Supervising a film group after school today, I sat out of the way working on some grading and communication.
The two boys fiddled with the camera, pointing it outside the window, making sure the shot was right. They swung their arms back and forth, fixed the gloves they were wearing for their evidence scene, and talked. One, humming as he erased the board, asked me if I knew Frank Sinatra's song L.O.V.E. His dad listens to it. I found it on my computer and played it; we talked about swing dancing and showed some of the swing steps we knew.
Exasperated, one of them finally said, "Where are they?"
All this time they had been waiting on the girls to change their clothes for the next shot.
He walked into the hallway. "Hey! Are you guys almost ready?" he shouted at the bathroom door. No answer. "Hey! Girls! Come on!" No answer. "Hey! Are you guys ready yet?"
"No!" came the decided answer. "We still have to do my hair!"
He turned around, tightening his lips, left only to wait in annoyed tension.
I have to give it to them, though. Two girls, two boys--each gender is living up to it's stereotype and completely annoying the other sex, but they're making it work. Even if the girls spend 20 minutes in the bathroom prepping for the next scene filmed from two stories up.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
FANBOYS
Such a great acronym for remembering coordinating conjunctions. I used the idea of my former student teacher Julie to actually make fans with my 6th graders to help them remember the acronym. I also added the rule that any time I said, "FANBOYS," they had to say, "Oh, it's so hot in here" and fan themselves. Class discussion, then, went something like this:
Me: "Okay, who sees the FANBOY--"
Students: (fanning themselves madly) "Oh, it's so hot in here."
Me: "--in this sentence?"
Student 1: "But."
(Male students snicker and exchange mischievous glances.)
Me: (ignoring the middle school humor) "Yes, but is the FANBOY--"
Students: "Oh, it's so hot in here."
(Male students giggle.)
Me: "Yes, but has two meanings, but the second one is spelled with two ts. What does the one we're talking about show about the sentence? Hmm? What does this FANBOY--"
Students: "Oh, it's so hot in here."
Me: "--mean in this sentence?"
Needless to say, it was a bit of a laborious lesson, though quite humorous.
My opinionated student told me today that he'd had quite enough of FANBOYS and could we please not say it any more? :)
Me: "Okay, who sees the FANBOY--"
Students: (fanning themselves madly) "Oh, it's so hot in here."
Me: "--in this sentence?"
Student 1: "But."
(Male students snicker and exchange mischievous glances.)
Me: (ignoring the middle school humor) "Yes, but is the FANBOY--"
Students: "Oh, it's so hot in here."
(Male students giggle.)
Me: "Yes, but has two meanings, but the second one is spelled with two ts. What does the one we're talking about show about the sentence? Hmm? What does this FANBOY--"
Students: "Oh, it's so hot in here."
Me: "--mean in this sentence?"
Needless to say, it was a bit of a laborious lesson, though quite humorous.
My opinionated student told me today that he'd had quite enough of FANBOYS and could we please not say it any more? :)
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Play Time
We drove about two hours out of town to reach the village. Paved road gave way to wide gravel road to partially paved, partially dirt road. The snow-topped mountains seemed much closer, though we were not yet in the foothills.
At the village club house, the village elders ushered us into their ESL room, replete with computers and an ESL teacher excited to welcome us and tell us about her ESL classes. Then, a meeting of the minds occurred as plans for the day were discussed. We were there to play games with the kids--all kids, including those with disabilities--in celebration of Invalid Day. Normally, I understand, kids with disabilities have very few options here.
After the formal decision-making was made regarding where to play the various games and how to divide the children into groups, we moved outside to welcome the children, who had already been playing outside the gates, into the yard. The village leaders formed them into four lines, shortest to tallest, and waited for latecomers to divide them as evenly as possible into the teams.
Jo lead two of the teams in a game of kickball. The translator, having not played the game before, was uncertain about how to describe running the bases and outs. We found it easier to place the children in their positions and show them how to roll the ball, how to catch it and tag someone out, how to run the bases in order. The older boys, who were around thirteen, loved it. The first group was very helpful and directed the little kids to run from second to third when the ball was kicked; the second group was ornery, telling the little kids who ran to first to turn around and run back home.
