05.28.2009 Greetings,
A kite, orange, with a streaming white tail high
in blue sky above old city
near dark green hills leading to mountains,
Yes, this particular kite's long string
is held by a young girl. She is happy. She is free flying her kite
loving its color, feeling the pull, the tension in her small hand
as the wind holds her kite.
She plays it out letting it flow.
Metta.
05.27.2009 Greetings,
We begin the final "test" portion for G4 kids today. Speaking. They have five topics.
They present in groups of three and the audience asks them questions, follow-up questions and curious questions about unique proteins found in the venom of Komodo dragons.
1. What is a rain forest? Why are they important?
2. Name some jobs people do in Indonesia.
3. Imagine you are a tourist. What would you like to know about a place?
4. You are planning a vacation to a new place this summer. What do you need to know? Talk about five ideas.
5. How can you learn about the past, about history?
6. Random bonus questions, like:
"Talk about the coolest thing you did in school this year."
"How does making a mind map help your intellect and creative instinct?"
"What is the difference between a fact and an opinion?"
"Explain your values on friendship."
"Is imagination more important than knowledge?"
Metta.
05.16.2009 Greetings,
Grade 4 kids, all 89.5 recently went "camping" on a teamwork development life skills program for two nights and three daze.
As in participating in a tightly controlled, scripted program under the direct, immediate supervision of 10 teachers armed with cell phones; watchers and minders. No parents, drivers or maids to do ALL the simple daily work.
Here are the highlights. No one died.
a) a four-hour walk through villages, planting rice in mud, harvesting yams, identifying trees, plants and feeling the reality of heat, mud, water, and narrow wet slippery trails under a broiling sun.
b) how to put up and take down a tent.
c) how to tie a variety of knots and use a compass.
d) how to prepare basic, simple cooking materials and deep fry delicious foods like banana pancakes, tempe, and tofu over a smelly kerosene stove without suffering 3rd degree burns from hot bubbling oil.
e) coping, surviving, laughing, screaming teamwork perspectives while crawling up a steep muddy wet obstacle course and staying connected to the person in front of them.
f) some even learned how to develop a greater sense of independence and teamwork attitudes.
How to accept personal responsibility versus being lazy and avoiding responsibility; a deeply ingrained cultural attitude.
All the meals were catered. Trucked in from a nearby restaurant. A real struggle.
As one of many little campers standing in line with a pile of fried rice on their plastic cartoon plate said, "I WANT MORE!"
"Don't be greedy. Next."
Some people are never satisfied with what little they have. So it goes.
Hear about the amazing adventure hear. MK 72 more...
Metta.
