Student Blogging Challenge week 10: Goodbye until the day we meet again

Hi edubloggers,

 

This is an audit evaluating the challenge

 

Q. How many posts did you write?

A. I wrote a total of 12 posts.
Q. How many were school based, your own interests or set by the challenge?

A. All of them were set from the challenge.
Q. How many comments did you receive from classmates, teachers or overseas students?

A. i received 7 comments total.
Q. Which post received the most comments? Why do you think that happened?

A. No particular post got the most posts.
Q. Which post did you enjoy writing the most and why?

A. Week 9, because i got to write to my heart’s content.
Q. Did you change blog themes at all and why?

A. I got rid of the snow since it was a distraction
Q. How many widgets do you have? Do you think this is too many or not enough?

A. I have 15 widgets total.
Q. How many overseas students do you have on your blogroll?

A. I have two oversea students.
Q. Which web tools did you use to show creativity on your blog?

A. I used web tools like background to brighten up my blog.

 

 

And I asked my Science Teacher to evaluate my blog. here are her answers.

Q. What were your first impressions of this blog?

A. “It was very bright and organized.”
Q. What captured your attention?

A. “ The pictures.”
Q. What distracted you on the blog?

A. “The snow widget in the background.”
Q. What suggestions can you give me to improve my blog?

A. I have no suggestions.

 

Thank you to all who have commented and the teacher who evaluated my blog.

 

우리가 다시 만나는 날까지 잘있어, (Farewell until the day we meet again.)

 

HmsChad

 

 

Edublogs Week 9 Activity 1: How the heartbeat of taiko was created

Hi Edubloggers,

 

Here is a long, yet  enduring history of taiko.

 

Taiko, which was believed to be created by a Goddess sitting on a sake or rice wine barrel. The original origin span to almost the beginning of time during the Heian (794- 1185,) When Japanese starting trading with the Silk Road. In China, they started making drums out of pine wood. Being the curious voyagers they are, they copied the tradition using it in their own rituals. The drum has a simple anatomy of a drum shell made out of some sacred wood, with rawhide skin stretched on both sides held with circular tacks called byou. Since that era to the Meiji Era, it was used in feudal wars to scare off opponents, retrieve homage from the gods, and when Buddhism was introduced throughout Asia, it was used in ceremonies.

 

Later during the late Meiji Period to the Edo Period, there Japanese have started experimenting it with entertainment. In Noh, Kabuki, and Bunraku theatre which used quier masks, small hand drums called Ootsumi and Kotsumi,  a Taiko Drum pulled taut with rope called a shime daiko, and many yells called Kakigoe. Bon dance is a traditional event in Japan which is a Buddhist way to revisit deceased loved ones. The taiko reverdibrates into the heart as fierce participants beat the drum with a piece called “Matsuri,” or “Fukushima Ondo.”

 

Photo Credit: oyajimbo Flickr via Compfight cc

 

After Edo was renamed Tokyo, it also spread to the Okinawa Prefectural where is north of the Philippines. Here, drummers copy Japanese okedo drums which are drums similar to shime daiko but has a longer body and can be worn with a strap. However, it is like a Taiko drum but made with pine so it can be slung across the shoulder. They also mimicked shines which look very similar to Edo Shimes, Black outside rings, a Brown shell, and bright orange rope, except, the rope is red.

 

While all this is happening, other Japanese prefectures such as Miyake-Jima, where the drum is situated on a low horizontal stand where people bend down low to play simple, but very powerful beats. If that doesn’t amaze you, tough high grade cowhide can last 10 years in a normal taiko group if played frequently. However, while playing this style, it needs to be changed every year.

 

Another style is Onbayashi, which is synonymous with the song “Yatai Bayashi,” which was invented in a small city in the Kanto region of japan called Chichibu, making it logical to also call it “Chichibu Yatai Bayashi.” the drum is situated on a slanted stand that is shorter that a sukeroku or slanted stand for a reason. The players have to play the drums right in front of them. If you don’t know, this drum requires a strong core to play as you have to reach back to make it look professional and improve the accents.

