Thursday, January 01, 2009

Winter Wanderland Day 7 - December 30

Ali got up early and went to have lunch with an old friend in New York. I ran some errands including picking up my tux for Steve's wedding.

We headed to Cranford for Steve and Steph's rehearsal dinner. Things seem to be going relatively smoothly and everybody's ready for Friday's wedding.

When we got home, we spent some more time with wedding planning ideas and narrowed down the wedding to early August. We also began playing with ideas to do a 1920s themed wedding reception. That led to lots of fun planning and we even requested bids from some bands and narrowed down the list of reception sites to four good ones in the local area. We even had an improptu slow dance to a 1920s ballad.

Winter Wanderland Day 6 - December 29

It was time to head back to New Jersey via Philadelphia. Everything went smoothly; we even got in a little early. After some slight hold ups at the parking lot, we made it back home to some pizza.

We spent the evening surfing wedding planning web sites and talking through lots of possibilities. No decisions yet, but we had fun discussing it all.

Winter Wanderland Day 5 - December 28

I spent most of the day in the house beating that Build-a-Lot game. Ali went with my Mom, Matt and Allie to look at houses in the area for Matt and Allie.

At 3pm, we headed to JC Penny for a big family portrait shoot. Unfortunately, there were babies and incompetent employees waiting for us there. We finally got our pictures taken around 3:45 or so and walked through the outdoor mall to dinner at Grillsmith. After dinner, we watched a light show set to the music of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Back at the house, we had family game night with Uno Spin and Skip-Bo with drinks and snacks. We had good quality family time to end our visit to Florida.

Winter Wanderland Day 4 - December 27

Although the original plan was to get up really early to get into Animal Kingdom as it opened, we wound up sleeping in a little bit and enjoying a leisurely breakfast and coffee. We even sat out in the rocking chairs watching the animals for a little while.

Our favorite animal outside our hotel was a long-horned cattle. His or her horns were uneven so his or her head was perpetually askew. It was a little bit sad but funny too.

We headed first to the Animal Kingdom today and it was really crowded. First stop was a Fastpass for the safari. While waiting for our turn, we walked through a trail with various animals and guides. The safari was a lot of fun - we saw rhinos, elephants, giraffes, monkeys, flams, antelope and other animals. After the safari, we got a Fastpass for Expedition Everest, but the wait was too long and the crowds too stifling so we left for Hollywood Studios.

Once there, we had lunch at the Backlot including a view of the High School Music extravaganza. We tried to get into the new Toy Story ride, but the wait was 100 minutes with no more Fastpasses available. Instead, we went into the stunt show, which was cool. After moving with the giant stunt show crowd, we thought we were home free until we found the Toy Story Block Party parade. We snuck through and made it out of the park. A quick stop back at our hotel and we were off for the parents' house.

Matt and Allie made dinner for everybody and we had a champagne toast to our engagement. We relaxed for the night with the piano, Wii and some television.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Winter Wanderland Day 3 - December 26

Today was the day - time for the proposal.

But first, we had a day of Disney World to attend to. We got up relatively early and set off for the Animal Kingdom Lodge, our hotel for the evening. We got settled into our room and quickly headed to the extremely crowded Magic Kingdom. We made our way through the park to ride Snow White's Scary Adventure or something along those lines and then It's a Small World. From there, we had lunch at the noodle shop on the edge of Tomorrowland and Main Street USA.

After lunch, we boarded the monorail to spend the afternoon at Epcot. There we waded through more crowds to make our way to World Showcase. We took in some performers along the way: a fusion rock band in Morocco, a Kwanzaa storyteller at the American Experience, taiko drumming in Japan. We picked up a Fastpass for the ride in Norway and then bought a couple of beers in Germany and sat on a nice bench for awhile. Fastpass got us to the front of the long Norway ride, which was fun. After that, we made our way back into Future World and the Innovations center, but that turned out to be a bust. It was getting late into the afternoon so we took the bus back to our hotel so we could get ready for our dinner reservations.

I took a short nap at the hotel while Ali showered. I had been feeling a little sick since the morning and it was catching up with me. We got dressed nice to head to dinner and left nice and early so we would have time to take the bus to the Magic Kingdom and then the Monorail to the Grand Floridian for our 7:20 reservation at Citrico's. Of course, I wanted to get there early so there would be time to ask Ali to marry me, but she did not know that at the time.

We got to the Grand Floridian at about 6:40, enjoyed the big band playing in the lobby, saw the impressive gingerbread house, and then went outside to find a good spot to have somebody take our photograph. That spot turned out to be along the Seven Seas Lagoon at the resort's boat launch to the Magic Kingdom and the Polynesian Resort.

I found a guy sitting by himself on the bench and asked him to take our photograph. He agreed and we did so. Then I took a look to check for quality and everything; at the same time his family showed up to tell him it was time for them to go. Luckily, he heeded my plea to take one more picture. I turned to Ali, took her arms with both hands, and told her: "I love you. I want to be together forever." Then, I knelt and said, "Will you marry me?" She made some affirmative sounds through tears and then said yes. By this time, the man's family was in on the action and applauded for us while their little girl asked, "What happened?" They explained it to her quickly and she also gave her approval.

Engagement photos can be found here.

We made some quick phone calls to our parents and then headed into Citrico's for a great engagement dinner. We, of course, opted for the wine pairings throughout the meal. We shared a tuna carpaccio appetizer, then I had potato truffle soup while Ali had goat cheese salad for a second course. For our main entrees, I had bass and Ali had duck confit.

After dinner, we sat and talked for awhile over our last glass of wine before realizing that the 9pm Magic Kingdom fireworks we meant to go see were about to begin. We hustled back to the scene of the engagement just as the fireworks began. We boarded a ferry and moved across Seven Seas Lagoon toward the Magic Kingdom with fireworks in the sky. It was a great night!

When we got to the Magic Kingdom, we passed by the leaving crowds and made our way to Frontier Land with the intent of riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Instead, we wound up on Pirates of the Caribbean and then enjoyed Spectral Magic before heading back to the hotel.

We had a great night all around and began excitedly talking about what comes next.

Winter Wanderland Day 2 - December 25











Christmas!

We were nice and lazy with our sleeping and even once we got up, we mostly had coffee, watched a little bit of the Disney Christmas parade and relaxed. I spent much of the day working on a new computer game my Mom downloaded called Build-A-Lot while Ali baked pies. We also spent a little time opening Christmas presents, playing piano duets or with the train set, a little bit of Frisbee, a walk, etc. It turns out Ali can actually play video games! We enjoyed trying out the Wii golf, bowling, and tennis. We decided we need to get one for our home.

The focal point of the day was probably Christmas dinner - a nice turkey meal with all the trimmings. After dinner, we began tracking Allie and Matt's flight from Newark, which was delayed due to mechanical error and led to some angst. They wound up getting into Tampa after some running to make a connecting flight, but their luggage did not make it until the following day unfortunately.

Winder Wanderland Day 1 - December 24

We got up bright (well, rainy and icy) and early to head to Philadelphia Airport. The reports on the way were that the roads were terrible with major delays and serious accidents along our route from NJ to PA. In fact, they suggested that anyone able avoid driving at all. Despite these warnings, we had pretty good conditions and got to Philly on time, parked and moved quickly through security and everything inside the airport.

Unfortunately, our flight crew did not have the same luck on the way to the airport. Once boarded, we had to wait about 15-20 minutes for the pilot and then another 15-20 minutes for the first officer. That put us far back in line for taxi and take-off and we wound up leaving about 45 minutes behind schedule. We made up some time in the air and touched down to beautiful weather in Tampa.

