I am interested in Humanitarian work. I am a hugely compassionate person and see myself settling down sometime in the future in a place far away that is simple and doing something to help the respective community. Right now though, I am a recent graduate teacher. Primary teacher at that. And I am looking for a job. Ah the dreaded applications. They, for some reason, look perfectly acceptable and well structured intially until you look at them at a later date and realise, what was I thinking, they are not as good as I thought. Always learning I guess.
So what brings me to this blog is the intention to write down thoughts on the teaching of social justice in education. What, would I say then, based on my experiences in Kenya, do I want to teach my students at school about the world? And specifically, social justice?
I just read a chapter in a book about percieved gender differences in education. It was infuriating. Maybe it's just my mood. But frankly, here we are as educators, and there's a million and one things we have to think about. Then someone comes along and is critical of the child-centred approach, which is widely spread. Ah, just want to throw it in their face. But I suppose the chapter is not without its valuable contribution. All these things are important for improvement and awareness in our field. But I hardly think I need to be criticised on my approach when our country promotes equality between the sexes. What I'm trying to say is that someone is telling us off about something when there is so much we're already trying to get right. A softer and more custioned approach may have been better.
Anyway, it brings me to the point of social justice in education. I applied for a job recently and wrote about my interest in the social justice causes promoted at the school (listed on their website). I thought the mention would be well received - showed I had an interest in the school and revealed part of my personality compatible with their vision. Never heard anything back from them though (not even a rejection letter) and the school have now re-advertised. Slammed! I figure it wasn't well received - came across too strong?
So how do I factor in my interest for humanitarian causes when teaching. In the chapter I just read, it said many educators don't bring up political and social issues at school until children are older and have presumably 'lost' their innocence. But I think starting to talk about certain issues with young kids is important for broadening their perspective on life and developing compassion for others. For example, in the tv show, 'World's Strictest Parents', adolescents with percieved behaviour problems are sent to live with another family in a different part of the world. Often the family they stay with does some kind of community or volunteer work which they partake in as well. From these experiences, the adolescents often begin to look at the world through new eyes and develop a sense of social responsibility. It's really good to watch and I think doing community work and increasing awareness about social issues in young children can contribute to their sense of self worth and give meaning to their lives. It's also helpful for other people and promotes interconnectedness with the local and wider community.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Emergency sex (no not actual sex, it's a book)
EMERGENCY SEX and Other Desperate Measures: A true story from Hell on Earth.
By Kenneth Cain, Heidi Postlewait and Andrew Thomson (2004)
What a magificent book - the style, stories and perspectives were particuarly unique and effective for their means.
The book is set up in diary entry form, each dated and location marked. The authors all interchangeably wrote about their own experiences in certain parts of the world as UN peacekeeping workers: one a NZ doctor, another a Harvard lawyer and the other a NY secretary/social worker. They were sent to some of the most dangerous civil war conflict areas in the world during the 1990's - Cambodia, Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, Yogoslavia and Liberia. They offer a young, fresh and up-close perspective on the horrors that went on in those countries. And it also provides insight into the role the UN played in these matters. Easy to read and historically very educational, I recommend this book to people interested in world affairs and recent history.
Chapter titles:
Alpha - all clear
Bravo - some caution warrented
Charlie - direct threat
Delta - substancial deterioration
Echo - end of the line
The above are UN Emergency Security Designations.
Quote: "I find myself envying the Iraqis and Israelis... there are none subtleties and nuances of everyday life; you're at the core of every feeling. Nothing else matters but to stay alive. And that is how I want to feel." (Heidi, p.13)
Quote: "...I grew up taking for granted that contentment in life comes from serving others and not oneself. Now I'm fulfilled by a callig of my own." (Andrew, p.23)
Quote: "I finally found my moment in history." (Ken, Leaving Cambodia, p.89)
Middle Eastern facts:
* Tel Aviv - city in West central Israel (large centre of Jewish immigration following WWII)
* Israelis - mix of North African, Levantine and Eastern Europe
* Baghdad - capital of Iraq
Cambodian facts:
* Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge - Cambodian Genocide in 1975
* The genocide - In the early 1970's, the Vietnam war spilled over its borders inot neighbouring Cambodia. In 1975, just before America evacuated Vietnam, a Communist guerilla group, The Khmer Rouge, marched into Cambodia's capital Phenom Penh and took power. They killed over a million civilians in the following 4 years. The Soviet Union and Vietnamese invaded in 1979 and chased Kmer Rouge into the jungle where they still continued sporatic operations. At the end of the Cold War, the 'West' sent 20,000 UN peacekeeping soldiers and 2000 civilians to Cambodia to restore democracy.
