GLO Portfolio :D

Wanna know what kind of work that's been keeping me up in the wee hours of the night? Look no further, and click here!

Parent Comment on GLO Portfolio

Korie,

Wow you summarized a lot of late nights, BIG discussions, critical decisions, zany moments, true determination, a few conflicts, and many hours of hard work in one blog! Yes, this does capture the many projects of your Sophomore Year well with your sense of humor. You were fortunate to have many moments to truly celebrate the elbow grease that is needed and often underestimated to finish projects that you personally took pride in producing no matter what the outcome would be! Keep up the good work and I really do love your goals for Junior Year!

Love,

Mom :)

Journal #3: Impact

My passion is in communicating with many different people; this program brings a new definition to communication. Our whole purpose of interaction to anyone is our effort to convey a message. This is something that I understand is important, Project Icarus really reenforced this interest by challenging me to interact with people not of my culture. From this project I have gained skills in being an effective communicator (GLO #5!). The research portion requires me to showing my message through writing, where as the impact activity challenges me to push my message across by video media and interviews. Recently, when we had a Japanese exchange student stay over at our house this year, I had to apply my limited knowledge of Japanese in order to talk to him. The point of school is to train us to use our voice to express an idea. My curriculum this past school year included three classes that taught me how to relay messages: Language Arts, Japanese, and TV Production. I have learned a lot from each of these three classes, and have, in my opinion, become a better, and more fluent speaker because of it.

Project Icarus: Journal #2

Journal #2: Data and Information Gathering

The Japan-American Society of Hawaii (JASH) participates in the annual Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention, one of the many ways Hawaii’s community is given the opportunity to interact and learn a different country’s culture. Through this program I am able to concentrate on something I enjoy doing, as well as practice effective communication skills.

The Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention (APCC) is an annual event held in Fukuoka, Japan. It was formed in 1989 as a part of Fukuoka City’s 100th anniversary convention. The Japanese government created this program to foster global peace, to create content relationships among people from different regions of the world. However, the APCC is focused mainly on children and youth to create long-lasting

“omaiyari” (considerate and peaceful) friendships. Eleven year old Junior Ambassadors (JA) are encouraged to fully participate in these activities to learn to be ‘color-blind,’ to not judge one another by race or cultural aspects. APCC believes bonds such as these will influence the lives of these individuals, influence their friends, and influence the future, for the better. Their vision embraces the modern cultural interaction, of young people, first-hand. Delegates are expected to not only get along, but more importantly, to honor each others’ similarities and differences. The mutual understanding created between them is free of political, economic, religious, and cultural restrictions. About 43 different countries are represented at this event, approximately 220 Junior Ambassadors in all.

The 10th annual APCC marked a milestone for the convention when former JAs were invited back to Fukuoka as Peace Ambassadors. Peace Ambassadors (PA) meet under a mission to create a world wide network, to communicate ideas more effectively and creating real global citizens, the Bridge Club International Organization (BCIO). Peace Ambassador Serena Li, from Hawaii, said, “You really hold more responsibilities, you have an agenda that you go through in the conference and its kind of like a model UN kind of discussion, where we talk about local issues around the world and decide.” PAs then returned home where many started local Bridge Clubs, integrating their community. Currently there are 25 Bridge Clubs, including Bridge Club Hawaii. One of the main topics of the PAs is the Common Activity. This implements every PA to contribute to BCIO within their own community. The Common Activity this past year was called “Visions of Harmony.” A traveling picture gallery was publicly displayed in 26 different countries, promoting the APCC and a global community.

The APCC also sponsors a program for the students in Fukuoka called “The Mission Project.” Every year selected Japanese students travel together, as ambassadors to many destination countries, and stay with host families. For three years Hawaii has been fortunate to be one of the destinations. Hawaii’s APCC director, Liz Stanton-Berrera, comments about the Mission Project saying, “...it extends what the APCC is all about, as far as developing young children with that sense of global awareness and helping to foster their desire their sense for world peace.”

Reflection Questions: Holocaust Video, Chapter 2-3

Describe the areas the Orpah and Elie Wiesel visit in Chapter 2 & 3.

They visit the thick, concrete gas chambers that were responsible for the biggest mass killings. They went through the blocks, including the 'prison in the prison' where mostly political leaders were tortured. The museum was another place they walked to, where there were the actual personal belongings of the murdered people.

