USS Midway Museum

By BOB SAN
AAP columnist

When talking about the best U.S. city to live or visit, San Diego is always mentioned near the top of the list because of its perfect weather and beauty. I recently spent five days visiting my niece in San Diego, nicknamed “America’s finest city”, and agree indeed that it is one of the best destinations for a relaxing vacation.

I stayed with my niece in a beach suburb called Bird Rock. Located about 20 minutes from downtown San Diego, Bird Rock is a quaint quiet community that features nice shops, coffee houses and restaurants.

The first place Michelle took me and her friend Charmaine to was the Children’s Beach in La Jolla Cove, just a couple miles from Bird Rock. Children’s Beach is famous for its seals, which spend most of the year sunbathing on the beach. It’s just amazing that one can live in an urban area and drive 10 minutes and be in the presence of these wonderful wild animals.

Children's Beach in La Jolla Cove.

The next day, we visited the popular tourist spot Balboa Park. A 1,200-acre urban cultural park, Balboa Park has it all.

It features the world famous San Diego Zoo and many museums and cultural attractions, including the San Diego Museum of Man, the San Diego Museum of Art, the Museum of Photographic Arts, the San Diego Art Institute, the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, the San Diego Natural History Museum, the San Diego History Center, the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, and the Timken Museum of Art.

Other features include the spectacular Spreckels Organ Pavilion, featuring one of the world’s largest outdoor pipe organs, the Reflection Pond, the Botanical Building, and numerous flower gardens. One can easily spend a day in Balboa Park. An extra bonus is there are many free parking spots throughout the park.

We explored the park a bit and Michelle and Charmaine decided to go to the Zoo. I had been there before and there was an afternoon San Diego Padres baseball game so I opted to go to the ball game.

Panda Bear

Petco Park is home of the Padres, who like our hometown Minnesota Twins, are having a difficult season. The attendance during the day game was dismal. I’d be exaggerating if I said there were 10,000 fans there.

The park itself is nice, with some neat features such as a sandy beach for the kids to play in and a grassy hill just beyond centerfield. I bought a ticket to sit on the grass and watched the game from there lying down. The price was only $6.

I honestly don’t remember much from the game except that the Padres lost badly to the Washington Nationals. Late in the game, I snuck into the right field upper deck to watch the rest of the game. It was a perfect day and as I looked out from the top row in the upper deck, I could see the Pacific Ocean and the USS Midway, our destination the next day.

Petco Park.

USS Midway is the longest serving U.S. aircraft carrier. It was commissioned in 1946 and served our country until January 2004 when it docked in San Diego and became the USS Midway Museum.

Because we were short on time, we did not take the tour on the gigantic carrier but instead just walked around the park by the bay and admired the mighty ship. There we found the most popular tourist photo spot in San Diego, a large statue replica of the Alfred Eisenstaedt Life Magazine cover photo of a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square on V-J Day in 1945.

The large statue is located right on the dock next to Midway and makes for a neat photo with the majestic Midway in the background and the occasional swimming seal.

In San Diego, of course you go the beach. My niece lives a couple blocks from the ocean and for three mornings I rode a bike from her condo onto Pacific Beach and all the way to Mission Beach — San Diego’s most popular beach.

It was a gorgeous biking experience as the Pacific Ocean waves are pounding on the beach, hundreds of surfers are bobbing in the distance waves, and tanned California people are doing yoga, roller blading or running along the path. This is paradise for a biker or runner because there are endless paths and boardwalks along the ocean. I lost several pounds during the week even while I was eating like crazy.

EATING

That brings me to another of my favorite past-times — dining. San Diego features a diverse restaurant scene and we sampled some of the popular local eateries. For Vietnamese, we went to Pho T Cali on Clairemont Mesa Blvd in Kearny Mesa. The next day, we tried Mexican food at El Zarape, a popular hole-in-the-wall joint famous for its lobster and scallop tacos on Park Blvd in University Heights.

On the third day, we went to Pacific Beach to try Japanese food at PB Sushi on Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach and later for burgers at Bareback Grill on Mission Blvd in Pacific Beach. On my last night in San Diego, we enjoyed some decadent desserts at Extraordinary Desserts, a popular downtown dessert destination on Union Street in Little Italy.

In previous trips, I had dined in Chinatown and in Lady Vista, where there are some fine Vietnamese places. The Chinese food and Vietnamese restaurants are good and the prices are a bit cheaper than in the Twin Cities.

It was a nice, relaxing trip to San Diego. I will certainly go back.

Kim S. Hwang, PsyD, AAP COLUMNIST

Health Care Dialogue
STAFF COLUMNIST
Kim S. Hwang, PsyD

Dear Dr. Hwang, “What do you think about media that supports that Asian Mothers are,” Tiger Mom’s?” Do you think this image is true?”

 Dear Tiger Mom Inquiry:

The United States media supports, sensationalizes and promotes extreme kinds of distorted stereotypes, which absolutely work to the disadvantage of Asian women and Asian parents in a variety of contexts. Too often, false images portray the view of the, “Tiger Mom,” as extreme, which promotes a pathological and almost sick view of Asian women as Asian mothers. The truth is, that most parents genuinely care about their children’s success and use a variety of parenting techniques. It is inevitable that most parents want their children to experience a sense of accomplishment so they are able to go out into the world, prepared to do well.

