tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151863632024-03-07T13:44:35.002+08:00The Random Ramblings of a Geography Nut...This blog is created for the two main purposes of furthering geographical knowledge and pedagogy...But of course, having fun while writing is also another important concern of this geognut. I do admit that this is a convenient outlet to bitch and rant too...By the way, much appreciation to Ed for helping me with this blog's title!Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-80882093254690863272009-03-10T11:41:00.002+08:002009-03-10T11:42:47.275+08:00Wow Wee....Talk about neglecting this blog in a long while! Actually, it was more like I was finally able to find out why I could not log in to my blog and post and have now found the solution.<br /><br />If you have mistakenly arrived at this blog looking for google earth files, let me redirect you to http://geognut-share.blogspot.com<br /><br />That's where you wanna go! Ha.Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1144635349653442472006-04-10T10:08:00.000+08:002006-04-10T10:15:49.676+08:00Blessed WeekendHow great it is to be able to celebrate my two birthdays over the weekend? Especially in the company of my loved ones?<br /><br />Let me explain why the heck I would have two birthdays.<br /><br />1. My human birthday fell on Saturday.<br />2. My spiritual birthday fell on Sunday (Baptism).<br /><br />It was really great that I managed to spend my real birthday with my family and gf despite my hectic schedule. And once again, my sis laid out the big bucks so that I can enjoy a truly wonderful lunch. It's just a waste that the weather was so hot and thus un-cooperative, forcing us to sit inside rather than outside al-fresco style.<br /><br />Dinner was also great! My fellow companion in turtlehood brought me out for a dinner by the river at Clarke Quay. (thankfully, the lighting was adequate for me to read the birthday card with the wonderfully done cursive script - oh, and I shan't elaborate on what she got for me heh.)<br /><br />Sunday was another monumental event for me. Baptism. Am really blessed to have a supportive cell with brothers and sisters who came for the service and prayed for us.<br /><br />Was also very happy that my sis and especially my mum, as well as cousin, close friends attending my baptism.<br /><br />God bless and I pray that He will work into the hearts of all those we term as "pre-believers".Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1137603262700716772006-01-19T00:52:00.000+08:002006-01-19T00:54:22.713+08:00Another apt reminder especially in a time like this...What is Love? 1 Corinthians 13:4 sums it up very well indeed. Do you practice such a form of love?<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.<br /></div>Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1136970898530459412006-01-11T17:12:00.000+08:002006-01-11T17:14:58.543+08:00Pardon my tardinessYeah I know that I am supposed to update my blog especially with regards to my trip to Taipei and HK, but I've been swamped with work and thus am unable to show for anything. I've not even be able to rename the pictures I took whilst there.<br /><br />So please be patient with me....Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1135132448432412082005-12-21T10:31:00.000+08:002005-12-21T10:34:08.443+08:00Here I am again...Posting my blog from Terminal 2's Free Internet Access kiosk...<br /><br />Leaving for Taiwan and HK in less than an hour's time. Boy, this dec holiday has been packed with so many activities that in the blink of an eye, the month would have been gone.<br /><br />Well, gonna wish my readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please try and remember the real significance of Christmas especially when we are constantly bombarded by the message found within our consumerist culture....Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1134917405776443222005-12-18T22:49:00.000+08:002005-12-25T10:20:40.956+08:00Cold Turkey Finally<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Ephesus%20-%20Open%20Air%20Museum%20Toilet%20Shot.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Ephesus%20-%20Open%20Air%20Museum%20Toilet%20Shot.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This picture on an ancient toilet with a constipated look describes how I feel about blogging about Turkey. Been postponing my blog on my Turkey trip as I always feel overwhelmed by the number of pictures I took. Worse, I worry that I might not get the sequencing right heh. Yeah yeah you know me, always needing to sort things chronologically and in a linear fashion. Well, can’t postpone the inevitable anymore so shall just blog…<br /><br />This trip was embarked during the month of December 2005. Turkish airlines was well, hmm, how shall I put it…different. The service on the flight to Turkey was questionable. Though the bread was nicely heated and delicious, it was the way they served us that made me go hmmm….I think I was given relatively good service compared with others. Saw others having their bread being ‘thrown’ at them and what not. Additionally, the stewards and stewardesses, when asking people what they would like to drink, would say this instead “What you want to drink?!” I guess that’s the Turkish way? Hmmm not sure there and then. But by the end of the trip, real Turkish hospitality was way warmer than that and I came out from this trip having newfound understanding and deeper respect for the Turkish people.<br /><br />After a 13 hours flight with a stopover in Bangkok (we were not able to get out of the plane as they prevented us from doing so unless we were going to smoke – beats me why they didn’t want us to leave the plane though the stopover was for an hour), we finally touched down at Ataturk International Airport. The airport was really modern and nice. But like all Massive Standardised and Rigidly Packed (MSRP) holidays, we were all swept into the bus and headed for our first destination, Sultan Ahmet's Mosque (aka Blue Mosque) and Hagya Sofia or was it Hagia Sofya?<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Istanbul%20-%20Blue%20Mosque%205.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Istanbul%20-%20Blue%20Mosque%205.jpg" border="0" /></a>Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Istanbul%20-%20Hagia%20Sofya%204.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Istanbul%20-%20Hagia%20Sofya%204.jpg" border="0" /></a>Hagia Sofya or Hagya Sofia Mosque<br /></div><br />The Blue Mosque is named as such because the interior of the mosque is laden with priceless blue tiles. The dome itself glitters in blue when the sun hits it at the right angle. Took a pic of that too.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Istanbul%20-%20Blue%20Mosque%20Dome%20Interior.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Istanbul%20-%20Blue%20Mosque%20Dome%20Interior.jpg" border="0" /></a>Interior pic of Sultan Ahmet's mosque hence the name Blue Mosque<br /></div><br /><br />After that, we went to the cisterns, where the fresh water in this underground ‘cavern’ will sustain the ancient city for 6 months in the event of a siege of the city.<br /><br />We thought we could have an early lunch, especially important since we were all starving, but the guide thought that we were rather early, so we moved forward the cruise of the Bosphorous Straits from the last day to the first day. So now, not only were we hungry, we were being whacked all sides by the blistering cold. The wind chill seriously made it worse.<br /><br />At long last, we finally made our way to lunch. Had our first Turkish lunch with kebabs in a restaurant at the top of Galata Tower which also offered us a panaromic view of Istanbul.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Istanbul%20-%20Galata%20Tower%20Shot%206.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Istanbul%20-%20Galata%20Tower%20Shot%206.jpg" border="0" /></a>That’s me pretending to look cold (well it was cold actually)<br /></div><br />Tummies filled, we checked into the hotel. It was funny how for the entire trip, whichever hotel that we checked in, there will be something wrong with the room. Either there will be a drastic lack of towels, or the tv is not working, or the door knob drops out of the door, or the toilet gets flooded since the shower screen is not there (that is, if it actually works in the first place as one of the hotel rooms we were in obviously weren’t well made). After a while, we just laughed it off and anticipate how our next hotel room might be. Luckily for us, the last night at Istanbul was spent in a perfect hotel room.