Just three more days until Kindy graduation! And when it's all over...kindy will go on as before for another month or so. But it'll be over! Speeches, trips to Pinjen for rehearsal, "The Ugly Duckling," bribing the kids with candy or threatening them with time-outs to keep them focused - gone! I can't wait.
Oh, and I found out this morning that we, the Native Speaking Teachers, will be leading an exercise routine to the tune of "Lollipop, Lollipop" at the ceremony to show the parents what we have their kids do every morning. I knew I loved this job for a reason.
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Monday, June 28, 2004
Hogsmeade for the weekend...
With other things keeping me too busy last week, I neglected to mention my reaction to the latest Harry Potter movie. "Prisoner of Azkaban" is my favorite thus far of the five books and, well, the movie measured up to it pretty well!
I generally avoid seeing movies based on books I like that much, because I've usually found the movies don't do the books justice. I haven't let that stop me with the Potter series, I guess because I'm mostly there for the special effects rather than the stories. I suspect I would feel differently if the series had been around when I was a kid. Back then, a book I liked that much would just make me feel happy to be alive, period, and a movie that I didn't like nearly as much would just seem tragic. (I certainly wish I could be that excited about reading these days!)
All of which is my lead in to saying that I didn't like the movie nearly as much as the book. That's exactly what I suspected, of course, and I don't regret seeing the movie one bit. The dementors and the house where the climax takes place and the streets of Hogsmeade all looked just about exactly as I had imagined them, and the special effects were terrific as always. And laying aside the story, the atmosphere alone made me pine for getting away to an academic paradise like Hogwarts. I do have a soft spot for long train trips, especially if there's inclement weather involved and if you're going to be among old friends at your destination.
So why did I like it a bit less than the book? Well, it's something I don't think you could really depict in a movie the same way you can in a book. The whole theme of joylessness and despair represented by the dementors and how Harry's resilient love of life and his friends help him overcome them are a big part of what made the book so brilliant for me. (And anyone who has read it will tell you it's all far more convincing and less treacly than I just made it sound!) The movie only gives you a taste of the dichotomy, but that's probably the best it could do.
Still, a heck of a movie. Recommended to anyone who hasn't gotten around to it yet, although I suspect there aren't many of you left!
I generally avoid seeing movies based on books I like that much, because I've usually found the movies don't do the books justice. I haven't let that stop me with the Potter series, I guess because I'm mostly there for the special effects rather than the stories. I suspect I would feel differently if the series had been around when I was a kid. Back then, a book I liked that much would just make me feel happy to be alive, period, and a movie that I didn't like nearly as much would just seem tragic. (I certainly wish I could be that excited about reading these days!)
All of which is my lead in to saying that I didn't like the movie nearly as much as the book. That's exactly what I suspected, of course, and I don't regret seeing the movie one bit. The dementors and the house where the climax takes place and the streets of Hogsmeade all looked just about exactly as I had imagined them, and the special effects were terrific as always. And laying aside the story, the atmosphere alone made me pine for getting away to an academic paradise like Hogwarts. I do have a soft spot for long train trips, especially if there's inclement weather involved and if you're going to be among old friends at your destination.
So why did I like it a bit less than the book? Well, it's something I don't think you could really depict in a movie the same way you can in a book. The whole theme of joylessness and despair represented by the dementors and how Harry's resilient love of life and his friends help him overcome them are a big part of what made the book so brilliant for me. (And anyone who has read it will tell you it's all far more convincing and less treacly than I just made it sound!) The movie only gives you a taste of the dichotomy, but that's probably the best it could do.
Still, a heck of a movie. Recommended to anyone who hasn't gotten around to it yet, although I suspect there aren't many of you left!
Sunday, June 27, 2004
I love the rowing on Dragon Boat Lake
Wow, nearly two weeks without a word - I am quite sorry! The schedule has been crazier than ever with graduation coming up next week now and various other events in the works. But as always, I'm still happy to be so busy and challenged for a change.
