SPACE NEEDLE: Here we will have brunch, sort of a late breakfast/early lunch that is very popular on the weekends here. We will also have time to take beauty shots of the city from the top of the "needle". It was built for the 1962 Worlds Fair held in Seattle.
SUSAN BLAKE: She went to Mercer Island High School and graduated in 1960, with Obama's mother, a young Stanley Ann Dunham. She will be able to recall what it was like knowing her. Soon after graduation, Stanley Ann returned to Hawaii where she had a baby, Barack Obama. That next year, Stanley Ann returned to Seattle and me again with Susan Blake, who will recall "changing a young Obama's" diapers! I spoke to her and she has some vivid memories We will try and do the interview in an outside area if the weather is good. The Mercer Island High School has been rebuilt many times since 1960, and nothing of the original building exists. This weekend, September 10, 2010, is Susan's 50th anniversary of her graduation. She will also try and get another classmate of Stanley Ann, a guy, Chip Wall, who she will invite to join us.
SEATTLE-SURABAYA SISTER CITY LUNCH: We will meet with some of the S-S Sister City group at the Indo Café in north Seattle. They can explain what they do to foster goodwill between the two cities. One of them, Greg Dwidjaya, is also a Boeing engineer, who we will meet the next day while at Boeing.
SCENIC SHOOTING: Seattle is a port city and surrounded by water. Lake Washington on the east and the Puget Sound on the west. The city is a long, skinny piece of hilly land in the middle. If we are lucky, and the weather is clear, we might get to see the snowy top of Mount Rainer, about 160 kms away. It is about 3,500 meters high and is covered in snow all year. Because it creates its own weather, it is often clouded over. We will visit some of the more popular places that make Seattle the special place that it is. For example, the Pike Place Market, where the original Starbucks Coffee store is located. Beside Microsoft and Boeing, Seattle is also the home of Starbucks and Nordstrom's Department store. Please check out the Websites list for more information about Seattle.
MICROSOFT: Not originally part of our program, but Microsoft Asia "invited" the GTers to visit their campus in Redmond, Washington, a Seattle suburb. We will spend the morning there looking at some of their plans for the homes of the future! Some Indo engineers may join us for lunch there. We will have a chance to visit the Microsoft Store before leaving for Boeing.
BOEING: Since we were starting our trip in Seattle, I wanted to find some other things to do, to make it worthwhile being there. I arranged for a visit to the Everett, Washington assembly plant, just north of Seattle. Here we will see 737's, 747's and 777's being built. We might get a glimpse of the new 787's, but since it is still not released, don't think we will see much of it. They can talk about it. Ironically, Greg Dwidjaya, from the Seattle-Surabaya Sister City Committee, is a Boeing engineer and will join us along with some other Indonesian working at Boeign.
INDONESIAN GOLDEN TICKET/RCTI PROJECT: NARRATIVE
WASHINGTON, DC.
NEWSEUM: A very unique museum in Washington, only a few years old. It is designed to celebrate our First Amendment rights and will be interesting as there are very many "hands on" exhibits and a real history of journalism and freedom of the press in the US featured. They have some permanent exhibits, like part of the transmitting tower that was on top of the World Trade Center in NY, as well as some seasonal exhibits. Very visual, and very entertaining.
VOA INDONESIAN SERVICE: This visit was requested by one of the GTers, Baban, I think. We will go to the studios of VOA and talk to some folks involved in the Indonesian Service. Not sure who will be around that day who you might know. The broadcaster requested by Dimas or Baban, will not be there that day, but others will be.
INDONESIAN EMBASSY VISIT: This is designed to be a courtesy visit to your embassy. It is housed in a beautiful building on Massachusetts Avenue, what we call "embassy row", since many other embassies are also located here. I have requested a meeting with their new ambassador who arrives this weekend.
U.S. CAPITOL TOUR: We will have a special tour, not part of the normal visit to the Capitol Building. This is the big white dome that you often see on TV when they do stories about Washington. There is a fabulous "shot" of it from the balcony of the Newseum as well. Many people think that this is where the president works, or lives, but it is not. He lives and works in the White House, the Capitol is the centerpiece of the two elements that make up the "Congress". Facing the Capitol Building, the House of Representatives (435 members from each state based on population. California has the most, 53, Alaska, Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Montana and Wyoming, each have only 1 representative) are on the right side of the building and the Senate (100 members, 2 from each state) form the left side of the building.
SENATOR DANIEL K. AKAKA: We have an interview with one of the longest serving US senators and was in the Senate when Obama was a senator from Illinois. The main reason I lined up an interview with the senator is for him to explain to you what it means to be Hawaiian, and why it helped form the character of Obama. There is something about the islands that affects the political and social culture fabric of those living there. There are no "suburbs" to escape to. The islands are surrounded by water, so everyone has to learn to live with each other. It is this legacy that helped shaped Senator Akaka, and probably Barack Obama too. As with all interviews, we also want to learn more about the subjects as well, so they don't feel like we are using them only because of their connections to Obama. We want them to share their lives and careers with us too. Since we will meet the senator in Washington, before we go to Hawaii, it will be useful for us to get a sense of what it means to be Hawaiian and hearing his ideas on this "aloha spirit".
