Teaching Technology

Amman Blog

2008-08-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

www.tt2009.blogspot.com

The Last Post

2008-07-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

As the trumpet plays its soulful song and the sun sets, it is true to say I have completed my contract in South America.

(1) So what did I learn. (2) What did I teach. (3) What would I do differently. (4) Is Colombia as bad as its portrayed!

(1) I learned that I need to ensure I am not over estimating the students ability level. The projects I did this year were good, and challenged the students both at grade 6 and 8 but the time scale for the main projects took too long to work through due to the fact the kids were adapting to such a steep learning curve. I also learned that if you don't understand the start of any lesson or in my case conversation you find it very difficult to associate ideas and follow the rest of the conversation or lesson. This probably applies to a lot of the pupils who are disinterested in classes through out the world. Somewhere in their education they have missed those first few introductory words and as such can no no longer associate the ideas and information they are being given no matter how simple we as teachers think we are making it.

(2) I would like to think that I taught the kids in my classes the ways to approach researching and then analysing information, presenting it and thinking about it. About how to solve problems and that the first idea is not always the best idea, and how to work as part of a team working together to produce a result. I did not teach any kids how to saw a piece of wood as a skill but I did encourage the students to be adaptive and creative and to question their ideas and improve them.

(3) One thing I found frustrating this year was the lack of decent equipment and materials, in truth we had a very basic set up which limits the ability to encourage depth of creativity. Had I known how limited we would be this last year I would have pushed for more materials and equipment at the start. Technology departments can be run on minimal materials but you need to plan for that from the start and organise projects to meet the facilities available from an early stage not live on possible promises or hopes that dont then appear. Year two should increase the budget to ensure you can build on the first years start point. Cutting the budget should be a definite no no.

(4) I have lived and walked the northern part of Bogota, classed as one of the 5 most dangerous cities in the world for the last 11 months. It has been an outstanding experience. It has opened my eyes to the vastness of the gap between those who have money and those who don't. It has shown me how warm and friendly all Colombians I met are, from the lady who cleaned my classroom and the local burger stall lady up to the director of administration at the school. everyone has been so nice and supportive and full of advice about where to go and where not to go. In truth Bogota is a big city but is no different from London, Cairo, Madrid or Paris, as long as you apply common sense street awareness. The pollution in Bogota is bad though, there is no obvious control on emissions as such the air can at times have a very noticeable oily taste and its not unusual to see residents using face masks as they walk about. Although there were times I felt it was quite bad most of the time it was bearable.. just. I guess the big question is would I go back if an opportunity arose and the answer is an unequivical yes. The standard of living is less the weather is pleasant and the life style is much more relaxed. I did not get to see the many things I thought I wanted to before going out but I did see many things I hadn't thought I would and it does leave me an excuse to return one day should the opportunity and funds allow for it.

I would like to thank everyone that supported and helped me during my time in Colombia, especially Dave the Aussie Maths Teacher who is a straight up honest guy and one person I hope to meet again - Thanks Dave, not forgetting Chris and Camilo who are also great guys good luck in your new jobs guys. But very special thanks go to 4 ladies who kept me safe, organised and ensured I didn't struggle. Thank you Gloria and Martha, two Colombian primary teachers and Valerie an English primary teacher who all went out of their way to ensure I felt settled and comfortable in Bogota and who will always stay very close friends.

Finally thanks need to go to Diana my colleague and fellow technology teacher in Bogota who kept me smiling at work and was always able to solve any problems I had with Colombian Red Tape, without doubt Diana made my Colombia adventure possible and I cannot think how it would have been without her support both in and out of the work experience. Diana if you ever need anything and its in my power to provide it you know you will get it. Thank you.

This is the end of the Colombian Blog.

In August I will be starting a new Blog on a weekly basis called "A Man in Amman - Technology Teacher 2008-2009" I hope those who have enjoyed my ramblings will drop in on the new blog to see what differences there are between teaching in Colombia and teaching in Jordan.

So for the final time Chao Mis Amigos Hasta Pronto.... Steve

Thank You

2008-07-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

This will be my last but one post on the Colombia Blog .

I intend to take a few days to go over the experiences I have had and then try to produce a concise commentary on what I felt and experienced with regard to Colombian Education and Colombian Living and life styles.

It feels strange knowing I have left Bogota not to return but my time now is going to be very busy as I apply my thoughts and efforts to the next job in the Middle East. One which is going to be a far greater challenge due to the expectations I have for what I want to do next.

The big question is can I create the dream I have in mind, and will it work. Can I take technology lessons into the 21st century.... both in lesson projects but also with lesson teaching. I will have the equipment and I do have the skill but combining them to achieve 100% success is not going to be as simple as I like to make it sound.

More in my next post.

Elvis has left the building

2008-06-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

Well ok I have left the school... I am now no longer employed by the English School. I am sitting in my hotel room and I have a bath the size of a small swimming pool !!!!!!!

Needless to say today did not run smoothly from the start with the taxi turning up late to the school underpaying me. (albeit perhaps only by a little) more about this tomorrow.

So tonights plan is chill out have a lonnnnnnnng bath and drink a beer sit back and watch the TV.

Bye everyone....

Thursday -3

2008-06-26T06:48:00.000-07:00

This is a quick update from school as I will have no Internet or TV in the flat tonight and will probably be taking serious withdrawl symptoms...

Since I hand back the flat to the school tomorrow I need to have all the personal items removed. Adilsa the school cleaner and maid who has helped me out over the last year is getting all the remaining items including the TV (she is bringing her son to carry it - poor soul - its heavy)

So when she leaves this evening the only things that will be left in flat will be what was in it when I arrived. Its kind of sad really. Seems like I have come full circle.

I am though contrary to feeling sad about the wee flat happy to be moving into the Hotel for the next 2 nights, only one small problem I gave the Hotel the address of where I stay the wrong way round meaning if they try to find me I have sent them almost 180 degrees in the opposite direction.!! Needless to say I am imposing on Diana to help contact the hotel later to ensure they have the address the RIGHT way round.

So there we have todays short update... Tonight I will be having an early night !! (Might be about 5.00 laughs) ok maybe not quite that early as I still have a few films downloaded on the laptop and my Ipod is fully charged up, and I do believe my fridge has a couple of beers left in it (No food but the beer is going to be cold)

Finally looking at the map of visitors I would just like to thank the person or persons who are logging in from the Canary Islands - Thank you for making one of my favourite areas in the world look as busy as Scotland and Colombia. Now if only I could find someone in Alaska or Russia in these last 3 days .....

Manyana Mis Amigos

Wednesday -4

2008-06-25T16:51:00.001-07:00

Today started well I finally managed to get my timetable for Jordan through and its not too bad. (Certainly better than my timetable here has been.) 6 double periods of Design & Technology per week and 10 single periods of Computer Technology. So in total I teach 22 out of a possible 45 periods. Can't really complain too much at that. I will be teaching 2 classes in each grade at 8, 9 and 10 thats the equivalent of 3rd year 4th year and 5th year in the UK system. My colleague out in Jordan Denise will have 3 classes each of grade at 6 and 7, UK equivalent of 1st year and 2nd year.
Personally I think I have the better deal (I did the planning ) as I get to work with the more mature kids as well as being able to teach ICT across the complete middle years set up.

This afternoon was of course the "Quiz" totally in Spanish but due to Dianas on the spot translations I got the gist of most questions... we expected to come last but actually came equal 3rd a very good result and winning us 20,000 pesos each (£5). So my afternoon was good too. The only down side was that like everything in South America it takes forever to get things started which resulted in my still being in school at 4.45 !! unheard of. (worthwhile since we did come 3rd though)

I also received a 30,000 peso (£7) voucher from the social committee because I was leaving ! and a set of Hand Towels for having a birthday earlier this year. Only problem is I have no space to pack the hand towels so my classroom cleaner/ maid who is coming to get the remainder of the household items tomorrow night will now get 2 nice new hand towels too.

So Wednesday was in the great scheme of things a Good Day.
Manyana mis amigos

Tuesday -5

2008-06-24T19:53:00.001-07:00

Without classes time seems to almost stand still. As such nothing exciting has happened, I haven't been anywhere or done anything particularly interesting or unusual.

I have really had enough of going into school and sitting in front of the computer or drinking coffee in the staff room.

Tomorrow is Wednesday tomorrows highlight is a Staff Quiz at 2.00 in the afternoon... I can almost guarantee the questions are going to be in Spanish, but then its not the winning thats important its the taking part and it is more exciting than what I have had the last 5 or so days. I just hope my team mates (Diana and Angelica can cope with my blank look and confused expression)

I was so bored that when I got home tonight I unpacked and repacked my cases, redistributing the weight more evenly. (For the record thats the 4th time I have done this in the last 12 days) - which is also how long my cases have been packed for.

More tomorrow after the Colombian version of Mastermind has taken place.

Chao

Monday -6

2008-06-23T17:32:00.000-07:00

Exotic Fruits..

The image below is of a Pitaya its a famous Colombian fruit that is exported mostly to Japan.

The outer yellow casing has a rubbery feel, the inside is very soft almost liquid gel like with dozens of small black seeds.

It has a very sweet taste a bit like Kiwi in texture.

I had half of one of these the other night, its about the size of a large orange. It was really nnice the flavour is really good and the texture although unusual doesn't detract at all.

What was neglected with regard to the information given to me before eating it is that it is well known for its LAXATIVE properties. Without going into too much detail I can confirm it is one of the most POWERFUL laxatives I have had... I spent the night feeling like there were small miniature nuclear explosions going off inside every few minutes. A sleepless night but trust me Colonic Irrigation is not required

Sunday

2008-06-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

This was my last chance to go along to help feed the homeless Martha and Oscar picked me up at around 7.00 and we headed south... On the way I found out we were going to alternate site rather than the more usual Parque Espana. The meeting place for this visit was the Parque Millenium.. Another area that had been renovated into an open area with water features and trees. In the centre of which sits the city morgue. (Kind of changes the perspective a little) The Parque is patrolled by Police and Military not for any particular danger but more to make sure as soon as the homeless are fed they are moved on.

This is a much smaller group than meets elsewhere and the age range of the homeless is dramatically different. In Espana the age range would be 18 to 30 but at Millenium there are 2 distinct age ranges 40 to 60 and 5 to 15.
As you can see from the following photo this area is not one of the nicer areas of Bogota. The whole parque area was like this until they bulldozed it throwing even more people out of what little protection they had and making the areas around the parque even worse.

Meeting the poor and the views of poverty I have seen here in Bogota cab be heart rending.. to see people with nothing when to them I am rich beyond their wildest dreams can be hard to accept. Martha has said many times giving them money would not help and sadly its true, the money would not go on food or clothing it would not be used for survival but only to purchase a drug fix or enough moonshine liquor to blot out the day. In all my travels in and around Bogota I have not been to the far south. If you think of Bogota as a straight line running North South with a dot at the middle, thats as far as I have been.

The south takes the level of poverty to an even more dramtic level than where I have been too. Needless to say even the Catholic group I have been out with don't venture further south. So for a Gringo it would not be a wise move unless well protected.

Finally today it was strange to be saying goodbye to people I hardly know yet they were all wishing me a safe journey for when I leave. Colombians by nature are very friendly people with a warmth that bypasses language difficulties.

The days left are few... as of now 7 days and counting down.

Manyana

Saturday

2008-06-21T20:05:00.000-07:00

The BBQ at Dianas was nice masses of food and good company the only downside was the rain... and it rained hard.

But I came away feeling well fed and watered (The beer went down well).

Tomorrow I am off weather permitting to organise the Hotel to uplift my cases on the Friday morning which will save me carrying them about.

And short though it is thats been my day.

Sleep well my friends...

Friday....

2008-06-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

The weekend is here my last full weekend in Colombia.

Tomorrow I am going to a BBQ at Diana's and on Sunday I am going back to the Parque Espana to help with the feeding of the homeless for the final time.
So its a fairly busy weekend.

Monday at school is what is called Paz y Salvo day which is where the students come round to get signatures from their teachers stating they dont owe any text books or equipment. An easy day for us as we didn't loan anything out this year.
Tuesday and Wednesday are normal days *Meaning we have nothing happening*
Thursday is Assembly Day and we finish at 12.00
Friday is Parents Day and we finish at 12.00 and I will have left my little apartment that has served as home in Colombia for the final time.
My next 2 nights Saturday and Sunday will be in a 5 star hotel with Saturday being my day to say "I SPENT A MILLION !" (Unfortunately the school will not refund the Sodexho system they have as such I will get 2 books of Sodexhos worth 1.3million pesos or close to £300) So unless I can find a kind soul to buy them off me I will be going on a spending spree, as they are of no use outside of Colombia.

There are some things I need to get and some things I could get so Saturday will definitly be a retail therapy day. Sunday I have my flight so after a leisurely morning I will make my way to the airport mid afternoon and hope everything runs smoothly for my flights back.

To be honest I am wishing the days away, my time here and the work I have done at the school is over and the next challenge awaits. A recent email from Jordan has let me know that a Vacuum Former has been ordered the cost of which is not coming out of my Budget... Thats a BONUS. Just need to work out what projects I can do to make best use of it.

More tomorrow after the BBq.... Chao mis amigos

Good evening from Bogota

2008-06-19T19:29:00.000-07:00

It seems I am getting lackadaisical (sic) and missed posting last night. Maybe thats because yesterday was exactly the same as today ...nothing.
The days seem to drag.....as I have no classes and no work. The nights seem longer than normal and I find myself longing for the clock to reach around 10.00 so I can go to bed ... that way when I wake its another day.

I have a feeling the school are in some form of financial difficulty. This is just a general feeling tied into various little things that are and have been going on.

I asked if the 1 million (£300)sodexho vouchers I am due to get on the 27th of July could be given in cash instead of vouchers (Since thy can only be used in Colombia and I will have only 1 day to spend them..) The school said No it couldnt be done.. In effect I have no complaint as it does state it clearly that sodexho vouchers are part of my contract. However other schools in the area allow staff to cancel them. The English School don't.

The school have cancelled the contracts of 3 staff have accepted the movement of another 12 staff and are also losing 4 of the Senior Management Team. To add to that they are looking at cutting back on Heads of Faculty and Heads of Department, All these are seen as cost cutting measures.

So you can imagine the staff who are staying who were given their new contracts today only to find out that although their salaries go up about £750 a year they end up being anything up to £50 worse off than this year due to the Dollar Exchange rate.

The payment of Dollars is seen as an advantage to International staff a sort of guaranteed safety net over less solid currencies like the peso. That is until the recent loss of the dollar which has caused serious repercussions to those staff who are remaining. Would you work for another 12 months after being given a pay increase in one hand and watching it being taken away by the other hand on the reasoning that the dollar exhange rate is so low.

It is times like this I am happy I am only on a 1 year contract and it is petty well nailed down..BUT I am still not convinced about the amount that will be paid in supposedly by next Friday Lunch time. Bearing in mind the school closes at 12.00 there is NO time for me to complain or seek advice. I am in effect going to have to accept whatever they give me.. You can imagine I am not exactly ecstatic about this even though I have obtained an "estimate" of the net amount to be paid which is close to what I would expect. I can still see it going awry on the day. Such is the total lack of confidence in the Administration!.

So with 1 week to go and the countdown to leaving now in single figures the relative stress level is still fairly high and will no doubt remain so up to the last hour of the last day.

Tomorrow is another day.... and only a half day finishing at 12.00
More tomorrow night

A quiet day

2008-06-17T17:20:00.000-07:00

It is Tuesday and more staff changes come to the fore...

So far this year the Head of School was sacked at Christmas his replacement due in post after the summer.

Now to add to the problems the Head of High School has stood down, the Head of Middle School has resigned, The IB Diploma organiser has resigned, an Art teacher is leaving, A Maths teacher is leaving, 2 Science teachers are leaving, an English teacher is leaving, the Economics teacher is leaving, a History teacher is leaving and of course so am I, though I am the exception as I was only ever here on a 1 year contract. The worrying thing is that these are almost all International teachers who are either ending an early contract or have made a decision not to reapply.

If I were the head of the board I would be worried, it has to be a concern about the way the school is being run by the board, when so many staff in high positions are walking away.

From a personal viewpoint I have to say the school have been excellent though, mainly because we as a department have been left alone to get on with what we do best.. Teach.

However the pressure on those who remain will be immense and I would be interested to know how many remain at this time next year. For the staff to feel appreciated and to want to give their best efforts the board really do need to look at what they have done to moral and to the staff this year and try not to make the same mistakes next year or what is a good school in the top level as far as results are concerned will quickly become a second level school a slide that once started is hard to stop.

Through it all its not the staff or the board who are important but the kids, and I feel sorry for the kids especially those I have taught this year. I will miss my students, who have been good and through everything have tried hard in almost all cases.

Cesentias... did Colombian Red Tape run smoothly... The answer is yes ... I was told the 1.5 million pesos that were due to me would be paid after 5.00 tonight and checking online it has indeed been paid into my account.. If anyone from UK banking happens to read this thats 36 hours after asking for it... in other words stop mucking the UK public about with this 3 to 5 working days for bank payments to CLEAR !! as thats just a con to gain the interest to boost the banks coffers in my humble opinion. However I should also state that every time I access the Internet banking here it does cost me the equivalent of 15p but for the speed of access and support definitly worth it.

Tomorrow is another day... where I have nothing to do, being organised is good but damn is it boring ! Maybe I can sneak off a bit early if the weather is good and have a nice walk back.

Manyana mis amigos

Cesentias... Or Return of Pension Payments

2008-06-16T12:23:00.001-07:00

Colombia is a very very beurocratic society steeped in red tape.

When I arrived out here it took nearly a whole day to get the Colombian ID Card that is required for everything you do.

So needless to say todays visit to IGN to recoup the pension amount subtracted from our pay over the last year was not something I was looking forward too but rather seeing it as a necessary evil.

Fortunately I went with a couple of other teachers one of whom was fluent in Spanish (Does make a big difference) As we went in we took a ticket and joined what looked like it would be a long queue, infact it took 10 minutes to get to our numbers and that was just enough time to fill out the offical paperwork that was for once remarkably simple even for a non Spanish speaker to fathom out.

The attendant on the desk kindly agreed to seeing us all at the same time and within 10 minutes we had all had our paperwork checked stamped, finger printed and completed..