Once my Mom and Dad picked us up at the airport, we stopped for some pie making supplies at Winn Dixie and relaxed at their house for a few hours before heading out to our new tradition of Christmas Eve dinner at Benedetto's. We met the new family kitten, Lilo, who likes to play and meow all the time. We enjoyed great food and wine and had a good time. On the way home, we listened to Christmas music on the radio while we drove around neighborhoods and looked at festive light displays. Some odd combinations included manger scenes juxtaposed with Mickey snow-globes and ferris wheels. Ali thought she spotted Santa in a doorway, but no one else caught it. However, after circling back, everyone saw a REAL Santa walking in someone's yard! Less exciting Santa sightings included a giant inflatable Claus with BROWN facial hair. Huh.
Once back at the house, we did some more relaxing and watched Charlie Brown's Christmas before bed.

Engagement Photos

This is a "before" shot of us with Cinderella's Castle in the background. We were on the Grand Floridian's boat launch out into Seven Seas Lagoon. When we got there to get our picture together, I asked a guy sitting on the bench to help out. Luckily, he stuck around for a series of photos.
This is the beginning of the proposal: "I love you. I want to be together forever..."



"...will you marry me?"


Phew, she said yes.


And an "after" shot.

Monday, December 29, 2008

Winter Wanderland updates coming soon

Ali and I will post details about our trip to Florida (especially the engagement!) soon...

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Schedule - 12/22-1/4

Monday, December 22 - AM Commons Duty, Administrator's Breakfast, School, MTEA Meeting

Tuesday, December 23 - AM Commons Duty, School, Boys Basketball vs. Ridge

Wednesday, December 24 - Depart for Florida at 9:40am on US Airways (United Flight 2306); arrive in Tampa at 12:29pm, Xmas Eve dinner

Thursday, December 25 - Christmas in Tampa

Friday, December 26 - To Disney World, base of operations at Animal Kingdom Lodge

Saturday, December 27 - In Disney World, back to Tampa

Sunday, December 28 - Family portraits at 3pm

Monday, December 29 - Depart for NJ at 12:15pm on US Airways (United Flight 2061); arrive in Philadelphia at 2:44pm

Tuesday, December 30 - Steve and Steph's rehearsal dinner at 5pm

Wednesday, December 31 - Jim Norton comedy show at Crocodile Rock in Allentown, PA; stay over at Holiday Inn

Thursday, January 1 - Breakfast in Allentown before coming home

Friday, January 2 - 10am appointment at the Bridgewater Marriot as a potential wedding reception site, Steve and Steph's wedding

Saturday, January 3 - Head back from wedding, 2pm appointment at the Bridgewater Manor as a potential wedding reception site

Sunday, January 4 - Engagement photo session with Juli, Dinner with old band director and a few students from Ridge (6)

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Check out this page on NJ.com

Dear Matt's Blog:

Matthew Mingle (mmingle16@aol.com) thought you would be interested in this item from NJ.com

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/young_nj_drummers_picked_for_o.html

Matthew Mingle
It's too bad they are using Spirit of Newark administrators to help get the program to DC.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Schedule - 12/15-12/21

Monday, December 15 - AM Commons Duty, School, Basketball Band Rehearsal

Tuesday, December 16 - AM Commons Duty, School, Extra Help

Wednesday, December 17 - AM Commons Duty, School, Ali's Concert in Jersey City

Thursday, December 18 - School, Detention Supervision

Friday, December 19 - AM Commons Duty, Faculty Holiday Breakfast, School, Boys Basketball vs. Watchung Hills, Dad's Birthday

Saturday, December 20 - Christmas dinner with Matt and Allie

Sunday, December 21 -

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Schedule - 12/8-12/14

Monday, December 8 - AM Commons Duty, School, Basketball Band Rehearsal (2:45-4:30)

Tuesday, December 9 - AM Commons Duty, School, Extra Help (2:30-3:30)

Wednesday, December 10 - AM Commons Duty, School, Meet with Woods teacher to design basketball band drum set platform, MTEA Bargaining Council Meeting (4:00)

Thursday, December 11 - School

Friday, December 12 - AM Commons Duty, School, Midnight Madness Event with Basketball Band (5:00-8:30)

Saturday, December 13 - People to People Social (12:00-3:00), Steve's Bachelor Party in Atlantic City (6:00-?)

Sunday, December 14 - Travel home from AC

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Schedule - 12/1-12/7

Monday, December 1 - AM Commons Duty, School, Department Meeting

Tuesday, December 2 - AM Commons Duty, School, Basketball Band Rehearsal

Wednesday, December 3 - Parent-Teacher Conferences, School (Delayed Opening)

Thursday, December 4 - Parent-Teacher Conferences, School (Delayed Opening), Extra Help, Parent-Teacher Conferences (6-8)

Friday, December 5 - School (Delayed Opening), Marching Band Dinner (7)

Saturday, December 6 - Teaching About Asia professional development at Princeton University (9:30-2:30)

Sunday, December 7 -

Monday, November 24, 2008

Schedule - 11/24-11/30

Monday, November 24 - AM Commons Duty, School, Articulation Meeting, Gym

Tuesday, November 25 - AM Commons Duty, School, Basketball Band Rehearsal (2:45-4:30)

Wednesday, November 26 - School (1/2 Day), Gym

Thursday, November 27 - Travel to Connecticut for Thanksgiving with Ali's family

Friday, November 28 - In Connecticut

Saturday, November 29 - Travel home

Sunday, November 30 -

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Administrative Positions

I have applied for a few administrative positions recently, although I'm not sure if any of them will lead to anything.

Saddle Brook - Supervisor of Curriculum
I doubt this will develop any further because I think I am underqualified for the position. I only applied because it was the district I attended.

Hillsborough - Assistant Principal
This would be a great opportunity as I live within walking distance of the school. I have heard they tend to hire from within for the most part. Another downside is that the opening takes effect in April so I would have to leave Montgomery mid year.

Randolph - Supervisor of Social Studies & Business Education
This would be a cool position in a pretty good district. Their ad says they prefer someone with supervision experience so that's a downside.

Westfield - Assistant Principal
This would be great. Westfield is similar to Montgomery and Ridge and it is not too far from Ali's job in Jersey City.

Weekly Schedule - 11/17-11/23

Monday, November 17: AM Commons Duty, School, Assessment for Learning Committee Meeting

Tuesday, November 18: AM Commons Duty, School, Detention Supervision, Basketball Band Leadership meeting

Wednesday, November 19: School

Thursday, November 20: School, Extra Help

Friday, November 21: AM Commons Duty, School, Hang out with Steve & Steph (7+)

Saturday, November 22: East Asian Studies program at Princeton University (9:30-2:30)

Sunday, November 23:

Saturday, November 08, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 11/10-11/16

Now that marching band is winding down, I'll try to get some more substantive posts up here soon.

Monday, November 10: AM Commons Duty, School, Band Football Game, MTEA Meeting

Tuesday, November 11: AM Commons Duty, School, Band End of Year Meeting, Articulation Meeting

Wednesday, November 12: School, Extra Help

Thursday, November 13: Nathanael Greene Liberty Fellowship (8-3)

Friday, November 14: Nathanael Greene Liberty Fellowship (8-3), Possible football game

Saturday, November 15: Possible football game

Sunday, November 16:

Sunday, November 02, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 11/3-11/9

Monday, November 3 - AM Commons Duty (6:45-7:15), School (7:30-2:18), Faculty Meeting (2:30-4), Band (2:40-5)

Tuesday, November 4 - AM Commons Duty, School, Basketball Band Leadership Meeting (3-5)

Wednesday, November 5 - School, Band

Thursday, November 6 - No School, New Sliding Glass Door Window Installation (9), Oil Change

Friday, November 7 - No School, Montgomery band/football vs. Hillsborough (report 4pm)

Saturday, November 8 - Judging USSBA Northern States Championships @ Allentown (9am-9pm)

Sunday, November 9 -

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 10/27-11/2

Monday, October 27: AM Commons Duty (6:45-7:15), School (7:30-2:18), Articulation Meeting (2:30-4:00), Band Performance/Clinic with 8th Grade Students (5:00-8:00)

Tuesday, October 28: AM Commons Duty, School, Filming for Basketball Band Recruitment Video