While waiting to switch groups and activities, I entertained two teams with a Simon Says turned learn-body-parts-in-English game. "Simon says touch your head," I said, touching my head. The kids nearest me looked at me out of the corner of their eyes. "Simon says touch your nose," and I touched my nose. A few of the older ones half-heartedly touched their nose and laughed. I continued, eventually dropping "Simon says" and even "touch", leaving us with a rapid motion, "Nose. Ears. Knees. Toes. Knees. Toes. Knees...." They giggled, all of them repeating the words and movements after me, laughing harder when I wiggled my ears back and forth as I said, "Ears," or made them bend over and touch their toes only to immediately stand up and touch their shoulders. Only a few minutes of this, and then switch. New activity!
The kids seemed to thoroughly enjoy the events Sandra planned. The adults with our group and from the village assisted the kids in each event, cheering them on, adjusting leg bands, making sure popped balloons got replaced, and leading them around the right marker. Relays, three-legged races, a variation of dodge ball, water balloon volleyball, sack races, kickball, and red light, green light lead to lots of smiles and laughter. Before leaving, the kids received a couple of pieces of candy for the walk home.
Hopes are that part of the group can return for Children's Day on June 1. I won't be able to since I'll be teaching, but the village leaders are excited about the huge event they are planning to celebrate their kids.
At the village club house, the village elders ushered us into their ESL room, replete with computers and an ESL teacher excited to welcome us and tell us about her ESL classes. Then, a meeting of the minds occurred as plans for the day were discussed. We were there to play games with the kids--all kids, including those with disabilities--in celebration of Invalid Day. Normally, I understand, kids with disabilities have very few options here.
After the formal decision-making was made regarding where to play the various games and how to divide the children into groups, we moved outside to welcome the children, who had already been playing outside the gates, into the yard. The village leaders formed them into four lines, shortest to tallest, and waited for latecomers to divide them as evenly as possible into the teams.
Jo lead two of the teams in a game of kickball. The translator, having not played the game before, was uncertain about how to describe running the bases and outs. We found it easier to place the children in their positions and show them how to roll the ball, how to catch it and tag someone out, how to run the bases in order. The older boys, who were around thirteen, loved it. The first group was very helpful and directed the little kids to run from second to third when the ball was kicked; the second group was ornery, telling the little kids who ran to first to turn around and run back home.
While waiting to switch groups and activities, I entertained two teams with a Simon Says turned learn-body-parts-in-English game. "Simon says touch your head," I said, touching my head. The kids nearest me looked at me out of the corner of their eyes. "Simon says touch your nose," and I touched my nose. A few of the older ones half-heartedly touched their nose and laughed. I continued, eventually dropping "Simon says" and even "touch", leaving us with a rapid motion, "Nose. Ears. Knees. Toes. Knees. Toes. Knees...." They giggled, all of them repeating the words and movements after me, laughing harder when I wiggled my ears back and forth as I said, "Ears," or made them bend over and touch their toes only to immediately stand up and touch their shoulders. Only a few minutes of this, and then switch. New activity!
The kids seemed to thoroughly enjoy the events Sandra planned. The adults with our group and from the village assisted the kids in each event, cheering them on, adjusting leg bands, making sure popped balloons got replaced, and leading them around the right marker. Relays, three-legged races, a variation of dodge ball, water balloon volleyball, sack races, kickball, and red light, green light lead to lots of smiles and laughter. Before leaving, the kids received a couple of pieces of candy for the walk home.