INDONESIAN GOLDEN TICKET/RCTI PROJECT: NARRATIVE
WASHINGTON, DC.
SCENIC SHOOTING: Washington is a city of memorials and monuments. Between set appointments, we will visit some of these memorials and places that make Washington special. Many of them have good vantage points since they are all exterior shots. Most are best viewed from a short distance to take advantage of their size,like the Washington Monument, which is an obelisk, much like yours for Monas which is 132 meters high. The Washington Monument is about 170 meters high.
CHICAGO:This city was where the president got his career going. He came here from Harvard University and taught law at the University of Chicago Law School for 12 years. This is where he wrote his famous book and where he became senator from Illinois and from the capitol in Springfield, announced that he was running for president.
DOROTHY COYLE: She is the Director of the Chicago Office of Tourism, and will be able to tell us about the city of Chicago, why it is special, discuss its culture and history. During the time we are in Chicago, the World Music Festival will be happening in the city. Some of the venues will be open to the public and if time permits, we will check some of them out. Chicago is a city made up of many different ethnic groups, for example, the largest number of Polish people, outside of Poland. Most countries are represented in this city and Dorothy can talk about the fabric that makes up the city.
DOUGLAS BAIRD: The law professor from the University of Chicago who hired a young Barack Obama from Harvard University. We can ask him what it was about this young lawyer that got his attention and hired him to teach at the University of Chicago Law School. He will discuss with us the time Obama spent with him and he will show us where Obama wrote his book, and some other key points on the campus. In many ways, Professor Baird changed the course of history by hiring Obama and even though he is quite modest about this, in fact, he did certainly change the course of Barack Obama's life.
JOHN OWENS: You hear a lot about the time Obama spent as a community organizer and activist in Chicago. John Owens was one of those activists he worked with during his time in Chicago. He can tell us about that time and his views and impressions of a young Barack Obama.
TOURS R US: To insure that we see all of the Obama sites in Chicago, I have enlisted the services of Marshall Jacobson, who will come with us on our Chicago tour. He knows the places that meant something to a young Obama. We will try and get a shot of his current house in Chicago, but since he is now the president, the Secret Service has closed his street to all except the residents. But, Marshall says we will be able to get a shot, even from a distance.
INDONESIAN GOLDEN TICKET/RCTI PROJECT: NARRATIVE
CHICAGO
FIRST LADY RIVER AND ARCHITECTURAL BOAT TOUR: Chicago's architecture is stunning. Given the city's location on Lake Michigan, one of the "great lakes", and the Chicago River, the city developed its central core all around the area where the river and lake meet. To get the best view of the city, we will take the morning boat ride and see these buildings and learn more about them from the tour guide on the boat. If the weather is good, we will have a gorgeous view of the city from the river and lake. Please be sure to bring a jacket and sweater!!!
ED DEBEVICS RESTAURANT: Since we have to have lunch, we will have lunch at the very fun, Ed Debevics! A popular place in Chicago that tourists and residents alike love! Be prepared to be "entertained" by the waiters and waitresses who do more than just bring food! Obama has gone to "Ed's" for years, when he was senator from Illinois and his daughters have had their birthday parties there. A fun place.and the food pretty good too!
WILLIS TOWER SKYDECK: Formerly called the Sears Tower, and many Chicagoans still call it that, will give us a fabulous view of the city from 442 meters above the city and the lake. On a clear day, you can see the shoreline of the state of Michigan, nearly 150 kms away. The tower has a new feature, the Skydeck, in which you can "step out" over the city on a plate of glass..only for the strong of heart..but it is totally safe, and should be fun!!
HONOLULU:The last stop of our trip will bring us to Hawaii, where many interesting people are waiting for us. Probably no place on our tour means as much to the man that President Obama is today, than Hawaii. We will see places where he a lived while growing up in Honolulu, places he hung out with his friends at the beach, his school (Punahou), his half sister and some of his classmates and teachers.
PUNAHOU SCHOOL: Probably the one place that formed the character of the man Obama is today. We will have a visit on campus guided by Eric Kusunoki, who was Obama's "home room" teacher. Not sure this term means something to you, but in the US, when you arrive at school, you don't always go right to your first class. You first go to your "home room", sort of a meeting place, and then you go off to your classes. This "home room", has a teacher, and Eric Kusunoki was Obama's home room teacher. He will also join us for our "dinner" the next night in Honolulu. While at Punahou, we will visit briefly with Hope Staab, who runs the very prestigious Wo International Center. Please refer to the Websites document for more information on the Wo International Center. We will be on campus just shy of two hours The school was very clear that their main job is to "educate their students", and don't want our visit to be intrusive in the operation of the school. We most likely will have some "camera guidelines" to follow, since some of the parents of the school do not want their kids on camera. It is a school and education is their top priority, and we have to respect that. We are VERY lucky to be able to get on campus in any case.
