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BS: Studying in Guam
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Subject: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 08 Nov 10 - 11:23 PM I recently went through a huge change in lifestyle. I went back to school. And I've been thinking that the other thread was getting too long. So here we go with yet another one. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 08 Nov 10 - 11:24 PM Here's the last thread. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 08 Nov 10 - 11:48 PM I loaded Google Earth on Wakana's little computer, the one she gave me after mine was broken in the crash. Then I started looking at some sites in Maine, Arrowsic, Bath, Brunswick, Richmond... Then I saw the pictures of the Wiscasset schooners Charlie posted on Facebook. I think I'm a little homesick now. I may have to think about moving home again. How's the housing market? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 09 Nov 10 - 12:51 PM Brett- The housing market in Maine is just wonderful for buyers, not so good for sellers. And the mortgage interest rates are less than 5% for good applicants. So do you want an older house that will cost a mint to fix up or a newly constructed energy efficient house? And do you require a view of the sea? Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: SINSULL Date: 09 Nov 10 - 01:02 PM Rent, my friend. That way you can run back to Guam if the weather gets too cold for you. Mary |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 09 Nov 10 - 03:20 PM I wish I was in a position to go but I have finish my education and that includes the extras I would need so I could qualify to teach in Maine. Sigh. I guess I'll just have to go out on my carport and enjoy my coffee and watch the breezes stir the palm fronds. Sins, what you say makes a lot of sense and I probably will rent once I get there. By the time I'm ready to buy the market will have healed itself and I won't be able to afford anything. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Amos Date: 09 Nov 10 - 03:50 PM Well, if you could scrape up the down you might get a place and rent it out until you need it. A |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 09 Nov 10 - 08:18 PM Just what I was going to say. Good for you to stick to what you need to do in order to get a teaching job. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 14 Nov 10 - 01:34 AM Thsi weekend has been a little rough. Wakana is burning out and needs a good long rest. Part of the problem is that the teacher who supposedly taught the kids Japanese I failed miserably to get them to learn something. So now she has a mess of ignorant unruly kids to deal with. Here we are, halfway through November, and she is still reviewing(teaching) Japanese I instead of Japanese II. As for me, I was in some pain yesterday with some kind of bladder/urinary infection. I was going to go to the doctor today but I am feeling much better. Anyway, we went out to run some errands this morning and decided to have lunch at Gyoza-Yatai. We walked in the door and were disappointed to see they had a Sunday brunch buffet set out. As much as we like that restaurant we do not care for their buffet. The waiter came up to greet us and apologized. He said they would serve a la cart after 2:00. We turned to leave and were almost to the elevator when the manager stopped us. He asked why we were leaving. We told him we'd come for the Hongkong Rice bowl and an Sanctuary plate of gyoza. We said we'd come back later. He wouldn't hear of it. He promised us our Sanctuary plate and said they had some Hongkong fried rice on the buffet line. We could have that. We went inside. Now, it needs to be explained that we really like this place and we like to talk with the people who work there. Last time we were there the cook came out to see us and we had a good time with him. The general manager, Frank, is a very personable guy who we like very much. Today's manager is a local with a girlfriend in Japan. He disappears every once in a while to go visit her. This is the place where we met the family of one of Wakana's high school classmates. We have some good memories of that place. As we ate our gyoza the manager brought out a huge stone bowl of Hongkong fried rice. The cook wouldn't allow the manager to feed us the rice from the buffet line. Instead he insisted on making us our own pot. He brought it out to us himself and mixed it on our table. The manager introduced him and explained what had happened. We were really touched. We sat and talked to the cook for a long time and thanked him again and again for his kindness. As we ate the waiter kept us well supplied with iced tea, big smile on his face, and very warm personality. When we left the cook came out to say goodbye and wish us well. We were both touched and our spirits were lifted. Life is good. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 14 Nov 10 - 10:45 AM Nice! Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 18 Nov 10 - 07:11 AM Tonight I went to another film hosted by the GLOBAL MILITARISM: GLOBAL PEACE? organization. This one was on the military occupation of Hawaii. Many people don't understand that Hawaii was stolen by a consortium of plantation owners including Bob Dole's (great?) grandfather. Then in 1959 the territory forced a vote on statehood one year before an expected UN resolution on decolonising indigenous peoples. By making Hawaii a state they took away the UN's authority in the matter. Hawaii was on the UN's list. Now Hawaii is home to over 120 military bases which have been built without regard to sacred sites around the islands. The tourist industry is pushing Hawaiians out of their lands faster and faster. Native Hawaiians make up 4% of the total population and 60% of the homeless. There are camps, similar to the hobo jungles and the dust bowl refugee camps where hundreds of Hawaiians live because they cannot afford to live in their own homeland. This relates to Guam and the military buildup going on here. Just today the anti-buildup group We Are Guahan filed lawsuit against the USA for trying to take away access to Pagat, a site considered sacred to the Chamorros. Their web site is here: Pagat Village. Going to the movie, which was an extra credit exercise, means I missed out on a meet-and-greet party given annually by the English Department. It was a costume party. You had to dress as a character from a book that had been made into a movie. I had been planning to go as Woody Guthrie with a sailor's hat on my head and guitar slung over my shoulder with an old piece of rope. I was even prepared to sing This Land is Your Land as a hint. I figured it was about as obscure a movie/book combination as I could get. Sigh.