A Serendipitous Meeting

This is Herbert Yanamura. Earlier this week, my sisters and I brought my Mom to visit Aunty Grace, my Dad’s sister, who is in a skilled nursing facility. Her daughter and son-in-law were visiting from California, her son was there, and we all had a nice visit. Herbert is also at this facility; he is a World War II hero, having served in the 442nd Battalion and as a linguist with the Military Intelligence Service. Herbert came out of his room to visit with us, and small world, he knew our Dad back in Honaunau on the Big Island. This was when my Grandpa decided to move his family to Kona to try his hand at coffee farming. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out, so the family moved back to Oahu. Herbert shared that he was a year older than my Dad, Keiji, so that would make Herbert 95 years old today. He told us that he and my Dad played together often and that my Dad had to walk very far just to get to school. He also said that they enjoyed playing baseball and that my Grandpa was such a baseball fan; he would watch games and cheer loudly, raising his hands in the air.  Herbert demonstrated, and we laughed, recalling that Grandpa enjoyed watching our brother Roy playing baseball.

We asked Herbert to share about his time in World War II. He was thoughtful and spoke quietly but with clarity to details. It is evident that he understood the importance of sharing his story with us as one of two hundred soldiers, recruited from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, to serve as linguists with the Military Intelligence Service.

When I got home, I searched for more information about him. I found out that Herbert was a war hero, but like many of his generation, he was modest about his heroics. The Battle of Okinawa in April 1945 claimed the lives of 50,000 American soldiers, 100,000 Japanese soldiers, and over 140,000 Okinawa civilians. In June of that year, Herbert saved the lives of 1,500 villagers in Madeira, Okinawa through his repeated appeals over the loudspeaker to surrender to US troops. (Read the story of Herbert’s bravery here.) In 2013, Herbert attended a ceremony at the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Museum, and he met Hatsuko Tomori, who was a 10-year-old girl back then. It was Herbert’s appeals that led to her family coming out of hiding. (Read that story here.)

World War II was an opportunity for Americans of Japanese Ancestry to prove their loyalty to their country. They did so honorably, despite knowing that many of their family and friends were stripped of their rights and interned in concentration camps. We need to hear stories from people like Herbert; he is a true American hero. I am so glad we had the opportunity to talk story with him.

Girl Power!

When I was growing up, there were few opportunities for girls to participate in athletics. My first experience playing on a sports team was in my sophomore year in college when our dormitory decided to enter a team in flag football. Some guys agreed to coach a bunch of girls who never played football before, and I realized how fun it was to learn something new and to compete on a playing field. Later, I also played on intramural teams for basketball and softball. At that time, the University of Hawaii had put together a women’s volleyball team, and one of my best memories is taking second place in softball to that team; we were clearly overmatched by their pure athleticism, but it was pretty awesome to lose in the finals to them. When we got married, Randy and I lived in a condo with a tennis court, and I learned to play that sport-of-a-lifetime, and later I played old-ladies soccer and learned the game of golf. I love sports, and those experiences have taught me a lot about myself, about persevering even when it was difficult, and how difficult it can be to learn something new.

Title IX didn’t come about until 1972 when I was in college so as a young girl growing up in a plantation village community, we didn’t have opportunities to play on sports teams. It never occurred to me that it was “unfair” for my brothers to be able to play Little League while us sisters were relegated to watch and cheer for them. In high school, there were limited opportunities for girls  in sports, and I’d never played any of them competitively.

Today, I realize the many life lessons that participating in sports teaches us, and our girls are benefiting from having many choices and being exposed to inspiring role models. Our women’s national soccer team recently won the World Cup, going undefeated in the process. 15-year-old Coco Gauff beat several higher-ranked players including Venus Williams before falling to eventual champion and former #1, Simone Halep, at the recently-completed Wimbledon Tennis Tournament. And an Under 11 girls team from Hawaii were featured in Soccer Nation for their pure joy after winning the championship at a tournament in California. It was obviously a very exciting game, but I like what the coach shared: “Win or lose, we came to play soccer, continue to improve and spread our aloha spirit.”