Wednesday, October 29: School, Basketball Band Leadership Meeting

Thursday, October 30: School, Extra Help

Friday, October 31: AM Commons Duty, School, Montgomery Band, Football vs. Watchung Hills

Saturday, November 1: Faculty Development Institute on East Asia at Princeton University (9:30-2:15)

Sunday, November 2:

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Drum Corps Staff Offer

The Bushwackers offered me a spot on their visual staff. A college friend of mine is taking over as the visual caption head there and he sent me an e-mail yesterday about it. I'm leaning towards not taking it since it is an unpaid position and I am not excited about the possibility of giving up my weekends, but I have to at least consider the opportunity.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 10/20-10/26

Monday, October 20 - AM Commons Duty (6:45-7:15), School (7:30-2:18), AFG meeting, Montgomery Band (2:40-5)

Tuesday, October 21 - AM Commons Duty, School, Montgomery Band

Wednesday, October 22 - School, Montgomery Band

Thursday, October 23 - School, After School Help (2:30-3:30)

Friday, October 24 - AM Commons Duty, School, Montgomery Band, Football home vs. Somerville

Saturday, October 25 - P2P Interviews, Montgomery Band at Neshaminy Festival, Judge USSBA at Hasbrouck Heights

Sunday, October 26

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Yankees Closing Ceremony

The closing ceremony scheduled for November 8 has been cancelled. Montgomery was taken out of the mix a few weeks ago to make room for other bands so this is good news. We don't get to go, but neither does anybody else!

Weekly Schedule - 10/13-10/19

Monday, October 13 - AM Commons Duty (6:45-7:15), School (7:30-2:18), Montgomery Band (2:40-5), MTEA Rep Council Meeting (4-5)

Tuesday, October 14 - AM Commons Duty, School, Department Meeting, Montgomery Band

Wednesday, October 15 - School, Montgomery Band

Thursday, October 16 - School, Extra Help (2:30-3:30)

Friday, October 17 - AM Commons Duty, School, Montgomery Band, Football at Warren Hills

Saturday, October 18 - Montgomery Band at William Tennent Festival

Sunday, October 19 -

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 10/6-10/12

Monday, October 6 - AM Commons Duty (6:45-7:15), School, Faculty Meeting, Montgomery Band (2:40-5)

Tuesday, October 7 - AM Commons Duty, School, Montgomery Band

Wednesday, October 8 - AM Commons Duty, School, Montgomery Band, P2P Interviews (6:45-8:45)

Thursday, October 9 - No School

Friday, October 10 - AM Commons Duty, School, Montgomery Band, Montgomery football at Monroe

Saturday, October 11 - P2P Interviews (12:30-4:30)

Sunday, October 12 -

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Palin cannot really be McCain's VP nominee

Watch this response of her from the Couric interviews. Especially up against Biden, she sounds like a fool. I do not know how to present this stuff objectively to my students. Other than her acceptance speech at the RNC, she has never sounded like she has any idea what she is talking about.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 9/29-10/5

Monday, September 29: AM Commons Duty (6:45-7:15), School, Montgomery Band (2:40-5)

Tuesday, September 30: No School (Rosh Hoshanah), Dinner @ Melting Pot (6)

Wednesday, October 1: School, Montgomery Band

Thursday, October 2: School, Extra Help (2:30-3:30), Montgomery Band, Basketball Band Leadeship Meeting (5-5:30)

Friday, October 3: AM Commons Duty, School, Montgomery Band, Faculty Picnic, Football home vs. Voorhees

Saturday, October 4: Proctor SATs @ Ridge, Judge Pleasant Valley HS, PA, Montgomery band at Penn Ridge, PA, festival

Sunday, October 5:

Friday, September 26, 2008

Palin talks to Couric -- and if she's lucky, few are listening

This story was sent to you by: Matt

--------------------
Palin talks to Couric -- and if she's lucky, few are listening
--------------------

The financial crisis has an upside for the Republican vice presidential candidate: It takes the spotlight away as she begins answering more pointed questions from the media.

By JAMES RAINEY
ON THE MEDIA

September 26 2008

A global financial crisis and a not-quite-suspended presidential campaign dominated newspaper front pages and television reports over the last couple of days.

The complete article can be viewed at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-onthemedia26-2008sep26,0,3542588.story

Visit latimes.com at http://www.latimes.com

Thursday, September 25, 2008

mmingle16@aol.com sent you a Teacher Magazine Article.

Teacher Magazine
This article was sent to you by: mmingle16@aol.com
Message from sender:
I think this article hit the nail on the head!
Getting Sleepy
September 23, 2008  by Anthony Rebora
A new study says that lack of sleep is endemic in the teaching profession and that schools may be the worse for it.
http://lnk.edweek.org/teachermagazine/index.html?url=/tm/articles/2008/09/23/tm_sleep.h20.html&tkn=Qhc34swVaEwNp0gtfvxH5rNmP2EKlx0V
© 2007 Editorial Projects in Education

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Check out this post on FOX Embeds

Greetings--

Matt thinks this will be of interest to you:

Palin Media Blackout�Continues

http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/09/23/palin-media-blackout-continues/

Enjoy.

--
http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 9/22-9/28

Monday, September 22 - AM Commons Duty, School, Assessment for Learning Committee Meeting (2:30-3:45), Montgomery Band (2:40-5)

Tuesday, September 23 - AM Commons Duty, School, Montgomery Band

Wednesday, September 24 - School, Montgomery Band

Thursday, September 25 - School, PM Extra Help (2:30-3:30), Faculty Potluck Dinner, Back to School Night

Friday, September 26 - AM Commons Duty, School, Montgomery Band, Football at Immaculata

Saturday, September 27 - Judge at Phillipsburg, NJ (5)

Sunday, September 28 - P2P Information Meeting at Montgomery High School (2)

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 9/15-9/21

Monday, September 15 - AM Commons Duty (6:45-7:15), School (7:30-2:18), Montgomery Marching Band (2:40-5), MTEA Rep Council Meeting/Dinner (3:30-6)



Tuesday, September 16 - AM Commons Duty, School, Montgomery Marching Band



Wednesday, September 17 - School, Montgomery Marching Band, USSBA Adjudicators Conference Call (8:30-10)



Thursday, September 18 - School, PM Extra Help (2:30-3:30)



Friday, September 19 - School, Montgomery Marching Band football at North Hunterdon High School



Saturday, September 20 - Judge USSBA show at Whitehall, PA



Sunday, September 21 -

Friday, September 12, 2008

Faulty unit forces brief evacuation of Montgomery High School

You have been sent an online news article from Matt as a courtesy of mycentraljersey.com.


Article Title:
Faulty unit forces brief evacuation of Montgomery High School

To view the contents on www.mycentraljersey.com, go to:
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200809121415/NEWS/80912039


Message:
The evacuation area for my department is right near the bus arrival spot so the 4 social studies teachers in the building at 7am were immediately put into bus administration duty. We boarded each bus as it arrived, told the students of the need to move to the stadium, and oversaw the process. Things went smoothly with no issues even though we had buses, senior students in cars, parents dropping off kids, teachers arriving plus the police, fire and ambulance vehicles.