Somalia facts:
* Somalia dictator - Siad Barre (president 1969-91)
* Somali warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid (president 1995-96) challenged the presence of UN and USA troops in the country
Haiti facts:
* Jean-Bertrand Aristide - Ist demoncratically elected present of Haiti (1991, 1994-6, 2001-04)
* General Raoul Cedras - leader of coup in 1991 that got rid of Aristide. Terrorized civilians, particularly pro-Aristide.
* Ton Tons Macoute - secret police that terrorized people.
* September 1994 - US sent 20000 troops. In October, Aristide returned and reclaimed presidency.
Yugoslavia facts:
* Bosnia - Muslims, Serbs, Croats
* At the end of the Cold War, Bosnian Serb forces conducted "ethnic cleansing against Muslims
* July 1995 - Serb forces executed 8000 and put them into unmarked graves
* UN created the first International Criminal Tribunal to prosecute war crimes
Rwanda facts:
* In the early 1990's, Rwandan Tutsi rebels (RPF) repeatedly attacted Hutu-dominated Rwandan government
* April 6th 1994, plane of Rwandan president shot down over Kigali. Massacres of Tutsis and moderate Hutus began 30mins later
* Radical Hutu militaria (interhamwe) began a mass killing over 90 days, 800 000 died.
* RPF broke out of Uganda, defeated the Rwandan army and interhamwe and occupied. country.
* Un created the 2nd war crimes tribunal
Liberia facts:
* founded by American slaves
* state collapse and civil war after the Cold War
* peacekeeping responsibility was relegated to the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG)
Status 2003:
* war spreads from Rwanda in the the DR of Congo and Bosnis into Kosovo
* Haiti festers
* Somalia hasn't had a government for over a decade
Vocabulary:
* apartheid - separation of people according to race, caste etc.
* Maoism - political, social, economic and military theorist policies advocated by Mao Zedong, as those concerning revolutionary movements and guerilla warfare.
* Guerilla warfare - irregular soldiers; harrasing the enermy by surprise raids, sabotaging communication and supply lines etc.
* Mao Zedong (1893-1976) - Chinese communist leader.
* Communism - system of social organisation based on the holding of all property in common, actual owenership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state; domination by a single and self perpetuating political party.
* Martial law - law imposed by military forces. E.g. Myanmar (official name of Burma) underwent martial law.
* Cold War - rivalry after World War II between the Soviet Union (union of 15 constituent republics in E Europe and W & N Asia, comprising the larger part of the the former Russian Empire. Dissolved in December 1991) and its satellites and the demoncratic countries of the Western world, under the leadership of the United States.
* NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) - formed in Washington 1949 comprising of 12 nations of the Atlantic Pact together with Greece, Turkey and the Fed Republic of Germany).
By Kenneth Cain, Heidi Postlewait and Andrew Thomson (2004)
What a magificent book - the style, stories and perspectives were particuarly unique and effective for their means.
The book is set up in diary entry form, each dated and location marked. The authors all interchangeably wrote about their own experiences in certain parts of the world as UN peacekeeping workers: one a NZ doctor, another a Harvard lawyer and the other a NY secretary/social worker. They were sent to some of the most dangerous civil war conflict areas in the world during the 1990's - Cambodia, Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, Yogoslavia and Liberia. They offer a young, fresh and up-close perspective on the horrors that went on in those countries. And it also provides insight into the role the UN played in these matters. Easy to read and historically very educational, I recommend this book to people interested in world affairs and recent history.
Chapter titles:
Alpha - all clear
Bravo - some caution warrented
Charlie - direct threat
Delta - substancial deterioration
Echo - end of the line
The above are UN Emergency Security Designations.
Quote: "I find myself envying the Iraqis and Israelis... there are none subtleties and nuances of everyday life; you're at the core of every feeling. Nothing else matters but to stay alive. And that is how I want to feel." (Heidi, p.13)
Quote: "...I grew up taking for granted that contentment in life comes from serving others and not oneself. Now I'm fulfilled by a callig of my own." (Andrew, p.23)
Quote: "I finally found my moment in history." (Ken, Leaving Cambodia, p.89)
Middle Eastern facts:
* Tel Aviv - city in West central Israel (large centre of Jewish immigration following WWII)
* Israelis - mix of North African, Levantine and Eastern Europe
* Baghdad - capital of Iraq
Cambodian facts:
* Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge - Cambodian Genocide in 1975
* The genocide - In the early 1970's, the Vietnam war spilled over its borders inot neighbouring Cambodia. In 1975, just before America evacuated Vietnam, a Communist guerilla group, The Khmer Rouge, marched into Cambodia's capital Phenom Penh and took power. They killed over a million civilians in the following 4 years. The Soviet Union and Vietnamese invaded in 1979 and chased Kmer Rouge into the jungle where they still continued sporatic operations. At the end of the Cold War, the 'West' sent 20,000 UN peacekeeping soldiers and 2000 civilians to Cambodia to restore democracy.