Besides, there hasn't been anything too dramatic to share. One tidbit I will pass on: last week was Dragon Boat Festival, a big patriotic holiday in China - or at least in Taiwan. I've lost track of which celebrations are and aren't allowed in The Other Country. Loosely based on a long-ago search for a very loyal-to-his-country poet who threw himself into a river after being falsely accused of treason, the big event on Dragon Boat Festival is dragon boat races. Think of your average college rowing team, and then just add wonderfully colorful dragon heads to them all. It's quite a sight!
A week and a half ago, we took all the kindy kids down to the lake one morning to see the practice runs for the big day. The kids were only marginally interested (I think they were mostly just happy to be outside), but it was a pleasantly cool morning and the teachers definitely enjoyed watching the boats. On the big day itself (four days later), I had the day off from work and didn't really want to go to the lake, mainly because it was excruciatingly hot. But I figured I should try a bit harder than I had been lately to appreciate the local culture. So off I went, and, well, it was just about the same as the practices only hotter and more crowded! I did run into some fellow foreigners I hadn't met before, which was a nice surprise. I hung around with them for a while before heading back, and had a pleasant enough afternoon.
Still and all, big holiday blowouts can be just as overrated here as at home!
Besides, there hasn't been anything too dramatic to share. One tidbit I will pass on: last week was Dragon Boat Festival, a big patriotic holiday in China - or at least in Taiwan. I've lost track of which celebrations are and aren't allowed in The Other Country. Loosely based on a long-ago search for a very loyal-to-his-country poet who threw himself into a river after being falsely accused of treason, the big event on Dragon Boat Festival is dragon boat races. Think of your average college rowing team, and then just add wonderfully colorful dragon heads to them all. It's quite a sight!
A week and a half ago, we took all the kindy kids down to the lake one morning to see the practice runs for the big day. The kids were only marginally interested (I think they were mostly just happy to be outside), but it was a pleasantly cool morning and the teachers definitely enjoyed watching the boats. On the big day itself (four days later), I had the day off from work and didn't really want to go to the lake, mainly because it was excruciatingly hot. But I figured I should try a bit harder than I had been lately to appreciate the local culture. So off I went, and, well, it was just about the same as the practices only hotter and more crowded! I did run into some fellow foreigners I hadn't met before, which was a nice surprise. I hung around with them for a while before heading back, and had a pleasant enough afternoon.
Still and all, big holiday blowouts can be just as overrated here as at home!
Friday, June 18, 2004
Little Todd or Shayla is a hopelessly spoiled brat!
Remember the "Sex and the City" episode where they went to the baby shower in Connecticut? At some point in the party (which, if I recall correctly, was rather depressing for all four of them for varying reasons), a young mother says something or other which demonstrates that she's extremely obsequious to her very young son. As soon as the mother is out of earshot, one of the regulars (Miranda, I think) says, "And when that boy grows up, how many women will be able to live up to his image of Mommy? I'm thinking none!"
I'm thinking that unfortunate principle applies to teachers as well as girlfriends.
Peter is the troublemaker in my kindy class. Well, there are several troublemakers, but Peter is the worst. He never pays attention or tries to learn anything, rarely stays in his seat for more than two minutes at a time, and usually just laughs at attempts to discipline him unless my co-teacher or I come down really hard on him.
I've known from early on that his parents have a fair amount to do with that. I've met his mother on a number of occasions and, although I can't communicate directly with her because she doesn't speak English, I've been able to gather pretty clearly that she rarely disciplines him for much of anything. Once I even saw her yell at another kid for taking one of Peter's toys, but to be fair, that other kid was also something of a troublemaker and may well have deserved it. Even before I started this job, I knew that some parents are on a strictly see no evil, hear no evil basis with their kids, and I've known all along that she was one of those.
But I got a new dose of her this week that gave me a new appreciation for why Peter is such a little terror.