Sunday, September 07, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 9/8-9/14

Monday, September 8 - School, Department Meeting (2:30-4), Band (2:40-5)

Tuesday, September 9 - School, Band

Wednesday, September 10 - School, Band, USSBA Judges Conference Call (8:30-10)

Thursday, September 11 - School, After School Help (2:30-3:30)

Friday, September 12 - School, Band, Home football vs. Ridge

Saturday, September 13 - P2P Reunion Party (12-3)

Sunday, September 14 - P2P Training (8-4:30)

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Yankee Stadium Closing Ceremony

I don't have many details yet, but the Montgomery High School Marching Band is playing the National Anthem at the closing ceremony of Yankee Stadium. I can't find anything on the Yankee web site about this, but I did find a date of November 8, 2008 on a fan forum. Rumors suggest the Yankees are trying to get "every living Yankee" and musical acts such as Bruce Springsteen to perform.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 9/1-9/8

Monday, September 1:

Tuesday, September 2: Professional Development (8:30-3:30), MTEA Meeting (3:45), Montgomery Band (3:30-8)

Wednesday, September 3: Professional Development (8:30-3:30), Montgomery Band (3:30-8), USSBA Conference Call (8:30-10)

Thursday, September 4: First Day of School, After School Help (2:30-3:30)

Friday, September 5: School, Montgomery Band (2:45-8)

Saturday, September 6:

Sunday, September 7:

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 8/25-8/31

Monday, August 25: Montgomery Band (8:30-4:30), Hopewell Valley Band (9-12)

Tuesday, August 26: Montgomery Band (8:30-4:30), Hopewell Valley Band (9-12), Montgomery Fantasy Football Draft (7:30)

Wednesday, August 27: Montgomery Band (8:30-4:30)

Thursday, August 28: Montgomery Band (8:30-4:30)

Friday, August 29:

Saturday, August 30: Ridge Fantasy Football Draft (7:30)

Sunday, August 31:

Thursday, August 21, 2008

An article from www.kansascity.com

Matt has sent you the following story:


Posted on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008

Olympics buzz: Ugly side of China

Ugly side of China

Two elderly Chinese women who applied to hold a protest during the Olympics were ordered to spend a year in a labor camp, a relative said Wednesday.

The women were officially notified they would have to serve a year-long term of “re-education” through labor and were under surveillance by a government-backed neighborhood group, said Li Xuehui, the son of one of the women.



Monday, August 18, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 8/18-8/24

Monday, August 18 - Monty band (8:30-4:30), Hopewell band (9-5)

Tuesday, August 19 - Monty band (8:30-4:30), Hopewell band (9-5)

Wednesday, August 20 - Monty band (8:30-4:30), Hopewell band (9-5)

Thursday, August 21 - Monty band (8:30-4:30), Hopewell band (9-5)

Friday, August 22 - Monty band (8:30-4:30), Hopewell band (9-5)

Saturday, August 23 - Staples Teacher Appreciation Day, Steve and Stephanie's Engagement Party (1)

Sunday, August 24 -

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Weekly Schedule - 8/11-8/17

Monday, August 11: Nathanael Greene Liberty Fellowship at MHS (7:30-3:00), Kearny Band Camp (8-10), Montgomery Band Leadership Training (9-12), Montgomery Band Staff Meeting/Party (6)

Tuesday, August 12: Nathanael Greene Liberty Fellowship at MHS (7:30-3:00), Kearny Band Camp (8-10), Montgomery Band Leadership Training (9-3), Hopewell Band (6-9)

Wednesday, August 13: Nathanael Greene Liberty Fellowship at MHS (7:30-3:00), Kearny Band Camp (8-10), Montgomery Band (8:30-2)

Thursday, August 14: Nathanael Greene Liberty Fellowship at MHS (7:30-3:00), Kearny Band Camp (8-10), Montgomery Band (8:30-4:30), Hopewell Band (6-9)

Friday, August 15: Nathanael Greene Liberty Fellowship at MHS (7:30-3:00), Kearny Band Camp (8-10), Montgomery Band (8:30-4:30)

Saturday, August 16:

Sunday, August 17:

Monday, August 04, 2008

Hawaii 3

facebook
Matt Mingle
3:54pm Aug 4th
Hawaii 3
To mmingle1.email@blogger.com
 
I have added new photos!

Matt has shared an album with you. To view the album or to reply to the message, follow this link:

http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=504217967&k=YWL43Y5YR3XM5AFERKX4P3
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Schedule - 8/4-8/10

Monday, August 4 -

Tuesday, August 5 - Hopewell Marching Band (6-9)

Wednesday, August 6 - Meeting with Monty Band Director (12)

Thursday, August 7 - Hopewell Marching Band (6-9), DCI at the Movies (6)

Friday, August 8 -

Saturday, August 9 -

Sunday, August 10 -

Friday, August 01, 2008

Friday, August 1

8:00: Continental Breakfast

8:25: Announcements/Housekeeping

8:30: Placing Pearl Harbor and the Pacific War in a global context: A perspective from "Down-Under" - Doug Trevaskis, Senior Lecturer and Manager, Studies of Asia Professional Development Program, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia

Different perspectives on map worldview
Australia's Pearl Harbor (February 19, 1942) - Japanese air raid on Darwin
The Battle of Isurava (August 26-9, 1942)

Australia in 1941
Nervous about invasion from the north
Heavily reliant on Britain
Had already been at war since September 3, 1939 so most troops were already out of the nation

Pearl Harbor had immediate impact on Australia
Shock, vulnerability, relief (because it got US involved)
Australia moved from relying on Britain to United States because Britain did not come through with protection of Australia
1141 Japanese interned within 24 hours of Pearl Harbor
Up close and personal with Americans suddenly
19000 Australian military killed, 22000 captured

Darwin bombed 63 more times
1 US destroyer sunk
Northern Australia continually air raided

Instructions for American troops book

Number of cases of friendly fire between US/Australia
The Battle of Brisbane - brawling due to fight between US MPs and US/Australian troops

Reasons for bitterness toward Japanese
Commencing hostilities without declaring war
Disregard for Geneva convention
Treatment of captives (torture, beheading)
Cannibalism
Attacks on hospital ships
"comfort women"

10:00: Break

10:15: Pearl Harbor school visit program, "Witness to History" video conference, and "Pennies for Pearl Harbor" community service intiative - Paul Heintz, Director of Education, Arizona Memorial Museum Association

10:40: Developing lesson ideas for "Teaching Pearl Harbor through multiple perspectives": Small Group Work

My small group got a lot accomplished on our lesson plan concept "Overcoming barriers to reconciliation." I organized our work into a short, simple power point to help guide us through the presentation.

We made a great presentation as a group and we were the only group where all group members actively presented. I opened the presentation by saying: "Konichiwa. Watashi wa New Jersey no Mingle des." This translates into: "Hello. I am Mingle from New Jersey." I used my small arsenal of Japanese phrases throughout the week when I talked to Japanese teachers and they all loved it because they did not expect it. As I have learned through my previous experiences, Japanese people especially enjoy foreigners attempting to speak to them in Japanese. This is true in many other countries as well, but I have found it most rewarding with Japan.

A number of Japanese teachers made presentations today to share some resources they brought or to present us with small gifts they brought from home. Pretty amazing how completely prepared the Japanese teachers were for this experience - much more so than the American teachers.

12:30: Lunch

1:30: Group Share: Lesson Ideas

3:00: Break

3:15: Group Share: Lesson Ideas

4:00: Becoming an East-West Center Associate

4:10: Workshop Closing and Award Ceremony

We received our $500 stipend checks, an East-West Center pin and a slew of other materials. Apparently, we join 55,000 alumni of E-W programs since its creation in 1960.

