Journeys can be forced or by choice. Out of all the journeys we learnt, it seemed that every journey contains this EU. The three girls, Molly, Gracie and Daisy from Rabbit Proof Fence really showed how journey can be by choice or by force. Their first journey of the three girls being grabbed and took them away. This first journey was by force. They were taken to a camp where they educate the Aboriginals. The three girls didn’t like the camp they were taken to. A few days later, the girls made a journey by choice. All three escaped from the camp and made their way home, to find their mothers. They could had choice to stay at the camp and endure living there, but they all chose to leave the camp.

Another example might be, Jr. Chu and Sr. Chu from Spirits of the Railway. His dad was a farmer, but it rained for a long time yet couldn’t grow crops. Sr. Chu decided to travel to America alone, to make more money for his family living in China. That journey was made by choice, he could had just stayed in China and work for something else. Months passed and the family heard nothing from Chu. Young Chu’s mother was worried and became ill. Jr. Chu then decided to go on a journey to America to look for his father. This journey was also by choice. Jr. Chu could had stayed in China and wait longer for his father.

Journeys can involve change, whether personal, societal or institutional. In my journey of adapting to a Chinese school. Wendy impacted my journey, she changed me and how I looked at things. She changed my learning habits and let me be more open minded to different cultures and people. Wendy was a very hard working student that always did her homework. Since the day we met, I tried to be more like her. Doing everything to the best of my ability, always doing my homework and studying hard to achieve an excellent grade. Not only that, as being friends with her. I learnt to be more open to different cultures, and so from then on, I accepted friends from different culture, and learnt to be more open minded.

Guilin Web quest

Location:
Guilin is located to the west of Guangdong, South of Guizhou, and East of Yunnan. The Li River stretches through Guilin, Yangshuo city is to west of the Li River. The Li River is the river that’s between Guilin and Yangshuo.

History:
Source One:
1. What does the following quote tell you about the history of Guilin? Has it only recently been a destination for visitors?
“I often sent pictures of the hills of Guilin which I painted to friends back home, but few believed what they saw.”
The quote makes me think of how beautiful Guilin is, since some friends think it’s real, some doesn’t because the view is so amazing. The nice pictures are usually are edited by Photoshop. The person is saying that the pictures that the person took is as beautiful as a picture edited by Photoshop.

Source Two:
1. How have Han Chinese ruled Guilin historically? What does this tell you about the ethnic groups that live in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region?
The Han Chinese ruled Guilin by force. The Han took over Guilin, they spread their religions. The Autonomous Religion became to largest ethnicity groups.

2. When was the Ling Canal constructed? How did this canal influence the history and economy of Guilin?
After the Ling Canal was constructed, it made it possible for small crafts to pass from Southward Xi river and Yangzi river. Then they started trading, from to  the Guangdong.

Source Three:
1. Why were canal built throughout the city of Guilin?
A Canal was built throughout the city of Guilin because to deliver food from Yangzi plain to south west point of the country.

2. When was Guilin declared under the “protection of historical and cultural heritage?” Why would this be important or significant for the city? For the protection of the environment?
Guilin was declared as the “Protection of historical and cultural heritage” in 1981. The protection of historical and cultural heritage is important because after years and years, it would attract visitors and people from other countries to come.

3. What are some of the local industries in Guilin?
Some industries in Guilin are pharmaceutical goods, tires, machinery, fertilizer, silk, perfume, wine, tea, cinnamon and herbal medicine.

4. What are some of the agricultural products? What do these tell you about geography of Guilin?
Some of the agricultural products are Shatian Pomelo, summer orange, Fructus Momordicae, ginkgo, moon persimmon, Lipu Tara, Sanhua Alcohol, pepper sauce, fermented bean curd, Guilin Rice Noodle, water chestnut, grain, fish and dried bean milk cream in tight rolls. Tells me that they do grow grains to make noodles, bean curd and milk cream in tight rolls. Also they grow fruits, pepper. They have the Li River and so they can go fishing for fishes.

5. Where you can find a picture of Guilin? Hint – $
We can find a picture of Guilin on the internet. Or if you are in Guilin, you can buy postcards.