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By Andrew Lam
New America Media
Commentary

SAN FRANCISCO (Jan 6, 2012) — Each time Uncle Sam ventures abroad he leaves an unfinished story, and nowhere is it most unfinished than the story of Iraq, where despite flowery speeches regarding freedom and sovereignty by the Obama administration, despite assurances that tyranny has been “cast aside,” the tragedy caused by the United States invasion, occupation and inevitable abandonment is on an epic proportion.

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Ms. Be Vang

Kim Hwang, PsyD
AAP staff columnist

ST. PAUL (Dec. 29, 2011) — I recently had the wonderful opportunity of sitting down and interviewing Ms. Be Vang, Principal and Assistant Superintendent Intern in the St. Paul Public School District.

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Kim S. Hwang, PsyD, AAP COLUMNIST

Kim S. Hwang, PsyD 
AAP COLUMNIST

“I am tired of being seen as a model minority in my high school. If I get good grades it is because I’m Chinese. If I don’t get good grades, then there is something wrong with me. My White friends never have to care about this.”

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Kim S. Hwang, PsyD AAP COLUMNIST

By KIM HWANG
AAP staff columnist

ST. PAUL (Dec. 29, 2011) — What happens when people perceive and attribute success, unilaterally based on being Asian?

The stereotype of the, “Model Minority,” suggests that Asians are hard workers, conscientious, highly intellectual, obsessed with perfection, plagued with the trait of internal drive, academically superior, on automatic pilot and competitive at all costs. These perceived attributes of Asians too often, knowingly or unknowingly turn into attributional errors and come at a high emotional and psychological price tag.

Attributional errors occur when the traits of one person from a specific ethnic or racial group are generalized to the whole group. Attributional errors leave little room for others who are in the group to deviate without being over pathologized.

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By BOB SAN
AAP staff writer

ST. PAUL (Dec. 11, 2011) — Want the best fried chicken in the Twin Cities? Go to Kim’s Chow Mein on Marshall and Cleveland in St. Paul.

People might think I am crazy but this is absolutely true. I love fried chicken and I like KFC, but there’s something about Kim’s fried birds that makes it special.

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Kim S. Hwang, PsyD AAP COLUMNIST

Dear Dr. Hwang, “I am sick of professors who don’t see Asian students in the classroom. I feel invisible and self-conscious. It makes me want to drop out of school. But, my parents would have a fit if I quit college.”

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A scene in a Bangkok flooded street. (Photos by Bob San)

By BOB SAN
AAP staff writer

During the two months I was in Bangkok, I witnessed very different scenarios at different neighborhoods. A CNN report called it A Tale of Two Cities, but I’d call it a Tale of Different Districts. Here are some of my observations for Bangkok only.

The flood of the century in Thailand has killed over 600, ravaged the lives of millions. The government of new Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has come under heavy criticism for its handling of the crisis. The critics said she lacked experience in dealing with the flooding and said her administration mishandled the disaster.

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By KIM HWANG, PSYD
AAP Columnist

ST. PAUL (Sept. 9, 2011) — While waiting outside Assistant Superintendent Freeman’s office, my eyes feast on magnificent samples of student work. Evidence of spirited teaching and student learning is colorfully strewn about the 5th floor waiting area. Math notebooks are filled with data and drawings, beautiful self made portraits of students light up the walls and science notebooks display the content of levers and pulleys.

“Ms. Freeman parked her car and she’s on her way up to see you,” stated her welcoming assistant Ms. Doreen Bohl. With a warm embrace, Assistant Superintendent Freeman states, “Come on back to my office, I was out visiting another school. I love getting out into the schools! The energy of the students, reminds me of why I took this job in the first place.”

Assistant Superintendent Freeman, once a teacher, assistant principal and principal, is currently one of four assistant superintendents in the St. Paul Public School District. With an obvious passion for education, she oversees eleven elementary schools and approximately 10,000+ students. Freeman earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from the University of Minnesota and an Education Degree from the University of St. Thomas/Center for Urban Education (CUE VII). She brings to St. Paul Schools an educational framework, which is essential in her current position.

Freeman humbly shares, “When I was in the business of selling static cling decals for windows, I was unhappy. Every day I dreaded going to work.” She realized quickly, through conversations with her husband, Melvin Freeman, that instead of being miserable, she was ready to make a difference in the lives of children. “I remember thinking at forty years old, if I had a re-do, I would go into education instead,” Freeman states.

Soon thereafter, Freeman starts a journey on a path towards a career in education. Convinced, that she has at least twenty more years to work, she formulates a plan and carries it through toward obtaining her superintendent license. Freeman’s half glass full mentality growing, she assumes a role that she’s eager to fulfill. After teaching, she realizes that making changes at a systems level will allow her to influence the largest number of students and educational leaders possible. Called to serve under Superintendent Silva in 2010, she enthusiastically shares, “I have never been happier or more full of passion than I am today.”