<br /><br />The next day, we took an early domestic flight to Ankara, which is Turkey’s capital city. Am not going to blog about everywhere we went but mainly the more pertinent ones. Stopped at some museum and took this shot of the flower.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Ankara%20-%20Museum%20Flower%202.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Ankara%20-%20Museum%20Flower%202.jpg" border="0" /></a>I love macro shots of flowers<br /></div><br />After that, we stopped at Ataturk’s Mausoleum. Ataturk is the hero of Turkey, fought in the war of independence and became their leader until his death. He has a lot of sey…plus he’s got movie star looks man…<br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Ankara%20-%20Ataturk"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Ankara%20-%20Ataturk%27s%20Mausoleum%208.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mausoleum<br /></div><br />The entire mausoleum complex sits on a hill and is visible from most parts of Ankara. It is really a remarkable place. Huge. To show our respect to Ataturk, we couldn’t talk loudly, run, sit and behave like crappy tourists whilst in there, which is good. Can’t stand the fact that we were only given 45 mins to tour the place and given 2.5 hrs in a shopping mall. Well, some people in the group were real Singaporeans that’s all I can say.<br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Ankara%20-%20Ataturk"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Ankara%20-%20Ataturk%27s%20Mausoleum%20Guard.jpg" border="0" /></a>Stylo Milo Turkish Ceremonial Guard<br /></div><br />All the ceremonial guards in places of national interests are damn stylo milo man. Think they were also chosen for their looks and build too. The right hand holds the rifle while the left hand placed at the back, is actually holding a bayonet, poised and ready to attack. Think the gals can swoon over them.<br /><br />After this, it was lunch and off we went to Cappadocia to check in. Took this pic of a salt plain on the way there. It was really beautiful.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Ankara%20-%20Salt%20Plains%20Sunset.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Ankara%20-%20Salt%20Plains%20Sunset.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Cappadocia is known for their marvellous landscapes. I have loads of pictures and captured lots of memories and thoughts (some geographical) during my time here. My blog will never ever do justice to what I actually saw and experienced whilst in Cappadocia. Here are some of the pictures I took while there.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Cappadocia%20-%20Landscape%2010.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Cappadocia%20-%20Landscape%2010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Cappadocia%20-%20Landscape%2018.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Cappadocia%20-%20Landscape%2018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Cappadocia%20-%20Landscape%2020.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Cappadocia%20-%20Landscape%2020.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Cappadocia%20-%20Goreme%20Open%20Air%20Museum%20Prisoner.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Cappadocia%20-%20Goreme%20Open%20Air%20Museum%20Prisoner.jpg" border="0" /></a>Prisoner shot heh<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Cappadocia%20-%20Landscape%2014.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Cappadocia%20-%20Landscape%2014.jpg" border="0" /></a>Castle in Cappadocia. Look at the plane and contrail at the top of the castle<br /></div><br />We went to Ephesus and Pergamon the next day. Ephesus is a pilgrimage site especially for Catholics. The chapel of Mother Mary is here. Ephesus, if I remember correctly, was listed in the Bible as the final home for Mary after Jesus was crucified.<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Ephesus%20-%20Open%20Air%20Museum%20Amphi%20Trilogy.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Ephesus%20-%20Open%20Air%20Museum%20Amphi%20Trilogy.jpg" border="0" /></a>Took this shot at the Ephesus Open Air Museum’s Amphitheatre<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Ephesus%20-%20Open%20Air%20Museum%20Library%205.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Ephesus%20-%20Open%20Air%20Museum%20Library%205.jpg" border="0" /></a>Library at the open air museum<br /></div><br />Hmm I can’t remember what the sequence was next but well, in the end, we went to quite a few other places. The following pics were taken at Pamukkale with its beautiful calcium carbonate formations.<br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Pamukkale%20-%20Cotton%20Castle%206.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Pamukkale%20-%20Cotton%20Castle%206.jpg" border="0" /></a>Trying to pose as Japanese tourists…<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Pamukkale%20-%20Cotton%20Castle%20Scaled%20Shot.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Pamukkale%20-%20Cotton%20Castle%20Scaled%20Shot.jpg" border="0" /></a>Scaled shot of the calcium carbonate surface<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Kusadasi%20-%20Bay%20Ken.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Kusadasi%20-%20Bay%20Ken.jpg" border="0" /></a>Stayed at Kusadesi. Pic taken at the bay.<br /><br /><br /></div>Hmmm I think my memory really has gaps but thankfully, I have all the pics with me in my comp so those who are interested, can take a look at it and I can provide a proper sequencing of events then.<br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Troy%20-%20Climbing%20Wall.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Troy%20-%20Climbing%20Wall.jpg" border="0" /></a>Climbing the wall at the ancient city of Troy.<br /></div><br />Visited Troy and was disappointed. Somehow, I envisioned marvellous ruins near the sea, no thanks to the movie Troy and the hunky Brad Pitt. In the end, the ruins were in the middle of some agricultural plain and the Trojan horse really was ugly. Luckily for us, the horse used in the movie can be found at Canakkale, also a major battle site during the War of Independence.<br /><br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Canakkale%20-%20Horse%20From%20Movie%20Group%20Shot%202.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Canakkale%20-%20Horse%20From%20Movie%20Group%20Shot%202.jpg" border="0" /></a>Group shot with my new friends made during the trip and the Trojan Horse from the movie<br /></div><br /><br />Took a ferry and moved from the Asia side to the Europe side of Turkey and back to Istanbul we went. Ate Turkish meatballs which looked like this…<br /><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Istanbul%20-%20Turkish%20Meatballs%20and%20Bean%20Salad.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Istanbul%20-%20Turkish%20Meatballs%20and%20Bean%20Salad.jpg" border="0" /></a>The dish on the left is supposed to be meatballs. Beats me. They were delicious though<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Istanbul%20-%20Palace%20Ceremonial%20Guard%20and%20Me.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Istanbul%20-%20Palace%20Ceremonial%20Guard%20and%20Me.jpg" border="0" /></a>Can’t remember which palace…<br /></div><br />Dropped by at dunno which palace, can’t remember sheesh. Didn’t bring my camera in as we had to pay a large amount just to bring it in. The interior reminded me of Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna. Everything inside is priceless. Really beautiful.<br /><br />Went to Topkapi palace and saw an exquisite collection of antique Ming vases, Prophet Mohammed’s beard and sword and other artefacts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Istanbul%20-%20Topkapi%20Palace%20Ken%20and%20Cheryl.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: pointer; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Istanbul%20-%20Topkapi%20Palace%20Ken%20and%20Cheryl.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Made another friend on this trip. Her name’s Cheryl. She travelled with her family. Nice bunch of people. Liked her dad, really learned and always still eager to learn more.<br /><br />Hmmm, there are certainly gaps within my blog but luckily for me, I have all the pictures. So although the blog will never do justice to Turkey, well, see it as snippets for your own possible trip to Turkey?<br /><br />That’s all.Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1132679021813841482005-11-23T01:00:00.000+08:002005-11-23T01:32:48.906+08:00How apt...