Why do Oprah and Elie Wiesel refer to the camp as a "death factory"? how was it "industrialized"?

The camp pushed out deaths regularly everyday. They murdered over hundreds of people daily, whether it be through the crematory, gas chambers, or torture. Death was the result from all of this, in a way making it their factory's "product". By the gas chambers and the canned poison, it created an easier, faster, and larger scaled way of termination, thereby "industrializing" the production of deaths.

What is the significance of the hundreds of labelled suitcases? of the baby clothes? of the shoes?

The labelled suitcases stand for all the innocent lives lost. In the video, they showed that the owners of the suitcases would write their name on it, thinking that their possessions would be returned. The baby clothes are especially sad because innocent babies were instantly killed, as they were not fit for labor and were of no use. Elie Wiesel had said that the shoes could show if the person was a dancer, a poor, or a rich person. Every pair of shoes there had an owner that had lost their life in the holocaust. Elie Wiesel had mentioned that the world was less of these people, some who could have been very influential in terms of positively impacting society.

How is this video different in video technique and style from most videos or movies that you are used to seeing? (think about your answers to question 2 on the previous reflection)? Do you think the difference in style was effective? Why or why not?

This type of documentary is different than most that I've seen because the interview was conducted on the site of location, instead of a sit-down interview with b-roll of the buildings. It is very effective to this type of story, as we can see both Elie Wiesel's and Oprah's emotions and reactions to the significance of the buildings.

After watching the video and reading the book, what is your impression or response to this thing called the Holocaust? How did the experience of watching the video differ from that of reading the book for you?

Although the book was a very detailed account of Elie Wiesel's experience with the holocaust, watching the video made this experience seem more real to me. The video put a face on the story, as well as displayed the real buildings, the real shoes, the real cans of poison that were actually used at that time. It became so real for me through the movie, versus the book, because these kinds of events aren't supposed to happen in real life. They are so...extreme that it sounds like it was taken out of a horror movie or something, but it has actually happened, and that the really scary part.

Holocaust Video, Chapter 1 Reflection

1)What details about the Holocaust experience became clearer or more vivid for you because of the video?
The immense size of Auschwitz, how it was bigger than 500 football fields, and at least half of Manhattan.  I also saw how Elie Wiesel was affected by going back to the concentration camp; he would talk in a hushed tone, and refused to go in to the third crematorium- where his mother and sister most likely died.

2)Describe the video techniques used to tell this story:

The excerpts from the book were well placed, helping to reenforce some of the horrors Elie has seen, as well as recall some of our prior knowledge from what we read in the book.  It is presented in a form that is easy to follow along, superimposed on a picture or a short video clip that is relevant to the quote.  The graphics were very effective in giving a face to what the words are saying.  I noticed the camera rarely stayed still, even for the still pictures- where they had a "Ken Burns" effect.  Motion captures attention, and made it seem more dramatic than a regular monotone interview/documentary would.

3)What is the "madness" the Oprah and Elie Wiesel speak of at the end of this section?

The "madness" is of believing in humanity after what Elie has witnessed.  Oprah stated that she thinks that trusting and trying to fix humanity after something such as the holocaust is "madness", as being inhuman was so human at that time.

Project Icarus: Journal #1

Learning and Research Process

Topic:

Japanese Home Stay Program

Passion & Stretch:

*I went on an exchange program to Japan when I was 11

*Since my trip, my family has hosted 3 different times (4 people total)

*The club extending off of JASH, Bridge Club Hawaii, has a mission statement to form a human network of global citizens, both locally and internationally, to promote peace and coexistence

*I want to learn the culture and language of students from Japan

*I want to be able to use what I learn to communicate effectively

Resources & Research:

*Staff at Japan-American Society of Hawaii (JASH)

*Former host families

*Former exchange students from Hawaii

Process & Product:

*Participate in collaborating events with JASH

*Continue to study the Japanese language in school

*Practice Japanese by keeping in contact with prior home stay students

This I Believe: Katsu, Garlic, Shoyu, and BBQ

One of the upsides to living in Hawaii is the ability to raise any farm animal you please, due to the pretty much constant tropical climate. I raise chickens. More specifically, hens. They live in a big, homemade covered coop in my our backyard through rain, wind, and sun. Here’s some of the things I’ve learned from raising chickens:

*Commit to your chickens. Although chickens aren’t conventional pets, they still need basic care. And unless you want the lingering smell of chicken poop 24/7, keeping them outside the house is the best option. Commitment means getting up at 5 AM and walking out back of the house with a flashlight to replenish the food and water supply. But heck, even at that early morning hour the chickens are still sleeping.

