BS: Studying in Guam

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Sep 11 - 09:59 AM

The hurricane was a bust for Maine. I think Vermont got a little too much excitement.
How did the test results compare between the class that took no weekend homework and the class that studied over the weekend? Short term vs long term memory?

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 07 Sep 11 - 08:52 AM

So how did things work out in Maine? My 80 year old mother was disappointed in what they got in Aroostook County. She'd been hoping for some excitement. Did I mention that we are all nuts in my family?

This week has been fun. We had Monday off, of course, and started fresh(?) on Tuesday. I have invented a new way to teach a section. I put a homework assignment on the board and split the class into two groups. One group, we'll call them Green, has to do the homework which results in cheering from the other group (Blue). Next class the Greens have to teach the homework to the Blues. At the end there is a quiz for each of the students and there are two names on each quiz, the teacher and the person who took the quiz. Accountability is the name of the game.

The next homework assignment goes up on the board and we reverse the roles.

Mine is a student centered classroom. One class asked to be allowed to not do homework over the weekend. I asked if they were sure that was what they wanted. They did. I agreed. The following class I explained that we couldn't do the fun activity because they didn't do any homework over the weekend. Therefore they had to learn it by lecture followed by the same quiz the other classes had to take. About five minutes into the lecture heads were hitting the desks but I wouldn't let them nap. They had to do this.

Pore li'l chill'n.

I think they will choose weekend homework next time.

Our schedule is a little strange but it works. On Monday we have all seven classes for 45 minutes each. Tuesday and Thursday are our odd numbered classes: 1, 3, 5, & 7. Monday and Friday are for the even numbered classes: 2, 4, 6, & 8. The magical 8th block allows the school to schedule special events such as pep rallies without taking any time from the class time. Teacher development time is scheduled for that time on a Friday and the kids get out of school at 1:45 after a full day of classes.

Today I showed my Guam History kids a slide show of old pictures of Guam starting with those from the William Safford book Useful Plants of Guam. It was published in 1905 and all the photos are from that period between 1898 (when the USA took possession of Guam) to the publication year. I also found an old History of Guam published in 1964 which had some good pictures in it. I've been working my scanner pretty hard but now I have a PowerPoint presentation with almost 70 slides in it.

The kids were fascinated. Nobody had ever shown them pictures of the old days. They saw the picture of the old cathedral and asked =why it had been torn down. I explained that it had been bombed flat, along with the rest of Agana, by the Americans when they invaded the island in 1944. They asked if the Americans worried they might hit the people who lived there and I had to explain that they really didn't but that the Japanese moved them out of the way before the attack. The Japanese weren't being particularly merciful. They didn't want the local people helping the enemy.

This is not something that comes up in the popular history of Guam. In that history the evil Japanese sent the people on a forced march across the island. The idea of getting them out of the way of the fighting doesn't get much press time. People like to hold firmly to their hate.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 01:01 PM

good luck from me, too

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 10:48 AM

Brett-

Thanks!

Yes, we decided yesterday to leave the boat in. We've pulled the plug on the Whaler so there is a limit to how much water it will hold. And I rechecked all the mooring lines. I probably should have removed the outboard but it's really heavy, awkward to yank off the back of the boat and lump up the rotted ladder at the landing.

They're predicted 12-16 hours of steady winds of about 45 mph with gusts up to 60, with 4 to 5 inches of rain on already saturated ground. Flooding would appear to be a major threat, along with electrical lines downed by falling trees.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Aug 11 - 08:35 AM

It looks like it will be down to tropical storm by the time it reaches you guys.

Good luck.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Aug 11 - 08:35 AM

McKrauts certainly sounds like one of the seven wonders of Guam!