Hopes are that part of the group can return for Children's Day on June 1. I won't be able to since I'll be teaching, but the village leaders are excited about the huge event they are planning to celebrate their kids.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Semi-Pioneer Days
I felt spoiled this morning by using a full pot of hot water for my bath. We have a month without hot water (still cold running water, thankfully), and we're too cheap to buy a water heater. It makes me feel very Laura Ingalls Wilder. And at least we don't have to reuse the bathwater in order of age.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Back to Sesame Street
Armed with a rudimentary knowledge of Russian numbers, I split off from my roommate today at the market to make purchases on my own. I must confess that--other than saying adin (one) and kilo (kilo)--my language failed big time, and I resorted to a series of gestures and pointing with a few Spanish words mixed in (because evidently my brain registers "foreign language" as synonymous to "Spanish" even though this Romance language does little good here).
To attain some sense of success, I introduced myself to a couple of nice ladies selling me produce. Asking their names and stating my own is about as far as my Russian reaches beyond hello and good-bye. They seemed pleased with the introduction. Hopefully I will remember the names and be able to communicate more effectively with them next time.
To attain some sense of success, I introduced myself to a couple of nice ladies selling me produce. Asking their names and stating my own is about as far as my Russian reaches beyond hello and good-bye. They seemed pleased with the introduction. Hopefully I will remember the names and be able to communicate more effectively with them next time.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Run On
It's nice to be back in tow with my exercise mentor Jo. We've gotten to go running together several mornings thus far. Early morning runs let us be out before the big crowds, running into a few early birds and street sweepers. We also get an amazing view of the mountains on clear days--eye candy for sure. I can also keep up with the running PE class at school--we got to jog through several parks and over to the stadium to complete our workout last Friday.
It looks like the only challenges to running here thus far are 1) staying upright (yes, I've already had one good spill. Excuse: uneven pavement) and 2) street dogs. They're a little intimidating, even if they are only terrier size. Kicking at them or throwing something in their direction seem to stave them off.
It looks like the only challenges to running here thus far are 1) staying upright (yes, I've already had one good spill. Excuse: uneven pavement) and 2) street dogs. They're a little intimidating, even if they are only terrier size. Kicking at them or throwing something in their direction seem to stave them off.
Yay, mountains! And they extend both directions.
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
New Eats
I've been fortunate to go out with friends who can read Russian. Fortunate, I say, because so far the only words that I understand on Russian menus are things like Jack Daniels and Absolut (that's for you, Matt!).
Unlike in Guatemala, there are no American fast food places here. So, no craving McDonald's cheeseburgers for me, I hope--nowhere to get them. And kind of a relief, too. Korean food, on the other hand, is a hot commodity here. I'm finding it to be quite delicious, which is fantastic because we get Korean food provided at the school Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Lots of rice, chicken cooked in all sorts of yummy sauces, and veggie salads.
I hear Indian food is another treat, though I haven't had opportunity to sample it for a meal yet. Then there's learning the traditional food, things like somsis (like meat and onion empanadas), logmon (noodles and beef and veggies), and the five-fingers dish, so called because it's traditionally eaten with the hand. (Spelling?)
Perhaps the only unsettling discovery in food for me thus far is that meat refers to both meat and fat, so something that looks and smells scrumptious, like somsis, have fat balls within that tend to depress my appetite. Secondly, I've learned that I much prefer seeing horses running through or grazing in the bluegrass of Kentucky than to see them in round little discs of meat and fat on my plate. The oily residue of meat and onions stayed in my mouth nearly a full twelve hours, teeth-brushing time included, after consuming it.
Russian=a formidable language to master (except when it comes to vodka)
Unlike in Guatemala, there are no American fast food places here. So, no craving McDonald's cheeseburgers for me, I hope--nowhere to get them. And kind of a relief, too. Korean food, on the other hand, is a hot commodity here. I'm finding it to be quite delicious, which is fantastic because we get Korean food provided at the school Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Lots of rice, chicken cooked in all sorts of yummy sauces, and veggie salads.
I hear Indian food is another treat, though I haven't had opportunity to sample it for a meal yet. Then there's learning the traditional food, things like somsis (like meat and onion empanadas), logmon (noodles and beef and veggies), and the five-fingers dish, so called because it's traditionally eaten with the hand. (Spelling?)
