Where Do I Start?

Are any of you in the middle of several good books?

My bedside table is overflowing with books, and now I have taken over a counter in the kitchen with my "library." Perhaps, you have read some of them or would be interested in reading them. The simple ownership of each book tells me a story. Several are from my new email friend from Connecticut who shares my love of Asia. One is from a teacher I met while in Japan in 2005. Several are from a Highlands parent/trustee who shares my interest in the changing world. One is from the bookstore where my grandfather worked until its closing in 1969.

Here are some of the books:
Good to Great by Jim Collins
The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman
A Whole New Mind by Daniel H. Pink

China Coast Family by John C. Caldwell (1953)
Lipo, The Chinese Poet "done into English verse by Shigeyoshi Obata" (1935)
Questions of Heaven, The Chinese Journeys of an American Buddhist by Gretel Ehrlich
The Importance of Living by Lin Yutang (1937)
Learning to Bow: Inside the Heart of Japan by Bruce Feiler
Preschool in Three Cultures: Japan, China, and the United States by Joseph J. Tobin et al

This is not an exhaustive list of books related to Asia!

You may be interested in reading more about Asia, but you wonder, "Where do I start?" I recommend you start with some children's books. If you are interested in seeing an excellent selection, check out the website http://www.asiastore.org/books-children-s.html . They have three of my favorites: 1 Grain of Rice, Sushi for Kids, and Zen Shorts.

Enjoy!!

Highlands School Joins the China Connection

Highlands School in Birmingham, Alabama (http://www.highlandsschool.org) recently decided to take part in the "China Connection" program through the National Association of Independent Schools (http://www.nais.org) . This program will allow Highlands School to interview and choose a Chinese teacher who will introduce the Chinese culture and Mandarin language to the students, preschool through eighth grade.

I am Kathryn Barr, the head of Highlands School. I am creating this blog to share this experience with you. I will be heading to China during April to learn more about the educational system in China and to interview teachers who are eager to come to the United States. I look forward to sharing the preparation for the trip, the actual trip, the selection of the teacher, and the year with Highlands' first Chinese teacher.

I have begun listening to Mandarin C.D.s trying to learn a little bit before the trip. I actually had an opportunity to say "good morning" and "thank you" in Mandarin this morning with a prospective family. I have been studying a map of China and a book about China published by National Geographic.

I believe that if our students are going to "make a difference" in the world, they must be familiar with different languages and cultures. I am proud that Highlands School is taking this step!