i1ofWkJxoebZ2yiZU2r2NRR1M/s400/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+3.40.06+AM.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys and girls are segregated by gender after the age of 10, but boys schools vastly underperform girls schools. Boys also graduate from college and university at disproportionally lower rates than girls. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvOZrehHxPPKGD-ap1OrYkdAGxY2YZmom5APeT_l2J_czee0nZqPJazpmC5YsniCgcl9otSvrPjTqAj7nk0ZxY3OezOq1VtMDK4tSLKcGxaQmIq-FGv5tAPht0-FNg-ad04tDIih5dh0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+3.36.02+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvOZrehHxPPKGD-ap1OrYkdAGxY2YZmom5APeT_l2J_czee0nZqPJazpmC5YsniCgcl9otSvrPjTqAj7nk0ZxY3OezOq1VtMDK4tSLKcGxaQmIq-FGv5tAPht0-FNg-ad04tDIih5dh0/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+3.36.02+AM.png" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Men are disproportionally under-represented in the teaching field in Bahrain, a similar problem in the US. </td></tr>
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In addition to cultural, educational, and non-profit organization visits, we also met with the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company. Along with being the largest ammonia and methanol company in the country, they are also a leading member of the US Bilateral Chamber of Commerce and a large funder of the TEACH Program. The next time I use cleaning solutions, I'll thank GPIC!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG2ftBqw438RtN67gZsCiFcA3rPL3eRXpjne-iwPjZE0JNwoW33D4P_YMWFciC-4QBk732wa62L3TKa3-hKiR4oWFVpCwjiwezB6qIQ71FCHBxP_oFTwDeU45btjO5SbkSzG4Um_baF8/s1600/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="1251" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG2ftBqw438RtN67gZsCiFcA3rPL3eRXpjne-iwPjZE0JNwoW33D4P_YMWFciC-4QBk732wa62L3TKa3-hKiR4oWFVpCwjiwezB6qIQ71FCHBxP_oFTwDeU45btjO5SbkSzG4Um_baF8/s400/unnamed.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even though the Gulf region hosts a number of expatriates working in the oil and gas industry, GPIC proudly boasts that 90% of it's employees are Bahraini.</td></tr>
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One of the most impressive aspects of GPIC was it's commitment to environmental sustainability, corporate responsibility, and employee development. In addition to hosting a women's empowerment Day each year, GPIC encourages employees to volunteer, (and many choose to volunteer with INJAZ Bahrain!) and has won a number corporate environmental sustainability awards as well.<br />
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Our last stop of the trip was to Peninsula Farms, one of the largest greenhouse farms in the region. They produce a variety of products including vegetables , goat milk, goat cheese, and goat milk. Given the harsh weather conditions during the summer, (with averages over 100 degrees!) it was an impressive facility:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnu8KBEn5-KOQwcdycjVLT5Tp8dBjVXzrPCt4GGs22sE5rIYwAbKnLtsfD8EPiGnEQJlMZvHTE9gIZv2fzl9YuiSxpJuXYJYNSJnB1c-lA-NbukSSCY6vWhazS3zwxwcmcK2FEJkR0eNg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+4.04.45+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnu8KBEn5-KOQwcdycjVLT5Tp8dBjVXzrPCt4GGs22sE5rIYwAbKnLtsfD8EPiGnEQJlMZvHTE9gIZv2fzl9YuiSxpJuXYJYNSJnB1c-lA-NbukSSCY6vWhazS3zwxwcmcK2FEJkR0eNg/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+4.04.45+AM.png" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peninsula Farms founder Grahame Dunling and his farm's products. The son of the Bahraini Ambassador to the US, Dunling grew up in Washington DC and is a die-hard Redskins fan and organic farmer in the desert. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKU7A93BJZOCBP0ypc8W17bM4zi9tAbeXjzTPwgwiD9vZOV6n0kd0s-qf_RPqkFszXPipvpZEpd8CdYIqY21Kp0zrDgi1grmopV7NvaSdTl3hXL0XXgMr4ezN-EZM-tibX5zL62g-f31A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+4.01.00+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKU7A93BJZOCBP0ypc8W17bM4zi9tAbeXjzTPwgwiD9vZOV6n0kd0s-qf_RPqkFszXPipvpZEpd8CdYIqY21Kp0zrDgi1grmopV7NvaSdTl3hXL0XXgMr4ezN-EZM-tibX5zL62g-f31A/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-11-27+at+4.01.00+AM.png" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peninsula farms have 45,000 sq/ft of growing area and is operational year-round and is one of the largest sustainable, all natural greenhouse farms in the Middle East!</td></tr>
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Overall, our 4 day excursion to the Kingdom of Bahrain was an enlightening, educational experience. Bahrain is a country that delicately balances antiquity and modernity, where tradition and globalization meet. Thank you to the US Bilateral Chamber of Commerce and the other Fellows for an unforgettable experience!<br />
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I also published an op-ed about our trip in the Huffington Post. Check it out:<br />
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https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/globalizing-your-classroom-to-reduce-bullying_us_5a294c99e4b09ee35b8ae6b3<br />
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And fellow Matt Cottone made a short video documenting our trip:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/s30fsmnb5iU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s30fsmnb5iU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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Until next time...<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828935249031844046noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-5617144211449118442016-09-08T20:36:00.000-07:002016-09-08T20:36:02.598-07:00Paradise in Panama<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I was planning my itinerary between Los Angeles and Quito, Ecuador, I noticed that my flight was routed through Panama City, Panama. Since my airfare was fully funded through the Earthwatch Institute, I decided to ask how much money it would cost to extend my layover in Panama City from 3 hours, to 6 days. The answer I received was astonishing:<br />
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$150.<br />
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In other words, all of my airfare between LA, Ecuador, and Panama would cost a grand total of $150. Needless to say, I quickly added a 6 day layover in Panama to my itinerary! Luckily for me, both Ecaudor and Panama use the US dollar, so I didn't have to worry about currency exchange.<br />
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I landed in Panama City, exhausted after a week of trekking through the Ecuadorian jungle in search of caterpillars. Anticipating this fatigue, I booked a few nights in the northern beach town of Bocas del Toro for some much needed R & R. Located in an archipelago on the northeast corner of the country, this 4,600 square kilometer province is a popular destination for surfers, water sports and sailing enthusiasts.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBb54YISKmTQOfHGelu5nPkDNmLoFvYH3iZO4eZCwH_8D5RurytRmGiKX4uMzihl6LXEH0rJNltsT_hDxXB2FEaIK76J8ZGvnsdczRnG5WNsaMqnZPkmJCaBAhzPuh_IjlRWapYOl5Lw/s1600/bocas-town.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBb54YISKmTQOfHGelu5nPkDNmLoFvYH3iZO4eZCwH_8D5RurytRmGiKX4uMzihl6LXEH0rJNltsT_hDxXB2FEaIK76J8ZGvnsdczRnG5WNsaMqnZPkmJCaBAhzPuh_IjlRWapYOl5Lw/s320/bocas-town.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Province's capital, Bocas Town, sits on the water. Most hostels, restaurants and shops have docks that lead out to the ocean</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvLMQOXKenAC8G_Nu9tJq7dSA2UTuoD9t6Cb32LPLhKtlqxI7IqkjzZtugCJDGgJq7VVjv05fJdp7goo6aYaIHNPfroRpVigyPbiTyydtJvKpER37On-pcHeo5znx1kSdsTErXaa04ak/s1600/bocas+selina+hostel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvLMQOXKenAC8G_Nu9tJq7dSA2UTuoD9t6Cb32LPLhKtlqxI7IqkjzZtugCJDGgJq7VVjv05fJdp7goo6aYaIHNPfroRpVigyPbiTyydtJvKpER37On-pcHeo5znx1kSdsTErXaa04ak/s320/bocas+selina+hostel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I booked my stay at the Selina hostel, which has a wonderful deck that looks out over the ocean. photo courtesy of Hostel World.</td></tr>
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While in Bocas, I decided to explore the neighboring islands via lancha, (water taxi in Spanish):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohXu4cDK_0QMd4wfLEeJDam83qprsTYonUhYqIcQaDtH-gTJdbjTRpdHp8jE-gmGCz4mdEVwTNdLtgKt1bmd-jGvq6i8HtKUk69mWinL9JWCivYLZj3J_CnmJozgvAwtfB2Vk_zgVFo0/s1600/IMG_1414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohXu4cDK_0QMd4wfLEeJDam83qprsTYonUhYqIcQaDtH-gTJdbjTRpdHp8jE-gmGCz4mdEVwTNdLtgKt1bmd-jGvq6i8HtKUk69mWinL9JWCivYLZj3J_CnmJozgvAwtfB2Vk_zgVFo0/s320/IMG_1414.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The caribbean water was the warmest I've ever experienced. It was absolutely amazing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFoWE0Mk3Lw33WnrAdtPKTXFG80bWCy6iDqvXqDMnH1tX9RArDms6zYhb925l9ysethm1se_w96NGKbaB0PMbh73D8eDrOPdqn8f3DZYRthe8EShx_8WwQvYa0SytqCgPM_TECyp6xvE/s1600/IMG_1415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFoWE0Mk3Lw33WnrAdtPKTXFG80bWCy6iDqvXqDMnH1tX9RArDms6zYhb925l9ysethm1se_w96NGKbaB0PMbh73D8eDrOPdqn8f3DZYRthe8EShx_8WwQvYa0SytqCgPM_TECyp6xvE/s320/IMG_1415.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isla Bastimientos, a protected habitat for a variety of aquatic life<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b8UEspOsBHbyZTiffBisdeqF6JYc0RD2aarSIbfS38Bjn-XgCAeMPKglxt0fogA9Vdcj5Sh1ua1Y0YdnxGmA68_9lCFHKO5Jvbcam1HQBr7e6OmJWrwwg6l43dGSZwo62T9PdrQjQfA/s1600/IMG_1425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_b8UEspOsBHbyZTiffBisdeqF6JYc0RD2aarSIbfS38Bjn-XgCAeMPKglxt0fogA9Vdcj5Sh1ua1Y0YdnxGmA68_9lCFHKO5Jvbcam1HQBr7e6OmJWrwwg6l43dGSZwo62T9PdrQjQfA/s320/IMG_1425.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stumbled upon this bar and restaurant on Red Frog Beach during my adventures. Unfortunately, the next boat back to my hostel didn't leave for another four hours, and mixed drinks were $3 US. It was <i>absolutely awful</i> being stuck there! </td></tr>
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One of the most memorable experiences I had during my time in Bocas was an unplanned adventure to Polo Beach. After speaking with some locals about cheap, authentic places to grab lunch, they informed me of an eclectic hermit named Polo and his delectable lunches. After a 40 minute walk along a secluded trail on a sparsely populated island, I finally found Polo and his beach. Polo speaks Wari Wari, a dialect of Creole English. According to him, he's been living on the beach for 50 years, and I can attest that he cooks up a mean chicken and rice! If you find yourself in Bocas, I highly suggest visiting Polo and his beach.<br />
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After a few nights in Bocas, I hopped a flight back south to Panama City. I booked a hostel in the historic neighborhood of Casco Viejo, located on the Pacific side of the Panamanian Isthmus. The Casco Viejo is the second oldest neighborhood in Panama City, dating back to 1673. In 1997, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOKKlOrPfDrFZbsB041LIf-aY6dSI-XoP591PYtoEfm5jH0WcRlvPGZ40kInjc5Tu824t74K_5W0PYAvUqIckENBHzY6CKZ7AdRukfN3peb-xNY4W1ZUr5AFZm7B5P10yjHVUW0JM6I0/s1600/IMG_1472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwOKKlOrPfDrFZbsB041LIf-aY6dSI-XoP591PYtoEfm5jH0WcRlvPGZ40kInjc5Tu824t74K_5W0PYAvUqIckENBHzY6CKZ7AdRukfN3peb-xNY4W1ZUr5AFZm7B5P10yjHVUW0JM6I0/s320/IMG_1472.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ruins of the Church of Santo Domingo, which suffered a devastating fire in 1756.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical street scene in Casco Viejo<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cP_a4w3jW-buOlWy560d4cFhVa5xLHocPgCulgurorfYImv3KkV4umqmQSgncY-L1jgPovVJ1lCaSwrTV3NGRY40KEnvLkPlY50LvbeByaEWKquHoU2Qk7gAhBudZ582-hhE9k408kQ/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cP_a4w3jW-buOlWy560d4cFhVa5xLHocPgCulgurorfYImv3KkV4umqmQSgncY-L1jgPovVJ1lCaSwrTV3NGRY40KEnvLkPlY50LvbeByaEWKquHoU2Qk7gAhBudZ582-hhE9k408kQ/s320/IMG_1513.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Church of La merced </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's centuries-old streets are punctuated with colorful, modern street art<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODQ2oB62mkGPOb2UE2o70prMmpLCY8acLX6VnE2rezNrbZ7CRLAvje0w2PnsBpZKI0H4mMbAZPKQuInRzdKl5h7PJvVCtuKJJzUXLEfXLrFrRuRc7fg2NeJhRy9JV-m0rhxVCCSLxsmU/s1600/Catedral_Metropolitana_Panama%25CC%2581_Casco_Viejo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODQ2oB62mkGPOb2UE2o70prMmpLCY8acLX6VnE2rezNrbZ7CRLAvje0w2PnsBpZKI0H4mMbAZPKQuInRzdKl5h7PJvVCtuKJJzUXLEfXLrFrRuRc7fg2NeJhRy9JV-m0rhxVCCSLxsmU/s320/Catedral_Metropolitana_Panama%25CC%2581_Casco_Viejo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Catedral Metropolitana </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwttIhiMCr6IpBVk3Pmrrs01DnyL5bWBUWvA4DDvUUcL6UE3CheDPuoBsLez-84DxB8y5Gp-so4-0mAX77QIlskja7k3CyRsjNjiURYKquCMpZuh-iG5KJyKKsg_kY6ZmFKAi4R7m0u4/s1600/IMG_1514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDwttIhiMCr6IpBVk3Pmrrs01DnyL5bWBUWvA4DDvUUcL6UE3CheDPuoBsLez-84DxB8y5Gp-so4-0mAX77QIlskja7k3CyRsjNjiURYKquCMpZuh-iG5KJyKKsg_kY6ZmFKAi4R7m0u4/s320/IMG_1514.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casco Viejo comes alive at night, as the streets fill with locals and tourists alike patronizing restaurants, bars and clubs<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsDVEr89F19AFkaT2D66vG_tMoxvkL6hDu30Aqbna6MUHWkuLs-g_skKgpiXfyNsx80BFQkTqJ5TLm4RESErQG1FTN9yztjh3et2YFNAKlh-mRat4AQkGLX8cnou5GDrDN4gB1noFEG4/s1600/IMG_1528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsDVEr89F19AFkaT2D66vG_tMoxvkL6hDu30Aqbna6MUHWkuLs-g_skKgpiXfyNsx80BFQkTqJ5TLm4RESErQG1FTN9yztjh3et2YFNAKlh-mRat4AQkGLX8cnou5GDrDN4gB1noFEG4/s320/IMG_1528.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical narrow street in Casco Viejo, designed long before and without any consideration for the automobile</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e0vyuaCESXMelsJC5cTbFS7B35hEnj1M8IN-LvCPpo8_X7mf99jdnXNOMfe1K3FwgawYLqKZ_6z7c6xVQqdCB4yWvYkHnM4SBiU9YYV4wlzFFhgiuaWIrPmzbeAjyxnDbXTxYiByW1o/s1600/IMG_1489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e0vyuaCESXMelsJC5cTbFS7B35hEnj1M8IN-LvCPpo8_X7mf99jdnXNOMfe1K3FwgawYLqKZ_6z7c6xVQqdCB4yWvYkHnM4SBiU9YYV4wlzFFhgiuaWIrPmzbeAjyxnDbXTxYiByW1o/s320/IMG_1489.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassco Viejo as seen from Ancon Hill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1yQ71XlOgB60PqGiMx0u0cLK3Bv7zpPdwspyqDRlDYD1NXb19rENbZC9MZgonlQdioouA6OfDLebWf9M_90M1Qe8r6YNTOAgnB_DDrMgp2KUyCKErgvyzAa7WVtAP5T4d2xtVTNicAs/s1600/Palacio_de_las_Garzas_Panama%25CC%2581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1yQ71XlOgB60PqGiMx0u0cLK3Bv7zpPdwspyqDRlDYD1NXb19rENbZC9MZgonlQdioouA6OfDLebWf9M_90M1Qe8r6YNTOAgnB_DDrMgp2KUyCKErgvyzAa7WVtAP5T4d2xtVTNicAs/s320/Palacio_de_las_Garzas_Panama%25CC%2581.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Palacio de las Garzas, where the president of Panama lives. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia<br />
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One of my favorite destinations in Panama City was the Panama Viejo. Constructed in 1519, Panama Viejo is the first European settlement on the Pacific Ocean. By 1670, the settlement had over 10,000 permanent residents, making it one of the largest settlements in the Americas. In 1671, pirate Henry Morgan and 1,500 soldiers sacked and burned this coastal Spanish city to the ground. This illegal display of aggression violated a peace treaty between Spain and England, resulting in Morgan's expatriation back to England for punishment. In a cruel twist of irony, Morgan feigned ignorance of the treaty, and was instead knighted by King Charles the II. Morgan was then given the position of Lieutenant Governor of Jamaica. He has since been immortalized through the Captain Morgan brand of rum, whose mascot bears his likeness.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lUJYpxv5CRRs0EW897JoWghDftB2_HVwp_glvgocV-PpC2iJm10rvYSTIMhTN3ycfAVoQSfwEDSWkd98cF0y6lMOEzroQOOD5d8H0TxoCxqWITphq02az9-Vv8JXXElHBajjtq8Yd6Y/s1600/IMG_1496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2lUJYpxv5CRRs0EW897JoWghDftB2_HVwp_glvgocV-PpC2iJm10rvYSTIMhTN3ycfAVoQSfwEDSWkd98cF0y6lMOEzroQOOD5d8H0TxoCxqWITphq02az9-Vv8JXXElHBajjtq8Yd6Y/s320/IMG_1496.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This diorama shows an approximation of 17th century Panama City<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gmqHwtBsnII_iDBaM-llIxIuu8tHyflScvjmErrFZ8FqlSpS_NsEPW25w-wl0AZjyH5anTC0Hju9T_TgLV3SS0mr1x6-bAhny_TTv2VIL3JWdBKpplSSfFI-Up-JYxygaafxzHmj8OA/s1600/IMG_1495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gmqHwtBsnII_iDBaM-llIxIuu8tHyflScvjmErrFZ8FqlSpS_NsEPW25w-wl0AZjyH5anTC0Hju9T_TgLV3SS0mr1x6-bAhny_TTv2VIL3JWdBKpplSSfFI-Up-JYxygaafxzHmj8OA/s320/IMG_1495.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bell tower, which can be seen in the diorama photo on the right side. In order to build the tower, experienced stonemasons needed to be hired and transported from Spain to Panama. Apparently, after the first convoy sunk, (resulting in the deaths of all aboard,) a second convoy was sent. This convoy sunk also, which delayed construction even longer, ultimately resulting in the hiring of local stone masons instead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLePUZtm_9WeuZR1DMjE2a64vUr0mrhyygZ9FDgf6BbnPhPWRNEkbJnPe2RZPckQrWTNW42TyWtML4N7aJPCc7i_VG-elCy6JkHx-XhrfHfrMg6Ge5RE_Xex1Rj0gFsHEdPips3yizcK8/s1600/IMG_1508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLePUZtm_9WeuZR1DMjE2a64vUr0mrhyygZ9FDgf6BbnPhPWRNEkbJnPe2RZPckQrWTNW42TyWtML4N7aJPCc7i_VG-elCy6JkHx-XhrfHfrMg6Ge5RE_Xex1Rj0gFsHEdPips3yizcK8/s320/IMG_1508.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view from inside the bell tower, towards the modern Panama City skyline. A stark juxtaposition of antiquity and modernity</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">As I wandered around the Panama Viejo site, I tried to imagine the horror that must have unfolded as Henry Morgan sacked the city. I think it must have been quite similar to Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland: you know, the scene where the pirate ship is floating outside the Spanish town, barraging it with cannon balls? Eventually, the pirates over run the town's defenses, and proceed to sack, loot and burn the place to the ground.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfoq-iPlWUWC4nyWk9OKIRnjc591Bz5792bykvvUfPWEPmRrOu8EgIIvooDa72Yej9QObMAP755NiPNqzccDzh_j-4sR-vEqEE-qqKJoTzoYWSixStOzkx6LU6TsHP8vb8BvoTZWoyVY/s1600/WaltDisneyPOTCBurningTown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNfoq-iPlWUWC4nyWk9OKIRnjc591Bz5792bykvvUfPWEPmRrOu8EgIIvooDa72Yej9QObMAP755NiPNqzccDzh_j-4sR-vEqEE-qqKJoTzoYWSixStOzkx6LU6TsHP8vb8BvoTZWoyVY/s320/WaltDisneyPOTCBurningTown.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm pretty sure that Morgan's sacking of Panama City in 1671 looked exactly like this scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. Minus Jack Sparrow, of course. </td></tr>
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A few miles from Panama Viejo is the Panama City skyline, an example of modernity at it's finest: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WulezRq7-YMM3mYzIaZu4vs_Z0yoKLSXDlq74xCy5_CWBiVPkY3A_Tkk992BI_zV7JHVaGc4n2UoG5NJbOpGZLKbIuh5YQ968jKRaCPLrc-76QXee95eGD5DcPoScYC5UOQdXqdJi2Y/s1600/IMG_1450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WulezRq7-YMM3mYzIaZu4vs_Z0yoKLSXDlq74xCy5_CWBiVPkY3A_Tkk992BI_zV7JHVaGc4n2UoG5NJbOpGZLKbIuh5YQ968jKRaCPLrc-76QXee95eGD5DcPoScYC5UOQdXqdJi2Y/s320/IMG_1450.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">According to my taxi driver, a condo with an ocean view sells for 250-300,000 USD</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA_0Mc8l9a52mzqMxmKRmbFx_QAlxEWBwTKneD-30caFKGSnUmBep6c6qhesWrZW-pHc8QThO6dlhROrBb1ghQhiPvSEQWo4Qn-PAol7xXb8Y8kUoM65stejVj_KqCfmEUVFa8sGfdKA/s1600/IMG_1525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA_0Mc8l9a52mzqMxmKRmbFx_QAlxEWBwTKneD-30caFKGSnUmBep6c6qhesWrZW-pHc8QThO6dlhROrBb1ghQhiPvSEQWo4Qn-PAol7xXb8Y8kUoM65stejVj_KqCfmEUVFa8sGfdKA/s320/IMG_1525.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view towards the skyline with the Panama flag in the foreground </td></tr>
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Any trip to Panama would be incomplete without visiting it's most famous tourist attraction, the Panama Canal. Built over a span of ten years, and finally completed in 1914, the Panama Canal stands as a testament to modern engineering. I traveled to the Panama Canal Visitors center and took in this modern marvel in person: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRz-lJjIal-jpkftC2yDABnE9ld1FdIxmiAqwBCk_aMHNHa7f6Y-ntatocAXoO-0EluDa2ZzAuxOelxUH_hcjFh11gN_2f3fzqxjnbTrOL4mqWntj2xMM3bOaSaa4afJL1ZD1RQMEeKA/s1600/IMG_1520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRz-lJjIal-jpkftC2yDABnE9ld1FdIxmiAqwBCk_aMHNHa7f6Y-ntatocAXoO-0EluDa2ZzAuxOelxUH_hcjFh11gN_2f3fzqxjnbTrOL4mqWntj2xMM3bOaSaa4afJL1ZD1RQMEeKA/s320/IMG_1520.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the Miraflores Locks<br />
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Construction of the canal was incredibly expensive: Not only did it cost $375,000,000, it also resulted nearly 20,000 French and 6,000 American worker's deaths during it's construction. However, those lives were not lost in vain: nearly 14,000 ships pass through the canal every year, making it one of the busiest canals in the world. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcDEBR9MMVaNhed23UqCKtmKv7pGPWpMUN6h0gcYeGD86bV-UL7oLwyOBsAJ4lIj90kaD6Nl1vFGgPcrbWwKP1hp4M_NshoK7mOFwJC1Tvi4se-ro7X-DGz7xwLuY-9JQIyjqMNAcIzM/s1600/IMG_1523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBcDEBR9MMVaNhed23UqCKtmKv7pGPWpMUN6h0gcYeGD86bV-UL7oLwyOBsAJ4lIj90kaD6Nl1vFGgPcrbWwKP1hp4M_NshoK7mOFwJC1Tvi4se-ro7X-DGz7xwLuY-9JQIyjqMNAcIzM/s320/IMG_1523.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panama is a hot tourist destination, and rightfully so. This place is awesome! </td></tr>
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Overall, my trip to Panama was incredible. If you find yourself with a layover in Panama City, I highly recommend the trip!<br />
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Until next time...</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828935249031844046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-54169217841729904182016-09-08T20:35:00.000-07:002016-09-08T20:35:53.509-07:00Earthwatch Ecuador <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This summer, I was fortunate enough to participate on an Earthwatch Teacher Fellowship to Ecuador. The fellowship is organized, administered and funded through the Earthwatch Institute, an environmental advocacy organization whose mission is to engage citizens in the scientific research process and raise awareness of critical environmental issues. One of their most popular initiatives is teacher education and outreach. This means fully-funded trips for educators to experience scientific research in the field with the hopes that they return to their classrooms and teach their students. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our Earthwatch trip embodied the idea of citizen science. The idea is simple: anyone, with the guidance
of a professional scientist, can participate in and contribute to the
scientific research process in meaningful ways. This symbiotic relationship between
researcher and volunteer provides increased data collection and manpower for
the scientist, and an unforgettable, empowering experience for the volunteer.
In the case of my colleagues and me, the experience also meant innumerable
teaching opportunities for our students.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Myself and 12 other teachers spent a week at the Yanayacu Biological Research Station in Napo Province, Ecuador to study the effects of climate change on the caterpillar population. Anybody can rent space at the station, which provides room and board facilities as well as research equipment. The station sits on the edge of one of the most biologically diverse cloud forests in the world, providing ample opportunities for research. While we were there, a number of teams from various universities were simultaneously carrying out their own research projects as well. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMmEvxxte-XpvTI5gxLF-4aoTT_y9P0bja3C44YBv56IcvmlKChcYDxl-8IFiBJ0KrKp0CCaB_nlB3EwTFeDxzkDMgRMcTLBf5dPq4RcBURRCwRYmHLDtjjzBaYkWEowRySUTqjPyBa8/s1600/IMG_1378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMmEvxxte-XpvTI5gxLF-4aoTT_y9P0bja3C44YBv56IcvmlKChcYDxl-8IFiBJ0KrKp0CCaB_nlB3EwTFeDxzkDMgRMcTLBf5dPq4RcBURRCwRYmHLDtjjzBaYkWEowRySUTqjPyBa8/s320/IMG_1378.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">The Yanayacu Biological Research Station</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">This was home sweet home for a week</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The weather was rather unpredictable, but consistently cold and wet. Torrential downpours would spontaneously appear and disappear. The weather never rose above a chilly 60 degrees, and we didn't see the sun for a week. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcAy1ci4zGXQCKxSvpfZvOooIutV1VCK5t4EirzfW96LbxPUo5MSxz0997gJYaH_G9xtSdWWaB7Dt3ngE_InVt72XRIn-IKdWCwLb1_Dg2nDwWXkJkDpL60JQkmysAyEEccRChp5HCzE/s1600/IMG_1382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcAy1ci4zGXQCKxSvpfZvOooIutV1VCK5t4EirzfW96LbxPUo5MSxz0997gJYaH_G9xtSdWWaB7Dt3ngE_InVt72XRIn-IKdWCwLb1_Dg2nDwWXkJkDpL60JQkmysAyEEccRChp5HCzE/s320/IMG_1382.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">This was the view from my dormitory balcony</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our group was assisting a longitudinal study about caterpillars in Ecuador. The actual research aims are complicated to explain, but the Earthwatch website did a wonderful job summarizing our project: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"The Climate Change and Caterpillars project in Ecuador examines factors that affect interactions among plants,
caterpillars, and their natural enemies. This is an important area of study for both agricultural and basic ecology. This
three-tiered study system allows for insights into “tri-trophic” interactions— in other words, it examines the relationships
among three distinct levels of the food web. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The natural enemies of caterpillars that the project studies are called “parasitoids.” They include many species of wasps
and flies that kill caterpillars by depositing their eggs on them. This ensures that the parasitoids’ offspring will have both a
safe environment in which to grow (inside the caterpillar) and a good supply of food (caterpillar tissue). We are rearing
caterpillars of over 300 species and recording the mortality caused by the parasitoids. In addition, we isolate specific
chemical compounds from some species of caterpillars and food plants to examine them as potential defenses against
parasitoids.