Perhaps the only unsettling discovery in food for me thus far is that meat refers to both meat and fat, so something that looks and smells scrumptious, like somsis, have fat balls within that tend to depress my appetite. Secondly, I've learned that I much prefer seeing horses running through or grazing in the bluegrass of Kentucky than to see them in round little discs of meat and fat on my plate. The oily residue of meat and onions stayed in my mouth nearly a full twelve hours, teeth-brushing time included, after consuming it.
The horse meat dish. The presentation is so enticing (except for the rounds of fat or other innards on the left side)! I also love the sugar cubes in the glass nearby. Now that I think of it, it's quite appropriate that these two dishes are next to each other.
Yummy logmon.
Serving tea with the traditional gesture of respect: left hand supporting the serving hand and waiting until the cup is received by hand
Sitting at a topjon with ladies from school. No shoes on the topjon!
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Thirty Years
I realized recently that I have spent nearly the whole of last year saying I was almost thirty. (What happened to twenty-nine? Crazy, crazy.) While it sounds fun to make my goal to be thirty and flirty, I would like to focus on being aware of who God is and who I am and seeing how this perspective impacts life.
I've decided I want to remember my family today. After all, they have put up with me these thirty years and helped shape me. I have been struck again with the blessing I have of being supported by them, something I've come to understand at a new level these past few months. So, mi familia, whether you remember me as the alter-ego, double-ponytail, ornery Elizabeth, the specimen to be studied at the dinner table, the over-achieving student, the kabosher on racial and immigration jokes, the indecisive daughter, the tough cookie, the crazy food eater, the baker, or whomever, I love you, guys! :)
Me and the 'rents
New nephew and my big sis 'Tina
With Ricky Doodle in Charleston
I've decided I want to remember my family today. After all, they have put up with me these thirty years and helped shape me. I have been struck again with the blessing I have of being supported by them, something I've come to understand at a new level these past few months. So, mi familia, whether you remember me as the alter-ego, double-ponytail, ornery Elizabeth, the specimen to be studied at the dinner table, the over-achieving student, the kabosher on racial and immigration jokes, the indecisive daughter, the tough cookie, the crazy food eater, the baker, or whomever, I love you, guys! :)
 | |||||
| Easter time...only missing the Hammbone |
Mama Mia and Me
'Ra and me at Pizza Hut
Davey boy and me in Triangle Park
Monday, May 07, 2012
Modern Day Pen Pals
One of my fondest memories as a middle schooler was receiving letters from my pen pal So-Young. I religiously checked the mail, hoping to see a light-weight envelope trimmed in red and blue bear witness to its being transported via airmail. I pored over her letters, delighting in her penmanship, little faces (pre-emoticons, I think!), and thoughtful enclosures. I wrote drafts of nearly all my early letters back to her and read many aloud to my mom as she cooked dinner to make sure my letters back to South Korea were as perfect as I could make them.
The impending school year and the known unreliability of the Guatemalan delivery system is shifting our pen pal exchange to an electronic version, but I am excited about it nonetheless. My sixth, seventh and eighth graders have written letters to my former Guatemalan students, who are now in sixth grade. We are all anxiously awaiting their answers. I hope this can be an eye-opening experience for both sides, this communication between these Guatemalan, Korean, British, Australian, American, and New Zealander students.
The impending school year and the known unreliability of the Guatemalan delivery system is shifting our pen pal exchange to an electronic version, but I am excited about it nonetheless. My sixth, seventh and eighth graders have written letters to my former Guatemalan students, who are now in sixth grade. We are all anxiously awaiting their answers. I hope this can be an eye-opening experience for both sides, this communication between these Guatemalan, Korean, British, Australian, American, and New Zealander students.
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Loving the Quirks
Friday, as you know, was May the 4th. My six graders were very excited to celebrate. Come the day of, one wore her hair in low side buns and three brought their light sabers to help them wish everyone a happy "May the fourth be with you."
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