Somalia facts:
* Somalia dictator - Siad Barre (president 1969-91)
* Somali warlord Mohammed Farah Aidid (president 1995-96) challenged the presence of UN and USA troops in the country
Haiti facts:
* Jean-Bertrand Aristide - Ist demoncratically elected present of Haiti (1991, 1994-6, 2001-04)
* General Raoul Cedras - leader of coup in 1991 that got rid of Aristide. Terrorized civilians, particularly pro-Aristide.
* Ton Tons Macoute - secret police that terrorized people.
* September 1994 - US sent 20000 troops. In October, Aristide returned and reclaimed presidency.
Yugoslavia facts:
* Bosnia - Muslims, Serbs, Croats
* At the end of the Cold War, Bosnian Serb forces conducted "ethnic cleansing against Muslims
* July 1995 - Serb forces executed 8000 and put them into unmarked graves
* UN created the first International Criminal Tribunal to prosecute war crimes
Rwanda facts:
* In the early 1990's, Rwandan Tutsi rebels (RPF) repeatedly attacted Hutu-dominated Rwandan government
* April 6th 1994, plane of Rwandan president shot down over Kigali. Massacres of Tutsis and moderate Hutus began 30mins later
* Radical Hutu militaria (interhamwe) began a mass killing over 90 days, 800 000 died.
* RPF broke out of Uganda, defeated the Rwandan army and interhamwe and occupied. country.
* Un created the 2nd war crimes tribunal
Liberia facts:
* founded by American slaves
* state collapse and civil war after the Cold War
* peacekeeping responsibility was relegated to the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG)
Status 2003:
* war spreads from Rwanda in the the DR of Congo and Bosnis into Kosovo
* Haiti festers
* Somalia hasn't had a government for over a decade
Vocabulary:
* apartheid - separation of people according to race, caste etc.
* Maoism - political, social, economic and military theorist policies advocated by Mao Zedong, as those concerning revolutionary movements and guerilla warfare.
* Guerilla warfare - irregular soldiers; harrasing the enermy by surprise raids, sabotaging communication and supply lines etc.
* Mao Zedong (1893-1976) - Chinese communist leader.
* Communism - system of social organisation based on the holding of all property in common, actual owenership being ascribed to the community as a whole or to the state; domination by a single and self perpetuating political party.
* Martial law - law imposed by military forces. E.g. Myanmar (official name of Burma) underwent martial law.
* Cold War - rivalry after World War II between the Soviet Union (union of 15 constituent republics in E Europe and W & N Asia, comprising the larger part of the the former Russian Empire. Dissolved in December 1991) and its satellites and the demoncratic countries of the Western world, under the leadership of the United States.
* NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) - formed in Washington 1949 comprising of 12 nations of the Atlantic Pact together with Greece, Turkey and the Fed Republic of Germany).
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Recent read - The White Masai
So I finished the White Masai by Corinne Hofmann on Sunday. I read it in 3 days. It was engaging and a pleasure to read. I am currently drawn to any book on Kenya so as to keep the memory alive of whence I was there and to relive my adventures.
Unfortunately I spoke to two ex-volunteers later that night. They rang me and wanted to chat about the Primary School where I taught. They have had heavy involvement with the school for many years, actively helping to fund and construct new buildings and other projects. They were lovely to talk to but two things disappointed me:
1. They asked ~ 'So, what did YOU contribute to the school?'
2. They said the memory of being there will fade quickly even if you read books to try and keep the memory alive.
Poo to them!! Firstly, what did I contribute to the school? Well, isn't myself enough?? It didn't feel like that answer alone would be adequate so I mentioned that I will also be sponsoring 5 students to go to highschool. *Pause, they're waiting for more...* And I organised a donation of money for the school to use on text books. Oh, they were happy with that! I'm glad I got their approval *sarcastically* Judgement about what one contributes is not cool in my book.
And the memory fading ~ well they can go jump cos that doesn't make me feel good. I don't want the memory to fade and they were so jolly about it. *Grumble, grumble*
So that indeed is that. The White Masai was a great read because I could identify with the bustling city that is Nairobi, the hassels and delays it takes to get things done, the bad condition of the roads, the fascination of being white to the locals, riding on the local transport, the difficulty in getting medical care, the long distance between places, the types of food available, the issue with bribery, the warmth&hospitality of locals, customs of the masai tribesman, the importance of cattle and the friendships that develop with locals and other 'whites'.