*Have a laugh. Chickens will never be the equivalent to cute puppy dogs, my family can find humorous little things here and there, which makes raising chickens just that much more worth it. After raising our pets from chicks to adults for about 8 months, we noticed each chicken would lay one egg per day, at around 10 AM. When they first started laying eggs, we didn’t receive four everyday. After they matured, we regularly received four eggs a day, and the chickens did well in living up to our standards. During winter, we had a week-long cold front, resulting in sporadic egg laying patterns. My dad became irritated with the chickens, and jokingly threatened to post a picture of Colonel Sanders inside the coop to keep the chickens in line. The humor continues in even their names, born out of amusement one afternoon.

*Enjoy the ‘eggs’ of your labor. While I don’t teach chickens to roll over, speak, or fetch- although excellent beggars on their own- they do come with their own set of rewards. Chickens are low maintenance animals, they don’t need clothes, haircuts, or baths. You don’t have to potty train them or take them out on walks. Oh yeah, and they lay eggs too, yum!

What I’ve learned from them carries on to my everyday life. Something as easy as raising chickens has left me to value commitment and simple humor in many situations. In doing so, I can enjoy the outcomes of hard work and appreciate the positive.

Q3 OR Card

Journal # (something)

The Things They Carried, By Tim O'Brien

1. Rat (Bob) Kiley (the medic)

"carried a canvas satchel filled with morphine and plasma and malaria tablets and surgical tape and comic books and all the things a medic must carry, including M&Ms for especially bad wounds for a total of 20 pounds." (page 5)

2. Chapter: How to Tell a True War Story

a) When his friend, Curt Lemon, died, Rat personally wrote a letter to Lemon's sister for his condolences. it shows he was very close and cared very much for his friend. By the way Tim O'Brien describes this, Rat thoroughly wrote about his adventures with Curt Lemon, both happy and serious. (pages 67-68)

b) When the sister didn't reply back to Rat, he called her a "cooze." This word is far more obscene than *ahem*...female dog. The book stated,"He's [Rat Kiley] 19 years old- it's too much for him- so he looks at you with those big sad killer eyes and says cooze, because his friend is dead, and because it's so incredibly sad and true: she never wrote back." (pages 68-69) The impression I get from this, is how he uses words to cope with the loss and the grief of the war. It shows that he is still "only human."

c)How Curt Lemon died also showed Rat's personality. "...Giggling and calling each other yellow mother and playing a silly game they invented..." (pages 69-70) The book states Rat is 19 years old; still a kid according to the other soldiers. At the time, Rat and Curt were goofing around playing a game with a smoke grenade, while the unit was camping out in a deep jungle. The land was booby-trapped with things like Toe Popper and Bouncing Betties, yet the time seemed like "not even war" to the two boys.

3. Insight

Character: Rat Kiley was an ordinary person, thrown into an extraordinary (in a bad way) position. He tried to make the best of things, and had a good heart.

War: The place changes people; there are somethings that cannot be unseen or un-experienced. War is ugly, and has no morality. In the chapter, "How to Tell a True War Story," it says that any war story that has a moral, or makes you feel uplifted at the end, is a lie.

Life: People can be essentially good. They are just thrown into situations where there are no obvious answers, such as war. Events like war bring out the worst in people, causing them to kill other men. However, this doesn't mean every person is emotionless. They can still be careless, goofy, angry, humorous, loving.

Allusion Graphic and Poem FINAL.

It is simply illogical.

This world I’m in,

It’s strange

It’s new

It’s changing

Curiosity and determination

compel me to venture forward

Steps get awkward

I feel clumsy

How is it possible to feel so out of place?

Let me out of this

‘dream-world’

I want to escape.