<div style="text-align: center;">I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;<br />I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.<br />And I will put my Spirit in you and move you<br />to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">(Ezekiel 36: 26-27)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Why is this apt you may ask? It links to my previous post on various levels of meaning actually. To have a heart again...<br /></div> </div> </div>Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1132419561962407192005-11-20T00:54:00.000+08:002005-11-20T00:59:21.966+08:00To Be Alive Once Again...<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">To Be Alive Once Again...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";" lang="EN-GB"></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">It has been two long years since.<br />Two long years of pondering,<br />Two long years of reflection,<br />Two long years of looking at the mirror…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>Maybe I have been an automaton,<br />Programmed to behave in a certain way,<br />Socialised since birth that emotions are signs of weaknesses,<br />Maybe being robotic makes things easier, predictable…</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>Deep down hiding behind masks,<br />I know these to be untrue.<br />But why then is expression so difficult?<br />Why do I seek security in being robotic?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">Perhaps deviating from the norm is scary,<br />Perhaps the feeling of being ‘lost’ makes it unpalatable,<br />Perhaps I am still waiting for the right moment,<br />Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>‘Perhaps’ to some, is an ugly word,<br />A word signalling indecisiveness,<br />A word highlighting the inability to act.<br />Seize the day instead? Perhaps…</span></p> -----------------------------<br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">Trudging through time and space,<br />Never expected for events to unfold as they have.<br />Certain facts have been proffered and established,<br />Does the situation change then? I hope yes and no.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>Though it puts me in a conundrum,<br />You have comforted me.<br />The dichotomy settled,<br />And I feel like sleeping.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>My thoughts have been tickled by you,<br />My heart, sputtering back to life and filling with emotions,<br />My senses heightened, feeding off your words and actions..<br />Alas! To be alive once again!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB">But, although I am alive, I am not hoping.<br />Contradictory sentence? No.<br />Worried that Hope brings Despair? No.<br />Why then?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span lang="EN-GB"><o:p> </o:p>Ultimately, you come first.<br />You will always come first regardless...<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /><br /></span></p> <br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1130922493463670232005-11-02T17:05:00.000+08:002005-11-02T17:08:13.473+08:00A melting pot of places....Part Deux<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/DSC01416.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/DSC01416.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Lake District? Lake Superior? Lake Zurich? Salzburg?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Sense of place can always be created and re-created. And sometimes, you can even re-interpret it and transpose it to our sunny island. Brings back memories...<br /></div> </div>Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1130847356601056982005-11-01T20:13:00.000+08:002005-11-01T20:15:56.613+08:00A melting pot of places....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/DSC01409.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/DSC01409.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Where do you think this pic was taken? Bali? Phuket? Koh Samui? Krabi?<br /></div>Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1130562791088712932005-10-29T12:58:00.001+08:002005-11-20T00:53:57.073+08:00The end of lessons proper is a double-edged sword...Yesterday's ICT class was the last class for me for this semester. Although lessons have ended, the assignments are still in progress and due next week.<br /><br />There was a <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">bittersweet</span> taste in my mouth yesterday knowing that I do not have to attend any more lessons (except for one lecture in November). <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Sweet</span> because, well, there are no lessons! Nothing to prepare nothing to read in advance, don't have to drive the ridiculous distance down to NIE for lessons that seem to be irrelevant (but I'm sure they are useful somehow, just that I have not realised it yet).<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Bitter</span> because well, won't be seeing my old and new friends as much as before. But on hindsight, not seeing my friends is also a bittersweet situation in itself! <span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51);">Bitter </span>because I've come to know some of them at a deeper level and love to hang around with them. <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Sweet </span>because some of them are just morons who are narrow-minded and some are utterly boring to be with!<br /><br /><br /><br />Oh one thing, I'm a great believer in the adage "<span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">do unto others what you want others to do unto you</span>", so all you proponents of "<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">all's fair in love and war</span>", don't bug me with your ideas and 'advice'.Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1129913907263204872005-10-22T00:21:00.000+08:002005-10-22T01:12:19.203+08:00Of rice and (wo)men....Played a game focusing on agriculture today in class. Basically, the class was split into the urbanites [President, Govt Official (yours truly), Bankers, Traders and Industrialists] and the "lowly peasantry" (farmers planting padi).<br /><br />The aim of the game is of course, to earn as much money and assets as fast as possible with scenarios such as famines and high birth-rate keeping things in check.<br /><br />From the game, I learned that information is money. As the peasants' mobility is restricted, they have to rely on traders, the govt or the bankers for information as well as sourcing for infrastructure which will aid in the growth of padi. What the urbanites needed was rice so that we can survive.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Year 1:</span> When the game started, all hell broke loose as the traders and the president+government official fought to get as many deals as possible with the peasants so that we can not only make a profit, but to purchase rice for sustenance. It was bad. After the first year ended, the urbanites realised that the peasants were making a mockery of us. With the urbanites venturing out into the rural hinterland, the peasants realised that they need not purchase or rent the bicycle (which is essential for travel to the city) from me. I lost a huge source of income due to that and actually had to slash the cost of renting my bicycle to them. Yet nobody wanted my bicycle! From then, I realised that the president and the govt official must work hand in hand so as to maximise our synergy for the next year. The traders (KF and CY) also felt that the peasants were taking advantage of all of us since they knew that we needed to purchase rice from them for survival. From then on, the urbanites realised that we needed to work with each other to ensure that the peasants sell their rice from us as well as purchase the necessary equipment to increase their yields. We also restricted the flow of information to the peasants and as the govt, designated a sole-monopolist trader. KF now had sole authority to conduct transactions with the peasants in exchange for some kickbacks to the govt.