The People:
1.  Which ethnic groups live in the Guangxi Region?
The ethnic groups that live in Guangxi Region are propagation and the totem.

2. What evidence tells us that the level of education in Guangxi is still lower than the rest of China?
The percentage of people with a higher educational level is very low.

3. For what reasons do the inhabitants of this region move elsewhere in China? Where do they go?
The inhabitants of YangShuo move for trading, some for jobs so that they can make more money, some family move elsewhere to get better education for children if they can afford it. Most of them move to bigger cities that are better developed and with higher educational level, jobs that can make more.

4. The UNICEF article about an internet project here in China tells us a lot about the extent of the digital divide for people in the Guangxi region. What conclusions can you draw about this topic from this information? Identify 2.

Firstly computers can create interest in student’s learning, especially if they enjoy learning on the internet. Secondly, they can share their work, do researches online and learn more, not just from their text book, but on the web where most of the important information are put.

Environment

1.  According to Jordan Clary, what is ‘karst topography’?
Karst topography is a caverns that’s made of limestone and carbonated rocks.

2. Explain in your own words what the 4 factors are that created the type of karst seen in Guilin.
Caverns, limestone, carbonated rocks and sinkholes.

3. Whose research did Clary base her information on?
China base travel guide.
4. Clary’s article gives us a number of images of Guilin. Identify one that you are looking forward to.
I am looking forward to Kayaking, because I have never did that before and it looks fun. I had been on boats and ships, but never Kayaking.

This work reflects playtime of a child or an adult, what they would do in their free time and how they would entertain themselves. In their free time, a child would play with blocks, Tamagotchi, Tangle, teddy bear or read a book. My sculpture represents what a child likes. Most of them like to play obviously and there are some toys that they like to play. This sculpture is good to represent or show what they like to others, because some grown-ups might not understand or know what they like.

I used materials such as Model Magic, newspaper, acrylic paint, paper clip boxes, macaroni, wire and a cut out of a magazine. The Model Magic for Tamagotchi dolls, Memetchi and Mametchi, for making the purple Tamagotchi, and the brown teddy bear. The magazine cut out of a corner as a little book. News paper with acrylic paint coloured as puzzles on the head and macaroni as a Tangle toy. I choose this topic, playtime because I am pretty familiar with what children like to play and these are the things I use to like playing. I use to play with teddy bears when I was small, I like reading magazines and just looking at pictures, playing puzzles, twisting a Tangle and playing with Tamagotchis, which I still do now. I choose these two art principals, unity and variety and contrast. I integrated these two art principals, unity and variety for the puzzles, the puzzles all look the same but the colour is different and there are minor differences of it. Contrast in colours, I put yellow and purple together on the colour wheel to make it stand out, purple and yellow are opposite from each other on the colour wheel.

In creating this sculpture I found that model magic can be pretty addicting and fun. I also found out that we have many methods of representing a thing, we can use model magic, which is the easy way or we can make it out of something else. I feel that my art work is pretty special, it stands out among other people’s work because no one else choose to do playtime. I like my art work and think it’s pretty successful. I discovered that doing an art project can be fun especially if you have to make every piece. I also discovered that having the idea of making it is easy but actually making it might take a long time and requires a lot of skills to make it good.

What is Cultural Identity?

Cultural identity is when people identify themselves or others. Most of the times cultural identity is determined by many factors, their appearance, accents, rituals, and sometimes family structure. As example, if you are Chinese, people can tell by your skin colour, you usually have pale yellow skin and pitch dark black hair. Just like Esperanza, from ‘The House on Mango Street’. She is from Mexico and name means ‘Hope’ in Spanish, besides her name sounds like Spanish. By that little clue, we can tell she’s from Mexico and speaks Spanish, because most of the Mexicans speaks Spanish. At one point in the book, Esperanza mentions that her family isn’t very rich. Most of the Mexicans move out of Mexico to the United States so that they can earn more money, so as Esperanza’s family. To Esperanza’s family they try to save money by living in a small house, and not in very good shape, crumble steps, leaking pipes and many more. Also, Mexicans have quite big family, they have many family members, for example, Esperanza’s family. Esperanza has two brothers, Kiki and Carlos, and her parents too, that makes five people in a family. By that fact, it also determines Esperanza is Mexican.

