I was perusing the catalog for the fall term's courses for Baltimore County community college. I noticed a course in the Senior Institute section titled, "Japanese American Experience and Identity."
'Hmm', I thought to myself, 'rather curious.' Not the kind of thing one expects to see in Maryland. I read thru the blurb and saw that the lecturer is Gene Oishi, who I've met before. I think he was a former press secretary for a Maryland governor (Hughes?). Here's some of the blurb:
"View the cultural stream that originated in ancient China, traveled through Japan, and ultimately flowed to the American cultural maelstrom. Discuss origins, creation myths, ancient Chinese history and philosophies, European and American imperialism, wars, and Japan's rapid modernization."
[Apparently, an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach.]
"Gene Oishi is a former reporter for the Baltimore Sun... Gene has taught at Johns Hopkins and earned an MS at UCLA in Journalism and an MA from Johns Hopkins in Fiction Writing. He has written extensively on Japanese American experiences over the years... His book dealing with the Japanese American experience, In Search of Hiroshi, was published... in 1988. He is currently lecturing on the Japanese American Experience and on Imperialism at the Johns Hopkins University's Evergreen Society and the Renaissance Institute at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. "
[Inotherwords, courses for retired folks... Hmm, does he get a decent enrollment? I've no idea how many retirees would take such courses.]
Posted by raacluse at September 11, 2006 11:04 AM