I stepped back out into the afternoon sunshine feeling like I had been cheated... Where was the long wait, the impossible paperwork and then the beligerant attendant..

It was however a nice surprise.

If everything now goes as planned I should find approx £500 appearing in my Colombian bank account after 5.00 tomorrow ! Expect an update tomorrow night to see if things completed as easily as they seem to have suggested.

That aside my day at school was very easy going, I had no students, I did a little paperwork, a lot of surfing and managed to get some administration work completed. Diana my colleague was working away and the computer system seemed very very slow mainly I expect due to every teacher in the school trying to get their grades and comments onto the system. Needless to say because i did mine at home I have not had that problem .. always better to get these things out of the way and avoid the bottleneck.

Manyana Mis Amigos

Sunday Late

2008-06-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

Its raining...

Though by now this shouldn't really come as a surprise.

Tomorrow a new week starts I have no idea what I will be doing since I have finished all my comments and grading. There are no defined classes. So I might do some prep work for Jordan. I need to make up a working Net for a simple cube for use in early classes and I also need to look at some powerpoint slide presentations.. I had considered taking my lap top into work on but every time it shuts down just now it takes forever to restart... I think it really needs wiped and reinstalled BUT thats a major undertaking and I don't want to limit my access through Windows Vista playing up until I get back to UK and have time to wipe and reinstall in relative comfort and ease.

So in the mean time I will just have to grin and bear it.
Updates on tomorrow....tomorrow

Another weekend almost gone.

2008-06-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

Its sunday...

HAPPY FATHERS DAY to my dad and all those dads out there hope you all have a good day.

I was so busy yesterday trying to get my grading finished I missed posting I do sometimes get very focussed on things and forget about the peripherals.

My Hotel room is booked, 2 nights with Breakfast in Central Bogota. (The room has a BATH) To be honest everything else about the hotel is immaterial it could have been a 1 star if it had a bath its just a bonus its a 5 star!

Oh there was one other factor about going to this hotel it has a bar full of English Ambiance according to the advertising blurb. The bar is called the GLASSGOW bar !!

So I will be having a wee dram there to see if I can change its thoughts to Scottish Ambiance!! other wise I might need to instruct the staff in the famous Glesga Kiss (I am all for cross cultural improvements after all)
More later tonight chao

End of the Exams.

2008-06-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

The exams have finished, I have passed all my kids, the two who were close to failing (Or would have without my intervention) came to me today and thanked me profusely for allowing them continue. One in particular if he had failed it seems would have had to move schools. Colombian education can be quite cut throat at times.

Aside from 7 solid hours marking !!! my day was pretty non eventful.

Julio is one of the Science teachers and a really nice guy it was his birthday today and Carlos his boss had invited myself and a few others to the local tienda (read street pub)to celebrate over a beer, this is Bogota as the locals see it, open pubs with the owner delivering beers (and anything else you ask him for) on demand.

Loud South American music blasts out of the speakers and people chill, chat and dance Salsa in between the tables. The world passes as you sit, shoe cleaners ply their service, A sombrero salesman wanders amongst the tables one hand holding 20 or so hats stacked tall, mostly cowboy style, A watch seller tries his best to illicit some interest as the Rose Seller makes a sale at a near by table and amongst all this hustle and bustle is the pretty young woman in the not so new clothes with a baby in her arms and another holding onto her coat tail trying to make a few pesos by selling sweets. Colombia is a writhing mass of humanity in even the smallest area and even though in the time I was there with my friends and colleagues I still felt like an outsider. They live with this day in day out and in some ways don't even see it anymore, yet I seem to see every moment slowed down, showing the tired eyes and grimy hands of the shoe cleaner, the torn jacket of the rose seller and the shoes of the little girl holding onto her mothers coat, scuffed and worn but probably one of her prized possessions
We take so much for granted in UK because the "poor" hide themselves away, here they don't hide yet they remain for the most part unseen except by those who are not innoculated against them. even the poorest person in UK would be well off here by comparison, as I walked home I saw a family begging on the streets people passed them like they didn't exist, the father carrying one child the mother carrying the familys belongings in a sheet while a younger one ran to keep up with a bedraggled poncho style covering on... I was going home to a warm flat where they would be tonight is anyones guess.

Bogota has provided me with a lot of joy and happiness while I have been here but at the same time it also has a way of reminding you about the void between those who have and those who haven't.

I had written a bit about the Hotel I was booking when I realized it didn't really fit in with the theme through tonights post and seemed a little crass. I will keep it for tomorrow.

Manyana mi amigos

Exams are finished let the Marking begin

2008-06-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

My grade 8 classes finished their exams last thing today.. I have managed to get one set of papers marked and graded tonight leaving just 4 more classes to do.

In this first set of papers I had the 2 boys who are in grave danger of failing the year...

After marking their exams they failed the year by .1 of a grade. So here is the question.

Grade 8 kids next year do not get Technology.
If I fail these 2 kids and they have failed 2 other subjects they will be forced to repeat the year.
If they have failed 3 other subjects they will repeat the year anyway.

So do I allow them to pass Technology or Not. After a lot of thinking tonight I decided to give them both a concessionary pass now i have no idea if thats in my remit to do but I have done it anyways.

My reasoning is the following.. 1.. They dont have technology next year. 2.. Technology should not be seen as the axe that is used to crack a nut. 3.. If they have failed other subjects then they have enough pressure on their plates over the next 4 days of Recuperation without studying for a subject they can't take next year.

and finally if they have failed and have to redo the year they will have to redo Technology anyway.

If Technology was available next year I would not have been so lenient. Maybe I am getting soft in my older age! or maybe this year its the right thing to do.

Either way I have passed them and will stand by that decision (of course I am not here next year to see the consequences, but maybe a teacher having a bit of faith in them is all thats needed to have them change their effort next year... naive I know)

Finally the cold is gone.... but the sore throat remains so from cold medication I am now on a freeze spray with a cool mint flavour that turns my throat into a tube! and lozenges that taste like they have been designed to make you suffer while you heal.

Through it all I dont feel ill its just annoying...

More tomorrow...

Who stole all my red dots !!!

2008-06-11T17:35:00.000-07:00

If you look at the map on the right hand side you will see all the dots have gone. This is part of the mapping software where after a year of use they archive the map and start a fresh one... So the archived map had a total of 4040 visitors on it and had run from the 9th June 2007 to today !!

Thanks again to everyone that dropped in to read the blurb I was putting up on the page.

Wednesday and a long lie.. 6.15

2008-06-11T17:24:00.000-07:00

So having made the decision to stay home and recover.. I stayed home and I do feel better, I have used loads of LemSip type products and my cold seems to have run its course just leaving a cough that I will work on...while I drink the gallons of fresh orange juice, eat the many banana's and sip the Activa yoghurts.

But the day at home was a huge plus as I managed to get ALL my grade 6 exams graded, checked, put onto the schools computer system over the internet and then even managed to add in all the comments. Thats a heck of a lot of work and half what I would have had to do if I hadn't got so much done today.

Tomorrow Grade 8 sit their exam and by the end of the day I will have another 130 odd papers to mark, grade, and transfer to the system but they dont need to be done till next Friday so I have time to do it without rushing.

Hopefully after some more night time LemSip and a decent nights sleep I should feel a load better and can get on with tomorrow. I admit I am looking forward to it. Considering this was my first day off in many years I actually felt guilty but justified it by the amount of work I have got through.

Manyana Mi Amigos

The fight goes on

2008-06-10T20:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I topped myself up on Colombian Lemsip (No its not a white powder its an orange colour and tastes of mango's) Which was good I felt ok during the evening and slept pretty well to, but going back into school maybe wasn't the brightest of ideas as by 1400 I was feeling awful again. So I have seen the boss and basically have agreed I need a day off to sit in the warm, and keep myself doped up to try to get rid of this annoying cold.

Tomorrow is a shorter teaching day and I dont have any exams so will be staying at home.. The first day I have had off ill since coming to Bogota... but I wont be wasting the time... I brought home my Grade 6 exams to finish off grading and will try to get the data up onto the school website from home.. Now if only I could do the teaching that way too.....

So thats the update... short but then I am sweet!! More tomorrow

Chao

Ah cold a cold my kingdom to get rid of this cold !

2008-06-09T16:29:00.001-07:00

I admit it... its getting wearing... I keep thinking I am beating this damn cold and it keeps sneaking back and hitting me harder.. So tonight I am attacking with everything at my disposal !! PAX is a lem sip style product they do a Day and Night version I HAVE BOTH I have more Benelyn and I have throat lozenges and anti flu caps.. I have decided its IT or ME !!! War has been declared...

If it continues to get me down like this I might be forced to take my first day off this year ... that doesn't sit well but if its that or getting worse maybe a day off would allow me to get over it faster.

I will see how I feel in the morning.

4 cover lessons today for exams... exam cover can be good or bad depending on the garde your covering and the time... ie if its Grade 6 its terrible they haven't got the exam idea into their heads yet and still think they can come and go and do what they like during an exam. Where as grade 8 are more mature about it... but where its really bad is if you get the hour before the exam !!! where its open revision (Read chaotic noise for 60 minutes..) I found myself sitting in 2 revision periods for grade 6 classes today needless to say I was pretty drained by the end of those 2 sessions.

My grade 6 kids sat their technology exam today and the results are varied to say the least bearing in mind 7 is the top grade and 1 the bottom I have a pretty standard bell shaped curve from the first class I marked. Will need to mark a few more though to see if its across the board...

On my way back from the pharmacy having topped up on my meds I snapped this pic which just sums up what you see on the roads around Bogota, and with the fuel crisis and cost of oil you have to believe it might become more popular 2 carrots for 30 miles sounds a good deal.

Sunday

2008-06-08T18:45:00.000-07:00

My little lady cleaner came back in today and the place is sparkling like a new pin... all I need to do now is organize when the school can come look at it. Once the inventory is checked then its just a matter of seeing out the remaining weeks... There are some issues I have with the school, which I hope to sort out tomorrow. They aren't critical but the way colombian offices work it just seems to take forever.(Unless you start making a pest of yourself)

Today I went for a walk to the Hacienda shopping centre... had a coffee and generally just took things easy. I don't feel 100% yet but I wasn't as tired as I have felt recently and hopefully with a good nights sleep I might be better tomorrow.

Its strange though a bug like this in UK would have probably flattened me here its an annoyance but doesn't stop me functioning, I assume its down to the general level of health I have out here and possibly something to do with the altitude. However I have no intention of carrying out any medical tests to check out my theory so for now.. a good nights sleep and see how tomorrow fairs.

Finally before signing off I am devastated... my helpful, happy, friendly Portero's or Door security guys have rotated to another building.. I am lost.. the happy cheery guys are now controlling access in the building next door and I have 3 new guys who are (no offense) not anywhere near as friendly or happy looking. I actually feel cheated it was so good leaving in the morning and coming home at night to the old team sort of made things feel comfortable. Thankfully it isn't for long but even so , the one guaranteed area of stability in my life here now no longer exists and its not a good feeling...

manyana amigos

Sorry for missing Friday

2008-06-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

Yes my cold is back with a vengence !! last night after getting home the most I could do was have some water and then get an early night. The cold I thought I had got rid of over last weekend had just been having a work day holiday and hit me hard again. Today has been better partly because I went to the local Pharmacy and bought some Benylin for sore throats and dry coughs... which I have been merrily swigging from through out the day, its been replaced by a beer tonight but will take more Benylin before bed.

In my short walk today I took a couple of pictures one of an electrical engineering preparing to go up and repair or check some equipment. He was kitted out with ropes for climbing and leather thigh supports so he could climb the pole, as you can see in the picture he is a couple of feet off the ground, but look up and wonder to yourself.. Would you go up there.. I am pretty damn sure I wouldn't !!!! Electricity in Bogota is about as well organised as their road surfaces. Blink at your own risk.

The other picture just seemed right, here was a family who had had their mattress refoamed at the local cushion and foam shop. How do you get the mattress home No Problema tie it to the top of your trusty VW Beetle from 1963 or there abouts and head back through the streets of Bogota.

And with these two pictures.. I am off to bed, another early night with a good swig of benylin and the hope tomorrow is a step on the way to a full recovery.
Laugo mi amigos

I have taught my last official class in Bogota

2008-06-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

Well thats it .. I had my 2 grade 6 classes today and thats my official teaching finished. I have exam covers now for the next week as well as a lot of upcoming marking. I had to sit tonight and write up a Recuperation Exam so if any kids fail the exam they get to sit the Recuperation exam a second chance so to speak. but to get ready for that they only have 4 days to study for it. (They've had 6 weeks to study for this one). In principal its a good idea.. but to be honest if they cant pass my exam with 6 weeks of study then they wont pass the resit one which has to be harder with 4 days.

I now really do feel that my time here is almost over its only just beginning to sink in. My lady in the Laundry said to me last time I was in to pick up some clothes "How much would I charge to teach her English" Now if she had asked me that 10 months ago I would have bitten her arm off if she would have taught me some spanish. But with 22 days left I had to say no.

Days are counting down, kids have already started on the "Sir do you have to go" and its hard to say yes - even though they must see a lot of International teachers over their time in school they still don't understand the conccept of staff moving on and seem to take it quite personally. It is true though one of the things I will miss most here are the kids who have been excellent in almost all ways. Sometimes they are still kids and act up but the majority of the time they are the nicest group of young people I have ever worked with, polite, caring, understanding and a credit to the families and upbringing they have had.

More tomorrow... as my thoughts wander more.

Manyana

1 teaching day left

2008-06-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

Today was Wednesday, I gave the kids an easy day for the first period. 2nd and 3rd period we were at the flag raising ceremony part of the event involved giving out the Design Books I had bought on behalf of the department. Since the kids had no idea it was happening the 4 who were awarded the books one from each grade group were so happy and the school appreciated the gesture. It was nice to give a little something back and perhaps encourage 4 pupils into being product designers of the future.

One of my grade 6 kids called Manuel came up to me today and said as he was leaving the class ..Sir I want to be a technology teacher.. its fair to say at this point in time if he was, technology would be in a bad state but then he does a few more years of learning to go, so who knows.

Tomorrow is the last teaching day before the kids start exams... then its a recuperation phase for those who have failed followed by the signing off of the kids books etc.. easy for our department as we dont have any books.

Sunday my classroom cleaner a lovely lady called Adelise is coming back to finish off the apartment.. then next week the school will come check the inventory once thats doen its just a matter of handing back the keys when I am on my final day.

Its fair to say this year for me has flown in, its been an incredible experience and I will summarise it when I write my last post on this blog in a few weeks time. For now the story continues as the days slip away in the blink of an eye.

Over 4000 hits registered on the map amazing how something set up for friends and family has grown so wide. Thanks to everyone who took the time to drop in.

Tuesday... recovering

2008-06-03T16:46:00.000-07:00

After updating the blog last night I was left with no option but to go to bed I was feeling so ill. I ran a very high temperature through the night I know I woke up feeling like I had swam the channel !! but I did get some sleep and woke feeling a bit better. I had thought it was maybe tied to the flat being cleaned but one of the other teachers was commenting on a bug going round that replicates my symptoms exactly.. including the wheezy caugh I seem to be left with.

So there we have it feeling better apart from the cough and during it all another day of teaching has slipped away. Tomorrow is by nature a short day with the meetings and shorter lessons but found out today we have a "Flag Raising Ceremony" meaning I miss 2 of my grade 8 classes while we attend the assembly. It is worth while going though as I have bought 4 books on design and New Technology which I have agreed with Diana we will give to the students we have decided are the best Technology students this year in each grade.

Tomorrow is another day

Monday

2008-06-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

So its Monday and its a holiday and I feel terrible.. I am choked up have a stiff neck and the only thing thats different is the house is clean and I moved the bed... So I have moved the bed back and I am trying my best to make my work area look as messy as possible so that hopefully I will feel better tomorrow.

I did go for a walk today its weird really I was walking the sweat running off me, yet the sky was heavily overcast and I am just waiting for the rains and thunder to start. Colombia as can be seen from the news is suffering one its worst spells of weather ever with substantial rains.. I was told coming out that there were 2 seasons really that ran in 4 stages rainy, sunny, rainy, sunny, but this year has almost been rainy all the way through. My kids at school are always talking about how bad this year is usually dressed in their heavy coats and gloves with scarves on while I stand around in a short sleeve shirt...

3 more days of teaching Tue, Wed and Thu then its exams and followed up by end of year events. The final day of school has a sodding open Night for the parents.. That is really good planning !!! But I wont mind going to get my hotel room booked during the week so after its finished it will be a few quick goodbyes.. then off for some Champagne and Caviar in Bogotas 5 star hotel.. (Ok maybe Beer and crisps!!) But definitly a BATH!

More tomorrow.

Sundays Post (Late again)

2008-06-02T13:32:00.000-07:00

Its Monday ... what happened to Sunday. My little cleaner from the school came round as arranged to start tidying my flat up prior to my leaving.. I kept the place reasonably tidy. In came Adelise a lovely lady and I made my excuses and went off to do some shopping. I was away for 3 hours and when I came back Adelise was still working away... She is an Angel I could see my face in the floor and the cooker looked like one of those you see on TV Adverts with the sun glistening off it.

Adelise will come back in next Sunday to finish off but she has the rooms looking cleaner than when I moved in.!!! Only downside is this morning I feel ill I think its the rooms are too clean !!! Mondays post later

Weekly Update

2008-05-31T17:20:00.000-07:00

Since last weeks posts were taken up with my journey back in time. here is a quick Update to the week just passed.

Tuesday... Back into school. I had already put up signs saying I would be doing Grade 6 revision at Break time and Grade 8 revision at lunch time. This had been up highlighted for over 2 weeks and I had stressed it a lot in each class. So out of the 160 odd Grade 6 pupils I saw 5 boys and 4 girls out of Grade 8 5 boys and 5 girls. And as is always the way the ones who came are not the ones who would benefit most from the opportunity.

