Jenny in the USA - Black/Native American Mega-Mom & Teacher
Jul 27, 2014 16:30:55 GMT 9
Post by Jenny Davenport on Jul 27, 2014 16:30:55 GMT 9
Hi, I'm Jenny.
This will be a short introduction because, if you notice from my profile, I'm a Mom of seven, an art teacher with over 760 students, a writer (just finished the first draft of my 8-year-old novel, YAY! and I'm working on the draft for a bilingual Japanese-English cookbook about Soul Food, the traditional food of African-Americans), grandmom of an almost one-year-old, a family advocate active in the community, and did I mention I'm Mom to seven??
In any case, I have always loved cultures, always been a xenophile, a lover of languages and people, and I am raising my children to be the same. At any given time of the day in our household, you are liable to hear French, German, Swahili, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, and plain old English mixed from various regions of the USA. I have just this week withdrawn three of my children from a language immersion school after three years of immersing them in Spanish, and I don't mind at all. I have complete faith they will be fine in their language journey without it. I can tell you why later.
Next year is my 30th anniversary of first having lived in Japan (I lived there twice), and we are planning a family tour and cultural exchange next summer in Tokyo, with a Soul Food Get-Together in Akasaka, a reunion at my old employer, a storytelling tour, and just a family exchange where Japanese families can get together with my family and just enjoy and learn. The fundraising has begun, though, and because of where my heart is, a percentage of my cookbook proceeds are going to the National Diaper Bank Network to help families in need, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center which teaches the world about the African-American experience through arts, history and social events. I have my mostly Japanese website up about our cultural exchange and soul food cooking at www.facebook.com/KokujinNoDentou. There's a good amount of English on it as well, so please visit and "Like" it for recipes and to stay updated. Prayers are up that we are successful in making it there!
In any case, I also teach at that immersion school, where all of our parents are working hard to raise children who are bilingual in Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, French and/or German, and for many of the kids, they are actually becoming trilingual. It's where I am in this journey.
I have been on this lifelong journey towards multiculturalism and bilingualism over my 40-some years, and I am enjoying the bumps along with the victories. I myself am bilingual in Japanese and English (although it has been so long since I've been back to Japan, so I plan to take the JLPT this winter to prove my level), and I look forward to participating in this forum. I'm so glad Adam has made this step!
Love, JennyChama
This will be a short introduction because, if you notice from my profile, I'm a Mom of seven, an art teacher with over 760 students, a writer (just finished the first draft of my 8-year-old novel, YAY! and I'm working on the draft for a bilingual Japanese-English cookbook about Soul Food, the traditional food of African-Americans), grandmom of an almost one-year-old, a family advocate active in the community, and did I mention I'm Mom to seven??
In any case, I have always loved cultures, always been a xenophile, a lover of languages and people, and I am raising my children to be the same. At any given time of the day in our household, you are liable to hear French, German, Swahili, Japanese, Spanish, Korean, and plain old English mixed from various regions of the USA. I have just this week withdrawn three of my children from a language immersion school after three years of immersing them in Spanish, and I don't mind at all. I have complete faith they will be fine in their language journey without it. I can tell you why later.
Next year is my 30th anniversary of first having lived in Japan (I lived there twice), and we are planning a family tour and cultural exchange next summer in Tokyo, with a Soul Food Get-Together in Akasaka, a reunion at my old employer, a storytelling tour, and just a family exchange where Japanese families can get together with my family and just enjoy and learn. The fundraising has begun, though, and because of where my heart is, a percentage of my cookbook proceeds are going to the National Diaper Bank Network to help families in need, and the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center which teaches the world about the African-American experience through arts, history and social events. I have my mostly Japanese website up about our cultural exchange and soul food cooking at www.facebook.com/KokujinNoDentou. There's a good amount of English on it as well, so please visit and "Like" it for recipes and to stay updated. Prayers are up that we are successful in making it there!
In any case, I also teach at that immersion school, where all of our parents are working hard to raise children who are bilingual in Mandarin, Russian, Spanish, French and/or German, and for many of the kids, they are actually becoming trilingual. It's where I am in this journey.
I have been on this lifelong journey towards multiculturalism and bilingualism over my 40-some years, and I am enjoying the bumps along with the victories. I myself am bilingual in Japanese and English (although it has been so long since I've been back to Japan, so I plan to take the JLPT this winter to prove my level), and I look forward to participating in this forum. I'm so glad Adam has made this step!
Love, JennyChama
), and I look forward to hearing how your plans for your visit to Japan progress. Of course, if you can make it to Hiroshima, I'll be here to welcome you! (And that goes for every member of this community, too!)