I have a few rules in my classroom when it comes to lunch. One of those is that all the kids have to eat some vegetables. We get rice, meat, fruit for dessert, a side dish of some shape or form - usually something tofu based - and vegetables. I don't force the kids to eat any of the other things if they don't want any, but I do make them eat at least a few veggies. Well, this week, I noticed that when Peter got to the head of the line, my co-teacher didn't make him take any vegetables even though she always backs me up on that rule with the other kids. I, of course, asked why. Now, my co-teacher only speaks a little English, but she had no difficulty explaining this one to me. Peter's mother has sent down orders that if he doesn't want to eat any vegetables, we are not to try to make him eat any.
Kind of hard to know how to respond to that one, isn't it? I really hope little Peter finds some kind of moderating influence on his life somewhere down the road, but I ain't holding my breath!
There is, however, the occasional sign of hope. Today, Peter did take a few vegetables with his lunch, although I suspect that was only because he knew I was particularly furious with him for fooling around on stage during a rehearsal for the graduation play. Hey, it's a start. He's also quite good at art projects; the few times I've ever seen him stay in his seat for any amount of time were all when he was working on a drawing or painting of some sort. Maybe he'll grow up to be a tortured artist and produce a masterpiece or two on the futility of childhood. You never can tell!
Any mistakes in the recounted plot and dialogue above are owing to the fact that my SATC DVDs are currently in my parents' basement halfway around the world. Thanks for understanding!
I'm thinking that unfortunate principle applies to teachers as well as girlfriends.
Peter is the troublemaker in my kindy class. Well, there are several troublemakers, but Peter is the worst. He never pays attention or tries to learn anything, rarely stays in his seat for more than two minutes at a time, and usually just laughs at attempts to discipline him unless my co-teacher or I come down really hard on him.
I've known from early on that his parents have a fair amount to do with that. I've met his mother on a number of occasions and, although I can't communicate directly with her because she doesn't speak English, I've been able to gather pretty clearly that she rarely disciplines him for much of anything. Once I even saw her yell at another kid for taking one of Peter's toys, but to be fair, that other kid was also something of a troublemaker and may well have deserved it. Even before I started this job, I knew that some parents are on a strictly see no evil, hear no evil basis with their kids, and I've known all along that she was one of those.
But I got a new dose of her this week that gave me a new appreciation for why Peter is such a little terror.
I have a few rules in my classroom when it comes to lunch. One of those is that all the kids have to eat some vegetables. We get rice, meat, fruit for dessert, a side dish of some shape or form - usually something tofu based - and vegetables. I don't force the kids to eat any of the other things if they don't want any, but I do make them eat at least a few veggies. Well, this week, I noticed that when Peter got to the head of the line, my co-teacher didn't make him take any vegetables even though she always backs me up on that rule with the other kids. I, of course, asked why. Now, my co-teacher only speaks a little English, but she had no difficulty explaining this one to me. Peter's mother has sent down orders that if he doesn't want to eat any vegetables, we are not to try to make him eat any.
Kind of hard to know how to respond to that one, isn't it? I really hope little Peter finds some kind of moderating influence on his life somewhere down the road, but I ain't holding my breath!
There is, however, the occasional sign of hope. Today, Peter did take a few vegetables with his lunch, although I suspect that was only because he knew I was particularly furious with him for fooling around on stage during a rehearsal for the graduation play. Hey, it's a start. He's also quite good at art projects; the few times I've ever seen him stay in his seat for any amount of time were all when he was working on a drawing or painting of some sort. Maybe he'll grow up to be a tortured artist and produce a masterpiece or two on the futility of childhood. You never can tell!
Any mistakes in the recounted plot and dialogue above are owing to the fact that my SATC DVDs are currently in my parents' basement halfway around the world. Thanks for understanding!
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Worst. Website. Evvvvvverrrrrrr
Being as my old GRE scores are expired and I've been eager to get the ball rolling on my grad school applications but most of the universities aren't even letting you start filling out the forms yet, it seemed like a good time to get rolling on taking the GRE again. And, well, I'm glad I got the registration out of the way.