With regard to the hurricane, my brother and his wife are here and we're going to shift them from the cottage to the new studio apartment in the upper barn. That way if there's a loss of power they can depend on mother's back-up generator. The cottage is also more vulnerable to falling trees, being on ledge with shallow soil. The boat comes out today, hopefully temporarily.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Aug 11 - 07:34 AM

Last night I took Wakana out for dinner. This doesn't seem like much except that I haven't been able (financially) to do anything like that since June of 2010.

We went to McKrauts. It's a little place in Inarajan that I had seen but knew nothing about. One of my co-workers talked about it and I determined to try it because it is supposedly a German restaurant. The owner is German and imports his bratwurst from there.

What we found lacks somewhat in the atmosphere department. There is an outdoor kitchen where you place your order. Then, inside, are some tables and a bar. He carries beer from all over. I saw several German brands, some Thai beer, Canadian, and others. Beer and bratwurst in Inarajan. I love it. You need to understand that this little place is about as far in the boonies as you can get and still be on the island. This is near the place where Shoichi Yakoi (the last Japanese soldier) hid out from the Americans for 27 years. It's not like the Lobster Co-op in Five Islands. You would expect to find a lobster restaurant on the dock where the boats land their catch. This is like finding a... German restaurant on the dock in Five Islands

We loved it. He serves a huge brat on a basil flavored bun. I ordered the Steelhead pale ale and Wakana had a Pepsi. It was delicious.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Aug 11 - 07:10 AM

Oh, and I wanted to mention the earthquake. I spoke of it with my kids today. They were pretty scornful. After all, they said, it was only a 5.8. We get those around here all the time. I tried to remind them that the east coast doesn't normally get 'quakes but that didn't help.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 26 Aug 11 - 07:06 AM

I see the east coast is set to enjoy a little wind and rain. We just had two typhoons brush by us. One is headed for the Philippines and the other seems to be on its way to Japan. We had to put up with about a week of rain and wind as they each approached and then moved off.

Good luck to you all. It's easier when they come so often you are always ready and the homes are solid enough to take it. Make sure you post to let us know you made it through safely.

Charlie, are you going to stay with your mother? What's she going to do?

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 10:18 PM

lucky students that you have your technology!

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 08:49 PM

If I could get over to the Philippines I could pick up a hammered dulcimer! It appears to be a "traditional" instrument there.

I finally have Internet in my classroom. I've hooked my little netbook up to it because it is faster and more powerful than the desk top unit that was here! That's pretty bad. The desk top has no CD/DVD drive and no USB ports! The monitor has a CRT and measures about 13 inches on the diagonal. My internet connection is a cable that hooks to the telephone in my room.

The chalkboard is green but most of the surface is pitted as if the smooth layer has come off. There is a large brown metal board down one wall that seems to have no function. I used magnets to attach posters and signs to it.

The students are great. As seniors they have achieved some level of maturity though the little girl emerges now and then. They are quiet and respectful. I assigned some group work this morning and the noise level in the room was more like a library than a cooperative learning space. It will probably be different in the other classes today.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Aug 11 - 09:42 AM

Brett-

Maybe you should consider acquiring an autoharp until the carpel tunnel stuff gets resolved.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 06 Aug 11 - 11:53 PM

Tomorrow we get the kids. In the morning there will be mass and a... meeting. In the afternoon we have all seven blocks for 25 minutes each. On Tuesday we have short blocks for some reason. Not until Wednesday do we get into the full schedule.

I tried to play the guitar the other day and couldn't. I cannot control my left fingers enough to hold down the strings. Bummer.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 Aug 11 - 04:27 AM

I hope the meetings didn't set up too many working parties, focus groups, liasion teams and furthert planning meetings and sub-committees!

RtS
Glad to be retired and never having to take a minute or obey an "action point" again! (Apart from "Mow the lawn, hoover the carpet, check the car tyres" (Yes, dear).

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 09:59 AM

Sounds great, so far!