But besides the Kenyan connection, as a woman I really identified with the main character in the story ~ Corinne. Even though she seems 'crazy' at the start, because she does things that I found hard to relate to, you understand some of her feelings when it came love i.e. the nervousness of waiting to see your crush again. And by the end of the story, I admired her strength, determination and resilience. There are three subsequent books in the series and a movie has been made about the first one.
Essentially, it is a real-life story about a 27 year-old Swiss girl on holiday in Kenya who falls in love with a masai tribesman. At first sight! Even though she already has a boyfriend who was travelling with her. She commits herself to this new man even though they barely share a common language in which to communicate. It details her love affair (sex before marriage!) and her move to live in rural Kenya. She is very adaptable to the traditional way of living except is not immune to local diseases (well it was the 1980's) and so her health suffers. What comes next is blend of unique experiences that test her resolve and prompt her into action. Worth the read (but more so for females).
Unfortunately I spoke to two ex-volunteers later that night. They rang me and wanted to chat about the Primary School where I taught. They have had heavy involvement with the school for many years, actively helping to fund and construct new buildings and other projects. They were lovely to talk to but two things disappointed me:
1. They asked ~ 'So, what did YOU contribute to the school?'
2. They said the memory of being there will fade quickly even if you read books to try and keep the memory alive.
Poo to them!! Firstly, what did I contribute to the school? Well, isn't myself enough?? It didn't feel like that answer alone would be adequate so I mentioned that I will also be sponsoring 5 students to go to highschool. *Pause, they're waiting for more...* And I organised a donation of money for the school to use on text books. Oh, they were happy with that! I'm glad I got their approval *sarcastically* Judgement about what one contributes is not cool in my book.
And the memory fading ~ well they can go jump cos that doesn't make me feel good. I don't want the memory to fade and they were so jolly about it. *Grumble, grumble*
So that indeed is that. The White Masai was a great read because I could identify with the bustling city that is Nairobi, the hassels and delays it takes to get things done, the bad condition of the roads, the fascination of being white to the locals, riding on the local transport, the difficulty in getting medical care, the long distance between places, the types of food available, the issue with bribery, the warmth&hospitality of locals, customs of the masai tribesman, the importance of cattle and the friendships that develop with locals and other 'whites'.
But besides the Kenyan connection, as a woman I really identified with the main character in the story ~ Corinne. Even though she seems 'crazy' at the start, because she does things that I found hard to relate to, you understand some of her feelings when it came love i.e. the nervousness of waiting to see your crush again. And by the end of the story, I admired her strength, determination and resilience. There are three subsequent books in the series and a movie has been made about the first one.
Essentially, it is a real-life story about a 27 year-old Swiss girl on holiday in Kenya who falls in love with a masai tribesman. At first sight! Even though she already has a boyfriend who was travelling with her. She commits herself to this new man even though they barely share a common language in which to communicate. It details her love affair (sex before marriage!) and her move to live in rural Kenya. She is very adaptable to the traditional way of living except is not immune to local diseases (well it was the 1980's) and so her health suffers. What comes next is blend of unique experiences that test her resolve and prompt her into action. Worth the read (but more so for females).
Monday, August 9, 2010
An expert of failure
I'm going on a gameshow soon, some friends applied and got on so I thought I'd give it a go. In the information package I had a sheet of questions about myself. One of the questions was name your weaknesses and strengths. I could come up with plenty of weaknesses but not many strengths. Could I list one of my strengths as being 'an expert of failure'. Prob not, because it is negative in itself, but it certainly feels true.
This semester I'm finishing off my last uni suject (one that I had failed last year). It is visual art ~ the final bump in the road. Growing up as a child, I was always praised as being a wonderful artist and my handwriting was oh so neat. So I choose to do visual art at uni to accompany my education degree.... a natural attraction. But any initial confidence was bludgened down by the moody and unapproachable teachers that I didn't know how to please. And that barely taught the fundamentals. They taught you something briefly and it was never repeated again. For instance, a crucial demonstration on colour-mixing went for 10mins and that was it. I didn't 'get it', so was thereafter lost. Because I did't learn THEIR way I failed numerous times. And now here I am on my sixth and final art subject... and I'm reading 'Acrylic Painting for Dummies'.
I suppose I lacked the initiative to find outside help... but they didn't provide the support for that. I think it's an important role as a teacher to support your student and LESSEN the impact of anxiety about a given subject. Skilled painting seems unachievable to me and I think it's really unfortunate.
