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NATIONAL GRANT AIDS EDUCATOR NANCY KALAJIAN
by Tom Vartabedian
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-11-07-national-grant-aids-educator-nancy-kalajian-
Published: Wednesday November 07, 2012
Nancy Kalajian with Mary Poppins during a visit to New York City.
Boston - Nancy Kalajian is not one to rest upon her many
laurels. The long-time educator took advantage of a grant from
the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to take a food and
immigration-related course this summer in New York.
Titled "Recipe for America: New York, Immigration and American
Identity through Culinary Culture," the experience touched a number
of important parameters for Kalajian, a well-read journalist in the
Armenian-American community.
Kalajian was among 25 participants from throughout the country at a
3-week school teacher institute dealing with matters of immigration,
assimilation and food culture in New York City during the 19th and
20th Centuries. Over 200 applications were received. Kalajian was the
only resident from Massachusetts to win the honor and one of two from
New England.
To apply for the Institute, Kalajian prepared a 4-page essay and
secured references from two school administrators from the Tewksbury
Public Schools where she works as a Title I reading teacher for grade
three and four students.
The Institute investigated immigration, cultural diffusion and
assimilation through a consideration of ethnic food ways, moving
from early European immigration to experiences of African-American,
Caribbean, Chinese and Asian communities.
The Institute was hosted by the New York Public Library and was
presented in conjunction with "Lunch Hour," a major NYPL exhibition
about food in New York City which draws from the library's vast
materials, including its unique cookbook and menu collections.
The program addressed cultural traditions, the formation of ethnic
neighborhoods and interactions with the broad American culture.
"It was an extraordinary experience," said Kalajian. "We had lots of
reading to do each night, and by day were basically in class with the
NYPL curators or with expert culinary historians, conducting on-line
research or research using primary documents available at the library,
or were on walking tours through the Lower East Side, Harlem, Jackson
Heights and other areas. As exhausting and intense as it was, this
was one of the best educational experiences I ever had," continues
Kalajian. "Can you imagine being able to touch and read a diary that
an immigrant wrote at the turn of the century that describes foods
eaten, holidays celebrated and games played? Plus it was a powerful
experience - being in the same library building that many immigrants
have used in the past 100 years to enrich their learning."
Cultural ties are in Kalajian's blood. She's on the Board of Directors
of the Ethnic Arts Center founded by Dora Tevan, her sister. She
also serves the Board of Directors for the Cambridge-Yerevan Sister
City Association.
After returning from a teaching stint overseas, she established
Building Cultural Bridges in order to help people in cultural
transition like those relocating from one country to another.
In the past, she also attended the NEH Landmarks of American History
and Culture Workshop titled "Inventing America: Lowell and the
Industrial Revolution," learning about people who endured hardships
while working in the textile industry.
Among the sites visited during her stay in New York was Ellis Island.
"It was fascinating to again see all the huge photos on display at
Ellis Island, along with passports and personal artifacts from so
many immigrants," added Kalajian. "Among the many photos I snapped
were those showing Armenians in their homeland."
"During my New York experience, I naturally reflected on the food
ways and immigrant experiences of my Armenian ancestors and had
a chance to do some related research," she resumed. "In the last
decade throughout the Boston area, I interviewed and recorded oral
histories of some Armenian immigrants and their food memories. These
historical and cultural connections were ever-present as I explored
other immigrant groups."
"One of our lectures was held in the NYPL Trustees Room, and near its
entrance, I was happy to see a nice portrait of Dr. Vartan Gregorian,
former NYPL President." shared Kalajian. On weekends, visiting the
Metropolitan Museum and viewing exhibits on Armenian khatchkars,
pottery and coins, attending church services at St. Vartan Cathedral,
and visiting with Armenian friends and relatives living in the region
rounded out her Armenian experiences. Seeing some musicals added to
her New York cultural experience; "Porgy and Bess was so poignant,
with such impressive acting, and really shed light on the disparity
and struggles for those so convincingly portrayed."
Kalajian has taught elementary age students for more than 20 years,
including a 4-year stint overseas at American International Schools
in Germany and Egypt. She has also worked in school publishing where
she wrote teacher's manuals for reading programs. Occasionally, she
writes food, education, arts and human interest-orientated articles
as a freelance journalist and correspondent for such organs as The
Armenian Mirror-Spectator and various Boston-based newspapers.
Kalajian is a member of the Culinary Historians of Boston. Many years
back, she created an Armenian pudding recipe that won third prize in
a nationwide "Raisins and Rice Contest."