4:30: Workshop Concludes

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Thursday, July 31

8:00: Continental breakfast

8:25: Announcements/Housekeeping

8:30: Pu'uloa/Pearl Harbor: From fishponds to warships - Experience Pearl Harbor through songs of remembrance, songs about loss, and songs reclaiming the memory of Pu'uloa, as Pearl Harbor is known to the Native Hawaiians - Jon Kay Kamakawiwo'ole Osorio, Director, Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawai'i

Sense that Pearl Harbor area belongs to military today and not native Hawaiians
Traditional place names replaced by names of military leaders, presidents, battlegrounds
Family history in Hawai'i
Suspicion of Japanese but not of Hawaiians who had poetitioned against US annexation
Kids born to American servicemen who slept with women of the family and then went away

Song: When the lights go on again
Longing for time when war is gone

Differences between WWII, Vietnam, war on terror
Today told to continue to consume, not ration

Protests over island being used for bombing practice during 1970s (Kahoalave)
Government took over in 1941
Had to be cleaned up when Navy stops
Spent $400 million, only did 10% of work
Set aside for native government when it comes back
Can be profound opposition to military even though Hawai'i is a warrior society historically

25% Oahu = military base
Turned Hawaiian islands into target for attack rather than the mainland
Hopes children will at least spiritually reclaim the land

Continued tension between native population and National Park Service
Really gained a sense of the reality of an incredibly tense, tenuous relationship between native population and America as seen through the military
Queen Liliukalani - surrendered to US military rather than allow Hawaiian warriors to fight on her behalf

Last Sunday in July - ceremony to celebrate the restoration after 1843 takeover by Britain...used as a symbol of modern sovereignty movement
5 operating governments-in-exile
Do not run for local politics because that would recognize/accept statehood

Similarities with native population on Hokkaido and territorial takeover and suffering on Okinawa
Use of native population as usefully exploited by tourism

10:00: Break

10:15: "Local" perspectives on Pearl Harbor - John Rosa, Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Hawai'i

Territory of US (1898-1959)
Term mainland is a bit odd - "Hawai'i is the mainland to me."
By end of 1800s, one of the most literate societies in world, near 100% in either English or native language
Debate about whether Hawai'i was properly annexed because it was joint resolution of Congress, not 2/3 treaty vote

1931-2 Massie-Kahahawai Case
Major news story at the time throughout the US but often forgotten in the long term
Thalia Massie (20), wife of naval officers, is allegedly raped by 5 non-white "local" young men
She - Maryland, Husband - Kentucky - Brought racial ideas with them
Accused - Japanese American (2), Native Hawaiian (2), Chinese/Hawaiian (1)
Event 1) Alleged rape September 1931 - no evidence of rape but clear evidence of assault
Trial 1) Ala Moana Assault Trial ends in mistrial partially because boys were in different part of city due to police report against their car and lack of evidence
Event 2) Horace Ida (one of the accused) kidnapped and beat by 20-30 Navy men with belts in December 1931
Event 3) Joseph Kahahawai (one of the accused) kidnapped and killed in January 1932 after the kidnapping plan to force a confession from the darkest-skinned alleged attacker goes awry
Trial 2) Kahahawai Murder Trial
Comments from naval leadership openly talked about need for vigilante justice
Jury encouraged to make things "right" in Massie murder group but jury convicts on manslaughter charge
Appointed territorial governor commutes sentence to 1 day (served 1 hour at governor's office)

Similarities to Scottsboro case in Alabama
Same lawyer (Clarence Darrow) as Scopes Monkey Trial

12:00: Lunch

1:00: Teaching about Pearl Harbor and the Japanese internment: A curriculuar demonstration - Gary Mukai, Director, Stanford Program on International and Intercultural Education

Japanese immigration
1888 - Chinese exclusion act opened need for laborers to come in from places like Japan (allowed by 1885 Japanese emigration act)
1908 - tension with Japanese over labor relations "they are taking our jobs"
Restrictions made it difficult to come to US
Picture bride marriages - not allowed to marry American women so would exchange photos and marry so women could come to US
1910-40 - Angel Island immigration station
1913 - Alien land laws - aliens ineligible for citizenship (Japanese/Chinese) only white/black could become citizens, aliens could not purchase land
1924 - Immigration Act - made it very difficult for aliens ineligible for citizenship to come to US
Discussions about internment began in 1934-36, well before Pearl Harbor

Early 1940s
Mainland
<1%>

Executive Order 9066
February 19, 1942
117,166 interned (citizens and permanent resident aliens)
2,392 interned in Hawai'i, 2,092 brought to mainland
December 22, 1941 Time magazine - how to tell your friends from the Japs (Japanese vs. Chinese)
Reverses after 1949 with Japanese/Chinese
Done for North Koreans/South Koreans during Korean War and during Vietnam War

Only what you can carry
What would you take? Why?

US Government newsreel - Japanese relocation (1943)
Focus: word choice, selection of images, rationale given for evacuating and interning Japanese Americans, portrayal of Japanese Americans, portrayal of authorities

15 temporary assembly centers
1o relocation camps
Spring 1942
Changed draft status of Japanese Americans from 1A (best) to 4C (not acceptable)
All Japanese Americans in camps 17 and older answers questionairre to determine loyalty
Rift within camps over how people answered or whether they volunteered to join military
Resisters to camps put in prison, pardoned later

Japanese Latin Americans uprooted from countries and brought to camps in US
Stamped as illegal entry to US
Could be deported to Japan in order to be exchanged for American POWs
Some German (11,000) and Italian (1600) interned

Civil Rights Act of 1988 - official apology (Reagan)
Letter in 1990 - letter of redress/reparations (Bush)

2:45: Break

3:00: Developing lesson ideas for teaching Pearl Harbor through multiple perspectives: "Teaching Implications" discussion

4:00: Close of formal sessions

5:00-7:30: Optional: Waikiki Sunset Cruise and Walking Tour

The sunset cruise was really nice. We took a small catamaran with $2 beers and $1 mai tais out from the beach for about 30 minutes, then turned around and headed back in for 30 minutes as the sun set. I did feel a little queasy on the way back in so that limited me the rest of the night unfortunately, but it was still a cool experience.

After the cruise, a large group of 12 of us went to a restaurant with live music for dinner. Due to the large group it took a few hours to eat. Next up was sitting on the beach for awhile with some things from the local ABC store. I headed back to our housing with the first group to leave because I was crashing. I guess the week has sort of caught up with me and I needed a little more sleep although we still didn't get back until midnight. There's only 1 more day of the official program left and then it is back to the mainland!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Wednesday, July 30

Like Monday, today's entry includes a laundry list of my notes from the sessions. There are no photos today because I didn't really take any.

8:00: Continental Breakfast

8:25: Announcements/Housekeeping

8:30: Pearl Harbor Attack Site Tour Debriefing

Conspiracy theory that FDR hoped to provoke Japan to attack first
Began with the Chicago Tribune article during the war
Politics of memory begins after the smoke clears
9/11 similarity

9:00: Why did Japan bomb Pearl Harbor? - Peter Duus, William H. Bonsall Professor of Japanese History, Emeritus and Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University

Most in Japan expected war with Soviet Union, not US
Japan depended on US for war material in the 1930s (petroleum, scrap metal, heavy machinery)
No match economically or in military production
US produced 72 cars for every 1 Japan produced

Hirohito was not like Hitler
He was not a dictator, more of a mirror of the governments which changed throughout the war years, 13 cabinets, 10 prime ministers, constantly changing military leadership

Decision to go to war was the last decision of a series of bad decisions
Decisions piled up and backed Japan into a corner

China
Disunity following 1911 revolution
No central government holding nation together
Nationalist capital at Nanking vs communists
Japan is worried about USSR and potential of a unified, anti-imperialist nationalist China

Bad Decision #1
fall 1932
Military officer decides to take over Manchuria with hope Japanese will support after plot based on railroad sabotage (in capital of region - Mukden)
Not supported by government originally but it gives in and accepts it once it happens
Manchukuo seen as Japanese nation-state with Japanese, Chinese, Manchurians living in harmony (this was never the reality)
Nobody intervened militarily (even China)
Chinese nationalists hoped to defeat communists first
Middle of depression so acquiring a territory with resources provided hope and new opportunities

Bad Decision #2
summer 1937
Marco Polo bridge incident (near Beijing)
Japanese troops allowed in region to guard interests
Japanese soldier got lost/missing
Shooting exchanged between Japanese troops and nearby Chinese troops
This becomes the time for full out showdown
Communists/Nationalists agreed in December 1936 to unite against Japan when time is right
Both sides continue to mobilize/escalate
Japan believed they could blitzkrieg and disunified China would quickly fall
Took capital Nanjing in late 1937
Early '38 - PM says "we will not negotiate with the Chinese"
By 1939 - Japan bogged down in quagmire
Becomes war of attrition by Chinese design to wait out smaller Japanese force
Only controlled cities/railroads, not countryside so guerilla warfare led to brutality for all involved including civilians and troops
Hostilities emerge with United States due to horrific photos of Chinese children suffering due to war
Popular sentiment on side of Chinese in US
FDR's government begins to signal distress about Japanese aggression (in addition to European side)
US uses economic warfare: 1) encourage businesses through soft embargo 2) legal restrictions on trade

