Peer Reviews for Week 2

Peer Review: Week 2 Assignment 2A

Dorothy Guajardo stated that 16 million tourists visited the city of San Francisco in 2007, making San Francisco one of the ten top tourist destinations. She was born in San Francisco and still considered it to be one of the best places to visit and live. She also commented that San Francisco is a melting pot of rich culture and ethnic diversity, where people “are blind to race, wealth, and sexual orientation.” This would make Paulo Freire very proud, but realistically I do think there is still violence and gang related issues even in a city this beautiful. Is there a way to find out the percentage of violence compared to other cities in California? Even during Henry Delano Fitch’s time, there was violence and uprisings, especially from Indians and the Mexican Government when the white man began to lay claim to California.

Peer Review: Week 2 Assignment 2B

Ryan Dunham studied and reported on the De Young Museum, stating that this museum houses many pieces of art from all over the world. Unlike General Vallejo’s home and museum which only houses things that were originally found in his home. It is apparent that museums can be very different in how they preserve and honor different time periods and cultures throughout history.

Peer Review: Week 2 Assignment 2C

Denya Beaudry commented on her observation regarding San Francisco State University, and I agree with her that people do thirst for knowledge. She said, “People spend their whole lives trying to build on what they already have and enlightening others.” This is exactly why I decided to study my own ethnic and cultural background, for when we understand where our ancestors came from and their struggles and perseverance, we are able to learn more about ourselves and how much we are more alike than different.

Week 2: Project 2C

Henry Delano Fitch

Understanding my family history will allow one the perspective to see how highly I respect Sonoma County and the man who laid claim to it. Henry Delano Fitch and Josefa Carrillo met and married, but their marriage was fraught with difficulty, for Josefa Carrillo was bequeathed to marry Pio Pico, Last Mexican Governor of California, a man she did not know nor love. She has been said to be one of the most beautiful women in California, and Henry Delano Fitch laid eyes on her the day she went aboard his ship, the Maria Ester to view the goods available for trade. Josefa’s engagement party was that evening, and Pio Pico invited Henry Delano Fitch to be his guest at the engagement party. Somehow that night, through one dance, Josefa and Henry Delano Fitch communicated and fell in love. He told Josefa if she did not want to marry Pio Pico that he would wait in a rowboat at dawn in the harbor of San Diego and take her to his ship and sail her away. She rose at dawn and rode bareback down the coast of San Diego to meet Henry. When Pio Pico realized what she was doing he sent guards on horseback to capture Josefa and return her to him. His guards chased her for many miles, but she successfully made it to Henry, and he was able to get her safely aboard his ship. He sailed to Chile where he married my grandmother. However, Josefa missed her family and wanted to be married again in the Catholic Church with all her family present, so Henry Delano Fitch wrote to Pio Pico and asked permission to return safely to San Diego with his new bride. Pio Pico denied them and said he would shoot Fitch on site if he were to set foot in San Diego. Fitch wrote back telling Pio Pico that he would give him a gold bell in order to ensure their safe return. The gold bell still sits in the square in San Diego today, so one can see that Pio Pico granted Henry Delano Fitch and Josefa permission to return to San Diego. When they returned, Henry Delano Fitch and Josefa remained in San Diego and acquired more land in Baja, California. Henry Delano Fitch increased his holdings purchasing even more land in San Francisco Presidio. Captain Fitch continued to purchase huge assets adding to his portfolio, but it was only a small part of his amassing wealth. Henry Delano Fitch, with the help of General Vallejo, secured a 48,000 land grant in California. While living in San Diego, Henry Delano Fitch and Josefa nearly escaped an Indian raid on their property. Their lives were full of adventure, hardships, love, and happiness.

