Week 2

Tuesday, 9.17.2019

Chapter 7: Memory and Nostalgia in the Record of Chinese/Asian Students at PA (HSS511 + PRO601)

I've started working on Chapter 7! It's going to be a documentary about my HSS511: Silences and Gaps class, still following the theme of Memory and Nostalgia.

Question/Topic: What did Chinese/Asian students at PA in the 20^th century do outside of classes? What hobbies did they explore? Did they like art or did they tend to focus on their studies? Did they play sports? Or instruments? Publish poetry? Win science fairs? Do community service? Go to social events? Hold leadership positions on campus? Did they miss home? What did they do over breaks? Where did they live? What were their dorms like? I want to explore the things that aren’t easily quantifiable in records—the private memories, experiences, struggles, and triumphs that might go overlooked.

Research: journals, letters, any correspondences or communication between students and non-Andover figures, musical recital/theater program lists?, athletics records?, The Phillipian or any student publications that were active (Courant? others?), club flyers?, ads for weekend activities?

Interviews:

Sung Nam (Asian rep for Andover Alumni Council, alumnus)

1. Introduction—name, where are you from, what do you do, when did you attend Andover

2. Why did you choose to come to Andover?

3. Did you think Andover was diverse when you studied here?

4. Reflect on a favorite memory or story (or many favorites!) from your time at Andover. Traditions? Quirky rituals? Embarrassing moments?

5. What was a typical school day like for you? What classes did you take? Where did you study? With whom? What did you like eating for lunch?

6. If you were a boarder, where did you live? Did you have a roommate? How did you decorate your room?

7. What did you do for fun? Sports, hobbies, clubs? Did you go to Boston on weekends? Andover/Exeter?

8. Who were your friends? Who were your favorite teachers? Your least favorite teachers?

9. What did you want to do in college? Did you end up doing that?

10. As a non-Chinese Asian student, did you feel like Asian students were treated as a monolith?

11. Did you have any experiences with racism, xenophobia, or microaggressions while at school that you’d be willing to talk about?

12. Is there anything you would’ve wanted to change about your Andover experience? Or maybe, if you could re-live your Andover experience in 2019, would you?

Professor Emma Teng (MIT)

A parent from the HIT-PA exchange maybe? Amy Chew’s mom or Jillianne Zhang’s dad?

Thursday, 9.19.2019

Journal Entry

I interviewed Mr. Sung Nam, an alumnus and representative of the Andover Alumni Council, today. Mr. Nam's interview went super well, the only bad part was I had some tech mishaps.

The camera I got from Polk had two dead batteries (frustrating!!) so I couldn't get a second angle, very sad. I used the lights at the beginning but both batteries died. The natural lighting was good so it wasn't a huge issue but it was annoying. My camera also didn't record the whole interview, I think it automatically stops recording at the 10- or 15-minute mark, so I had to restart it a few times and I think it got around 20 out of 40 minutes. At least I have all the audio!

I couldn't get any b-roll of Mr. Nam because he had plans right after the interview. He's agreed to send me photos and memorabilia from his Andover years to me in a few weeks when he gets home.