Now that I teach social studies, rather than math, I have much better discussions with my students - and they're even on topic most of the time! (last year we had a lot of twilight talks, but that was definitely off-topic)
Yesterday, in Global Studies, we talked about high income countries (1 billion people on earth, in places like the US & Europe), middle income countries (2.3 billion people on earth, in places like Mexico & china), and low income countries (3 billion + people on earth, in places like Haiti). We talked about how the few people in the high income countries use up about 75% of the world's resources how that leaves very little for the poor people in other countries. The students thought that we should live more evenly, but decided that would only happen in people in the US (and other rich countries) were willing to live like Mexicans: some would be rich, but most would have just enough - food to eat and clothes to wear and a place to sleep and a cell phone - but no extras. They did not think that Americans would be ok with this. So they are thinking that the world will implode soon.
Today, in Government, we discussed whether God has chosen all of the world leaders (this is what their Christian textbook says). A student asked if that means Jesus likes Obama! Another student, not even joking, replied that they thought Jesus did not like Obama, bc that's what they heard (where, I wonder?) So then I asked, what about really bad leaders? What about people like Sadam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden? Did God choose them? They just shrugged. Then I asked, "what about Kim Jun Il?" - he's the leader of North Korea.
One of my students said, quietly but firmly. "If God chose him to be leader of North Korea, then he has ignored those people and left them to die in Hell on earth." She asked another student for a translation of a Korean word to describe the situation there, and he said, "there is no English for that word."
The Koreans told the Americans that it is easy for them to think that God has chosen leaders, bc their gov't, even when it is bad, is not too bad. Everyone still has food and human rights. It is harder to believe in God when you are suffering.
A little child will lead us.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
I don't want to grow up
A common question, when I explain that I teach high school, is "does it make you feel young?" (ok, the first question is a shocked "why??!!")
Actually, no. Teaching high school makes me feel old. Really old. Bc it reinforces how quickly culture changes today - I did not even have email in high school, not to mention ipods and cell phones and everything else. So in their minds, I'm as ancient as their grandparents.
But that doesn't mean I want to grow up. I want to be, not 18, but maybe 25 forever. At 25, I was newly married, newly employed, newly healthy, newly moved. I felt as if I could do anything I wanted. In fact, when people ask me how old I am, I almsot say 25 before I croak out the real number.
Those older than me who are reading this are rolling their eyes right now, but I have a feeling this will keep happening for a couple of decades, so we're really in a similar place. The age I feel I am and the age I really am are not the same.
Still, I'm one of the oldest and most experienced on my staff (isn't that scary?!) so I've felt older this week than normal.
In Mexico, the average woman in a rural area gets married at 20 and has her first child within a year; the average woman in an urban area gets married at 22 and has her first child within 2 years. So I feel much older here than I really am, bc Mexicans keep asking me if I'm pregnant (it's a compliment here, really, it has nothing to do with the extra 10 pounds around my middle section) and acting like my "clock is ticking".
In the spirit of not acting my age...
How to tell you're a grown-up:
- you go to work when you're really too sick to eat or drive or think
- when you have to stay home from work bc you're too sick to leave the couch, you drag the laptop onto the couch with you and try to get some work done.
- your favorite novel stays on your bedside table while you fall asleep at a reasonable time, then get up and go back to work
- you have a hard time making friends, unless you work with them, bc you rarely talk to anyone after work
- you put off a much needed and wanted vacation because it's a "frivolous expense" of time and money
- you no longer feel that following the leader is an appropriate management method, mainly bc you no longer want to feel like you're 5 years old
*sigh* I'm a grown-up bc I have a job, I want to keep it, and I spend most of my time doing it. Does this mean I start getting younger when I retire?
Actually, no. Teaching high school makes me feel old. Really old. Bc it reinforces how quickly culture changes today - I did not even have email in high school, not to mention ipods and cell phones and everything else. So in their minds, I'm as ancient as their grandparents.
But that doesn't mean I want to grow up. I want to be, not 18, but maybe 25 forever. At 25, I was newly married, newly employed, newly healthy, newly moved. I felt as if I could do anything I wanted. In fact, when people ask me how old I am, I almsot say 25 before I croak out the real number.
Those older than me who are reading this are rolling their eyes right now, but I have a feeling this will keep happening for a couple of decades, so we're really in a similar place. The age I feel I am and the age I really am are not the same.
