The world of social studies

Teaching in Okinawa

2010-03-12T10:29:00.000-08:00

After arriving in Okinawa I was shocked at its culture vs. the culture of mainland Japan. Since they originally had stronger bonds with China than Japan even knowing Japanese hasn't helped me understand the native language. Luckily, since the Japanese government has encouraged the use of standard Japanese, all of the other teachers speak the language of the mainland instead of Okinawas dialect. Something that I have seen around town are Ishiganto. Magical stones that are supposed to ward off evil spirits. I have heard that in two long periods during its history there was a weapons ban on the area and I am still trying to find out how this has effected their culture today. I have to go teach so I must end this post here. I miss you all but Japan is an amazing culture and I will hate to leave it behind.

The native food here is much stronger and spicier than normal Japanese food so I like it very much. They use a lot of pork and use every part of the animal from the hindquarters to the ears. It is very alike to East Asian food because the Okinawian empire was taken

over relatively recently and had stranger ties to China and Tiwan than Japan

School lunches are very different here in Okinawa. The children set up the tables and serve lunch to their fellow classmates so that they can learn to work together. This apparently helps them learn to work together to accomplish a goal.

Another strange occurrence is that these Japanese textbooks only stress history where Japan is the protagonist or victim of the occurrence. Our textbooks teach our children about the bombing of Japan and how we killed many people but they seem to be worried that the children will see Japan as a bad country even though it was just the rulers who were evil.

Mayan collapse theory

2009-11-09T12:38:00.000-08:00

I believe that the Mayan culture collapsed after a series of events. The first is malnutrition. This skull is one from a mayan city around the time of the collapse. This Mayan suffered from lack of iron. If there suddenly wasn't enough food the lower class would probably get a bit grumpy and want to revolt. Around this time the number of obsidian blades found in houses dropped off. These blades were used for sacrifice so, if there was political turmoil, they probably wouldn't be worshiping the gods as much as they were. After awhile the revolt succeeded but at a terrible price. The Classic Mayan culture.

Incan music

2009-10-22T12:23:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJn-W3KPz_4&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYXtb8GGZXM&feature=player_embedded

you can copy and paste them into the address bar

More Paracas pottery

2009-10-22T12:07:00.000-07:00

Water vase in shape of bird.

Nazca lines

2009-10-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

A candalabra.

Picture of a spider.Another spider.

These prove that the Nazca must have been very earth centered.

Chancay doll

2009-10-22T12:03:00.000-07:00

Typical clay doll.

Machu Pichu

2009-10-22T12:01:00.000-07:00

One of the only Incan cities to not have been found and destroyed by the Spanish

Chavin stone carving

2009-10-22T11:59:00.000-07:00

Depicts a feline human figure. Holding a staff that is made of something that can be refined into ceremonial drugs

Chancay cerimonial staff

2009-10-22T11:30:00.002-07:00

Found in the central coast of Peru.

Made of wood.

Chimu mask

2009-10-22T11:30:00.001-07:00

Moche tapestry

2009-10-22T11:29:00.001-07:00

Image of sacrificed figure.

Nazca vase

2009-10-22T11:28:00.000-07:00

Paracas pottery

2009-10-22T11:27:00.001-07:00

Painted with resin based colors

Chavin statue

2009-10-22T11:25:00.001-07:00

Thought to show shamanic change from human to feline.