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxDdKyxmhUtePbBBHN00tg3HUA0P0-f9-Ezm9_lvjRvFCpb7x7RppPEJhVC4SNAupI5M35BNMaEGC1q_6T1_uvD_NibG2lMbfNl_g8rgu4MyjsUwqa4kwIXPpfrYansrg5sVPKc154uw/s1600/IMG_1364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxDdKyxmhUtePbBBHN00tg3HUA0P0-f9-Ezm9_lvjRvFCpb7x7RppPEJhVC4SNAupI5M35BNMaEGC1q_6T1_uvD_NibG2lMbfNl_g8rgu4MyjsUwqa4kwIXPpfrYansrg5sVPKc154uw/s320/IMG_1364.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The white worm-like creatures on the top part of the photo are parasitoids. They lay their eggs in the body of the caterpillar, and feed on it's host from the inside out. Parasitoids were the inspiration for the most famous scene in the movie "Alien," where the alien pops out of the guy's chest.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In order to collect the caterpillars, we hiked through the cloud forest, and searched high and low for these furry little guys. The biodiversity was absolutely breathtaking: </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFXghgEo9qb4nxrrm6rufR6fdmJBo7h4DNlS_i9skw4jGjPmW5pM2kRBRWrb3SBeS5cd5_TMdgUc-XHvB6X4nOITXrrQPJnX26VdarKki9K9vCIhgw_cfrHu-MEqo4QMtTjsChFivbrQ/s1600/20160702_151017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFXghgEo9qb4nxrrm6rufR6fdmJBo7h4DNlS_i9skw4jGjPmW5pM2kRBRWrb3SBeS5cd5_TMdgUc-XHvB6X4nOITXrrQPJnX26VdarKki9K9vCIhgw_cfrHu-MEqo4QMtTjsChFivbrQ/s1600/20160702_151017.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking through the cloud forest in search of caterpillars</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RYuJK1lNWs4xISQ6NzC2TqfoBtPSCjqQMpwla2NqOm52A0Hkz1uKxBqJ3osVUBL0bZ7aBGhC-l5UWHWRevjPso6IMT5nG3fCfRHQShcp3_iHre933boSdEnR6soPL1vD4RwSR-ZlDmY/s1600/IMG_1359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RYuJK1lNWs4xISQ6NzC2TqfoBtPSCjqQMpwla2NqOm52A0Hkz1uKxBqJ3osVUBL0bZ7aBGhC-l5UWHWRevjPso6IMT5nG3fCfRHQShcp3_iHre933boSdEnR6soPL1vD4RwSR-ZlDmY/s320/IMG_1359.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We routinely crossed these wood bridges. They're covered in moss and quite slippery!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3tojDZpvTQVlymBiXfB6WRIrXMHKcxn5mfAThczTPRIVp8D9ICyRZAFBxP_AKuUMtsBX205jQ4ZVtb8AAbM6GbH8a5-NwI1OaVAoY7GGFvYqWUiyo0RaQq11GcL9Py3SnDA6oO7j6Ns/s1600/20160701_154347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3tojDZpvTQVlymBiXfB6WRIrXMHKcxn5mfAThczTPRIVp8D9ICyRZAFBxP_AKuUMtsBX205jQ4ZVtb8AAbM6GbH8a5-NwI1OaVAoY7GGFvYqWUiyo0RaQq11GcL9Py3SnDA6oO7j6Ns/s1600/20160701_154347.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flora was so thick that sunlight barely reached the ground<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7QLBKb6LlVqUvxfUThTylJGe6AFDfj-wgiwOMIpxYs3RDJC_6SvSGvINaCKPaVVsQoxx7Lffmhu4K5WftEwovVlJjhw7A8dSLQHyrzRYjD7U1XN0RFc2Vi14ljd9exzUbeCAcqr5bJo/s1600/IMG_1358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7QLBKb6LlVqUvxfUThTylJGe6AFDfj-wgiwOMIpxYs3RDJC_6SvSGvINaCKPaVVsQoxx7Lffmhu4K5WftEwovVlJjhw7A8dSLQHyrzRYjD7U1XN0RFc2Vi14ljd9exzUbeCAcqr5bJo/s320/IMG_1358.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plants that inhabit the forest floor are forced to grow larger in order to capture the little sunlight that reaches the bottom</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Below are a few photos of the various species of caterpillars we collected: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGL5b36f1NPPkRsX3Gy3iqpkXDJ35C6gzsZN72oIKJJB7sObdH9pfK36Fr54n_L0c3YAzE6hjGbqmsqXaWNWqQ-cJ4Fa1fH_RqijfcZa-JW9cw5fdX6mHo9NQ5NWDfHWJN7Mt5sqKfPA/s1600/IMG_1321.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGL5b36f1NPPkRsX3Gy3iqpkXDJ35C6gzsZN72oIKJJB7sObdH9pfK36Fr54n_L0c3YAzE6hjGbqmsqXaWNWqQ-cJ4Fa1fH_RqijfcZa-JW9cw5fdX6mHo9NQ5NWDfHWJN7Mt5sqKfPA/s320/IMG_1321.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">After the caterpillars are collected and bagged in the field, they are taken back to Yanayacu. From there, they need to be photographed, catalogued, and reared: </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfa8Bah6Y50nMkUOU4OTWq2UH-Q8mWPjHl9qya0JjxJ8CflwosADyYiPpJM2OtG2Ex0pNNR31h5Es5qZAvCQiZ5JFceQqAq-gv0Rh2uFRZ95xdVoqdYvG48c5HaUstjLSrgCHJRSg0LzY/s1600/20160630_151804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfa8Bah6Y50nMkUOU4OTWq2UH-Q8mWPjHl9qya0JjxJ8CflwosADyYiPpJM2OtG2Ex0pNNR31h5Es5qZAvCQiZ5JFceQqAq-gv0Rh2uFRZ95xdVoqdYvG48c5HaUstjLSrgCHJRSg0LzY/s1600/20160630_151804.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The caterpillars need to be photographed to document their current instar, or pupation period. It's tedious work that requires great attention to detail. I was not particularly good at this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn26MFRZHO1B1L1pUPeFz7sCTX_DVbflQCm3TJnPTTTx8U0A8saG42tdt1Of7jVMMgXxag5if3RhQIQ1ojG5qldvKR0Ill3FEzGtpGBYSmVEFHnf_EHDWAMPpkWAbCE67UvG_4d6U1MZk/s1600/IMG_1374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn26MFRZHO1B1L1pUPeFz7sCTX_DVbflQCm3TJnPTTTx8U0A8saG42tdt1Of7jVMMgXxag5if3RhQIQ1ojG5qldvKR0Ill3FEzGtpGBYSmVEFHnf_EHDWAMPpkWAbCE67UvG_4d6U1MZk/s320/IMG_1374.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The caterpillars live in a plastic bag until they pupate into moths. Naturally, they defecate in the bag, as any living creature would. This necessitates regular cleaning, or "rearing" of the caterpillars, which includes stocking the bag with fresh leaves and cleaning their feces. I was very good at this.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0zXQZDBNC0L7s5Tket-FLPKfq3xchStcyIRJ3mzTV4x2abQBzCZBc7lZNE2ryJamQyT1vylhEcoXmnLl2UCgV5EHjLmX7tGxoK43PYD_s_YPF19II4HWZEcImQPhA9oFXn492amIbdw/s1600/IMG_1329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0zXQZDBNC0L7s5Tket-FLPKfq3xchStcyIRJ3mzTV4x2abQBzCZBc7lZNE2ryJamQyT1vylhEcoXmnLl2UCgV5EHjLmX7tGxoK43PYD_s_YPF19II4HWZEcImQPhA9oFXn492amIbdw/s320/IMG_1329.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice those round brown pellets below the caterpillar? Those things are poop. For reference, that caterpillar is the size of your index finger.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgh72BuggvPyrga4aqE-T9lZdSH4c565r2XFErgo9Bwd5w6cUyItB3CZAmte3beHShyphenhyphenQUZa6yFaNCdUm5d2TKWEVZYUPfMfSz93idcK2tkdtLqF_4JidT8oLDKKXQ9deyvXjIZ_P3id4/s1600/20160630_145503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgh72BuggvPyrga4aqE-T9lZdSH4c565r2XFErgo9Bwd5w6cUyItB3CZAmte3beHShyphenhyphenQUZa6yFaNCdUm5d2TKWEVZYUPfMfSz93idcK2tkdtLqF_4JidT8oLDKKXQ9deyvXjIZ_P3id4/s1600/20160630_145503.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">After the caterpillars pupate into moths, they are then placed into the freezer to meet their demise. Afterwards, they are pinned for display. This is the first step of pinning a moth. Much like photographing, this is tedious, detail-oriented work. I was not very good at this either.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCIUBbNJU1W61J3s9t7JPN35VWtHUP3iSiB89k0d3rzyvaqc57bKUwLe_XmzWJLRYm98OMapDSAavrSoPgM0TpdKOVgZb4QaFidoFtqbquRVngZHinkrugMcUVtjADIxIsdQmHZUTWjU/s1600/IMG_1376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKCIUBbNJU1W61J3s9t7JPN35VWtHUP3iSiB89k0d3rzyvaqc57bKUwLe_XmzWJLRYm98OMapDSAavrSoPgM0TpdKOVgZb4QaFidoFtqbquRVngZHinkrugMcUVtjADIxIsdQmHZUTWjU/s320/IMG_1376.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product. Many of these moths are sent to the Natural History Museum in Quito, Ecuador to be displayed!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Much like the caterpillars, the diversity and vibrancy of the moths was astonishing: </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6EJb92D3VOwvpFZYDispkOqINbvr7l9hCGK-Nknt4AijIxL_FByFvK8oVsr3L7d0VT2Q_9TI9NG3qxFIfXBOGG2P7KhK_cNYw8o4IDVMHio0dogmv_Aj9omeVH12adq9Fsc-mjHm6oo/s1600/IMG_1312.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUcdYfnTfRVOsFleccr7OF9ctb6WlqC9umfFB4feXbULRmE90ZZc6QwkRVy0IYjZAdlebf2hJvZiJ5G2ikp7e13ZQU-l2X9IlT4wLyesSaEQVtxZeJy9BshZsGSeDsvGFFpwzlmvLq00/s1600/IMG_1709.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8z_rM34w9CDaERb7agTsj2lLz-mdrbSmUHWdrp9lSxsi4HoOW_Bih2uik4GEwmgW1Th8YrZmOYX2kM4p4eu4JD9suw0JHfTsmohFw8GpEPRsxCwZvXlWyfrn81adkDIHKBJtskg9CcE/s1600/IMG_1711.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8z_rM34w9CDaERb7agTsj2lLz-mdrbSmUHWdrp9lSxsi4HoOW_Bih2uik4GEwmgW1Th8YrZmOYX2kM4p4eu4JD9suw0JHfTsmohFw8GpEPRsxCwZvXlWyfrn81adkDIHKBJtskg9CcE/s320/IMG_1711.jpg" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6EJb92D3VOwvpFZYDispkOqINbvr7l9hCGK-Nknt4AijIxL_FByFvK8oVsr3L7d0VT2Q_9TI9NG3qxFIfXBOGG2P7KhK_cNYw8o4IDVMHio0dogmv_Aj9omeVH12adq9Fsc-mjHm6oo/s320/IMG_1312.jpg" width="320" /></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6xjPQiEhbren9qMoj-yYUZhCM-8ntup7fxpgic4HR-PbRuUZGPUojUV_NJnlKAUA9ACq8aNONWdFEd6jBA3QkQqkb_5ouvS4jl_JREFxoJBFcwwY1BXOSm1pMpohsO4SppESbNIhJ98/s1600/IMG_1712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6xjPQiEhbren9qMoj-yYUZhCM-8ntup7fxpgic4HR-PbRuUZGPUojUV_NJnlKAUA9ACq8aNONWdFEd6jBA3QkQqkb_5ouvS4jl_JREFxoJBFcwwY1BXOSm1pMpohsO4SppESbNIhJ98/s320/IMG_1712.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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While the Earthwatch trip was an incredibly enriching personal experience for myself, the true aim of the project is to increase awareness of global environmental issues in K-12 classrooms. In order to receive our reimbursements for the trip, we need to plan, design, and carry out a lesson plan that related to our Earthwatch experience. I taught a lesson about descriptive language and moths:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUcdYfnTfRVOsFleccr7OF9ctb6WlqC9umfFB4feXbULRmE90ZZc6QwkRVy0IYjZAdlebf2hJvZiJ5G2ikp7e13ZQU-l2X9IlT4wLyesSaEQVtxZeJy9BshZsGSeDsvGFFpwzlmvLq00/s1600/IMG_1709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUcdYfnTfRVOsFleccr7OF9ctb6WlqC9umfFB4feXbULRmE90ZZc6QwkRVy0IYjZAdlebf2hJvZiJ5G2ikp7e13ZQU-l2X9IlT4wLyesSaEQVtxZeJy9BshZsGSeDsvGFFpwzlmvLq00/s320/IMG_1709.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First, I gave each student a picture of a moth from my Earthwatch Ecuador trip. I then taught them the different anatomical parts of the moth, and had them identify each part on their own moth<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmd_se8iupfas42YpgtrOrztJOFBTSfcZev7MnpmSLU57NYgyRcecV8U-ZwN-wPRAEMZNCX8uHbVFsU_bsHS__8BL_q-IhCXM0P3zzqEkPZxDNLxjLgZ2Sk0VHhf9qJNLBfnMuy_sweCg/s1600/image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmd_se8iupfas42YpgtrOrztJOFBTSfcZev7MnpmSLU57NYgyRcecV8U-ZwN-wPRAEMZNCX8uHbVFsU_bsHS__8BL_q-IhCXM0P3zzqEkPZxDNLxjLgZ2Sk0VHhf9qJNLBfnMuy_sweCg/s320/image1.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Next, using a teacher provided graphic organizer, I had each student describe their moth in detail. For example, this student said that "the hindwing has a zig zag along it and it's faded yellow and green." </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCeREkXHWTkJcjT81nGfWEETDViinDbayoGyQfPYGHaqwH4K5FVknhwqEK0XHWt-p2bg-uRy36nWHSDmKy2rBNq-mym09liEjcLSvjf8p50QAjJm9wNDJ6eMm881bSowR9A5Xs0urAPM/s1600/image1-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCeREkXHWTkJcjT81nGfWEETDViinDbayoGyQfPYGHaqwH4K5FVknhwqEK0XHWt-p2bg-uRy36nWHSDmKy2rBNq-mym09liEjcLSvjf8p50QAjJm9wNDJ6eMm881bSowR9A5Xs0urAPM/s320/image1-1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, I gave the description to a student who hadn't seen the original moth picture. Then, they draw the moth according to the description provided. Afterwards, I hand the drawing, along with their description back to the original author. The original author then compares the drawing with the picture. What could they have described in more detail? </td></tr>
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Overall, the students very much enjoyed working with moths, and found the Earthwatch trip to be quite interesting. We had an insightful discussion about the man-made and natural threats to moths and butterflies, and they used lots of Tier III, content-specific vocabulary as well. Hopefully they also learned something about moths along the way!<br />
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In addition to my lesson plan, I also published an article about my Earthwatch trip. Check it out!<br />
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http://laschoolreport.com/commentary-a-caterpillar-curriculum-the-importance-of-environmental-education-in-k-12-urban-classrooms/<br />
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Until next time...<br />
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Until next time...</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08828935249031844046noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-49072703421336737532011-07-07T06:14:00.000-07:002011-07-07T06:14:39.551-07:00Back to the Beginning<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Back in the Fall of 2009, myself and other Pitzer College Seniors spent countless hours crafting our Fulbright Applications, in hopes of traveling the globe in the name of intercultural understanding. Our fantastic Fellowship Advisors supported and guided us through the application process, paying special attention to the important Personal Statement. As outlined on the Fulbright Commission website, </span><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">" The <em>Personal Statement </em>should be a narrative giving a picture of you as an individual. Remember, applicants are not interviewed on the national level. The <em>Personal Statement</em> is your opportunity to “talk” about yourself and to tell the committee more about how you came to this point in your life and where you see yourself in the future. There is no single “right way” to approach the <em>Statement</em>; rather each candidate will consider what they think is important for people reviewing the application to know about them.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <em>Statement</em> can deal with your personal history, family background, influences on your intellectual development, the educational and cultural opportunities (or lack of them) to which you have been exposed, and the ways in which these experiences have affected you. Also, you may include your special interests and abilities, career plans, and life goals, etc. It should not be a recording of facts already listed on the application or an elaboration of your Statement of Grant Purpose. It is more of an autobiography, and specifically related to you and your aspirations. "</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">14 drafts later, I crafted this: </span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">***</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</style> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">The day my two moms met was one of the most moving, enlightening, and surreal days</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">of my life. Not only did I view the world a little differently afterwards, I also learned firsthand that education is not limited to classroom lesson plans.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">While I have a great relationship with my American mom, I was eager to have four</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">months of freedom during my study abroad in Ecuador. This was my opportunity to escape the heated deliberations and head butting that characterized our lively relationship. I would escape the nagging and constant lectures on responsibility and self reliance. Although I want to follow in her footsteps as an educator, a break was well needed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">One thing was certain. I didn’t escape the nagging. I sure didn’t escape the debates. And</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">the lectures were more poignant than ever before. The only thing that was different was the</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">language. If Susan Brown were Ecuadorian she would be Cecilia de Cherréz Velasco, a woman who deeply cares for her “gringo” host children with sincerity only matched by my own mother. If my mother were there with me, she would worry that I would catch a cold in the torrential Andean rains and would hound me on the values of responsibility. Good thing she wasn’t with me, because her clone was doing a perfectly fine job herself.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">When my American mom came to visit and my two moms finally met face to face, a</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">language barrier was evident. Although they could not verbally communicate with one another, they conversed with ease as they effortlessly crossed cultural and linguistic barriers. When I offered my American mom some delicious, yet questionably sanitary street food one day, she told me that the next time I see Cecilia I should ask her if it was safe to eat. Seeing the imminent problem, (as my host mom made me promise to never eat street food) I avoided the question when my two moms met. But my American mom insisted, saying, “Joshua Alan Brown, ask your mother if I can eat the food!”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">I responded, saying, “Mom, trust me, it’s fine.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">However, much to my surprise, Cecilia was one step ahead of me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">What are you talking about?” she inquired in Spanish.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">“<i>Oh, nada, Ceci, todo bien</i>.” I calmly answered, trying to keep my cool.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next thing that happened was one of the most surreal moments of my life. Either my</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">American mom suddenly learned Spanish, or she can read minds, but they both looked at each other with a twinkle in their eye and started yelling. “You gave your mother street food!” Cecilia exclaimed. When one mother would raise her voice at me, the other, completely unaware of what was said, inferred the subject matter and then raised her voice as well, almost mimicking word for word what the other was saying. When they finally finished and the laughing stopped, Cecilia looked at me and said in Spanish, “You are your mother’s son.” No translation was necessary.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was then I finally got it. I watched my two role models, people I aspire to emulate,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">accomplish something so few people can do. They formed a deep meaningful, relationship that spanned language and culture by connecting on a very simple idea. Fortunately for me, I was the very thing that connected them. Because of my personal connections with Cecilia and my mom, they were able to relate to each other based on their relationship with me. But the lesson went a little deeper than that. This experience served as a primer for the very thing I hope to do as a teacher, which is giving people a way to learn about their similarities. I learned that meaningful bonds can open the door to numerous educational opportunities and can transcend even the largest of differences. Even to this day, my two moms still stay in touch via email, with me conveniently translating their letters. Education can indeed continue long after the school bell rings, and is certainly not confined to the classroom.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">*** </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jokes aside, <span style="font-size: small;">as I reflect back on the past 12 months, I wonder if I was able to accomplish the goals I set out for myself in my Personal Statement. When I try and quantify or even qualify that question, I'm simply at a loss for words, much less an answer. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> I guess all I can say is don't worry mom, I've only gotten sick from the street food <span style="font-size: small;">once</span> this year. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Until next time...</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"></div>Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-86230192022335381292011-06-19T20:23:00.000-07:002011-06-19T20:56:00.401-07:00Tales from the Host FamilyAfter 11 months living with my homestay family, we've grown quite close to each other. I feel that in many ways, the role of "host son" and "son" has been blurred. My temporary family member status has not stopped them from fully adopting me, and I couldn't be more grateful. <br />
<br />
Below are a few short snippets that highlight some enlightening aspects of my experience with the Chang Family. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">*** </span><br />
My host dad and I have developed a particularly strong relationship over the past year. Our relationship has flourished for a variety of reasons. Not only does he speak impeccible English, but Chang Jin Ho is also a Renaissance Man. <span style="font-family: Times;">At the ripe old age of 35, he has served as a great older brother to me, offering invaluable advice about a variety of issues. </span><br />
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Every now and then, when my host mom and sister have gone off to sleep, my host dad calls me out into the living room to chat over beer and snacks. I particularly look forward to this "male bonding time" between (host) father and (host) son, especially since these conversations prove to be quite entertaining. Usually we drink alcohol, watch Ultimate Fighting Championship together, and chat about everything from politics to the latest UFC Pay Per View Event. But this last time, the conversation started a little differently than normal: <br />
<br />
"Joshie," my host dad said pensively, as he took a swig of his beer. <br />
<br />
"You know, I am very good at many things in life: When I was soldier in the army, I was the best with gun. I was very accurate. When I studied Englishy, I studied very hard. I speak English very well. I traveled all over the world: I lived in Canada, went to Germany and Italy and Hungary, and lived in Israel. I am also very good athlete: I can play soccer very well, and although I am old, I still run fast. But there is one thing I am very bad at."<br />
<br />
Not one for humility, my host dad is, to be fair, a very talented individual. He is still a tremendous athlete. For little formal training with the language, he speaks impeccable English. He is informed on current events. And he's a very dedicated family man. But alas, no man is perfect. <br />
<br />
Staring pensively into his empty glass, he said, "one thing I am very bad at, Joshie."<br />
<br />
I sat there, bracing myself for something serious. We've talked about a number of heavy issues before, such as coming of age, marriage, and children. But little did I know the severity of his problem. <br />
<br />
"Woman. I do not understand woman."<br />
<br />
<br />
Although we come from different countries, speak different languages, and practice different customs, I am always amazed at the minute aspects of daily life that weave the common thread of humanity through us all. I've reached this ephiphany a few times this year, when piercing moments of clarity shed light on the human existance. And they always seem to come at the strangest of times, in the strangest of ways. <br />
<br />
Instead of offering advice, I pondered the significance of the moment. For some people, intercultural understanding happens very overtly- a major breakthrough in communication, or a unspoken noble act that is acknowledged by all. Maybe they joined a Taekwondo class, or tutored North Korean refugees. For me, at that very moment, I learned a supreme lesson-<br />
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The old addage really is true <i>everywhere in the world</i>: "You can't live with them, but you can't live without them." <br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">***</span><br />
<br />
The scene: A typical evening at the Chang Residence. My host mom just put my little sister to sleep, and I am putzing around in my room, doing nothing productive. <br />
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Around 8:30pm that night, as I was fiddling around on my guitar, my host mom bolted into the house as if being chased by the Devil himself.<br />
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"FIRE!! FIRE!!!" She exclaimed.<br />
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I immediately dropped what I was doing and rushed outside. As I turned the corner outside of our house, I discovered a menacing conflagration of epic proportions. The once unassuming field behind our house was ablaze in a fiery dance of flames that would make a pyromaniac jealous. As smoke bellowed towards my living room window, I envisioned the charred remains of my most prized possessions among the rubble of my homestay. What would I do if my house burned down? Where would I live? What would I do? How the heck did I not notice this impending doom creeping towards my bedroom window?What about my Mac? It's still under warranty, right? If I could only save one thing, what would it be? My Ipod or my- Errrrrr, maybe I should do something about this?<br />
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Like any good host son, I immediately jumped into action. Along with the other middle-aged men in the neighborhood who came out to help, we formed a relay line to bucket sand and water on the fire. 10 minutes later, the blaze was extinguished, and the day was saved. <br />
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Talk about being a Cultural Ambassador, right? Other Fulbrighters may have formed meaningful reationships through serving their community, or participating in local customs, but I <i>SAVED </i>my homestay from a blazing inferno! <br />
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Little did I know, the real heat would start when my host dad got home. After investigating the scene, he wrote off the event as nothing more than a gross over-reaction on the part of my host mom. As she explained every second of the terrifying ordeal to my host dad, he casually perused the newspaper.<br />
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"Thats nice, honey." He mumbled, unperturbed by the raging conflagration that struck mere hours earlier. <br />
<br />
And with each disinterested nod, more fuel was added to the fire. As the old saying goes, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." <br />
<br />
<br />
That night, after my host mom and sister went off to sleep, my host dad called me into the living room to chat over beer and snacks. <br />
<br />
"Joshie," my host dad said pensively, as he took a swig of his beer. "one thing I am very bad at..."<br />
<br />
<br />
Until next time...Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-64154207068919889652011-05-02T20:49:00.000-07:002011-05-02T20:49:28.778-07:00Take Me Out to the Ball Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