With a stroke of luck

I’ve found a way to fit in

(although it must have been something I ate)

It works too well,

now the world is big around me

as if I were shrinking

People intimidate

Problems complicate

Yet,

When I’m small

I see simplicity.

doors close,

but another just appears

getting back on my feet,

colors change

saturated to vivid

On second thought,

I wouldn’t mind going down that rabbit hole again

Allusion Graphic

Allusion Poem- "Looking Around"

It is simply illogical.

This world I’m in,

It’s strange

It’s new

It’s changing

Curiosity and determination

compel me to venture forward

Steps get awkward

I feel clumsy

How is it possible to feel so out of place?

Let me out of this

‘dream-world’

I want to escape.

With a stroke of luck

I’ve found a way to fit in

(although it must have been something I ate)

It works too well,

now the world is big around me

as if I were shrinking

People intimidate

Problems complicate

Yet,

When I’m small

I see simplicity.

doors close,

but another just appears

getting back on my feet,

colors change

saturated to vivid

On second thought,

I wouldn’t mind going down that rabbit hole again

Sophomore 1st Semester Portfolio Invitation

Through my portfolio I showed that I am able to meet the standards in the 6 writing traits. Although I can't say I enjoyed putting together this portfolio, I'm sorta glad I did this assignment because its a collaboration of my best work in the first semester.

Click Here to view my portfolio

Please comment:
What piece of writing did you like best in my portfolio and why?
What did you like about my portfolio and sharing and what would you like to see me improve on?
Which of the writing traits (ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency) do you feel was most successful for me?
Which of the traits of writing would you like me to improve on in the coming semester?

OR card: Quarter 2

Sustaining a Safe Community

“Denise Wright will have to spend at least 80 years of her life sentence behind bars before she is eligible for parole for nearly starving to death her 12-year-old daughter in 2007,” stated the Honolulu Advertiser on October 19th, 2010. [1] This was an extreme story of child abuse in Hawaii that shocked many. Child abuse is generally categorized in four groups: physical harm, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. According to Childhelp, a national organization for the prevention and treatment of child abuse, child abuse is defined as “of any act of commission or omission that endangers or impairs a child's physical or emotional health and development.”[3] Abuse should be dealt through punishment by law enforcement.

Rehabilitation is one solution to setting a criminal back on the right track. Childhelp’s statistics show that “children who experience child abuse & neglect are 59% more likely to be arrested as a juvenile, 28% more likely to be arrested as an adult, and 30% more likely to commit violent crime.”[7] With these rates, there needs to be a stable solution to address this. Studies have shown that rehabilitation had a lasting effect on law offenders because it gave them a second chance to adapt to society by gaining academic or trade skills. However, this method only works if the person is willing to go through the designated steps.

Child abuse is a community problem. Law enforcement gives attention to cases making sure that proper punishments go to the law offender. About 30% of abused or neglected children will continue this cycle of harm to their children. [7] In working in treatment of a case of child abuse, the offender must have consequences to assure they are no longer a threat to the community or themselves. These consequences may also work in way that deter, to create a fear in the criminal, as well as the general public, motivating them not to repeat the offense. Reported cases of child abuse go to law enforcement officials because it is illegal to abuse any child- as stated in Chapter 350.[4]

In addition to this, punishment is the main goal of the United States criminal justice system when dealing with offenders. Within the Family Courts of Hawaii State Judiciary System, cases for abuse and neglect of children, as well as termination of parental rights. The state judiciary system considers these as important issues that need to be resolved quickly and fairly. [5] The Classical School of Criminology claims that, “the principal means of controlling behavior is fear, particularly fear of pain or punishment. In this way the will could be directed to make correct choices.” [6] In short, this shows how the physiology of punishment from the government has more chance of correcting criminals, as opposed to rehabilitation because of the aspect of self-determination within.

Overall, punishment is a more effective than counseling in terms of creating and sustaining a safer community. The story of Denise Wright’s harshly neglected daughter was resolved by punishment to Denise Wright. Even though the punishment from the government addressed the criminal’s part, the 12 year old girl -now 16- has recovered physically, but is only capable of third grade level comprehension.[2] Punishment is what parents use to discipline their children. It’s what the government uses to discipline adult citizens. Both work well, if done to the right extent with the correct intentions.