Wednesday... Grade 6 kids working on their acrylic clock and we get a drop in visit from a VIP the British Embassy ambassador now if I was to select a class for them to drop in on it would be one of my Grade 8 classes sadly things don't always work out the way I want... and he appeared with the Head of Middle School, Administrative Director, Sub Director, and Internal and External Co Ordinator (This last post is a bit of a novelty as I haven't yet found out what he does but he was there too.), totally unannounced they walked in to one of my Grade 6 classes ina state of chaos (Albeit controlled chaos) Fortunately the kids were in various stages of completion of their clocks, with a few actually finished. Everyone seemed really impressed with the work the kids had been doing.. I will be honest so am I. I kept the shaping of the acrylic to a minimum concentrating on letting them design on the acrylic with the dremmel tools while work on the acrylic was based on ensuring the edges were smooth and that they could heat it and bend it. It was quite interesting to see the kids faces when the acrylic became flexible simple things leave a lasting impression.

Thursday... The Grade 8 kids are now casting I haven't really pushed them hard for work this last term, its a short term and they are about to start exams at the end of next week so I figured they deserved the opportunity to just experiment and explore some technology without too much paperwork. There are some really interesting efforts taking place and the kids seem to love it. One boy who is not the most academic student has achieved a nice item and he just seemed so proud of it.

Friday... Last week I attended a meeting with the Head of Middle School, Grade 8 Advisor and the Parents of one of my pupils who has effectively done nothing in any project from the start of the year. each term the kids must get a grade point average of at least 4 to ensure they pass the year. So at this stage the pupil needs 12 points 4 in each term so far. This particular boy only has 11 points meaning to pass the year he would need a minimum grade of 5. Sadlyhe hasn't been performing well and is on track to fail the term and therefore the year. Its not because he can't do the work its down to the fact he chooses not to, being far to interested in Rock Music. I sympathise but at the end of the day if he doesn't hand work in for marking I cannot grade it. After the meeting he promised an improvement (It hasn't been obvious to me). As mentioned above I have been running exam help workshops he attended the first one 5 minutes from the end and didn't come to any other. Then out of the blue this week at my school email I received an email from his parents that could only be seen as a begging letter asking me not to fail their son as that would mean he would have to go to another school, loss of friends etc etc etc... I wasn't sure when reading it whether I should be angry or sympathetic. In the end I replied as honestly as I could saying I had no wish to fail their son and that if he achieved a grade of 6 or better on the final exam he would pass the year anything less and he would fail. I sent them a copy of the same info sheets I had prepared for all students one of which had already been given to their son, which laid out what needed to be studied. It is my opinion that he will be unlikely to achieve a grade 6 pass.. in some respects I hope he proves me wrong.

Saturday... Short walks to buy needed essentials.. tomorrow I have the little cleaner from the school coming to spend the first of 2 Sundays cleaning my flat.. I doubt it will need two Sundays then again !!! Tomorrow I will be hoping to go for a longish walk and have breakfast in the Unicentro... I also want to stop into the Hotel across the road from the shopping centre and look into booking a room for 2 nights at the end of June prior to flying out. I figure I deserve a bit of personal pampering after roughing it this year in my Bachelor style pad... OK OK I just want to lie in a BATH !! Its true and I admit it... I WANT A ROOM WITH A BATH.. to hell with the view !!!.

Manyana

Return from the past

2008-05-30T20:31:00.001-07:00

Day 4 meant the return to Bogota by bus. The early morning rise... yes the sodding donkey was still standing in for the cockeral that was having another day off.. and shower (still not convinced that the item over the shower tray is actually a shower, looks more like some ancient item of torture / but it does throw out hot water.

The journey back is slow but efficient and since its raining being in a nice warm bus is a plus. When they put on the afternoon movie its a real tear jerker about huskies left in the antartic. even in Spanish I find it quite an emotional film... but even funnier is the wee Colombian sittign beside me who at every really emotional bit says somethign to me and I nod and try to look sympathetic this works all the way through the film...

The last few photo's to fill in the remainder of the images taken.

The last image relates to the South American Religious view of Mary, Jesus and Joseph though of course in the imagery here in South America Joseph wears a typical Colombian hat - bet you never knew Joseph was Colombian.

Day 3.. The hotel on the hill !

2008-05-29T18:56:00.001-07:00

Day 3 dawned early... I had kind of expected a cockeral to crow in the morning dawn and in my corner room decorated in early medieval style with a corner window overloooking the washing line and cabbage patch, It just seemed a cock crowing was the way to go.. when it didn't it was nice for all of 2 seconds before the Donkey who was obviously feeling like he wanted some attention made his presence known and continued to do so non stop for the next sodding 2 hours... It was early and it was cold and to add insult to injury it was also raining at this point I longed for my normal bed that is comfy and warm this one felt like I was lying on a mattress made from straw !! (I didn't check but it might have been)instead it was in for a shower at least I think thats what this was.

Once breakfast was over we wandered down into town looked around the local Monastry that is now a small museum to the Franciscan Monks that had inhabited it until the 1950's when one day they just packed their habits and walked away. No one knows why or where they went.. they just up and left (Personally I think they headed to the sun !!)

In the afternoon we jumped on a bus and went to a place called Nobsa ... Its also famous but not for balls but rather for Ponchos so much so that we landed in the middle of the 3 day festival to celebrate the poncho.. even the Church wore a Poncho !! draped over it.. The central square was packed with people who wandered aimlessly about taking in the sights until some people arrived with lambs and sheep.. DRESSED !!! then they were the centre of attention everyone crowding round taking pics (yes I know so was I but it was the most exciting thing happening !)

Before heading back we popped into a small cafe for a coffee I also felt the need to go to the gents... I noticed a sign on the wall at the back of the cafe saying "bano" so off I went turning in front of the kitchen area I found the door closed and a sign saying $500 pesos to get in so I went back to the counter and asked for change. The lady smiled and shook her head explaining it was ok the gents was on the left at the back.. Now thats where I was but I felt I should go check again so back I went checked the door (Still locked) and as I turned to walk away there it was... the smallest cutest male urinal you could ever imagine in a nice baby blue colour... placed on the back wall beside the bathroom door that was closed, directly in front of the entrance to the kitchen. Nature has a way of making it impossible for you not to go when you know you want to... so I did, praying quietly that no one would need anything from the kitchen or that any of the ladies in the cafe would have a sudden desire to also relieve the pressures of the day !! For once life smiled on me and no one came back and I finished rinsed my hands and returned to the table... but trust me when I say I have NEVER wanted to finish quickly and not been able to do so, so much in my life!!!

Life here is slow ... whether its snoozing in front of the local off licence, riding your horse through town, sitting relaxing or going about your business... The sign is the stores "Name and Shame" for those who owe money and havent paid..

So 3 days no Technology no Internet no TV by now I am short tempered, frustrated and finding Cold Turkey is a dish best left to others... Tomorrow the final installment the return to the real world...

Day 2 of the Journey back in time......

2008-05-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

After an early rise a swim in the hot spa pool and then breakfast I felt relaxed, the hot spa pools are really good. After lounging around for an hour and a bit it was time for breakfast which after finishing it was decided we would go for a walk around the hotel and surrouding area. Buildings like this exist scattered everywhere. They all appear in a somewhat dilapilated state and with most the second floor is usually only a shell where money has run out as it was being built. But all are lived in...

On returning to the hotel we ordered a Taxi to take us on a tour and then finally to our next location a small hotel in a town called Mongui *pronounced Monn ghee* this small town in the Andes is apparantly famous for the making of Footballs or basically any ball... It must pay as almost every shop in the town sells balls...even to the point of a genuine size 5 football but where the animal fur is still attached to the ball !! furry footballs...
But I am getting ahead of myself here are the photos of the journey.. images of a famous battle where in the time of Simon Bolivar the Lancers changed a losing battle into a valiant victory and the location is remembered with this amazing sculpture. As well as images of the towns we travelled through and another small hotel we stopped at to get some prices, check out the spooky tree covering.. this stuf is amazing it grows easily and is parasitic to the tree eventually it will kill the tree but its wild and very weird. OK ..pics.. The photo's are in reverse order the first image is from the "new Hotel" giving you an idea of the height above the town you had to walk too... the rest work their way back to the sculpture.

More info about the hotel !! and the town tomorrow when we look at day 3/

hasta manyana

Day 1 of the Trip.

2008-05-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

After school on Friday we set off and caught a bus to Paipa. The journey was about 3 hours. The buses are excellent, almost the equivalent of Business class with comfortable seats and TV etc... overall the journey although long was painless. arriving in paipa we caught a taxi out the hotel. The hotel was in the process of being repainted this was due to its use in the Zorro films. When filming Zorro the director wanted typical spanish Hacienda's and Plaza's so had use the Plaza at Villa de Lleyva one of the previous locations i had been too which was quite close by and then also this hotel. However for both it required the buildings to be painted white to give the original Spanish feel while most buildings in this area are painted a mustard yellow with white highlights. The Images below should provide a feel for the hotel which was excellent not least for the "Natural Hot Spring Mineral" waters that were piped in. relaxing in water that is bath water hot and which is so full of salts and minerals as to be like the dead sea in that you cannot sink no matter how hard you try. The waters are very refreshing and on coming out your skin feels almost silky smooth. A great start to the 3 day trip though by Colombian standards expensive at about £50 a night. Still well worth it.

So thats day 1 catch up on day 2 tomorrow...

If I was a superstitious person?

2008-05-26T16:17:00.001-07:00

Hi all, I am back, to some that may be something to celebrate to others maybe not so but here I am anyways....

The last time I left Bogota for a long weekend in Villa De Leyva, the city was hit with Severe Ice Storms and a Tornado both of which are very scarce in Bogota.

This time I went off to Paipa, Sogomoso, Nobsa, and Mongui and while I am out of the city it has its first earthquake in 20 odd years !!.

So if your reading this and live in Bogota... I will be leaving on the 29th of June.... YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED !!!

Its kind of scary fortunately the quake was small in comparison to others recently, and from my return I could see no damage in the area I live in. The only hint something had happened was my digital clock flashing with the power outage.

For those who want to know more about the quake this was the official line....

An earthquake that measured 5.6 degrees on the Richter scale shook Bogotá, Colombia’s capital, Saturday afternoon. At least six people were killed and 10 other were injured as the tremor shook buildings and sent residents running into the streets, authorities said.

The six people died when rocks and earth fell on a highway between Bogota and Villavicencio, Colombian Interior Minister Carlos Holguin said.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at about 2:20 p.m. (19:20 GMT) and was centered about 30 miles (50 kilometers) southeast of Bogotá. The depth of the tremor was of just 6 miles (10 kilometers) and for that reason it was felt more strongly.

The earthquake lasted for about 40 seconds and it was followed by a number of smaller aftershocks which shook Columbia in the following hour.

Numerous people left the buildings fearing they could be trapped under tons of rubble if the structures collapse. Many people waited on the city streets.

Columbian President Alvaro Uribe called on authorities to assess the damage and to learn how to help the community.

The tremor was also strongly felt in Puenquetame, about 20 miles (35 kilometers) southeast of Bogota, where a church was seriously damaged, to Luza Amanda Pulido, director of the president's disaster office, said. Some homes in the small town were also damaged.

Where I was I felt nothing and knew nothing as I was living in a technology free bubble of medieval south america. I will be adding comments about the trip over the coming nights but for tonight I am shattered, so read more tomorrow.

Hasta Manyana Mi Amigos

Thursday

2008-05-22T18:39:00.000-07:00

The most exciting thing today was the trip to work. The Bus picked me up as usual around 6.50 (Did I ever work from 9 to 330 !!!) only today on the way to work about half way into the journey we stopped infact every car for miles around was stopped due to a bus that was in the process of crossing what is basically an 8 road intersection and just when it got to the exact middle of the area effectively blocking all roads it broke down.. needless to say Colombians are not the most patient of people and there was no way anyone was going to give any room to allow the bus to be moved. Then to add to the ensuing chaos a car waiting in the line going nowhere burst into flame, It wasn't a big fire and the driver from our bus was out with his Industrial size fire extinguisher in seconds. After sitting for approx 20 minutes going nowhere the bus driver started reversing.. and not slowly but at a fast pace that had my colleague and I waiting expectantly for the crunch sound. Fortunately none came and we were soon on our way to school if only on a slight detour to our usual route.

I have heard that Jordan have had their Denford 2600 CNC and Lathe delivered, that they have agreed to putting 12pcs into the department and a 13th for the CNC system and that they have also found 25 A3 rotring drawing boards.. Things are looking better and better. I have asked for a Line Bender, a Vacuum Former and 2 Vibra saws to be ordered but wont know till nearer August if I will have them.

The Denford CNC system is to work with the "F1 in Schools" programme which is something I am quite excited by and I am sure the kids will love. Its a design and manufacturing challenge to produce a streamlined Co2 powered model car that can be used to compete locally, nationally or if good enough Internationally. Definitly a program that I will look to running with the senior year groups perhaps in class and also outside via an after school club.

So all in today was a good day (Even though it was MATHS day but I made a promise to myself after sufferign through the cr*p not to get down because of it tonight)and tomorrow I am off on my travels after school though might try to update via my palm someones wifi allowing...

Hasta Pronto mi Amigos

I remembered my keys

2008-05-21T20:44:00.000-07:00

After last nights c*** up I picked up my keys at work and felt much relieved. The day in class was pretty straight forward, worked with one group of kids, and got a lot of tidying and prep work done. I have an overload of MYP planning to do and sadly the inventory from Jordan although giving a great view of what isn't there doesn't help a lot with what is.. with regard to materials.

However i have asked for updates so now I just need to wait and see what comes back.

At this afternoons meeting we had another of the oh by the way we didn't tell you but if you have class at this time you need to go here moments.. Yes its Maths Day well actually i don't think it is Maths day as i am sure that Maths day was LAST month BUT maybe its a Colombian thing .. the outcome is I lose another grade 6 class to an unannounced event! Its so late in the year now I really have reached the point where I just cannot take it seriously anymore. So much so i am intending to request that I have a technology day. OK I wont do it here but I am considering it for next year though I will give plenty of notice. I feel it might be an idea to add in some of the problem solving exercises I used to give to the Air Cadets when I was in the RAF the basis for the tasks are pretty standard. And I know the kids enjoyed them on the nights we did them so once a year as part of the technology day might be interesting since my remit is critical thinking and problem solving.

Its actually quite scary, because i am researching MYP again to set up for next years lesson planning I keep finding things I haven't done this year but I Must do next year. Its fair to say I have payed lip service to MYP this year but in doing so I have learned a lot about what i feel will be the best way to move forward. I can see a few late nights ahead of me over the summer as I try to balance the need for paperwork against the need for a paperless office approach.

Finally I will be away Friday Saturday and Sunday visiting the coffee region of Colombia it is an opportunity I couldn't really not take advantage of. It does mean limited updates on those days unless I can find easy access to a hotel PC, or my Palm (The preferred option) allowing me to update where ever I am.

More tomorrow night after Maths day... Chao

A brighter day...

2008-05-20T19:32:00.001-07:00

A few litres of WATER and a good nights sleep seems to have helped.

Today was a busy day with most of my classes being Grade 6 .. what was nice was that most were getting the idea about their Acrylic clocks and working hard which is good to see.

I was working near the end of the day and had to rush to get the bus in doing so I left my flat keys sitting on the computer .. they will of course be safe enough but it meant I was locked out of the flat. Fortunatly when I first came out I left a spare set with my Co-worker Diana, Thankfully she was home, and I managed to get in eventually after walking to her flat then back.

I also received an email from Jordan, the CNC Machine and a Lathe have arrived, they will get me 12 computers and in doing the inventory they found 25 Drawing Boards so its been a pretty positive and effective day.

Tomorrow is Wednesday and apart from it being "meeting day" it also means the Grade 8 kids are off to their Sociology and Biology trip. So for the next 3 days I only have grade 6 kids and whatever covers I find sliding my way.

So all in a better day, feeling a bit brighter and refocussing for the next week or so prior to the kids exams.

Manyana ....

Feeling low tonight and tired.

2008-05-19T21:12:00.001-07:00

I haven't really had a bad night for a while but tonight I just feel a bit run down, and tired... so this is a short and basic post.. Hopefully tomorrow I will feel better..

Night all

Things just aint the way they are supposed to be...

2008-05-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

On Friday last week we had teachers day, it was a great day really and I am still eating toffees from one of the kids. The retaurant the school provided for the event was very good, the meal though no comparison to last nights repast in Monserrat was good, hot and tasty, and through out the event we were treated to music and songs by a duo on the stage. You have to think these guys are more used to performing at funerals though as they were dressed for one, and when not playing or singing the second artist sat bolt upright in the chair with his hands on his knees in a very military fashion. That said I have heard worse...

During teachers day events i saw this Cycle on display in the school grounds, now the question is .,. is it a bike, a moped or a motorbike, it is certainly one of the most well made systems I have seen but even though technologically it is state of the art would I bee seen on it... I think not...

My last thought for tonight and the reason for the title of this post is from one of the largest supermarket chains in South America and with stores through out the world called Carrefour. They are doing a special on Whisky at the moment from the Dalwhinnie Distillery I thought it was great that they went to the trouble of having a full size map with a greenish tartan background about 6 ft high and 3 ft wide showing where in Scotland the key points associated with the Distillery were..

Now you see coming from Scotland it just shows how BAD my geography is I was sure Edinburgh wasn't called Edimburgo and was a wee bit lower, and that Drumuir Castle, Speyside was just a tad further up, however Dalwhinnie is at least close though should be a bit more central! . The only real bonus to all this is of course it just shows how important England is to the South Americans, since Scotland is in their view UK!! I like the south Americans more all the time.

Have a great day and be confident more geography lessons curtosy of Latin American stores is unlikely.

Monserrat (after the plumber)

2008-05-17T21:16:00.000-07:00

This morning I went up to a local what we would consider to be a small hardware store, I explained my problem about the over flow in the toilet with the help of Val a bilingual colleague and my drawing showing the problem. Within seconds the assistant had summoned Gustav who with his white hard hat on his head collected a selection of items and set off back to the flat with me. Once inside he set to work and within a few moments had repaired my problem including cleaning the inside of the cistern with a vigour beyond that required (I could drink from the cister now !!! its cleaner than my floor)He then checked and repaired the second toilet which was nice and the cost for this fast and personal service 50,000 pesos or £12.

Amazing.

This afternoon into the evening I and 3 other teachers went up to Monserrat it is a fair way up the mountains and sits at the top where there are a couple of restaurants and a church as well as various walks and the obligatory souvenir shops the views were sadly not as good as we had hoped due to low cloud which we were now above.