Still, I'm one of the oldest and most experienced on my staff (isn't that scary?!) so I've felt older this week than normal.
In Mexico, the average woman in a rural area gets married at 20 and has her first child within a year; the average woman in an urban area gets married at 22 and has her first child within 2 years. So I feel much older here than I really am, bc Mexicans keep asking me if I'm pregnant (it's a compliment here, really, it has nothing to do with the extra 10 pounds around my middle section) and acting like my "clock is ticking".
In the spirit of not acting my age...
How to tell you're a grown-up:
- you go to work when you're really too sick to eat or drive or think
- when you have to stay home from work bc you're too sick to leave the couch, you drag the laptop onto the couch with you and try to get some work done.
- your favorite novel stays on your bedside table while you fall asleep at a reasonable time, then get up and go back to work
- you have a hard time making friends, unless you work with them, bc you rarely talk to anyone after work
- you put off a much needed and wanted vacation because it's a "frivolous expense" of time and money
- you no longer feel that following the leader is an appropriate management method, mainly bc you no longer want to feel like you're 5 years old
*sigh* I'm a grown-up bc I have a job, I want to keep it, and I spend most of my time doing it. Does this mean I start getting younger when I retire?
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Beating us at our own game
When we moved down a year ago, I was hoping that a few weeks without satelite TV, internet, or our moving truck would mean that I'd finally take time to work out every day and get into great shape.
Then, I tried walking up the stairs.
Turned out that the air was so thin here that basic activities, like showering or walking up stairs, left me out of breath. It took me most of the summer to be able to do routine physical activity without panting.
Some of our guests also have a hard time with the high altitude and thin air, so we normally try the most physically demanding tourist activities sans guests.
Not this week!
Coincidentally, Dave had the week off of work when his sister came to visit. She's only a few years younger than us, but in incredible shape. She was the perfect guest to take to the Nevado - Toluca's volcano - and we climbed not only to the top of the crater, but also into the crater, had a picnic, and then climbed back out.
"it sucked, but it was awesome"
We also climbed the pyramids, went to a soccer game, and shopped at Taxco. Overall, a fantastic staycation for us.
We want others to come and visit when you can. we promise not to work you too hard. :)
Then, I tried walking up the stairs.
Turned out that the air was so thin here that basic activities, like showering or walking up stairs, left me out of breath. It took me most of the summer to be able to do routine physical activity without panting.
Some of our guests also have a hard time with the high altitude and thin air, so we normally try the most physically demanding tourist activities sans guests.
Not this week!
Coincidentally, Dave had the week off of work when his sister came to visit. She's only a few years younger than us, but in incredible shape. She was the perfect guest to take to the Nevado - Toluca's volcano - and we climbed not only to the top of the crater, but also into the crater, had a picnic, and then climbed back out.
"it sucked, but it was awesome"
We also climbed the pyramids, went to a soccer game, and shopped at Taxco. Overall, a fantastic staycation for us.
We want others to come and visit when you can. we promise not to work you too hard. :)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Perspective
We try to listen to "Michigan Radio" every morning - the highly awarded NPR station we've been members of for a few years now. It's a little tricky in Mexico and involves some internet procedures I don't understand, but it's great when it works.
This morning they had a great story on Mexico. Of course, this story is from a North American reporter written for a North American audience, which is what makes it really fun for us. One of the first lines of the story caught my attention, even in my half-awake state:
I've spent a lot of time in Mexico, and this is not like any other event I've ever seen. Not only does it start exactly on time, the organizers are sticklers for safety and follow every rule of the road.
Also, everyone she interviewed spoke English. I'm thinking that Tijuana may be in the same country, but it's a world away from where we live!
Check out the story:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111100400&ps=cprs
This morning they had a great story on Mexico. Of course, this story is from a North American reporter written for a North American audience, which is what makes it really fun for us. One of the first lines of the story caught my attention, even in my half-awake state:
I've spent a lot of time in Mexico, and this is not like any other event I've ever seen. Not only does it start exactly on time, the organizers are sticklers for safety and follow every rule of the road.
Also, everyone she interviewed spoke English. I'm thinking that Tijuana may be in the same country, but it's a world away from where we live!
Check out the story:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111100400&ps=cprs
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)