INDONESIAN GOLDEN TICKET/RCTI PROJECT: NARRATIVE
HONOLULU
EAST-WEST CENTER: Besides Punahou, the East-West Center, may be the most important element of Obama's life. Not that he was at the East-West Center or took part in any of their programs, but that his mom and dad (Stanley Ann Dunham and Lolo Soetoro) was involved in many aspects of the EWC. Again, please read the Websites document closely for more information about the EWC and refer to the book I sent you. You will see how important the EWC is.
While on "campus", we will visit with some influential people in the life of Obama and his family
*Maya Soetoro-Ng: Obama's half-sister, Maya will be our first interview on campus. She was very involved in his campaign and remains an integral part of his life. We should also be very aware of her own life and career and accomplishments and not use the interview "only" for hier impressions about her brother. But, please do ask her about her memories with growing up with a young Barack, or Barry Obama.
*Dick Baker: a former diplomat and now renowned expert on Asian and Indonesian issues. He can talk about the Obama administrations plans for Asia and specifically for Indonesia. Please read his bio information in the Websites as well so you are prepared for what he can offer us.
* Livia Iskandar: She is the Hawaii Chapter head of PERMIAS, the Indonesian Student Association at EWC and University of Hawaii. I thought it would be interesting to hear about the "views of Hawaii" from Indonesian students, to learn about their experiences living in the shadow of where Obama grew up. She will also introduce us to some of the nearly 30 Indonesian students on campus.
* Dr. Alice Dewey: Professor Emeritus at the University of Hawaii and worked with Obama's mother at the EWC and helped get her dissertation published. If you look at the book I sent you will see a lot of information and reference to Alice Dewey. We will meet with her in her office on the University of Hawaii campus, located right next to the EWC.
* Dr. Terance Bigalke: While he will be out of town during our visit, I did want to be sure to get Terry on tape, so I have arranged for him to be "interviewed" this week by a local TV production team. Terry had a lot of contact with Obama's mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, both in Hawaii at the East West Center, and in Jakarta, when he and Stanley Ann were at the Ford Foundation. I am having the tape converted into PAL and will give to Michael in Hawaii so he can take it home and use it in the program.
INDONESIAN GOLDEN TICKET/RCTI PROJECT: NARRATIVE
HONOLULU
TOUR OF OBAMA SITES: Similar to what we will do in Chicago, I managed to get the author of the book I sent you, Stu Glauberman, to take us around to some of the places that had something to do with a young Barack Obama. We will spend the morning looking at these sites, and end up for lunch at a place where Obama often ate when he lived there. We will see some of the places Obama lived, from the outside, since people now live in them. Some of the places that Stu will not show us, I will take us independently.
SHANGRI LA ISLAMIC CENTER: One of the world's foremost collections of Islamic art just happens to be in Honolulu. Doris Duke, a very wealthy industrialist is responsible for building this beautiful museum near Diamondhead area of Honolulu. I have been there before, but cannot do its beauty and majesty justice with mere words. Please refer to the Websites for their site and enjoy seeing what we will see. Many beautiful "scenic" shots of the ocean and city can also be done from here.
DINNER WITH OBAMA TEACHERS AND CLASSMATES: I have managed to gather some of the teachers and classmates Obama had at Punahou School and they have agreed to meet with us for a "working dinner" at the Tiki Grill in our hotel. We will have a private room so it will be quiet and we can have a nice dinner and then listen to these folks tell us what they remember about a "young Barack Obama". It should be an interesting evening.
Dr KATHRYN WADDELL TAKARA: This very special lady is a professor at the University of Hawaii and will be able to tell us about what it means being "black" in Hawaii and what this might have meant to Obama's character. She has written extensively on the famous journalist Frank Marshall Davis, who was Obama's "gramps" drinking buddy and knew a young Obama. She will share with us Marshall's unusual perspective of race and ethnic relations in the islands. Marshall realized that blacks in Hawaii had a certain "fluidity" between the ethnic groups which gave Davis a unique platform to observe. Kathryn has written an interesting book entitled "Frank Marshall Davis-Black Labor Activist and Outsider Journalist: Social Movements in Hawaii". She can help us learn more about what it means to be black in Hawaii and what Frank Marshall Davis meant to a young Barack Obama.
HANAUMA PRESERVE: On the way back to Honolulu from Kathryn's home up on the windward coast of Oahu, we will stop off at the very beautiful Hanauma Preserve, a place where a young Obama bodysurfed at Sandy Beach, and where he spread his mother's ashes over the blue Pacific Ocean. There are many pretty spots for great pictures on our last scheduled appointment of our trip.
All of the people and places mentioned here have a corresponding "Website" attached to it in my documents in which I list all of the websites. I encourage you to read them so that this document makes sense. This is only a short synopsis of the people and places, the websites have a lot more information! I will update this if necessary before the trip starts.
September 11, 2010