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Year 2:</span> The best idea ever was for the govt to impose taxation on the people. Each person had to pay us $20 plus $10 per child which they had for "compulsory education". From here on, the president and myself started to have lots of cash at our disposal which we used to purchase rice at the cheapest level as well as getting the industrialists to supply us with warehouses at cost price (more like coercing them to do so with the threat to increase their taxes should they not sell to us at cost price). With warehouses, we were able to stock up on rice should a famine happen as well as selling them back to the urbanites. The traders were still trying to cut some deals with the farmers and I thought that KF did a great thing by lumping deals with incentives, getting the farmers to purchase more equipment in exchange for tax relief etc.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Year 3:</span> The president and myself realised that we should tax the farmers not only in cash but also in rice so that we are able to store more rice for ourselves and our expanding warehouse inventory since we purchased more warehouses from the industrialists. After a while, we had so much rice, we need not buy any rice from farmers who were desperate to sell them. Just two years back, no farmer wanted to sell rice to us and now they wanted to be rid of their rice. It was nice also to see how the farmers realised that the restriction in the flow of information from the city to the rural hinterland had affected them badly as they felt hoodwinked by the traders (even though KF turned out in the end to have very little money). Farmers now wanted to rent my bicycle which of course I refused since I am making money through the restriction of information.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Year 4:</span> With our coffers full and warehouse full of rice, we were able to play around more with the farmers as well as selling rice at a higher price to the bankers and industrialists since the famine has resulted in a drop in rice production. Again more $$ for the govt.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Year 5:</span> The president and myself realised that the trader has been making deals with the farmers but in the process, did not really make much (if any) money for himself. In the end, the government benefitted again since we were able to capitalise on the fact that the trader was helping us! It was interesting to note how even though KF was relatively honest to the farmers, the farmers were still sceptical about him. It was more interesting to note how some farmers trust me more than him even though as the govt, we were taxing them a lot!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Aftermath:</span> I find it puzzling how the farmers were so easily 'suckered' into selling their rice at $1 per kg when they could have been adamant and sell to us at a higher price. The pricing of commodities is a tricky aspect since it will affect the entire economy. The govt made the mistake of not keeping the bankers in check as we realised later that they did some undertable deals with the bananagrower and actually bought rice for their survival, thus they need not buy from us at an exorbitant rate. It wasn't fair that the industrialists probably made the most money in the end since their supply of warehouses, waterpumps, HYVs and fertilisers were never ending. They made a lot of money just selling warehouses to the govt and inclusive of the huge capital they had in the beginning, meant that they prob were the richest.<br /><br />I likened the govt (president and official) to be in a role similar to Singapore. We basically did not have any natural resources and much cash in the beginning. What we had was human resource, information and the authority to tax people which we made full use of. Trade was our main mode of survival. Through careful (despicable) strategising, we managed to have $870 (not an easy feat considering in Year 1 I had $0 and the president did not have much either) and 5 warehouses chock full of rice (250 kg) and 160 kg of rice at hand by the time the game ended. The traders, well, they basically have only pittance left....which is weird as one usually considers them to have the most money heh.<br /><br />I think the main lesson I got from this is somewhat observable in real life too. The rich gets richer while the poor gets poorer. Additionally, the govt is easily corruptible if they are really desperate to ensure their own survival. Information is <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">POWER</span> and <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">MONEY</span>.Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1127656242678246592005-09-25T21:42:00.000+08:002005-09-25T21:58:20.296+08:00Fellow NIE Geog-ers, lend me your ears....I've noticed from some of your blogs that some of you or well, maybe most of you are rather stressed in NIE, what with all the work such as lessons plans, fieldwork preparations, essays, interviews, projects, assessments, presentation and the list goes on....<br /><br />Well, I too was killing myself over work and trying to make the best of my life during training. But I soon realised that it was taking a toll on my health as well as my social life. Mind you, having a social life is highly important as just concentrating on work might lead you to burn out when you least need to be exhaused i.e. during Practicum.<br /><br />As I was driving to NIE one day with my friend, *Spilopterus (don't ask me what the heck that means), he was asking me why the heck do I always seem to be so busy, stressed, doing work etc... Right there and then, I didn't have an answer at hand. I began to ponder "Yah, why the heck am I killing myself over work? I need to pace myself..."<br /><br />Spilopterus (2005) gave me this advice (did some changes to what he said):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 102);">"If whatever you do in NIE will make you a better teacher, then do it with all your heart! Go all out and do your best so that you will be more than just being well equipped for the profession! If what you do in NIE will not make you a better teacher, such as with some of the assignments we are tasked to do, then just pace yourself and remember to relax. No point getting burned out..."</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So there you go guys and gals. Chill. Maybe we should all go out for drinks after our friday lesson ends. I mean, it IS a Friday night by the time we end....<br /></div> <div style="text-align: left;"><br />*Name changed to protect privacy.<br /></div><br /><br /></div>Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1127538044380401672005-09-24T12:50:00.000+08:002005-09-24T13:05:13.613+08:00Who's the real parent?Yesterday, our class did a simulation of a parent-teacher meeting. Sometimes I really wonder who the real parent of the student is, especially when the parent expects us to baby their child but yet when we actually do parent their child and discipline their precious little emperors and empresses, the parents will be up in arms.... Go figure.<br /><br />Anyway I really think the PTM would be more effective if............we were not assigned according to our podcast group. Well, maybe at least for my group. We've known each other for quite a while that trying to get into role was quite difficult (except for the amazing actress, YZ). But well, we did out best and managed to get our 'act' together.<br /><br />I think the main issues will be handling parents who are demanding and expect more from the teacher. For example, demanding that the teachers do something about their child's progress in school or monitoring his/her whereabouts. Many times, there are only that much we as teachers can do. Parents, you should be the one playing a larger role in your child's life! Whatever that we as teachers might have taught your child can be unlearned at home, especially if they model after your own bad behaviour.<br /><br />Ok ok back to the PTM. I guess the most important things for teachers to do during such sessions would be to remain calm and collected. The teacher must also have all the necessary documents and 'evidence' with him/her so that he/she can justify whatever responses he/she might give to the parents. Being politically-correct as well as non-judgemental in addition to readily admitting certain shortcomings can defuse a tense situation. Being empathetic and understanding, being able to relate to the parents' worries will also aid the teacher to structure his/her conversation better.<br /><br />Spewing sarcasm will surely fail, heh. Somebody in my group needs to seriously work on that.<br /><br />Assure the parents. Encourage and praise the student. Be firm, direct yet understanding and PTMs will probably be less painful for yourself.