In the restaurant I had a French Onion Soup that the only word to describe it was exquisite followed by a steak which melted in my mouth and was provided on a bed of dijon mustard sauce. The steak was excellent but sadly put into shadow by the soup. I could have happily gone home after the soup alone feeling like I had dined as a king.

Below some photos all fairly self explanatory... of a nice day out.

Teachers Day

2008-05-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

Teachers day is something I havent experienced before. I started with the first period but the kids knowing they were going out after, were not really in the mood to work and I let those who wanted to work, work and those who didnt, sit and chat.

I then rec'd 5 presents from different kids.. its a strange experience its like having a birthday with the kids bringing you gifts which varied from a pre colombian style letter opener (Yes I know they didnt open letters in pre colombian times .. but the design was pre colombian), chocolates, a cake up to a laser pointer. Its strange to accept gifts though I found myself wondering if the reason I got a gift was as the Colombian teachers suggest that the kids like you, or whether its a type of personal interest because they have exams coming up and it never hurts to have some one on your side. Either way the gifts were lovely.

I had duty at 11.30 the rest of the morning was my own. At 1130 I went out to supervise the kids around the football field where a match was taking place between a mixture of the school staff and grade 8 and above pupils and the local Soap Opera TV Stars ! needless to say the girls were all cooing over one of the soap stars who was in their opinion "hot". The game was fairly even until near where I was standing a foul took place that resulted in some very hot latin temprement with punches being exchanged by the 2 players concerned both adults. Needless to say the referee took instant action sending both off... But the incident didn't end their one of my 15 year old grade 8 boys who was playing let his feelings be known (He wasn't very happy) the result though was unexpected when the closest oppostion player to him grabbed him by the hair and floored him ! I was on the field at a run as were the head of secondary and head of high school seperating the two players I helped to hustle the Grade 8 boy away who was it could be said was a trifle annoyed !! My feeling was if he went back up against his assailant he would get more seriously injured as the other guy was about 30, 6ft tall and just as wide. Both players left the field.

Overall the exhibition match was not what was expected. You have to think in UK the assault would have been reported to the police as its was nothing more than common assault. definitly not the sort of behaviour you expect in a school friendly match with 1200 kids watching.

After the match had ended (Very quickly with alas a win for the Soap Stars) it was off to the restaurant booked for teachers day where 160 teachers and admin staff gathered for a very nice lunch a lot of free beer and the usual draw for prizes.
Diana's name was drawn out of the hat and she received a voucher for 50,ooo COP about £12.00, On collecting her prize she drew the next ticket out and up came my name... (She's a good girl is Diana..) my prize 50.000 COP for spending in EXITO !!

Finally as those who have followed the blog you will realize I have had some issues with the water company .. first complaining I wasn't using enough water (My bills are about 40.000 COP every 2 months (approx £10) then they cut me off for not paying a bill, which had been paid...Well they got their own back with interest yesterday. I picked up my latest bill and nearly collapsed !! instead of the usual 40,000 COP bill the bill was for 297,515 COP approx an 800% increase.. I had heard of this happening before and the onus is on the apartment user not the school or the water company. So my first thought was OK where is the leak because I must be haemorraging water to run up that sort of bill.. After an hours checking all inlets outlets and taps I discovered the small toilet cistern which is rarely used was overfilling the ball cock failing to stop the flow and as such was running out on the overflow pipe. It appears from my stripping the system down that one of the 2 rubber seals has failed but only enough to allow a trickle feed which was constant but so slow that wasn't noticable and had I not got the bill I would never have known. Making use of a spare exito plastic bag I vreated a temporary seal and have managed to stop the leak for now but tomorrow I need to get a plumber out to fix it properly..

The school will pay for the repair, just not the bill.. bet the damn seal is about 2000 pesos !! and the work about 8000 pesos That will really p*** me off !! cheapskates.

So until tomorrow when I will be poorer, but wiser !!! Adios mi amigos

Experimental Experiential Learning.

2008-05-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

Today one of my grade 8 classes learned a valuable lesson. I did a demonstration of pewter casting. I went through the information of molten metal is a dangerous substance avoid water and safety was paramount etc etc... after giving the demo one of the kids asked if they could try which of course is fine... after pouring there was a bit extra left over and I said pour it out on the sand so I can demonstrate the difference between the surface finish from touching wood and touching air as it dries. He did exactly as I asked except there was a small area where the sand was quite thin needless to say I ended up with a hole in the bottom of my sand filled plastic tray and discolouration on the desk.. But the kids now really do appreciate molten metal is HOT !!!

Lunch today was typical Colombian faire with a side dish of what is a type of crackling the only trouble is its a little off putting when you look down and find it still has the hairs attached... but then their fish also comes with heads and tails so i guess its just the way it is... I couldn´t eat either though.

Manyana mi amigos

Why am I still here.......

2008-05-14T19:01:00.000-07:00

The simple answer is I find teaching here so good. (That and the small matter of I am contracted till 27th of June of course)

Its Wednesday and short periods but the kids put a lot of effort in and it was nice to see a few good ideas coming to fruition. BUT there is so much I am doing here that is "not wrong" but no where near as "good" as it should be. Partly its due to the limitations we work with and as such it has been an incredible learning curve from the point of view of how I would like to change things next year.

The department I am taking over next year is according to my teaching colleague and MYP CoOrd who has just visited, "a blank canvas" which is perfect, a blank "MODERN STATE OF THE ART" canvas is just what I need.

So what would I do differently given the resources and the knowledge I have now to this time last year.

Point 1
Here in Bogota we do Folio work individually on A4 paper creating a variety of pages over the length of the project... BUT we don't have anywhere to keep them truly neat, we do have cardboard A3 folders but they are a pain to use take up too much space and are hardly used, the cardboard looks untidy after only a few uses by the kids.

My thoughts for the next job is that I do away with paper in 90% of its usage as seen here in Bogota. All folio work will be created on PC using powerpoint and saved both to the local network but also to a "Class USB drive" which I will keep for grading and marking purposes, each group of 2 pupils having their own folder. Seperate from this and used in conjunction will be the "Diary come Process Journal come Design Ideas Book". This way the kids notes on all projects through the year will be kept in one place ideas and sketches will be in situ with the work they are doing and each lesson they will start by putting down the date and the expected work to be done during that lesson including proposed learning outcomes, this I expect to take up the first 15 minutes of each lesson, since I have 1 hour 40 minute lessons it is viable and will prove invaluable.

The benefits are multi-layered. For a start I will reduce printing and ink wastage where 1 picture is printed 10 times, and no more running to fix paperjams. Each lesson will have a defined start point where the kids will know what they are expected to cover and in the process each lesson will naturally begin with a 15 minute calming down period from where ever they have been previously!

The Process Journal is an integral part of MYP but developing it further allows for a more consolidated and fuller approach.

Point 2.
Here we have 2 classrooms one set up as a workshop with tools one set as a workshop without tools so my colleague and I end up trying to juggle the time we are in the different classes.

My intention on arriving in Jordan is to have signs put up in the department over 3 of the rooms, one saying "Manufacture" (workshop) the other 2saying "Planning & Design" (graphics). Each project will start and finish with a defined period in the "Planning and Design Room" and only once everyone has achieved a level suitable to advance will they then move to the "Manufacturing" room.. this again ties in very well with the MYP requirement of teaching Technology using the Design Cycle of Research, Plan, Manufacture and Evaluate.

Finally here we have 3 Notice Boards where we display work.

In the new school I want to use an Online teaching system for notes and information about the course and projects, and some allocated web space to display the pupils work. I had tried to do that here but the problem of interacting with an ICT staff who have been in post almost as long as the school has been in existence makes it almost impossible to impliment changes .. having ICT under my remit in Jordan means I can in effect organise everything to meet my needs as well as that of the other subject areas.

The only draw back with everything I have thought of here is the work load involved. It will be a tremendous task to set it all up and have it ready to run from day 1 BUT the benefits would make my life and the life of the kids hopefully much easier (Bearing in mind I will be teaching the ICT skills they will need to know)

So what does this mean... for me its the start of a challenge that could be rewarding on so many levels. For the kids hopefully a highly creative fun environment to explore technology in, and for the school a department that will stand out from the standard academic side by being innovative , proactive and fun.

Thats tonights thoughts....

Another day down on the time left in Bogota.

2008-05-13T21:18:00.001-07:00

Today was one of my short teaching days. Just the 2 classes, it did allow me to go talk to the administration about handing back the flat so the general plan is for them to check it around the 15th and then take it back around the 27th. It will mean I need to check into a Hotel for a couple of nights, the Friday and the Saturday nights. There are plenty of offers to stay with folk here but in truth I am kind of looking forward to treating myself to some pampered luxury (A Room with a BATH !!!)

More on this as I get nearer to the time..

there are some really good hotels in the area and its just a matter of choosing one.. There is one that is really good just across from the Unicentro which would be ideal as I can go wander and do some last minute shopping on the Saturday, (Bearing in mind I am going to have ONE MILLION PESO's to SPEND in the form of Sodexho vouchers in one day, How many people can go on a one million spending spree lol...) but at least I wont have to walk miles to do it. Getting to the airport would also be a lot easier since I can get the Hotel to organise the taxi for me.

So thats my plan... It might seem early days to be doing this but time is rapidly disappearing here.

Congrats to Rick who has been accepted for the season in Majorca, he is finding it tough to get the dancing co ordination working but is improving and is finding it a challenge but a good one. Looking forward to hearing him at some point...

Thats it for tonight... Tomorrow is short period days and then meeting time. so although I have 4 classes should be reasonably quiet...

Hasta....

Tuesday Early

2008-05-13T04:29:00.000-07:00

When you look at the BIG picture on a World Wide Scale should we not be very worried about the events happening around the world. Unprecedented loss of life in Earth quakes and Hurricans. Thousands dead and not a single shot fired. Isn't it time that the Nations of the World came together to save the earth rather than carry on their petty disputes. OK morning philosophy over.

Monday Night Quiz Night

2008-05-12T21:05:00.001-07:00

It was the British embassy quiz night and I joined some of my younger colleagues in competing. We had an excellent session with an average of 8 out of 10 right answers in every round and our calcualtion said we were in first place going into the final round. To then be told we had come third and the winning team had 5 points less than we had was a complete disgrace. What was even more annoying was the quiz organisers for the night refused to accept they had made a mistake by missing out a complete rounds score for the team I was in. I am angry, partly for the disappointment that the other younger team members must feel at being so blatantly cheated but more so by the complete arrogance of the organiser who believed he "COULD NOT MAKE A MISTAKE" and was certainly not going to lose face by admitting he had. Pompous ass comes to mind. So what was a great night, good fun and enjoyable was ruined by soemone who is supposed to be intelligent and educated, and who sadly has shown a great lack of professionalism and more importantly the ability to accept they had made a mistake and correct it. This is something I see a lot of. People are so wrapped up in their belief they cannot be wrong that the mere suggestion sends them into a totally defensive position where they are unable to even consider the possibility of being in the wrong.

The only way I feel, to learn and to grow, is to make mistakes, admit to them and most importantly learn from them. Sadly so many are unable to admit to their own failings and as such cannot be seen to humble themselves infront of others. No wonder the world in general is in such a poor state of affaires when this feeling of always being right seems to permeate every level of government and society.

Time for bed before I find myself getting the soap box back out of the case.

Que mas estas hoy?

2008-05-11T16:46:00.000-07:00

Today I finished off the shopping I was doing yesterday. Went for a walk down to Usaquen and bought a second "BumBag" the first one was so good I thought a second would be worthwhile.

I also took a couple of photo's. I love using my casio Exelim its such a fast and effective camera in all situations but as said before its only fault is it tends to underexpose most shots no matter what setting I use or even if left on full automatic.

Adding a little contrast solves the problem but surely a camera should not need to have every photo adjusted to achieve what I know was the way the picture was supposed to look.

That said its ease of use speed and ability to take video as well as pictures is worth the few minutes adjustment.

Here are 2 pictures... The first was taken a few days ago, yes if you look closely you can see the aeroplane that was the target of the image. BUT if you look to the centre of the image a little below the plane it would appear I have also captureed the moon. This was totally unintentional untilI brought the picture onto the computer but it really does make the image. (If its not the Moon!! What the hell is it!)

This one was taken on my walk today, sometimes nice to see an image in a different perspective.

So that was Sunday a day of rest, relaxation and another good walk. The coming week is the usual loss of time and days due to multiple events culminating on Friday with a "Teachers Day Lunch" lets all celebrate Teachers Day ... whoo hoo for the teachers... Sorry got carried away there...
Hasta Manyana

Buenos Dias mi muchacho's

2008-05-10T12:01:00.001-07:00

This morning it was time to drop off my washing at the local launderette, while having it weighed and sorted the owner who has always made time to say hello asked me how long I had been in Colombia and what I worked at. I explained I had been in Colombia for 10 months and that I was a teacher in the English School on the 170. The unusual thing is the whole conversation was in Spanish (Still not very good Spanish but at no time did I stop to try to find a word in English). On leaving I headed to the Unicentro its a decent walk and the weather early on was lovely. On arriving I headed to the cafe area, sat down asked for the menu, ordered my Roast Beef sandwiche and a latte again all in Spanish and when I had finished called the waiter over and ordered another latte all the time surfing the web on my Palm to read the news (local Scottish and UK) from the BBC web site. Leaving I headed back as the weather looked like it was changing I stopped off in the Palatino a shopping Mall thats small but close to the area I live in. I went into the Arturo Calle Clothing Store one of the best thought of in Bogota. I was met as you always are by a prompt and efficient assistant who I greeted and then explained i wanted to buy some shirts but not with buttons but able to take cufflinks, he spirited me off to the back of the store where he showed me 5 different coloured shirts and then excused himself to go find some more from the back room all this after measuring my neck to make sure he got the right size. I chose 3 and we went to cash desk where I stopped him and explained I also wanted to get 2 pairs of trousers we went to a different area and I told him the colours I was interested in and he quickly picked various ones out in my size and I chose 2, a grey and black pair. these he measured to fit my leg and they will be ready tomorrow (yes they will be ready for uplift tomorrow a Sunday.) I then went and paid for the items and the whole event was once again carried out in Spanish. For those fluent in Spanish you can now stop laughing but for me it was indeed a landmark day as it is without doubt the first day I have felt truly comfortable and not having to reply on my "I am sorry I only speak English" routine that has really annoyed me and in truth I feel is disrespectful to the Colombians after all WHY should I expect them to speak my language - when in Rome as they say....

Needless to say the shirts are a far better quality than I would usually buy from Exito and they have been packed in my case for travelling back, the trousers will be the same once picked up tomorrow, they will be packed for use in the new school. Tomorrow when I go back I am going to look at the sleevless jackets I bought one when I came out and its been great but is beginning to show its age through fair wear and tear... It is worn almost every day unless really wet.

So for a Saturday its been a great day ...

Catch you all tomorrow...

Its Friday (Thank Goodness)

2008-05-09T17:17:00.000-07:00

After another Mid Morning Break, Lunch Time Break, and 4 classes I am frazzled tonight. Today I had if anything even more kids in class today than yesterday. A lot of the kids completed their work and some still have a few bits to do which is a shame as Mothers day is Sunday, but it was impossible to get everyone working to a point where they could complete.

Here are a few of the images small ones are from grade 6 the bigger ones from grade 8.

Overall some of the kids work has been fascinating. But one wee girls work in grade 6 stood out.. her work up to now has been mediocre at best usually because she spends too much time wandering than working. She is a little social butterfly and the bane of my life as being as cute as she is its impossible to be angry with her BUT her grades are usually on the edge of failing. her best grade so far has been a 4 out of a max grade system up to 7. So today she had finished her frame and she came to show me it. I asked her what grade she thought her work was worth, she looked at it for a few moments then said in a quite sheepish voice "a 4" I smiled and said "no I don't think its a four" and her face started to drop readying herself for the "its really only a 3" you can imagine the look of triumph and pleasure when I said" It could be a six BUT because you worked so hard its a very good SEVEN." She was over the moon and it was so well deserved. Teaching gives you something other jobs can't and moments like that are more than worth the feeling of tiredness I feel at the end of a long day.

Manyana mi amigos....

Whats the definition Success?

2008-05-08T16:42:00.000-07:00

I have opened up my classroom to allow the pupils to work at break time and at lunchtime it is voluntary they dont need to come in but if they want to I am there.

This is a photo from lunchtime today the weather was lovely warm sunshine, and the school radio station was blasting out hits to the hundreds of kids sitting chatting on the grass... and in my room somewhere between 40 and 50 kids all working on their own project.

Damn I love teaching.

One small downer was when one of the girls asked me today if I was staying next year I said "sorry no I wasn't", she looked quite sad and then said "Sir, Why do all the good teachers leave" I didn't really have an answer for her but it does make you think a bit. Hope my replacement makes his impression early.

Wednesday and a good day.

2008-05-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

Today I had 4 classes and they all worked hard (least they were all there and not off on visits here there and everywhere)/

I also had a load of kids from both grades in at break time and also at lunch time/ Other staff find it hard to understand that kids would willingly come in but they are really keen to see their work take shape. So much so that after this afternoons meetings I went through the 285 different Photo frames that are being built and I can honestly say there isnt one that is duplicated. Some of the design ideas are very interesting and I am looking forward to getting some photo's of the kids work once done.

So all in a good day. Made better (or is it worse) when you consider that there are ONLY 18 Teaching days left !!! (though still 15 other days on exams etc) Time is getting short.

Tomorrow is another day off the countdown calendar.... manyana mi amigos

Sorry for the length of last nights post.

2008-05-06T20:00:00.000-07:00

You will no doubt be glad to know I have packed my soapbox into my case and do not intend to bring it back out for the remainder of my time here.

Today was yet another frustrating day so much so I emailed the Head of Middle School and complained about the lack of curtosy shown to me by the English department.

I am trying to get Grade 6 completing picture frames and out of my 3 grade 6 classes today I lost 50% each of 2 classes and 100% of the last class. This "event" was not on the calendar and when I checked my mail there was nothing about it at 6.30 in the morning, bearing in mind we have had 4 days off there was no excuse really for not notifying staff earlier.