This semester I'm finishing off my last uni suject (one that I had failed last year). It is visual art ~ the final bump in the road. Growing up as a child, I was always praised as being a wonderful artist and my handwriting was oh so neat. So I choose to do visual art at uni to accompany my education degree.... a natural attraction. But any initial confidence was bludgened down by the moody and unapproachable teachers that I didn't know how to please. And that barely taught the fundamentals. They taught you something briefly and it was never repeated again. For instance, a crucial demonstration on colour-mixing went for 10mins and that was it. I didn't 'get it', so was thereafter lost. Because I did't learn THEIR way I failed numerous times. And now here I am on my sixth and final art subject... and I'm reading 'Acrylic Painting for Dummies'.
I suppose I lacked the initiative to find outside help... but they didn't provide the support for that. I think it's an important role as a teacher to support your student and LESSEN the impact of anxiety about a given subject. Skilled painting seems unachievable to me and I think it's really unfortunate.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
World Movies are nourishment for the soul
MOVIE REVIEW: Departures (Japan, 2008)
Tonight I watched the movie 'Departures' (director Yojiro Takita), winner of Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, 2008. Wow is all I can say first up. The soft classical cello sounds are still resonating within.
I got into the habit before I left for Kenya to watch movies that had been nominated for an award or had won one on the World Movies channel. For instance, earlier this year I watched 'Tsotsi', another Oscar winner (2006; set in South Africa) which is set in the slums and it was amazing. There's something unique about a really good foreign movie, it ties you in by offering a glimpse into someone else's life for a while... it doesn't have to be a revolutionary storyline but something neiche or simple is enough.
And it's interesting to realise that since watching 'Departures', I have felt more motivated. For most of the day, I have been feeling down and uninspired to do much. But since the movie has ended, I feel a lot more passionate about life.
'Departures' is set in a small Japanese villiage. A young married couple move from Tokyo to the small town Yamagata to start a fresh when the husband, Diago (Masahiro Motoki), can't maintain regular work in the big city. He moves to Yamagata and starts working in the encoffinment industry ~ an ancient cleaning ritual of deceased persons. The profession is looked at unfavourably by the community even though it pays well. He hides his job from his wife, Mika, thinking she would disapprove. Through the job, he develops a strong appreciation and respect for the process involved in preparing the "departure" of loved ones and performs his duties with honour.
The storyline is delicately portrayed. Aside from death, other issues explored are parental abandonment, marital relations and the search for one's self. Watching the movie, I felt in touch with my youth because there were many flashbacks to Diago's childhood. And I also made a meaningful connection to one specific open carsket scene in the movie. Death in this manner affects you and I don't know if it is ALWAYS because it hits home or if the movie is powerful in it's own right.
Trailer: http://www.departures-themovie.com/media.html
Reviews:
"Departures turns out to be a delightful surprise, at once an engaging dramedy and an eloquent social statement. "- Bob Mondello, NPR
"This film is absolutely amazing..so well made it transcends the limits and strictures of language and its native culture. This film speaks to its viewers in the gentle and loving respect it shows its characters and through them, its viewers. How long has it been since you had the opportunity to be cherished by a motion picture? "- Ted Ott, Valley Scene Magazine
Other international movies I want to see:
Tonight I watched the movie 'Departures' (director Yojiro Takita), winner of Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars, 2008. Wow is all I can say first up. The soft classical cello sounds are still resonating within.
I got into the habit before I left for Kenya to watch movies that had been nominated for an award or had won one on the World Movies channel. For instance, earlier this year I watched 'Tsotsi', another Oscar winner (2006; set in South Africa) which is set in the slums and it was amazing. There's something unique about a really good foreign movie, it ties you in by offering a glimpse into someone else's life for a while... it doesn't have to be a revolutionary storyline but something neiche or simple is enough.
And it's interesting to realise that since watching 'Departures', I have felt more motivated. For most of the day, I have been feeling down and uninspired to do much. But since the movie has ended, I feel a lot more passionate about life.
'Departures' is set in a small Japanese villiage. A young married couple move from Tokyo to the small town Yamagata to start a fresh when the husband, Diago (Masahiro Motoki), can't maintain regular work in the big city. He moves to Yamagata and starts working in the encoffinment industry ~ an ancient cleaning ritual of deceased persons. The profession is looked at unfavourably by the community even though it pays well. He hides his job from his wife, Mika, thinking she would disapprove. Through the job, he develops a strong appreciation and respect for the process involved in preparing the "departure" of loved ones and performs his duties with honour.
The storyline is delicately portrayed. Aside from death, other issues explored are parental abandonment, marital relations and the search for one's self. Watching the movie, I felt in touch with my youth because there were many flashbacks to Diago's childhood. And I also made a meaningful connection to one specific open carsket scene in the movie. Death in this manner affects you and I don't know if it is ALWAYS because it hits home or if the movie is powerful in it's own right.