<br /><br />P.S. Never let the parent talk down to you in the meeting especially in the presence of your student, else you can forget about having any sense of authority in class from that day onwards.Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1127387829376552752005-09-22T18:37:00.000+08:002005-09-22T20:08:27.330+08:00Thought I could finally rest....But alas, I was dead wrong. Finished with my microteaching today and thought to myself, finally I can rest over the weekend. But lo and behold, we were just assigned another presentation cum lesson plan submission during English class today.<br /><br />Maybe I shouldn't be surprised that work is never ending anyway.<br /><br />Ok, will talk about my own micro-teaching today. <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);"></span>I guess I need to pre-empt peoples' blog entries by highlighting that I <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">DO NOT</span> usually speak this fast, especially when teaching a class. It was solely because I had <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">30 </span>minutes to go through what would have been a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">70 </span>minutes topic that I spoke rather fast, seems like <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">x2</span> the normal speed I usually will teach.<br /><br />Heh, also, I need to address the MSN Messenger thingy. I didn't realise that when I started my computer, it automatically connected to the wireless LAN at NIE and made my MSN Messenger sign on to the Internet, hence the pop-ups. I would like to apologise with regards to the pop-ups and I am sure that they were distracting to everyone. Thanks SJ for adding me into the contact list at that specific moment...so strategic heh. Anyway, what's done was done so I just had to minimise the powerpoint and sign out of the messenger. No biggie heh.<br /><br />I'm now going to touch upon how I would have carried out my lesson proper if I was given the full 70 minutes. <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Firstly</span>, I would have requested that all students clear their desks before I commence with my lesson. This is to try to keep students on task by removing any distracting items on the table. But since I noticed that the tables were rather 'clean', I didn't want to spend unnecessary time on it. <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Secondly</span>, when going through the various factors influencing industrial location, I would actually have checked for understanding after every two factors. This will usually be done by asking a couple of students to answer some pertinent questions relating to the topic. Due to the shortage of time, I only managed to do that for a few of the factors.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Thirdly</span>, with regards to the first worksheet which I disseminated, the graphic organiser was there as a means to inculcate students' ability to categorise/classify factors, which for Geography, is highly important. I didn't choose to provide students with an organiser where the two main categories of physical and human factors are already stated as I want them to learn how to categorise for themselves. In addition, the next page of the worksheet where I allowed space for them to put their thoughts in were meant to be open-ended. Because as Sec 3 Express students with rather respectable academic ability, I would prefer that they think about the question more, rather than wholesale copy the powerpoint slides which I showed in class. Personally, I link this with Social Studies as when I was observing SS at the school I was posted to, I realise that the teachers will trying to develop the students' analytical skills and to make them think of the question in their own way. As long as it forces the students to think, I feel that learning has been accomplished.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Fourthly</span>, like how I explained in class, the least-cost location modelling activity would have been a very relevant exercise for students to complete as it tests the students' knowledge and application of the model to other examples of industries. All the instructions were found in both the powerpoint slide and the worksheet. Additionally, guiding questions were also indicated in the worksheet so that students can discuss this with their partners in addition to any other questions they might think of. I only provide the basic but pertinent guiding questions so that they can be addressed in class for the benefit of others, the rest of the questions, I would expect the students to brainstorm and discuss.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Lastly</span>, the lesson would have ended with my own interpretation of the activity and a summing up of the lesson's objectives so that students are made aware of what we have done and accomplish today. The last slide, with a sneak preview of next week's class, was to prepare them as well as to link today's class with next week's. In my opinion. this sense of linkage must be highlighted to students as it allows for them to visualise the topic of industries as a whole and not in distinct parts.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">Class management</span><br /><br />With regards to class management, I felt that I really didn't have to do much today. Small transgressions such as talking amongst themselves are not things that I specifically focus on unless I feel that they are really distracting to myself and/or to the other students in the vicinity. How I would prefer to handle this would either be to look at them, or to ask them whether they have any questions or to assign questions for them to answer.<br /><br />Actually personally, I don't really find eating in class to be an issue unless the school rules deem it to be so. Focusing on the trio's desire to eat their paus and puffs, I only took action after one of them neglected to follow my instructions after the third time. That was when I demanded that the pau be given to me. Urm, I think we all saw how YZ was such a good actress and I realised that she really didn't want to give me the pau when I noticed that I had already torn a small bit of the bag the pau was in while trying to get it off her. Never knew she would have cried over the pau thingy but alas, I'm a big softie to students who 'deh' in class. I think Jenny tried to 'deh' as well but well, I knew that they know that it was my greatest weakness hence I was especially harsh, I believe my heart would have melted into jelly if it was real, especially if the gals cry....over the pau.<br /><br />LY and Georocks' attempt at accusing each other of stealing each other's handphone caught me a little off guard. While walking towards them, I was wondering what the heck was happening. It was only when LY explained to me that I realised what was going on. I swear the 4 seconds of silence after LY and Georocks complained to me was the longest 4 seconds I ever had in Geog class. It felt like ages. I was trying to think of what I should do to handle these students. Since they both didn't want to settle it as adults and demanded that each of them checked the other's bag, I thought that the only way to continue with my lesson would be to be fair to both of them and get both of them to clear their own bag of their belongings. That way, neither of them will be seen as the greater victim and both can explain the resultant consequence if the handphone was found.<br /><br />When LY stormed out of the class, I realised that I had to balance between ensuring that she returns to class or to make sure that the class is not 'teacherless' as worse things might happen during my absence. Hence I chose to get Georocks to return to his seat and to deal with both of them later.<br /><br />I liked the exchange about the space/time compression thingy because I swear I had the answer to the space compression thingy but somehow it didn't appear heh. I think what I was trying to stress that due to less time being needed to transport goods, it meant that we could overcome space in the sense of distance. Well heh, a teacher is not infallible!<br /><br /><br />Shall touch upon R's microteaching now:<br /><br />I thought that her opening of getting us to identify where the pictures were taken from was an excellent idea as people's geographical imagination of Bangalore probably wasn't similar to those shown during her lesson. I feel that this also served as a form of 'build-up' to the actual lesson on the case study which in the process, made the students feel engaged as well.<br /><br />She did justify the choice of pictures shown so as to highlight other places besides the electronics industry.