"Looking back upon my experience," adds Kalajian, "the well-organized
Institute deepened my understanding of the humanities through reading,
discussion, writing and reflection. Soon, I'll be able to apply what
I learned to my present teaching surroundings and enrich the lives
of students."
by Tom Vartabedian
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2012-11-07-national-grant-aids-educator-nancy-kalajian-
Published: Wednesday November 07, 2012
Nancy Kalajian with Mary Poppins during a visit to New York City.
Boston - Nancy Kalajian is not one to rest upon her many
laurels. The long-time educator took advantage of a grant from
the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to take a food and
immigration-related course this summer in New York.
Titled "Recipe for America: New York, Immigration and American
Identity through Culinary Culture," the experience touched a number
of important parameters for Kalajian, a well-read journalist in the
Armenian-American community.
Kalajian was among 25 participants from throughout the country at a
3-week school teacher institute dealing with matters of immigration,
assimilation and food culture in New York City during the 19th and
20th Centuries. Over 200 applications were received. Kalajian was the
only resident from Massachusetts to win the honor and one of two from
New England.
To apply for the Institute, Kalajian prepared a 4-page essay and
secured references from two school administrators from the Tewksbury
Public Schools where she works as a Title I reading teacher for grade
three and four students.
The Institute investigated immigration, cultural diffusion and
assimilation through a consideration of ethnic food ways, moving
from early European immigration to experiences of African-American,
Caribbean, Chinese and Asian communities.
The Institute was hosted by the New York Public Library and was
presented in conjunction with "Lunch Hour," a major NYPL exhibition
about food in New York City which draws from the library's vast
materials, including its unique cookbook and menu collections.
The program addressed cultural traditions, the formation of ethnic
neighborhoods and interactions with the broad American culture.
"It was an extraordinary experience," said Kalajian. "We had lots of
reading to do each night, and by day were basically in class with the
NYPL curators or with expert culinary historians, conducting on-line
research or research using primary documents available at the library,
or were on walking tours through the Lower East Side, Harlem, Jackson
Heights and other areas. As exhausting and intense as it was, this
was one of the best educational experiences I ever had," continues
Kalajian. "Can you imagine being able to touch and read a diary that
an immigrant wrote at the turn of the century that describes foods
eaten, holidays celebrated and games played? Plus it was a powerful
experience - being in the same library building that many immigrants
have used in the past 100 years to enrich their learning."
Cultural ties are in Kalajian's blood. She's on the Board of Directors
of the Ethnic Arts Center founded by Dora Tevan, her sister. She
also serves the Board of Directors for the Cambridge-Yerevan Sister
City Association.
After returning from a teaching stint overseas, she established
Building Cultural Bridges in order to help people in cultural
transition like those relocating from one country to another.
In the past, she also attended the NEH Landmarks of American History
and Culture Workshop titled "Inventing America: Lowell and the
Industrial Revolution," learning about people who endured hardships
while working in the textile industry.
Among the sites visited during her stay in New York was Ellis Island.
"It was fascinating to again see all the huge photos on display at
Ellis Island, along with passports and personal artifacts from so
many immigrants," added Kalajian. "Among the many photos I snapped
were those showing Armenians in their homeland."
"During my New York experience, I naturally reflected on the food
ways and immigrant experiences of my Armenian ancestors and had
a chance to do some related research," she resumed. "In the last
decade throughout the Boston area, I interviewed and recorded oral
histories of some Armenian immigrants and their food memories. These
historical and cultural connections were ever-present as I explored
other immigrant groups."
"One of our lectures was held in the NYPL Trustees Room, and near its
entrance, I was happy to see a nice portrait of Dr. Vartan Gregorian,
former NYPL President." shared Kalajian. On weekends, visiting the
Metropolitan Museum and viewing exhibits on Armenian khatchkars,
pottery and coins, attending church services at St. Vartan Cathedral,
and visiting with Armenian friends and relatives living in the region
rounded out her Armenian experiences. Seeing some musicals added to
her New York cultural experience; "Porgy and Bess was so poignant,
with such impressive acting, and really shed light on the disparity
and struggles for those so convincingly portrayed."
Kalajian has taught elementary age students for more than 20 years,
including a 4-year stint overseas at American International Schools
in Germany and Egypt. She has also worked in school publishing where
she wrote teacher's manuals for reading programs. Occasionally, she
writes food, education, arts and human interest-orientated articles
as a freelance journalist and correspondent for such organs as The
Armenian Mirror-Spectator and various Boston-based newspapers.
Kalajian is a member of the Culinary Historians of Boston. Many years
back, she created an Armenian pudding recipe that won third prize in
a nationwide "Raisins and Rice Contest."
"Looking back upon my experience," adds Kalajian, "the well-organized
Institute deepened my understanding of the humanities through reading,
discussion, writing and reflection. Soon, I'll be able to apply what
I learned to my present teaching surroundings and enrich the lives
of students."