Trailer: http://www.departures-themovie.com/media.html
Reviews:
"Departures turns out to be a delightful surprise, at once an engaging dramedy and an eloquent social statement. "- Bob Mondello, NPR
"This film is absolutely amazing..so well made it transcends the limits and strictures of language and its native culture. This film speaks to its viewers in the gentle and loving respect it shows its characters and through them, its viewers. How long has it been since you had the opportunity to be cherished by a motion picture? "- Ted Ott, Valley Scene Magazine
Other international movies I want to see:
- The Counterfeiters (2007) ~ Based on a real life counterfeiting plant was set up with prisoners in the concentration camp in Sachsenhausen. Austria, Oscar Winner.
- The Lives of Others (2006) ~ Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck takes a hard look at East Germany, before the fall of the Berlin Wall, where a mind-boggling one in fifty citizens spied on the rest. German, Oscar Winner.
- The Sea Inside (2004) ~ The real-life story of Spaniard Ramon Sampedro, who fought a 30 year campaign in favor of euthanasia and his own right to die. Spain, Oscar Winner.
- The Barbarian Invasions (2003) ~ During his final days, a dying man is reunited with old friends, former lovers, his ex-wife, and his estranged son. Canadian, Oscar Winner.
- No Man's Land (2001) ~ Two soldiers from opposing sides in the conflict become trapped in no man's land during the Bosnia/Herzegovina conflict in 1993. Bosnia & Herzegovina, Oscar Winner.
- All About My Mother (1999) ~ Young Esteban want to become a writer and also to discover the identity of his father, carefully concealed by the mother Manuela in Alomodavar's masterful melodrama. Spain, Oscar Winner.
- 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days (2008)~ illegal abortion in Romania
- Wings of Desire (1987) ~ An angel tires of overseeing human activity and wishes to become human when he falls in love with a mortal. German.
- Pan's Labyrinth (2006) ~ In the fascist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world. Spain, Won Oscar,
- City of God (2002) ~ Two boys growing up in a violent neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro take different paths: one becomes a photographer, the other a drug dealer. Brazil, Oscar Nominated
- Nobody Knows (2004) ~ In Tokyo, the reckless single mother Keiko moves to a small apartment with her twelve years old son Akira Fukushima and hidden in the luggage... Japan *partially watched
- At the Height of Summer (2000) ~ This aesthetic story revolves around the lives of three sisters, their relationships with each other as well as their relationships with the men in their lives. Vietnam.
- Maria Full of Grace (2004) ~ A pregnant Colombian teenager becomes a drug mule to make some desperately needed money for her family. Colombia
Older movies:
- The 400 Blows/The Adventures of Antoine Doniel (1959) ~ first in a series of 5 French movies about childhood and growing up. Oscar Nominated.
- The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964) ~ a French musical about a 17-year girl who lives in an Umbrella shop with her mother. Oscar Nominated.
- Black Orpheus (1959) ~ A retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, set during the time of the Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian, Oscar Winner.
- Yojimbo (1961) ~ A crafty ronin comes to a town divided by two criminal gangs and decides to play them against each other to free the town. Japanese, Oscar Nominated.
- Spirited Away (2002) ~ In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and monsters; where humans are changed into animals; and a bathhouse for these creatures. Japanese, won Oscar.
Movies I have seen:
- Departures - Oscar Winner 2008
- Tsotsi - Oscar Winner 2005
- Nowhere in Africa - Oscar Winner 2002
- Amelie - Oscar Nominated 2001
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - Oscar Winner 2000
- Life is Beautiful - Oscar Winner 1998
- Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Paulo Coelho - The Witch of Portobello
Today I finished reading, 'The Witch of Portobello', The Sunday Times Bestseller. Bought it in Doha airport on my way back from Kenya for about $10AU. I needed something fictional and short yet interesting to read so I wouldn't fall asleep on my 6hr airport stopover. I chose this book because I had previously read 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho and enjoyed it very much.Main character: Athena
Other characters: Edda, Heron, Andrea, her mother...
Athena was adopted from Romania by a Lebanese couple. They raised her comfortably until they had to move to London due to civil war. Athena developed an interest in religion from an early age. When she divorced her husband Lukas, she could no longer recieve Communion and severed ties with her church. She discovered dancing from the owner of her apartment after her separation. The dance ritual was called 'the search for the Vertex' and had Polish origins.
"Dance only to the sound of percussion; repeat the process every day; know that, at a certain moment, your eyes will, quite naturally, close, and you will begin to see a light that comes from within, a light that answers your questions and develops your hidden powers." p.64
Athena committed herself to this dance and started seeing results at work. She inspired her fellow staff members to do the same (dance in the mornings before work to stimulate the body and mind) and their bank started experiencing amazing productivity.