Why is it important to study cultures from the past?

The past effect on how the culture is become nowadays. Some family rituals might be passed down from the past and now it’s still going. Without studying the history of cultures it’s hard to understand why the group of people are doing it today. Just like Gun Control in the United States. A throng of people thinks it’s important to own guns and it’s necessary, another group of people think it’s not going to be useful. The government is allowing people to own guns now, after they understand the main reason why people want it. Back in the past, Americans had become dependent to guns. The cow boys, during the wars and now, for safety. The guns really helped Americans, without guns helping them in the past, America might not be that advanced as today is. They fought off people that try to take over the land, they won in battles and hunting is one of American’s favourite past time. The Americans want to continue their tradition to guns, protection and safety.

P – 10

V – 6

C – 8

P – 10

I – 8

P – 10

E – 8

S – 8

P – 10

V – 6

C – 8

P – 10

I – 6

P  - 8

E – 8

S – 6

There are many great things that exploring the universe lead us to although it’s expensive. However there are also some negative sides to it. It can be exciting exploring something that we don’t know, going into space, learning can be very fun, but on the other hand, it’s risky. An astronaut might loose their life by going to space. There’s a chance that they might not come back, what if there’s an accident of the craft, technical problems, and it crashes? Anything can happen, especially technology related issues.

Don’t only think about negatives, there are a lot of positives too, Without taking the risk of sending astronauts to space we won’t have invented the new technology of heart monitors at the hospital, safer equipments for the firefighters, easier ways to pack frozen food, and many more.

Each time we send people to space, we learn more. We don’t actually know that much about our universe. We should explore more since it’s our universe, it’s our environment. As we learn more and explore more, unexpected discoveries were found. To my opinion, I think it’s worth to spend the money on exploring the Galaxy. We should learn more about the universe we are in, it will benefit us some how. I understand how some countries need money to rebuild houses after earthquakes, feed hungry children, lack of water and flooding. We should use half of the money that goes to the space craft onto helping the people in need.

1. What is Dada Art about? (3 pts.)
Dada is an art movement, during World War I; it’s a protest against the barbarism of the war.
Dada ignored all the art elements. Dada is opposite the people wanted something. It’s a visual art, theater design arts.
Artists express their feelings during the war time by creating Dada art works.
2. How would you know Dada Art if you saw it? List 3 key visual characteristics. (3 pts.)

Dada art works are made of any objects that are found it doesn’t matter what it is. You can put any objects together and create an artwork. The objects don’t usually go together. Some most commonly used are bus tickets, candy wrappers, scraps. Dada artworks can be very colourful or plain and simple. It depends on what the artist wants to express. It uses a lot of real life materials.

3. What things influenced Dada Art besides World War 1? (2 pts.)
Dada is mostly influenced by World War I, besides that, the people want to express their feelings; hence they show it through Dada artwork. At that time the artists want to explore more about art, it doesn’t have to be what it use to be.

Hugo Ball

Max Ernst

Kurt Schwitters

Marcel Duchamp

5.    What is Surrealism about? (2 pts.)

Surrealism is a movement about culture and it began in 1920. The elements for Surrealism arts are surprise, and unexpected, the artists consider their arts as philosophical movement, with their work being an artifact. Surrealism developed from Dada art movements.

6.    Define juxtaposition (2 pt.)

To get a contrast effect out of something.

7.    Dada – Is it Art?  Explain your response. (3 pts.)

It’s art, everything is consider art, ugly or not, even an object is art. Artists use art to express their feelings so can Dada art.

Clarifying Questions:

What is the conflict?

People in the United State are arguing because a group of people wants to keep guns at home, other thinks it’s necessary.

What groups are involved?

There are mainly two groups, a group want to have guns at home so they can defend themselves. Another group thinks they don’t need a gun at home, the polices has the job to keep the place safe. In additional, they think it increases the risk of homicides.

Where is the conflict taking place?