Henry Delano Fitch held many prestigious offices in San Diego. In 1835, Fitch was appointed town attorney, held the role of police commissioner, and justice of the peace. He was also sequestered by the government of Mexico to be chief executive officer in 1864 when American forces took over. Of all the places that my seventh great grandfather traveled, San Diego, California was where he spent a vast majority of his time and ultimately was his final resting place. I feel so honored to walking and admiring the same vistas of land that Henry Delano Fitch and Josefa Carrillo Fitch once experienced. I hope to make my own indelible footprints on this land one day in beautiful Sonoma County, California.

Week 2: Project 2B

General Vallejo’s Home:

A Historical Museum

General Vallejo’s Home in Sonoma, California was one of the most prestigious estates in Northern, California. “He named it Lachryma Montis. This Latin form comes from an early Indian name for a nearby spring - Chiucuyem (Tears of the Mountain) (www.inn-california). The home sits near the square in Sonoma, Califora and has been restored to its original grandeur. At one time, this was quite a large estate exemplifying wealth and class. Today, the home is a museum that houses many of the original furnishings. It is surrounded by beautiful grounds of rose bushes and trees; General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo’s home holds photographs of many of my family members, including Henry Delano Fitch and Josepha Carrillo. The day my sister and I visited with my parents, the attendants of the museum asked if they could take a picture of us to put in the glass case, for they said we had the same ringlet curly hair as our ancestors. I was very little at the time, but I felt such a great sense of pride, for I saw people from all cultures and ethnicities who were visiting my uncle and aunt's home on that day, and I thought what an honor to be seen by all these people who visit here on a daily basis to view the history of Sonoma County. Through our tour, I could see how my uncle and aunt lived, and I wish I could have known them. They looked like a loving couple that enjoyed friends and family visits. I felt in some respects like more than just a visitor. I am their nephew, and that gave me such a feeling of welcome and belonging. I wondered what advice General Vallejo and my aunt, Francisco Benicia Carrillo, would have given me if my family and I were seated at their dinner table, which was decorated with blue and white dishes from England. I wondered what guest room I might have slept in if I were to have spent the night with my family. Mostly, I wondered what this great man and beautiful aunt would have been like to meet.

http://www.inn-california.com/sanfrancisco/sonoma/sonoma/vallejohome.html

Week 2: Project 2A

 Fitch Mountain

Sonoma County is one of the most desirable places in the United States to live. I feel proud that I can say I am from Sonoma County whenever anybody asks me where I live, but I am even prouder to tell people that my seventh great grandfather, Henry Delano Fitch, was one of the first white men to lay claim to California, especially San Diego and Healdsburg, California. Around 1825, Captain Henry Delano Fitch played a huge role in commerce, trading, ad settling land in California. His first voyage was to San Diego, California. His journey was not without difficulty, but with his strong personality and persistent character, he amassed an empire, and thus Henry Delano Fitch was called one of the founding fathers of California. Humanities teach us about the study of societies, cultures, and families. I felt it most important to study where my family came from and how we ended up in Northern California; I was amazed to learn my family’s cultural background and learn that I am a descendant of one of the founding fathers of California.

Many may not understand why I choose Fitch Mountain and what the significance of a mountain located in Healdsburg, California has to do with California History until I tell them that my seventh great grandfather, Henry Delano Fitch, was the owner of Fitch Mountain. Henry Delano Fitch owned 48,000 acres of land grants in Sonoma County stretching from Healdsburg, Windsor, Santa Rosa, and Kenwood. Fitch Mountain was at one time my seventh grandfather’s mountain where he planned to build his home and live with his bride, Josefa Carrillo. “The Russians built Fort Ross on the coast, and the Mexican government established the vast 48,000-acre Rancho Sotoyome. This enormous land grant was awarded to sea captain Henry Delano Fitch in 1841. Fitch promptly hired trapper Cyrus Alexander to manage his bountiful rancho (the magnificent Alexander Valley is named for this early tenant)” (www.virtualcities). He also owned land in San Francisco where the Presidio now sits; he owned land in Los Angeles where even a street today is named after him, and he owned most of San Diego. When he arrived in California from back East, he started one of the first shipping lines where he would sail from Chile and Argentina bringing silk, teas, spices, and jewels from these foreign lands and dock his boat in San Diego where he allowed people to board his ship and buy his goods. It was aboard this ship that he met my seventh grandmother, Josefa Carrillo. There love story is said to be one of the greatest love stories of the time. All the research I have done on my family history, validates their great love, and one can read more about this story on Assignment 1C. Fitch Mountain is located about 65 miles north of San Francisco, California, in Healdsburg, California. There is even a street in Healdsburg named after my grandfather called Fitch Street, which runs adjacent to the Healdsburg Square.