It’s wonderful that young girls have role models as well as choices in what they want to play: team sports such as softball, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and hockey or individual sports like golf, ice skating, gymnastics, bowling, martial arts, and tennis. Participating in athletics teaches our girls so many life lessons such as teamwork, perseverance, and sportsmanship. I am thrilled that they are having opportunities that I never had when I was growing up.

Out of My Comfort Zone - Public Speaking

From the time I was a young girl in school, public speaking made me anxious. I was never comfortable speaking in front of groups, especially large ones. So I avoided those opportunities to speak in front of others. It’s true that as a principal, I was fine getting in front of the students and speaking with them; I could speak to parents comfortably, and I wrote and delivered speeches if I had a script in front of me.

Last night, I agreed to do a presentation for a Toastmasters Club to promote my book that has just been released. I wrote a speech, practiced in front of Randy, revised the speech based on his questions and feedback, and practiced some more. I silently recited the presentation in my head as I walked my dog. And then I got to the meeting. I was feeling okay, and my voice didn’t feel strained like it sometimes does when I’m nervous.

It helped that everyone was so nice and made me feel comfortable. And then I presented and included some Power Point slides. I thought the visuals could help me to remember that particular part of the presentation. I felt relieved when I was done, primarily because it was over. I knew I hadn’t hit a home run, but I thought I had made a positive connection with most of the members.

Toastmasters is an organization that helps its members to improve their communication skills in a no-pressure environment, and after the designated members presented their speeches, it was time for feedback.

Usually, one member is assigned to get up and share their observations and reactions to a speech. Because I was a guest who was practicing for future presentations, all members were given an opportunity to give me pointers. It was a powerful experience; I had never had that type of feedback before. Some of the members validated what I already knew. For example, I didn’t make connections by looking at people in the eye; I was looking at the tops of their heads and I never turned to look at the member who was my the left side. I should have been confident enough not to look at my notes because I was sharing my story. I could have had an attention-grabber at the beginning to draw the audience in. I didn’t need the Power Point; my story was effective without the slides. More important though, was the feeling I got after the members had an opportunity to share their suggestions with me. I felt empowered; I knew that I could improve, and they were giving me specific feedback that I could definitely work on for my next presentation.

As I reflect on my time as a principal, I realize that I stayed in my comfortable box where public speaking was concerned. My speeches were for a specific audience who knew me, and I had my notes as my security blanket; I wasn’t nervous because I was basically reading aloud.

I learned that now, as an author, when a book is completed and sent to press, the job is only 50% done. The other 50% is spent in promoting my book. In my mind, I am already preparing for the different groups I will be speaking with, keeping in mind the feedback I received. I know it will be a process to be able to speak with the confidence I observed from the Toastmasters, but I am determined to continue to progress. As a principal, one of my core values and beliefs was that I needed to continue to learn. Even in retirement, I continue to gain new skills.

Thank you to the Paradise Hawaii Toastmasters!

Thank you, Jicky Ferrer, for inviting me to speak at your Paradise Hawaii Toastmasters meeting!

Speaking and listening are essential skills. Thank you to the Toastmasters for your valuable feedback!

How Do We Teach History to Today’s Kids?

When I was in school, history was taught through books and lectures. I learned names, dates, places, and events, but now, many years later, those details escape me. As we were preparing for our recent travels with our grandsons, I realized how little I actually knew aside from the basic facts. I realized that visiting those places as part of our travels with our grandsons this summer would be as much a learning experience for me as it was for them. It was eye- and mind-opening to walk the Freedom Trail, to learn more about the Salem Witch Trials, to interact with content at the various museums, or to stand on the grounds of the Gettysburg battlefields. I hope that Jace and Jayden will remember their travels when they continue to learn in school about the history of our country.