She was promoted to work in Dubai. There through a client, she met an old man, Nabil, who taught her the ancient practice of calligraphy. Each movement he said, was to be guided by the soul. After much practice and repetition, she mastered the technique. But when she was ready to move on, Nabil said, now, she had to master the blank spaces in between the letters.
Athena took the initiative to find her birth mother Liliana in Transylvania and learn about her gypsy roots. Her mother talked about her worship of St.Sarah, the patron saint of gypsies and taught Athena about the Great Mother (the earth, sky; mother of all creation).
Athena moved on to selling real estate in Dubai and made big bucks. When she had made enough money to support herself for the next three years she moved back to London. She maintained ties with Heron, the British journalist whom she met on the voyage to meet her mother. Through Heron, she met Andrea, an actress at a local theatre company. Their initial contact occured when Andrea wanted to interview Andrea about her experiences with gypsies as she was putting on a play about the female face of God. Athena obligued and then started mentoring a group of actors at the company.
Athena doubted her teachings but was guided by Edda, her own teacher. She encouraged her to learn through the process of teaching, to be guided by her students along the journey and the Great Mother. Athena hadn't yet filled the blanks and was still looking for inner peace.
The theatre group ended up turning into a mass affair every Monday night in Portobello. Athena discovered an ability when in trance (by dancing against the rhythm of the music) to connect with Hagia Sofia, the Great Mother in her soul. This happened because the soul disconnected from her body and a space opened up. She recruited followers. Hagia Sofia could diagnose illness and communicate messages to specific people from the the spiritual world. She danced with the congregation and ended with a sermon. A local priest got hostile and condemned the activities as devil worship. He attempted legal action. When things started getting out of control with the media and Athena's son, Viorel was getting teased at school, she stopped the meetings. Two weeks later her body was found murdered in Hampstead, beyond recogniseable.
Quote about collective energy (to help you achieve a trance like state):
- Edda to Athena: "...groups are very important because they force us to progress. If you're alone, all you can do is laugh at yourself, but if you're with others, you'll laugh then immediately act. Groups challenge us. Groups allow us to choose our affinities. Groups create a collective energy, and esctasy comes more easily because everyone infects everyone else." p.184
Quotes about teaching:
- Nabil to Athena: "What is a teacher? I'll tell you: it isn't someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires the student to give of her best in order to discover what she already knows." p.93
- Liliana to Athena: "Learn, but always learn with other people by your side. Don't be alone in the search, because if you take a wrong step, you'll have no one there to help put you right." p.i148
- Edda to Athena: "You need to teach what you don't know, what the mother wants to reveal through you." p.161
- Edda: "There is only one difference between a teacher and disciple: the former is slightly less afraid than the latter. Then, when they sit down at a table or in front of a fire to talk, the more experienced person might say: 'Why don't you do that?' But he or she never says: 'Go there and you'll arrive where I did,' because every path and every destination are unique to the individual." p.257
Quotes about personal development:
- Edda to Athena: "Re-programme yourself every minute of each day with thoughts that make you grow. When you're feeling irritated or confused, try to laugh at yourself. Laugh out loud at this woman tormented by doubts and anxieties, convinced that her problems are the most important thing in the world... most of our problems come from following rules." p.181
- Edda to Athena: "When you're washing up, pray. Be thankful that there are plates to be washed; that means there was food, that you fed someone, that you've lavished care on one or more people, that you cooked and laid the table. Imagine the millions of people at this moment who have absolutely nothing to wash up and no one for whom to lay the table." p.181
THE GENESIS OF ATHENA (end of book):
- In this book, Paul Coelho wanted to explore the feminine side of divinity, to plunge inside the heart of the Great Mother. He felt the need to question why society had tried to lock away the feminine side of God.
- The novel sprang from both reality and fiction. The reality ~ in 2005, he met a Romany stewardess in Transylvania who had been adopted by an Austrian family and had gypsy roots. The rest of the story came from other places and himself.
- Through Athena he tackles the notion that not everything in society can be explained (there are mysteries we should respect and honour) and he attempts to 'unveil the shackles of dogma'.
- Athena embodies his feminine, compassionate side. He sees part of himself in this character.
- the book is about ppl who dare to take some steps towards an unconventional spiritual path
- a witch is a person who never complied with the established rules, and always tried to dare and go beyond
- love is hard for most of us to accept because it can take us to heaven or hell
- I dance because I think it's important to be emotionally well-balanced. I lose control through dance once a week
- my religion (Cathololism) is more important than the men trying to guide it. I don't always agree with the pope, priests and bishops. For me, Mass is the most perfect ritual.