<br /><br />Nothing much happened in class today in terms of class management although R failed to see that Kn was reading her English Grammar book for the longest time as well as using her hp heh.<br /><br />Basically, I felt that she answered students' questions well, even those that were un-related to the topic such as questions on her pay....<br /><br />BTW, many thanks to LY for providing me with transparencies! Guys and gals, since I didn't manage to use the transparency pens today, if any of you need it during your teaching session, let me know. I also have whiteboard markers in a whole range of colours!Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1127226342175059382005-09-20T22:17:00.000+08:002005-09-20T22:25:42.180+08:00Preamble to my micro-teaching session...Ok fellow geog-ers, I've got to talk about a couple of important things prior to my micro-teaching session in two days' time.<br /><br />1. Do not take it personally if I scold you or will be stern with you. Please separate and distinguish between the caps I am wearing. Namely, teacher, student and now, friend cap.<br /><br />2. If you want to be mischievous, please feel free to do so. This is a learning process and I would like to experience new ways of handling you.<br /><br />That's basically it. Just wanna apologise beforehand if I might unintentionally 'hurt your feelings' if you failed to separate the caps.<br /><br />Seeya this Thursday! Can't wait for this to be over so I can concentrate on other work.Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1127125897859758662005-09-19T18:16:00.000+08:002005-09-19T18:31:37.866+08:00Maybe I should teach in Finland...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/finland%20-%20koli.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/finland%20-%20koli.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Read an article in the September 2005 edition of the Reader's Digest. In the article titled "Top of the Class" by Fergus Bordewich, he mentioned a couple of reasons why Finnish schools are one of the best in the world.<br /><br />1. Finnish teachers are among the best trained in the world: Though the salary ain't that spectacular, the teacher selection process is even more stringent than those for lawyers and doctors.<br /><br />2. Teachers enjoy a high degree of autonomy: Teachers are free to use whatever classroom methods they like and with curriculums that have been devised by teachers themselves. Once hired, teachers are not subject to regular inspection or evaluation. Teachers are trusted by the system hence less paper-work is needed to be done by teachers to document their progress.<br /><br />3. Standardised teaching is shunned: Less focus on standardised testing as every student has their own strengths and weaknesses.<br /><br />4. Students are taught to evaluate themselves: Students learn to take responsibility for their own work, thus they work more freely.<br /><br />5. Students are encouraged to work independently.<br /><br />6. School atmosphere is flexible and easygoing.<br /><br />7. Slow learners receive intense support. Students do not regard remedial help as a sign of failure but as an opportunity for themselves to improve. Maybe we should start calling it improvement classes or something rather than remedial due to the social stigma.<br /><br />If you are thinking that it is not possible to achieve this, well, read the article. And for some of you who are thinking that Finnish students' results are not that good, well, in the OECD PISA 2003 report highlighting the mean scores in reading and science, Finland came out top for reading and science, ahead of countries such as Korea and Japan respectively (where we know the education system is like a pressure-cooker).Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1126841885034311192005-09-16T11:03:00.000+08:002005-09-16T11:38:05.043+08:00THIS is our landfill....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Sem3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Sem3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Yes, the picture above was taken at Singapore's very own landfill. Hard to imagine that a landfill can look like this right? <br /><br />My geog class went to Semakau Landfill last Wednesday for a field trip to get an understanding of waste management in Singapore. I came out of the trip having a greater understanding of the need to reduce, reuse and recycle, the 3Rs being taught to students. Additionally, waste management sure is expensive! The landfill site was created at a cost of SGD$610 million through the reclamation of two small southern islands, namely Pulau Semakau and Pulau Sakeng.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Sem1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Sem1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />After the 'construction' of the island was complete, the other infrastructure was put into place. This self-sufficient facility takes in non-incinerable waste from Tuas and is then dumped into cells (as seen in the picture above) in the landfill site. It was refreshing that there was no smell at all on the island, everything was very clean and nice. In fact while we were on our way there by boat and reached the island, we could just close our eyes and imagine that we were going to a beach resort. The place is really very scenic.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Sem2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Sem2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The presence of replanted mangroves was also a pleasant sight. Not only were they replanted because the original mangroves had to be removed due to the development of the landfill, they were replanted as these mangroves will serve as biological indicators. What this means is that in the event that leakage might occur from the cells (even though the cells are lined with an impermeable membrane called geo-membrane and clay), the resultant 'pollution' will be shown in the mangroves so rapid action can be done to prevent further environmental damage.<br /><br /><br />Ok, fun of the field-trip aside, am going to reflect a bit about something. <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Firstly</span>, the field-trip was a much needed break from the drudgery of written work and classroom teaching. I, like Bananasaviour, was rejuvenated from this field-trip. All field-trips rejuvenate me and my geographical soul. <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Secondly</span>, I got to know some of my fellow classmates better. From the 'Japanese-tourist' to the 'Stare-queen' to the 'Gangster-loanshark' failure, I found out that they are actually quite a fun bunch to be with.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51);">Thirdly</span>, this deserves a new paragraph since it is un-related to the Semakau trip, I've been reflecting on the longest email I've received from my geog tutor so far. Basically, I'm not too sure what's the problem here. Is there really a problem here in the first place? Views and suggestions were proffered, comments were given, justifications were given, so...where is the beef? I dunno, I might be too dense or maybe too rational/logical to be able to see whether there is any problem in the first place.<br /><br />I believe our tutor knows best and has already justified his rationale in the way that he has taught the class. That's fine. I believe all of us appreciate his efforts. So.... then what gives?<br /><br />In my logical brain, I see two ways out. That is <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">IF</span> we actually want to analyse this further.<br /><br />1. Tutor knows what's best for us. Seriously. Especially with his background and experience. So we leave our student caps on and learn in the manner that has been taught (but maybe throw in more field-trips).<br /><br />2. Everybody pour out their woes, ideas, suggestions and what not in the next available class and everybody, I mean <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">EVERYBODY</span> must settle whatever grievances they might have.<br /><br />I rather everything gets sorted out rather than leaving the situation tense and feeling as if a guillotine /giatine/ (that's how u pronounce it - don't have the IPA fonts in my comp so...) is over our heads.<br /><br />Side-note: Next thursday is my micro-teaching on Industries and factors influencing industrial location. If anybody has any ideas on how to make this more interesting, please throw suggestions at me thanks. Wanna see whether I can experiment something different, but highly unlikely due to my severe lack of imagination.Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1126284677123419732005-09-10T00:37:00.000+08:002005-09-10T01:04:25.263+08:00Dust...Reflecting on my thoughts, looking at the transient nature of life, one should always reflect on what one has been doing with his/her life and how you should live your life better.<br /><br />What are the more important things in life? I guess the key word is 'prioritise'. No point working your guts out and in the mean time, neglect the more important issues of life. When you are dead, people won't remember how successful you were in your job or how much money you made. People will remember the deeds you have done and how you were there for them. Move away from trying to acquire material wealth and focus on the intangibles, such as the emotional needs of the more important people in your life, contentment etc.<br /><br />Remember, in the end, we are just <span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">dust</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Rome%26Vatican0086.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Rome%26Vatican0086.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />"<b><span style="color:red;">I am the Resurrection</span></b>, and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live... " John 11:25<br /><br />It was weird today, attending a Christian funeral service and singing hymns. The last time I sang hymns was 2 years ago in a church with my ex. This made me think about how I've been avoiding the whole issue of religion all these while....well, it is an issue I've constantly been grappling with...Today, I did feel as if I was part of the flock again.<br /><br />When I was looking at the people around me, looking at the environment, I couldn't stop looking at the space through a geographer's lens, seeing the place as a landscape of death. It also made me think how I would prefer my own funeral to be one where people rejoice, rejoice the fact that I am in a better place. I hope my own service will be one where relatives, friends and other acquaintances give eulogies about me, I sure would like to listen to what others have to say about me, like how I was glued to people giving eulogies about my uncle. It was interesting to learn about other facets of his life, no matter how short it was.<br /><br /><br />I am grateful that my geog tutor understood the need for me to have a 'time-out' to attend to more important issues. Thank you Kenneth for your kind understanding.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:red;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span></span>Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1126200369983010182005-09-09T01:13:00.000+08:002005-09-09T01:27:31.863+08:00How the tide has turned...It's amazing how a death in the family makes everything else that is happening all seem so frivolous. I always find it hard to swallow how you might be communicating with someone close to you for the very last time, and the next time you meet, he/she is not of this world anymore.<br /><br />So, try to always prioritise your time properly and do what's more important. Life is short. Not worth living your life by working too much and too hard or to deal with two-faced people.<br /><br />As such, my blog on yesterday's micro-teaching session will be soooooo short. I don't really give a damn anyway.<br /><br />Here goes,<br /><br /><a href="http://vintagemz.blogspot.com/">Vintagemz</a>, you did well. You explained the topic well, scaffolding the way you taught us and emphasised the importance of using proper geographical lexicon when answering. You were decisive when allocating groups, that was good. All in all, you were firm, strict but yet still created a conducive environment.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.swallowapple.blogspot.com/">Swallowapple</a>, kudos to you for attempting to teach us map-reading. Your stern look sent daggers through many students I'm sure. Even Bananasaviour became extremely quiet as if somewhat traumatised by her past. Personally, I wanted to challenge your stern-ness in class. The fiercer the teacher, the more I want to challenge authority. But like I promised, I didn't play into my role and what I actually really wanted to do which was to really question you on not only the topics, but your authority. But kudos to you for being able to maintain discipline, however, I felt that the environment was one of fear and it might stifle students' willingness to participate. Balancing is tough. That I understand.<br /><br />Anyway personally, I felt that there might be some form of favouritism practiced as how you reacted to Superlambanana and gang was way different from how you handled weswee, raksha, bananasaviour and myself. I might be over-reading but that's how I felt. Not surprised in some sense since you peeps are mathmos, tough to separate sometimes.<br /><br />BTW, I concur with Karst in Stone. I don't really look forward to geog class as much as I used to.<br /><br /><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1125667285833708682005-09-02T20:56:00.000+08:002005-09-02T22:13:40.516+08:00Sapped of all energy....So many things have been happening at one time, Murphy's Law holds true. When shit comes, it comes in waves (yeah I know, lousy visual and maybe olfactory imagery).<br /><br />Piled up with work, dealing with people who saps your emotional energy, over-analysing inter-group dynamics and wondering why some people do one thing to you and other things to others (kinda like two-faced)... really have taken a toll on me.<br /><br />But in anycase, shall talk a bit on the micro-teaching sessions...<br /><br />I can't really comment on <a href="http://www.superlambanana.blogspot.com/">SuperLambanana's</a> teaching session since I was the videographer. I was bored though, considering everyone was very well-behaved, thus I did not have the opportunity to do interesting video angles etc. Like what I told SuperLambanana, the main thing I noticed about him is the fact that his Field of Vision is rather limited to maybe, 35 degrees. This means that he might miss what the students at the sides are doing.<br /><br />I liked the way he handled the 'loan shark' incident, although I really do wonder what he will do if his polite 'threats' were not taken seriously.<br /><br /><a href="http://klingeoland.blogspot.com/">Karen's</a> Teaching Session<br /><br />I think there was a double-whammy here.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">One:</span> Topic on Tropical Rainforests alone is rather 'boring' unless accompanied with many pictures or video clips. In my own personal opinion without malice, I wasn't able to fully appreciate the powerpoint slides solely because there were too many words per slide. It would have been better if she had included main sentences and elaborate on them by teaching us. When there are too many words per slide, students may get distracted trying to read everything and thus, might be mentally 'off-task' instead of listening to the teacher. I didn't really feel that the worksheet make me think but instead, I was too busy trying to pick out the keywords from the slide and writing them down.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Two:</span> Karen's lack of projection in her voice means that most of the time, I couldn't hear what she was saying with or without the disruptions in class. I felt that in this aspect, she can learn to be more confident and throw her voice forward by using her diaphragm more. Lack of projection means can't be heard means more off-task behaviour as students become more interested in conversing with each other as they probably do not know what is going on in class anyway. Of course, Karen might have been nervous then that's understandable.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">B-I-N-G-O and BINGO was his name oh....</span> Personally, I really didn't see the point of the game although I applaud her in the sense that it made us 'get-on-task' though not really connected to the topic. To illustrate my point, I didn't pay attention for the entire class, as such, I didn't know the answers to her questions and instead, relied on my other group mates to provide me with the answer. All I did was to cross out the words which they said and voila! BINGO! I won the game without in the end, understanding what Lianas and Epiphytes were. Kenneth has already commented on this aspect so I shan't say more except that games must not be played without a clear objective (and of course, instructions) in mind.