Bad Decision #3
fall 1940
War on in Europe with tide favoring Germany
Tripartite Pact - Japan, Germany, Italy signed because thought Axis would win

Bad Decision #4
fall 1940
European colonies in SE Asia suddenly detached from European powers so Japan sees them as resource providers
Japanese army wants route to new Chinese capital
Japanese navy wants strategic strongholds
Move troops into Indochina (Vietnam)

Bad Decision #5
1941
Go to war with US
Realize further aggression in SE Asia would likely bring US into war
Bogged down in China with no clear way out
Back channel negotiations initiated in early '41 by Japan but no meetings of minds
US inflexible - won't talk about any specifics unless Japan agrees to 4 major principles that included sending Japan back to 1931 borders
Japan was looking to make some sort of deal to mollify US
Japan moves more troops into Indochina -> July '41, US bans all trade with Japan - oil supply most significant as a result
Japan decides to go to war rather than accept
Maintain option to negotiate even as preparing for war
FDR willing to negotiate to stall war due to major concern about Europe - no desire for two-front war

Attack on 12/7
Bombing of US bombers at Philippines
Series of quick victories in Pacific to establish defense permiter, destroy fleet, acquire resources, defeat China (all while Hitler takes over Europe)
US would give up and negotiate due to losing allies in Europe and Asia
Anticipated limited war like previous with China and USSR to defeat larger power eventually via negotiation
US saw it as total war, completed defeat with unconditional surrender the only option

No long-term plan to control Asia
Stumbling from decision to decision

Why?
1) Nobody ever questioned the thrust, the previous decisions; political system did not accept dissent (without dissenters, possibility of making mistakes increases)
2) Planned war for best-case scenarios instead of worst-case scenarios
3) Underestimated everybody's nationalism but their own

Two very different view of 12/7 or 12/8 (in Japan time)
Remember Pearl Harbor
At time in Japan - liberators of Oriental peoples

MacArthur was master at public relations
Others in similar roles never advanced due to failures on 12/7

10:45: Break

11:00: War memories across the Pacific: Japanese images and perspectives on Pearl Harbor - Yujin Yaguchi, Associate Professor, Department of Area Studies, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Tokyo University

Japanese in Hawai'i
immigration began in 1868 with 147 people
influx of laborers to sugar cane plantations in 1880s
By 1902 - 70% sugar cane workers Japanese
Stopping point on way to West Coast for many
Hawai'i was familiar to Japanese people
Books in Japan encouraged immigration/travel to Hawai'i as a paradise to get rich by working
1924 - immigration laws changed and made it virtually impossible for Japanese to move to US permanently

After the Attack
reports about Pearl Harbor and other Pacific attacks such as Guam, Singapore, Malay, Hong Kong
new publications about Hawai'i in case it became a Japanese territory
white man unjustly imperialized Hawai'i so Japan could counter this (ironically)
ocean current linking Japan to Hawai'i
by 1940, 40% residents of Hawai'i were of Japanese ancestry
potential military value of Hawai'i for Japan

Momotaro no Umiwashi - used children's story tell the Pearl Harbor attack; Americans portrayed as a devil with horn, big, unintelligent, drunk

Hawaii/Malay Battle movie commemorated success of Pearl Harbor in December '42 even though Midway already took place

After WWII
Hawai'i no longer a Japanese territory prospect
Still familiar due to Japanese-Americans there
Remains a paradise
Foreign travel banned until 1964 unless on business or student exchange
1964 - year of Olympics returned Japan to world stage
Rapid economic growth in 1960s, bubble economy in 80s, burst in 90s

1964 - 35,000 Japanese visitors to Hawai'i (25% of all travel)
1978 - 500,000 especially honeymooners
1987 - 1,000,000
1996 - 2,000,000
2004 - 1,500,000 - lower due to security concerns about terrorism, Japanese travelers exploring other places

7 million people go to Hawai'i every year with 4.5 million from mainland US and 1.5 million from Japan

Hawai'i Visitor Profile (Average Japanese vs. Average American)
Length of stay: 5.8 days/10 days
Money spent per day: $251.50/$172.70 for East Coast or $147.60 for West Coast)
Repeat visitors: 55%/51%/78%
Number of trips: 3.64/3.41/6.2

92% visit for pleasure
Japanese are experienced travelers, familiar with Hawai'i

Japanese to USS Arizona
10% of total Japanese visitors to Hawai'i go to USS Arizona
Fewer take official tours

Why come?
Seek new experiences
Interest in war/peace museums
Impact of film Pearl Harbor
School trip
Remember war time

Japanese reaction cards at Arizona (filled out voluntarily)
positive experiences
surprised due to lack of prior knowledge
guilt due to death toll (write "I'm sorry")
want to learn more
strong emphasis on the need for peace
frame experience in span to Hiroshima/Nagasaki
critical of "other" tourists

US museums - do not really mention in US in any negative or effect of A-bombs
Japan museum - tell both sides of story

Veterans in Japan speak on condition they speak about importance of peace, not really so much about experiences in battle
Japanese people blamed the military for devastation of WWII
Military service not an honorable thing today so people don't willingly say they have family in military

Stanford study of textbook treatments of WWII

Yasukumi shrine to WWII
lots of controversy
depict war as effort to free Pacific from yolk of European-American colonialism
honor veterans
textbook based on interpretation used in 3-4 schools (<0.1%)>

12:45: Working Lunch: Implications for Teaching Discussion

I am working with Carmen Gutierrez (Monroe High School, Rochester, NY), Katsuyuki Matsui (Osaka Prefectural Mishima High School, Osaka, Japan), and Osamu Otaki (Ibaraki Prefectural Toride Shoyo High School, Ibaraki, Japan) on studying the process of reconciliation.

2008 = the beginning of 4 years of official friendship and reconciliation between Japan and China
Using student exchange
Continued territorial disputes
textbooks/history still tense

Captain Fuchida's story
Christian foundation of Americans
Examples of people crossing, examples of humanity
Apologied for Pearl Harbor to victims
Met American leaders to discuss Pearl Harbor

Many problems in world today so we should cooperate on global issues
First step to reconcilation = discussion

Reconciliation ceremony was good for us (heart to heart meeting)
Difficult obstacle but must be overtaken

Why did some people choose to forgive?
What changes people to reconcile such major conflicts?

Sterling Cale's 1942 love story

We've all been wronged, but we have all wronged too

2:00: Pearl Harbor Memory, Memorial, and Issues of Reconciliation - Geoffrey White, Senior Fellow, East-West Center, and Professor of Anthropology, University of Hawai'i

9/11 versus Pearl Harbor (TIME magazine)
civilian versus military targets
too simplified a comparison
use of imagery to create collective memory through icons
summer of '01 was Pearl Harbor movie so it was convenient

Memorial
How are they created? What do we memorialize? What is missing from the commemoration?

Usually surrounded by death/loss
Place becomes identified with dignified behavior
Memorials are like cemetaries

Controversy can escalate quickly due to conflicting memory

Richard Fisk story
Survived West Virginia
Landed at Iwo Jima
Formed friendship with Japanese veteran

Veterans have led the way toward reconciliation
Reconciliation events do not get much coverage on mainland

How will this play out for 9/11?
Kamikaze parallel to terrorist is dishonorable to Japanese because they were serving nation with military targets

Using 3+ perspectives helps avoid "us" versus "them"

3:45: Close of formal sessions

Tonight, we went out to the same bar as last night at the Sheraton Waikiki for dinner and drinks. We got there early enough to have dinner and drinks through the sunset and through the evening. We stayed for about 4.5-5 hours and enjoyed traditional Hawaiian music and dancing and another guitar performer. Another good night in Hawai'i.

