See you when I see you

Michael and I are going to spend the next three weekends in different states from each other because of frisbee and other plans. Busy, busy, busy.

Easter?

Easter was very much a non-event this year. Looking at all the facebook posts showing the festivities of friends and family, I was reminded of how much I'm looking forward to going back, eventually. Easter itself isn't that big of a deal to me anyway, but it is usually that first excuse to get together with friends and family in spring, enjoy the warmer weather with a silly egg hunt, and eat good food. Easter 2017 will just have to be good enough make up for the three we've "missed".

Pandemic Legacy: Season 1

We spent the lovely first half of our 4-day Easter weekend up in Palm Beach with some friends. We enjoyed swimming in the ocean and pool, throwing the frisbee, taking in beautiful views, and eating way too much. 

We also have been trying to save the world from super viruses, having started Pandemic Legacy: Season 1. It's an interesting experience because everything that happens has consequences. You can't just restart from scratch if you don't like the outcome of something, and the game continuously changes throughout play. New rules and game elements come into play depending on how you play as a group. The character you've created and gone with on this journey could be maimed or die, and there are no "extra lives". It has been a lot of fun so far, and we already have plans to play the next "month" of the game later this week. 

Happy Easter, folks! 

Assuming makes an ass of you, not me

Mini rant coming in 3... 2... 1...

Sometimes when you're a sub, you arrive at a school and they don't give you very much information. You do your best to ask people and look for timetables and info, but even then sometimes the details are lacking. I can whip up a plan if there isn't one, no problem. The issue is when I make up a plan because there wasn't one, and then after the fact people tell me different plans all of a sudden that need to be instantly executed. I'm confused; the kids are confused. People assume because they know something, you should just know, in your brain. People assume how things work in one place is how they work everywhere, which could not be further from the truth.

I had a moment dealing with this today where I got the stink-eye from an administrator when I asked her a question. Half of my students were leaving for swimming for two hours, and another teacher took the other half because that's what she usually does. I wasn't told if I should help the teacher who took the kids or if I should be on another class (which usually, I am) or what. The admin, instead of thinking, "Wow, this non-regular employee of mine took the initiative to make sure she was useful for two hours instead of going and having a really great coffee break", she just acted irritated that I would bother her. 

Some people are just so thankless, and I guess every workplace has ones like her. Anyway, the kids were great kids and went with the flow, so that evened everything out. 

Been There, Done That: Opera

So Michael and I can finally say we've seen an opera at the Sydney Opera House. The Barber of Seville was playing last night. From the 7th most performed opera in the world, we walked away thinking, "That's what everyone is so crazy about?". The music was fun at times, but then got quite repetitive. The humor was really basic slapstick. The story was silly and had lots of holes in it. The production seemed to put a lot of effort into some visual effects that had very little to do with the "plot". Maybe for it's time it was good? I guess you have to frame it that way. The one thing I will say, though, is that the set was very good.

The most spectacular thing of the night was not the opera at all, but the lightning storm off in the distance that we could see during intermission, out towards the ocean. 

Keep it Coming

If you haven't done so already, or have another device that you haven't voted from, we'd be really happy if you vote for "Eep" here. So far we are coming in third.

I

If you would be so kind...

If you so desire, please vote for Michael's and my, "Eep" in the Washington Post's 10-year anniversary of their Peeps diorama contest. We could potentially win a nice little prize if we win. 

10 Cloverfield Lane

I saw 10 Cloverfield Lane. In order to avoid spoilers I can't say much, but it was enjoyable. I thought John Goodman's performance was very good, as was the performance of the young woman. I would recommend it to someone looking for a thriller that crosses genres. It was both outlandish and fun.

Karma Chameleon

Today I worked at a private school I have been to many times before. In general, this school is not the best (in terms of many measures), although there are a few redeeming kids and some staff I enjoy talking to. I was on a particularly rotten 2nd grade class today - spoiled, entitled, rude, know-it-all kids who were mostly behind in all the subjects in their grade because the majority of them don't care about their education. Those that don't care take away all the time and energy from their teachers so the teachers have less time and energy to actually teach and get through to the ones who are listening. These kids are this way because of a combination of factors that I don't care to go into, although one obvious one is pervasive sexism in the community, which makes it harder the for boys to respect their female teachers. It's an unfortunate set of circumstances that are mostly out of my control, other than how I act than when I am with them which has little longterm impact. I have accepted this. I went to work, did my job, and I'll get paid. The kids will be in for a rude awakening that I won't be around to witness. 

I'd rather spend more time talking about another private school I worked at this week that was exceptional in many ways. Most of the children in the 2nd grade class here were well-behaved and genuinely seemed to enjoy the different challenges, activities, and interactions throughout the day. They got so much out of every activity, they were helpful to me and to each other, and I could trust them to do what they said they were going to do if they needed to leave the room. I don't think it's a coincidence that the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is really incorporated into the curriculum from an early age at this school, and that these kids appear to be successful learners at a young age. They already have aspirations to be writers, musicians, artists, etc., and actively work on their skills. Most of these kids will likely continue to thrive and become successful at future endeavors because they are confident in their abilities and have very good social skills. I also don't think it's a coincidence that this is a community that not only encourages tolerance of different beliefs, backgrounds, abilities, attitudes, and ways of life, but it will not condone those who do not act tolerantly and kindly. This school was a pleasure to work at, and I'm networking to get more days at this school.