The email was eventually sent at 7.20, when my first class starts at 7.30. I really felt like saying no you cannot go but then its not the kids fault its the fault of the teacher who organised it and didn't have the common curtosy to ask if it would affect my class timetable.

Then this afternoon while working through lunch as its the only way I can get the kids through their project with all the lost days I witnessed 2 grade 7 kids having a huge fight on the volleyball area it looked nasty with feet hands and headds all being used. I have to admit this is unusual it wasn't a small disagreement. There is supposed to be a duty staff member out there but none was seen, this is something else I find annoying the only staff that seem to take duty tasks seriously are International staff, local staff always seem to forget, or not turn up and that includes "cover" lessons. Its not all local staff but it does seem like it when you see it happen time and time again. Both boys were still wearing their back packs and hadn't stopped when I let out a roar of disapproval (I do have a somewhat loud voice from my years in the RAF so there was no way they didn't hear me... ) so i marched into the centre of the afray grabbed one strap of each back pack and lifted the two lads up into a standing position seperated by me. (This later became commented on that I had lifted them effortlessly up to the point where there feet weren't touching the ground!! Trust me this wasn't so as one of the lads is a good 6 foot tall and I was stetched just holding onto him) I then frog marched them through the crowd of pupils and straight to Head of Middle School to deal with.

So if anything it wasn't an uneventful day.

Wonder what tomorrow will bring.

Quick Rick update .. first "gig" over slightly stressed bit nervous but got through it and is working hard to get the "steps" right before the next show. We all wish him luck.

And onto another year.... Education Yes or No

2008-05-05T16:50:00.000-07:00

Well my birthday has come and gone and I don't feel any different. But then everyone feels like that as you get that little bit older there is a point where you look at yourself and still feel 21 or 25 or whatever age your mind sets for yourself.

Today was my parents Anniversary... Happy Anniversary Folks...

Ok my last day off, tomorrow its back to school and I have one day with my grade 8 kids before they are off to a small village about an hour and a half away for a 3 day visit... I would have enjoyed going with them but will refuse if asked by management on the grounds I still have too much work to do with the grade 6 kids. And fun trips at this time of year are I feel a ridiculous exercise prior to the lead up to the final exams.

I have really enjoyed my time here in Bogota and the fact its coming to an end is quite depressing, Bogota as a city is huge and I have seen only a small part of it in my time here, the people I have met have been incredibly friendly and have gone out of their way to help me. There are still concerns obviously about safety in some areas, but not more than I would consider if in Glasgow in Scotland.

It cannot be, just the threat of guns that stops the random violence and opportunist crimes we see in UK after all the US has just as obvious a security culture yet they have visibly greater problems than UK or Colombia (If looking at comparable Cities).

So what is different at a grass roots level.

Colombian society is very stratified and add to that it is still a very family orientated society. Families are the most important part of life here. As such kids rarely go out and walk the streets (partly because there is the fear of uncertainty but also because life here revolves around the family with the family involved in all aspects). Even the very poor who you see collecting the cardboard and scavenging the streets, have their children with them, in most cases working as hard as the parents. It is depressing to see, it does pull at your heart strings, but it is life here. There is no state benefit here, there is no dole money, no council housing given to those who can work but choose not to.. here depending on where you are born limits what you can do except in the most exceptional of circumstances.

Life is in their own hands, if they don't do something their chance of getting into their teens is very low, and this attitude permeates everyone you meet.

Its one reason why ANY education in Colombia is seen as important and why pupils are driven to try hard when they get any opportunity. Without an education they cannot get work, the possiblity of a house, a future, there are no state handouts here. Does the lack of Handouts make Colombia a 3rd world country, not in my view, their infrastructure, poor roads and limited health care are bigger issues. I did read an interesting series of essays recently printed in the school, from pupils, where the general theme was the kids here want to get an education to improve Colombia to make what they have better. This in most cases would result in the rich getting richer and the poor poorer but in the process perhaps 1 or 2 might actually make a difference.

Education of any sort is something to be coveted yet in UK the majority of pupils (And possibly even parents) don't see that to the extent you do here. Every child has the right to an education but not every child wants to take up that right. If countries like UK and America, "the 1st World Countries" arn't careful they will be left behind by the China's Japan's, Indias and Colombia's of the world where the children use education to advance while the UK youth "while away" their education without the drive that other countries pupils seem to have.

The writing is on the wall... and has been for years but you have to think UK Education isn't reading it because its too tied up in doing multiple activities tied to art and drama and the holistic approach tand has forgotton how to teach the 3 Rs, I am not suggesting reverting to victorian times or even the rote learning of my times tables BUT we still need to teach the basics and pupils should not advance till they can at least read, write and do basic maths at an acceptable level (Never mind here where they have to learn and be confident in English as well as their native language).

Does a pupil get kept back a year in a UK School for not achieving! not that I can ever remember, rather we would prefer to make excuses for them, its a learning difficulty, its an attention disorder or its a behavoural problem but we dont keep them back we push them on. Move them up a year to another 3 or 4 terms of education when they haven't coped with the previous years work. The result is they have lost the initial information that sets out how to learn and as such they are building on a deck of cards where one wrong piece of information and their education crumbles.

In Colombia pupils get educational support but at the same time if they fail more than 3 subjects in a year then they repeat the year. This has 2 effects. One it drives those who are marginal to work harder to not get left back a year but it also means that the second point, those who cannot cope get another year to reapply themselves, which with a further years maturity and the same levels of difficulty and educational learning to achieve they should and most do then pass.

This seems to work, would UK allow it? I doubt it, it would be seen somewhere as politically incorrect and be against the rights of the pupil but are we really giving pupils the education they need if we just push them through the system rather than provide the greatest opportunity for an education that they can get and understand.

So to sum up... Kids come to school in Colombia to get an education and stay at school till they have that education. In UK kids go to school because they have to and leave whether they have an education or not. Which system seems best to you?

These are of course my personal views, they are taken from my experiences and my feelings on Education in general both here in Colombia and in UK. They in no way reflect the position of any government educational spokesman (But just maybe they should)

Till tomorrow ... later my friends.

Saturday Evening.

2008-05-04T19:02:00.000-07:00

I have had a nice day. I went to a fellow colleagues house for a meal of Chicken cooked in a lemon and onion sauce, with prawns as a starter but in a very spicy sauce and a nice desert cooked by another friend and colleague out here. Topped off with a few glasses of very nice red wine.

Marion a senior teacher at another of the BiLingual schools here in Bogota made the meal and it was much appreciated, Marion has a roof top terrace apartment with small trees and plants in pots around the terrace it was so different to watch the cloud rolling in over the Andes Mountains, yet it just seemed so very South American.

The meal and the company was good but the highlight for me was the visit to the terrace by a humming bird. What an amazing creature flitting from flower to flower so fast that it was almost impossible to see it move. It looked like it was in one position one moment and in a completely different one the next. I am using my Exlim Casio camera which is a great wee tool but if I had one complaint about the camera its the fact the image always seems slightly washed out and you need to add contrast after the image is taken to make the image slightly stronger. That aside the picture of this amazing creature works for me.

To be so close less than 4 feet from such an amazing bird and to marval at how fast its wings were beating to allow it to move backward and vertically up and down was stunning and definitly made my day.

Tomorrow is another day and a holiday which is nice... another day to relax..

Manyana mi amigos....

May 4th 2008

2008-05-04T06:08:00.000-07:00

Morning... 0800... Raining heavily... (and has been since late last night) but just a quick morning post.

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me... Happy Birthday dear Meeeeeee.. Happy Birthday to me ! there I feel better now.

Think I'll go back to bed...

Hasta laugo.

Saturdays Post

2008-05-03T22:15:00.000-07:00

Its been a non day really I did a little shopping (beer) and bought a shirt.. yes another one though this is a casual one as opposed to one I can wear with a corbata.

Then I had a mad cleaning splurge this is in preperation for the cleaner from my class room who has agreed to come in 1 day a week over the next 2 weeks to make the flat look presentable !! before I leave it.

And in the process I opened my case and started packing it with things I know I am not going to need! Yes its still 2 months to go but you can't be too organised over these things ;)

Manyana mi amigos

Images seen on the "walk" home, as well as breakfast.

2008-05-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

This was an unusual day in that we had been off yesterday but had to come in today then off for a long weekend. It was going to be useful however as it let me print out the exams I had typed up and also a lesson plan. However before we started working the Science department who apparantly Technology comes under out here (Crazy really) had laid on breakfast. (It was the first time I had actually seen a lot of the teachers together as usually we are scattered around classrooms and departments). So here are some of the images of Pancakes, Eggs, and Hot Chocolate to drool over.
First Pic shows Carlos head of Physics a really nice guy..
Then we have pics of Maurico and Fraser preparing to toss the pancake, followed by Frasers attempt, then Gela's and finally Maurico showing how it should be done (complete with the 360 degree spin !!!.

The remaining pictures are images seen on my WALK home from school it took about an hour and its not something I would do every day as some of the adjacent areas as you will see are not perhaps as Gringo friendly as others.

This first pic is an area where the roads companies are mining stone.. its still bare at the moment as its being worked

But as soon as they finish the mining this is what happens. The Invasion Nation shanty town shacks built on any free space

Colombia is a very open city in some cases, this is a local hotel but they rent their rooms by the hour, you can use your imagination as to why. The sign over the door reads something like.. "Don't Fight, Make Love"

Road Pollution is a problem, look closely at the back of the cabs of the 2 lorries and the amount of fumes they are throwing out, it actually gives the air an oily taste as you pass and explains why many younger children and women carry a handkerchief over their nose.

The state of some cars makes you wonder how they can possibly stay on the road.

The mix of old and new the church is probably original to the area long before Bogota expanded and over took it. Now it sits amongst high rise and apartment blocks. Sad really it should have rolling fields and fences around it.

Bogota is keeping up to date with the latest technology BUT do they really need a sattelite dish THAT BIG !

So there we are images of the North of Bogota the area seen as being well off should give you an idea of how poor the poor areas are.

Hasta Manyana as I enjoy my loooooooong weekend.

No update on the Demonstration.

2008-05-01T21:02:00.000-07:00

When you consider the size of the city nothing has leaked out yet as to what the demonstration was yesterday. However this is partly because I don't watch or would necessarily understand the local CITY TV News. International news hasn't reported anything so I will ask Steve the American Economics guy tomorrow, since his wife was somewhere in the middle of it trapped by the events going on but in a safe area.

Today was Labour day and a day off from school, I laboured almost all day. I had 2 Exams to write up and a lesson plan to prepare for tomorrows INSET day *in Service* So although I was off the day was spent working and I actually achieved everything I set out to do. A good feeling when it happens.

I did get some bad news about my work colleague Diana she has had a family bereavement just as I am writing this, and as such wont be in tomorrow, she and her family have my deepest sympathy for the loss of a loved family member.

With that last comment it seems unkind to continue writing tonight so until tomorrow.

chao muchacho's

Parents Evening

2008-04-30T21:27:00.000-07:00

Parents afternoon went off without a hitch however again I was due to teach 4 classes, first period was lost completely to a practice fire drill and last period was lost as everything stopped early due to the Parents Afternoon ! since it finished at 5.00.

I just seem to be destined not to get things done or at least not the way I want them done. 3 of the Grade 6 classes are getting things on track but the other 2 are going to be tight for time. We are off tomorrow (Labour Day) working Friday (But the kids have been given the day off) then off Saturday, Sunday and Monday is also a holiday meaning time left is 4 days some classes will get 2 classes in that time some only 1, so can see a few break times and lunch times to try to get everything done in time.

Exams Start the 6th of June and run through to the 12th of June so all work has to be completed before that. Then the final 2 weeks are going to be a ease down to the summer break, final grading and the last parents evening. I shouldn't really feel frustrated but I am. However its another learning experience to take with me to Jordan (I have already asked for any "special dates" or events apart from holiday times that I should know about.)

I did have one set of parents whose son is in one of my grade 6 class stop me and thank me for the kind words that I had said about their son and that they thanked me for taking the time to help him. (In truth he is a nice young man who is still thinking play rather than effort ) but he has tried harder this term so got a comment that reflected that. Hope he keeps it up.

The school dont organise well or care particularly about their staff this is more and more obvious through the wee things, like we finished at 5.00 tonight but no thought had been given getting the teachers home that was up to them to do. Fortunately I had said to Steve the American Economics teacher about heading back as he lives close. However taxi's were the proverbial rarity to do with Rocking Horses and sh*t. So he suggested we catch a local bus, Local buses are scary they charge a flat fee of 1000 peso for any length of journey and they start and stop with not always the forward planning you would expect. I did comment to Steve how it was just part of the adventure as we careered at break neck speed along crowded roads. Getting off was a relief and I can see now why so many of the country are religeous as even I was tempted to say a quick hail mary to ensure we arrived safely.

Finally the centre area of Bogota was apparantly the scene of an incident this afternoon that closed off the centre, information at the moment is sketchy but the rumour said lots of people taken to hospital and the use of tear gas, I can't say any of it affected where I am but will need to try to find info on it just to find out what it was about.

Manayana mi amigos

The Book Fair.

2008-04-29T19:37:00.000-07:00

Today was the day for the Book Fair. We set off by bus at 8.30 and returned eventually at 3.00.

When you think of a book fair FORGET everything you thought. This book fair takes place in the Los Americanas the International Events area where I had visited the Artisan market before Christmas. The area is made up of large halls and on a scale for those in Scotland would be 2-3 times bigger than the Scottish Exhibition Centre.

Every hall, both ground floor and upper floors were a mass of books. Or book related materials in every version, flavour or style to suit any taste.

When I was in Scotland and worked at one of the Libraries before coming out I had had a conversation with the Head of the Library about a female Mexican Painter called Frida Kahlo 1907 - 1954 who had a very unique though not always pretty style.

She is very popular as a painter in South America and as I walked past one book display area a new biography was on show which caught my attention. The assistant raced across, and launched in a cocophony of spanish which I halted with my "Moment, Soy de Escosia, un hablo un poco Espanol" This is usually enough to stop the assistants in their tracks. But this girl was a cut above the rest, "Ah, Ingles" she said disappearing to return a few seconds later with the same book but this time in English. 10 out of 10 for effort but I didn't buy it. I did buy one book an excellent book on Product Design with some outstanding images depicting rough ideas through to finished articles and perfect for my future plans in Jordan.

The day ended unusually but I will let you wait while I show you some pictures of the day.

1. Arriving at the event.

2. Inside the main entrance.

3. Inside one of the Halls.

4.Maria and Melissa Sitting in the Japanese Hall and Laura and Juliana at the meeting point 4 of my Mentor group girls.

Those who have seen the news over the last year and comments on here will realize that Venezuela, Nicargua and Ecquador dont really see eye to eye with Colombia over the revolutionary army known as the FARC seen by Colombia as terrorists who profit from kidnap and drug running and by the other 3 countries as freedom fighters with a legitimate claim. Todays news paper had this cartoon in it as the headlines state Ecquador has disagreed with Colombia over the FARC and that Colombia should welcome them with open arms.

On a seperate subject today was the last day of school for Grade 11 pupils the very last day and on arriving back from the book fair I was met by this... Chaos. The Grade 11 pupils had run riot through the school shouting, whistling, banging lockers and as you can see from the image setting off the fire extinguisher (This didnt go down well with the Management who were on the scene quickly and as can be seen acting as doormen limiting access back in. Youthful Hijinks (Not how the Management see it)

Finally 2 images i took at the fair that I thought were basically just nice.

Tomorrow is Short period days BUT also its parents evening fortunately its been cut back a wee bit now its only 1pm till 5pm instead of 6pm... doubt I will feel any happier come 5pm.

Manyana Mi Amigos

Screws in Mediteranian

2008-04-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

You have to love the Spanish English translations some days. Today the Menu proudly proclaimed the accompaniment to the meal was Screws in the Mediteranian which turned out to be the whirly type pasta in a mediteranian sauce. I have to admit I still felt slightly cheated even though it was rather tasty.

I worked with 2 grade 6 classes today under a very controlled system of teaching where they did exactly as I told them preparing the photo frame. It isn't as free and creative but it does mean I know everyone is at the exact same stage.

Tomorrow I have a free first period then I am off for the rest of the day to the main exhibition centre where there is a "book" fair. I have no idea what to expect but it seems it will be a fair (no pun intended) size since we are going to be there all day.

I will need to make sure the Ipod is charged up I can use the day listenign to my Spanish podcasts. I wish I had found these before I came out as they are really superb and I have learned more from them than anythign else, the fact they are produced once a week in Glasgow and I have 52 weeks worth is a huge help even though I am only up to lesson 25 !! Each episode from Mark and Cara at Coffee Break Spanish is approx 20 mins and covers the sort of things you need to know not what other programs want you to know.

And on that spanish note.. its good night till tomorrow. (Which is actually now as its just gone midnight here.)

Sunday

2008-04-27T21:34:00.001-07:00

A day in the weather of Bogota.

The Sun rose in the sky.
The Clouds rolled in on the winds.
The Rain came down like a biblical flood.
The Roads dried in the afternoon heat.
The Night closed in shuttering out the light of day.
That was the way.

Poetry in motion for brain rejuvination, like a softening skin lotion.

........and I think thats more than enough of a deep meaningful moment.

Manyana Mi amigos.

Design is in the eye of the beholder

2008-04-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

I have over the last 10 or so years felt Apple had something so far ahead of the competition in the terms aesthetic design of their units and systems that there was really no point in PCs or other electronic manufacturers trying to compete. (If they could).

There was the Imac of 2000 which was one of the most amazing computer designs that I had ever come across, the ability to move the screen around with one finger was and still is today a feet of ergonomic engineering that was in some small way responsible for the depth of desire I have now for all types of design. Jonathan Ives the designer at Apple was in my mind a genius with that particular design.

Then more recently this new version something so different yet beautiful in its simplicity was a worthy following act.

And of course the Iphone and Itouch as well as the newly revamped Ipod (The old style is still the most simple easy to use MP3 MP4 player I have ever used) are without doubt outstanding. even the less successful Apple Cube and Apple Minis had something different about them.

But of course while all this was going on Apple also produced more standard style boxes, their server style units although less pleasing to the eye still had something unusual and different about them The smooth sleek plastic finish giving an impression of power hidden under the surface waiting to explode. So why why why have Apple launched this, the MacPro.

