One Tree Mountain
So that's what we climbed today. It's the highest point on the island. I thought treking to the lighthouse yesteray was intense, but the jungle we had to go through today made the lighthouse journey seem like a clean-cut backyard in Greenwich. I had to take my sandles off at one point (don't freak out) because my feet were too muddy and wet and were slipping around on the rocks, clay, and whatever else I was stepping in. The jungle plants and "grass" went as short as 1 foot high and as tall as probably 20 feet. Chris, Jaclyn, Joe, Adrienne, Kieran, and Boody (Booty? He's from Indonesia) even had to scale some pretty steep slopes at one point. But it was well worth it to stand on the grassy hill overlooking the air strip, small towns and lagoon with countless small islands scattered about. It's called One Tree Mountain because the Peace Corps planted a tree up there as the result of finishing a bigger project down in the town ... or something like that. The tree is definitely foreign. I'll get the pictures up soon.
Father Author is a really cool guy. He's Fijian, like I mentioned. He looks like that famous Japanese actor that played opposite Tom Cruise in The Last Samurai. Fr. Author is very smart, but likes to take his time and comes off as a very wise, experienced person. I decided to go mass in his little house. It was simply 5 of us sitting around a cheap, plastic table with a bible on it, the water and wine in minuature water bottles, and Fr. Author sitting in his normal, sweaty clothing behind it, except with a finely pressed ... thing that goes around his neck and flows down his body. I forgot what they're called. Someone help me out. Anyway, mass was nice.
I won't be pulishing posts this often. It just so happens that I have free time now and there is so much that's going on. Starting tomorrow I will start going over my curriculum for World History and English Skills. I'm reaing another book Fr. Author gave us that is for beginning teachers. It emphasizes that the first day makes or breaks the rest of the year. No pressure. I think I'll stand on my desk Dead Poets Society style. If any of you have great ideas for my first day that will get my students to love, fear and respect me, please comment.
Anyway, keep sending love. I love, I mean, really love it when you post comments. And here is my adress again:
A.J. Cabrera
Jesuit Volunteer International
Xavier High School
P.O. Box 220
Chuuk, FMS 96942
Peace
posted by Dan @ 1:44 AM
6 Comments:
Hi, AJ!
Your postngs are great. First day of school, be who you are. Respect comes little by little, when they see you respect them as individuals. Always have high expectations of your students and yourself. Enjoy what you do and find the humor. I'm sure you can guess who is giving you these tips.
I think your address is Chuuk, FM and not FSM. The post office told me that FM is abbreviated to the 2 letters, just like CT, NY, NJ, MA, etc, since it runs on the American postal system. Check with the people there.
Enjoy!
AJ!
It's called a stole. :-)
And while at work, I thought of some things you could go to create love/fear/curiosity from your students:
1. Sweep books off your desk in one arm motion and then say "we're learning about LIFE, not BOOKS!" (this may not work, especially if you're teaching English)
2. Show them The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, and mention how Tom Cruise requested the role of Walter, but that you turned him down.
That's all I got for now. Hope your day goes well, and avoid giant spiders (eek!)
I got a cute picture of You, Me, and Dan after your movie. I'll send it along.
Hey,
I think you should enter the classroom by throwing down one of those smoke bomb things, then appear on top of your desk wearing a cape and holding a sword. Smash the sword into your desk and say, "He who pulls out the sword shall be deemed the chosen one!" Then pull it out, point it at the kids and say, "I'm the chosen one. No touching my desk." Then give them candy and play name games.
As for cool yet non-violent names, how about The Dumbledores or The Fellowship. Or The Sunglasses. The Hang Gliders? Maybe something natural that isn't violent but aggressive, like The Tidal Waves or The Avalanches. They probably have no idea what that is though.
This comment is WAY too long. I like the pictures. Figure out how to make a sewage processing plant out of bamboo.I'll work on it too. Later.
AJ's
Your descriptions are great, and we enjoy them immensly.
On your first day be yourself, with humor and seriousness. You are a Professor, do not forget, there to instruct not play, to challenge, but not in a boring way, to help, and not merely to make them laugh. You are not an actor, you are a...Professor. they must respect you, and like you.
AJ! ohmigosh i am SO jealous of the girls in the pictures that you are with.. haha.. but seriously i miss you already! holy cross will never be the same... i guess dan will have to take over as my main form of entertainment and laughs--get ready! um can you tell me how to pronounce chuuk? it's hard for me to visualize you there when i can't quite grasp it's proper pronunciation. well everyone else that's posted on your blog has been funny/insightful, but i sound pretty ditzy, so i'll have to make it up to you on another posting! take care you.
AJ: your postings are really interesting and it's great to see that you're really enjoying your experience in Chuuk and concerned about your responsibilities there.
Keep up the good spirit. Regarding your classes, try to make them interesting and see that the students interact with you and keep participating. My limited experience teaching adults in the NYCT is that there are always 20% of them that are not interested, or lost, or in another dimension no matter how much you try to engage them. The key is to keep the other 80% interested and behaving correctly. Ask the ones that are really interested what kind of topics they would like you to expand upon (as long as they are related to the curriculum). Be practical regarding their customs, etc. (remember that you are not in the US).
Good luck and keep the postings coming, we really love them.
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