 

Later in the 20th century, Taiko groups have blossomed all over Japan which the late Taiko Master, Daiihachi Oguchi attended. After studying Japanese Taiko for many years and being a active participant in a jazz group, Daiihachi Sensei wanted to experiment with the two styles creating a new style called Kumi Daiko, which is ensemble Taiko. His train of thought was the Shrill Shime being like a snare drum and the Nagado or regular big drums being like Tom toms.

 

Daihachi Sensei influenced many Taiko players and masters today like Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka whose the main instructor in the San Francisco Taiko Dojo which was the first group to start in the US. After that, hundreds of taiko groups started in the America, Canada, Philippines, South America, and the Oceania region. Since it is hard to get a nice piece of Keyaki or Japanese Zelnova wood, most American Taiko Groups make their drums out of oak wine barrels. They glue the staves together to make it circular.

 

Photo Credit: Sam Wise Flickr via Compfight cc

Taiko has come a long way since the 2nd century as in stance or Kata, Bachi (or sticks,) and preparation of the drum, and even making games with it. However,  proof of preserving a tradition as old as earth will help make you more connected to the world.

Bye,

 

HMSchad

Student Blogging Challenge week 8: Comment Starters

Hi edubloggers,

 

Here are some comment starters and after the list is an example of a post using the format.

 

  1. I like how you formatted this
  2. I can really relate to this
  3. You have this? I have something like this
  4. This reminds me of
  5. This makes me wonder
  6. I like (object) Too!
  7. The best part of the post was …….
  8. This made me think about
  9. Hi, my name is (Your name)
  10. This post made me form an opinion about …..
  11. Something I learned/ remembered was
  12. Another thing to consider is ….

 

Hi NA,

I really enjoyed your post on …….. The best part of it was when you said ——-. By the way my name is ——-. This also made me wonder why ———-. I hope we could talk to each other in the near future. Here’s my Blog, (Use hyperlink: <ahref=“paste blog URL here”>WORDS</a>.)

Sincerely,

 

NA

 

Bye,

 

Chad

 

 

Student Blogging Challenge Week 7: Water

Hi Edubloggers,

Photo Credit: blavandmaster Flickr via Compfight <a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/

Think about the last time you were in contact with water when ever it was washing your hands to filling a refreshing glass of water.

Consider yourself lucky that you have access to clean water when people in other forgein places don’t have access to clean water causing diseases. For too long we have taken water for granted. Most Americans don’t know whether their water comes from a lake, groundwater, a reservoir or a river. We seldom realize that a water crisis may be coming soon to a community near us until it does. You may think of going to a lake or nearest body of water, but it might contain germs like cholera that will make you lose more liquids. For years we thought water was life, but really it depends on the steriltie of any liquid.

 

More than one in every six people in the world is water stressed, or that they do not have sufficient access to potable water.  Those that are water stressed make up about 1.1 billion people in the world and are living in developing countries such as Sudan, Nigeria, and Haiti. According to the water project,  a country or region is said to experience “water stress” when annual water supplies drop below 1,700 cubic metres per person per year. At levels between 1,700 and 1,000 cubic meters per person per year, periodic or limited water shortages can be expected. When a country is below 1,000 cubic meters per person per year, the country then faces water scarcity .

 

In 2006, about 700 million people in 43 countries were living below the 1,700 cubic metres per person threshold.Water stress is ever intensifying in regions such as China, India, and Sub-Saharan Africa, which contains the largest number of water stressed countries of any region with almost one fourth of the population living in a water stressed country.The world’s most water stressed region is the Middle East with averages of 1,200 cubic metres of water per person.In China, more than 538 million people are living in a water-stressed region. Much of the water stressed population currently live in river basins where the usage of water resources greatly exceed the renewal of the water sources.