I can honestly say for the first time in many years I have seen an Ugly apple product.! This industrial mesh style perforated aluminum design does nothing for the Macpro and sat beside a PC I would be unlikely to choose the Mac this time round. It may be groundbreaking in other design ways beneath its industrial dull grey exterior, But as someone once said place 2 identicle functioning items side by side and the nicer looking one will always sell first.

For the first time in 10 years PCs 1 Apples 0

This advertisement for Apple computers was brought to you tonight because nothing very exciting happened during the day and I didn't really have anything exciting to tell you.

Sorry maybe tomorrow will be more interesting for those of a non technophobe nature.

Its Friday and the good days comes to an end

2008-04-25T21:22:00.000-07:00

Nothing to do with the kids but today when I needed to really keep the momentum going I lose 3 grade 8 classes to a "Bullying Conference"; was it advertised in advance did I know it was going to happen sadly no, but then I see them all again on Tuesday.... Then to add insult to injury at 3.15 today I was asked if I could go as support on a trip all day Tuesday ..normally I would have said yes without hesitation but I knew I had Grade 8 and I know I need the classes. So being the "hero" I am I said no sadly because I had to get the Grade 8 kids doing some work ONLY to then be told it was OK I could still come as it was ALL grade 8 that were going on the trip and none of the kids would be left in school! Some days you just despair !!!

I have 2 sons, Simon who is settled with his fiance Amanda in Kilwinning and works in Engineering and Richard who is single and doesn't work (OK thats being a little unkind as for the last 3 years he has been an "Entertainer" in various Mediteranian Holiday resorts). He has just been offered what I feel is a great opportunity to join a 4 man boyband tribute group called 4-Bidden out in Majorca for 6 months, subject to a 2 week probation to ensure he can fit in with their style and he is happy with the set up. Needless to say he has my full support, both my boys do, they are 2 of the nicest young men I could have hoped to call my sons and I am proud of the way they have both stood on their own.

I can't give you a link to Simons engineering (Sorry Si) but I can give you a link to Ricks page.

http://www.starnow.co.uk/richardkay

though you have to copy and paste the URL into the address bar as blogger wont let me add it as a hyperlink! You can also click on the link on the right to hear his rendition of "You give me something" worth a listen while you read.

Hope your trip abroad again so soon is just what you want and you get the enjoyment and fun you deserve. When your rich and famous Si and I will be looking for some hand outs !! Good Luck Buddy see you when we can.

Hasta Manayana mi Amigos

Stunning work and Happy teaching.

2008-04-24T19:57:00.001-07:00

The kids are working well under very strict time scales and they are proving they can actually keep up in most case. There are still some Grade 6 pupils who seem to think they are better than they are, perhaps I am spoiled by the really excellent grade 8 kids who never fail to surprise me with their inventiveness and design ideas.

I am really looking forward to the end of this project as the efforts and work put in by the kids so far both 6th and 8th makes the teaching side fun and supportive.

Back in the flat at night I have started planning lessons for the first few weeks on getting to Jordan. Introductory lessons that will allow me to gauge the kids abilities both in Research (A key part of MYP Technology) Use of ICT, Use of Drawing Skills and ability to Manufacture from very early on, while at the same time setting the standards and limits I will expect them to achieve.

In the pictures posted a few days ago the Technology Room has 8 PCs I have asked if that can be increased to a minimum of 12 as I intend to run all projects as paired group work with individual inputs, so I really require at least 1 PC between 2.

I will wait for the reply from Jordan to see what they say.(Actually I asked them for 12 Laptops !!!)I live to dream, not in a dream thats different.

More tomorrow...

This is getting boring !!

2008-04-23T17:24:00.000-07:00

3 really good days on the trot, so much so that with it being shorter periods due to being meeting day I actually forgot to let my first class go in time, and I only realized the bell had gone when I looked round and saw 25 grade 5 kids trying to get through my door all at the same time !!.

Now that we are on a new project the kids are definitly more involved and with the abilities they have gained over the last year the fear of the machiens and control they have is far better - some of their designs are very very clever and I am looking forward to seeing the final outcomes. Even the boys in my grade 8 mentor class are achieving really well rather than making pointless things they are actually tring really hard.

So everything said and done the last 3 days have been some of the best here and I am hoping tomorrow will continue the very positive aspects of the last few days.

Tonight there was another "bump" at the cross roads outside the flats happened about 4.30 and took approx 3 hours before the police cleared it. Motorists involved in accidents are not allowed to move, no matter where it is until the police have cleared the situation.

As you can see from the photograph the two cars in the middle, a taxi and a car have collided this is probably down to the Taxi not giving way, though at this junction who has right of way is pretty much down to who is crossing the junction first.

Needless to say the resulting traffic chaos was accompanied by many horns sounding and traffic going around the accident in every possible way, including wrong side of the road and pavements, usually at speed. Check out the far side of the road, its wet, the car travelling right to left is travelling at speed. The car coming out of the junction turning right and the car waiting to turn left on the wrong side of the road raises the question of who gets to go and is there enough space. (And thats not taking the impatient taxi on the left into account) More fun tomorrow chao mi muchacho's

Earth day

2008-04-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

Today started with a presentation to highlight the problems with a variety of factors relating to Earth day. Sadly like so many presentations a serious subject was presented with humour which made the overall message a watered down version of what they should have said. The students aren't stupid far from it, so why try to highlight something deemed very important and then pull all the punches and lace it with humour that was lost on the kids.

There was a message but it could have been a great opportunity for the school to draw similarities between large scale global events and small scale school events and show how every one should do their bit. An opportunity lost.

Fortunately that was the ONLY class I lost so the day was far more normal than expected.

Over all the last couple of days have been really good the kids have been working (Though its grading time so they feel they should, albeit wrongly as its far too late to show off now with the grades already in the system.)

And now we work down to Next Wednesday which will be Parents Evening and also the end of the Month.

2 good days down and tomorrow is short periods but with only 2 classes it isnt a complete loss.

Catch you all tomorrow.

Be jealous be very very jealous.

2008-04-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures of the Technology classrooms (2 of the 3) in IAA. I can see my friend Kent shaking his head at the size and space (Though probably mumbling something about them not being workshops!!). For MYP Technology though the classrooms are outstanding and such a huge difference from my adapted physics labs here in Bogota.

Yes.. for the observant amongst you ... There are 3 cookers and a fridge freezer (good to keep the cold drinks in !!) in one of the rooms, and yes there are several sewing machines in the image too!! Prior to changing to MYP this year the school taught IGSCE in which textiles and cookery are listed as part of the Curriculum, fortunately in MYP it is flexible. (Which is maybe a good thing as I can see the school being closed from food poisoning if I was allowed to COOK !!!)

Enjoy the pics as I drool and dream ....

Just one question.... Where are the Piller drill, Vibra saws, Belt Sander, Denford Cad-Cam... Oh well Its NICE and CLEAN !! (and looks like its going to stay that way !!)

Just your normal sunday !

2008-04-20T20:30:00.000-07:00

Thats if your normal Sunday consists of grading and inputting the data into the school computer system. Its a great idea but the school don't offer any programmed time for it to be done. It has taken me somewhere close to 2 nights and one whole day to get all 300 odd students grades and comments input. This is one of the main arguments used by the staff here when it comes to being asked to come in early after the Summer or when there was the threat of losing the August week (Which I have a feeling will be gone very shortly anyway). It doesn't matter how much the Junta think teachers work its almost guaranteed they don't take into account the time spent in the evenings and at weekends trying to get lessons prepared or grading and marking done. I am far more fortunate than most as I have 2 days when my teaching load is light and I can get a lot done then but I still had to spend my weekend finishing it off.

I don't really mind working in the evenings it fills in the nights and allows me to fine tune what I am doing or planning to do. I fully expect from the time I finish here in June a lot of my free time will be being taken up with the planning and structure for the new post.

This coming week I have a feeling I am going to lose at least 1 day (We have Earth Day on Tuesday) again given the opportunity to preplan I could have incorporated some technology work around environmental lessons for the day unfortunately like most things out here they make decisions and advise you of changes at the last minute. (Something I definitly want to try and avoid next year.)

As far as the new post is concerned I feel really excited about it. I have to feel I have been very lucky in my teaching career to date (Though to be honest it has all been preplanned and has upto now worked out exactly as I expected - so maybe luck isnt the right word to use.)

I have always thrived on challenge and as far as I can remember always looked for a position that pushed me to the limit and only when I passed that limit did I look for the next challenge. My one regret is that prior to coming into teaching the Computer company I started didn't work out as I had hoped. The day I closed the door for the last time was the most devastating moment in my life, and impossible to express, unless you have experienced it, but at the same time was one of the greatest learning experiences and in effect turned my life in a different direction.

Failure hurts and even now I feel sadness at failing. Being reflective there were many reasons, lack of planning, lack of focus, and misplaced trust. I allowed myself to be distracted and through out failed to see the signs, because I was too close and too involved. However, it taught me that if you step away, put it behind you and refocus you can move on, but its not always easy.

I have a lot of respect for everyone that starts up their own business and makes a success out of it. I know a few very successful people who succeeded where I failed and I have only the highest regard for their dedication and efforts to make their business what mine wasn't. Like teaching, for it to be successful they too have to work a hell of a lot more than the standard 9-5 Monday to Friday.

IBM stated in their advertising from a few years back "We fail more often to succeed sooner" as they believe that every success has had many failures behind it. I prefer not to fail, if I can avoid it now, and instead plan and preplan to the point of distraction, every possible outcome is covered and every possible error pre-empted as much as possible. Only in that way can I say "Failure is not an option".

Yes, I will still fail its a fact of life but it will be a failure instigated by something outwith my control, something I could not pre-empt, and because of that it will teach me something else about how to approach and plan for the future.

To quote Clint Eastwood from Heartbreak Ridge... "you need to Adapt, Improvise and Overcome" (I doubt it was his original quote, but it does epitomise my thought process for any task or job I approach.) and with that thought... Tomorrow is the start of a new week..

Manyana mi amigos.

Saturday mumblings...

2008-04-19T21:01:00.000-07:00

I woke at 6.00 ..I didn't want to wake at 6.00 BUT someone chose to switch on the SUN and at exactly 6.00 the room was flooded with bright sunshine. However by the time I was up showered and organised the gathering storm clouds had already started to drift in. Clouds don't really make a big difference to the day, since you know its going to rain you get to expect it.

I had a long walk as I wanted to go and have breakfast at the unicentro and do some shopping, getting there my legs were reminding me I hadn't walked that far for a while and on getting inside I found the cafe I had been coming to visit was closed for renovation and the other cafe was obviously packed out this was partly due to the renovations but also to one of the local TV channels doing a live model search. They must have had a few good candidates as the eye candy around the stage area they had set up was stunning. Everyone trying to get their picture taken with a stunning young lady. Sorry no pics of stunning ladies just one of the stage where a group were performing.

After the disappointment of no coffee and a roast beef sandwich I made my way out onto the main road to head back, but instead of following the usual busy dual carriage way road back towards Cedritos the area I live in I took a detour along the side of the "country club". The Country Club is an exclusive area set aside for those who can afford it and who like to take advantage of its Golf, Tennis and Polo opportunities. The hedges around the area are about 14 feet high and the outside is monitored by lighting and security cameras. The difference in a few yards away from the main road is amazing. Instead of the smell of fumes you get a soft smell of newly cut grass and instead of the sound of car engines and horns you can hear birds twittering (Do Birds Twitter ?) and the gentle sound of running water, it truly was such a strange sensation walking past when your used to impatient drivers and trucks.

Finally for tonight, during Friday the Grade 8 kids were all out rehearsing for a dance they were putting on during Mentoria. As you can see from the photo the Girls outnumber the Boys by approx 3 to 1. Wasn't like that in my day at school if my memory goes back that far.

So that was Saturday I did manage to take my washing in, buy some food and things to drink and change some money (I had $110 left and since I won't be back in the States no need to keep it. The school have booked my Flight back for the End of June but alas they have sent me via Madrid and London (Terminal 5 !!! Heathrow) so whether I get back or more importantly if my luggage ever gets back will be an interesting story to end the Colombia experience.

Oh final thought 2 floors up one of the Apartments is obviously having a party I can tell this from the pounding bass beat and the loud out of tune singing thats resonating through the flat, but then again it is ONLY 23.40 and for colombian Parties thats like T Time... Times like this you wish you had some ear plugs.

Manyana people.... said in perfect spanglish.

End of another week.

2008-04-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

Its Friday, Its overcast, Its going to rain, and I don´t care. Its beena good week though losing 2 classes yesterday was a problem and will mean a lot of catch up next week. There isn´t a lot of flexibility built into the program and I have a strong feeling I will lose more classes as the month moves on.

Apart from it being a reasonably good day with the kids working and inbetween times I have been doing the grading comments for the end of Term 3 as today is the official start to term 4, and that means I need to create an exam for the Grade 6 and Grade 8 kids. I haven´t given much thought to it up to now but its going to need done sooner rather than later.

Conversation over lunch today was Political Correctness or in this case the familiarity that students have with their teachers. I have a facebook link as its very popular out here in South America (Is there anywhere it isnt popular?) and so do 100% of my kids, I have been friended by a lot of the kids, its natural for them to send questions on homework or end of project evaluations via facebook rather than email .. thats just progress and if you look into global trends in computing amongst the younger generation eMail is being seen as a vestage of early computer development and the realm of the older generation. The question is that in todays world and particularly in UK it would be frowned on to have such a closeness with the pupils, even giving out an email address is considered risky in UK. The fact that it has reached a point where you have to literally wear a bullet proof body suit to protect yourself from any form of litigation is incredibly restrictive. If in UK there would be a problem with pupils calling you by your first name (That takes a little bit of getting used to)and having effective 24 hour contact with you through facebook and email then you can imagine the problems involved with teenage girls cuddling you and the boys high fiving or shaking your hand. I have to state I don´t encourage either but it happens and the reason it happens is that Colombia is still a very paternal family orientated society. You will still see Girls of 15 and 16 walking arm around their fathers and vice versa and you just know in UK you would have Headlines quoting every sexual deviancy the newspaper writers could come up with, but here its seen as normal behaviour, and I can´t say I have noticed any negative effects on the children of Colombia I see on a daily basis. To the contrary 99% of the kids I see seem perfectly well adjusted, intelligent, confident and full of self esteem can the same be said for the kids in UK. I have to bear in mind that the kids I see on a daily basis do come from a privilidged background and that does make a big difference, but the kids you see on the streets don´t look like they are any different. The pupils here in almost all cases see education as a way of avoiding the terrible poverty that persists on the edge of Colombian Society but even the poor kids who go to school strive to better themselves. Education is a high priority to all of Colombias Youth, is this because the country is still seen as 3rd World (Even though I would suggest that many of the pupils I see are better educated than many of the "first world countries" where education is now seen as a chore not a benefit for the many.
OK I guess thats rant of the day over with... Education in Colombia does depend on money, the more you have the better (in theory) education you can buy, therefore like Colombian Society that is very legalistically stratified so is the Education System. I feel it is a shame I havent had the chance to see schools at the lower end of the spectrum but again the kids I see around town, and on the streets give no concern about their ability or level of general education. English is compulsory for all schools in Colombia and it shows with a very good understanding of basic english which puts my pidgeon (an exageration its closer to a humming bird.. backwards) Spanish to shame.
Hope my thoughts on Education on a Friday didn´t bore you.. Tomorrow should be a lighter experience all around.

Manyana - hasta pronto

Thursdays

2008-04-17T20:25:00.000-07:00

Its Thursday and another week is almost over. Today should have been a good day but due to an error by one staff member (Putting the wrong time on an email) and an unexpected project by another I lost 2 classes for their period today, so instead of teaching 4 periods I only taught 2.. this might be looked on by some as a bonus, but when I am trying to complete 2 projects in a short period of time its a big frustration. This is one of the problems with MYP there are so many "grade level" events run by other subject areas, which is fine in itself if its timetabled in and on the calendar. But that doesn't happen and the first you know about it is the notice board in the staffroom on the day it is happening. It didn't help today when one teacher who wanted the pupils at 9.30 wrote 9.00 instead... About the only way to be sure is to not take people at their word and double check everything personally!

I have finally heard that the inventory in Jordan will be done during the first 2 weeks of May which is a definite step forward might actually mean I can do some planning soon for what is needed.

I am looking forward to the weekend I have been so busy the last 2 weekends that I really feel I need a good walk a Roast Beef Bocadillo and a Cafe con Latte...role on saturday.

Another day another 100,000 Pesos

2008-04-16T17:24:00.001-07:00

Today started with a senior moment... I dont deserve to have senior moments but then any other way to describe it would be I am losing my head !! I went out to meet Martha to get the bus to school and she said "What are you doing for the meetings this afternoon!" to which I thought for a moment and said "But we dont have meetings on a Tuesday" only to be politely reminded that in Colombia as most of the rest of the Western world it is actually Wednesday. However for every bad thing that happens as the bank advert says a good thing also happens to maintain the balance... Its a day nearer the weekend.

The Kids worked hard on their projects but they do work slowly this is mostly down to too much chat and not enough work. So now they are getting it home to do - If they can't work in class then it has to be completed in their time. This is basically because the project doesn't allow for SLOW !!

The school in Jordan posted some pictures of the new school and classrooms, so i thought I would add them here, there is no comparison really with here as the classrooms i am using are 30 years old compared to these ones that are only a few months old.

These are of course standard classrooms but they do give an idea of the layout, I have asked nicely for some pictures of the Technology rooms including the Workshop, Graphics Room and ICT Rooms, and look forward to seeing them when I get them.

Short post but more tomorrow.

Chao

A Quiet Day

2008-04-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

Today was my good day ... first period and last period and nothing in between. which allowed me to upload some of the grades onto the system.

I also gave Nelson my requirements for the final projects... I actually saw his little heart drop when he realized I need 250 Pewter ingots.. Its a lot of work to cut the pewter into bits small enough to smelt and pour.

I didnt have any water in the apartment this morning, so no shower and no coffee also meant that I couldn't flush the loo either. (This is NOT a good thing). I left for work and getting home at 4.30 I still had no water. at 6pm I wrote out what I wanted to ask the guard and had him write his reply.. its a lot easier to read spanish than listen to it being spoken, and of course I have access to the internet translation services to get some support.

