Monthly Archives: November 2014

Hello faithful blog readers! (the few that exist)
This week I have the pleasure of being the class blogger.
I went through several other ASTU student’s blogs this week and all of them were about our field trip to the archives.
Our ASTU class had a fun and educational trip to the UBC archives where we were treated to Joy Kogawa’s life documents. By popular opinion it was definitely an interesting and helpful trip. We were given further insight into her life and even found letters from a possible affair!
Some people were more blessed than I was with the box that they had gotten. Mine was mostly drafts but the people next to me had the letter from Brian Mulroney which was interesting to see.
From observing other blogs, it is clear that the rest of the class agrees that having this “secret knowledge” into Joy Kogawa’s life makes it more interesting to read and write about her.
It feels like we, as a class, have this awesome sort of advantage.
It’s hard to appreciate the work that goes into writing a book when all we see are the heavily edited published pages. We got to see all the hard work and detail that went into writing Obasan and it really enunciates how hard it is to write a book. Especially for Joy Kogawa because she had to look back on her tough past.

I can collectively say that it was a successful trip and everyone was thankful we were given the opportunity.

I wish my other classes had field trips…. !

In ASTU (a writing class taught at the University of British Columbia) we have begun reading Obasan by Joy Kogawa. I was, admittedly, reluctant to read this book and had not one single clue as to what it was about. But as I began reading this book I was shocked and slightly embarrassed. In Chapter 4, we learn that Grandma Nakane was imprisoned right here in Vancouver at Hastings Park in 1942. How could I have grown up in Vancouver but never known about these internment camps? Or the racism towards Japanese? Or anything!?

This reminded me of earlier this year in Sociology when we learned about the Komagata Maru. The Komagata Maru was a boat full of (potential) immigrants from India. Ultimately the ship was not allowed to unload it’s passengers into Vancouver. These people were searching for a better life and a new beginning but were brutally turned away. Canada found a loophole which legally rejected them from our society even after they had travelled for months and just wanted to get off the ship.
Both incidents are racist blemishes on Vancouver and Canada’s past. We have a holiday to remember the war (Remembrance Day). Of course we can’t forget the war! But why do we have to forget everything else?

In chapter 7 of Obasan the author brings to light the important issue: Should we remember?
The character’s responses display a broad spectrum of beliefs and are those that we still contemplate to this day. Aunt Emily is deeply angered by what happened to her people during WWII and she thinks that Japanese-Canadians need to understand what happened to them and their ancestors otherwise they will forever hold a grudge and pass on the resentment to future generations. On the contrast, Naomi (the narrator) is indifferent to events that are long past. Obasan (the other aunt) and Uncle are grateful towards Canada; thankful that they are allowed to live here. Allowed to live here.

Personally, I’d like to be more informed about the history of the city that I live in. I’ve learned more about Vancouver in these past 2 months of University than I have in 20 years of actually living here. Maybe they’re (whoever decides our history) just trying to keep up the image that Vancouver is an accepting and positively diverse city. Or maybe they’re embarrassed too.