Bintaro Lama Videos/Slideshows-Last Day

Journal entry-15 minutes was spent writing in students' private journals. An interesting question was posed for a possible entry, "What profession might you choose that your parents would be very proud of you for doing?" Also the opposite was explored, "What profession might you take up that would cause your parents to be disappointed?" Of course these are private journals, so the answers to the questions remain a mystery. (Marrello only)
The Outsiders-we found 20 minutes to revisit an old favorite. Ms. Swarzkopf gave us her usual fine oral rendition of this favorite, yet now old, novel. (Marrello only)
Water treatment writings-last night's homework assignment was explored, questions asked of those who had not yet completed their work, and showing fine examples of people who had. (Marrello only)
Finish editing video-students were given the full 90 minutes in the computer labs to finish editing and finalizing their project video or slideshow taken at the Kampung Bintaro. Many of these pieces will be published on student blogs. They have worked intensely for two days and it will be gratifying to see what they've accomplished. (Hughes only)

Homework-prepare a blog post with the questions from the Geoactive book, page 227. The questions are all that is necessary. We will cover the content in class, then adjourn to the lab to fill in the answers.

Creating Bintaro Lama Slide Shows, Movies

Work on the field trip movie-students (Hughes) went to the computer labs in the M module and began working with Pinnacle 12 or PowerPoint to create their version of last week's field trip to Bintaro Lama kampung. There we studied their ways of improving public health by taking care of their drinking water. Each student was able to observe three methods, and their video or slide show should depict this learning experience. We will have two complete sessions for this, so tomorrow we should finish this experience. We are all anxious to see the finished products.
Vocabulary work-20 minutes were spent reviewing the vocabulary words for this week, each taken from our social studies and science units on fresh water.
Reading-24 minutes were taken reading novels. Students were requested to read, looking for a phrase that is uniquely written, with interesting vocabulary or imagery. Some students were able to find examples, others were unable.
Slide shows, Movies-we looked at sample slide shows and videos that were poorly done. Too much text, too much reading, cameras too jittery, inconsistent or missing audio. After analyzing the poorly done samples, we looked at some done much better. With this background, students should create their products with higher standards.

Homework-
1) Bring journal to class for our Tuesday writing
2) Blog entry-Hughes on the Bintaro Lama field trip, and Marrello on the trip to the water treatment center.

Vancouver, BC, A Very Easy City

One of the great things about visiting a new city is finding my way around. Certainly buying a map is a first day project, then spending hours all week being oriented follows. It is especially enjoyable when the city has a well developed bus and metro line, and this is very true with Vancouver, British Columbia. The buses are numerous and very clean. The operators and patrons are polite and helpful. Nobody seems to be in a rush to the point of making you feel like you are holding them up. The Canada Line is the newest of the public works, only in operation for the last 6 weeks. I took this video from the front of the first car. Pretty cool, I think.

Vancouver hosts the Winter Olympics in a couple of months. I believe public transportation was a consideration when the city was selected, but the clean, easy and fast metro they've built since that decision makes the city a joy to wander around. Vancouver has a reputation of being a great place to spend time, and I completely agree. I will come back to this city again, for sure.

This will be my last posting from Vancouver. We must be to the airport around midnight to catch a 2.00 am flight to Hong Kong, then Jakarta. This has been a great holiday, but it will be ok to be back home again as well. Home is good.

Typical Tourist Purchase

So I feel it's like one of those tee shirts with the message printed on the front, "My parents went to Vegas and all I got was this lousy shirt." We have been in some of the finest stores in Vancouver, seen some very nice clothes and other toys, none really that expensive, but in the end all I bought myself was a baseball cap with a Canadian logo on the front. Still, it is fun to wear, but cost twice as much as the jacket I got at the used clothing store. :-)

Most of Thursday was quite nice, and that made it great for walking, walking, and more walking. It is so pleasurable to be in cool air, an unpolluted city and have walking space with real live sidewalks. I'll bet most take these things for granted, but we from Indonesia do not. I am not going to whine on about Jakarta, but only appreciate what I am enjoying this week in Canada.

I wish more students were using their blogs over break, but maybe that will come with more opportunities. Along with that, B and I had a great discussion about our recent movie making process. I'm thinking I only did one thing right, decide to make movies. From then on, made a considerable number of wrong or hurried decisions. This will get much, much better.

Beautiful Leaves, Film School Buzz

Nadia, Hyun Jin, Nathan, Nadia, Young Woo, Gillian and Zoe. You've all posted entries this holiday week. Be sure to visit the blogs of each other and leave interesting comments about their entries. You know how good it feels to read comments on your work. Special note: see the videos put up by Gillian and Zoe. Penguins + a rock star. :-)

Today I was walking along the curb in Vancouver and was absentmindedly working with my camera. One moment the lens came on, and down below my feet was the most beautiful view of colored leaves that have fallen from the trees. They would qualify as rubbish, I guess, but how truly beautiful they were.

This morning I sat in the student lounge of the Vancouver Film School. I was casually reading a book, waiting for Bindu to finish her business, when the students went on break. Immediately I was surrounded by young men and women abuzz with their projects. I could only catch snippits of conversation, but it was not about the words being said. It was about the excitement the students had for their projects. I want to make a special effort to view their work once they post their film festival on YouTube. If they are as good as I think they will be, I'll show them to the sixers.

I'm almost over jet lag, just in time to suffer it again in the other direction.

Change in Weather, Change in Attitude

A sunny day makes all the difference.

Center For Independent Schools?

How nice it was to meet Lulu, someone I've heard so much about, but not yet had the pleasure of an introduction. We had a very quick 1 hour conversation in the basement of Pacific Place. She is someone who we will contact again and again, I'm sure. Bindu and Lulu actually have enough in common there could be a real business connection. We'll see...

So today's big project was to check for jobs in Canada. We'd received word there was a Center For Independent Schools, so this sounded right up our alley. Ok, we walked and walked and walked, looking for the place. Finally, in the very high rent district we came across the offices-in the archdiocese office building. 'Independent Schools' is a euphuism for schools run by the Catholic Church. We had a big laugh at that one, though the information gleaned by the interview process was interesting. It really might be something to fall back upon in the future.

Shopping today? Ha! We were walking Broadway and found a used clothing store. We each found an article we just couldn't pass up. The forecast is for rain tomorrow, so I found a sporty rain style jacket for $7.00. If it rains tomorrow, and it is easy to believe it will in Vancouver, the new old jacket will be a lifesaver.

Van in the sun? I could live here.