It turned out he thought it should be back on at 6,15 it took till 6,20 but at least its back on and I FLUSHED THE LOO .. what a relief (In more ways than one) the hope is it stays on now, though I wont risk not showering tonight !! Just in case.

Today has also been so cold (esto esta mucho frio) the sun never got out and the clouds and rain on and off all day made things feel very chilly. I expect this is down to the altitude, when the sun shines its warm if it doesn't shine its really cold.

Amman sent through some pictures of the classrooms, they look bright, clean and airy and all going well tomorrow I will put a couple of pictures up on the blog.

If Technology Rooms looks anything similar then it will be a big plus as my intentions are to run as clean and clinical a system as possible.

I have my new breakdown I will be teaching 6 Design and Technology Lessons 2 each for Grades 7 8 and 9 (Double Periods) and 12 ICT Lessons single periods. My colleague will also pick up 12 Design and Technology Lessons for Grades 5 and 6. The ICT will be across all years. If this is the system that goes into place it will be almost my perfect choice for teaching, utilising my skills in both areas. There is however talk of also employing a local teacher for ICT so I might have a little flexibility.

My first thought this coming year will be to do away with PAPER and INK. I intend to have all folio work produced as Powerpoint presentations. (Which I will teach in ICT). It will save a fortune in consumable costs of ink and paper and mean I can take all the students work home to mark on a USB disc, rather than a suitcase full of paper. The only need for printed work will be for moderation and the only paper use will be for sketching Design Ideas.

I have so many ideas to try to make the most of what will be a state of the art 21st century classrooms and department, that sitting here is incredibly frustrating as I know I need to start working on the planning for the MYP lessons I intend to teach (Just as soon as I get an idea of the inventory).

Colombia has been a good year for me.. it has shown me where my planning here, hasn't worked the way it should and learning from mistakes is one of the best ways forward. Projects have still been good but I know they should have been better not from the kids point of view but from my own. Next year will be an even bigger challenge but the urge to get started is overpowering.

Now that I have said that tomorrow I am back to working with the kids on the photo frame project and it should be good to see how they develop. I can honestly say teaching is where I feel the most job satisfaction I have had.

manyana ....muchacho's

10 Weekends left

2008-04-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend was busy but it also meant another weekend has gone and leaves only 10 left and I didn't get to EXITO !!!

Kids today worked hard and because the 3rd term has finished it means I need to get the grading done ready for input by Friday, however I am ahead of the game and have all my grade 8 and grade 6 grading done! How I managed this is still a mystery which when I figure out how I managed to get 4 lots of marks sorted out for 300 students without stressing will make me a fortune, when I sell the technique on.

However he who sits on high has a wicked sense of humour... The bell rings at 3.30 I take 2 steps out the door and the heavens open (Well it is 3.30 and it ALWAYS rains at 3.30)But I'm not worried after all its not that long a walk to the bus... except when I get there there isn't a bus (It's stuck in traffic) 10 minutes of standing in the rain without any available cover, soaked through and beginning to think the short sleeve shirt was not a good choice, a colleague and I decide its not worth waiting and we will go get a taxi. Getting in I checked my wallet to find I have only got a 50,000 peso note about 12 quid UK and completely unusable in any TAXI !! fortunately my colleague has the 4000 pesos needed... But the big yin isn't finished with me yet, as a final joke of the day I get in to find out I have NO WATER !!! Its pi**ing down with rain outside and I have no water. Thankfully its not just me but everybody in the apartment block. Somehow I doubt it'll be on in the morning !! Not even like I can have a cold shower... just NO SHOWER !!! yeuch !!

Manyana mi amigos

Zipaquira (Zip-a-key-ra) Catedral de Sal

2008-04-13T18:07:00.000-07:00

The day starts with a trip on the Steam Train I have highlighted elsewhere, the journey taking approx 2 hours. During that time the passengers are treated to a Colombian Brass type band "having a trombone played inches from your ear is a new experience". Add to that as they play all the passengers are up Dancing in the aisles, singing and cheering. Colombians are a very party people !! Following the Colombian style music we are treated to another band this time doing typical Andes style pan pipe music with a strong drum beat. Its certainly an experience, and still the people sing.

The Small town of Zipaquira in the Andes is famous for its salt. The Salt mine was opened in around 1951 and because the South America is one of the bastions of the Catholic faith the miners requested a church be built in the mine so they could pray. The original Salt Mine Cathederal was closed in 1991 after it became too dangerous for the number of people visiting bearing in mind Salt mining is still going on and that the salt mined here accounts for 45% of all Colombian salt use both industrial and commercial(55% coming from the sea). Running your fingers on the walls you get a strong salt taste and the composition is according to our guide 80% Salt 20% other minerals. There is a small smell of sulpher as you descend some 300feet below the mountain top into the "New Salt Cathederal" this was opened up to 8 Colombian Architects as a challenge to make best use of the structures in place while creating a cathederal that would withstand, and advance the meaning of the church in this area. The photographs should give an impression but cannot really convey the vastness of the facility with the ability to have 3000 people at a Mass. The main area is shown with the very large cross that looks like it is floating or hanging in the air but is in fact carved INTO the rock and it is an optical illusion that it is hanging. There are 12 surrounding smaller knave areas each representing part of the journey of Christ each adorned with a different cross some you will see below. The main thing you notice is this is not a cathederal filled with relics, statues or golden symbols - almost 95% of everything in the Cathederal is carved from polished salt which takes on the texture and look of Granite.

2 of the 10 Knaves

The domed roof of the central area.

The Main Cathederal area.

These last few images were taken as we waited, wandered or had lunch. The first one shows the latest in Colombian Technology for wall mounted Televisions.

This image is just to highlight when it rains here the rain drops are really THAT BIG !!!

This last image says it all there are just some times you just can't be bothered going on and you just have to rest your head....

An amazing day out at what is known as The First Marval of Colombia

Change of Plans

2008-04-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

I had already made my standard plans for today but an early morning phone call asking me if I wanted to visit downtown Bogota was too good to miss out on.

The trip down started at 10 by transmilenio the "metro" type bus system that runs north south in Bogota, the city is so big though that to reach the centre area takes approx 45 minutes, and the bus is always sardine city (A bit like the tokyo underground but without the staff pushing people in)(People do that for themselves). I did smile again on getting on at the small no entry type sign which sits over a pistol image basically telling people to keep guns off the bus! Needless to say thankfully I dont see any.

I have visited this area before but it was the day after I arrived in Bogota in a trip organised by the school and was very much a "flying" visit as they showed us around. The area is where Bogota as a city started and the main square is the same size and in the same place that it was first laid out at the start of the City of Bogota. During my time down today we visited the Gold Museum (Though due to rebuilding a much smaller version is sited in the Museo de Arte, this is very limited and I am now glad I went back in October as I have truly seen much more than was on view today.

Obviously going in a group slows down the pace a bit and as such I didn[t get back till later than I expected.

I took a variety of pictures some of which I have added below mostly over the rooftops..because I thought they were interesting rooftops.

One of the areas we travelled through was the Presedential Palace area, Its a very basic palace as palaces go surrounded by troops some in ceremonial dress (The Presedential Guard) others in full combat gear but all weapons were set to safe with a plastic plug in the breach to stop the rifle being armed. I found this quite strange from a military viewpoint as blocking the breach open leaves the area open to the dust that seems to pervade Bogota and must surely have an effect on the weapon if they had to use it. Though of course there is the desire that that situation would not arise.

Now is it just me or for those who remember the Trumpton Fire Brigade of "Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grub" (I think that was the names.. though in some ways I hope I haven't remembered that well, BUT doesn't he look just like one of the Firemen !!!

Its Friday

2008-04-11T18:28:00.000-07:00

This week has flown in compared to last week. Tonight I was supposed to be going Paintballing... BUT at 1530 the heavens looked like they were going to open and I chose to chicken out... My sixth sense was right it was torrential within 15 minutes.. Paintball in the dry is good fun... paintball in the wet is not lol...

My classes were great kids worked hard, put in a load of effort and some of the work was truly nice to see.. it is the start of their new project and they are trying.

I also downloaded Casino Royale the newer version I hadn't really got around to watching it but put it on the Ipod and started watching it on the way back on the bus... Its actually pretty good. Ipods are really an amazing piece of technology there is a minor thing annoying me, I put some podcasts on and for some reason they insist on appearing as music which of course means if you use the random option for playing after a nice bit of music you get spanish language lessons !!!

Tomorrow Saturday is going to be a clean and tidy day I think... but weather permitting I might get out and about for a bit. Sunday I am going on the Steam Train to see an underground cathederal carved out of salt and still used for ceremonies and weddings should be an interesting journey and hopefully some nice pictures.

Manyana mi amigos..

Another day down/

2008-04-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

Because I have started a new project with the kids I have refound the enjoyment that was beginning to slip, not because I haven't been enjoying it or the kids havent been working but that after a while you really need to change things around a bit.

The evaluations I have been reading my way through are excellent, I am amazed by the effort and the excitement that is coming across from the kids, quotes of "I have never done this before and its such a great experience and I want to do more" appear in some form or fashion in almost every evaluation somewhere.

I know there are days I drive the kids hard but then there are also days when I put on the music and chill out with them, Next week I will be treating my Grade 6 classes to some cake and juice as a party day to celebrate their hard work in their tangram project. Having a party day is something that is part of the school ethos but I haven't seen it done except in mentoria so I figured that it would be a nice way of letting the younger kids unwind for a day and relax totally. Just need to work out which day and which periods.

So all in its been a good week so far with just one day to go before the weekend this week unlike last week seems to have flown in.
Finally I have bought an IPOD I have spent years avoiding IPODs and now that I have one I have to ask myself WHY !!! It is an amazing tool and is so damned easy to use, more on this as I get used to putting more stuff onto it.

More tomorrow ...

Mid week

2008-04-09T20:33:00.001-07:00

Today was one of those days when everything you expect to happen does and you don't really worry but just get on with it.

This is a picture of one of the "School Buildings" its the main sports hall manufactured and built by one of the pupils in the class from their drawings and sketches. Its when you get something like this produced you realize the effort was worth while. What is more satisfying though is the evaluations that were being handed in.. all of the ones I have marked up to now almost to a person praise the project highly from allowing them to work with the machines but also to do something they have never had the opportunity to do before. One girl commented that at the start she thought the project was crazy as she could not see how she could hope to make anything even closely resembling the school when the architects had had years of training but that as she and her team started putting the buildings together she had a great sense of self worth and self satisfaction seeing something come together that she thought was going to be impossible. I have also had 2 other pupils also both girls stating that although they hadn't considered a job in architecture they have had such an eye opening experience to the drawing skills and model work that they would like to look into taking it further. No pupils have been critical of the project even though I gave them complete freedom with their evaluation and told them critical comments were as useful as ones praising the project. The project sadly is unfinished though perhaps between now and the end of the year a few more buildings might be completed.

The second part of the day was taken up with meetings though today was a special briefing about Earth Day which took the form of Spiders are our friends and can be included in every subject area... I admit my first thought was I had no problem with physics, a body in motion will continue in motion till it meets an equal and opposite force.. Shoe - Spider - Ground came to mind. That said the presenter was obviously very keen and amongst the small collection of spiders (which apparantly there are 700 varieties in colombia...yes someone just walked across my grave too and made by back shiver just typing it.) One demonstration he showed was to take a small spider about the size of a thumbnail and get it to spin an almost continuous web as he moved it around 2 poles set approx 9 inches apart after about 4 turns he hung a parker ball point pen from the silken thread - which apparantly in size and ratio is stronger than steel!.. Needless to say no spider demonstration is possible without the Tarantula... I was just glad I was at the other end of the room as those at the front got the pleasure of having it walk over their faces... apparantly Spiders hate heat (where did I put my blowtorch) and even the heat from your face would kill them over time therefore they will not stay on you prefering to find somewhere cool (Turns up the room heating) Spiders don't jump (Thats a relief though I am not 100% sure I believe him)and finally spiders don't bite ... EXCEPT for the one in Australia !!! I knew there was a reason I didn't go there.

So the day was interesting and enjoyable I even managed to get my washing back home in the evening though I now have 14 Shirts to Iron, I think maybe I should research the Spanish word for ironing and see if the Launderette can iron too, No cost would be too much !!
manyana mi amigos

Day 1 of the new project for some of the classes

2008-04-08T19:28:00.000-07:00

I have been running a brief for some classes over the last few days with more being covered tomorrow and thursday.

Its been interesting to see some of the early thoght processes goign on by the 2 Grade 8 classes who instantly started thinking outside of the box and working on how they could be creative within the limits of the project.

Grade 8 are still only in the first period of their project where as grade 6 classes doing a similar but slightly more limited project are slightly further ahead.

I chose at random one students work from grade 6 and I intend to choose one from grade 8 and show regular updates of what they are doing, and how their work is being approached.

The image below is the front cover (On the left) and a client profile (on the right)
The remit for the front cover was that it had to look nice, have their name and class on it and have some sort of design that would fit with their mothers interests leading up to Mothers Day. The remit for the Client profile was to think about the things that their mother liked and disliked and by covering all areas possible they should then be able to create a Mood Board to display the colours and images that will assist them in their design stage.

The front cover is very good the student has reasonably good artistic skills and considered the theme and applied it with an interesting border theme that is not straight (Which most pupils seem to stick too) Out of a possible grading of 1 to 7 I would give the front cover a top grade of 7. Her Client Profile (A synopsis of everything their client, in this case their mother, likes and dislikes)is drawn creatively but is lacking detail. If she had added more information it would make the next task the mood board easier, due to the lack of detail I have graded this page at a 6. This is still an excellent start and I will be interested to see where she takes her design over the next week.

Finally I seem to have got over my slight bug as I feel much better tonight and have had a very quiet relaxing evening. I have been waiting for some information from Amman with regard to inventories and class layouts which I check for each morning (There is currently a 7 hour time difference) sadly at the moment I haven't had the reply I am waiting for .. quite frustrating.

Hasta Pronto Mi Muchacho's

Monday Night Quiz

2008-04-08T04:04:00.000-07:00

This was the first Monday in the month and as such it was the embassy Quiz night, Its a good night and I enjoy the fast paced rounds and questions. But unfortunately there is a "bug" going around and I seem to have caught a bit of it, I am getting off lightly but many others are dropping with a sore throat and general feeling of being unwell.

Its always been my attitude that unless I am really flattened which touch wood isn't something I am looking at doing then I should be able to continue.

I think a lot of it is a positive attitude, it seems too easy to just "take the day off" but then again if it was a streaming cold or flu then I admit I would rather someone took the day off than came in and shared it around.

Over the last few days I have started briefings on the new project "The Mothers Day Picture Frame" it does seem that the kids are quite interested and excited, partly because its NEW and partly because they now feel they have enough skill to actually have a go and get some sort of decent result.

From tonights post I intend to run a class by class review of what they do and how, focussing on one student and one class to see how it all comes together. I have allocated 5 weeks or 10 lessons to complete this which is driving it hard with new tasks coming in fairly quick succession. Time wise each lesson is a new task thus not allowing the pupils time to drag things out or get too relaxed with a slow build up. It will mean at the end of the paper work phase they will require to review their work for improvement after a quick mid task assessment, before moving into the design and manufacture.

In UK we teach approx 10 week projects which is a reasonable base within the UK curriculum but I feel out here with the timings and class teaching, projects need to be readjusted for shorter courses rather than longer ones. (This is a learning outcome from the last 2 projects and partly down to the fact the kids dont have the experience gained from coming through from the younger year groups with a knowledge and initial skill gained from previous work) Its been hard for the kids but the evaluations of the current work show they are really really keen and interested in a couple of years time I feel the department and the pupils who are then coming through will be developing some very nice projects.

More later tonight....

Tony the Tiger attacks colombia

2008-04-06T20:04:00.000-07:00

Short post of images/...

Tony the Tiget made an appearance at the school next door....

The Main road "The 140" except its been like this for months now !!

This is the Train to the Salt Cathederal (I hope to be on this next Sunday)..

Finally for tonight pictures of some of my Grade 8 Kids that were taken to provide a display for the upcoming parents evening.

So thats a small update of images. This last week the first week back has been quite tiring as I seem to be having a small problem getting reaclimatised, although each day gets a little easier I found myself feeling very breathless after a long walk today. It is one weekend ofcourse off of my list though which means just 11 weekends left and I am starting new projects with both grade groups which means a lot of work but also more interesting for everyone.

I am looking forward to the next few weeks as I am sure the kids will produce some very nice photo frames for Mothers day on May the 11th.

Chao mi amigos hasta pronto

Saturday Overcast and Showery

2008-04-05T22:18:00.000-07:00

Good evening from Colombia or in fact good morning so this will be a short post.. Saturday was a good day I put my washing in bought some folders from panamericana some food from the carulla and a CORBATA from exito - you cant have enough Corbatas but I will need to get something to hold them.

The rest of the day was taken up just relaxing. Tomorrow (or later today) I hope to go down to Hacienda haven't been there for a while and it might just be the ideal place to buy... a Corbata Holder !!!

Manyana

Water pain!!

2008-04-04T19:23:00.001-07:00

I raised hell today and the result was I got home and found my water had been reconnected... However since I had left the school and hadn't known that it had been fixed as the water company who reconnected it couldn't confirm it had been done. I was still unaware and in the mean time had pressured the school to do something or get me a hotel as I wasn't going to go the whole weekend without access to water.

So to make sure everything was going to be ok The Director and Sub Director of Administration appeared at the door. Apparantly if the water hadn't been put back on they would have put it on themselves and then argued with the water company.

Quite amazing what people will do to avoid paying out for a hotel : )

short post as I am off for a shower !! and then hittign bed ... too many late nights recently and early rises...

manayan mi muchacho's

Anger Boils Over

2008-04-03T20:09:00.001-07:00

Today was an amazingly good day till I got back to the flat. As i walked in very apologetically my little portero security guy pointed out the Water Comapny have turned off my water for NON PAYMENT of the 2 month 10.00 UK sterling Bill !!! Last month they didnt send me a bill because they were investigating the lower water usage .. well its going to be even lower this month cos they have shut it off!!!