Last weekend, I attended my first Korean baseball game. On Friday night, a friend and I watched the Kia Tigers of Gwangju face off against the Lotte Giants of Busan: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZqIYfhxIr-3_BkRHxE3h6U6wC5y0DvIku0qOMa0BvRwI9k8-iC5Llz4h8o_-OW1kCMOO51Gj42S-XcazhMBH88ZmRQ6XIIEQCDeR-LvhzZXSnHOXvuC0bV25Gu-4BAA03vbYodDV-00/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-05-02+at+10.04.15+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ZqIYfhxIr-3_BkRHxE3h6U6wC5y0DvIku0qOMa0BvRwI9k8-iC5Llz4h8o_-OW1kCMOO51Gj42S-XcazhMBH88ZmRQ6XIIEQCDeR-LvhzZXSnHOXvuC0bV25Gu-4BAA03vbYodDV-00/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-05-02+at+10.04.15+PM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 10-time league champion Kia Tigers are the most successful team in the history of the Korean Baseball Organization</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5W1zzqutsb2P3nG2E14eFwCH7ZNOYmNy2_unuVEmPw_0-vlMmqoadvMfgOQcZziY8pRMieYG4y8d-QLfBIi1PVth0xIHYiF-e62fEYicsDK_3EfkubDuj8o7nJZdRrAiX67KMdOF4vI/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-05-02+at+10.22.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5W1zzqutsb2P3nG2E14eFwCH7ZNOYmNy2_unuVEmPw_0-vlMmqoadvMfgOQcZziY8pRMieYG4y8d-QLfBIi1PVth0xIHYiF-e62fEYicsDK_3EfkubDuj8o7nJZdRrAiX67KMdOF4vI/s320/Screen+shot+2011-05-02+at+10.22.43+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lotte Giants, while not as successful as the Tigers, hold the single season fan attendance record at 1.38 million spectators for the 2009 season. It also helps they are a big market team, playing in the 2nd largest city in South Korea. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After a modest 7,000 won entrance fee (roughly $6.56) we found our seats at Gwangju Mudeung Stadium: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1SAyn4aTjlhar9ZOI9ZqvM5RSNIvhYZrmX6h7uJkIUfAQzd3lv0_3MdgwxhA3_kEt6stUk2GiPwrtQBSnHTn_gJi6JuR3UOGtYs7MJtPXn0HsafYTjQklKY_0kfvK9w4SUOoqIumMuo/s1600/DSCF0872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1SAyn4aTjlhar9ZOI9ZqvM5RSNIvhYZrmX6h7uJkIUfAQzd3lv0_3MdgwxhA3_kEt6stUk2GiPwrtQBSnHTn_gJi6JuR3UOGtYs7MJtPXn0HsafYTjQklKY_0kfvK9w4SUOoqIumMuo/s320/DSCF0872.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its no Fenway Park, but the 15,000 seat Mudeung Stadium is conveniently located by the Gwangju bus terminal, making my journey to the stadium quick and easy. </td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the most distinct differences in fan behavior between US ball games and Korean ball games is the general attitude towards the sport. "America's Past Time" has become a multi-million dollar industry complete with corporate sponsorships, associated TV stations, and a network of amateur, semi professional and professional leagues of would-be big leaguers. Millions of young Americans grew up dreaming of playing for their hometown team and envisioned their name next to the Greats in Cooperstown. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although American missionaries introduced Baseball on the Korean penninsula in 1905, it wasn't until 1981 that a professional league was founded. The Korean Baseball Organization, or KBO, oversees the Korean National Baseball Team, which participates in the Olympics, the World Baseball Classic and the Little League World Series. Today, pro ball players in Korea do not enjoy the same luxuries of their counterparts across the pond. The best talent is signed into the MLB, and those that cannot make it in the States come over to Korea to try and make it here. Consequently, pro teams are corporate-owned and operated, thus a team's image is more a reflection of their parent company and less grounded in geography. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For example, my hometown team, the Kia Tigers of Gwangju, are owned by the Kia Corporation. Kia also has its biggest production facilities in Gwangju and thus use the team as a way to market themselves. Unlike the United States whose team names reflect their regional affiliation, and teams market themselves geographically, Baseball is a completely corporate entity here in Korea.*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">*For arguments sake, one could claim that the MLB has become a completely corporate entity as well, but I digress...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Other than a distinct difference in player quality, and a lack of peanuts and cracker jacks, fan behavior mimicked that of the US in many ways. Fathers explained the finer points of the game to their children, the ever popular "Kiss Cam" caught unsuspecting couples (or my favorite, siblings) on the big screen in between innings, and fans donned their home team gear. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Overall, our evening at the ballpark was great fun, and for $7 a ticket, I look forward to attending many more games in the future. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until next time... </div><span id="goog_1589473580"></span><span id="goog_1589473581"></span>Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-47100651504044348382011-04-18T05:49:00.000-07:002011-04-18T05:54:18.724-07:00Spring has SprungThis past weekend, a group of friends and I went up to Seoul to attend the annual Cherry Blossom festival, a popular Spring event that attracts thousands of visitors. For many East Asian countries, the blooming of the Cherry Blossom tree officially marks the beginning of the new season, and numerous festivals take place all over the region:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzFT-sYcmwK5kVMaauI4JRh7Snxowo7X4kc62uXp6Z0X9UGF7tIuJ0BfLEfs2WkvBj6q_Rym5NUDPfQhhhmbeIhUGAGB6kD_W_GZ46K8O2vEtjTsOfZPMuIuaFhr3dRlfvWjL2WPUj-I/s1600/DSCF0857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzFT-sYcmwK5kVMaauI4JRh7Snxowo7X4kc62uXp6Z0X9UGF7tIuJ0BfLEfs2WkvBj6q_Rym5NUDPfQhhhmbeIhUGAGB6kD_W_GZ46K8O2vEtjTsOfZPMuIuaFhr3dRlfvWjL2WPUj-I/s320/DSCF0857.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A row of Cherry blossoms in full bloom. According to my host father, (who heard it on the news) 2 million people visited the festival over the weekend. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In 1912, approximately 3,000 Cherry Blossom trees were given to the United States as a sign of friendship from Japan. They were planted in Washington DC, and have since become a popular tourist attraction. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QGcHomFGmq1wkIFWEdFJfa0Ab38nG39sAsgu7k9uHswvA1OJLjNNB1Agda3oDKadYrVR10MCuBbPsFbwhPtqaNF0RvC_fL1ozLxw7Ou-nookCzwVDqrxBSpJWAtSsfMeAlY_53C7JEM/s1600/DSCF0853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QGcHomFGmq1wkIFWEdFJfa0Ab38nG39sAsgu7k9uHswvA1OJLjNNB1Agda3oDKadYrVR10MCuBbPsFbwhPtqaNF0RvC_fL1ozLxw7Ou-nookCzwVDqrxBSpJWAtSsfMeAlY_53C7JEM/s320/DSCF0853.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In line with Korea's obsession with cutesy depictions of <i>everything, </i>(see previous post) a anthropomorphic Soju bottle isn't anything out of the ordinary. Just another day at the Cherry Blossom Festival!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<u>War and Peace</u><br />
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After visiting the Cherry Blossom Festival, we decided to visit the Korean War Memorial, a museum that chronicles the military history of the peninsula.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk1ySq63HcmbPNVs0i10o-n4iDJmSrbBCV6ksLxtHuBTsLvrUD9Luh-5hYnOoT0E2OAxBJYh7H2UkUUMLf04AALK7eZYacTZdKDlk2P2HaTGxTnj1KnglJZINTRg2z_He1NqnnalYoCU/s1600/DSCF0863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimk1ySq63HcmbPNVs0i10o-n4iDJmSrbBCV6ksLxtHuBTsLvrUD9Luh-5hYnOoT0E2OAxBJYh7H2UkUUMLf04AALK7eZYacTZdKDlk2P2HaTGxTnj1KnglJZINTRg2z_He1NqnnalYoCU/s320/DSCF0863.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The War Memorial of Korea serves as a physical document to the military history of the nation, a memorial for those who served, and a glimpse into the future of the Korean armed forces. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>The complex itself is grandiose- in many ways, the museum seemed to function more as a promotion of military prowess and expansion than a somber memorial to the social costs of war. After watching a few boys gawking at the tanks and airplanes in the main showroom, I quickly realized the correlation between mandatory male conscription into the army and the glorification of war.<br />
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Since the cease-fire that ended the Korean War in 1953, South Korea enacted a mandatory military conscription for all males. Fearing an imminent threat from the north, a large standing army has been mobilized ever since. In this context, the glorification of the Republic of Korea's armed forces makes a little more sense-if every male must enlist, The Korean War museum serves as much as a somber memorial as it does as a tool for enlistment. <br />
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Although the military hardware was pretty cool to look at, the most fascinating part of the museum by far was way in which certain information was presented. Given its importance in peninsular history, The Korean War was presented in great detail. Fascinatingly enough, while I was walking through the exhibit, I was joined by a number of US Army servicemen who are stationed here in South Korea. Although the war has been over for almost 60 years, the mere presence of 29,000 US servicemen in the country speaks to the lasting effects of the war. Sadly, the armistice agreement of 1953 achieved nothing but a divided nation at the cost of 3 million lives.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh8o4TnFgUYOyFuOhqTdlTDDV2zYsv1_0mmktN4uos7hG7c9bWIey9RjIUrwKwJzr9E74_JDARFZWdimnJT0fZRUdPBdbE7ky4K76zyHFBbiCiAdYKI80L57N_q4DaSK9vVbYU3BS0mw/s1600/DSCF0862.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglh8o4TnFgUYOyFuOhqTdlTDDV2zYsv1_0mmktN4uos7hG7c9bWIey9RjIUrwKwJzr9E74_JDARFZWdimnJT0fZRUdPBdbE7ky4K76zyHFBbiCiAdYKI80L57N_q4DaSK9vVbYU3BS0mw/s320/DSCF0862.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flags of all 22 nations that fought alongside South Korea during the Korean War. Interestingly, the United States sent more troops and suffered more casualties than any allied nation on the South Korean side of the conflict, with the exception of South Korea itself. The US sent 480,000 troops, and the second largest ally, England, sent 63,000 troops. To put things in perspective, South Korea provided 590,000 troops. </td></tr>
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The museum moves chronologically through South Korea's armed conflicts during the 20th century. When walking through the Vietnam War Exhibit, one placard in particular caught my attention. Since South Korea was indebted to the United States following the Korean War, they have assisted in every US foreign policy action during the second half of the 20th century. Along with the 2.7 million Americans who served in the Vietnam War in some capacity, South Korea sent an additional 313,000 troops. Yet the museums portrayal of the conflict was quite fascinating: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Abyl5pZEPtDzf9nhmsYvDRXHxLOKBZzZOD0DKCaA8w9BvAezfi2mg9feWo8wUcI4a7c3jNEbsDMQMRB8JLnkQnsaIahq1-5rpDftpYbx0CDA4yY2Z-M_7RsuT3sODtjd_RZ79S58tMY/s1600/DSCF0861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Abyl5pZEPtDzf9nhmsYvDRXHxLOKBZzZOD0DKCaA8w9BvAezfi2mg9feWo8wUcI4a7c3jNEbsDMQMRB8JLnkQnsaIahq1-5rpDftpYbx0CDA4yY2Z-M_7RsuT3sODtjd_RZ79S58tMY/s320/DSCF0861.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Through the dispatch of our armed forces to Vietnam, we gained confidence and experience in building a more self-reliant defense force. It also increased the momentum of our economic development, strengthened the U.S. commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea, and solidified South Korea's politico-military status vis-a-vis the United States. Furthermore, the impressive performance of the Korean forces in Vietnam enhanced our international reputation. <br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">From the United States' perspective the War in Vietnam did not foster the same "confidence and experience" that our South Korean allies had. Instead, the conflict polarized the nation. From the South Korean perspective, the debacle in Vietnam proved an important stepping stone in increasing economic momentum and international reputation. Sadly, the war solidified the US military-industrial complex, further damaging our international reputation.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">International politics aside, my trip to Seoul proved to be quite educational, and gave me a new appreciation for the capital city. After a 4 hour trip back down to my little pear village of Naju, I started the daily grind again on Monday morning. This weekend, I hope to attend my first Korean Baseball game. Be on the lookout for another post.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Until next time...</span></div><br />
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</tbody></table>Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-63472912662480181362011-04-04T05:49:00.000-07:002011-04-04T05:49:37.736-07:00The Birds and the BeesAfter an uneventful March, the month finished with a trip to Jeju Island for the 2011 Fulbright Spring Conference. Over the past weekend, all 106 English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) gathered at the KAL Hotel in the town of Seogwipo, generously funded by the US State Department:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8onJgpKq8HVOyFgriTUYpnZ0kRXWy9_J9lc6qzIS_VjXsm2_1sAK8EUNxAxfZY8J1d_3G151XF5lE7SlAa2e_F3QJvVpq7hxXKuLFdpksRrGunYfxd02EBaNo7C-GC2L6u2CrAJTC_0/s1600/DSCF0852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8onJgpKq8HVOyFgriTUYpnZ0kRXWy9_J9lc6qzIS_VjXsm2_1sAK8EUNxAxfZY8J1d_3G151XF5lE7SlAa2e_F3QJvVpq7hxXKuLFdpksRrGunYfxd02EBaNo7C-GC2L6u2CrAJTC_0/s320/DSCF0852.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The glorious KAL hotel </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bfB1Edrx9dW1-OvFgMypdFVyM2Anrm2oQtmY80HJEAU8XcGQpoZ2qHxv24HZPtu0V4aqdrvFSIo2l-GXeaNRCj23fIRrbDgt-OAGLBqWtLmKEKl00wZehA2QI3GPO9Rwz2VVbzctymw/s1600/DSCF0851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bfB1Edrx9dW1-OvFgMypdFVyM2Anrm2oQtmY80HJEAU8XcGQpoZ2qHxv24HZPtu0V4aqdrvFSIo2l-GXeaNRCj23fIRrbDgt-OAGLBqWtLmKEKl00wZehA2QI3GPO9Rwz2VVbzctymw/s320/DSCF0851.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeju is known as a vacation island for mainland Koreans, due to its scenery and (somewhat) better weather. Imported palm trees dot the landscape, giving this foreign land a feeling reminiscent of my home back in Southern California. I bet they look a little strange when it snows!</td></tr>
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<br />
For the first two days, we conferenced about a variety of topics ranging from teaching pedagogy to home stay issues. While the discussions proved useful and informative, I found the most educational part of the trip to be the final day. Fulbright generously provided the opportunity to participate in an all day tour of the island, but I declined since I had already done those activities when I visited Jeju with my high school last Fall. <br />
A group of friends and I had been planning for months on stuffing our faces full of delicious Equine, which I experienced for the first time with my fellow teachers during my last visit to the island. USD $32 later, I dined on raw horse, horse sashimi, horse brisket, grilled horse, horse intestine, and horse liver. After literally eating a horse, we pondered our next destination during our free day. Interestingly enough, Jeju is home to South Korea's tallest mountain, a teddy bear museum, a traditional village/folklore theme park, a hedge maze, and the country's only erotic-themed park. I bet you can figure out which place we chose to visit. <br />
Looking to further our roles as cultural ambassadors, we thought it a grand idea to learn about love, Korea style. Plus, I had already visited the aforementioned attractions with my high school, but our trip conveniently left Love Land off the itinerary. <br />
Love Land's existence is the result of a few socio-historical trends that culminated in the construction of a park filled with phallic statues and suggestive art work. Jeju Island's warm weather and picturesque scenery has attracted newlyweds who were unable to afford international travel, inspiring the nickname "Honeymoon Isle." Moreover, until the early 1990's, arranged marriages were common place. As a result, hotels offered seminars and shows to ease shy, unfamiliar couples into consummation. Sure enough, this small island a few miles south of the peninsula became the leader in sexual education and home to South Korea's only sex park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLF5xwTAzRsgBUiIYItTmQIeQtKkSJYtiij9It4f5C8IiFc9O1he4UJG2AFXfxEhtDuQbo6xj1Lx1-dkD3SzaJV1PwqR3g99o3eEFTnxhAYVG81fGjl4z_Mzko4zfofOG-gV64OqT5BM/s1600/DSCF0847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfLF5xwTAzRsgBUiIYItTmQIeQtKkSJYtiij9It4f5C8IiFc9O1he4UJG2AFXfxEhtDuQbo6xj1Lx1-dkD3SzaJV1PwqR3g99o3eEFTnxhAYVG81fGjl4z_Mzko4zfofOG-gV64OqT5BM/s320/DSCF0847.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Love Land! South Korea is obsessed with "cutesy" depictions of everything, including human reproductive organs. I'll let you come up with your own dirty joke here. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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After a modest $9 entrance fee, we curiously entered Love Land. As expected, the park was filled with suggestive statues, phallic objects, artistic interpretations of genitalia, and even a gift shop! Coincidentally enough, my trip to Love Land also coincided with the first semblance of the Spring Season. The lotus flowers were beginning to bloom, (in more ways than one) and the smell of rejuvenated fertility filled the air. Needless to say, the birds and the bees were busy in more ways than one. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewxChCdcgsbLFwG5UHzQSrid4iAACznKLFRlZVua16mHrBBusncDH_kmVX5kjZOllDQOvLpKqyClJoe7oww5G7eUJHI1wTB-0M1kBdG7VzNSIZ2ytFgfc3-RpVl9Tr2COU9baKs1I3cI/s1600/DSCF0846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewxChCdcgsbLFwG5UHzQSrid4iAACznKLFRlZVua16mHrBBusncDH_kmVX5kjZOllDQOvLpKqyClJoe7oww5G7eUJHI1wTB-0M1kBdG7VzNSIZ2ytFgfc3-RpVl9Tr2COU9baKs1I3cI/s320/DSCF0846.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Food for thought: A recent survey states that 50% of Koreans do not believe that homosexuality exists in their country. Apparently Love Land doesn't either. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
If looking at suggestive artwork wasn't provoking enough, the hordes of middle-aged Koreans roaming the park with us only added to the surrealism. While we were floored by the graphic forwardness, the other patrons acted as if they were at the Louvre. I guess seeing a 10 foot tall golden phallus isn't that strange after all!! Euphemisms aside, Love Land was definitely a stimulating climax to my Jeju weekend. <br />
Until next time...Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-76954042566757993182011-02-20T00:56:00.000-08:002011-02-20T01:01:43.372-08:00My Life as a Korean High School StudentGreetings from Goesan, South Korea!<br />
Goesan, the site of my orientation back in July, is my new home for the month of February. I'm back at Jungwon University, also known as the "marble palace," a moniker myself and my fellow ETAs dubbed this ostentatious stone monument to education. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQXVqP-ZWLxB8Tu8nkPHZDEJr-ndzKr2f18cbNgI_8rap2FRSdDfExLxforOcGVMVvZwwyYbwthE7GKEZArPzB70ZMDAWKPwel6PxAhts123RiZfFvp2n0uV4_f6lflEgAhES8NAsQvk/s320/DSCF0041.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Marble Palace, July 2010. In case you forgot what it looked like...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEAu-rbUyflQrV8sYjpC5Ndp27YoqwRR3zdQk34MsigEGR9BUly6-QEMiAnTRMKzi63OaTFERPLBoQ3h28phbHFrgYzZbKN6vQ7PsDGdrorqnjbgv7p4a1NSXgdV_1b-0SCKy383_WHk/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-20+at+3.44.25+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEAu-rbUyflQrV8sYjpC5Ndp27YoqwRR3zdQk34MsigEGR9BUly6-QEMiAnTRMKzi63OaTFERPLBoQ3h28phbHFrgYzZbKN6vQ7PsDGdrorqnjbgv7p4a1NSXgdV_1b-0SCKy383_WHk/s320/Screen+shot+2011-02-20+at+3.44.25+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The marble palace, circa February, 2011. By the way, I don't claim to be an expert on winter, but paving the walkways in marble is not conducive for traction, especially when it snows....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I arrived on February 4th to participate in the State Department Critical Language Enhancement Award program, (known as CLEA) for short. The program <br />
" ....helps promote the Fulbright Program's goals of cross-cultural exchange and dialogue. Fulbright grantees capable of communicating in the local language in their host countries are likely to form stronger bonds with their peers, conduct more meaningful research, and develop a greater understanding of a foreign culture. The experience grantees bring home after their Critical Language Enhancement Award and Fulbright grant will serve them in their chosen careers and throughout their lives. "<br />
What does this mean in laments terms?<br />
STUDY KOREAN ALL THE TIME. To be specific, that means 6 hours a day, 6 days a week of intensive Korean, totaling 120 hours of language instruction in one month. It may sound tortuous, (and it is) but it was an incredible opportunity I couldn't pass up. CLEA is only available for specific "hard to learn" languages, such as Arabic, Chinese, Turkish, Urdu, and Korean, and you're only eligible if you're a Fulbright grantee in one of the aforementioned countries. While its a rather competitive award to receive, the tangible benefits are numerous, aside from the obvious perk of sticking "U.S State Department-Critical Language Enhancement Award, Korean" on your resume. Plus, 40 of my closest Fulbrighter friends are here with me also. <br />
The best part is that the State Department funds the <i>entire</i> program, including tuition, room, and board. So here I am, back at the marble palace for free, in a quadruple room with three other Fulbrighters. Since we're all in class from 9am to 4pm, Monday through Saturday, and studying late into the evenings, we don't spend too much time in the room together.<br />
The intensity of this program accurately mimics the daily lives of Korean high school students, who spend upwards of eight to nine hours a day at school, not including extra classes in the evenings. As a part of the education system that feeds this ferocious tenacity for studying, I couldn't help but juxtapose my current situation with that of my students. How do they stay sane? My life for the past two weeks has revolved around Korean, Korean language, Korean studying, an hour at the gym everyday, and Korean workbooks. I've barely had time to myself, let alone socialize or relax. I can only imagine the stresses that the average high school student endures. Good thing the program finishes on March 1st.<br />
Although CLEA has been stressful, and we stumble through the language like babbling toddlers, our classes often result in butchering the Korean language to the point of hilarity. <br />
After learning the prepositions "after," and "before," we practiced a free form dialogue describing the daily activities of the textbook's handsome main character, Yoon Sangwoo.<br />
The objective of the exercise was to utilize the prepositions to correctly form a sentence according to the order of the pictures. For example, Sangwoo eats breakfast after he wakes up. He goes to work in the office building after he eats breakfast:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CJLZZky1myY-cXXzqyITrrY2gLALT4sz0pcki7MJ6mkXR0CsnM6gGhUu7iwp-D-3qE-rgw_6Zc_WQcgvjBniV9DOfP5MtZBuyfkuRnlnM8psWDTpgyCicckPFU0bm-3bXTLizX78Ngk/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-02-20+at+5.50.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2CJLZZky1myY-cXXzqyITrrY2gLALT4sz0pcki7MJ6mkXR0CsnM6gGhUu7iwp-D-3qE-rgw_6Zc_WQcgvjBniV9DOfP5MtZBuyfkuRnlnM8psWDTpgyCicckPFU0bm-3bXTLizX78Ngk/s320/Screen+shot+2011-02-20+at+5.50.27+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What does Yoon Sangwoo do after he goes to work in the office?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The next picture, however, really stumped one of my classmates. His turn was to describe what Sangwoo did after he went to work in the office. Perplexed, he asks the teacher, (or 선생님 in Korean):<br />
"선생님, how do you say 'volunteer?'"<br />
We all look at him, wondering why he was asking such a bizarre question. He immediately follows up with <br />
"선생님, how do you say 'blind'?"<br />
The rest of class sat there confused as to what he was thinking. <br />
Finally, he says his answer (translated from Korean):<br />
"Sangwoo volunteers with blind people after he goes to work."<br />
The class erupted in laughter. Apparently, Yoon Sangwoo is a businessman with a heart for social service. <br />
When we're not talking about Yoon Sangwoo's daily routine, our textbook teaches us useful phrases such as "I do not go to class because I drink Soju last night and I am sick today," "the boy is fat and short but nice," and "my birthday is next month. Buy me a present!"<br />
I don't know if this means I can "form stronger bonds with my peers, conduct more meaningful research, and develop a greater understanding of a foreign culture," (as the State Department suggests) but it I can now construct the ever so useful phrase "the fat boy volunteers with blind people after he drinks soju." <br />
I return to my pear village of Naju on March 1st to begin work again. Until then, it's study study study. <br />
Until next time...Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-53348009743625252112011-01-30T07:38:00.000-08:002011-01-30T07:38:26.456-08:00The Big "G" in "HK"Some people are diametrically opposed to it, others say it will usher in a new era of prosperity. I'm not talking about the Tampa Bay Devil Rays recent acquisition of former teammates Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez, I'm talking about the "big G:" Globalization. A city defined by this phenomenon, my recent trip to Hong Kong (abbreviated as "HK") was an enlightening time for not only my intellect, but my belly as well. I enjoyed delicious food and drink and fantastic company, all in the backdrop of one of the premier cities in the world.<br />
A far cry from the charming and culturally rich India, Hong Kong is a city struggling over its identity, torn between its Chinese roots and its recent financial success in the global market. We flew into this metropolis of 7 million at 7am on January 8th and were graciously welcomed by Rahul's college friend Sanam. Groggy from our red eye flight, she generously hosted us at her beautiful apartment for the next week, putting up with our antics and jokes the whole time. Thanks so much Sanam, you're great!!!<br />
After dropping our bags , we rushed off to Rahul's uncle's house. A tailor by trade, Rahul's uncle fitted us both for matching gray suits. The suit business is a big business here in Hong Kong, a city that has a record setting 8000 skyscrapers. That means lots of office space, and lots of businessmen who need suits. After our fittings, we went home, took a nap, and headed out for a night out on the town. Sadly, my suit wouldn't be ready until the end of the trip, so I couldn't sport it that night. <br />
To put things in perspective, I spent more money that night than I did during the past 6 days in Mumbai. Granted, room and board were covered by Rahul's relatives in India, but Hong Kong is by no means a cheap place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjE5w3Hn3KvBcKCjh3DwKYjppfCX5nH1uMfzBwZ7EfjXmGXbQSDyDfN5Y5S8wTW2qzKZ5MFq3r65vT48U4wf_xdJWI1kbPSR0WL1XCx-74JfglCikn_ekjFyxeCXXgSUGxVojl3KxumM0/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-30+at+10.44.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjE5w3Hn3KvBcKCjh3DwKYjppfCX5nH1uMfzBwZ7EfjXmGXbQSDyDfN5Y5S8wTW2qzKZ5MFq3r65vT48U4wf_xdJWI1kbPSR0WL1XCx-74JfglCikn_ekjFyxeCXXgSUGxVojl3KxumM0/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-30+at+10.44.28+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanam, her friend Vrishant, and yours truly</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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My first impressions of Hong Kong was sheer awe at the economic prowess of the city. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of South Korea's rapid modernization. High Rise apartment buildings and corporate skyscrapers stretched for as far as the eye could see. People movers of all sorts were efficiently functioning at full capacity. Prada, gucci, and coach were in vogue for women. Suits and briefcases for men. The sidewalks were so clean you could eat off of them. And things were really expensive! (comparative to India, of course..)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIP2q0fPhdOxXEwcB54VQNVRx_3UYLRQA1Jh7PVv5l0eVKUMkXCp6E1vzb1xZsq3bqH6USnAjkw8X0wgL8GrWOpPKK28vXKxJZrfCX8Gejd7yc6AqQ3RgmJbU_1SrsCL5iz4Q0s87ADcA/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+2.27.26+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIP2q0fPhdOxXEwcB54VQNVRx_3UYLRQA1Jh7PVv5l0eVKUMkXCp6E1vzb1xZsq3bqH6USnAjkw8X0wgL8GrWOpPKK28vXKxJZrfCX8Gejd7yc6AqQ3RgmJbU_1SrsCL5iz4Q0s87ADcA/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+2.27.26+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To put things into perspective: A view of Hong Kong's skyline, circa 1986</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC8sNAU2eVEgUZc0Yd-63rJSJ64kwmjahToyLeMzlgYG4erJiCmJOYReDV0jNEjFeXYcnUgS0MnuwbWKdEJ2MfsmqYsYMeQeIJfGqT-f4ETARhK8ZXpjreLDa4L5Mr980l85MIh-izqw/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+2.28.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC8sNAU2eVEgUZc0Yd-63rJSJ64kwmjahToyLeMzlgYG4erJiCmJOYReDV0jNEjFeXYcnUgS0MnuwbWKdEJ2MfsmqYsYMeQeIJfGqT-f4ETARhK8ZXpjreLDa4L5Mr980l85MIh-izqw/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+2.28.10+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Hong Kong's skyline, circa 2009</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Yet the region also boasts a vibrant array of cultural and historical sites. The next day, we headed to the "Las Vegas of Asia," Macau. The island also happens to be a former Portuguese colony, and in between the multi million dollar casinos are traces of its colonial history.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWxE4SkI0GkTefn6a_quYAjVRtTMYKuqIKyZpJ_iXzRIJkNfwzxB8vIgaLR8IQGfLB_bdGCPuvWFlbkjHIZixFOVaEe9pHMx8LJJ_46-2t2i0hqiXVx9kEL-tuVmIfkkATnLDVgeucPk/s1600/DSCF0778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWxE4SkI0GkTefn6a_quYAjVRtTMYKuqIKyZpJ_iXzRIJkNfwzxB8vIgaLR8IQGfLB_bdGCPuvWFlbkjHIZixFOVaEe9pHMx8LJJ_46-2t2i0hqiXVx9kEL-tuVmIfkkATnLDVgeucPk/s320/DSCF0778.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Macau, an island of contrast: In the background, the Grand Lisboa Hotel juxtaposed against a less than flattering relic from its past</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHIHwpi1PMmriUaahIxFHdPbfsY14rZT9VfQbWK8R-se8Rn1xlwaBKQoU752Mqtv_4eKX9n7jP-lWA3PdrFzmFXGQvrl1-mSGm2KVLdfVOYw9HrOF_1dCI3DvpLBnmtivJ2kCLiMsJi8/s1600/DSCF0782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHIHwpi1PMmriUaahIxFHdPbfsY14rZT9VfQbWK8R-se8Rn1xlwaBKQoU752Mqtv_4eKX9n7jP-lWA3PdrFzmFXGQvrl1-mSGm2KVLdfVOYw9HrOF_1dCI3DvpLBnmtivJ2kCLiMsJi8/s320/DSCF0782.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A perfect representation of Macau's storied history: signs appear in Mandarin, Portugese, and English respectively<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyf16zlPdVG94Vkalonxv_uKarF1JqF3QAfE4oNkzS6_bTSEuDEv4ImRBrIeSng5kbSQlRtO8EYbUQHsmB6MfP4sO5_I6bPdB36AD8H5CNHKkerriB0sQ6-BHZpQqnNAB016NRHy7IpY/s1600/DSCF0785.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyf16zlPdVG94Vkalonxv_uKarF1JqF3QAfE4oNkzS6_bTSEuDEv4ImRBrIeSng5kbSQlRtO8EYbUQHsmB6MfP4sO5_I6bPdB36AD8H5CNHKkerriB0sQ6-BHZpQqnNAB016NRHy7IpY/s320/DSCF0785.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Ruins of St. Pauls , a 17th century Portuguese Cathedral</td></tr>