Social studies, like science, math, and language arts, is essential in a school’s curriculum. (So are the arts and physical education.) Social studies standards for our youngest students focus on a sense of self, then on their family and their community and working outward to their state, nation, and then the world. Within social studies, though, the National Council for Social Studies framework organizes the standards into ten themes such as Culture, Global Connections, and Civic Ideals and Practices. It can be overwhelming to find the time to address these standards especially for an elementary teacher with many conflicting priorities during the day.

Oftentimes, as well, we view history through one set of lens. Teaching history is complicated. There is more than one perspective to issues, and we don’t know how the events impacted the people who were living during that period of time. Sharing this slide show (thanks, Esther!) and discussing each slide helped Jace and Jayden to realize that not all colonists wanted to fight the British. They also realized the sacrifices and impact of war on people, ordinary families whose lives were suddenly disrupted by events over which they had no control, people like the Shriver family who lived in Gettysburg or family members who fought on opposite sides during the Civil War.

We cannot change history; it is in the past. We can educate ourselves and learn what others went through at the time by visiting museums, reading books, or watching videos, but we cannot experience what the people involved went through. When we discuss history, we need to ask questions and research to find answers, and we need to discuss why the events unfolded as they did. We need to understand the impact of events on the people who were affected and discuss how those events impact us today.

And we must vow to learn from the mistakes of our past. Unfortunately, I am not confident that we have done so. There was a wall at Salem Witch Museum that stated “Fear + Trigger = Scapegoat.” How many examples can we think of from our country’s history that had its beginnings in fear? Is it still happening today? Why is it important to not repeat our mistakes from the past?

I know that our recent travel experiences to Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. have made me think much more deeply about our country’s history. I realize that if our forefathers had not had the courage to break away from Britain and fight to create a new nation, our own history would be much different than it is today. That’s what I want Jace and Jayden to realize.

Experiencing History

When we decided to take our grandsons Jace and Jayden on a trip to experience history, I wasn’t sure how it would go. I spoke with a travel consultant from Travel Happy, and she did the research regarding where to stay as well as suggestions of places to visit in Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.  I had never used a travel consultant before, so this was a new experience; I would definitely do it again! She made reservations at the hotels we would stay at, and all of them were in close proximity to walk or to use public transportation or Uber.

As I mentioned in previous blogs, my husband Randy is a history buff so this Revolutionary Civil War Tour was an attempt to have our grandsons experience history and to gain a better understanding about our country. They are still young - Jace just turned 12 and Jayden will be 10 later this summer - so we didn’t know what they had already learned in school since we live in different states. Now that the historical portion of the tour is over, I can say that I am pleased that Jace and Jayden have truly experienced history. I don’t expect that they will remember all the details of what they learned, but through all the “field trips” we took, they are better able to communicate big ideas. They understand the sacrifice it took to fight the British and to form a new nation. They understand that our founding fathers had to come to a common understanding about the ideas that our country would be founded on. They walked the battlefields of Gettysburg and realized that America came very close to becoming two nations instead of one. They understand the important role that Congress plays in making laws that impact all of the people of our country. When I asked Jace and Jayden separately about who they felt was the greatest leader they learned about on this RCW Tour, they each immediately answered, “Abraham Lincoln” because he freed the slaves and was successful in keeping our country together.

I think I was most proud of how attentive Jace and Jayden were throughout the tours even though there were many days when we were out all day. Never once did they say they were bored, and they answered respectfully when adults asked them questions. Of course, there was the time the park ranger asked Jayden what his favorite part of school was, and his response was “Recess!” I am sure he was just being honest. On the last day when we were out all day touring several national memorials, a lady took the time to go up to Jace and Jayden at the end of the tour to compliment them on their respectful and attentive behavior.

We are now in Orlando; since we were already on the East Coast, how could we not stop here to enjoy some fun? I believe that Jace and Jayden earned this “reward” to relax after experiencing history for eleven days. I also learned so much and gained new understandings about the events and people that are so crucial to the understanding of what makes our country great. Hopefully, we will all have more opportunities to experience history in the future.