When I arrived back i had the water bill sitting but due to a touch of bad luck the pay by day had expireed by 1 day, I tried paying the bill online and at the cash machine but the system said no.

Knowing how legalistic this society is I went into the school and said to the administration "What do I do ?" Javier the deputy director said oh we need to get that paid since if we dont in 3 days they will cut off your water BUT don't worry pay us the money and we will send someone down to do it. Whew thats a relief I thought. Stupid to think that anything can get done here if you dont actually do it yourself.

So here I am late on a Thursday night and I have NO water I can't shower, flush the loo or wash the dishes to say I am pi**ed off is an understatement. I tried calling the school but they had "gone home" so I have emailed and will be in their office first thing in the morning.

My concern is that getting the water switched back on this close to a weekend might be a big problem, however I have stated categorically in the email if they can't get it sorted tomorrow I insist they organise a hotel for the weekend I am not living without sodding water when it is not my fault the bill hasn't been paid !

So what was actually a really good day turned into a pain in the a$$. I am just hoping the thought of paying out for a hotel for 2 nights will fire them up and ensure they get something done, that said the weekend in a hotel with a BATH !!! would be a hell of a treat.

Isn't it weird though I am sitting here wanting a shower and only because I know I cant actually have one !!!

lets see what happens tomorrow.

12 weekends to go and counting

2008-04-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

The title is a little bit unfair as I am not counting really but it does make it feel a very short period of time when you look at it as the number of times I might actually get to the EXITO again before returning to UK.

Today was a good day the end of the road for the TANGRAM project for 3 of the 5 Grade 6 classes and I have spent the last few nights preparing and setting up the Powerpoint presentation for the next project a Mothers Day Picture frame. It will be a fairly quick project as all parts will come flat packed ready for assembly apart from one "design" piece they need to add on as the individual or unique addition. Flat pack allows me to introduce mass production and to provide detail on one off designs and mass produced designs from the likes of IKEA or MFI.

Folio work will concentrate on a client profile and mood board. I am allowing 4 weeks or 8 lessons to complete the project 2 periods for introduction, 2 for folio work and then 4 for practical work including painting and finishing. If i was relying on the pupils cutting the wood it would take 3 times as long and include a vast amoount more waste. Though Nelson my technician who is preparing the materials for the project hates me as I have asked for 4 pieces of MDF cut to 1cm wide by 60cm long which will make the front area. The problem is I need 2000 !!! and I have a feeling if he achieves this before the 9th of April I will owe him a huge beer.

I have to admit I am getting a nice buzz moving into a new project as the current 2 have over run badly due to lack of hand skills from the kids, and sadly thats not something I can train but rather something they have to gain from practice.

I also received some of the Grade 8 Evaluations so far I have had 5 and the effort they have put in and the work they have done to reflect on their work both as individuals and as a group is really good. Of the 5 I have read through so far I have had no hesitation in allocating a Mark of 7 out of 7. Although the buildings are rough and some of the electronics wont be going into the design due to the time scale all pupils will get a good mark for their efforts ranging from 5 to 7 but I expect most to be in the range of 6 out of 7.

I have also been spending some time trying to reorganise and replan a curriculum across all 4 year groups for next year. But I will need to get in touch with Amman as they havent as yet given me a guide to what is actually on Inventory and before you plan in projects in any depth you really want to know what resources and equipment you have available. so think thats my next task for tonight.

Hasta manyana mi amigos buenos noches

Pleasantly Surprised

2008-04-01T20:05:00.001-07:00

As you will know from reading yesterdays post I was desperately trying to find a technique to calm the kids when they get slightly too boisterous and noisy. In the end I used a technique that is used in the primary school here, If the kids get too noisy the teacher holds their right hand in the air with the hand in a fist .. It doesn't take long for the kids to catch on and they do the same, within seconds the room is quiet - it is really quite amusing and satisfying... No need to try to raise your voice no need to make noise just raising a hand and waiting and its an almost instant response.

So where I thought I would have issues I had none... It was great. All the kids worked hard and produced some really impressive work with only 1 lesson left before we switch tasks and start a new project the kids are really trying to meet the dealines.

I am still suffering from the return, I find I am tiring very easily and come 10.00 at night I feel like I really need sleep. Tomorrow is Wednesday and also day 1 so i only have 2 classes and then they are all short period sessions so the day will or should fly in.

Laugo mi amigos

First Day back

2008-03-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

I started the day in a good mood which lasted all the way through. A grade 8 class who worked hard and a three grade 6 classes that were fairly good.

I do have one class that is giving me problems, they have been problematic from the start and everything I have tried to keep them motivated and on track seems to have stuttered. I have not really come up with a successful strategy for getting around their behavour. Its not that they are bad they are just overly noisy and talkative and getting control at the start of the lesson can be an issue as they show little respect for authority or staff (This is across all classes not just mine).

I have been doing some online research into strategies that could act as a calming influence, thinking perhaps that I need to employ some sort of psychology to control the situation.I am considering shuffling pupils around to split up talkative groups with mixed gender groups, the main problem with that sort of technique is that the pupils are all very close across the year groups and putting a boy or girl into a group of the other gender may not really make any major differences. Guess I find out tomorrow.

The rest of the day apart went well, I did have a minor issue with my water bill !! It had come in while I was away and I tried to pay it on the Sunday but it had already passed the pay by date. In Colombia if you dont pay on time they just cut off your amenities...(Painful) I went to the Administration and complained and they agreed that if I gave them the money they would send someone down personally to the water company tomorrow and pay the bill. A nice touch.

So one day back good periods and a frustrating one tomorrow should be a very good day though the very first class is the one that is giving problems so I will have to see if they are as exciteable first thing as they are just before lunch.

Manyana mi amigos

Altitude

2008-03-31T04:14:00.000-07:00

Sundays post vanished in the opportunity to recover from traveling and exercise.

I slept OK but then when I did get up I went for a short walk and it really told on me, within half an hour of setting out I felt breathless and was tiring rapidly. This is I expect a mix of a variety of things, including altitude, some dehydration and the fact my body was still trying to tell me I should be taking it easy. I am a great believer in listening to my body so I went home drank lots (non alcoholic) and rested....

This morning up as normal for school I feel good though haven't stuck my head outside yet, and I am looking forward to getting back into school and seeing what needs done.

A nice long update tonight on the school, the kids and the work once I get back from the first day of the last session.

Manyana

Oh one quick update on Amman I have been talking to the school and it seems that I will be unlikely to get a flat with a swimming pool what a bummer but never mind. They have promised a big puddle if I really want one.

SLEEP !!

2008-03-29T20:08:00.000-07:00

Things didnt quite work out, Flight was delayed.. missed my taxi driver in the crowds and too tired to hang about so caught an airport taxi back to flat 10.10 at night and I am going to BED !!! Manyana

Easter is over and its back to work on Monday

2008-03-29T09:46:00.001-07:00

Easter break is officially over I didn't do a lot as you can probably tell from the non blog for the last 2 weeks but I actually enjoyed being as non computer literate as possible and just doing the bare minimum, watching TV drinking coffee and recharging for the final stint here in Bogota.

Currently I am sitting in Newark Liberty Airport just outside New York, The picture shows the New York Skyline. I admit I didnt really notice it just where I am sitting loads of people come up and take photo's so thought I should too.

Pretty impressive when you can upload an image taken at the time you are writing only thing is now I am waiting for my connecting flight to Bogota that leaves in about 3 hours. its 1230 here in USA, 1130 in Bogota and 4.30 in UK (Though tomorrow it will be 5.30 as UK change their BST tonight) but the main outcome to all of that is I havent a clue what the real time is for me.

Hopefully when I arrive in Bogota around 2030 my favourite taxi driver will be available but since my Colombian Mobile is dead I have no way of knowing unless he is waiting at the door which I hope for otherwise its into an airport taxi as hanging around the front of the airport is not the best choice for a Gringo at 2100 at night.

I do feel strange though I am coming back to Bogota for 3 months which should feel longer than the xmas stage where I came back on the 8th of Jan and then finished on the 15th of Mar yet to me it already feels like it will fly in and be a small amount of actual time. I have 2 projects to get through for both year groups so means i am only going to concentrate on specifics rather than full folios and of course I will lose the last 2 weeks of JUNE to exams... with 2 projects to get through that basically means 5 weeks per project so I will be driving gthe kids quite hard but with reduced folio work and a chance to be more creative hopefully everything will come together nicely, and of course being busy means time flies in... one way to look at it is I only have 12 weekends left !!! thats not long and I know I will really miss the lifestyle here the friendships but most of all the teaching. No matter what has been said or hinted at over the last 7 or so months there is no doubt in my mind that the kids at this school are some of the best pupils I have ever come across and it makes you wonder what the differences are in attitude and effort I see here when compared to my home town schools system.

I doubt I will add anymore tonight due to jetlag when I finally get in. But all going well I will be up and out for a walk tomorrow (I need to shop for food !!).

I intend to throw everything into this last 3 months here to make the kids work as fun and engaging as possible and at the same time try to develop a much more relaxed and calm attitude to all the little problems that will no doubt come up as the contract comes to an end.

No matter what happens over the next 3 months I will when I leave Bogota take with me memories and experiences of teaching that I would encourage every teacher to try if they can. And on that note... Manyana....

A quick Post

2008-03-14T20:03:00.001-07:00

Its late I am shattered but had one of the best fridays possible. Today we took 700 kids to a sports and leisure facility for the day... There was no problems no damage no concerns, the kids were amazing everyone mixed in everyone enjoyed the time and the whole day shows how so many can get on without any friction or upset. I have lots of photos which I will try to put up tomorrow. For tonight the red wine is having an affect and i am going to sleep.
Chao mi amigos

Another enjoyable and good day.

2008-03-13T18:06:00.000-07:00

The day was good.. not amazingly good but good, the 3 grade 6 classes are having fun making their tangrams with the odd kids challenging me to try to beat them (Some of the little darlings are far too devious for me !!!!)

Those who know me from UK will know I have certain problems with certain insects... like spiders are fine as long as I can fit them UNDER my foot !! but I have no issues with flys, bees wasps etc... BUT my one complete and total phobia is MOTHS now butterflys I have no problem with at all but MOTHS turn my blood cold and I am seriously in a major panic... It comes down to a .. ME or IT scenario and I am usually armed with a rolled up paper, if you took my blood pressure you would probably suggest I was about to explode.

So you would think coming to an equatorial zone would result in my worst fears... BUT due to the height above sea level the "insect" population is almost unseen, ie I have only seen 1 small spider and one small moth since I have been here its been heavenly .. UNTIL TODAY !..

This picture says it all... when you consider the size by comparison to the standard size bricks behind it !!.. rolled up newspaper I dont think so... baseball bat... possibly. You have no idea how much courage and fortitude it took to hold the damn camera steady to take this picture..lol. enjoy ....

Another day in paradise

2008-03-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

Except of course I am in Bogota (Which was still nice but... not perhaps Paradise)Today was a good day Grade 8 worked hard produced some good effort, and made the day a pleasure to teach. The only downside is it is short periods due to meeting day which means the kids lose 15 minutes per period and when I have to push them out the door at the end of class you know they are really enjoying what they are doing.

Meetings were interesting there is a new reporting system which automates the homework and lets you communicate with parents electronically I wish I had had it at the start of the year.

Rainy Days in Bogota

2008-03-11T18:59:00.000-07:00

I woke to the sounds of heavy rain, I walked to where the bus picked me up in heavy rain and I got to school and it was still raining BUT that didn't put a dampner on my day. My classes were enjoyable the kids were hyper but ok, though the general feeling across all departments is the 6th Grade this year are almost uncontrolable !!Now I have said similar things myself and perhaps its because with so many good classes you expect all classes to be outstanding However for a reality check I only have to think back to the teaching I was experiencing in UK to bring myself down to earth. Even on these kids most wild and testing days they are still far far better than a lot of the UK Classes I was involved with .. not academically that would be unfair to the hard working and diligent professionals in UK but certainly behavour wise there is a HUGE world of difference.

Tomorrow will be my last working day I expect before Easter as Thursday there is a theatre visit and Friday the sport and leisure day. Means my plans for April will be up in the air - I want to do the Mothersday Photoframes but not sure what to do with the grade 8 buildings I so want them to complete but to do so would mean using up possibly 2 or 3 weeks of April - The answer is to break the project to do the Frames then go back into the building in May. Since the Building bit is group work I could have soem people working on it if they finish the frames. The frames for the grade 6 are going to be precut and only the mood board and client profiile will be assessable for the grade 8 class it will be design ideas, mood board and client profile as the majority of parts will be pre cut for speedy assembly. This is not a manufacture task just an assembly one. Again too save time and allow me to do one last project before the end of the teaching year.

Manyana mi amigos

Interesting Day

2008-03-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

This was an interesting day. We had a visit from the MYP co-ordination peson she was very nice and visited while my grade 8 kids were working hard on their model projects. Teaching is a strange career some days the kids produce work that shows little in the way of effort and imagination and other days like today they produce outstanding work. Its difficult to guage what to expect each day and this week I am losing classes left right and centre through visits to the Theatre and also to the Sports and Leisure facility on the outskirts of Bogota. Its frustrating when you look at the timetable as a teacher I feel I need every period possible and I am losing so many. This interrupts the pupils continuity and in a technology environment continuity in a new subject is so needed.

The MYP visit went well but since the school are not implimenting the MYP properly in Technology (Its a 5 year program but the school are only running 4 years) they will not get the accreditation they want. Again it all comes down to money.

New subject - Comments on the blog... I get left the odd comment however I rarely publish them as they are mostly family orientated comments and to avoid misuse and abuse by anyone else all comments are moderated. The reason for stating this is that on the odd occassion that I get a comment that has not got a positive bias, unless it has some solid basis or factual information to support it, it will be deleted. It doesn't happen often but does occassionally, however I would like to thank all those who take the time to comment whether you agree with my world or not, after all no one is forcing you to read about my time in Colombia and the fact that you have taken the time to read even just a small part of it and comment is appreciated, though if its negative sadly it wont appear. However thank you once again for the time taken.

My final point for tonight is with regard to a comment that was left, it questioned my teaching which I feel is a little unfair when the person who posted doesn't know me and is basing everything on what is in truth a small part of a daily diary. Everybody has their ups and downs, frustrations and annoyances, when you are dealing with 120 pupils a day, some days I admit my enthusiasm wilts a little, but then each day I go back in I recharge and refresh and enjoy most of the classes, most of the pupils and a lot of the work. It would be foolish to say its perfect no school is perfect and in technology 28 pupils in a class is crazy if only from the safety view point.

So to the person who commented they were glad I was going to Amman and not coming to their school area from a previous post, can I just say "So Am I" because if you have made what is an informed decision on the words here then perhaps you are as mistaken as you seem to think I am, and you should take off your rose tinted glasses.

Having said that I love my pupils education with a passion and the work they do, and the only reason some days I am "hard" on them, is to stress the need for quality not quantity, of effort not laziness and that technology can be fun not boring. If I set high standards its because I believe in my pupils abilities and I want to push them to achieve the best they can. If that is wrong, If that makes me a bad teacher then I am in the wrong profession. On the other hand if a teacher is there to inspire to excite and in the process provide the opportunity for pupils to learn and acquire new experiences and skills making them a better person and adding to their ability to analyse and react to their future then I believe I am in the right profession.

Thank you for the comment, all comments are moderated to avoid misuse or abuse..

Steve

Sunday and a day of rest and relaxation

2008-03-09T17:51:00.000-07:00

I normally go to feed the homeless on a Sunday morning and this morning was to be no different though Martha wasn't going I left the house as usual, but then remembered I had copied some cds for Oscar, so I doubled back grabbed them and then left... only to see the car drive off from the front of Marthas house. Her Portero (security guy) did his best to attract the cars attention but failed. So I thanked him and wandered back to the flat and had a coffee and relaxed.

I did go out for a small walk as far as the exito I intended to buy a set of digital scales but when I saw the price I settled for basic analogue ones .. it is after all only to weigh my cases to ensure I dont exceed the max weight restrictions as colombia are exceedingly keen on charging you if your over the magic 20 kilos.

While in the exito I thought I would get a new jumper but didnt see any I liked - did see 2 jackets though so bought both .. .this may seem an extravagence but I am using up the SODEXHO vouchers which are pretty useless for anything but clothes and food and I cant see myself eating the amount of vouchers I have.

Now sadly its time to do my Ironing !! I really should have asked the Launderette it would be worth the cost to have them do it for me I so hate ironing. least this week its on;y shirts (about 12 of them).

I might be finished in time for work tomorrow.

Chao...

You are not using enough water we need to check WHY !!

2008-03-08T18:21:00.000-08:00

Today I was supposed to have a visit from the Waterboard. The Colombian Water board have chosen to investiagte WHY I am not using as much water as last year!

Hello... Prior to my coming to the flat there was a family of 3 here. I am a family of 1.

No doubt all 3 of them had showers, used the loo, washed lots of dishes and had a washing machine. !! I shower and use the loo wash the small amount of dishes I use and dont have a washing machine. (Using the launderette)

Its not Rocket Science but under the Colombian system they HAVE to investigate incaase I have replumbed the flat to use someone elses water !!! So the school arranged for a visit to happen today sometime between 10 and 6. Except of course after waiting in ALL day no one sodding turned up !!! It was a lovely day I know I watched the sun rise and fall through the living room window.. Think I might have a few words to say on Monday.

While writing this there was again the ominous sound of crunching metal and breaking glass, looking out the window I can see a TAXI which has been side swiped by a Pizza Delivery Motorcycle, no one appears hurt, but the bike wont be riding anywhere soon and the taxi driver is a bit pissed off that his rear door has been modified.

Finally tonight thought I would add a few photos I came across that brought back memories. When i started working on computers in the 80's I always wanted one of these.. It was the most advanced piece of technology of the time and I so wanted it.

One of the reasons of course I couldn't get one was money... when you consider this picture

Now I carry four thousand times that amount of storage memory in my POCKET ! and my Mobile phone has more processing power than the Commodore makes you wonder what things will be like in another 20 years. (By the way how did men go to the moon and back approx 20 years before the Commodore with the technology available at the time and why haven't we got a Moon station already set up and operating 40 years on.. sorry thought it was time for a bit of conspiracy theory.)