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The rest of the week was highlighted by visits with Rahul's relatives, shopping, and relaxing. The heartbeat of the city, however, intrigued me. As we strolled through Tsim Tsa Tsui (known locally as "TST"), I couldn't help but gawk at the exorbitant amount of wealth around me, and ponder the big "G," Globalization. Sanam, our host, was able to contextualize my presumptions: She works at the Duty Free Shops Gallery, a high end luxury merchandise store and recounted stories of Chinese businessmen who come in with suitcases of cold, hard, cash and nonchalantly drop 10-15 thousand USD on luxury items. Apparently, these are routine transactions and many luxury shops in Hong Kong now encourage their employees to not only speak Cantonese, the native language of Hong Kong, but Mandarin, the official language of China in order to increase patronage from the mainland. <br />
That "G" word, Globalization, was constantly ringing throughout my head as I strolled through Hong Kong. These absurdly wealthy Chinese businessmen, many of whom own factories right over the border, are making tons of money off of exporting their goods. The Nike dunks, Swisher vacuums, Johnson and Johnson baby soap, LED lights, Ford car radiators, Dell computer monitors, Nokia cell phones, and Hansboro toys that millions of Americans consume every year are produced right over the border in Shenzhen, trucked to the port of Hong Kong, and shipped across the Pacific to the Port of LA.<br />
I couldn't help but think, "This is Globalization in <i>action!!" </i>Hong Kong epitomizes this trend-almost 15% of the workforce are importer/exporters, responsible for greasing the wheels of our global economy. After visiting Hong Kong, Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Washington a few weeks ago made a lot more sense to me: I saw first-hand why American corporations pushed President Obama to negotiate a more beneficial free trade policy with China. Any trans-national company, from Goldman Sachs to McDonalds, has a corporate office in Hong Kong. Thousands of American expats live, work, and raise their families there, directly benefiting from the immense economic stimulation provided by its ties with not only China, but other Asian countries as well. <br />
But I digress...<br />
In between over intellectualizing America's place in an increasingly competitive global market, I did manage to see a few sites.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3rDhRtjOOH7mU9vuyjoXf_tbV43l0g2jvtCXbXT0TUi-KGsXk1qkFkr0qw1_b11PFhKEnphbNr1tbfeOMqWC-ua6I7duxh5wGUSOeNMjltgUm48cAdmW_Wh9V-RSiI_ZTLm9NjAoLI8/s1600/DSCF0822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3rDhRtjOOH7mU9vuyjoXf_tbV43l0g2jvtCXbXT0TUi-KGsXk1qkFkr0qw1_b11PFhKEnphbNr1tbfeOMqWC-ua6I7duxh5wGUSOeNMjltgUm48cAdmW_Wh9V-RSiI_ZTLm9NjAoLI8/s320/DSCF0822.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I went to my first horse race! While I didn't bet or win for that matter, the scene was really engaging: the race course was flanked by high rise apartment buildings on all sides, creating a sophisticated, urban feel. </td></tr>
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I also visited Lan Tau island, home of the Tian Tan Buddha. Built in the early 1990s, the Buddha not only serves as a religious pilgrimage site for Buddhists, but one of the most popular tourist destinations in Hong Kong: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbgULUM15J_EbD_vXAJcQycx6X4NoX3G98gFxezN1Y5B3Ubcc1tAkorK5v3TMru_MDdnpn7CT_WKncFzgavp5ijK3ahYi1uxfQmC4-_HRQ4tWdDACXmgM5xssvb58ya-w6fgs78NbnA8/s1600/DSCF0821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbgULUM15J_EbD_vXAJcQycx6X4NoX3G98gFxezN1Y5B3Ubcc1tAkorK5v3TMru_MDdnpn7CT_WKncFzgavp5ijK3ahYi1uxfQmC4-_HRQ4tWdDACXmgM5xssvb58ya-w6fgs78NbnA8/s320/DSCF0821.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In contrast with the rest of the city, the Tian Tau Buddha provides a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Although the Buddha itself was interesting, the highlight of the day was meeting Torsten Neimenen, an American college student studying abroad in Shanghai. He was visiting his family in Hong Kong who moved from Wisconsin a few years ago. Contrary to my initial assumption, his parents were neither Meryl Lynch Hedgefund managers nor commercial distributors, but rather, Lutheran missionaries. After being invited back to his home, his family then proceeded to invite me out to dinner. Over the course of the evening, they recounted tales of raising their children in the Central African Republic, Lutheran theology, the Greenbay Packers, and life in Hong Kong. It was a fantastic evening filled with great conversation and warm sincerity. If you're reading this, a big thanks to the Neimenen family for your wonderful hospitality!<br />
As a city, Hong Kong perplexed me. I couldn't quite figure out if it was a Chinese city, or a city with a large Chinese population. Technically, its not part of mainland China, rather "overseen" by the Chinese government. Cantonese was as common as English, yet the city is structured to accommodate and compliment international business. Every bar runs a competitive happy hour to lure the tired Investment Banker after his 12 hour workday, the airport has an efficient, specifically designed subway service to bring travelers to and fro, and high end hotels jockey to host the next corporate convention.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXw6uphR1wzH_dvJ5_OjKq7zixvylLNzSjuWYaziRbVXubNy489mQgCxtgEy-a2HtNgaIPqIs0DHGDuJBrrpIc2FJrox8iOcO9ac1RFg9GEjcvYv3csivggY2v_M88jS9On1OvT2dhkv4/s1600/DSCF0790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXw6uphR1wzH_dvJ5_OjKq7zixvylLNzSjuWYaziRbVXubNy489mQgCxtgEy-a2HtNgaIPqIs0DHGDuJBrrpIc2FJrox8iOcO9ac1RFg9GEjcvYv3csivggY2v_M88jS9On1OvT2dhkv4/s320/DSCF0790.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Although the surge of modernization has long since grappled Hong Kong, every now and then,the city anachronistically resists the waves of progress. Pictured is an alleyway behind a Gucci Store. </td></tr>
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All in all, Hong Kong was a grand time. Like India, I would recommend the city to anybody who finds themselves in Asia. Numerous airlines route their flights through Hong Kong (since most airline companies have corporate offices there) and the city boasts an impressive nightlife, great public transit, and dynamic cityscape. Yet, like all things, my time in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (the official name of the city, btw) came to an end. Eventually, it was time for me to go back to South Korea, officially ending my 22 day jaunt around Asia. Leaving one metropolis for another, I flew into Incheon International Airport and was immediately greeted by this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyutUZNVmDBHIzoRD8Rm15lq9Igdr19ZCdz_5WXSYNnUF8KkhNHfFIkbaHpV2fushZUQq2xPr4HP3mVM982SRpASYs17h2Ll8CmnlsWK0uJHSwhLRSabWQPQ_sCVyq42PXv4SFvxOhSEc/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.21.34+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyutUZNVmDBHIzoRD8Rm15lq9Igdr19ZCdz_5WXSYNnUF8KkhNHfFIkbaHpV2fushZUQq2xPr4HP3mVM982SRpASYs17h2Ll8CmnlsWK0uJHSwhLRSabWQPQ_sCVyq42PXv4SFvxOhSEc/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-31+at+12.21.34+AM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thats Fahrenheit, not Celsius. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Winter is here, and its here to stay (well, at least until March). Time to see if my trusty "The RedFace©" jacket can handle the South Korean winter.<br />
Until next time...Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-35264548821960415632011-01-21T20:07:00.000-08:002011-01-21T21:53:03.903-08:00भारत में अवकाशAs per Fulbright regulations, we are permitted to travel outside of Korea for a total of 28 days during our grant period. I decided to travel west to the exotic lands of India to meet up with two of my oldest friends, Andrew Adelman and Rahul Barwani. Friends since the fourth grade, our paths diverged when they both attended UC Berkeley and I attended Pitzer. Andrew is currently working for an NGO in rural Anadur, India on a Fellowship through the American Jewish World Service. Rahul is completing his masters in Engineering at UC Berkeley and was planning on coming to India to visit family. Since our plans conveniently lined up, we decided on meeting in Delhi and traveling India together. After an uneventful flight into New Delhi on the 23rd, I was greeted by Rahul, Andrew, and Rahul's cousin Vicky. For the next week, we would intensively tour Northern India.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEgTIfTIhNDdWLRPBrTok6VKwukIRGz0CJb3Z-5dJLbPjREgO_LMou0VXfAx3zkit6c3tOxG8S-GJoiyPpAVwKFssTkt-lAnRhaTE9kbTarEeVt1Hp2gd9duVJ9GXaGIPhN0JbG4tRUg/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-15+at+2.24.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEgTIfTIhNDdWLRPBrTok6VKwukIRGz0CJb3Z-5dJLbPjREgO_LMou0VXfAx3zkit6c3tOxG8S-GJoiyPpAVwKFssTkt-lAnRhaTE9kbTarEeVt1Hp2gd9duVJ9GXaGIPhN0JbG4tRUg/s400/Screen+shot+2011-01-15+at+2.24.19+PM.png" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map of our travels, courtesy of Mr. Adelman</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>We spent the first day touring Delhi, the capital city of India. Incredibly diverse, this metropolis had a lot offer a first time visitor like myself. With numerous religious cultural and historical sites to visit, our first day was jam packed. Our first stop- The Qutb Complex: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKH4rnrkmj0FScz_mAhl3-9NgIfg24-x1EbUBu8IIl9Nh8cfMNytIkFXiTGu-gUsE6ZYxs-_VIOipHqih0YGE8ZyKxpqF-95q-Brw5qVhLckR5bHxqHdNhmNZKNv1FyvTZ5mlvJ58w9o/s1600/DSCF0588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKH4rnrkmj0FScz_mAhl3-9NgIfg24-x1EbUBu8IIl9Nh8cfMNytIkFXiTGu-gUsE6ZYxs-_VIOipHqih0YGE8ZyKxpqF-95q-Brw5qVhLckR5bHxqHdNhmNZKNv1FyvTZ5mlvJ58w9o/s320/DSCF0588.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing at 72.5 meters tall, the Qutb Minar is the world's tallest brick Minaret. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5DVSG7GzgHAvmlL3ZOjvenuhE_dNCpWDfV4SmRHHRiFu2-g1gj-RBefatQOnIm9EOBovuk781UBM6WaAjLk1vicsG-sbSF6G0oitYF9UtsPpaXEDWLRffKqcFZpH9tRLpXF9VIoQxa8/s1600/DSCF0596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5DVSG7GzgHAvmlL3ZOjvenuhE_dNCpWDfV4SmRHHRiFu2-g1gj-RBefatQOnIm9EOBovuk781UBM6WaAjLk1vicsG-sbSF6G0oitYF9UtsPpaXEDWLRffKqcFZpH9tRLpXF9VIoQxa8/s320/DSCF0596.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As one of the oldest examples of Indo Islamic architecture, the Qutb Complex was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyb2Q6DsWNaD-c5E8jlzFBPSqRtUSI8sRQ0ZaTiuSU-q4iiWta_xFW-fsyLW5PlZQL3OLl-OYxmZl95_nH0T6FmzqJqmO5SSpNu4dq9WEwf7Z4mif3wGq1r05QcqMV5BGKgNrFQAUEaM/s1600/DSCF0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyb2Q6DsWNaD-c5E8jlzFBPSqRtUSI8sRQ0ZaTiuSU-q4iiWta_xFW-fsyLW5PlZQL3OLl-OYxmZl95_nH0T6FmzqJqmO5SSpNu4dq9WEwf7Z4mif3wGq1r05QcqMV5BGKgNrFQAUEaM/s320/DSCF0590.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The site is home to one of the oldest mosques in India, as well as a Jain Temple. Restoration efforts were first carried out by the British in the early 20th century. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Next on our list was the Lotus Temple, a stunning Baha'i house of worship. Not only is it one of the most important buildings in the Baha'i faith, it has been lauded internationally for it's well crafted architecture :<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdMwYWnc8w3NDAcmy2LtjSKLsB-K6PsyhBiFBwiDpP7lmIin4iBilqlR1yly-ikyKifWSvIVilhR5bQ-Gg7JHitotD4o4FWThvrHteXnFT5dlNX8mrMWCtqrWzLm3EX8VR48oPrjft7o/s1600/DSCF0602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFdMwYWnc8w3NDAcmy2LtjSKLsB-K6PsyhBiFBwiDpP7lmIin4iBilqlR1yly-ikyKifWSvIVilhR5bQ-Gg7JHitotD4o4FWThvrHteXnFT5dlNX8mrMWCtqrWzLm3EX8VR48oPrjft7o/s320/DSCF0602.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From its construction in 1986 until 2002, the Lotus Temple welcomed more than 50 million visitors, making it more visited than the Taj Mahal and the Eiffel Tower. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Afterwords was Humayan's Tomb, an ornate set of buildings that encompass the final resting place for Mughal Emperor Humayan:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOF61MGPX0g7bBZf2B2jAYQRxNxBw1Q41oO1JjxInKzdtPt07ipWpvBvcauSmOojzmdz7MZuT0TXA1ljMQHuicL0PATyfpc8zXO45UByII-NpVai6GGdp1gy7CkiIC1Hsci_Hwa6NROY/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-17+at+3.46.21+PM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOF61MGPX0g7bBZf2B2jAYQRxNxBw1Q41oO1JjxInKzdtPt07ipWpvBvcauSmOojzmdz7MZuT0TXA1ljMQHuicL0PATyfpc8zXO45UByII-NpVai6GGdp1gy7CkiIC1Hsci_Hwa6NROY/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-17+at+3.46.21+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serving as one of the best displays of Persian Architecture on the Indian Continent, Humuyan's Tomb was the inspiration for another famous mausoleum, the Taj Mahal</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfiH5lWP1xK3L7ELLThSuS6M58O_qGL2YKXHUXcMF1-CEsxDTUKpZYJzwDMHixoQOS6hN5eROLCic71t7Dfb1434r4E61QpJkc0306wx0L2UNdz3jypkzmVgbvQZcgBzR2rkuEuSWx7o/s1600/DSCF0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVfiH5lWP1xK3L7ELLThSuS6M58O_qGL2YKXHUXcMF1-CEsxDTUKpZYJzwDMHixoQOS6hN5eROLCic71t7Dfb1434r4E61QpJkc0306wx0L2UNdz3jypkzmVgbvQZcgBzR2rkuEuSWx7o/s320/DSCF0606.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wall surrounding the complex</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Next up on our jam packed first day was the Gateway of India, a monument to the fallen soldiers who gave their lives for their country. Just down the street was Raj Gat, a park that holds the cremated remains of national hero Mahatma Gandhi. Although I couldn't keep the historian inside me during our visit, the child inside me was quickly summoned when we reached our next destination, Jantar Mantar.<br />
In short, Jantar Mantar is a "series of 13 architectural astronomy instruments designed to compile astronomical tables, predict the times and movements of the sun, moon and planets." We concluded it was a giant playground designed to entertain us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Au6glh7FUg8nDkfLqDxxRaDAuXS3K4URMGYCbhMALRDuoncha8oVoZA8oqkyxYijQwXB5k-4DI1fs8gZi2_expj8mp_wtFW-glYArbn5eZqoOQ9trzCje_Lg5lD4kgR-7EsO0bUyVDs/s1600/DSCF0616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Au6glh7FUg8nDkfLqDxxRaDAuXS3K4URMGYCbhMALRDuoncha8oVoZA8oqkyxYijQwXB5k-4DI1fs8gZi2_expj8mp_wtFW-glYArbn5eZqoOQ9trzCje_Lg5lD4kgR-7EsO0bUyVDs/s320/DSCF0616.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You decide: testament to the scientific advancement of mankind or awesome skate park? I chose the latter.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxWxpQip8E07YiYFQLxyW3BIi3hm5XmQGQ3uBGEbowJ_Y_-Pg9aJho6EbPbS0aFuRc38gn1gHiEGwfliGl6qbczex699bx3bhwgLiWZIDVulH3aGmqvNr9tlCmDfs0edHv3jdDDjN2qQ/s1600/DSCF0619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxWxpQip8E07YiYFQLxyW3BIi3hm5XmQGQ3uBGEbowJ_Y_-Pg9aJho6EbPbS0aFuRc38gn1gHiEGwfliGl6qbczex699bx3bhwgLiWZIDVulH3aGmqvNr9tlCmDfs0edHv3jdDDjN2qQ/s320/DSCF0619.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inspiration for "Stairway to Heaven." </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhGNIGEV7P4kxRo8tq5MJdMEmHNkFvHiZckIFKK5JC7gb-JyK2oZxZ54Vs8smUh97RYJj4arZJduuIe3lGMRpZXb8BkH-b0oyVa0qDYHWdJR-wwEOISj8vB9EDINUkBO7ESj98oepR8s/s1600/DSCF0621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhGNIGEV7P4kxRo8tq5MJdMEmHNkFvHiZckIFKK5JC7gb-JyK2oZxZ54Vs8smUh97RYJj4arZJduuIe3lGMRpZXb8BkH-b0oyVa0qDYHWdJR-wwEOISj8vB9EDINUkBO7ESj98oepR8s/s320/DSCF0621.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently this is designed to trace the movement of the sun. I saw it as the perfect place for an episode of "America's Next Gladiator" </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table> With day 1 over, we retired to our hotel in Delhi. The next day, we would drive 7 hours north to the city of Hardwar, an important pilgrimage site for Hindus. Since the Ganges River flows through the region, there a number of important temples in the surrounding area. Other than featuring important religious sites, there is a very large monkey population, which of course intrigued me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ksTl9oFKB3xYoaiNDSD_fZrLgadKaBdp3DgsFY2vZ5BK4Wj-aFywTyKgpELIJK8cqvDYmXeCmVz0L3TAVrfZWcKGgGJlGj0uDCy8L8uQGTWXw289hLZGOhkZ-8bd78mHRpdGd0hyphenhyphenROs/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+1.22.39+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ksTl9oFKB3xYoaiNDSD_fZrLgadKaBdp3DgsFY2vZ5BK4Wj-aFywTyKgpELIJK8cqvDYmXeCmVz0L3TAVrfZWcKGgGJlGj0uDCy8L8uQGTWXw289hLZGOhkZ-8bd78mHRpdGd0hyphenhyphenROs/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+1.22.39+PM.png" width="244" /> </a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just "monkeying" around!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
In order to enter a temple, however, one must remove their shoes. Usually, a priest applies a tilaka, or marking on the forehead. From my understanding, the tilaka serves a similar purpose to a yarmulka in the Jewish faith. That evening, I was lucky enough to take part in the true magic of Hardiwar. Every night, thousands of religious pilgrims flock to the shores of the Ganges River to take part in a puja, or religious ritual. As per tradition, thousands of candles are lit and sent floating down the Ganges River as the crowd is led in prayer. Due to my ignorance and lack of Hindi language skills, I also sent the thali, or plate into the Ganges along with my candle. It's the equivalent of throwing away your plastic tray at McDonalds. Luckily, the local priest found my ignorance humorous. I'm hoping the Big Guys up stairs found it just as entertaining!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNy62tiQ_K63niW8zwkk_f7rzElUzT-r69VCIuXjwK4W7R15SbZ3bg_kGe8poGiQCBiUROATE0d7AOaUYGboB8OJbq7axMlFrz_ASX57T3yEpfrN3Vwmm2_cw9kaVC2aNb3O0m6FQCzY/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-17+at+4.18.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWNy62tiQ_K63niW8zwkk_f7rzElUzT-r69VCIuXjwK4W7R15SbZ3bg_kGe8poGiQCBiUROATE0d7AOaUYGboB8OJbq7axMlFrz_ASX57T3yEpfrN3Vwmm2_cw9kaVC2aNb3O0m6FQCzY/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-17+at+4.18.00+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although I didn't understand the significance of the ceremony, the spiritual energy was palpable. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PEn61a45Tr4RPBxafZPrprC9avtcLN0u2AHg64WRgBvxmVWeV6zBu1ioJnDBCwTTSLhvDgCgxQxUeDj53pDHfjOWY2VLW8KFta_cKdrHpKXKHPOC5lRmxPSLiUC6agm2NiK1FULbPIw/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-17+at+4.20.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PEn61a45Tr4RPBxafZPrprC9avtcLN0u2AHg64WRgBvxmVWeV6zBu1ioJnDBCwTTSLhvDgCgxQxUeDj53pDHfjOWY2VLW8KFta_cKdrHpKXKHPOC5lRmxPSLiUC6agm2NiK1FULbPIw/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-17+at+4.20.44+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew, Vijay, Rahul and I watching the pooja, complete with tilaka. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBwJLQn1eB8x0nkxvrJ-KWatdsyQhQDXju8BIZeGQLQX9wdCcz9CgjJDmKMMjZTGXssBq59xrtW3-d3oc0tR3rADIbPgfKc-Jj7pFKQXg2BvjCy2hlElOkLUbrUKxKt0Vnn_mrcnsMNp8/s1600/DSCF0649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Up next on our list was Rishikesh, a city that has been knicknamed the "Gateway to the Himilayas," and "yoga city." Although I didn't see the Himilayas or participate in yoga, I did learn that Rishikesh has become a popular getaway for a number of celebrities, such as the Beatles looking for spiritual fulfillment. It also happened to be Christmas Day, which none of us realized. Granted, two Jews and a Hindu <i>were</i> visiting Yoga ashrams on Christ's birthday...<br />
Afterwards, we cruised over to the state of Punjab. Located in the northwestern section of the country, and sharing a border with Pakistan, Punjab is a testament to the cross cultural pollination of the Indian subcontinent. Over its history, Punjab had been controlled by the Greeks, Persians, Mughals, Sikhs, and the British. Today, the state maintains various influences from its past, yet the most fascinating manifestation of this complex history were the closing ceremonies at the India Pakistan Border. This 45 minute ceremony summarized the current situation between the two nations. Although the official national borders were drawn by a struggling British Empire more than 50 years ago, tensions between the two nations remain. High kicks, flags and bullhorns were all present. At times, I felt like I was watching a playoff game between the Giants and the Dodgers, not a geo political show of "nationalistic oneupsmanship." On a side note, this is now the third contentious border I have visited in my lifetime. The first was the Israel/Palestine border close to the Gaza Strip, the second was the DMZ between North and South Korea, and the third is the India/Pakistan border. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfBd9hG1AOcgEVyvSXWeeT-HBgwUQw55rfR5d27WmoSV1PdczbHuOFQNFTJ9djbD5sl-Pe4CTHGV_kb1ge_-pUdSd9xinw2RDNAgPTw2TY7LYgWGuKb-hlsQYiH1GM6a58HVcITlEjeA/s1600/DSCF0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfBd9hG1AOcgEVyvSXWeeT-HBgwUQw55rfR5d27WmoSV1PdczbHuOFQNFTJ9djbD5sl-Pe4CTHGV_kb1ge_-pUdSd9xinw2RDNAgPTw2TY7LYgWGuKb-hlsQYiH1GM6a58HVcITlEjeA/s320/DSCF0654.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Throngs of supporters. Pakistan is at the end of the pathway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZmmdbDbHx9gmRZn8xLat0baHSY6q922SAdJrihi6AHieOYYPkN2pCsPGT8vcGu5SDMpeRIxbV55iRph8N7L45Xvu3-wuUsvTVE1HpjDVF94V7xmtU66YadL3dqPvLlw2npGLD9e7fPw/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-20+at+9.26.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZmmdbDbHx9gmRZn8xLat0baHSY6q922SAdJrihi6AHieOYYPkN2pCsPGT8vcGu5SDMpeRIxbV55iRph8N7L45Xvu3-wuUsvTVE1HpjDVF94V7xmtU66YadL3dqPvLlw2npGLD9e7fPw/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-20+at+9.26.58+PM.png" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Indian soldiers parading past cheering crowds. I would guess that there were close to 2,000 "fans" on each side of the border, cheering on their respective "team." </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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The next day, we visited the city of Amritsar, located in the heart of Punjab. Home to the largest Sikh population in the world, the cultural difference in this particular region were evident. As a baptised Sikh male, you are required to carry five things on you at all times, known as the "5 k's," which gives Sikh males a identifiable look. Kesh, (uncut hair,) Kanja, (wooden comb worn in the hair,) Kachchera, (white pant,) Kara, (iron bracelet,) and Kirpan, (curved dagger.) are required to be worn at all times by baptised Sikh males. The Kirpan has caused a multitude of controversies in the US because lawmakers have struggled over the 1st amendment rights of Sikhs to arm themselves in public spaces in the name of religion and the obvious threat that poses in places such as schools and government buildings. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O9LanFcA3ASa51Pkxh532Zxqdc3LK4j6Z6WQ9zmNmt92toAauZz-McyK9KuAW12MA-LZkI1ZA5UOd8mxVlyuK2B9H-Wvo-0lcOs70oF9Ny0ZOY92gZbe9maOLSCAqer0KUsmW79PNRg/s1600/DSCF0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2O9LanFcA3ASa51Pkxh532Zxqdc3LK4j6Z6WQ9zmNmt92toAauZz-McyK9KuAW12MA-LZkI1ZA5UOd8mxVlyuK2B9H-Wvo-0lcOs70oF9Ny0ZOY92gZbe9maOLSCAqer0KUsmW79PNRg/s320/DSCF0665.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yours truly, with Amardeep, a Sikh friend I made at the Indian border. Sadly, many Sikhs have been caught up in the recent trend of "islamophobia" due to their turbans. In actuality, this association could be farther from the truth: Sikh-Muslim relations have been tense since the British partition.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Our visit to Amritsar was a surreal experience. The main attraction, the Golden Temple of Amritsar, is to Sikhism as Mecca is to Islam, the Vatican is to Catholicism, and the Western Wall is to Judaism. Not only is it an important religious pilgrimage site, the gold plated temple is a spectacular symbol of the reverence and wealth of a rich people.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_V3c51_YldXmAghEBZgdsFWlGCTeFy2bsjbJeqo2G5Jx7TW8J5ZG9kBWxzsgRle9HTyG_xYTN0R_uZzkHMzXLj399rIEau5KYyYVLPw8AQbebV8wu17x_EZ8NTSZZp2pozNSrBWfgFdo/s1600/DSCF0673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_V3c51_YldXmAghEBZgdsFWlGCTeFy2bsjbJeqo2G5Jx7TW8J5ZG9kBWxzsgRle9HTyG_xYTN0R_uZzkHMzXLj399rIEau5KYyYVLPw8AQbebV8wu17x_EZ8NTSZZp2pozNSrBWfgFdo/s320/DSCF0673.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is mandatory to remove one's footwear and wash one's feet before entering the temple grounds, and per requirements of Sikism, cover your hair with head covering. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMOt7z0BEycbztCiROeFsixc7zDkotbti8_zZc2o2iShNvuSaMTOG3GGtEPilMm2Uly9gLQ8biZ6A2oQlTIf1rA0_z2nKxWc9Bfhmol7Qp2EJz7_oQdzqsyfpgf5I6g5TXDkdQ2GOll8/s1600/DSCF0671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMOt7z0BEycbztCiROeFsixc7zDkotbti8_zZc2o2iShNvuSaMTOG3GGtEPilMm2Uly9gLQ8biZ6A2oQlTIf1rA0_z2nKxWc9Bfhmol7Qp2EJz7_oQdzqsyfpgf5I6g5TXDkdQ2GOll8/s320/DSCF0671.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since service is a tenant in the Sikh religion, the Golden Temple is almost entirely staffed by volunteers. Cleaning, repairs, and upkeep are done daily</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqq89aI3vekWUQzGVtYr1Yt86NvliSiIxbUmf7F6NQLpqtGzzNSHiLOY4Yl5CNfqAx5JldA88xUfBe_Ggj_8HHVq61hw8rQZgAF2otLT2CV1GWLKNRQaeW8gTWr3bvIAPjam2T4Hm_rI/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-18+at+8.57.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqq89aI3vekWUQzGVtYr1Yt86NvliSiIxbUmf7F6NQLpqtGzzNSHiLOY4Yl5CNfqAx5JldA88xUfBe_Ggj_8HHVq61hw8rQZgAF2otLT2CV1GWLKNRQaeW8gTWr3bvIAPjam2T4Hm_rI/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-18+at+8.57.11+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stole this picture from online, but I feel that it's the closest photo that really does this place justice. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
About this time in the trip Andrew and I were struck by a case of the "Delhi Belly," a euphemism for "incredibly bad diarrhea." I'll save you the embarrassing details, but lets just say that nature not only called, it bellowed at me to get to a bathroom stat. For the next 3 days, this would occur multiple times a day, in a variety of locations-hotel rooms, religious monuments, and on the road. And of course, the bathroom was usually a squatty potty.<br />
That day, we were in a car for a harrowing 12 hours on our way to Delhi. With "Delhi Belly" in full swing, the trip was a difficult one, but our next destination, the Red Fort, proved to be well worth the stomach churning journey.<br />
Built in 1648, and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Red Fort originally housed the residence of the royal family. Today, it is the location for a variety of government programs including the location where the Prime Minister of India addresses the nation every 15 of August, the day India achieved independence from the British. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUklFl2U26rDZ4LEdQTqvUnzWZOG94m_HY6cfoHmAlquUdz-VRl_9XU9RGZJs1QDKJ-xYqr-W8s5lMIJAlFfefwvtMaNb4x-WsxALhLCNY4vAd5kHcvTyQePjJqW79Nl-xSNA7NeeACCE/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-18+at+9.27.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUklFl2U26rDZ4LEdQTqvUnzWZOG94m_HY6cfoHmAlquUdz-VRl_9XU9RGZJs1QDKJ-xYqr-W8s5lMIJAlFfefwvtMaNb4x-WsxALhLCNY4vAd5kHcvTyQePjJqW79Nl-xSNA7NeeACCE/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-18+at+9.27.28+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since the Red Fort is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Delhi, it attracts many foreign heads of state as well. President Obama visited the fort in December of 2010 during his tour of India. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJnmbv1TzdcI6IQtGcutFmCmP9nTfpFR_9XL9Aak4K_L0Y77NRrXArhNGUpEdofl3vKKlTmIBG6ZaDo-9tT90_ZT-1rzkd_nTSzREqgcS8_BIBq9VArXwyNzK6GFhyphenhyphenE_5xTZ29AhzTgo/s1600/DSCF0683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJnmbv1TzdcI6IQtGcutFmCmP9nTfpFR_9XL9Aak4K_L0Y77NRrXArhNGUpEdofl3vKKlTmIBG6ZaDo-9tT90_ZT-1rzkd_nTSzREqgcS8_BIBq9VArXwyNzK6GFhyphenhyphenE_5xTZ29AhzTgo/s320/DSCF0683.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Throughout its history, the Fort was occupied by a number of different factions, including the British and the Moguls, resulting in a beautiful collage of architectural styles. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOwNGsRkKZl1pzBRwtVXq75oOQmbCT1f4xt73tncItcPnzwVOx9tGZ8QMZQxm8wesUck3MX-DbBKCP3OAW8OpfNRfRp-vnjsGYWSZUgCXnmh5Gkdni8owSmQWCGcPE_IcVXvYXCLShHI/s1600/DSCF0688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOwNGsRkKZl1pzBRwtVXq75oOQmbCT1f4xt73tncItcPnzwVOx9tGZ8QMZQxm8wesUck3MX-DbBKCP3OAW8OpfNRfRp-vnjsGYWSZUgCXnmh5Gkdni8owSmQWCGcPE_IcVXvYXCLShHI/s320/DSCF0688.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A spire dramatically fixed in front of a morning sky</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Our next destination was Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. But first, we cruised through the holy sites of Vrindivan, where the Hindu god Krishna grew up, and Mathura, the site of his birth. While I wanted to learn more about this blue god with a penchant for sweets and trickery, my Delhi Belly was playing enough tricks on me as it was, and sweets were the last thing I needed to cure my ailing tummy. <br />
