The Road Ahead

The calm before the storm is nearing its end as March 16^th gets closer with every passing day. My classmates & I received our teaching practice packages that include final teaching assessment sheets, section logs, and lesson feedback forms. The packages send the message that you’re about to re-entre the academic front lines. The stakes will be higher for my classmates & I because we’ve survived the first 7 week deployment, meaning that we’re able to control classrooms and plan units & lessons efficiently. The college expects us to begin teaching near the end of the first week so best to be prepared.

The last Maori Alive presentation in Professional Studies class, organized by Kane (Maori) & Andrew (Samoan), was a simulated meeting at the Whare Tipuna (community home). This is where a Maori tribe or tribes met to discuss a variety of things. Since the classroom acted as the Whare Tipuna, shoes had to remain in the hallway so that no dirt or 'diseases' (as the belief goes) were brought into the "place of our ancestors." There are 6 points to the programme:
1. Mihi Mihi/Official Greeting
2. Karakia/Prayer
3. Brief Explanation of Tikanga Maori (Customs & Traditions)
4. Student Mihi Mihi Greetings
5. Waiata (Song) &
6. Final Karakia

If you'd like to learn more, visit these two websites that focus on Tikanga & Maori Education.

Despite teaching practice beginning next week, I recently taught a lesson at cadets, the subject being 5 decorations that are currently in use by the New Zealand Defence Force. My next lesson will be this Sunday; the corps is having a field trip to the Godley Head Defence Battery & I have the honour of opening the festivities by going over the background history of the place. In depth coverage will follow in my next post.

My roommate Rebecca decided to fly back to Australia and study Mass Communications in Brisbane. Equally painful was that she took her DVD player as well. Luckily, I was able to buy one for $60NZD at a nearby Kmart (now a faded memory in Canada). Her reason for the sudden leave was that she didn’t like the BA program she was enrolled in. So far, a new roommate hasn’t arrived, leaving Heather with her own bathroom.

With nearby access to a DVD player, relaxing at home is a lot more enjoyable, that is, when you have the time to relax. I’ve taken a liking to watching bad movies such as Heaven’s Gate, Pluto Nash, & Ballistic: Ecks vs Sever, because the poorly developed plots & bad acting (in some cases) shut down the logical side of your brain, thereby letting it rest and recharge.

The weather has suddenly turned, engulfing Christchurch with strong winds, cold temperatures, and rain. Global warming must be the culprit because the previous day was full of sunny clear skies. One day, your wearing shorts & t-shirt, the next its long trousers & heavy sweaters.

On a political note, I’m glad to see President Barack Obama bringing in universal health care to the USA. The American health care system is the biggest failure in the Free World, with bottled water following close behind. Insured & uninsured Americans can’t get the health care they desperately need and have to pay an insane amount of money for prescription drugs. Michael Moore’s film documentary Sicko perfectly explains the medical crisis. I hope the $634 billion set aside will be properly spent by the Obama administration.

Politics aside, I shall leave you with a music talent video that I showed to my music professor who, in turn, showed it to the entire class. I give you the Inspector Gadget & Axel F (Beverly Hills Cop) themes on flute & beat-boxing.