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Relationship Status:

Married

About Me:

As Gandhi said it perfectly; "Live like you will die tomorrow, but learn like you will live forever" . I really took those words to heart. So much to experience in life and so much to learn.

Activities:

Songwriting, rock climbing, mountain biking,snowboarding, community organizing, and travelling.

Favorite books:

You Are Therefore I Am,A Declaration of Dependence, by Satish Kumar.

Favorite music:

The Great Lake Swimmers, Sufjan Stevens, The Acorn, Ohbijou, A Northern Chorus,the sound track to Amelie...killer accordion! The list is long. Check out my friends section at www.myspace.com/jamesdown for a few hundred of my favorite bands!

Favorite movies:

I recently saw the documentary 'Our Daily Bread'. 90 minutes long, no talking, no music, just visuals and sound from food production around the world. It is amazing...even us veggies need to realized that the problem is industrial food production...be it of cows, or tomatoes!

Favorite places:

200-300 meters up a cliff somewhere.
Ngorogoro National Park in Tanzania with all the critters.
Lake Winnipeg in the dead of Winter, because you can pretend you are in the arctic.

Dislikes:

War, poverty, AIDS, and hunger. Oh, and the pulled tendon in my ass;(

Website:

http://www.jamesdown.com

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At 6:42pm on April 11, 2008, Ryne said…: Cool pics Jiemsu,

Let us know when you are getting out to Lake Louise. Are you bringing a bike out there, or getting one? Just heading out for a ride right now. Talk to you later

Ryan

At 7:18pm on March 7, 2008, Chris Emery said…: Back home, ay? A summer in Banff doesn't sound to shabby. Maybe we can get up to the great North and see you guys and Ryan and Gemster sometime...

At 12:00am on March 7, 2008, Chris Emery said…: Sweet pics. When did you go to Uganda? Me, I'm in the exotic locale today of Rochester, New York.

At 11:41pm on March 6, 2008, Ryne said…: Hey James,

Good to hear you will be out this way. We are going to Moab next week for spring break.. My parents are going to babysit, so we are pretty stoked. Talk to you later,

Ryan

At 8:44pm on March 6, 2008, James said…: Hi Monica,
Sorry for the slow response. I have been under the gun lately. I just finished my dissertation and sent it off yesterday...I also finished work yesterday with our schools graduation. So, two graduations in one day...kind. I don't officially graduate until April, but it is done...as long as they don't fail my sorry ass;)
So, it is spring and change is in the air. We were planning to move back to Winnipeg in the summer, after saving a bit more (a bit of) money, but at the last minute we were both offered jobs in Banff national park for the summer. So, we will take the summer to enjoy the mountains, before heading out onto the flat. I leave on April 2nd, and Mami will follow in May when her contract runs out.
So, I think I would be able to join in the class interviews on March 26th.Five am, eh. That means I gotta do kareoki all night;)
It would be nice to pass you my dissertation. You might find it interesting having worked in the school system here. It is about democratic authority over education.
Let me know about the class.

James
PS, you ever pull a tendon in your ass? If not, I wouldn't recommend it!

At 1:29pm on February 25, 2008, Monica said…: Hey James, I hope you are well. I was wondering if you would be interested in participating as a panelist for a class sponsored my program at the University of Maryland. I run Global Communities, an international community composed of young people interested in bridging cultures. They have to take a class taught by my assistant, Marlaine, on preparation for global employment. She is hoping to connect with people in places around the world about working abroad. She is hoping to connect with panelists via Skype (audio and video if possible) on March 26 between 3:00PM to 4:00PM in 20 minute intervals. I think that is about 5:00AM in Japan. Would you be interested in pulling yourself out of bed and talking with her class?

At 10:57pm on January 17, 2008, Ryne said…: Hey James, good to hear from you. We are doing well. Saw Fairish on the holiday. He told us how you are doing. As for the email, my backpacker account doesn't work anymore if that is what you were sending to. I will drop you a line to one of the 4 addresses I have for you.

At 10:17pm on November 25, 2007, Monica said…: I now have skype. My user name is monica.emery. Feel free to call. We can chat about the compelling world of international education! :)

At 9:43pm on November 25, 2007, Monica said…: Hi James. I completely agree about the -ism's, but at the same time -isms and stereotypes are the first step to making sense of what we do not understand. After we come to realize that those labels lack the nuances and variety that are natural to being human, we are able to move forward into the spaces inbetween the given labels. I think my students are at the point that they are recognizing that labels are limiting and dangerous. I challenged them to self reflect using -isms and cultural stereotypes to explain their identities. They found it very difficult. Next semester my goal is to help students experience empathy. I want them to explore a new perspective through the knowledge of a different culture. They will research climate change through cultural and national perspectives. Outside of going abroad, this is the next best way I could come up in the classroom. If you have any suggestions, feel free to share.
I will get skype. Do you have an account?
I would love to hear about your thesis. Are you working on your Masters.

At 12:19pm on November 25, 2007, Monica said…: Hi James, How are you? I saw your response to the Japanese whaling post. I loved it because you took so many different perspectives - the Westerner, the Vegitarian, the gaijin, and the Japanese. That is a skill I am trying to teach my students. I want them to be able to look at a topic and be have the capacity to see different perspectives and shades of gray. I am teaching a cultural perspectives course focusing on climate change next semester. Can I use your blog post in my class?