These are some reasons why we should donate to some of these countries. Water is so vital that nobody can survive without it…. NOBODY!

 

Bye,

 

 

Hmschad

 

 

 

Student Blogging Challenge Week 5: let’s Talk School

Hi Edubloggers,

 

As this week if the SBC is about anything school-related, I thought I’d do some research about the history and summarize it.

Hongwanji Mission School, was the first Buddhist school outside of Japan, was established in 1949 during the time of Bishop Kodo Fujitani. The school was built on land bought by Mary Foster from Foster Botanical Gardens. Mary Foster, who was born from a Christian family, became a Buddhist after traveling to India and finding a personal teacher. Mrs. Aiko Fujitani, wife of the bishop, was instrumental in the building of the school and was at the center of school activities as the executive secretary of the school board.

 

Photo Credit: saamiblog Flickr via Compfight cc

The first classes were held during the summer of 1949 for students in grades K through 8 and for special English classes for Kibei adults (those born in the U.S. and educated in Japan). Mrs. Marion Winters, a graduate of Vassar, was the first principal of the school.

As the years went on, Hongwanji Mission school expanded their campus by adding a preschool program and a high school curriculum which the school is currently called Pacific Buddhist Academy. Currently, they support many fairs and fundraisers such as the Honpa Betsuin Bon Dance, and an annual Fun Fair, The current head of school has even helped HMS become a Bring Your Own Device School which was permitted 4th-8th graders to incorporate learning in the 21st century.

Information taken from Hongwanji website see full history here.

Edublogs week 4: Sushi- Food in the Country of the Rising Sun

Photo Credit: Jeena Paradies Flickr via Compfight cc

 

Hi Edubloggers,

 

Today, I will talk about sushi and sashimi.

Sushi, A delicacy that was eaten since the Edo period of Japan (1603-1868.) was born in  paddy fields in Southeast Asia, where fish was fermented with salt and rice, after which the rice was discarded. The dish is today known as narezushi, and was introduced to Japan around the Yayoi period.In the Muromachi period, people began to eat the rice as well as the fish.During the Edo period, vinegar rather than fermented rice began to be used. In pre-modern times and modern times, it has become a form of fast food strongly associated with Japanese culture.

 

Sushi is a very simple recipe consisting of vinegered rice, (typically raw) fish, dried seaweed (nori), and soy sauce (if desired.)  For vegetarians or pescatarians, there are variations of sushi with eggs or vegetables. Wasabi can also be intermingled with the soy sauce the get a spicy, tingly taste that alliviates you nostrils. It is a type of horseradish which they grind up it’s stem to form the paste.

When it reached America, it wasn’t popular as they hated raw fish, but when a sushi chef named Hidekazu Tojo turned the roll inside out and put cooked shrimp, avocado, and cucumber. Now, chefs use more forge in ingredients like avocado, cucumber, cream cheese, as well as some exotic fruit.

 

  1. Bye

Updated 12/15/17

Student Blogging Challenge Week 3, Activity 4: Decipher the picture story!

Hi Edubloggers,

 

This challenge is a simple challenge which these five pictures form five words that combine to make an inspirational quote. Good Luck!

 

Photo Credit: Emanuel D. Photography Flickr via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: ITU Pictures Flickr via Compfight cc

 

Photo Credit: chrisinplymouth Flickr via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: omirou56 Flickr via Compfight cc
Photo Credit: Seattle OIRA Flickr via Compfight cc

Student Blogging Challenge Week 3 Activity 7: ZOOM :O

Hi Edubloggers,

 

Here I go again.  Scouring the internet until I find a picture that satisfies me. To be honest, I made all my posts last season so elaborate and specific that I am out of ideas! Well, here goes nothing. I am anxious to hear what you guys thought or what story you have made in the comment section.

Bye,

Hmschad

Photo Credit: -gigina- Flickr via Compfight cc