When I was younger, I had the unique opportunity to ride in an open-air jeep with my family to the top of Fitch Mountain, so as my guest, buckle your seat belt and take the ride with me….The jeep begins to move up a smoothly paved road that begins to turn into a bumpy dirt road. One can feel the wind in his or her hair and the sun and shadows playing tag within the bushes and large trees that beckon to the visitors by waving their lovely branches in a welcoming fashion. As we spiral our way around the mountain, one can look at the beautiful foliage and tall trees that have lived and thrived peacefully on this mountain. As I ride, I wonder if my grandfather rode horseback to the top of this mountain, cutting his own path. Today, there are homes that sit proudly perched alongside giant trees that seem to hold the mystery of many visitors. I wonder if my grandfather, Henry Delano Fitch, felt as free as I did the day I rode to the top of his mountain.

Atop Fitch Mountain one can see almost a 360 degree view of Sonoma County; one can see Alexander Valley, the Russian River, and most all of Healdsburg’s spectacular wine country. On a clear day, the views are endless. Henry Delano Fitch looked at this same view. He must have felt a great sense of pride, for I knew on this day that I did. When we arrived at the top, my family and I took pictures and ate a picnic lunch. I remember when the lady who owned the mountain was going to sell it; she called my parents and asked them if they wanted to buy the mountain. Unfortunately, my parents did not have that kind of money, so my mom suggested she donate the mountain to the National Parks so it could be preserved forever, and everyone could enjoy it. This reminded me of something Paulo Freire would do. He would allow everyone to enjoy the beauty and freedom that life has to offer. As I ate my lunch, I thought about how historic this mountain was, and I could feel that same sense of pride deep within me. The light breeze and soft sunshine warmed me. I looked off in the distance and thought how much everyone could enjoy such a day. If you ever have the time, take a bike ride, hike, or drive to the top of Fitch Mountain. I wonder if you will feel like the explorer that my grandfather was. Henry Delano Fitch had planned to build a large home and live out the rest of his days with his wife, Josefa Carrillo, and their ten children, atop Fitch Mountain, but he continued to explore and purchase land in Sacramento when Gold Rush fever broke out, and he contracted an illness from all the people fleeing to Sacramento to pan for gold. This illness eventually took his life.

I knew he also had many guests to his mountain; one of those guests was General Vallejo. General Vallejo met and married Josepha’s sister, which made General Vallejo my great uncle. Do you think General Vallejo and Josefa’s sister met atop of this mountain on a warm summer day? If you are ever in Healdsburg or traveling north on Highway 101, look to your left and you will see a beautiful vast mountain and a huge part of my culture and history. I am extremely proud to be such a huge part of Sonoma County History.

http://www.virtualcities.com/ons/ca/r/as/cara8a15.htm

 