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 08:25 AM

Are there children to teach at this school or is it just for meetings? LOL Reminds me of some companies I have worked for - meetings to plan meetings, meetings, then meetings to discuss activities at the last meeting, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 07:47 AM

Any room to hang a Viking spear?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 07:06 AM

It's been three days and the job is fine so far. Monday was spent in meetings, Tuesday was spent in meetings (at a retreat center), and Wednesday was spent... in meetings.

The retreat center was in Malojloj (Mah-LOH-loh) high on a hill. It didn't look like much from the front but the back balcony had an outstanding view of the Pacific off to the east of us.

The rest of the week looks like it will be taken up with, you guessed it, meetings!

I'll get a little time tomorrow to work on my classroom but it is pretty good so far. Very clean with shiny floors.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 01:09 AM

Good news on the job, Brett. Congratulations.

Years ago, I went to a occupational rehab place which evaluated me for pain in my little fingers and the vertical half of my ring fingers. I was sure it was carpal tunnel as I'd been computing a lot. They prescribed soft elbow pads as I was, I found out when I started paying attention, knocking my elbows on car doors, etc. and hitting the ulnar nerve which is very close to the surface. They told me it was the ulnar nerve, definitely, because of the pain being only in those two fingers, esp. only the half of the ring fingers. Once I started wearing the pads, they got much better and eventually went away.

When I had sore wrists, the doc had me get cock-up (true name!) splints to wear on my hands at night. Seems a lot of folks just naturally sleep with their hands in a curled position; the splints help keep them in a neutral position. Good luck with whatever they find!

And, I hope you enjoy the teaching!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 08:57 PM

This is the last day of unemployment, my last chance to sleep late, my last lazy day... scratch that last one. I haven't had a lazy day since I started the whole master degree mess.

Tomorrow, bright and early, I start work at Academy.

On a different note I have been having trouble controlling my finger for quote a while now. It's been difficult typing. I went to get a nerve conduction test and was told I have moderate carpal tunnel in both wrists. Don't know what comes next but it seems to be spreading. When I originally went to the doctor it was only my left pinky and ring finger. Now it includes my middle finger of that hand and my pinky on my right hand. I think I'm falling apart.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 08:12 AM

Brett-

This will be an interesting year for American Government, starting back from the present. Your students may be curious how we've managed to get ourselves so f**ked up, or not!

I can hardly wait until the whole Teaparty movement becomes History.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 05:08 AM

Today I signed my contract with Academy of Our Lady of Guam (AOLG). I will be teaching four sections of American Government and two sections of History of Guam.

I was worried that I was jumping the gun back when I agreed to take the job. I hoped to be called by the Department of Education for a better paying job in the public schools. Then I heard that one of the schools had made a drastic change in something or other and dumped thirty four teachers on the market. They gobbled up all the DOE jobs and left nothing for the UOG MAT students. I nipped into a job at the last moment. Whew! At last something good is coming out of this summer.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 25 Jul 11 - 02:07 AM

adding my condolences

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 11:56 PM

Brett, I'm so sorry to read of this tragedy. Mexico used to be such a wonderful place to visit, I used to go over several times a week when I lived at the border. Now it is a place that I, and I hope my children, will never ever set foot in as long as the drug cartels are turning it into an armed state. Your brother in law has every reason and right to be angry about this.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Amos
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 09:56 PM

That is more than anyone should have to bear, and an outrageous. I hope and pray the Mexican government gets a handle on drug gang violence somehow.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 08:16 PM

Oh, Brett, how terribly tragic and despicable. My condolences to all of your family and friends.

{{{{{HUGS}}}}

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: maeve
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 07:51 PM

What a horrible shock, Brett.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 07:46 PM

Christ, Brett. When does it end? I am so sorry. No other words.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 07:37 PM

Message was not complete. Trying again.

I just realized the 'Cat is up and running. Good to see it.