After an awful night of visits to the restroom every 15 minutes (sorry Andrew!) I groggily made my way over to the Taj Mahal. Described as "a teardrop on the face of eternity," and "the most perfect building ever constructed by man" I had some pretty lofty expectations. After passing through security, I turned a corner to catch a glimpse of a structure that has captured the imaginations of millions. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZfPnaEn3Y7EsRv2R8po2Mi2dQv3vC8nQ76vtMa6-k3qkDyv5JqpnkSi8phSSF83kk__OiDA0-NL6RzNrTC7cp8KmpvYnYgvrsBnDMLAGl91P-cmlbcza_44UeBldUED25J1DAb8qtrc/s1600/DSCF0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoZfPnaEn3Y7EsRv2R8po2Mi2dQv3vC8nQ76vtMa6-k3qkDyv5JqpnkSi8phSSF83kk__OiDA0-NL6RzNrTC7cp8KmpvYnYgvrsBnDMLAGl91P-cmlbcza_44UeBldUED25J1DAb8qtrc/s320/DSCF0697.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding the Taj Mahal</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBmQh3Y6e0fKUmnU3jOHoDoBpV_zE7i5fA2vxLpNrLGx4etJt6-RrSHSdCrktKUQE43NWjcjQY5W2aC46oDJov2XP36FC0paCSOIun6wVoB0UeVo8CE4bJNj8xgxwmvMRCC6xrZWFFxY/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-20+at+5.58.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBmQh3Y6e0fKUmnU3jOHoDoBpV_zE7i5fA2vxLpNrLGx4etJt6-RrSHSdCrktKUQE43NWjcjQY5W2aC46oDJov2XP36FC0paCSOIun6wVoB0UeVo8CE4bJNj8xgxwmvMRCC6xrZWFFxY/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-20+at+5.58.57+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rahul Barwani: Taj Mahal and family eater</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5j6nLPwkHg22I3HiCcuCx7R38RCv7RoI0lONRmwR3DhDrSQiRODY4-TGI-bbSnn7UZ5MXV1LqpuzoPYYPUi4XcvLTcPLgm8pToxKI290UVYYCl5ckfFBlLbFs2Kv4wgKZe0mRCdLu1o/s1600/DSCF0704.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5j6nLPwkHg22I3HiCcuCx7R38RCv7RoI0lONRmwR3DhDrSQiRODY4-TGI-bbSnn7UZ5MXV1LqpuzoPYYPUi4XcvLTcPLgm8pToxKI290UVYYCl5ckfFBlLbFs2Kv4wgKZe0mRCdLu1o/s320/DSCF0704.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calligraphy on the side of the Taj, taken from passages of the Qur'an</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Any time I've seen a photo of this famous building, I've always wondered:<br />
Whats behind the Taj Mahal? The front view of the building is the most common representation of arguably the most identifiable structure in the world, but whats on its backside? <br />
Simply put, nothing, nothing at all. Actually, the muddy banks of the river Jahuma butt up against the Taj, providing a less than flattering compliment to the mighty structure. Inside the Taj however, another location less photographed, lay an exquisite...Well, if you'd like to know whats inside the Taj Mahal, I suggest you go find out for yourself! Photography is prohibited inside, and for good reason. Not only does the flash damage the interior, it also leaves an air of mystery. I've already told you whats behind the Taj, go find out for yourself whats inside. Trust me, its well worth it. ;)<br />
That day, we headed back up to Delhi to catch our plane flight to Mumbai. During the past 6 days, we logged approximately 1,304 miles, spent 50 hours in a car, and drove at an average speed of 24mph. Our slow pace could be attributed to a variety of factors, the biggest being poor road infrastructure, reckless driving that leads to accidents and delays, and traffic. Needless to say, we were all wiped by the time we finally reached Mumbai! <br />
Over the past week, I was constantly amazed at my two friends linguistic feats: Andrew has formally studied Hindi and can read and write. Rahul grew up speaking a mixture of Hindi, Sindi and English, but possesses great comprehension skills. Anytime we needed to decipher a sign, it went something like this: Andrew would sound it out, Rahul would look at him quizzically, think for a moment, then translate the sentence. Eventually, the meaning would be decoded and we would proceed accordingly. Meanwhile, I just stood there stupefied and impressed. <br />
Located in the southern state of Maharashtra, Mumbai is a city of incongruities. Home to the burgeoning Bollywood scene (India's equivalent of Hollywood,) and the largest slum in Asia, Mumbai showcases the best and worst of the human condition. Yet for the first time visitor like myself, the city maintains a friendly atmosphere. Its tree lined streets and lively cityscape were a welcome change from the jam packed travel schedule of the previous week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReaR9xKFDDcnc2DjruNHhv9aTz46jIxl21xQ5H6BOGcQnrS6mqf9_Oau7XsMrl5Iu39xkJ6jokdSzO4BfEIcj_AC2iUn21UKuXMJPRAKsUe90xOKYlgaJSHCpESud9uRrUao7d_Fc5Oc/s1600/DSCF0775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhReaR9xKFDDcnc2DjruNHhv9aTz46jIxl21xQ5H6BOGcQnrS6mqf9_Oau7XsMrl5Iu39xkJ6jokdSzO4BfEIcj_AC2iUn21UKuXMJPRAKsUe90xOKYlgaJSHCpESud9uRrUao7d_Fc5Oc/s320/DSCF0775.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marine Drive, locally known as the Queens necklace, since the string of lights resemble a pearl necklace</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
First and foremost, I would like to give a big "THANK YOU!!!" to all of Rahul's family in Mumbai for making my week there comfortable, exciting and delicious. I truly appreciate their kindness, generosity, and time they took to accommodate us. If you make it out to the US at any point, let me know so I can return the favor! You're the best!!<br />
We were warmly welcomed by Rahul's aunt, Sunita to stay with her at her Apartment complex. With a belly still full of Delhi, she compassionately nursed me back to health with some good ole' TLC, roti, and apples. In no time, I was all better, and ready to chow down on some incredible home cooked Indian cuisine.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGuVy6j_N8yptH56mUDLTs10woa3S3JBskdW0g9WU8OsvlLmhrXMUstVrPCCY3GxYh6Zj55jQTndkdbGSf6cPmN5mAsnA0kWaHGcl-FE9bW1_ghQXFi3DWK95hX1WX7yanLW1HoLEzgI/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+12.37.58+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGuVy6j_N8yptH56mUDLTs10woa3S3JBskdW0g9WU8OsvlLmhrXMUstVrPCCY3GxYh6Zj55jQTndkdbGSf6cPmN5mAsnA0kWaHGcl-FE9bW1_ghQXFi3DWK95hX1WX7yanLW1HoLEzgI/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+12.37.58+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rahul, his cousin Shalini, and her daughter </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Luckily for me, the next day was New Years Eve. Rahul, Andrew and I joined Rahul's cousin Shalini her husband, and their friends for a delicious dinner. We arrived at 10pm, didn't start eating until 1am, and ended up leaving around 3:30am. Although it wasn't wild by any means, the conversation was flowing more than the alcohol and I welcomed in the New Years with two of my oldest friends.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJ9Pn0V83gg0w4W9XRfciFlnQzgbd358LMQE_QEFut6Apy-eNiVm68UuTOz3fU44Chz1Rz3W1_NKalCfhly2Twogr_L91IYIxiHeVoOZJshyyGtkpStwkzuIH3CxwYagVQEDEUF8D7vw/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-20+at+6.08.23+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJ9Pn0V83gg0w4W9XRfciFlnQzgbd358LMQE_QEFut6Apy-eNiVm68UuTOz3fU44Chz1Rz3W1_NKalCfhly2Twogr_L91IYIxiHeVoOZJshyyGtkpStwkzuIH3CxwYagVQEDEUF8D7vw/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-20+at+6.08.23+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We celebrated our 13th New Years together as friends, and hopefully many more to come!<br />
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</tbody></table>Sadly, Andrew had to head back to Anadur after his week-long vacation. This left Rahul and I in Mumbai for another five days. Although the next week was not nearly as busy as the previous one, we spent a fair amount of time relaxing and visiting Rahul's family. Speaking in Anthropological terms, If the first week of the trip was "Big C" culture, (as in monuments, religious sites, etc..) then the second week was definitely "Little C" culture (social interactions, family roles, etc..) In other words, I was fortunate enough to see and experience the famous sites of India while also learning about the intricacies of day to day family life as well.<br />
I was generously adopted as part of Rahul's family for the next week, participating in family dinners, visits with Rahul's hilarious uncle Saresh, a great night out to the rock club the Blue Frog, and outings with Shalini, Rahul's cousin (who also is the doppleganger of Rahul's mom, Harsha).<br />
Not to say we didn't do any site-seeing in Mumbai. We visited the Kanheri Caves, a series of 109 rooms that served as a Buddhist temple from the 1st century BCE to the 9th century BCE:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8jr8IgXqhizGHIqSBZRXQgxTFlt5d1gusijxLTJy6LxlHIkWpVWGLGvMp8lvunXiyLBKCjNLythSMWtRUZ1yYcPr1yxk5LCWP_ioZQF6zgIHFxZe-CaunjpVIjRfKBVucnHD2tr29gA/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-20+at+8.43.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8jr8IgXqhizGHIqSBZRXQgxTFlt5d1gusijxLTJy6LxlHIkWpVWGLGvMp8lvunXiyLBKCjNLythSMWtRUZ1yYcPr1yxk5LCWP_ioZQF6zgIHFxZe-CaunjpVIjRfKBVucnHD2tr29gA/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-20+at+8.43.45+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Vihara, or prayer room located in Cave #5</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgMYVX-ohiJp21zOj8k1_KPNJkXXzSvza9UewRUGIbGOKjPF9YeTqYJrqjj7FjFC8sJ8HUSbZCvTIdC-cTofojDOr9ANwWHI9IPYoMoVCbDvuM4xZOyJ9hk7OQgJgcsl9xSQ1K-1oZ8Y/s1600/DSCF0717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgMYVX-ohiJp21zOj8k1_KPNJkXXzSvza9UewRUGIbGOKjPF9YeTqYJrqjj7FjFC8sJ8HUSbZCvTIdC-cTofojDOr9ANwWHI9IPYoMoVCbDvuM4xZOyJ9hk7OQgJgcsl9xSQ1K-1oZ8Y/s320/DSCF0717.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rahul "hanging out"</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtKvjQ_TAyEzjE6xaTjMYWyXJ-kadbW1M_fxgEW3s4S-VFuW4makjcLomqXANbnngq102CXJfplAh_TKy5JyJv-pbfT3Syxu6wWlhxuAyLXuuP3TlfWFhwnZ9XqPZGpvuEngpJsbK_Zo/s1600/DSCF0728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtKvjQ_TAyEzjE6xaTjMYWyXJ-kadbW1M_fxgEW3s4S-VFuW4makjcLomqXANbnngq102CXJfplAh_TKy5JyJv-pbfT3Syxu6wWlhxuAyLXuuP3TlfWFhwnZ9XqPZGpvuEngpJsbK_Zo/s320/DSCF0728.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inscriptions on the wall </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhef9ODbinPVE7afRfqpoZansjko1uWanKIvhZlFZSBaGEN2SsKry4kbf7tLUALrRjU8NSs0LOsy5HOzeV1jD_Ycm1_KE9cAEkQlHu1ZqFb0Yl185303f5Jj4j7NoyPv1Z4X5g0hV-URVY/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-20+at+9.06.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhef9ODbinPVE7afRfqpoZansjko1uWanKIvhZlFZSBaGEN2SsKry4kbf7tLUALrRjU8NSs0LOsy5HOzeV1jD_Ycm1_KE9cAEkQlHu1ZqFb0Yl185303f5Jj4j7NoyPv1Z4X5g0hV-URVY/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-20+at+9.06.10+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kanheri Caves was the center of Buddhism in ancient times in India</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We also visited Elephanta Island, home to the Elephanta Caves. A group of 5 caves bulit between the 5th and 8th centuries BCE, these caves are one of the most popular tourist destinations in greater Mumbai. At times, a walk through the caves looks like a set out of Indiana Jones, minus the throngs of camera wielding tourists.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincqZ1SYI0Q1VunDrzhgLzYxqxaPyv7E46FRJIH2lHYFb4X9Bhbk-p07EY4xS7RmLjZY3W2Gfq93I2SSMVsn38bD9xMb1XI0AFB-vfJAOJB6-NXUCYfCp7jfwVwFHBR0GmVmgzAwoId4A/s1600/DSCF0762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincqZ1SYI0Q1VunDrzhgLzYxqxaPyv7E46FRJIH2lHYFb4X9Bhbk-p07EY4xS7RmLjZY3W2Gfq93I2SSMVsn38bD9xMb1XI0AFB-vfJAOJB6-NXUCYfCp7jfwVwFHBR0GmVmgzAwoId4A/s320/DSCF0762.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of the interior of Cave #1</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbyD_ouZ7ExV9DTV-atCeXoNiotitxUlNXABDxqunHuHkvJzrX3_p1ZmGJ2AbUF6Zh0EEwk8VHZAnVUrLe_C-_QYaCQ5hG2g-jb2QoMTBSVPcbgDWiLVY_UgeHMYRUzbGz3v3Vlxos1w/s1600/DSCF0750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbyD_ouZ7ExV9DTV-atCeXoNiotitxUlNXABDxqunHuHkvJzrX3_p1ZmGJ2AbUF6Zh0EEwk8VHZAnVUrLe_C-_QYaCQ5hG2g-jb2QoMTBSVPcbgDWiLVY_UgeHMYRUzbGz3v3Vlxos1w/s320/DSCF0750.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWiUMnJ_FMOvPogum_XbZ2BiNDenXTm7hbRb2oZr36gD_g4RdhXc35WEffiaXPiWrX91_hd2PcDcoNdTE557sgBAsk9msQACiv1_cwD9oWLj-4CCokOK3-B19WcJ69b3vDSZXJ3vA45s/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+10.53.49+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWiUMnJ_FMOvPogum_XbZ2BiNDenXTm7hbRb2oZr36gD_g4RdhXc35WEffiaXPiWrX91_hd2PcDcoNdTE557sgBAsk9msQACiv1_cwD9oWLj-4CCokOK3-B19WcJ69b3vDSZXJ3vA45s/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+10.53.49+AM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Trimurti</td></tr>
</tbody></table> Located across the bay from Elephanta Island is one of the most popular tourist neighborhoods in Mumbai, Colaba. Colaba is reminiscent of an English city, minus the auto-rickshaws and coconut palm trees. The district is filled with English style taxis, colonial era architecture and double-decker buses. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizn1rBa1lgGAX6TbSPQYrdypicD9MlRIhcboXVAWyMRUGKn9TRlLapeXDD-2kwlE2gwE4L7YmUZQSd7YzQMbgGmEG60TBE47LdMmEm1ISi8Ax_QFULkxNBKKCPBH5nxL9f0kDsUyk4oRM/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+11.06.20+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizn1rBa1lgGAX6TbSPQYrdypicD9MlRIhcboXVAWyMRUGKn9TRlLapeXDD-2kwlE2gwE4L7YmUZQSd7YzQMbgGmEG60TBE47LdMmEm1ISi8Ax_QFULkxNBKKCPBH5nxL9f0kDsUyk4oRM/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-22+at+11.06.20+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This isn't London, England-It's the Colaba District in Mumbai!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Other notable attractions in Colaba are the Taj Hotel and the Gateway of India. Originally built in 1903, The Taj Hotel is arguably the most famous 5 star hotel in India. Constructed in 1911, the Gateway of India was erected to greet King George V and Queen Mary's arrival to Mumbai. Here is a view from Mumbai Harbor, on the way to Elephanta Island: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P9UBq-IF7MWZiKWgZIDeuJq7KFPDAb-BpTPA88NJlQ7QefUY7ZqDeLM26OhZTvSiVEt7JiFAo-Jhqcg5E-5kzv8Ie1J8K8REIVQBAP6WX6OZDD-RG4xaVRRUyPzV_5brOI3VOrViX2g/s1600/DSCF0747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P9UBq-IF7MWZiKWgZIDeuJq7KFPDAb-BpTPA88NJlQ7QefUY7ZqDeLM26OhZTvSiVEt7JiFAo-Jhqcg5E-5kzv8Ie1J8K8REIVQBAP6WX6OZDD-RG4xaVRRUyPzV_5brOI3VOrViX2g/s320/DSCF0747.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Taj Hotel, left side and the Gateway of India, right side. The Taj Hotel was the site of India's worst terrorist attack in 2008, perpetuated by Pakistani nationalists. </td></tr>
</tbody></table> Overall, Mumbai was a nice change from our hectic schedule. But, all good things must come to an end eventually. On January 7th, Rahul and I headed off to our next destination, Hong Kong. Originally, I wasn't planning on going to Hong Kong. But once I realized that I had the same flight as Rahul, and I could extend my layover for free, I extended my 3 hour layover into a 6 day trip to one of the most impressive cities in the world. Stay tuned for the next update!<br />
Until next time...Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-37292980984585981982010-12-15T05:14:00.000-08:002010-12-15T05:38:11.475-08:00Dear South Korea: We need to talk.As our relationship matures, I feel that there are a few issues that have made themselves evident that warrant a frank yet sincere discussion. While we have only known each other five months, I feel that our lives are moving in different directions. Our parting was inevitable, and we both knew that when we first got together in July. I appreciate you taking on such a heavy relationship with a known expiration date- July 16, 2011.<br />
Nevertheless, I feel that in order for us to truly enjoy and appreciate what precious time we have together, I would like some space. Lately, I have felt a bit stifled by our relationship-the apparent lack of consideration for privacy and personal space, the piercing stares I receive on the bus and the stresses caused by cross cultural relationships have taken a toll on me. To be fully committed to you in the coming months, I feel that some alone time will allow me to reconcile the complexities of our dynamic relationship.<br />
I guess now is a better time than any to finally articulate some of the issues I have with our relationship in its current state:<br />
One of the things that initially attracted me was your resilience to your self identity. "I am proudly Korean," you would proclaim. With 5,000 years of collective history, you have a defined set of morals, customs, values and traditions that you diligently uphold, to the point where I assume they're encoded into the cultural HTML of Korean society. It's palpable in everything you do; from the way you eat and drink, to the manner in which you interact with your elders. As a result, you've produced artisans, musicians and artists of the highest caliber. <br />
Yet every now and again, you throw me a curve ball. I know your recent popularity in the international community was bound to influence you, I just wasn't sure <i>how </i>that would manifest itself<i>.</i> Apparently, instead of completely abandoning your age old cultural traditions, you've opted to fuse them with the recent tide of modernization. The result: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgps7k7d1o8vbe1Jv-Z1JBTFpGj8-AQ52MdrCWSDrZnuJVXIqTTrRDYLDgrewfXrCIdGEwkZDFL7UbFIYyf1fIPJFqkLvIlUezTNLInucwFLU6utNYx5CGpIHJblmEzm29xM1vX7zMaow/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-12-13+at+9.28.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgps7k7d1o8vbe1Jv-Z1JBTFpGj8-AQ52MdrCWSDrZnuJVXIqTTrRDYLDgrewfXrCIdGEwkZDFL7UbFIYyf1fIPJFqkLvIlUezTNLInucwFLU6utNYx5CGpIHJblmEzm29xM1vX7zMaow/s320/Screen+shot+2010-12-13+at+9.28.34+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The McDonald's Bulgogi burger. A gluttonous symbol for the fusion of Western and Eastern cuisines</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Sure, you may say,<br />
"If you can't handle me at my worst, you don't deserve me at my best. So what If I'm not eating as healthy as I used to?"<br />
Before you get defensive, I am not openly criticizing you, rather curiously inquiring your motives. Korea, you are a proud civilization that has valiantly defended itself against numerous foreign invaders. From the struggles for national unification, to the aggressions of your overbearing neighbors Japan, and your recent headaches caused by your crazy brother in the north, you've stood proud. (And I should properly commend you on your recent display of self-control. You had every right to punch that communist dictatorial brother of yours in the face. And I'm sure few would've judged you for it). Yet in the face of modern globalization, you curiously combine bulgogi and the Big Mac to form the fusion of all fusions. Strange, but who am I to judge?<br />
Maybe I'm a little jealous, but I'm well aware that I was not the only foreigner drawn to you. Currently, there are more than 20,000 native tongue English teachers sharing the love with you, yet I feel like you and I have a <i>special</i> relationship. I am actively trying to learn your language. I am painstakingly conscious of your endless social norms, and I always give my seat to the ajummas and ajushis (older folk) on the bus. And for the most part, you're eager to learn about my heritage as well. While we stumble through and butcher each others language, sometimes babbling like infants learning to command our tongues, I can't help but chuckle sometimes at your sheer "cuteness":<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NiFVWO2SrQEMSw7b5XHMRV7NhJ9k9-jmj4sT-bW59iOurjZu6xFi_PnYPRpWhVRuhuDtkvZL-YIJstOXisWj_8Q9FGDyyw_rdqFBO72gbOqL7QzuRIjzWyWNloJjgxVOeXxa2HpjeWw/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-12-15+at+10.05.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NiFVWO2SrQEMSw7b5XHMRV7NhJ9k9-jmj4sT-bW59iOurjZu6xFi_PnYPRpWhVRuhuDtkvZL-YIJstOXisWj_8Q9FGDyyw_rdqFBO72gbOqL7QzuRIjzWyWNloJjgxVOeXxa2HpjeWw/s320/Screen+shot+2010-12-15+at+10.05.48+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You try really hard, Korea, you really do. And you have a good things to say too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
You do have a lot of suitors, and for good reason. <i>The Land of the Morning Calm</i> is a pretty sweet place to be. Yet I will bow out of the race for a bit. On December 23rd, I will venture to the exotic lands of India for 2 weeks before returning to you. Think of it as if Odysseus decided to take another detour before reuniting with Penelope. And that story ended happily, right? Like the former governor of the great state of California once said,<br />
"I'll be back."<br />
Until next time...Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-43326945423659475482010-12-01T05:27:00.000-08:002010-12-01T05:27:53.953-08:00A New Addition to the Family!After 4 months with my host family, I feel like "part of the gang;" that initial awkwardness that characterized the first few days has subsided long ago. Now, I'm included in the daily rituals of family life, and the "not so pretty" happenings are carried out free of shame. I know that every morning at 8am, my host mom will wake up my host sister. Inevitably, she'll start crying. Without fail, my mom will take a kicking and screaming 3 year old to her training potty. With a bit of coaxing from my host mom, my sister will enthusiastically relieve herself into her pink chamber pot. All the while, I'm munching down on a piece of toast, unperturbed at the bodily functions taking place mere feet from me. Yeah, I'd say we're comfortable with each other.*<br />
<div>*Side note: How do they potty train Korean youngsters to use the dreaded "squatty potty?" Is a 3 year old even strong enough to squat? Do they possess the motor skills to properly aim? Korea has opened my eyes to many new things, but I wasn't expecting to learn about the complexities of intercultural potty training! But I digress...</div><div>Just as I know the schedule of my sisters bowl movements, I know my mother's shopping routine by heart also. Every monday night at 6pm, my host mom, sister and I will visit the supermarket. I'll fetch the shopping cart and load my lil' sis into the baby seat. We'll cruise around the aisles while my mom shops. She'll buy me gatorade and peanut butter (which have become my dietary connections to the motherland) and i'll watch her purse when she takes the little one to the restroom. (Her bowels move again at 6:30pm, fyi.) The butcher will say "hi" to me, my sister will cry at some point, and my mom will buy rice. We check out, I bag the groceries, load them and my sister into the car, return the shopping cart, and take the groceries into the house. Just like a good husband, err, host son, right? Sometimes I question why I'm <i>really </i> here when I find myself carrying my mom's purse and my sisters baby toys while walking through public places. But I get peanut butter and gatorade out of the deal, so I think we're even. </div><div>Although I fill many of the domestic roles a husband would assume, my host dad spends a lot of time with his daughter. Once he gets home from work at 7, the evenings are reserved for "daddy's little girl." It's precious to watch, and gives me some much needed alone time watching sports highlights in my room. </div><div>However, "daddy's little girl" has recently found herself competing for attention. I present to you a creature who's just as cute and cuddly as my host sister. Ladies and gentleman, meet the newest addition to our family: </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQINRMbfp0nI61vOYdDvI5QA4RmedYnLpxv1O3vmvmK1YXah5prcS9Jc_llnGL5RwR8eNovqRwYJfQnYrrNtnYoCxcZsKGeVpYNo51EC01jwgthQgHA6YQGkIiszZe2i7SftB3vBi7A0/s1600/DSCF0574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIQINRMbfp0nI61vOYdDvI5QA4RmedYnLpxv1O3vmvmK1YXah5prcS9Jc_llnGL5RwR8eNovqRwYJfQnYrrNtnYoCxcZsKGeVpYNo51EC01jwgthQgHA6YQGkIiszZe2i7SftB3vBi7A0/s320/DSCF0574.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When my host mom brought her home in a crate, I peeked inside and asked "dinner?" She gasped confused as to why I would suggest such a thing. I mean, we are in Korea after all...</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div>I don't know her name. It's something in Korean, so I've knicknamed her "pupster." Well, anyways, my host dad loves the little tike. She's his pride and joy, so much so, that I sense a bit of resentment among my host sister who now feels threatened by daddy's new girl.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtep8NmUVuWT3XcT82fQcgICTcv8DE-KLgbnbOpcGRczyJo5e5po_YhNGSqzG6c6YXUi3I5Pd4VdbEZVYgSEAXVHCzDxANELQJQNhxqHyDlZi8NfGsw98p5BwWAai9Zm0bT2CMvcP28pA/s1600/DSCF0530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtep8NmUVuWT3XcT82fQcgICTcv8DE-KLgbnbOpcGRczyJo5e5po_YhNGSqzG6c6YXUi3I5Pd4VdbEZVYgSEAXVHCzDxANELQJQNhxqHyDlZi8NfGsw98p5BwWAai9Zm0bT2CMvcP28pA/s320/DSCF0530.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yeah, yeah, Heo, you're cute and all, but you're so yesterdays news...</td></tr>
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Last saturday, for example, my host dad and I built the lil' pupster a new doghouse. We labored outside in the rain for a good four hours while my sister begged for her dad's attention.<br />
"Heo, I'm busy," he would say as he nailed down another piece of wood. "I'm building the house of dog."<br />
That wasn't good enough for my lil' sis. She immediately burst into tears after realizing she didn't have her daddy's undivided attention. My dad rushed off to comfort his #1 girl, leaving me to man the radial arm saw and power drill.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJWtxuYQjDlipRFGU93YQVJ19iPCQBz37Ixt2d2A4kR1oJ9yhCfHf13R3EyDmg-Lqf97oHiz4E9LcKQVLlNgmA-cUpfmjrx3TJaet3jn_5QJlxUQVagudNTSYMfy0I1YIh3OSTPhyphenhyphenBZ0/s1600/DSCF0577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJWtxuYQjDlipRFGU93YQVJ19iPCQBz37Ixt2d2A4kR1oJ9yhCfHf13R3EyDmg-Lqf97oHiz4E9LcKQVLlNgmA-cUpfmjrx3TJaet3jn_5QJlxUQVagudNTSYMfy0I1YIh3OSTPhyphenhyphenBZ0/s320/DSCF0577.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The puppy palace, complete with central heating and a two car garage. </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div> For such a little girl, the pupster sure has changed our family dynamic. I know that every morning at 8am, my host mom will wake up my host sister. Inevitably, she'll start crying. Then the dog will start crying. Without fail, my mom will take a kicking and screaming 3 year old to her training potty, followed by my dad frantically running into the garage to fetch his precious little girl. Kicking and screaming just like my host sister, my dad scoops the little pup into his arms so she can relieve herself outside. While this is going on, my sister will enthusiastically dump her bowels into her pink chamber pot. Shortly after, my dad will praise the dog for doing her business on the grass, and my mom will praise her daughter for doing her business in her potty. After both parents finish tending to their babies, life continues on as normal. All the while, I'm munching down on a piece of toast, unperturbed at the bodily functions taking place mere feet from me. Luckily, Taro Gomi's classic children's book "Everyone Poops" taught me exactly that.<br />
Puppies and babies are a funny combination: both are helplessly adorable, illogical creatures that primitively act on their instincts without much forethought.( Much like my high school boys, come to think of it.) Heo and the pupster are in constant need of attention and validation. I've realized some TLC goes a long way in soothing the souls of both beasts and babies alike. </div><div>Overall, life in the home stay is predictable, familiar, and comfortable. It's a lesson thats easy to acknowledge, but hard to recognize: Everybody, all around the world, regardless of race, gender, creed, or nationality, is the same. We have the same hopes, dreams, desires, and fears. I didn't reach this conclusion through some profound event that highlighted the similarities of the human experience. It was much simpler than that:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;">Everyone poops. </div>Until next time....<br />
<div><br />
</div></div>Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-85826647489941316362010-11-24T04:28:00.000-08:002010-11-24T04:28:22.782-08:00The Seasons they are a changin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>In my 22 years of existence on this planet, I had never thought about the weather. Sure, I knew what weather was. Before I came to Korea, I had known what seasons were in <i>in theory;</i> Due to the Earth's rotation around the sun, the weather changes and thus creates different meteorological events during the year. Yet I had never witnessed this phenomenon in person, nor had I ever realized how much weather really does affect your daily life. Fellow Angeleno David Letterman summed up our peculiar relationship with the weather quite well:<br />
"Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees."<br />
Our deciduous trees don't really get the memo that their leaves are supposed to change in the fall, and instead start changing somewhere around Christmas time. We can't drive in the rain, and I honestly think my beloved city would implode if it ever snowed. There's a reason it's called Sunny Southern California, the land of endless summer.<br />
Summer ended here in September. Mother Nature has been prodded along by Father Time, and we're almost in winter.<br />