Bibliography

[1]"Trial Begins For Parents Accused Of Starving Daughter - Honolulu News Story - KITV Honolulu." Honolulu News-KITV Honolulu's Channel 4. Web. Nov. 2010. .

[2]"Mother given 80-year Prison Term for Starving Daughter." Hawaii News- Honolulu Star-Advertiser - Hawaii Newspaper. Web. Nov. 2010. .

[3]"About Child Abuse | Childhelp." Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse | Childhelp. Web. Nov. 2010. .

[4]"Haw. Rev. Stat. 350-1 : Hawaii Statutes - Section 350-1: Definitions." US and State Codes. Web. Nov. 2010. .

[5]"Family Courts." Hawaii State Judiciary. Hawaii.gov. Web. Nov. 2010. .

[6]"Classical." Classical. Criminological Theory, 22 Nov. 2005. Web. Nov. 2010. .

[7]"National Child Abuse Statistics | Childhelp." Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse | Childhelp. Web. Nov. 2010. .

Outside Reading Card (Quarter 1)

Self-Critique on comment below

Learning from Home

University of Pugent Sound:

Because we at Puget Sound values independent and creative thought, feel free to write on any topic of your choice.

"Describe you hometown and how you are a product of this environment."

Geographically, Hawaii is more than 2,300 miles away from the closest continent, stranded in the Pacific Ocean. Literally, Hawaii is an island made up of volcanic rock. Sentimentally, Hawaii is my home.

My family lives up on a mountain, by Hawaii standards. It’s a type of house that doesn’t need air-conditioning because we’re high enough to catch the cool trade wind. Our backyard has enough space for two active children to run around in, separated by a gate, which prevents us from going into a green-belt area that gradually slopes into the valley. The front yard displays my grandparents’ gifted green thumbs through a color scheme ranging from royal purple orchids to vibrant yellow hibiscus. Our street traffic is light, a positive side to not being on the main road.

Looking out from our light-blue house, I realize living in an older neighborhood- where senior citizens outnumber children and adults has influenced me deeply. My dad grew up in this house, the one I’ve always called home. The older couples have seen my dad grow up- and now his children as well. He’d share stories, “Oh man, and I remember this one time me and Gary...” My brother and I would love to hear these stories, as it brought a memory back from my dad’s childhood and he made them exciting to hear.

Across the street in a salmon-pink house is Aunty Loretta and Uncle Joe, a Hawaiian family. Even from when we were little kids, they encouraged us to play in their big front yard. We played sword fight, threw football, and popped small firecrackers. Aunty Loretta is a loud person, but it’s in a way that is asking about our day, laughing at a funny story, or congratulating us for any accomplishments. Every time I talk to Uncle Joe he tells me stories of “way back when.” The physical warmth that they show me makes me happy to spend my time talking to them, and helping them out.

Towards the right is a two-story cream-colored Filipino household. Their family has doubled the original house in size. Yet, like in many other Filipino homes, there are seven members living there. We don’t really talk to the family all that much. Yet, when there was a storm, -- we could count on each other. When we see the parents, we exchange short greetings and share personal updates as time allows. Traditionally at Christmas and New Years we exchange personally made treats of gau (a Chinese good luck dessert) with lumpia (meat wrapped and fried in a thin cornstarch paper). Our sharing food is special because its also sharing our cultures. The sense of community by close proximity give the feeling of security, knowing that there is someone that will always be there.

To our direct right, a white-stained-by-red-dirt shade is Aunty Karen. Ever since her husband passed away, she’s been working early morning to late nights at the florist. When we were younger we had many conversations through the wooden fence that divides our properties. I haven’t seen her for a while, but her dog, Sachi, enjoys our visits and sharing dog food and treats after we come home from school. Even though we don’t see Aunty Karen often, she knows we’re there, helping through our actions.

Two houses down to the left is the Browns, the only white people we know that live anywhere near us. They’ve lived there as long as I’ve known, but my parents only got to know them because my brother and I got along well with their grandson. We’ve grown closer to each other; even bringing back little treats from trips. Amazing, what relationships kids can bring together by friendships.

Mrs. Ikenaga, an old Japanese lady lived to our left- until her husband passed away. A few months later she sold the house to go live at an old folks home. Being only 7 years old, I hadn’t known what was happening, all I understood was that neither my brother or I would be called over there for sugar cookies over a card game of goldfish anymore. Mrs. Ikenaga was the first neighbor to openly welcome us inside of the house, no matter what time of the day it was. It was the time she spent just getting to know us, and playing cards that made those moments special.