Hawaii 2

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Second set of Hawaii photos

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Tuesday, July 29

7:00: Continental Breakfast

8:00: Depart by bus for "Pearl Harbor Attack Site Tour"

8:30: Fort DeRussy Army Museum

This museum, still operated by the US Army, was opened for us prior to its regular operating hours. It is devoted to the military history of Hawaii, Pearl Harbor, the war in the Pacific, and on to Korea and Vietnam. There were some excellent exhibits and the museum is built into the original Fort DeRussy so we were actually in the fort that was protecting the shore near Waikiki in case of an invasion attempt.

9:30: Board bus for Hickam Field

9:40: Depart for Hickam Field

10:00: Arrive at Hickam Headquarters Building
Hickam Field was a fascinating place to visit. It is the location of much of the first bombings of the attack as the first mission was to take out the US air power so that the torpedo bombers could get to the ships without worrying about air attacks.
This is still an active Air Force base. In fact, it is the air headquarters for the Pacific and is not open to the public. We were allowed on base because of this program. Although there are some museum areas on the base, they are reserved for military personnel and their families so this was really quite an opportunity.
We walked through the building that served as the headquarters in 1941 as well as a building that was a barracks at the time of the attack. The walls remain littered with bullet markings left there as a reminder of what can occur when unprepared for potentialities. We also saw the bullet-ridden flag that flew over the base that morning.

10:40: Board the bus for Ford Island

10:50: Security check at Halawa gate

11:00: Arrive at Ford Island. Stops include the USS Utah memorial, USS Oklahoma, seaplane ramps, airfield and hangars, and the USS Arizona memorial marker.
Ford Island is still an activity duty Naval base and again we were given access to areas of the Island not usually seen by tourists. Our first stop was the USS Utah memorial. This is often considered a forgotten ship. It is the only ship still in the Harbor except the much more popular Arizona. In fact, there are still entombled sailors aboard.
Next we visited an area near the tip of the island where the first bombs fell on Ford Island at 7:55am on 12/7/41. Our National Park Service historian pointed out the bomb crater and shrapnel field and used some photographs to help us get our bearings. Many of the original hangars remain on the island although the airstrip is now covered in weeds. Ranger Dan (of the Park Service) expressed his dissatisfaction with the major encroachment of modern housing on the Island. The housing, built for active duty military personnel, runs right up alongside the air strip, hangars, and ship moorings that were in service during the attack.
Another unique area we visited was the USS Oklahama memorial. This one was dedicated on December 7, 2007 and was funded and designed by survivors of the ship and family members of the survivors. It includes a pillar for each man aboard and granite slabs with quotes related to war, whether Pearl Harbor or otherwise. Especially moving today was the half-mast flag, flying as such due to the death of a Park Service fireman killed in the line of duty fighting forest fires in Olympic National Park in Washington.

12:10: Depart for Fort Shafter
We didn't really tour Fort Shafter, but this is an active duty Army base and serves as the headquarters of Army operations in the Pacific. By this point of the day, we'd been in restricted areas of Air Force, Navy, and Army bases - quite an opportunity for sure.

12:30: Lunch with Pearl Harbor Survivors at Fort Shafter, Hale Ikena
Each table was blessed with the presence of a survivor of the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Mr. Bob Kinzler was stationed to Schofield Barracks at the time of the attack and really saw very little of the action on the morning of December 7. His duty station was to man the Fort and prepare for a land invasion by the Japanese. Since this did not happen, he did not see action directly. He did see one Japanese plane come in that morning, but he did not even know it was Japanese until looking back in hindsight.
One of the guys I have been hanging out with, Eric (Fremont High School, Sunnyvale, CA), is half Japanese, half Chinese. At our table today, we talked pretty extensively about that background. His mother was born in an internment camp in Arkansas during World War II. His grandfather was working at Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack as a civilian part of shipbuilding efforts. He later joined the Navy and still lives in Honolulu so Eric has been spending his nights with his 88-year-old grandfather. Quite a fascinating story.

1:50: Board bus

2:00: Depart Fort Shafter for the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific

2:15: Arrive at "Punchbowl" Cemetery
We spent a great deal of time at the cemetery. I attempted to located grave markers of people from New Jersey with the thought that my students could research them.
The cemetery is called the "Punchbowl" Cemetery because it is situated in the crater of an extinct volcano. In addition to those killed at Pearl Harbor, the cemetery houses the final resting place of any veteran of the Pacific from World War II, Korea and Vietnam whose families chose to inter them there. This includes Japanese-Americans killed at the time of the attack or during subsequent fighting.
There is a large series of monuments with the names of all servicemen missing in action in the Pacific from WWII, Korea and Vietnam - over 18,000 in all. There is also an impressive series of color reliefs telling the stories of the island-hopping campaigns all the way through the Korean War as well as a non-denominational chapel.
Along a rode/walkway up to a magnificent overlook of Honolulu are at least 25-30 monuments placed by veterans groups and others over the years. We stopped at once placed in 1995 during the 50th anniversary ceremony celebrating the end of WWII. At that time, veterans of both the US and Japan came together for a showing of reconciliation. In addition, children representing all 50 state and all Japanese prefectures placed flowers at the monument. Today, the all of the American teachers shook hands (and many bowed) to all of the Japanese teachers present in this same spirit of mutual understanding and friendly peace.

3:20: Board bus for return to East-West Center/Tokai

3:30-4:30: Depart for East-West Center
Tonight, we went to dinner at the International Marketplace...a series of booths and kiosks in addition to regular stores in an open air mall setting. We ate at the food court with live steel drum entertainment. I had a ramen bowl from a Japanese place.
We headed next to the Sheraton Waikiki's Sand Bar where we enjoyed a few drinks at the beach while listening to a solo guitar/singer perform a wide variety of rock and pop songs with a distinctly Hawaiian feel.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Monday, July 28

I took 8 pages of notes today so I am going to include most of it as I wrote, which means things may not make complete sense. Feel free to post comments in the form of questions if you want any clarification and I can respond with more details, but this is the easiest way for me to get lots of information up quickly.

8:30: Continental Breakfast

9:10: Group Photo

9:30: Hawaiian Blessing

Alo - face to face; Ha - in the breath of the spirit
The way you emphasize the ha part of aloha demonstrates your respect for the spirit/god
People = flowers, Scent=personality
Living in aloha means living in harmony and peace
Ha = in the breath of the spirit/creator; Wai'i over this water (Hawai'i)
Greeting - Place right hand on left shoulder of partner, place left hand on right elbow of partner, touch noses
Western practice relies on Newtonian physics, breaking down things to smallest parts, miracles can happen
Hawaiian practice relies on quantum physics, anything can happen through small particles coming together
Beliefs and spirituality based on everyone has a spirit no matter what religion they practice
Harmony - blending of energies based on respect/honor
Peace does not exist, everything is in conflict such as trees/wind and waves/ocean
Managing that conflict --> harmony
Trying to teach Aloha spirit to Hawaiians as well - Hawaiian renaissance
Haone = white man, walking dead, no spirit - equivilant to the "n" word on the mainland
Kahuna is a master of Hawaiian spirituality similar to Japanese samurai
Teach Hawaiian and Japanese way to bring together
Left part of body = female energy; right part of body = male energy
Mahalo = thank you for making me a part of your spirit

9:45: East-West Center Welcome & Introductions

10:00: How do we teach about Pearl Harbor? How do we know what we know about Pearl Harbor? - Faciliated by Namji Steinemann

7 American teachers, 1 Japanese teacher at table
primary sources from different perspectives
Japan - victims (US) or conquerors (Asia)
Americans portrayed very positively in Japanese books/curriculum
occupation video - "Our job in Japan"
Are we minimizing the significance of Pearl Harbor by covering it as a beginning to the Pacific War instead of a major event in and of itself?
Japanese teacher - "US gave us modern constitution"
How do we bring multiple perspectives into world history? bring in individual stories