- I don't know why my books appeal to people, I write to understand myself. Through the process, my thoughts, like a puzzle, become clear.
- I write a book every two years. And I write a book in one month because it is being written in my soul.
- Every second year in January, I need to see a white feather. And the day that I see it I start writing.
ME:
This story has inspired me to dance. Uninhibited-like. I would die if anyone caught me dance my silly style. I just throw my body into it and jump up and down and wiggle my butt. Some music is better than others. This is Africa (Waka Waka) by Shakira is a current personal fav. Through this book I also learned about witches. I don't think I've ever read anything specifically about the history or orientation of witches. I also learned about gypsies and some information about the country Romania as well. Didn't know Transylvania was in Romania.
Paul Coelho is an amazing writer. I like that he is inspired to write a book in a month. I love that he looks for the white feather as a sign to start writing. I love signs myself but in recent times, I've been put off them. I've been trying to take CONTROL of my life and put less dependence on signs. Still working on a perfect medium/balance. The books certainly helped me to reconsider their importance again.
Athena reminds me of someone I know. Whenever I visualised her in the book, she took on the form of someone I consider witch-like in real life and who radiates elements of both goodness and evilness. I can see parallels. I think it helped to have a set image of her in my head, it made the story come alive. It's interesting... the relationship I have with this witch-like person in real life is similiar to the relationship between Athena and Andrea in the book. There is distain for each other... they try to live in harmony but it seems unnatural.
Moving on, the interview at the back of the book - what genius. It fuels food for thought. Especially for someone like me who needs prompting to explore a narrative. Coelho is a beautiful author and his work, very complete. I read another book recently, 'The Life of Pi', with notes at the back. It makes all the difference and can be of great inspiration for book club discussions. Some potential things I would be interested in discussing with others are:
- what do you know of witches and gypsies?
- what part(s) of Catholocism do you agree with?
- what are your blank spots?
- do you agree with the notion of collective energy?
- do you think it's realistic for me as an almost qualified primary school teacher to adopt a philiosophy that I should learn as I teach? How far should I take that extreme?
- what do you think of the statement: we fear love because it can take us to heaven or hell?
- have you ever been in a trance? Do you think it's similiar to the Buddhist concept of Nirvana?
In the Beginning
...there was a sexy zebra who adorned my page. And colours to match.
I need to implement hard work to keep this blog up and require brain exercise to fill it.
There needs to be a reward in place to motivate myself. If I continue this blog until Christmas, then I will shout myself and one other person to Afternoon Tea at The Hotel Windsor in Melbourne. Cost is $49 pp. Times 2:30-4:30pm.
Description: The Hotel Windsor has been serving traditional afternoon tea since 1883. Our famous afternoon tea is served to your table on three-tiered silver stands and consists of reshly baked scones with jam and cream, exquisite pastries and finger sandwiches. Upon arrival you will receive a glass of sparkling wine, whilst freshly brewed tea and coffee is brought to your table throughout the afternoon. Afternoon Tea is served in our signature restaurant, 111 Spring Street every day of the week. http://www.thehotelwindsor.com.au/
Reasons for using a blog:
I need to implement hard work to keep this blog up and require brain exercise to fill it.
There needs to be a reward in place to motivate myself. If I continue this blog until Christmas, then I will shout myself and one other person to Afternoon Tea at The Hotel Windsor in Melbourne. Cost is $49 pp. Times 2:30-4:30pm.
Description: The Hotel Windsor has been serving traditional afternoon tea since 1883. Our famous afternoon tea is served to your table on three-tiered silver stands and consists of reshly baked scones with jam and cream, exquisite pastries and finger sandwiches. Upon arrival you will receive a glass of sparkling wine, whilst freshly brewed tea and coffee is brought to your table throughout the afternoon. Afternoon Tea is served in our signature restaurant, 111 Spring Street every day of the week. http://www.thehotelwindsor.com.au/
Reasons for using a blog:
- review books I've read
- review movies
- record important events
- put thoughts into words
Other objectives could be to quit my addiction to tv and video games. That's right. I'm proud I'm not addicted to cigarettes, alcohol or drugs but I'm ashamed to be addicted to tv and games on my iphone. Instant gratification. It causes me waste time.
New everyday philosophy:
- Physical exertion - need to TONE my thighs
- Hard Work - something to earn each day
- Brain Exercise - using my brain, doing such things as reading
- Leaving a legacy - doing something for someone else, eating healthily; basically not thinking about just myself
Note: this new self philosophy doesn't include LOVE. That can wait...
The introductory note is summarised. Longer posts will occur from here on in.
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