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 51);">Class Management:</span> Highly related to the lack of control through the lack of projection of voice, which means that her gentleness has become a weak point and it was evident since students were talking amongst themselves and there was somewhat, I consider, a minor chaos in class.<br />People were throwing paper at each other, smart alecky student questioning teacher, students basically not paying attention. I felt that generally, we weren't managed well although I would like to praise Karen for being so quick to point out that I wasn't paying attention when I 'felt sick'. That was rather fast so kudos to her for that. I think that when you ask too many students to meet you after class, after a while, the students do not take it seriously. Try to utilise the appropriate desist technique with the appropriate transgression.<br /><br />All in all, Karen mainly has to work with her voice projection first. And although she might have chosen not to respond to every misdemeanour in class, after a while, I guess the students just walked all over her head.Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1125233014114361532005-08-28T20:22:00.000+08:002005-08-28T20:49:34.410+08:00Evil looks....Beautiful GemDid a recce for my geography fieldwork lesson plan today. First stop, Jurong Hill.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/JH11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/JH1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />As seen in the picture, we can see on the left the road linking the main island to Jurong Island. In the foreground are some warehouses/factories while in the middle, is the presence of a shipyard servicing three ships. In the background will be Jurong Island proper.<br /><br />While I was shooting the video and taking pictures of Jurong Island as well as Jurong Industrial Estate, I noticed that people were either giving me a perplexed look as to why the heck would one want to video an Industrial Estate (plus I was alone and wearing shades) under the hot sun to downright suspicious looks as to the real motive behind my picture and video-taking.<br /><br />Maybe I should try to look more 'teacher-ish' so that people will assume that I am conducting a recce/fieldwork for some lesson or something. Either that or bring along some company, preferably a gal, just so to look more 'normal' instead of just one solo guy lurking around.<br /><br /><br />Fall-back plan, next stop, Bt Chandu/Pepys Road's Canopy Walk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Chandu11.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Chandu1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Think I've discovered a small gem today while doing this recce (was thinking just in case my Industries Fieldwork doesn't really hold water). I didn't know that the canopy walk links Pepys Road, which is where Reflections at Bt Chandu (historical museum/site showcasing the exploits and courage of the Malay Regiment which fought the Japanese on Pasir Panjang Hill) is situated, with the Kent Ridge Park off Vigilante Drive. Nice to know that you can walk from one point of the ridge to the other.<br /><br />It was a very scenic and peaceful place, one only hears the music of the jungle, such as the sounds of rustling leaves and cicadas/grasshoppers...<br /><br />As seen in the picture below, the view is just magnificent!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Chandu31.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Chandu3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />The park that sits between the canopy walk and Kent Ridge Park is one place I'll go often. Not only because one can see the three stages of a rainforest, it is really a peaceful, quiet and beautiful place. Let's hope it stays this way and people do not abuse the park.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/1600/Chandu21.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/319/1398/400/Chandu2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Had a great time finding this gem today. Now to think about my fieldwork lesson plan proper...Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1125127354279642952005-08-27T15:15:00.000+08:002005-08-27T15:22:34.280+08:00Google Earth...Wow wow wow, been playing around with the Google Earth program which you can download for free from <a href="http://earth.google.com/">here</a> (your computer has to be powerful enough with a broadband connection to the Internet to use the program).<br /><br />Seriously, this program is sooooo fun to play around with, you get to view satellite images of earth. Although not every country is mapped or is mapped to great detail, I can imagine how useful this program can be to students, especially to those who have never travelled. We can view the various urban settlement patterns, infrastructure planning, rivers, lakes, mountains, volcanoes...even your own home.<br /><br />The main drawback I can see with this program so far is the fact that the images taken might not be updated. Additionally, since a satellite picture is taken almost directly overhead, there are the issues of angles and perspective which might make visualisation of certain features difficult. Plus, since the images are not labelled in great detail, I guess Geographical Imagination and having some background knowledge of the countries you want to explore through Google Earth will come in handy.<br /><br />But overall, I believe it will come in handy...Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1125126672487508842005-08-27T15:05:00.000+08:002005-08-27T15:47:35.660+08:00Work work work work work.....Rest?On one hand, I feel that I really need to rest and recharge over the weekend. On the other hand, I feel as if I must continue working as if I stop for even one day, work will pile up! Decisions decisions.... Even when I am watching TV, eating, even bathing, I am constantly thinking of all the work that needs to be done and how I should go about doing it.<br /><br />During last night's dinner, we were discussing about the fieldwork planning aspect of the course. As we confirmed that the fieldwork aspect must tie in with the 3 lessons plan that we need to do, I was wondering what the heck kind of fieldwork I can do to connect with my topic of Industries.<br /><br />So far, am thinking of a fieldtrip to Jurong Hill so that we are able to get a good view of the Jurong Industrial Estate as well as Jurong Island and observing the types of industries present, the characteristics of the buildings and the connectivity of the industrial estates to the major network of roads which link to transport terminals such as the port and airport. Additionally, maybe a drive-by around Tuas can allow students to further visualise the types of industries and maybe ending up after a drive along the expressways to the ports to highlight the importance of connectivity...hmmm....<br /><br />Just found out that there are visitor centres for both Jurong Island and JTC!!! Yay!Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15186363.post-1125074778778757692005-08-27T00:37:00.000+08:002005-08-27T00:46:18.786+08:00Sense of place.....Went back to NUS today for a Geography seminar...didn't realise that I actually miss the place, well, maybe I miss the people more but it was nice to catch up with the lecturers, my jc teacher and a couple of my ex-classmates... I did feel like a family member in a large geography family...<br /><br />Well, geography lesson today was really short considering we started late due to the seminar, shan't talk about the class proper but instead, shall talk about the post-class activity, i.e., dinner at Holland V. It was quite a challenge thinking of where to eat considering there were 15 of us. Not only was the place crowded, but we had to keep in mind of certain needs of our fellow classmates. Though the food ain't that great (the chicken breast was so tough and on hindsight, luckily the portion was small), the company was great and that includes Jenny (regardless of the fact that she was such a 'meanie'). Got to know some of my fellow classmates in greater detail today, something which I truly appreciated since some of them were doing different subject combinations from me and I've not really had the opportunity to get to know them. Had a great time, had great laughs, we should do this more often....Geognuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01747289915272729460noreply@blogger.com7