I think back and wonder what teachers thought of my particular year of students as we travelled through the grades. I was usually well-behaved and liked by my teachers, but there were certainly some teachers who would have said my contemporaries were like the first group I mentioned. I like to think I turned out okay education-wise, so maybe many of those in the former group will turn out okay despite the challenges that they, themselves, make for themselves with their poor communication skills and negative attitudes. 

Anyway, I guess the point that I'd like to highlight is that people (particularly children, because they are self-centered) don't always think about the things that happen to them as direct results to what they put out to the world. It's karma. If you're negative to others, they will be negative (or at least not positive) back, and then you reap what you sew. All kids deserve a good positive start, but that doesn't mean they all get one. Some of their parents allow bad manners and negative ways of thinking to perpetuate. Some try, but don't know what to do. I do what I can to educate all the kids whether they have positive or negative attitudes, but I can't undo years of reinforced attitudes and behaviors in one day. 

On the flip side, I really do believe the work I did with the good kids had a positive effect on them, however small compared to the other positivity in their lives. Perhaps they will go on to change the world in big and small ways and spread all their happy thoughts. 

To be clear, I'm not suggesting all kids need to be gung-ho about learning or super positive all day every day. I just think that they should be brought up with a general positive attitude towards education and learning, and should be taught to equate becoming educated with having more options in their future. There will be days where they aren't motivated, times where they will not be as interested in one subject or another, times where something will be hard to think through, but that's not a reason to just completely give up or act like an asshole. 

Four out of five teaching days were really great this week; it's a bummer to end on a low point, but what can you do. I'm closing the door to this week and leaving it behind; no more thinking about teaching for a few days. Time to enjoy my weekend! I will be cheering on Michael's frisbee team from afar as they compete at Regionals in Canberra.

Kangaroo Valley Camping

Over the weekend we went camping in Kangaroo Valley with four other friends. The first night we stayed at Bendeela, where there were SO MANY WOMBATS. It was pretty cool. The second day we canoed about and kayaked about 3 hours down the river and set up a campsite right along the water. The next way we went about another three hours down the river (with about a one hour side trip) to finish at Tallowa Dam. Good times were had by all and we introduced our Aussie and Irish friends to s'mores. Unfortunately, they don't sell graham crackers in Australia (what?!). We had to substitute Arrowroot biscuits, but I think everyone got the gist; they devoured everything. 

Taiwan and Japan

Michael and I had a really fun time in Taiwan and Japan. We ended up staying with an old friend from the DC area who now lives in Taipei, and we also met up with some some friends while skiing (they decided last minute to coincidentally go to the same ski resort). I probably have lots more to say about the trip when I'm not jetlagged anymore. Here are some photos...

There are some nice hikes in Taipei, but unfortunately the visibility wasn't the best on the days we were there. It was nice to be shown around by local expats, and even play a friendly kickball game in the park. On our last full day there we went to Yamingshan National Park and hiked up Mt. Cising, the tallest mountain in Taiwan. At the end of it we got to dip our feet into a thermal pool of water. 

In Tokyo we stayed in a capsule hotel. It was quite comfortable and in a nice neighborhood: Asukasa.

Below was the tatami style common room at the hotel.

One of the oldest surviving temples in Tokyo, below. 

We enjoyed the Ghibli Museum, but unfortunately you can't take pictures inside.

One of the many arcades in Akihabara, below.

I'll have the pile of tomatoes please. This was taken in a McDonald's; I think they mean that's the coast for adding tomato to your burger, but I think it looks funny.

Akiba Owl Cafe was pretty great.

We didn't have the best skiing weather in Niseko, but here are a few pics from our most beautiful day on the mountain. I'd never skied up above the tree line until here. 

It may be hard to tell but this is a one-seat ski lift with no bar. It is not for the faint of heart.

One of several cafes that are actually on the slopes. I believe this one is the highest on the mountain, at the thousand meter mark. We stopped here for a snack in between runs.

Three of my favorite things about Japan that are not pictured here: the toilets, the onsens (thermal spas), and the food. You never realize how inferior toilets are in the rest of the world until you go to Japan. The onsens are super relaxing, but you can't take photos because people are nude. And, if I included food photos there would just be too many. The presentation for every meal and snack is beautiful. From ramen to sushi to donuts, we didn't have single disappointing bite in Japan. 

Our trip ended less spectacularly than it started, with us almost not making it back to Sapporo in time for our flight. The buses were cancelled due to road closures from a snowstorm, but we were lucky one of the owners of the apartment building where we stayed was driving back to Sapporo by another route and offered us a ride. We made it back later than planned so we didn't have any time to spend in Sapporo, but it all worked out. 

Now we're back in Sydney, going from from 21 Fahrenheit to 21 Celsius. We are settling back in and the cats are happy to see us.