Other than the temperature dropping, the trees did this really strange thing. They started changing colors. Magnificent colors: shades of reds, oranges, and yellows, as rich and fiery as the sunset itself. It was really quite a site to see, and for this sun kissed SoCal kid, the spectacle was absolutely breathtaking:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZq_N76-_Zp1mdH6j7yiP1J_DhHYj1HaUs7f7w1J4JwKlcE4t6FNJw6Mxa6V_aeBGTR0_41BSb2ssgE03lg5phz46zhtnmWAoqttnRpCtWw9t0M0Z5qqTDUymzpmlBJMP7ORcg4lbbsg/s1600/DSCF0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFZq_N76-_Zp1mdH6j7yiP1J_DhHYj1HaUs7f7w1J4JwKlcE4t6FNJw6Mxa6V_aeBGTR0_41BSb2ssgE03lg5phz46zhtnmWAoqttnRpCtWw9t0M0Z5qqTDUymzpmlBJMP7ORcg4lbbsg/s320/DSCF0520.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fall foliage on my walk to school</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6ew5ik1gt1xtYKFejb9FpIItecYKwzJZ0wT2OC5NXBtyRXwPxHKo0lSbA54qIfXzXKM_KOd3-hcHvIvPXHcFMooFlduJqN8BjMOjFDklUahbwHsHmT4ARgUPpx5jA0BlZxMRpo_nVDE/s1600/DSCF0518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6ew5ik1gt1xtYKFejb9FpIItecYKwzJZ0wT2OC5NXBtyRXwPxHKo0lSbA54qIfXzXKM_KOd3-hcHvIvPXHcFMooFlduJqN8BjMOjFDklUahbwHsHmT4ARgUPpx5jA0BlZxMRpo_nVDE/s320/DSCF0518.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't really understand the appeal of the Fall season before I came to South Korea. I think I understand a bit better now. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQKCbWL6Be4lxJM1d5hgaLdxrfOodKqbrK8SBOZecfCPuMoQ-YhqCohtfizp04_44Or3k8Acz28_POYbaXcOx3Sn1puN-ZIOGsc5ufy5GozlG9zbCj-XtbTTj338E0UPQLnfH-I9TSkY/s1600/DSCF0431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEQKCbWL6Be4lxJM1d5hgaLdxrfOodKqbrK8SBOZecfCPuMoQ-YhqCohtfizp04_44Or3k8Acz28_POYbaXcOx3Sn1puN-ZIOGsc5ufy5GozlG9zbCj-XtbTTj338E0UPQLnfH-I9TSkY/s320/DSCF0431.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> My buddy John Mark and I in Jeongup, a city known for it's fall foliage<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">***</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Every third thursday of November, Americans celebrate the tradition-laden Thanksgiving holiday. Crisp Fall air, football games in the leaves, and Norman Rockwell-esque gatherings are common imagery surrounding one of America's most gluttonous and delicious holidays. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For me, Thanksgiving conjures up one of those turkey day images. While the holiday is characterized by great family time, the most enduring memory of the holiday is our car ride to my aunt's house. The car is full of savory aromas from my dad's smoked turkey and my mom's superb pumpkin muffins. Its usually 70 degrees out, a light breeze blows through the palm trees, and the closest thing to the brilliant oranges, reds and yellows of autumn is the smog filled sunset that pierces the rush hour traffic on the 101 that always plagues our turkey day transit. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For the second time in my life, that tradition was broken. Yet this past weekend, I was fortunate enough to celebrate Thanksgiving in Seoul with my fellow ETAs. We were formally invited to the private residence of the Honorable Kathleen Stevens, US Ambassador to Korea. We would have the opportunity to spend the afternoon with herself and the rest of the US Embassy staff for a full Thanksgiving meal, courtesy of the US State Department. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As a US Diplomat, part of the job is to host a variety of different groups at your home for public affairs events. Important leaders of Industry, Academics, Politicians and the like all visit the Ambassador's home for a number of different galas throughout the year. Luckily for us, Fulbrighters fall into this category: they pulled out all the stops and treated us to a fantastic afternoon of food and company. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZ-5Yaup_6_VdIBOx3qLrU65y5AK1d0WyahhpTdG0vaZxBR71glYRCN_meXDnAsVhgqZYJXjWcWkYcOZpNnqFESOmKke0O93JXynTz1fxcIzpbJJr_vie9c0RcfGcYhJM8Kifxy1rQBs/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-11-23+at+8.28.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZ-5Yaup_6_VdIBOx3qLrU65y5AK1d0WyahhpTdG0vaZxBR71glYRCN_meXDnAsVhgqZYJXjWcWkYcOZpNnqFESOmKke0O93JXynTz1fxcIzpbJJr_vie9c0RcfGcYhJM8Kifxy1rQBs/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-11-23+at+8.28.34+PM.png" style="cursor: move;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Part of the dining room<br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSJtphYqplOKOUWilsErWfY5S3BAEhGRnwtf2ktUDBsjMTfkv-IjSO_oxZ55H749chcYh4G_hlypawibfhzPyWTruFgGc0LdpoQokKhlWif4frBhGcUFBUrjaqH_EO1vwanGJyo9QwFw/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-11-23+at+8.28.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSJtphYqplOKOUWilsErWfY5S3BAEhGRnwtf2ktUDBsjMTfkv-IjSO_oxZ55H749chcYh4G_hlypawibfhzPyWTruFgGc0LdpoQokKhlWif4frBhGcUFBUrjaqH_EO1vwanGJyo9QwFw/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-11-23+at+8.28.14+PM.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">One of the many sitting rooms<br />
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</tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the funniest parts of the afternoon happened when a few ETAs and I wandered to the back of the house, away from the designated hosting area. We stumbled upon the Ambassador's living room (opposed to the hosting area where we were) and noticed she had a wide array of DVD's next to her television. The usual suspects were there: <i>The Presidents</i>, a documentary by PBS, <i>The Korean Conflict, US Diplomacy Abroad,</i> and a few other documentaries that would interest a US Ambassador. However, next to a series on traditional Korean dance was something out of the ordinary: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Stacked neatly in a row was EVERY single of season <i>Chapelle's Show, </i>the hit series that ran on Comedy Central a few years back. Needless to say, it was a bit out of character for the dignified Ambassador, but I guess we're all human, right? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After that, every time I was within earshot of the Ambassador, I wanted to yell "I"M RICK JAMES, BITCH!!" at the top of my lungs. Luckily, I didn't. But I really wanted to. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I know you know what that means, Ambassador Stevens. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All in all, the weekend was delicious and much needed. I had an unforgettable Thanksgiving courtesy of the State Department, I ate delicious food, and I learned that our very own Ambassador has a funny bone for slapstick vulgar humor. With North Korea straining diplomatic relations as of late, I completely understand why she might need to laugh away her stress with the Robot Dancing man, Tron Carter, and Tyrone Biggums. SHAZAAM!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In other news, word has it that Mother Nature will do yet another shape shifting transformation in the upcoming weeks. Those gorgeous fall leaves have fallen off, and there's talk of this bizarre phenomenon that will sweep the country next month. Apparently, it will get so cold that the rain will turn into these white crystals. I don't quite understand what they mean, but they say I'll need a mittens and a scarf, because it will get a tad bit chilly. I can't wait to learn more about this "weather" stuff. Bring it on!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oh yeah. HAPPY TURKEY DAY! Hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Until next time...</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-24118657446646878182010-11-05T07:55:00.000-07:002010-11-05T07:55:24.370-07:00Leaving "Pearadise" for Paradise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>As per tradition, Guemseong High School takes an annual trip in November to Jeju Island. Known as the "Hawaii of Korea," Jeju's unique geological history has made it a prime destination for tourists due to it's unrivaled physical beauty. It's convenient position below the southern tip of peninsula makes it accessible by both boat and plane as well. Since trip is all expense paid for teachers, I gladly accepted the offer to join in on the fun. Free food, hotel, admission, and transport on a vacation island? Awesome!<div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMws6LvPtYK2eSdrA_R682L1MJ3iPdkdmGtPDjzx-T9pap-e89gmXRxB-1qQ7KLV7eQBqtUOr-M0yWBR_F3vx4dLOeurErKj6d6Ah-7imtUJR3VYoswZh9wa_4orQwkEWDYCNfLm_PbLQ/s1600/DSCF0440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMws6LvPtYK2eSdrA_R682L1MJ3iPdkdmGtPDjzx-T9pap-e89gmXRxB-1qQ7KLV7eQBqtUOr-M0yWBR_F3vx4dLOeurErKj6d6Ah-7imtUJR3VYoswZh9wa_4orQwkEWDYCNfLm_PbLQ/s320/DSCF0440.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeju Island: only 9,604 kilometers from home!</td></tr>
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</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div>So off we went- myself, 10 other teachers, and 300 high school boys for a week long tropical vacation. I was expecting palm trees, exotic drinks, and relaxation....PSYCHE!! I did get two out of the three, however, but relaxation definitely was not one of them. Although Jeju was more reminiscent of Southern California than, say, Bali or Bora Bora, it did provide its fair share of exotic sites and experiences. </div><div>The adventure began at 7am on Tuesday morning. After we arrived at the seaport town of Mokpo, we boarded a giant commercial car ferry headed to Jeju city. The boat ride was a grueling 4 hours long on choppy seas, yet this landlubber barely had a chance to develop his sea legs because, being the only foreigner on a boat filled with three all girls high schools, I barely had time to sit down. Between my own students horsing around and the adolescent girls slinging themselves at me for a photo opportunity, it was the closest I've come to celebrity status. The verdict is still out if I like it or not, but for now, I'm happy to keep my relative anonymity. </div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdV9bD8PpBUVmUQTNYFBALGE5jxpiKG15yC85rIP690rblrg2g2YsJWHuHV4H_qlrhIt3DrUj1iBmfn6-hxQf6rXxW9U5XmHgC9Uu3mA68BEYufMaJ8KzwP190QYzWk5ymw9_JEs4bifA/s1600/DSCF0439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdV9bD8PpBUVmUQTNYFBALGE5jxpiKG15yC85rIP690rblrg2g2YsJWHuHV4H_qlrhIt3DrUj1iBmfn6-hxQf6rXxW9U5XmHgC9Uu3mA68BEYufMaJ8KzwP190QYzWk5ymw9_JEs4bifA/s320/DSCF0439.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit A: One of the 9,456,782 pictures taken of me with various high school girls. They would continually compliment me on my "round face" and "handsome looks." At first, I was flattered. Then I realized that "handsome" is a standard adjective to describe the Western phenotype, and many Americans also receive similar compliments. But then I realized it might be better if I just accepted it on face value. ;)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmy7FZhKNqZUyFC1ABaQWapyuN3eXp8ICpX6nMDymCeEYP3S_AoH3bjVPXO7MnRFVzgqFgJp9s3AIkhxH7A2JICUpAbIvN3dG0SN6HbUKfJoq9UO3fZDypRtARn-Hdd5rMOgFbmWQY8yM/s1600/DSCF0438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmy7FZhKNqZUyFC1ABaQWapyuN3eXp8ICpX6nMDymCeEYP3S_AoH3bjVPXO7MnRFVzgqFgJp9s3AIkhxH7A2JICUpAbIvN3dG0SN6HbUKfJoq9UO3fZDypRtARn-Hdd5rMOgFbmWQY8yM/s320/DSCF0438.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exhibit B: Guemseong's finest: My biggest kid sitting on my smallest kid. Soon after this picture was taken, they decided to try and make the little one swim with the fishes. One would think that releasing 300 high school boys and 300 high school girls on a boat together would equate to a primetime episode of the "Love Boat," but it was more like an awkward clip from "Freaks and Geeks." Since Korean high school students literally study <i>all day, </i>they do not have time to interact with, let alone flirt with the opposite sex. I'm not saying I was a ladies man when I was 15, but my students were acting more like prepubescent middle schoolers than testosterone driven teenagers.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Once we reached dry land, the whirlwind that would be the next three days began. Some highlights include a circus, a hedge maze, a miniature park, and mountains. Everyday, we would embark and disembark off of busses while our tour guide explained about each site. Since I didn't understand anything, I just smiled and listened. Luckily, my students were more than eager to show me around and make sure I got back on the bus at the right time. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Halla Mountain</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">One of the highlights of the trip was a hike up to the peak of Halla mountain. Sitting at a soaring 6,398 feet (take that Mt. Whitney!), Halla took a full 8 hours roundtrip. Although it was the most grueling day of the trip, it was possibly the most fun. </div><div style="text-align: left;">In South Korea, hiking is viewed strictly as a social activity that has some recreational (and even less physical) component to it. In the US, we value our wide open spaces. We love our Yosemite's and Yellowstones, our deserts and forests, our seas to shining seas. We love to pile in the van and go rough it for the weekend. Since 40 million people live in a country the size of Indiana, there are a few geographical constraints to "communing with nature" in South Korea. Instead, popular hiking spots are swarmed with people wearing the latest outdoor fashions. Not only are the trails packed, but they are also equipped with rest stops, toilets, and sometimes, restaurants. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmEU0PJQjnjFjt8XFENu8pxie-51mOPLhmTrWwXRiQ40xZQjXIqicRh8t34maKfifSSyn4fMcJnod-_46IskffAahpyHnYselGvkRH_71Tv-HXtDiJiWVkdSKv63Hf9H2Q-SlfpbpG0A/s1600/DSCF0464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmEU0PJQjnjFjt8XFENu8pxie-51mOPLhmTrWwXRiQ40xZQjXIqicRh8t34maKfifSSyn4fMcJnod-_46IskffAahpyHnYselGvkRH_71Tv-HXtDiJiWVkdSKv63Hf9H2Q-SlfpbpG0A/s320/DSCF0464.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">About 7 kilometers into the trail, I was greeted with this: A fully fledged snack bar for the hungry intrepid hiker. Bathrooms, water, cameras and ramen awaited. Notice the swarms of people in front. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoX8FLqpu8g0jMH1QdlLuSzIZzwfElXS5XrMK5i6YXDeZrZbUF-N3sZsSrCbqDhB_wmJQ01096kuK9r9L8suirbtRgSjdlBfXCeR9qaEARCd6qaZAkt65z48lI299lopnWrYw6JmBIV8/s1600/DSCF0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAoX8FLqpu8g0jMH1QdlLuSzIZzwfElXS5XrMK5i6YXDeZrZbUF-N3sZsSrCbqDhB_wmJQ01096kuK9r9L8suirbtRgSjdlBfXCeR9qaEARCd6qaZAkt65z48lI299lopnWrYw6JmBIV8/s320/DSCF0445.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How else would the ramen reach the snack bar other than a miniature "ramen train?" This track ran parallel to the trail for 6 kilometers. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDf5fNVjFLufNW6bcoVLozu5qXKrbghQlcq7Ghs0jygf9G0q8ZX_NFJtttgSv0MBTCa7gLhf2aSghHAHfbOcs97AKxy-G5QA4ppVpiC98M0rMDX4WwZ2h58-v8wKNdTbzqigkYdzCGuY/s1600/DSCF0468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDf5fNVjFLufNW6bcoVLozu5qXKrbghQlcq7Ghs0jygf9G0q8ZX_NFJtttgSv0MBTCa7gLhf2aSghHAHfbOcs97AKxy-G5QA4ppVpiC98M0rMDX4WwZ2h58-v8wKNdTbzqigkYdzCGuY/s320/DSCF0468.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When I wasn't looking at the ramen train, there was quite a bit of pretty scenery to look at as well!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-size: medium;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the most fascinating things on the trail, wasn't the scenery, (although that was beautiful as well), but more the demographics of the hikers. Young and old alike were chugging up the side of Halla. Surprisingly, I went on a Wednesday. I can only imagine how jammed the trail must be on a weekend! However, one thing united almost all of the hikers I saw that day. They were all decked out in the most expensive and latest outdoor fashion gear from the North Face. I didn't see any Patagonia or Colombia, only North Face. It really was "wilderness chic" taken to the extreme. At one point, I saw a woman brushing the dirt off of her hiking boots after she stepped in a puddle!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jJnt_g86TDYfuTlUzTm1pe5EEq6jLXGZMlJT9DhKHjRuFQjtaEr7wg7PtH3Am63R-okggDnB5XIIJ8cNtBnaMPgs9vur89lSgWeLZzYByT_f6h-9_jq5aapld_Rw6aihymHATVMeL7I/s1600/DSCF0463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jJnt_g86TDYfuTlUzTm1pe5EEq6jLXGZMlJT9DhKHjRuFQjtaEr7wg7PtH3Am63R-okggDnB5XIIJ8cNtBnaMPgs9vur89lSgWeLZzYByT_f6h-9_jq5aapld_Rw6aihymHATVMeL7I/s320/DSCF0463.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A typical Korean hiker in a color coordinated outfit that would make Ralph Lauren jealous. For the record, it was only 65 degrees outside.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not pictured: My super high quality "Red Face" jacket, complete with a logo that is very reminiscent of a popular outdoor clothing brand. And yes, I did buy it in Korea.</span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAe3SBUqvTn9Rltjq_vxQBZXD3a14BMWGjGMyTNsJeLXhOdKk6H0opuwV2ceNooNdC1HNrYrYt7Zec6OurWEC6g3_6v1opq2n_eHjn_TceidcSzP3ZPJS4LJV1KqoTQKmhziejhdmNtg/s1600/DSCF0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAe3SBUqvTn9Rltjq_vxQBZXD3a14BMWGjGMyTNsJeLXhOdKk6H0opuwV2ceNooNdC1HNrYrYt7Zec6OurWEC6g3_6v1opq2n_eHjn_TceidcSzP3ZPJS4LJV1KqoTQKmhziejhdmNtg/s320/DSCF0459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I've noticed that it's customary to bring your </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">entire </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">lunch to the top of the mountain, complete with alcoholic beverages. This is a pretty normal site on the hiking trail.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Motorbikes, Mazes, and Miniatures</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">When we weren't scaling mountains, we were site-seeing around the island. One of the coolest things we did was go to to the Jeju circus. Although the whole island only has a permanent population of 500,000, they have their own circus. Apparently the circus company is world-renouned in the circus community, and for good reason. Although photography wasn't permitted, they still were able to dazzle and amaze. Other than the standard balancing acts, contortionists juggled fire and children did things I thought were humanly impossible. But the coolest thing of all was the metal ball cage where 7 motorcyclists danced with death while performing aerial stunts. It was simply incredible. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">The worst part of the whole trip came when we visited the Jeju hedge maze. It was really stupid. I mean, like really poorly designed, the weather was bad, I was tired, and everybody hated it. Did I mention that I was also the last person out(an hour and 15 freaking minutes later!!) and I held up everybody from going to dinner?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASxypEtAsZTePFS88ngJgToD-sDKpFcGHZ6sB4SZrI7jqN7FiYenp_tINIeZMZLzv9rBRTcexpvUtCuYSmwtNJOgd9Q8ARRqXOYWDaNeQ28kwCVV_c0Iol3hX1H_7IOhyX__QRIPf1qA/s1600/DSCF0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASxypEtAsZTePFS88ngJgToD-sDKpFcGHZ6sB4SZrI7jqN7FiYenp_tINIeZMZLzv9rBRTcexpvUtCuYSmwtNJOgd9Q8ARRqXOYWDaNeQ28kwCVV_c0Iol3hX1H_7IOhyX__QRIPf1qA/s320/DSCF0492.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">This maze was really stupid. I mean, who likes mazes anyways?! (Click on the photo to see my awesome Red Face jacket up close!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Because that maze was so lame, I decided to visit Washington, DC... In miniature!! This picture was taken at Jeju's own miniature park. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCvE7kOJNV6qgoHAUdAwi7QwvbvgpLnMenMSKPPR4H0e3AShFVBV2LuCbAM5JyFtIMkXcQ6QhAIJfoeMU3oFW4EibykzHqg6nNKukO9emwBNuVNpfp6Ty3jbBcYCFeCPzaukpDVvslD0/s1600/DSCF0507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCvE7kOJNV6qgoHAUdAwi7QwvbvgpLnMenMSKPPR4H0e3AShFVBV2LuCbAM5JyFtIMkXcQ6QhAIJfoeMU3oFW4EibykzHqg6nNKukO9emwBNuVNpfp6Ty3jbBcYCFeCPzaukpDVvslD0/s320/DSCF0507.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">The Taj Mahal in front of the Christ the Redeemer Statue<br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Besides confusing mazes and miniatures, we went to a few scenic spots around the island. It went something like this: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjde_RZ6t92AOHAAPeXoEFkC-fVe97Nnt4BDQ9zR6gA8noh_CWHJMxd5JLqX98PuWVm8osC2loJFyOB8EXc1Szfy1mk8iqhmYrGn2s_-nPxtwP-mQH4qCSIRA3uSLHbqdpNn7i92rTIzQc/s1600/DSCF0483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjde_RZ6t92AOHAAPeXoEFkC-fVe97Nnt4BDQ9zR6gA8noh_CWHJMxd5JLqX98PuWVm8osC2loJFyOB8EXc1Szfy1mk8iqhmYrGn2s_-nPxtwP-mQH4qCSIRA3uSLHbqdpNn7i92rTIzQc/s320/DSCF0483.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Don't let this white sand beach fool you, I wasn't at Newport! This is Edo island, a 15 minute ferry ride from Jeju. Apparently, this is the only white sand beach in all of South Korea!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnox3bD3kgvQMj0iNN2tvuVq_r6GqgjKAteSv9NKBzym72YNbO-FtJLY-Zo-fWbxDsbg6yKlcKBDSF8fGJ_ZwczoyQjQ7HgmRhjr4fBMdiQfkKqZbhPyxxK0h2xtGYQr4J7FGj30_guZY/s1600/DSCF0495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnox3bD3kgvQMj0iNN2tvuVq_r6GqgjKAteSv9NKBzym72YNbO-FtJLY-Zo-fWbxDsbg6yKlcKBDSF8fGJ_ZwczoyQjQ7HgmRhjr4fBMdiQfkKqZbhPyxxK0h2xtGYQr4J7FGj30_guZY/s320/DSCF0495.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="font-size: medium;"></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Hollywood boulevard, Jeju style</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyU_jinIqXobK416B_gi54_4wDr3kEqw8lWZaXBNlKZW1_4mf_Z-MtWl6_gP0JlL8oo_axbgZU1kdUrlpJQVJL-qDlcFZclA9aufALEfu9vLSzOv5PGahFedGR5xPQ2Du_g0XoPSovLa8/s1600/DSCF0470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyU_jinIqXobK416B_gi54_4wDr3kEqw8lWZaXBNlKZW1_4mf_Z-MtWl6_gP0JlL8oo_axbgZU1kdUrlpJQVJL-qDlcFZclA9aufALEfu9vLSzOv5PGahFedGR5xPQ2Du_g0XoPSovLa8/s320/DSCF0470.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">While the site seeing was a lot of fun, the best part of the trip by far was bonding with my students and fellow teachers. The kids really spoke a lot of English outside of the classroom, and a few of them really surprised me! I learned that two of my kids are close to fluent, and one of them lived in South Africa for a year. Although a lot of my kids are just as low as I thought they were, their personalities really shined through. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7qORx6sDcCGh11O11Uzweg_3HpGBB_MQK1AnnWBlkZiAr9EuVPWJD4h3ywiCH5eoCKJL4t-_F7gy4XbPu8RfuTCsMyXI23CS7UWxinxdwJat_gJV7VJJqJ9doXRVgE0e7bFNHOdN4MU/s1600/DSCF0478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM7qORx6sDcCGh11O11Uzweg_3HpGBB_MQK1AnnWBlkZiAr9EuVPWJD4h3ywiCH5eoCKJL4t-_F7gy4XbPu8RfuTCsMyXI23CS7UWxinxdwJat_gJV7VJJqJ9doXRVgE0e7bFNHOdN4MU/s320/DSCF0478.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">The kid doesn't speak a lick of English, but he's one of my most outgoing students. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBZb6ZXutO1vHTtj8a3c95VpZKqHS-g5UMRVC2_2e3tx5jdBfESWVSgDcvQt1FOdPbnVBnB8t2uGl_fGMDZiAEvEtezksMfx94aDq-Tn78h-xl-Ciy03ZsAGWBp5oEo4Fq3oGqqmg-TI/s1600/DSCF0473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBBZb6ZXutO1vHTtj8a3c95VpZKqHS-g5UMRVC2_2e3tx5jdBfESWVSgDcvQt1FOdPbnVBnB8t2uGl_fGMDZiAEvEtezksMfx94aDq-Tn78h-xl-Ciy03ZsAGWBp5oEo4Fq3oGqqmg-TI/s320/DSCF0473.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Except for that kid's disgusting Giants hat, (really, they won the World Series?!!), this pic is alright. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS53xBGTY7bwu3W8QfHgFuJhxcUAeiRHL_3bfHNKSmzeDBGwb4Vn6nLkDv-vhEAKLB2j9gacTLtkMFR-fwtkYi0LX4_pRWb1nIbTvt0mVBOL9gXpJLTF2nw1hi53nysgT6btqzXFbnJqo/s1600/DSCF0484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS53xBGTY7bwu3W8QfHgFuJhxcUAeiRHL_3bfHNKSmzeDBGwb4Vn6nLkDv-vhEAKLB2j9gacTLtkMFR-fwtkYi0LX4_pRWb1nIbTvt0mVBOL9gXpJLTF2nw1hi53nysgT6btqzXFbnJqo/s320/DSCF0484.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><div style="font-size: medium;"></div></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Aren't they adorable?<br />
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</tbody></table></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qc-QftggzSpADlhvUXSkivKwv0EtqPaS8MMva2djZEkwtOE70sD7MJxbHWXOoUyGNyuTtYWSu5d29zbTrSsx-YpKdNfhB3fsB6q_k-UHdRXPihVnrZrDxk9fKTnbO8yKQvdeNgKefMk/s1600/DSCF0501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qc-QftggzSpADlhvUXSkivKwv0EtqPaS8MMva2djZEkwtOE70sD7MJxbHWXOoUyGNyuTtYWSu5d29zbTrSsx-YpKdNfhB3fsB6q_k-UHdRXPihVnrZrDxk9fKTnbO8yKQvdeNgKefMk/s320/DSCF0501.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">After long days of touring, I always looked forward to dinner. You know that expression, "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse?" Well, one night, I think I might just have done that very thing. After being invited into a teachers dinner, I was notified upon entering the restaurant that we would be dining on Jeju's finest meat product, horse. At first, my stomach did a flip at the thought of eating man's best friend, (oh wait, that'll probably happen soon enough), but after the first dish of raw horse meat was brought out, it wasn't so bad. That night we had horse shabu shabu, horse on a stick, boiled horse, grilled horse, and seared horse, all with a hearty side of glue. It was definitely a new tasty experience. I'd say that it tastes like a high grade cut of beef. At a hefty 30 bucks a person, it was a bit pricey as well, but I'd gladly pay that again. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">But alas, all good things must come to an end. After a week of touring, we headed to the airport to bid farewell to Jeju. Interestingly enough, I didn't know that a vast majority of my students have never flown on a plane before! I realized that not only does one's family have to have the resources to afford air travel, but they also need a destination that warrants it as well. For a country smaller than Texas, it is easy to traverse by train and automobile. So although most of my students can afford plane travel, they've never experienced it before. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8GOscAUZ4ofSpsixcwgDvhDMh6fkCILyexsaOB6a7Ep9mXsnhEcojvC0QEbCrR3eul2l-4QXEMpmJ12J5-RRPAnBcGDjC6E2NmOUeMRz9nUGixV14cg_0QFn2WWL0Lot0fNbvqzVVKY/s1600/DSCF0515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8GOscAUZ4ofSpsixcwgDvhDMh6fkCILyexsaOB6a7Ep9mXsnhEcojvC0QEbCrR3eul2l-4QXEMpmJ12J5-RRPAnBcGDjC6E2NmOUeMRz9nUGixV14cg_0QFn2WWL0Lot0fNbvqzVVKY/s320/DSCF0515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">First time flyers proudly displaying their boarding passes. Before we entered security, we determined that bazookas, plasma rifles, and daggers were not appropriate carry on items. I really love high school boys!!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Upon returning to Naju, land of the Pears, I was greeted with chilly 50 degree weather. The warm days of Jeju are long gone, and rumor has it that this strange phenomenon will begin at the end of the month where frozen white stuff will start to fall from the sky. For this sun kissed Southern California boy, that might be too much to handle. But with my trusty Red Face jacket, I'll take on Jack Frost and his friends any day! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Until next time...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</tbody></table></div>Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-28331894747757528902010-10-16T08:49:00.000-07:002010-10-16T08:49:03.378-07:00It's all in the family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div>I recently finished a two week unit on comparatives and superlatives (big, bigger, biggest, tall, taller, tallest, etc..) that culminated with a writing activity about families. I was focusing on the grammar structure "___ is ____ than ____" and "____ is the ____." Some activities during the first week included an arm wrestling tournament to determine who is the strongest, a foot stomping competition to determine who is the loudest, and a game I invented called "comparative and superlative soccer shootout." While the first week was filled with friendly competition and lots of comparisons, the second week proved to be the most amusing.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The lesson started off with a review of last week, as well as a brief review of the names of the family members. After analyzing a picture of the Simpsons Family, (in which I learned that Marge is indeed taller than Homer due to her hair) we launched into a writing activity about the people who live in our house. They were to use their previous acquired knowledge of comparatives and superlatives to write 5 sentences about their family. Who is taller? Your mom or dad? Who is the oldest? Youngest? Afterwards, I told them we would share what we wrote about our families. Of course, they rolled their eyes and cursed me under their breath. After all, I had made them write silently for the last 15 minutes. Little did they know I had a trick up my sleeve....</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As I mentioned earlier, I've had the peculiar problem of partially nude students in my class. I've been wracking my brain to find a way to combat this most bizarre of classroom management issues, and have begun to question if it was even a battle worth fighting. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Then it dawned on me. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Why not turn this scantily issue into a learning opportunity?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So, to model the way I wanted them to share their families, I went first. I told the kids a few sentences about my host family. "In my house," I told them, "I have a mom, dad and sister. I am older than my sister and my mom is younger than my dad. I am the tallest and my sister is the shortest." Afterwards, I would ask them comprehension questions about my family. "Who is taller? My mom or my dad?" I would inquire. Next, I told the class, "after we share about our families, we need to take a family photograph. But I need my mom, dad, and sister for the picture!" I would then select 3 kids to assume the role of my parents and my little sister. Although the class giggled slightly, I could sense the boredom in their eyes.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">However, I did not arbitrarily choose just any kids to play my family. Oh no, it was premeditated. I had a score to settle with these young punks. And I would settle it on my terms, by my rules, and the best part of it all is that they would never know I had it out for them...</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">As 30 sets of teenage eyes were blankly staring at me, I exclaimed "But we need CLOTHES for our picture!"as I pulled out a big bag of clothing I had collected. Inside were dresses, handbags from my little sister, ajumma (middle aged women) visors, and other goodies. I then proceeded to pass out the necessary articles of clothing to each family member- the ajumma visor and pants for mother, the dress and handbag for sister, and the bowling cap for father.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">At that point, the class went BEZERK. Every student, including the perpetual sleepers, were standing on their seats yelling and hollering as their classmates begrudgingly cross dressed in the name of learning. They then whipped out their cell phones and swarmed the unassuming "family" as they accosted them like paparazzi. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"Muahahahaha," I giggled to myself. "My plan worked perfectly!" </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">That one kid who arrogantly strolled into my class 40 minutes earlier without pants on was now sporting a dress and handbag while his classmates enthusiastically photographed him: </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thats right Min Young, if you can't find the time to put your pants on, i'll just give you something to wear!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwP4x6K7JvOj6P8xCwXK7ld5-VnutJvasHVP0DOezqIDcz4s_o5g6SQGaJiiLdPf3zY2nWYGez0Om4rJxxY3WmpHd3ITFVQERadT7-9D3Qr8R4HBTOhHthxyqAOIBLUh0BWGEvyD32YQ/s1600/DSCF0405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwP4x6K7JvOj6P8xCwXK7ld5-VnutJvasHVP0DOezqIDcz4s_o5g6SQGaJiiLdPf3zY2nWYGez0Om4rJxxY3WmpHd3ITFVQERadT7-9D3Qr8R4HBTOhHthxyqAOIBLUh0BWGEvyD32YQ/s320/DSCF0405.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Sometimes, however, my plan backfired. As you can see, this young "woman" enthusiastically embraced "her" new gender role.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn0TCxMXhzClrwV4n4MHTU3NzHzs514f9JKOTLR5QmVdcdOYurDBTDAEtk-MTtKCjsKt0asEdy-C0J8dTPaAqoFU7ESeXIbZvRAoUxayKTmy-0Cgt3KD7bV7K_yJQgoZ780EXYILAkyc/s1600/DSCF0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixn0TCxMXhzClrwV4n4MHTU3NzHzs514f9JKOTLR5QmVdcdOYurDBTDAEtk-MTtKCjsKt0asEdy-C0J8dTPaAqoFU7ESeXIbZvRAoUxayKTmy-0Cgt3KD7bV7K_yJQgoZ780EXYILAkyc/s320/DSCF0372.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My host family as portrayed by class 1-4. Apparently, I have a habit of annoying the fathers in my life. You're not alone dad! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkAGYIUrr4xdHSl8a4jYup6I2a8fbrnK86gTQRzdAX60El3lGTOsDYIQs82_xplbadeKx_NQm2W4L2fFvOL7qvHRdaTMD78f0UPrG6pdv5-H3redFux4VaTmHScu3R4BWKT9LX6jvXDQ/s1600/DSCF0377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkAGYIUrr4xdHSl8a4jYup6I2a8fbrnK86gTQRzdAX60El3lGTOsDYIQs82_xplbadeKx_NQm2W4L2fFvOL7qvHRdaTMD78f0UPrG6pdv5-H3redFux4VaTmHScu3R4BWKT9LX6jvXDQ/s320/DSCF0377.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This student wrote this about his family:</span></span>"My mother is smarter than me! My sister is stronger than me! I My father has bigger masheene than me! I am defunct!"<br />