10:45: Break

11:00: What happened at Pearl Harbor? An interpretive simulation of the attacks. - Daniel Martinez, Historian, National Park Service
Attack on Oahu (not just Pearl Harbor)
Over in 2 hours
184 ships stationed at Pearl Harbor
November 26 - war warning to Pacific - go on alert
Strength of Pacific fleets
Carriers - US (3), Japan (8)
Battleships - US (9), Japan (10)
Cruisers - US (16), Japan (38)
Destroyers - US (84), Japan (108)
Submarines - US (30), Japan (68)
FDR sent a letter to Hirohito on December 6
talked about nearly 100 years of peaceful relations
"developments contain tragic possibilities" that threaten humanity
letter was stopped by militarists before it got to Hirohito
shadow of conspiracy is absurd - Martinez (NPS)
the attack was probably too far along to do anything about it anyway
US had broken Japan's diplomatic code but not its naval code so we did know diplomatic messages ahead of time. We collected naval code and later read it so could have known about attack if we had code breaking ahead of time
naval spy came to oahu as counsel general worker, tourist, sugar cane worker
knew fleet goes out Monday-Friday
knew when/where fleet exists
knew lowest readiness is Sunday
1940 - British devise shallow water torpedo to attack Italian fleet and achieve the impossible
Japan goes there to study how it was done
Yamamoto begins working on same thing for Pearl Harbor
experimented with air speed, additional fins to slow torpedo enough so it wouldn't need 10 feet depth to operate
Aircraft has to be at 30-40 feet, perfectly level, exact speed in a few seconds real time
Used wooden fins that break away upon impact and torpedo pierces hull of battleships
End of battleship era
December 7
No long range recon in operation
Radar is not fully operational
6am Scout planes determine fleet strength/carrier position
Launch 1st wave - 183 aircraft
Start with fighters, dive bombers, torpedo planes, high level bombers
5 Japanese midget subs get within 12 miles at 12:00am - mission is to lay low and launch when raid begins - assumed to be suicide mission
Destroyer USS Ward made contact on patrol outside Pearl Harbor after supply ship spots sub and calls it in
Opens fire
Patrol plane nearly hits Ward with bombs
December 5 - stand down from war alert without order fro Washington even though everyone thinks war is in the air
Yamamoto wishes to declare war before attack begins
It doesn't happen
14-part message delivered after attack under way
Envoy to DC told about attack by US Sec of State Hull
Japanese villified - committed sneak attack
turned into bitter racial conflict
Japanese pilots surprised that Americans were not ready
Went against code of samurai
Radar normally operates only 4am-7am
7:02am Radar operators pick up largest sighting ever
Report to commanding officer
CO believes flight of US aircraft coming in from San Diego (and there were, they were due at Hickam Field at 8am) or a flight of aircraft operating off the USS Enterprise (and there were, they were due in at 8am as well)
Radar worked but interpretation didn't
CO couldn't have scrambled aircraft anyway due to lack of communication infrastructure
7:46am - attack begins at Hickam
every airfield under attack
1st 25 min - air power ceases to exist with only 14 US aircraft scrambled
Taylor and Welsh shot down 6-8 Japanese planes
allows torpedo planes full access to the battleships
within 15 min - fleet's 1st line ceases to exist
2nd wave launched about 9am - reattack same targets
battleship era ends, carrier era begins
Naval leadership replaced in December (Nimitz for Kimmel)
Idea to never again be struck by surprise dominated entire Cold War defense strategy
6 months later - greatest Japanese naval defeat at Midway
Lost 40% of Pearl Harbor pilots and 4/9 carriers used at Pearl Harbor
Devastating results for both nations in Pacific
sense of revenge (atomic bombs)
Tactically successful but Pearl Harbor was a public relations nightmare due to way it roused the nation
90% american civilians killed by friendly firee
29 Japanese shot down
Death of US-Japan relations was their signing of the Tripartite Pact which made Japan allies with Italy and Germany
USS Enterprise and Lexington carriers were at sea bringing marine squadrons to Wake and Marshall Islands
Of 21 vessels sunk at Pearl Harbor, 18 later serverd in WWII
Big Question - Why weren't we prepared?
Arrogance - they (Japanese) can't do it
TIME, Newsweek, newspapers viewed Japanese this way
Japanese viewed US as unmotivated and lazy

12:30: Lunch

1:30: Pearl Harbor Memory: Survivor Reflections - Sterling Cale, USN/Pearl Harbor Survivor

Pharmacists' mate, went aboard USS Arizona to pull out bodies
Assigned to shipyard dispensary
Off duty at 6:30am on 12/7
Came back in due to attack and broke into shed to hand out 1903 Springfield rifles
Got on a barge to head toward Oklahoma b/c he saw torpedos heading for it
Had dive/salvage training
Spent 4 hours in water picking up sailors from battleships
4 hours - picked up 46 people
Friday 12/12 went to USS Arizona and went aboard with a crew of 10 men
dust/ash = people b/c Arizona burned for 2.5 days
Heads were separated from bodies
Kept notes on every body found, court martialed for keeping war diary, had to burn notes
Picked up about 109 bodies in 3 weeks
Served in Vietnam and then for a total of 57 years (including in Dept of State)
Pays respect to 900 left behind on Arizona once a week
Lived w/Japanese all the time before war b/c 48% of Hawaiians were Japanese ancestry so couldn't hate them

Everett Hyland, USN/Pearl Harbor Survivor
USS Pennsylvania, originally a radioman in the bowels of the ship
Got reassigned to antenna repair squad of 6 men to not be stuck deep in the ship
No dog tags in Navy at the time
always yelled "Japs are attacking" during drills so thought nothing of it on 12/7
Met with one of the bombers that hit his ship 8 years ago
Took a hit, severely injured, major burns on all exposed skin (Navy only wore shorts and tshirt at time)
Unrecognizeable by buddy
Moved to naval hospital
First recollection was Xmas dinner
On missing list, name stenciled on shirt no help
Was tagged for dead
Has a Japanese wife he met around the 50th anniversary
TV interview asked him - Why do you volunteer at the Arizona? He said "To look at young Asian girls"
Wife worked to glue papers together as part of making balloon bombs in Japan during the war

Joan Rodby, Hawaii resident at the time of Pearl Harbor bombing
At Salvation Army Sunday school at time of attack
Sent home b/c something was happening at 7:30am
Had to wear ID bracelets, carry gas masks, under martial law for longest time in American history
Photo of her in gas mask published throughout the country
Carried gas masks at all times, tested in school with tear gas
1942 class picture with gas masks
Victory gardens to provide food for cafeteria
Friends who were German's parents taken to camp so older sisters took care of her
Rule of darkness
Built air raid shelters, 2-3 x a night to the shelters
Radio on 24/7 just in case something happened
Women of family never left for mainland even though many did
Ration cards
Waikiki barb wired off
"Dont' let the kids forget us"

3:30: Break

4:00: Film Viewing and Discussion
Pearl Harbor (2001)
Producer spin went from accurate depiction to undying love story
Mooring of ships to fly between ships (Star Wars style) inaccurate
Torpedos with wooden fins stayed on
Ignored historians' commentary
Caused young people to be interested in survivors
Helped create documentary for National Geographic

6:00: Pizza Social
They showed the movie "Tora! Tora! Tora!" during dinner so there wasn't much of a social

Tonight, a group of us met up in Waikiki at Duke's Canoe Club on the beach for drinks. It was me, Jesse (Friends Select School; Philadelphia, PA), Rachel (Lawrence North High School; Indianapolis, IN), Paul (South Range High School; North Lima, OH), and Ryan (Scappoose High School; Scappoose, OR). The place was pretty cool and a large group of people from our program were there. We hung out for a couple hours and Ryan shuttled us thanks to his rental car. When we arrived around 8:30 it was really touristy and crowded with lots of cool, expensive shops and sort of a Vegas/Beverly Hills feel. When we left at 11pm, we were walking past girls who were clearly prostitutes and a bit of a different scene. Very interesting.

Hawaii

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Matt Mingle
12:42am Jul 28th
Hawaii
To mmingle1.email@blogger.com
 
First set of photos from Hawaii

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