Last week another tragedy struck our family. My sister's father- and brother-in-law were assassinated in a very professional hit in Parral, Chihuahua State, Mexico, last week. We are all devastated. Few of us met Adrian's father but to gauge by his son he was a fine man. Poor Adrian was in shock and rage over it. My mother says she has "...never seen grief displayed as nakedly..." as by Adrian.

Adrian's brother was killed because of his close relationship with the governor of the state. He was the governor's doctor. He also ran a number of free clinics and a stem cell research center.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Jul 11 - 07:24 PM

I just realized the 'Cat is up and running. Good to see it.

Last week another tragedy struck our family. My sister's father- and brother-in-law were assassinated in a very professional hit in Chihuahua, Mexico, last week. We are all devastated. Few of us met Adrian's father but to gauge by his son he was a fine man. Poor Adrian was in shock and rage over it. My mother says she has "...never seen grief displayed as nakedly..."

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 08:07 AM

Congratulations on the job, Brett. How did Wakana's parents make out in the recent quake? 7.0 is pretty big.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 08:00 AM

a real job with real money! wow

congratulations

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 07:45 AM

Brett-

Well, congratulations!

Can I purchase the film rights in advance to this new reality series?

I already have some great ideas about what might happen...

Instead of "The End" I'm thinking "What became of the Monk" might be more appropriate.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Jul 11 - 07:29 AM

I got a call from a school today. I have a job! I will be teaching Government/Civics and Guam History to the seniors at Our Lady of Guam Academy in Hagatna for the next school year. I start earning real money in August.

Wakana was so relieved she called her parents to tell them right away.

Now, where did I put my hammer and sickle?

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Jul 11 - 03:21 PM

Brett-

You would have enjoyed our weekend with the Johnson Girls in and around Robinhood Farm.

I should sign up for a computer workshop or two in order to learn some new editing skills. But then again I could just open the instruction book or access an on-line chatroom.

I still have nightmares about exams.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 09 Jul 11 - 09:53 PM

The daughter of my mother's best friend just disappeared one day. There was no panic, no worry. She was visiting an aunt in another state. She came back the following summer and had to start her school year over which put her in my class. I took her to the prom as a double date with her brother and his girlfriend. She and I had the front seat while the other couple made out in the back seat. I drove.

Of course, she had gone off to have a baby which was then put up for adoption. No keeping in the family in New England.

I don't keep in touch but I did take her out to dinner once back when I was single and in Maine. She's made a good life for herself. I don't think she ever connected with the child.

I have been working on my homework now for what seems like a decade. Charlie, do you remember working on any homework while we were on stage? I feel like that's all I've ever done.

And it's confusing too. Three of my classes are online which means we are assigned a prodigious amount of work and we teach ourselves. The instructor is only the facilitator and correcter. He creates a task list which we then spend hours on trying to give him just the right information. There is no discussion, no give and take, no opportunity to ask poignant questions right when you think of them and to get answers right when you need them.

Yesterday (Saturday) I spent the whole day on my Sped work and my Reading class. Today I've been working on Sped and now I have turned to the Technology Applications class.

Technology Applications is the only class where I have actual class time with a professor. I have to create a blog and a website and use online (cloud) file storage, and use something called livebinders and livetext. I am drowning here.

Ah well, back into the pit...

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jul 11 - 11:13 PM

I had to quit school, even though my boyfriend and I got married. It just wasn't allowed. Kicked out of school, orchestra, etc. At the time, I didn't care. I was so excited to be "all-grown up" etc. Good thing I had good support from my family, even if they were disappointed at the time.

Thanks for the info, Brett. I am glad some of the good things have been kept as custom.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Jul 11 - 08:18 PM

Brett-

The original Chamorro society sounds remarkably humane.

No chance of that happening in the Maine village I grew up in. Unmarried mothers were stoned. Well, maybe not stoned but they were certainly ostracized, whatever that means.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 04 Jul 11 - 08:08 PM

The original Chamorro society was an interesting mix or balance of positions. To say it was a matriarchy is to simplify things too much. As I understand it the property went with the woman into the man's house but the children went to the woman's family. Since everything was close knit the woman was still there to help raise the child and since it was the expected norm of the time the shift wasn't disruptive of the child's psyche.