Why am I glad it's over? Because the GRE registration website is easily the least user friendly site I have ever stumbled across. It's a disaster, start to finish. It crashes regularly, it won't let you look up anything too specific, and although there's a lot of information there, it doesn't really tell you how to find it. And if you happen to be overseas and in the market for the computer based test (only paper and pencil tests are available in much of Asia), you'd think there'd be a list somewhere on the site of which countries have the computer option available. You'd think, but you'd be wrong. It's only by sheer guesswork that I settled on Manila and Singapore as my two closest options. If you click on a country that doesn't have the CAT, it'll just kick you back to a page that encourages you to try the paper and pencil version instead. But anyone who knows anything about the GRE knows you're much better off with the CAT. Grrr.
On the bright side, it is a nice excuse to go to Singapore in August, something I was thinking of doing anyway. So I have a working vacation to look forward to in just under two months! And the application process is in motion at last.
Why am I glad it's over? Because the GRE registration website is easily the least user friendly site I have ever stumbled across. It's a disaster, start to finish. It crashes regularly, it won't let you look up anything too specific, and although there's a lot of information there, it doesn't really tell you how to find it. And if you happen to be overseas and in the market for the computer based test (only paper and pencil tests are available in much of Asia), you'd think there'd be a list somewhere on the site of which countries have the computer option available. You'd think, but you'd be wrong. It's only by sheer guesswork that I settled on Manila and Singapore as my two closest options. If you click on a country that doesn't have the CAT, it'll just kick you back to a page that encourages you to try the paper and pencil version instead. But anyone who knows anything about the GRE knows you're much better off with the CAT. Grrr.
On the bright side, it is a nice excuse to go to Singapore in August, something I was thinking of doing anyway. So I have a working vacation to look forward to in just under two months! And the application process is in motion at last.
Friday, June 11, 2004
Ray Charles, 1930-2004
Some truly tragic news from back across the pond. My well-worn 45 of "You Don't Know Me" got me through the worst night of my life several years ago, when I was reeling from a situation just like the one in the song. God bless you, Ray!
As for the other famous American who died last week, well, it's wrong to speak ill of the dead. So I won't say anything for now!
As for the other famous American who died last week, well, it's wrong to speak ill of the dead. So I won't say anything for now!
Off to see the lizard
Sometimes Taiwan feels a bit like one of those science fiction movies where the hero ends up in a parallel universe where everything is almost the same - but not quite. Once you get used to having all the signs in another language and the fact that people tend to look at you as something of a novelty on the street (which I've never really minded), it doesn't necessarily feel like you're halfway around the world from home. The cars, stores, furniture and other things you see on a regular basis just don't look all that different. Then, every now and then, something jumps out at you to remind you that it really is a different place.
I ran into one of those just a week or two ago when I was walking past a park in Chung Li. There was a series of cement posts along the sidewalk, whose purpose I couldn't discern from where I was walking. Maybe they were trashcans or something. Anyhow, I saw a lizard sunning itself on one of them. It looked quite happy, actually - it was a sunny and very hot day and sunbathing was a good thing to be doing right then. It was a slight shock for me to see it at first (like I said, you do tend to forget that differences exist until you see them!), but I was intrigued enough to stand there for a minute or two and look at it from a respectable distance. Sort of like children here do with me, actually.
It was cute. It was harmless. And I wouldn't have seen it at home, except maybe in a zoo.
I ran into one of those just a week or two ago when I was walking past a park in Chung Li. There was a series of cement posts along the sidewalk, whose purpose I couldn't discern from where I was walking. Maybe they were trashcans or something. Anyhow, I saw a lizard sunning itself on one of them. It looked quite happy, actually - it was a sunny and very hot day and sunbathing was a good thing to be doing right then. It was a slight shock for me to see it at first (like I said, you do tend to forget that differences exist until you see them!), but I was intrigued enough to stand there for a minute or two and look at it from a respectable distance. Sort of like children here do with me, actually.
It was cute. It was harmless. And I wouldn't have seen it at home, except maybe in a zoo.
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