 Jace and Jayden learned how a civilian family was impacted when 90,000 Union soldiers and 70,000 Confederate soldiers overran the town of Gettysburg with a population of 2,400 people. 

 They got to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg and learned how the Union Army took advantage of their position on Little Round Top to win the decisive battle that ultimately determined the outcome of the Civil War.

Jace and Jayden stand by the statue of who they consider to be the greatest President of our country. 

What an Experience so Far!

Well, my intention to have Jace and Jayden keep a travel journal went down the drain. I think I was treating this like an educational opportunity, getting them to practice thinking and writing skills. However, I didn’t want to nag them, and we were doing a lot of reflecting after each of our trips. We have been to Boston, Philadelphia, and half of our Washington D.C. travels so far. Tonight we discussed their reflections. Here are some of their thoughts:

• So far in Washington D.C., walking up to the top of the Capitol was the most amazing experience for Jace and Jayden. They learned that it took lots of effort and skill to be able to build, work, and do the artwork on the dome. Jayden shared that he was petrified of falling, but going up the 300 stairs and finishing the trip all the way up and down helped him with his fear of heights. Jayden was happy that his brother gave him confidence to finish and to take the stairs on. That helped him a lot. Jace was excited to make it all the way to the top and to see the amazing view of Washington D.C. and buildings like the Washington Monument and the Supreme Court. Jace was wondering how the workers felt to be working on and fixing the dome, standing on such a tiny ledge! He probably wouldn’t want to do that job!
• Both boys are respectful of the patriots who risked their lives so people in America could have less dangerous and greater lives where they could do what they liked without being afraid.  If Jace and Jayden had been living back then, it might have been a difficult decision on how much to get involved with the patriots. They feel that it was unfair for the King to rule over America when he was so far away in England.  Walking on the Freedom Trail and being in Independence Hall made Jace and Jayden realize that they are grateful for the soldiers who fought for the 13 colonies against the British because we would not be living in our country today if they had not done so.
• Jace and Jayden learned that Congress makes laws that are good for the country and they should be working together to get the job done. Right now according to the news, they are fighting each other and not getting things done for our country. Jace knew about the three branches of government, and that no one has complete power over the U.S. So they feel that Congress should be working together for the people and the President should be doing so, too.

Learning about those who fought to form our country has been an eye-opening experience for Jace and Jayden. They are learning about history, government, and famous people like George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John F. Kennedy who have helped America become a better place for everyone including them and all of their friends and family. Tomorrow, the boys will learn about Abraham Lincoln who was the President who ended slavery and kept our country together. They are excited; Abraham Lincoln is one of their heroes, and they read books about him. 

Choosing Experiences Over Things

I recently read a blog, “7 Reasons Why Spending Money on Experiences Makes Us Happier than Buying Stuff,”  It’s something I never thought about before, but it certainly makes sense.  Coincidentally, when Randy and I retired, we decided to take a trip with our son and grandsons, and that trip is almost here!

Justin and the boys don’t live in Hawaii; they moved to Las Vegas about 8 years ago, so we only see them about 3 times a year. It is hard; I know we are missing out on so many of their activities. Phone calls, FaceTime, or texts are nice but being there would definitely be nicer. We thought about different places we could go, and we decided that Jace and Jayden should experience our country first before traveling to a foreign country.

Randy named our trip the RCW Tour - Revolutionary Civil War Tour. He is a history buff and wants the boys to learn about our country’s history and government, so we decided to visit Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC traveling by Amtrak between the cities. Once an educator, always an educator so I already informed the boys that they will be keeping a reflective journal. We will have discussions each day and allow Jace and Jayden time to share their learnings and memories in their journal. They’ve decided to create a slide show so they can include photos they plan to take with their phones. It is our hope that after this trip, our grandsons will be more aware of our country’s history and to be proud to live in the USA.

Since we will be on the East Coast, we will spend a few days in Orlando. I’m sure Jace and Jayden will love this part of the trip! We’ll spend two days at Disney World and one day at Universal Studios before heading back to Las Vegas.

We will be making memories. I cannot wait!