Gotta love high school boys....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">I was waiting for my students to turn the tables on me. Here is Momma Joshie with her flock. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All in all, the lesson was a huge success. Not only did my students demonstrate communicate competence of comparatives and superlatives through the four major forms of language (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), but I also established another rule for my class: If you forget to put your knickers on before you enter the classroom, don't worry! I have a pretty little dress for you to wear instead!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Until next time...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</div>Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-13619135516304136952010-10-11T05:34:00.000-07:002010-10-11T06:19:43.705-07:00It's time for Celebration!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This past weekend, two important milestones were reached. On October 9th, the Fulbright Korea program celebrated it's 60th anniversary, and my dad celebrated his (somewhere close to) 60th birthday. While I couldn't be physically present with my dad on his special day, here is a greeting from class 2-3: </span><br />
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</span> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzB3zZ6y9X_lIvvVLkQA36PSNv6eG_B5De-AgEAaBL7Z1g6KuLxYvK6RBqIQ8dO90bCRC-dVI7m5g6jCT7bdA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This is "Happy Birthday" attempted by 16 year old high school boys. They're probably my best group of students in regards to behavior, participation, and competency. Just so you know dad, they thought your name was hilarious. They kept saying "alien" instead of "Eliot." Happy Birthday pops!</span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">A </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">환갑</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">, or Hwangab, is a very significant event in Korean culture. Since the traditional Korean calendar is 60 years long, the completion of the cycle marks a fresh beginning. It is common for organizations, people, and companies to organize large celebrations marking their 60th anniversary or birthday. Interestingly enough, the significance of the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">환갑 </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">in recent years has declined due to the advent of modern medicine. Only a few short decades ago, most Koreans did not live to see their 60th birthday, but now that South Koreans' average life expectancy is one of the highest in the developed world, this once monumental milestone is less important. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Nonetheless, not only does October 9th mark the 60th Anniversary for the South Korea Fulbright program, it also marks the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. Labeled as the "Forgotten War" by American historians, the Korean conflict that raged from 1950-1953 has left the peninsula divided, and sure has not been "forgotten" by the South Korean people. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The Fulbright program was originally drafted by Arkansas senator J. William Fulbright as a way to help heal a world scarred by World War II. Ironically enough, only a month before the start of the Korean war, the Republic of Korea signed the official agreement with the United States to establish the Fulbright Program in Korea. Sixty years later, more than 4,200 grantees, both Korean and American, have benefitted from the Fulbright program in Korea. Today, Fulbright operates in over 120 countries world-wide, bringing scholars, teachers, and researchers together in the name of intercultural understanding. The program operates on numerous fronts- there is an English Teaching Assistantship Program, (which I am a part of), a grant program for researchers, and a guest lecturer position for foreign teachers. As the largest and oldest of the Programs, Korea is the "flagship Fulbright program." </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">For the weekend, all the ETAs headed up to Seoul courtesy of Fulbright. We convened on the 5 star Shilla hotel for an elegant evening of food, drink, and distinguished guests. The Fulbright Office in Seoul had been planning an elaborate gala for months around the theme of "Towards Peace in Korea and the World." </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">During the gala, many important people spoke about the laurels and importance of the Fulbright program in South Korea. Among the guests were the Honorable Christopher R. Hill, (former ambassador to Iraq,) the Honorable Ahn Byong Man, (Minister of Education, Science and Technology) as well as other government officials from both South Korea and the United States. It was a star studded night, but the Fulbright ETAs also had a moment in the spotlight as well. We were to debut our original choral arrangement, "We Share in the Dream" in front of a packed house. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfIT5VN2V2I85KmKboR6ULUnLU4DEAGUNrq4bAlagEWubu_C2kDtds8l2-XlM1SlPLUHmTE7ilD7gZsO40Vd1mupZ6MqrX-blhRpzmlVKzcfWkQljD7hgu3RhTP0Vp_Zs7-g9oy3XSI8/s1600/DSCF0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfIT5VN2V2I85KmKboR6ULUnLU4DEAGUNrq4bAlagEWubu_C2kDtds8l2-XlM1SlPLUHmTE7ilD7gZsO40Vd1mupZ6MqrX-blhRpzmlVKzcfWkQljD7hgu3RhTP0Vp_Zs7-g9oy3XSI8/s320/DSCF0348.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Myself and other ETAs at the gala in our monochromatic choir outfits.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although the speeches were really interesting, the best part of the evening was the food. Check out this spread!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LYcV-kMDNoX0gYx6B3Va1qsj-WbUTiXHB61ZviDb5ZvEeJKU964qH7wVSccTkBzbeqOFjO1LSnZnNQnAG9IkAkK3cmlx_LdKPJm_Ph8Q1cISi4ybaQWXgXhvaLkyGkma3eK49Xa67jc/s1600/DSCF0352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7LYcV-kMDNoX0gYx6B3Va1qsj-WbUTiXHB61ZviDb5ZvEeJKU964qH7wVSccTkBzbeqOFjO1LSnZnNQnAG9IkAkK3cmlx_LdKPJm_Ph8Q1cISi4ybaQWXgXhvaLkyGkma3eK49Xa67jc/s320/DSCF0352.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fulbright Flag!</td></tr>
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">During our bi annual ETA conference, the 2010-2011 ETA class rehearsed a special song composed, written, and performed entirely by the ETAs. Entitled "We Share the Dream," the song centered around the anniversary's theme "Toward Peace in Korea and the World." </span> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>This is the video of our dress rehearsal. Can you find me? Hint: I'm the only one who's </i>not <i>standing still...</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So far this year, I have learned a new language, began my career as a teacher, engaged in a variety of new activities, and made my choral debut. For those of you that have had the blessing of hearing my heavenly voice, it won't come to a surprise when I say that it may or may not have been strongly suggested that I </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">don't </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">sing. Apparently, I was making the male soprano section laugh too hard with my tone deaf cackling.</span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Nonetheless, the performance went off without a hitch. It was a really neat experience to see a choral arrangement come to life. And now I can truly say that I am a jack-of-all-trades: cultural ambassador, Jokhu athlete, English teacher, and choir boy. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Until next time......</span><br />
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</div>Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-54302795924087443352010-09-24T07:41:00.000-07:002010-09-24T07:41:35.014-07:00A Tale of Two Koreas: 추석 in the Land of the Morning Calm<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Every 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar Calendar, Koreans celebrate </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">추석 (Chuseok), the festival of good harvest. It is tradition to visit one's ancestral hometowns and eat traditional foods such as </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">송편 (songypeon, a type of rice cake). And thanks to the Korean government, we also had a week long break from school. The </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;">Chuseok season is very reminiscent of Thanksgiving season back home- the travel industry booms as millions of people flock to their ancestral hometowns and department store sales spike as spam gift sets fly off the shelves (for some reason Koreans love this American mystery meat). Yet modern commercialism aside, Chuseok is anchored in thousands of years of tradition and lore. Folk games and tomb offerings are commonplace throughout both North and South Korea. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;">This dichotomy between the modern, commercialized Korea and its ancient, traditional past was fascinating for me. Maybe I have ignorantly placed my own perceptions of the Korea I wished to see, ignoring the fact that the tides of modernization have been in effect for over twenty years. In a way, I was hoping for a static Korea. Part of me would have been really happy with a Chuseok celebration that was more reminicent of 1910 than to 2010. While I did experience traditional foods, we didn't visit any ancestor's graves due to weather. And while I did get to meet the extended family, the majority of the time was spent transfixed on the latest episode of <i>World's Dumbest Criminals. </i> As Danny Bonaduce highlighted some of America's best and brightest, I chowed down on delicious Korean cuisine that probably symbolizes something important. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My host sister in traditional hanbok, while throwing up the predictable "peace sign"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>South Korea has experienced tremendous economic growth in the past 20 years. Ever since the 1988 Summer Olympics debuted "the Land of Morning Calm" to the world, the country has taken off. Companies like LG, Samsung, and Kia have breathed new life into a country that experienced dictatorship a mere two decades earlier. There is a stark contrast between people over the age of 40 and under the age of 40. In a similar manner to the Greatest Generation that grew up in the Depression and their Baby boomer children who came of age in the prosperous 1950's, those that have lived through the "old Korea" seem to operate by a different set of standards.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;">One of the highlights of the Chuseok festivities was a hike I went on with my host dad and uncle. My host dad explained his humble upbringing in the 1980's, which was punctuated by military dictatorship, and at times, hunger. He illustrated how when times were rough, him and his brothers would scour the local mountains for berries and roots from mother nature's pantry. But it was a simpler, more innocent time he described. He said that he worries that the complexities of modern life will jade his daughter. My host dad was describing life in the old Korea, a Korea before neon lights, bullet trains, and McDonalds. It was a collective experience shared by multiple generation that ended in the not too distant past. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsviiYIrJFb4WOML4oDEyarr6vL-d35yVQ_hl42XGNGtQlyLfqPrMiMuQhzA0fdWPQl0-jsAhybYMR2w0ZFl52GbHjOSb7PXtNy8R2sNs794ttScsv0Aez9TnWA3fg4GcX892NpAhY-HA/s1600/DSCF0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsviiYIrJFb4WOML4oDEyarr6vL-d35yVQ_hl42XGNGtQlyLfqPrMiMuQhzA0fdWPQl0-jsAhybYMR2w0ZFl52GbHjOSb7PXtNy8R2sNs794ttScsv0Aez9TnWA3fg4GcX892NpAhY-HA/s320/DSCF0319.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My host dad and his brother looking at their hometown from the top of the mountain. As they spoke in Korean, I imagined them reminiscing on a bye gone era of simpler times. I desperately wished I could understand what they were saying to catch a glimpse into the old Korea. They were probably just talking about their mortgages. </td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span id="goog_1946145633"></span><span id="goog_1946145634"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;">Yet for my generation, and most definitely the generation of my host sister, my host dad might as well have grown up in a different country. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;">As a country with a 5000 year collective history and culture, South Korea's adoption and interaction with Western trends has perplexed me. Being an American, this idea of "shared culture" was difficult to grasp. In terms of age, the United States is in its infancy in comparison to many nations around the world. The US is a nation of immigrants, that is neither united by language, collective, history, or shared culture. In South Korea, the collective culture and history is palpable in just about every aspect of daily life. From the specific greetings one gives to their elders, to the refined dining and drinking culture, it is obvious that social customs have been present here for thousands of years.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"> Does my generation forget their heritage in lieu of adopting American trends? Or is there a complex system of negotiation between traditional cultural values in the face of embracing Western cultural influence? Sometimes, while watching television, I can't help but wonder if today's latest Korean pop stars still adhere to the age old customs of their ancestors:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRDCjSqubDrZLRlJTglJ00UAXoMSMwY8NLAIvvJfzl1PEbZ-dKdq8_5LNfogv4JigARv5lHchhcXvk4UW3TFKN-nAqKtb7gafYTgalU1mBPNMzMQQJcppM_axhkBYgQvzlPX7gu2-Rl8/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-24+at+10.52.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRDCjSqubDrZLRlJTglJ00UAXoMSMwY8NLAIvvJfzl1PEbZ-dKdq8_5LNfogv4JigARv5lHchhcXvk4UW3TFKN-nAqKtb7gafYTgalU1mBPNMzMQQJcppM_axhkBYgQvzlPX7gu2-Rl8/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-24+at+10.52.59+PM.png" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although South Korean hip hop group "One Way" looks like they just stepped out of MTV's TRL, I constantly wonder if these guys still <i>insa </i>their grandparents and wear traditional clothing during Chuseok.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In sum, my Chuseok holiday was rich in culture, just not the culture in which I hoped to partake. I didn't play any traditional games, nor did I wear customary garb. But I did learn a great amount about the South Korean experience in the 21st century: The country is not static, as much as I wished it to be. It's okay to simultaneously mention folk songs and K pop in the same breath. As South Korea enters into a globalized relationship with the rest of the world, its culture will adapt as well. It's an exciting time to be in the "Land of the Morning Calm."</span></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;">Until next time...</span></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span>Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-64528386532178833412010-09-09T07:31:00.000-07:002010-09-09T07:31:46.494-07:00The Monkey HouseHangovers, dirty facilities, partial nudity, and debauchery are all accurate indicators that I have arrived at work. <br />
And no, I'm not working on the latest <em>National Lampoon</em> movie. I'm a conversational English teacher at Geumseong high school, the most dynamic educational institution I have ever encountered. <br />
As one of the most important parts of my grant year, teaching takes up a majority of my time. I spend approximately 12 hours a week teaching conversational English to high school boys, while simultaneously serving as an "English cheerleader." My role is simple: To get the kids excited to speak English. While the mere act of teaching places one in a position of great power and responsibility, being a foreign English teacher only complicates the issue. I am the ultimate authority on not only the English language, but Western culture in general, whether I like it or not. I am constantly approached with obscure grammar questions such as split infinitives ("to go boldly" opposed to "to boldly go") as well as more, well, subjective questions such as "Teacher. In Korea, women blah blah blah a lot. In America, women blah blah blah a lot or shhhhhhh?"<br />
Needless to say, my work day is filled with lots of testosterone. With 800 teenage boys bouncing off the walls, I have my hands full. Rough housing, teasing, and sports in the hallways are all common sights around school. And I love it. But there are a few things that make this high school a little different from those back home...<br />
When it came to classroom management, my philosophy was simple: The best lesson plan will ultimately fail without classroom management. It is absolutely essential, and it is pertinent to establish the tone of the class early on. Not too long ago, I was an unprepared, ADD riddled high school boy who was struggling with the ebbs and flows of adolescence. I hid my cellphone in the elastic waistbands of my shorts, and became a master at the art of passing notes in class. I know the tricks of the trade. This should be easy, right?<br />
So, I laid down a few simple rules for my students to follow. I call them the 5 P's:<br />
Be prepared: Bring a writing utensil, paper, and your book to class everyday<br />
Be polite: Keep your hands to yourself and respect your fellow students<br />
Be productive: Work hard<br />
Be prompt: show up to class on time<br />
Be positive: Smile :)<br />
By setting some strict rules early, I hoped to prevent some of the predictable problems I thought I would face, such as unprepared students and rough housing. Any infraction of the rules will result in a swift punishment, I told them. My weapon of choice wall sits (squats against the wall) prove effective. For the first few weeks, I handed them out liberally.<br />
I also invented George, my pet soccer ball. I explained to the kids that they always need to watch George, because I will toss it at them and they need to catch it. When they have George, they can talk and answer the question. If they are sleeping in class, I will hit them with it. If they are talking I will hit them with it. The kids love it when I stare down a talking kid then bop him on the head with George.<br />
Yet a few days ago, I was thrown a curveball. A few minutes after one of my classes started, two students barged into class chasing each other. Yet there was something very distinct about these two tardy teenagers.<br />
Neither one of them were wearing pants.<br />
And one of them wasn't wearing a shirt either.<br />
So just as I'm about to launch into my lesson, I was interrupted by two lanky, exposed adolescents scrambling to their seats.<br />
Now usually, my policy for late students is clear cut. If you are 2 minutes late, you will do a wall sit for 2 minutes. If you are 3 minutes late, you will do a wall sit for 3 minutes. Yet I could not bring myself to make these two unclad kids do wall sits in the buff. It was just too voyeuristic, and well, cruel.<br />
After they reclothed themselves and the punishments were issued, I continued on with my lesson. I tossed George to one student and instructed him to come to the front of the board for an activity.<br />
He gets out of his chair, and his Scooby Doo boxers caught my eye. It's not because he was sagging his pants, it because he wasn't wearing any....<br />
"woah there, buckaroo!!" I said<br />
"This is a no shirts, no shoes, no service establishment! Please put your pa....Better yet, can the <i>whole class</i> please stand up? We are doing a pencil, notebook, English book AND pants check. Yes kiddies, I understand the freedom of running around in your knickers, but we need to be FULLY ROBED for my class! No exceptions!"<br />
Turned out he wasn't the only scantily stripped student-In total, I have had at least 5 kids this week come to class in their partial birthday suits.*<br />
And I think I am adding a new rule to my class: Bring pants. <br />
I immediately return to the teachers office to inquire about this peculiarity, only to find my coteacher passed out on his desk.<br />
"Mr. Na, I have a question."<br />
"Oh, hi Joshie. I am sick today. Last night I drink drink drink. Morning I am hungover. Today I sleep."<br />
Great. Minutes earlier I had au natural students, and now I have a passed out co teacher.** Welcome to the Twilight Zone!<br />
Then, if things couldn't get any more bizarre, an army of students armed with brooms and mops barge into the teachers office. With the efficiency of a NASCAR pit crew, every student assumed their role. Within 10 minutes, every trashcan was emptied and every inch of floor was scrubbed. As soon as they appeared, they vanished. And miraculously, they were all fully clothed as well. <br />
Now the craziest part of this whole thing is that time and again, Korean schools outperform American schools in international academic rankings. According to the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) South Korea ranks 3rd in reading, 1st in math, and 10th in science among the top 20 developed nations in the world. The United States, on the other hand, did not crack the top 10 in any subject. Maybe this is because yearly, South Korean students are in school for a month and a half longer than American students, or maybe its because they average more than 10 hours a day at school. Or maybe its because they don't wear any pants in class.<br />
Jokes aside, some serious studying goes down at Guemseong. Students don't leave school until at least 9pm, and sometimes not until 11pm. They study 9 subjects a semester and attend supplementary private hagwons, or academies that specialize in various subjects. My tenth graders are doing trigonometry. My 11th graders are doing organic chemistry. And from what I can tell, most of this is probably done in the buff.<br />
When I'm not dealing with day to day debauchery, I enjoy spending time at my on campus Korean religious shrine. Apparently, the founder of Guemseong High school purchased the land from a Buddhist temple. The result: A 1000 year old Korean religious and historical monument in the middle of the campus of an all boys high school. Not surprisingly, the temple wants nothing to do with the school. Neither insitution interacts with the other, and the students act as if seeing a group of buddhist monks praying next to their soccer game is just a normal occurance. Irony aside, the temple itself is remarkable:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW52nQrH6bFGFoExCmFbBgIw-cFM_r3vTLlbxbMBDpz1EwCqVtm6sVf9tFFs1zCSB7gj0pMOdWSI8w0361b9pjsI-lXx-AnLL7RL_O64MKVv9adCO4wkTXdD0INXdVZamSzd_7m1jSkHQ/s1600/DSCF0276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW52nQrH6bFGFoExCmFbBgIw-cFM_r3vTLlbxbMBDpz1EwCqVtm6sVf9tFFs1zCSB7gj0pMOdWSI8w0361b9pjsI-lXx-AnLL7RL_O64MKVv9adCO4wkTXdD0INXdVZamSzd_7m1jSkHQ/s320/DSCF0276.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This exists mere yards away from the debauchery known as Guemseong High School. The school's soccer field is on the other side of this structure</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9L23-4dDU2Wn7cONL_Mn0rINMDjoU8Tp1O1-rbxQmthaxuEj6CwifUSGN1otMNUUF0cr5HZOLVr86eL9RGQVlY4VZy5N_nzQQsx-hiPq_e6OW4WX5lFkykFHf-iM3raRl5R8AfBIo64I/s1600/DSCF0277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9L23-4dDU2Wn7cONL_Mn0rINMDjoU8Tp1O1-rbxQmthaxuEj6CwifUSGN1otMNUUF0cr5HZOLVr86eL9RGQVlY4VZy5N_nzQQsx-hiPq_e6OW4WX5lFkykFHf-iM3raRl5R8AfBIo64I/s320/DSCF0277.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes after a long testosterone filled day, I retreat to this calming sanctuary<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">***</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>After a long, hard day at the office, nothing is more relaxing than returning home to my wonderful host family. My host dad is young, energetic, and speaks great English. While her English is lacking, My host mom makes up for it through her genuine sweetness and care for me. And then there's my host sister, Heo.....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVsDzwoldP0Vds77hLJXiYc6v8L5Dg3VlXnVYYLgGi8vNQbrmFzIN3PuKKEIWxYdEsJ3fBIeab-2QXmkHKUBbui-Ex09PCKRY7O9nQldftXNmdZNhuc-8h-FV9ho3qU9Wge-aovEKsLc/s1600/DSCF0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVsDzwoldP0Vds77hLJXiYc6v8L5Dg3VlXnVYYLgGi8vNQbrmFzIN3PuKKEIWxYdEsJ3fBIeab-2QXmkHKUBbui-Ex09PCKRY7O9nQldftXNmdZNhuc-8h-FV9ho3qU9Wge-aovEKsLc/s320/DSCF0298.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lovely host family. But don't let those innocent eyes fool you, my host sister is capable of complete destruction. Heo, is it really necessary to pour milk on my laptop? The glass was next to my computer, not on top of it!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I usually get an hour to decompress and switch gears before the rest of the fam gets home, which is really nice. I consciously need to switch gears out of my school persona. At school, I am "Josh Teacher," a young, and enthusiastic cultural and linguistic diplomat. Josh Teacher is phased by nothing: Toilet humor, rowdy students and partial nudity are all within a days work. Yet afterhours, I morph into "Uncle Joshie," a shell of his former self. This personality code switching has proved to be an unseen challenge in my daily life.<br />
Once my 3 year old little sister gets home, the rules of the game change. She comandeers the TV, and "vroom riders" is fixed for the duration of the evening. Any attempt to change the channel will result in a terrible temper tantrum. Toys are strewn across the floor, and Uncle Joshy becomes her personal plaything.<br />