Both of Freeman’s parents, Martha and Percy Zachary instill in Freeman an immovable belief that she will attend college. Her father, Percy Zachary, encourages Freeman to pursue a career in business. Even so, her mother, Martha Zachary who served as both a teacher and school psychologist for more than thirty years in St. Paul continues to influence her decisions.

Similar to those who paved the road before her, Freeman feels confident that she was created to do the same. With her husband, Melvin Freeman, a current St. Paul Teacher and Ben Zachary a former assistant principal at Battle Creek Elementary School, it seems inevitable that Freeman’s destiny will eventually lead to Education in the St. Paul Public Schools.

It is no surprise that Assistant Superintendent Freeman wants for all children, the encouragement that she received from her family. She shares, “I want all of our kids to know that education goes from kindergarten to college, Period. There is no stopping after high school.”

Freeman recalls, “I was not a very good student. I did not have a teacher that said that I could do better. There was not one teacher that I had that made a difference in my life. Yet, I knew from my parents that I was going to go to college.” When asked if her mom was proud of her, Freeman laughs and states, “I think she is. You can always tell when your mom is proud of you because they brag about you when you are not around.”

She credits her mother, Martha Zachary and Superintendent Silva for inspiring to be where she is now. Freeman states, “One of my strengths is working with people. The other strength that I have is getting people on the bus.” She further states, “I am really open. So, if people have things they want to say, I’m open. . .they can say it. I’m very supportive. I get things done. I’m an activator. I lead by example. I am up early on my e-mails and I have a 24 hour response rate.”

Currently, Assistant Superintendent Freeman’s main focus is to work with principals and teachers towards closing the achievement gap for students of color. She believes that it is the district’s responsibility to give teachers and principals the tools to be successful. She also states, “It is the classroom teacher and building leadership that is going to make the difference.”

Freeman believes that one way to close the achievement gap is to increase cultural proficiency training about racism. Freeman states, “You can’t hold people accountable unless they have been taught and have gone through the cultural proficiency trainings. Once you have done this, you can hold people accountable to cultural proficiency.”

Freeman shares that she believes that teachers and principals work hard and want to do well every day, but closing the achievement gap will require an increase in cultural awareness about issues surrounding race and ethnicity. “I’m excited about the path we are taking,” Freeman says, “I have to believe…cultural proficiency training…is about race, it is not about poverty, it is about race.” Freeman states, “We talk about White privilege and understanding Whiteness in these trainings. It is deeper than I’ve ever seen any other diversity or cultural proficiency training we have had. The great thing is that it is not just the Black woman that is always talking about race in our district. I have White colleagues who have gone through this cultural proficiency long journey too. Everyone is on board.”

Not unlike her professional life, she reports deep gratitude about her personal life as well. Freeman joyously states, “I am married to an amazing man who believes that laughter is the key to life. We have a great time with our two sons, Melvin and Marcus.” In addition, she talks to her mom every day, works out at least five times a week and loves to cook soul food inspired by her late mother-in-law. With a big grin and a head nod, she recalls corn bread pudding as her favorite dish. Freeman reports, “My mother in law was the best cook on the face of this earth.”

Equally committed to her personal and professional life, Freeman states, “I have passion about teachers being able to get what they need so they can be the best they can be. I love to see what is happening in classrooms. I want kids to see me in the position that I am in, as a principal to the principals, who is an African American Woman.”

Alice Walker’s book, Hard Times Require Furious Dancing, honors African American women who answer their calling to lead. Freeman shares that assuming new responsibilities to close the achievement gap is her calling. Through transformational and mindful, cultural competency training, Freeman believes that a breakthrough is on the horizon. She sees her job as multidimensional.

She exuberantly shares, “My passion is to make sure that kids get the best that they can get from our schools. My job is to make sure that teachers and principals are the best they can be!”

On the first Friday, the first week of school, after 6:00 pm, when most people have left for home, Assistant Superintendent Freeman genuinely states, “My door is always open.” She is a uniquely fascinating blend of enthusiasm, education and powerful commitment.

There is no doubt in my mind that she will continue to add a new dimension of spirit and leadership, which includes cultural proficiency for all to the St. Paul Public Schools. Her enthusiasm is contagious.

Dr. Hwang’s Healthcare dialogue

Kim S. Hwang, PsyD

The purpose of this column is to invite you, the readers, to ask questions related to psychological/emotional healthcare issues that you are seeking an opinion to. This column is not intended to diagnose or offer absolute answers. Instead, it is a very informal platform to begin a dialogue with you the reader, about psychological/emotional healthcare issues that you would like to discuss. Your identity will be protected. Thank you, Kim Hwang, PsyD

Kim Hwang, PsyD, has taught as an adjunct Professor in: undergraduate psychology, graduate clinical psychology program and graduate education program for 8+ years. She also holds two Master’s Degrees in Education and Clinical Psychology. Please e-mail your questions to Dr. Hwang at drkimhwang@aapress.com. Responses to questions will be posted weekly.