Instead of Mrs. Ikenaga, a mixed marriage couple of Japanese & German moved in. They were way younger than the rest of the neighbors. In no time, we introduced ourselves, learning that they were Keith and Shelly. They both looked too young to be ‘Aunty Shelly’ or ‘Mr. Roberts.’ Yet, it still felt weird to be on the ‘first-name basis’ with them. “It does not matter what you call them necessarily,” my mom would answer to me, “just so long as the name you call them is with respect.”

These new neighbors were welcomed and blended in. Now, they have two young kids, new energy- ones that I can help look after and share what I’ve learned from my neighbors. Having the different cultures all in one neighborhood is amazing! No one is the same, but that the best part about it, each family has taught me values, whether it is taking time to talk story, sharing food, kind actions, being available to spend time, and showing why respect is so important.

He Heard Me (Coming of Age)

This was what we’ve been working for. All those long after school practices would pay off here. I sat, anxious, with 93 other concert band students. Looking around, I could see the multitude of uniform M&M ties on top of white collared shirts, neatly tucked into black pants. A smile hit my face as I realized my place in this group. We were all the same- no one was more important than any other- and I felt like I truly belonged.

Today didn’t feel like our other concerts. Instead of performing at the Pearl City Cultural Center, Moanalua’s Music Department chose the Neil Blaisedell Concert Hall. This is where the best perform: traveling broadway shows, Honolulu Symphony, and the Hawaii Opera Theater. Sitting on the stage was literally the best seat in the house, we were the staring talent, and we had earned it.

At about 5:00, the curtains rose. Slowly and steadily the red barrier between the audience and us disappeared. There, sat over 2,000 people, eager to listen. We began with a light march, “El Capitan.” Soon after, our band rolled into the Scottish sounds of “Green Hills Fantasy.” We ended our performance with the sentimental selections from “Mancini Spectacular.” Just as we rehearsed, the elements of music were performed exactly.

It felt great that we did our best that night, and I talked to my friends on the way out of backstage. Instead of sitting in the audience to watch my friends in orchestra and other band classes, as I had planned, I saw my family waiting for me right outside the back door. There was a brief congratulations on my performance, but it some how didn’t seem...right. I really wanted to see my friends play, as some had come to see my band; Mom said no. I didn’t understand why, but it seemed as if they were all in a hurry to get somewhere.

The sky grew darker, changing into night as we drove on. A right, a left, then another left, which turned out along side a park. This route seemed too familiar to me. Another right turn. We arrived at the newly constructed “old-people” home in Millilani. Getting out of the car and getting on the elevator to the 2^nd floor was a blur. Time just seemed to stop. My body kept moving briskly forward, yet my brain couldn’t comprehend the situation. My aunty quietly greeted us outside the door, gave my mom a quick nod, then a hug.

We rushed in to the dimly lit room. He was there- not fiddling with his hearing aid, not worrying about gout, not having a hard time breathing. In fact, he wasn’t breathing at all. He was just still. My Kung Kung, my grandpa, was gone.

Refusing to believe any of it, I sank into the chair. It seemed like he was just sleeping. I should, though, have known, by the way the man, standing on the far end of the room, I had never seen before was holding a Bible. I should have known by the way my aunty greeted us outside the care home with teary, red eyes. I should have known when my Mom started rushing me out of the concert hall.

As I numbly sat there, someone explained what had happened to me. Kung Kung was having a hard time breathing this morning, in his ailing conditions. He passed peacefully in his sleep, just about two hours before. Two hours...I looked at the clock. Two hours ago was 5:00. Two hours ago I had just started to play in the concert. Kung Kung had been there, even though it wasn’t in human presence. He heard me play, and this time, it wasn’t through his hearing aid, but by his own ears. I had felt something during the concert, but at the time I only thought it were the nerves of playing in front of a bigger audience.

I even though I was sad, I wasn’t afraid. Kung Kung was one of the key people that helped me to grow as a person, especially throughout my intermediate school years. This was my chance to let go of him, yet still hold fast to the many memories we shared.