The Carrillo Adobe

 I also wanted to mention, since humanities is the study of the human condition, focusing on humans, families and societies, I felt it was just as important to add that Josefa Carrillo’s mother, who would be my eighth great grandmother, started the first trading post in Northern California.” In 1837 Dona Carrillo and nine of her children traveled by pack mule and ox cart to the Rancho Cabeza de Santa Rosa, at the site of the present city of Santa Rosa” (www.ourhealdsburg).  She drove an ox cart filled with her nine children all the way from San Diego, California to what is now known as Montgomery Drive in Santa Rosa, California. You will see the Carrillo Adobe set back a short way from Montgomery Drive and next to St. Eugene’s Cathedral and School on the left hand side of Montgomery Drive. That is where the first trading post in Northern California began. I felt completely honored to attend St. Eugene’s Elementary School and know that my eighth great grandmother worked and my seventh great grandmother played on the same exact soil. If one were to see the Carrillo Adobe today, he or she would only see the remains of a stone foundation. The Carrillo Adobe is fenced off to preserve what remains today as the first trading post in Northern California. When I think of how brave my grandmother must have been to bring all nine of her children in an ox cart and make such a journey from San Diego, California, without a man to accompany her, I feel proud. Could you ever think of making such a journey today?

http://www.ourhealdsburg.com/history/fitch.htm

 

Week 1: Project 1A

Hello, my name is Joey, and I am taking this summer school class to add to my units at LMU (Loyola Marymount University) in Los Angeles, so I can graduate in three and one half years. I took an online class from Professor Geurrrini last summer, too, and her class ended up being my favorite online class that I have ever taken. I live in Santa Rosa with my mom, dad, sister, and am about three miles from the SRJC. I hope to learn more about other cultures, religions, races, and ethnicities which allow for all of us to further our understanding. I believe that we are all more alike than different. I look forward to creating this blog, for I have created a web-page but never a blog. I look forward to this class and meeting new people.

Week 1: Project 1B

Paulo Freire

 Paulo Freire was born into a middle class family on September 19, 1921, that suffered the ramifications of the Great Depression. Enduring this tumultuous time helped shape Paulo Freire into one of the most influential educational reformers of his time. He educated himself in law with an emphasis in philosophy, which would eventually serve him and the citizens of Brazil; he worked with the poor, many who were illiterate and unable to vote, for literacy was required in order to be allowed to vote in presidential elections. Without the power to vote, the poor remained in a constant state of oppression. Freire devised a way, through education, to liberate the poor and allow them the chance to vote. His ideals advanced into what became known as “liberation theology.”

Freire used his appointment as director of the Department of Cultural Extensions of Recife University to apply his “liberation theology” on 300 sugarcane workers. Within just 45 days, he was able to teach them to read and write. The Brazilian government realized his achievements in working with the poor. This recognition broadened Freire’s philosophy and helped to “create thousands of other circles across the country (wikipedia.org)”; however, a military coup was not happy with Freire’s effort and arrested and jailed him for 70 days. Regardless of being jailed and labeled a traitor, Freire continued to work hard to educate the poor throughout his lifetime. He believed that education was the key to freedom. Freire worked extensively to reach millions of people by writing books in both English and Spanish, which broadened his efforts and drew even more attention to a cultural issue that plagued the poor and illiterate. Freire created adult literacy projects focusing on educational reform to elevate the illiterate and poor cultures throughout Brazil.

Freire’s book, "Pedagogy of the Oppressed is currently one of the most quoted educational texts (especially in Latin America, Africa and Asia) (infed)." Freire became one of the most renowned, influential thinkers and educators of the twentieth century; he believed in the power of education and used his philosophical ideals to help advance illiterate and poor cultures throughout the county and world.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paulo_Freir

http://www.infed.org/thinkers/et-freir.htm

Week 1: Project 1C

From Lucia Debroawa’s blog, I learned that Paulo Freire believed that education was a reciprocal process, where both student and teacher engage in the learning. He did not believe that students should be “pounded with education,” where the students just sat there and were lectured at; instead, Freire believed the students should be engaged in the learning process.

From Jena Barcojo’s blog, I learned that Paulo Freire received a law degree, but never ended up practicing law, instead he went into education, where he first began teaching at a Secondary School in Portuguese from 1941-1947.