There was a men's house where the single men stayed once they were considered men. Older men were they as well. It was no fraternity house, it was a school. The young men were there to learn. There were mature women who were selected to go into the house at night to teach the young men what women wanted from a man. If she got pregnant from the lessons that young man was considered virile and had a higher standing in the village. The woman in no way carried any kind of negative stigma from the job. It was an honorable position and the child that came from the union was a special child, cared for by the whole village.

Of course the Spanish destroyed all of that. The people were forced into Catholicism and lost their way of life. But you can see some vague holdovers from this society. Single pregnant girls are not ostracized, children are not abandoned, and single mothers have the love and support of the extended Chamorro family.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jul 11 - 03:12 PM

What a neat website, Brett. Thanks for the link!

I'd love to see your dad's maker's mark, btw. That's so kewl they got tattoos of it!

I am reading a book, Tales of a Woman Nomad, which brought you to mind, mostly because the woman who wrote it lives in the native cultures wherever she goes and it reminds me of you and your boat-building, sailing, and singing, etc. with the Chammoro. And, it got me to wondering, is their society patriarchal, matriarchal, or more of an equal balance between the sexes? She was writing of living in Bali for eight years and it was the subservience of women which she finally could not make peace with, so she left.

Hope this finds you and Wakana doing well and not over-busy with studies, etc.

ATB,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Jun 11 - 12:21 AM

I needed a recording of Old Hundred so I turned to Google. The first link I tried led me
HERE.

For those who don't want to follow the link it leads to an exhibition called Lift Every Voice: Music in American Life. It includes pages on Ballads, Hymns & Spirituals, Patriotic Odes, Minstrels & Musicals, Protest Songs, Virginiana, and it finishes with Audio Clips.

It ain't too bad. I'll put this in its own thread too.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 11 Jun 11 - 01:16 AM

I got an email from my daughter today. She, my brother, my sister, and my mother all got tattoos of Dad's maker's mark. I wish I could post a picture of it here.

My niece, one of the few family members who didn't get up to Houlton for the services, made the following comment on FaceBook:

"Most families mourn a loss with a wake, funeral and family gathering. Mine gets matching tattoos. Best. Family. Ever!"

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Naemanson
Date: 10 Jun 11 - 03:24 AM

Today was the Guam Department of Education Job Fair at one of the local middle schools. I went early to avoid the lines. That strategy was only partially successful.

I arrived at 8:45 for the 10:00 start. Some of my classmates were already there. About 10:15 they sent us back to the cafeteria where we got our referral forms. We then had to go to the rooms where the school officials were waiting for us. We'd sign up for a school and take a seat to wait.

Now, you know I'm not a little guy so you might understand how much fun it was to wait for 2 hours while sitting in grade school children's chairs. These things barely came up to my knee and my butt overlapped the seat to a large degree! Not comfortable.

But I interviewed for jobs in two schools. We have to wait for a call to know if we got a job out of this. My prediction is that there will be a flurry of calls about three days before the beginning of the school year.

I now have applications in three schools. Last week I interviewed at St. John's, the preeminent academic school on the island. I hope something comes through.

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 03:42 PM

I'm very sorry about your Dad's passing. You both are in my thoughts and prayers.
                         mmm1a

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: katlaughing
Date: 09 Jun 11 - 02:51 PM

Just to let you know you've been in my thoughts, Brett and Wakana.

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 08:19 AM

So sorry Brett.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 08:10 AM

Your father's obituary certainly rings true to me.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 05:18 AM

Condolences, Brett, and what a life well lived!

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 01:24 AM

an amazing man

Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam
From: Ebbie
Date: 07 Jun 11 - 01:24 AM

Lovely testamonial to a remarkable man.