Now I'll be the first to admit that I have no first hand experiences with siblings, since I am an only child. One moment I want to annihilate her (like that one time she made me late for my ESPN fantasy football draft and the auto-pick drafted a kicker in the second round) and the next moment she just melts my heart:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9jyog39LQblPusnd1QptAdZMOWU9MgTAoBj6uJY_aCKiKe1GqD55WR4EWrjGv4itgXIixBtXskNDSugtOZn6AWTtrug_RoLojfJKeZp9MLMrAOakO1XhP_SNAQD0hbHbKDUDQTxtBwM/s1600/DSCF0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW9jyog39LQblPusnd1QptAdZMOWU9MgTAoBj6uJY_aCKiKe1GqD55WR4EWrjGv4itgXIixBtXskNDSugtOZn6AWTtrug_RoLojfJKeZp9MLMrAOakO1XhP_SNAQD0hbHbKDUDQTxtBwM/s320/DSCF0300.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heo, you very well may be the cutest thing ever, but I won't forgive you if I lose this Fantasy Football pool this season. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Sometimes, if I'm <i>really </i>lucky, Heo's friends will come over to play. Usually, about two or three Korean women and their young children come to our house one evening a week. The moms sit around the table while the youngsters run amok.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAI_6yBAeRoeBo0M4WBjyKk-1XakezPJZqWGHMGXEDVyPFkrVKWTW4ewfgi0_o_0t9e5Pl8RDGICvkiZQ7QwZdXHw_yZkncuXTE8vXdvlNeYyScGOQGOapaVAjgdZb9zuZ1ovi1VcpLQ/s1600/DSCF0275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgAI_6yBAeRoeBo0M4WBjyKk-1XakezPJZqWGHMGXEDVyPFkrVKWTW4ewfgi0_o_0t9e5Pl8RDGICvkiZQ7QwZdXHw_yZkncuXTE8vXdvlNeYyScGOQGOapaVAjgdZb9zuZ1ovi1VcpLQ/s320/DSCF0275.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If one three year old isn't enough, this troupe of tiny tikes pack three times the amount of fun!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
As the resident native English speaker, Uncle Joshie frequently makes guest appearances to read tall tales to the tots:<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ptZ4GCIYh9fg1FlXeGSxDFjpzTcrLk9vYZWWUt6W1j8maexZYsZaS4R5iVH4oZhJ2zicU8DZsD05-uciUOS4LP4P47QkLNtJBsz1VDordCl6SG3IGmLxA5DwgTv7rs8tTtrNYx_xm9I/s1600/DSCF0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ptZ4GCIYh9fg1FlXeGSxDFjpzTcrLk9vYZWWUt6W1j8maexZYsZaS4R5iVH4oZhJ2zicU8DZsD05-uciUOS4LP4P47QkLNtJBsz1VDordCl6SG3IGmLxA5DwgTv7rs8tTtrNYx_xm9I/s320/DSCF0267.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uncle Joshie and the little ones reading "Thomas the Choo Choo."<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mere hours earlier, Josh Teacher was laying down the law- his class was gang shouting English sentences back at him while other students were doing wall sits in an elaborate play of masculine one-upsmanship. The testosterone was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Yet within 90 minutes, no vestige of Josh Teacher remained. Instead, this once proud man finds himself crawling on the floor while 3 year old children use him as their personal jungle gym. Instead of dissecting the nuances between prepositional phrases, Uncle Joshie is teaching the words to "Hush little baby." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One day, I might just snap. The next time my class acts up, I won't make them do wall sits. Oh no, I've devised a much more conniving plan. We will listen to "John Jacob Jingle Hemmer Schmidt" on repeat. For 50 minutes straight. And the next time my little sister walks into the living room without pants on, she's giving me wall sits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until next time....</div><br />
<br />
* It turns out that the gym teacher had been holding the students late, thus shortening their time to change in between periods.<br />
**While drinking is a prominent component of the Korean work environment, general intoxication to the point of affecting one's job performance is unacceptable. For Americans, this idea is hard to grasp-The US is extremely conservative when it comes to alcohol's place in society, whereas the time and space alcohol can be consumed is much more fluid (no pun intended) in Korea.Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-60720562484311504142010-09-01T05:07:00.000-07:002010-09-01T05:07:19.232-07:00Two weeks in, and I already need a leg up....<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;">After two weeks in Naju, I am settling into a routine. The thrill of taking the bus to and from work is subsiding, as is the initial rush I feel when I enter a store and use my limited Korean while making a purchase. Although the novelty is wearing off, I've realized that the more time I spend in South Korea, the more dynamic the country becomes. Not only am I learning about the socio-cultural nuances of South Korean society, I am gaining valuable intra-personal knowledge about myself. The biggest lesson thus far: I really need to gain better control over my legs. Life will be much easier once I do. </span><div style="font-family: Times;"><br />
</div></span><div><b>Example #1: </b></div><div>My family, along with many families in South Korea, eat all their meals on a mini table while sitting on the floor. Most activities, such as sleeping, eating, and drinking are done on the floor. The preferred method of sitting is "indian style." This is problematic for many reasons. The biggest problem is that I simply cannot sit "indian style" to save my life. I couldn't do it in kindergarten when I first learned, and I sure can't do it now. Yet day after day of pulling, twisting, and forcing my legs into place, I was able to achieve relative comfort while eating meals. Although it strains my hips and knees, I was determined to learn how to do it if it was the last thing I did. <div>A few days ago, I was folding my laundry when I noticed that every single pair of my socks was s<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">tained. "Thats strange," I thought. After searing my leg with steaming hot soup at dinner one day, I quickly put the pieces of the puzzle together:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> Somewhere in the process of taking that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">순두부찌개 (tofu soup) or </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">잡채 (noodles)</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> f</span>rom my bowl to my mouth, something went terribly wrong. While I was awkwardly and uncomfortably leaning over my bowl, chopsticks in hand, all the food I intended to eat didn't quite make it to my mouth. Instead, it slipped out of my chopsticks and fell into my lap. The result: my white tube socks are speckled with an array of colors, from kimchi red to kalbi brown. I feel like that little airplane spoon my host mom uses for my 3 year old sister has crashed and burned into my lap, leaving the blood and guts of its edible passengers stained into the fabric of my socks. And the evidence of my poor table manners are on display every time I wear shorts. My favorite activity of all, eating, is now a daily challenge, and my toddler sister shows me up every time. Lesson learned: Not only can't I sit appropriately and comfortably at meal times, I also fail at the very act of feeding myself.</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Example #2:</b></div><div><b></b> One of the best things about routines is consistency. The best part of this new consistency in my life is my predictable, reliable bowel movements. "Why is he telling me this?! I don't care about his bodily functions?!" you may ask. There is a reason, and the reason is simple. Like eating, doing your business in South Korea is no easy feat, especially when you are faced with one of these:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwt9Im1i5TMg3v_aHPo7Ev5Wemv3iQCzgAflK-VmIHKaKN60LsGASiubDymssfKZBdAhClioVNtXuCBQNmeZtI19OF-85rJZfOujMkC2V_ORfrrPLGPC_4iusxdcl9f1Ah7Iq5CbuoidU/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-09-01+at+6.43.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwt9Im1i5TMg3v_aHPo7Ev5Wemv3iQCzgAflK-VmIHKaKN60LsGASiubDymssfKZBdAhClioVNtXuCBQNmeZtI19OF-85rJZfOujMkC2V_ORfrrPLGPC_4iusxdcl9f1Ah7Iq5CbuoidU/s320/Screen+shot+2010-09-01+at+6.43.43+PM.png" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the squat toilet, which has struck fear into the hearts (and bowels) of Western travelers for over a century. Some call it a "squatty potty," others the "pop and squat." But at the end of the day, every foreigner in South Korea will be faced with this most terrifying of personal waste disposal systems at some point. </div><div>Now this is where my bowel schedule comes into play: Since my home stay has western toilets, the only time I am charged with using the "squat toilet" is at school. Yet there is one western toilet on the other side of campus. Since I know that I will be moving bowels around 11am everyday, I can rush to my western ally, "the john" between 2nd and 3rd period. So I take the appropriate measures to ensure that I can rendezvous. If not, I will be caught in unfriendly territory with Mr. squat toilet, and the outcome could be fatal. </div><div>I cannot confidently say I have mastered the squatty potty either. Again, I will not illustrate how I came to that conclusion, but lets just say it was, well, dirty. One thing I did learn is that your legs are very important in the process. It's called a squat toilet for good reason. And as I've already established, I am not very good at manipulating my legs. Lesson learned: I also fail at going to the bathroom, literally. </div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Example #3:</b></div><div><b></b> </div><div>In an effort to create rapport with my host dad, I go with him to his bi weekly <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kowSnKOvpzE">Jokgu</a> games, which is the Korean version of Sepaktakraw. Simply put, it is a combination of soccer and volleyball. The sport utilizes the strategy of volleyball, complete with the serve, bump and spike, and the footwork (read: foot) of soccer. One's ability to play hackey sack or soccer would be a good indicator to their success on the Jokgu court. Did I mention the fact that I am horrible at hackey sack, and even worse at soccer? Why are you so bad, you may ask? Well, the answer is easy:</div><div>It involves the use of your legs. </div><div>Created by the South Korean army in the 1970's, Jokgu is a popular sport among men in their late 20's and 30's. "A man's sport," as my dad calls it, Jokgu seems to be a rite of passage for Korean men upon leaving their military conscription. And like many men his age, my host dad is obsessed. Him and his 30 something friends leave their wives and young children twice a week to play the most masculine of sports and bicycle kick their way to bliss. And me, well, I just make a fool of myself. While they all have special Jokgu shoes, (which are modified soccer cleats) I am rocking my sales rack Nike cross trainers. While they are all wearing coordinated jerseys and soccer shorts as part of their Jokgu club uniform, I am wearing my trusty Pitzer College t-shirt and basketball shorts. While they are juggling the ball effortlessly, I am bumbling around like a physical therapy patient. Needless to say, I'm quite the spectacle. </div><div>Yet my host dad is insistent that I go with him every Wednesday and Friday. Although I automatically add a handicap to my team, (and have ensured the loss of my team every time I have played), my host dad and his friends cheer me on and support me while I flail my uncoordinated legs around in frustration.</div><div>Lesson learned: I fail at foot sports. And I vastly over judged my athletic ability. </div><div> </div><div><br />
</div><div> I would like to wrap up this post with a summary of a typical wednesday and friday night:</div><div><br />
</div><div>From 7:30 to 9:30pm, I play Jokgu with my host dad. As per tradition, we go to the same restaurant every wednesday and friday for our weekly post exercise feast. Once we finish our Jokgu game, I pick up my pride off the gym floor and drag myself next door to our trusted Korean restaurant. I then force my already sore legs into the "indian<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> style" position while trying to concentrate on using my chopsticks. I then inevitably spill something on myself. Last week it was </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">김치찌개 (kimchi soup), and I think this week it was </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">비빔밥 (bibimbap). </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Around 9:50pm, nature calls. I then head to our trusty Korean restaurant's squatty potty, where I may</span> or may not succeed. (Interpret that as you will)</div><div><br />
</div><div>After the first two weeks at their placement, many of my friends are negotiating questions of classroom pedagogy, or struggling with their roles as cultural ambassadors and the implications that entails. What have I learned during my first 2 weeks? I need to get my legs up to speed pronto, or its going to be a long year.</div><div>Until next time.......</div></div>Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-754597648146476702.post-29368892397464999902010-08-24T03:49:00.000-07:002010-08-24T05:43:13.047-07:00Welcome to Pearville!<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Greetings from </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">나주, (Naju), home of the Pears.</span></span></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The big day has come and gone. Departure Day, (D-Day) was a whirlwind of activities. We met our co-teachers, our principals, and moved in with our host families.</span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Upon meeting my new co-teacher and principal, (whose names I don't remember,) I was showered with gifts:</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508202191223799394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1POYPy0xd-X2PUflVt6WJhAz4dLr_WnbqF3w738NgZjmhOqpg_hhSvLJRzzqBTRYOqnjMUb2-oTHTujAgVD2Xjr5920GEdiJgWD5dGD8nuaR-df34SpluKvzGlXeI0Yj4IcWQz8enri8/s320/DSCF0221.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 240px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Flowers, presents, and a cool book on Naju awaited me when I met my co-teacher! I felt so loved!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Soon after, Grace, Jim, Taylor and myself were whisked away on a chartered bus towards Naju. While it was bittersweet to leave our fellow ETAs, little did we know, we were entering the Naju Party Bus- we were immediately given ice cold beers. Once we finished one beer, we were given another. If we were not drinking, we were eating peaches, chips, and apples. We later learned that the Naju Educational Association applies for 4 ETAs every year, and has been working with the Fulbright Commission for more than 10 years. They love Fulbright. Needless to say, we felt even more appreciated and confident about the year to come.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508202203419018914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCZsB9dKSzGjWDoGgQC4LJGXRnopXdvGCd2GulmpttO5v8hZ1R4qV0kGKEq97DONhyphenhyphenXAeT3pcCCYkVJK5ri0I-ea4HPpyZJxSZDbpOmzM5Gc-3XXLitvhByhRXmohsqovbHVw9P_oUj0/s320/DSCF0223.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Adios Jungwon University! Naju, here I come!</span></span></span></div></div></div></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508202212188186882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2kON6K1wQmcRs6cCYBaE2W4acheZ6RzPOrtwbZeuW4IKo_7PIUQAMl5ODf_TOjrSV40htYRTyGB_5attsa_FPVeacXSePD8dU6Q1jxncbJCYp0G29InuaIEXXSCHWMzxwsZJigOygaw/s320/DSCF0224.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Don't worry, there are no open container laws in Korea. If you think this is crazy, read on. I'm going to blow your socks off...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>MY CITY</b></span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Soon, we reached the land of Pears. Before I continue, s</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">ome quick facts about Naju:</span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-Naju's population is approximately 100,000 people. It is located in the Southwestern corner of the Korean Penninsula, in the center of Jeonnam Province. Just north of Naju is Gwangju, a larger metropolitan city with a population of 1.4 million people. </span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-Naju is world famous for its Pears, Pear Museum, and Pear festival. Pear day, which takes places every January 1st, also features processed products from pears, such as pear liquor, pear wine, and pear jelly. </span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-There are 24 elementary schools, 14 middle schools, 12 high schools, 2 colleges and 1 university in the Naju region. Yet the best school of them all is Guemseong High school, home of the best English teacher of all, me. :) </span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">-Did I mention that Naju has pears?</span></span></div></div></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508208715377856354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6X8mzLjLmpDVRlKXXcNwrEmpICB_8VwXreGx81kYLP83Cj6ftSPC_5eYsONhYQ-vTndJTA6yQc2XaAFjvYbDuBG58TsL0klf4azMFUjoPpjGauIUDUTg7V-gn1NXG8yeVLuC4e1cVkM/s320/DSCF0234.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 240px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Downtown Naju. It looks a lot busier than it is...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508205237388695762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpedlAeb10CsYZnNEOHsSo00_hJJ59prUJyxBIJWs3a_R_WmdKhfgAEL7KnGRg5zlK4iOMuQOZSTToVWbJMrb6hUjeNJiXR9rW5TojcrHlEa4YhzSZG2wPH80otV850e8-tiTZKItF5x4/s320/DSCF0232.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Naju, where are you?</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3GWRLtsM-icuM84G7D64LqSlmhPRur7px6pYxwbpnrnyHHIIkKSkJQyn1sN_Nyo-S8ElP6C387_rXdw6IhQ7hAKZPEQ3yk7ECMJ7K4qrcX3n55T0t0tiETv3eS323bmBFiK_1a8eMBo/s1600/DSCF0227.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508205223370440450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3GWRLtsM-icuM84G7D64LqSlmhPRur7px6pYxwbpnrnyHHIIkKSkJQyn1sN_Nyo-S8ElP6C387_rXdw6IhQ7hAKZPEQ3yk7ECMJ7K4qrcX3n55T0t0tiETv3eS323bmBFiK_1a8eMBo/s320/DSCF0227.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">At one point a long time ago, the city of Naju was encompassed by a large wall. Today, only the northern, southern eastern, and western gates exist. This is the eastern entrance to the city.</span></span></span></div></div></div></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508208687444636962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgORJtyO2NCWSmW34b7s-1MB26Cqna3sVa3V1WOK25Q_Ot99iRoUQ8P2ISoFhrxf7rn8YIcPXe0hpuwTU7ovtjCPuzBzoDHLyagexLynP7XlqZG86jAKDkJN1No80JUHIxeZlwVagdcFqI/s320/DSCF0230.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 240px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Naju Crew minus Taylor. He's taking the photo</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">.</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kxIfHhIGap_hDBzGLOf9iqJZ7V9EOsTEohbVKZqA5wHXUMoLUjBmjiwrz0wUCVOBIgUNYSuRES-U-pmw0MYcM0CG_ym4Xb970kS_KPxv4jxFPsDYEAT58ERg0lXfMADaK6hjGwx7HL0/s1600/DSCF0237.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508208703235728594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kxIfHhIGap_hDBzGLOf9iqJZ7V9EOsTEohbVKZqA5wHXUMoLUjBmjiwrz0wUCVOBIgUNYSuRES-U-pmw0MYcM0CG_ym4Xb970kS_KPxv4jxFPsDYEAT58ERg0lXfMADaK6hjGwx7HL0/s320/DSCF0237.JPG" style="display: block; height: 320px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 240px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wish you were here!</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">In terms of amenities, Naju is pretty well stocked. We have an Adidas store, a few pizza parlors, a pretty sizable bus station, a bowling alley, and pears. Although we lack a movie theatre and decent American food options, we make it up in an intimate, friendly small town environment. To boast, the weather is relatively temperate: It dips into the low 30s, averaging a few inches of snow during the winter. This cold-challenged LA boy will do just fine. I'm definitely not in Kansas anymore, but with the Naju crew at my side, and a great host family, all will be well.</span></div></div></div></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><br />
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<div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>MY HOST FAMILY:</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My host family, while delightful, is a little out of the ordinary. My host dad is 35 and my host mom is 31. They aren't exactly, say, host </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">parents, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">but more like host siblings. I also have a 2 year old sister, who for all intents and purposes, could be </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">daughter! And just for comparison, I have many friends whose host siblings are as old as my host parents!</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">So, lets meet the family:</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My host dads name is Jinho, and is the Agricultural Comissioner for the ciy of Naju. He's really friendly, energetic, and speaks great English. He also loves Jokho, a Korean sport that combines soccer and volleyball. </span></span></div></div></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">My host mom is Jinhee. She is a secretary at the local university and is currently studying for her final examination in her masters program. Due to her limited English, we don't really talk. We mostly communicate through online translation programs. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div><div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75iPInZZEpzrTbCwHp_qfNd35YxqOc8qtQdiyzo3guJO5YFONbbXl8R3EFecOEuj4AerisbQua4rSlbDtVYOJXWlkkkzJZEulorQ0tXJvXZ9lGGSVoKi9ql-R70Qou-iibDgGVjYPwWQ/s320/DSCF0251.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My host dad and lil' sis. </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8Lf61ljt3HuTWRzMMlBBqZjk4SuSqD50tJMfRgG81QL9qumKjHnsvEZB_cWZx5VmblRG2IcaXg2rT-9sXrJj1-oieT6ItiRIrvSe6RN68NWExeh2M1ej2kJp1RETqRyn8jDokArB7iw/s320/DSCF0255.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Isn't she cute?</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d9oxhLWfd7Q4fhGJf2YhZVRAX3d7kYj7_xhWDxFBxtQ_95DmGKv6Rgr42UQhvCqiK7UzTOztSecDovZO0JXZ_qqYFBWdUypeBdEI8pvXqwfGgegY_Dda9GKhRtx9zgD4aJWbmCU3hms/s1600/DSCF0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d9oxhLWfd7Q4fhGJf2YhZVRAX3d7kYj7_xhWDxFBxtQ_95DmGKv6Rgr42UQhvCqiK7UzTOztSecDovZO0JXZ_qqYFBWdUypeBdEI8pvXqwfGgegY_Dda9GKhRtx9zgD4aJWbmCU3hms/s320/DSCF0259.JPG" width="320" /></span></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">When I found out I had a pre-school age sister, I had mixed feelings. I didn't really know what to expect. But so, far, it's been very enlightening. Besides watching Barney every morning with her, (which is dubbed in Korean, mind you) I've discovered that we are both at about the same level of Korean study. So when my mom and dad read children's stories to her, I make sure to participate as well. Whether we are looking at picture books, or learning how to write vowels, I'm always by her side in hopes I might pick up something too! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>MY HOUSE:</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">...is awesome. My host dad built it himself last year. The house is environmentally friendly and built from recycled or local materials. It is a humble, 900 square feet home in the middle of a neighborhood. We live on the outskirts of town, right next to the city limits sign. Across the street is a rice patty.</span></span></div></div><br />
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<div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdMwf-Nr54EPvnwuKzvkLCYlUyOXk8irYie2mEmwnYadqXeypgs2qlg4q58SlYb9GFy_i-ewXxKkx3vElxiMrCv7W_EipnPYXn6xXf99iFNrn3h-zQ1FpyVdxrSYT3gRYgMAKZ2ROWs0/s1600/DSCF0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdMwf-Nr54EPvnwuKzvkLCYlUyOXk8irYie2mEmwnYadqXeypgs2qlg4q58SlYb9GFy_i-ewXxKkx3vElxiMrCv7W_EipnPYXn6xXf99iFNrn3h-zQ1FpyVdxrSYT3gRYgMAKZ2ROWs0/s320/DSCF0245.JPG" /></span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My house!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWllREbdxtnkzLRnZ8JvSqzEeoSrxQ1zbFyeOUwmDafq8pUd-j2I9bXFwLflqZ6yAhB-KL_YV9or6vcB8hlq75Tzav_zXZ9BCHNtDPg0dPf3J6othS9x-W4XyzaeIev9Xjrr3YKKBzb8/s1600/DSCF0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWllREbdxtnkzLRnZ8JvSqzEeoSrxQ1zbFyeOUwmDafq8pUd-j2I9bXFwLflqZ6yAhB-KL_YV9or6vcB8hlq75Tzav_zXZ9BCHNtDPg0dPf3J6othS9x-W4XyzaeIev9Xjrr3YKKBzb8/s320/DSCF0240.JPG" /></span></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The cutouts in the wall show the straw walls to our house. I dare the big bad wolf to try and blow this little house down!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIg52AGrazRaEXslkfSiGbH2VP6DU-533qCBP_cXIB892tXFDcXgSSOcnOQlLpqA0rIDrpw_esl02jodBkB-T682StTtgkVqXGRnNxGIEDek9BICQr3PYGtg9zpDZOZXLQZ5RYosCJ38c/s1600/DSCF0238.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508211985212745570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIg52AGrazRaEXslkfSiGbH2VP6DU-533qCBP_cXIB892tXFDcXgSSOcnOQlLpqA0rIDrpw_esl02jodBkB-T682StTtgkVqXGRnNxGIEDek9BICQr3PYGtg9zpDZOZXLQZ5RYosCJ38c/s320/DSCF0238.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Our kitchen. We never eat on the table, so I don't even know why we have one</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span> </div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5508241967525450402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe2rx3_Btvmtz-R4lm4-af8qHd71310n1L3pwQDw_fPVNWk1-4Xjml29BAzAf7NK81ePnaRB6uv4YvnKZZZrYLvNEeJjPV9Lv_r-GTlRlGdf9BYPWt4OyVkgFy2I4Tj3UPDm2CVbmtgk/s320/DSCF0244.JPG" style="display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The stairs of death I need to climb up to get to my bathroom. The kitchen is to the left.</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><b>MY SCHOOL:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">First off, let me say that I absolutely adore my all boys high school. The students are great, its close to my house, and the facilities are top notch. Yet the best aspect by far has been my coworkers. Let me share a few gems from the last week:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I went to school for the first time on Friday. Dres</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">sed to impress, I was ready to put on my best cultural ambassador face and make a good first impression on my new coworkers.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">Upon arriving, I was shuffled into my principal's office. My principal asks me a series of questions about myself, opens the refrigerator, and hands me a nice, cold refreshing beer. And then he gives me another. And another. Not knowing what to do, (after all, it was the first day of school,) I said, "well, 'when in Rome do as the Romans do!" Nothing like getting wasted with your principal at 8 in the morning!</span><br />
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<br />
<div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But it gets better. Much better.</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Immediately after our early morning boost of liquid confidence, he decides to take me on a tour of the school. Within 5 seconds of leaving his office, he firmly clasps my hand. And doesn't let go. For the entire tour. And to boot, he proceeded to shower me with compliments about my devilish good looks! So here I am, hand in hand with my principal, walking (or more like drunkenly wobbling) around school at 8:45am. Mind you, students are present and eager to meet. me. Way to make a great first impression as a cultural ambassador!**</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">But wait, there's more.</span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After lunch, my co-teacher and I went to get my cellphone and bank account. While he is a very kind, sweet gentlemen, his English is far from proficient. I'm pretty sure every staff member including the 60 year old home economics teacher speaks better English than him. But I digress...Anyway, we get in his car to go to the cellphone store. Still recovering from the mornings' activites, my first thought was "oh, I am so happy that he's driving and not me!"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Then, all of the sudden....BHAAAAM!</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"Oh, so sorry! So sorry!"</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">My coteacher backed up into a parked car.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">Before I could process what had just happened, we speeded out of the parking lot.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">I start teaching next monday. Who knows what awaits me then....</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">**Cultural note:</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: separate; line-height: normal;"> </span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">1. Holding hands with a member of the same gender is perfectly normal in Korea. It is the utmost sign of friendship.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">2. The giving of alcohol is a sign of hospitality. Alcohol does not carry the same weight or stigma that it does in the United States. This explains a lot...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;">Well, thank you for reading this far. I know it was a long entry, but expect many many more from the land of Pears. Naju has definitely kept me entertained!</span></span><br />
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</div></span></span>Josh Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04098403263717459005noreply@blogger.com6