Writing About Asia

In researching more links and information regarding So Far from the Bamboo Grove by Yoko Kawashima Watkins, I came across this Australian (?) blog:

http://alisonshomework.com/sfftbg.html

and website: http://www.alisonshomework.com/

Would be interested to know your thoughts.

 

Eleven-year-old Yoko and her family are stationed in North Korea during World War II while Yoko’s father works as a Japanese government official in nearby Manchuria. They live in a bamboo grove in Nanam until the Russian and Korean Communists invade their country and escalate their war against Japan. Because Yoko’s father protects Japanese interests, the family knows they are in particular danger and must flee the country as soon as possible. So Far from the Bamboo Grove tells the story of their escape. Yoko, her mother, and her sister Ko learn of the urgency of their escape one…

[The entire page is 264 words long]

Tamra Andrews.  ”So Far from the Bamboo Grove: Overview.” Beacham’s Encylopedia of Popular Fiction. Ed. Kirk H. Beetz. Vol. 14. Beacham-Gale, 1996. eNotes.com. January 2005. 14 June 2009 <http://www.enotes.com/far-bamboo-qn/overview>.

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/visitSAAM.asp

http://www.wingluke.org/

http://www.sitasingstheblues.com/

http://www.thirteen.org/sites/reel13/indies/indie-sita-sings-the-blues/241/

Japanese Paper Cutting Workshop

Presented by Aki Sogabe

Grades 2-12

Kent Regional Library

Saturday, May 9, 2pm

Using her books as an introduction to the ancient art of Japanese paper cutting, Aki will help participants create an origami and paper cut project!

Registration required

253.859.3330

Kent Regional Library

212 2^nd Ave N

Kent WA 98032

kcls.org

The King County Library System will be one of 208 communities nationwide participating in The Big Read. This initiative, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, is designed to bring people from different generations and backgrounds together to read and discuss literature. The focus is to demonstrate that reading is necessary to the cultural, civic and economic fabric of our communities.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2009159603_seasian030.html

“On Saturday, May 2, 2009, I enjoyed a wonderful day at University of Washington, at the Spring Teachers’ Conference in Korean Studies for K-12 Washington State teachers. Both Mark Peterson and Mary Conner covered a huge wealth of material on both North and South Korea, teaching us about the culture, history, politics, art, geography, and poetry of this fascinating, but divided, country. They supported their presentations with power points, and took the time to answer direct questions. Mark Peterson even taught us the Han’gul alphabet and compared/contrasted the Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages. Our Korean box lunch was huge and delicious, and we now know the difference between a bowl of Korean, Japanese and Chinese rice just by looking at the material of the bowl and the design of the chopsticks:  who knew? I also thoroughly enjoyed the lesson on Sijo, a form of Korean poetry that is “more lyrical, subjective and personal than haiku.” We took home several free books and a dvd of Power Points to use in our classroom as well. It felt like Christmas in May! What a wonderful gift for educators. – Submitted by Brynne Garman, Kentridge High School”

http://www.wdl.org/en/

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/visit/visitSAAM.asp

You may want to visit before our next meeting in September. Admission for families is free the first Saturday of the month, which is in conflict for May if you’re attending the Korean conference; however, June 6 might be a lovely time to go!