The conflict is taking place in United States.

How long has the conflict been going on?

The conflict of this issue started in 1963 and it’s still going on now, for almost 47 years.

Probing Questions:

What assumptions are being made about the conflict?   (consider news/media)

People on the side that doesn’t want to own a gun think that people that own a gun are bad and dangerous. Sometimes the people that owns a gun at home doesn’t feel safe at h­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ome, that’s why they own a gun at home. With a gun at home, others might think that it’s very dangerous if they have children living in the house too. The children might think of it as a toy and play with it.

In addition, we think of the people that owns a gun are violent. They have a higher risk of shooting someone.

Based on the articles that I read, it seems like they think having a gun has a bad connotation, it’s not safe and people that owns a gun have a higher risk of getting killed or harming someone.

For the people that doesn’t own guns, they think they are scared of gun and don’t have enough money to own one. Some people might think that people that don’t own guns must not feel safe inside. They feel that way it isn’t safe owning a gun because most of them had good gun education at school and had realized how dangerous it is to own a gun. Others had bad experience with guns before.

What bias exists in these assumptions? (consider the source)

These assumptions may not be true. It won’t necessarily be safe after you own a gun at home. Being safe at home depends on the location of the house, if the location is located at a place where the risk of crime is high, then it’s automatically be dangerous to live it. But living in the town at a civilized area makes it safer, with polices around, guarding the area and watching the house.

If you are worried that children might kill themselves while playing with it, then lock it up or keep it a secret so that the children doesn’t kill themselves while playing with it.

However, owning a gun doesn’t mean that person have a higher risk of committing a crime. There’s a well known quote: ‘Gun don’t kill people, people do’. Meaning that it’s the motivation from the person to kill another person, the gun is just there to help to make a situation more violent.

Most young gun owners think that owning a gun makes them cool and have more power than people that doesn’t have guns. Some bad kids uses gun to force a person do things that they don’t want to do. Most people that don’t own guns are because they think it’s dangerous and scared of it. Once a person holds a gun at you, you would do anything they want you to do instead getting shot by them. This is also bullying, that’s why the robberies usually carry guns on them.

Most people that owns a gun think guns make them feel more comfortable. It’s actually the parents or who ever they grown up with that made a mistake because the guardians should make the kids feel safe. There must something bad happened to that person before that’s why they want to rely on guns.

What role do cultural values play in the conflict?

In America, owning a gun shows personal liberty and trust in them. Over 80% of people that buy a gun need to go for a mandatory gun safely training. Those people think it’s safe to have a gun at home for protection. Some people fear gun, and gun is uncontrollable, there’s a higher number of murderers that commit crime by using a gun. Hence, it’s not safe to own a gun.

Most people in America value freedom a lot. They say that they have the freedom to own what they want to want to own. They have the freedom and right to own it, no matter what it is. They should have the right to own guns, but in the second amendment it doesn’t say that they are not allowed to own guns. They should have the freedom to own a gun, but they should take safety lessons to understand better on how to keep a gun safe.

How has this conflict been perpetuated over time? (Why does the conflict goes on?)

It’s tradition in America of using guns. Some people use it as a hobby, hunting, and some people use it for defense. There had been so many people that own a gun that it’s hard to stop. Even though the government is able to stop the sale of gun and control their usage, violence is still there. Gun has a very little impact in the American society, it’s the motivation of the people that is causing all the violence.

What influence has the past had on the present? (social institutions, mass media, political institutions, economics)

Even long back in the history of America, guns had already been used as one of it’s major tools for living. It helped the Americans fight over the war between the British, got away the Indians and helped take over more land for the Americans. Without the help of guns, the American wouldn’t have been that great. Also, the Americans wouldn’t have win if they didn’t get the help of guns. At that time not every country have guns. American had always been a country with the most gun violence and known for guns.  Keeping a gun at home makes the citizens feel safer, it had been a tradition for owning guns. In the past there are wars that needed guns to fight off, and now time has changed, there’s no longer need for guns and bear arms.

In the past guns had been a big part of American. They needed guns for hunting, to get food, some for fun. ~~~~~~

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