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 20 Nov 10 - 06:10 AM Today is Wakana's birthday. She was born in 1960 so you do the math. I gave her the traditional birthday card (I make them and include pictures of the animals), a couple of movies I recorded from the TV (Metropolis & Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow), and one purchased movie (Onmyoji II). I also gave her a thumb drive loaded with music. Her new car has a USB port where she can plug in the drive and listen directly from there. This evening I took her out for dinner at Hoa Mai in Agat. I had previously purchased a small apple cheesecake and some candles. I gave it to the owner and asked that it come to the table as our desert. I had sweet & sour pork and Wakana had fried pork chops with Fene Dene. The owners are very friendly and they are Chinese (real China, not Taiwan). It is tradition in China that you have to eat noodles on your birthday. So, we had just finished our meal when the cook showed up with a bog steaming dish of noodles, vegetables, and chicken. We couldn't refuse so we ate some of it and they packaged the rest. Now we are too full. We didn't eat the cheesecake. I intended to share it with them. I feel like I am about to burst. Tomorrow morning we are going to see Harry Potter. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: maeve Date: 20 Nov 10 - 07:24 AM Happy Birthday, Wakana. Maeve |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 20 Nov 10 - 08:15 AM birthday wishes from me, too sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 20 Nov 10 - 10:38 AM Happy Birthday, Wakana! Sounds like a fun time. kat & my Rog |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 20 Nov 10 - 12:57 PM Happy Birthday, Wakana, from Charley Noble and JudyB as well. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Amos Date: 20 Nov 10 - 04:46 PM Very happiest of days Wakana!! Thanks for taking care of our Naemanson. A |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 20 Nov 10 - 05:02 PM I just passed your birthday greetings on to Wakana. When I read them to her I identified each person and where they were writing from. Wakana is thrilled and touched to get birthday greetings from around the world. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 20 Nov 10 - 10:26 PM Oh, and birthday greetings from our two housecats, Tilahun and Tejitu! Cheerily, Charley |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Ebbie Date: 20 Nov 10 - 11:04 PM Hey, we can't leave out Alaska! Happy Birthday, Wakana! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: ClaireBear Date: 21 Nov 10 - 02:54 PM And California. Happy birthday, Wakana! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: mmm1a Date: 21 Nov 10 - 03:41 PM from Indiana too happy Birthday Wakana |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: dick greenhaus Date: 21 Nov 10 - 05:28 PM Happy Birthday, Wakana! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 22 Nov 10 - 08:08 AM Wakana thanks you all. She is very happy and hopes you all can have happy birthdays like her. She also wants you to know the cats and dog say thank you very much. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 22 Nov 10 - 08:16 AM The other day Wakana harvested the first of our bananas. The outdoor table is now covered with green bananas, short and fat and quickly turning yellow in the warm weather. These are the Philippine bananas. The other plants are Chiquita bananas, like you get in the stores. They will need another month or so. These classes are kicking my butt. As I tell people, I spend 10 1/2 hours a week in class and the rest of the week isn't enough to do all the homework. For this Saturday I have to prepare two power point presentations, plus read three chapters for one class and two for another. For Monday I have to have my rough draft for my paper on Potiki ready to turn in to be workshopped. Plus I am behind in writing up my school observations and I need to get my portfolio started for my classroom management class. The problem is that I feel like I've worked all day long and have made no real headway. I'm tired. Enough whining. I'm going to take the dog out so she can pee and then I'm going to bed. Goodnight! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 23 Nov 10 - 10:15 PM Just worked out what is due in the next two weeks. Starting to panic now... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 23 Nov 10 - 10:23 PM Brett- Geez. I hope you at least take a break for Thanksgiving. Do they have turkeys in Guam? Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 25 Nov 10 - 03:29 AM Funny your should mention that... It is the evening of Thanksgiving Day. I suppose I should be lying down with a belly full of a big turkey dinner. Well, we don't bother with all that here. This morning I worked on the two presentations I have to do this Saturday then we went to the laundromat. I knew it had been a long time because the baskets were full and I was almost out of socks and underwear. We filled up nine washers and ten dryers. It cost $22! Luckily everyone else was out for dinner. We stopped at Subway for sandwiches before we washed the clothes. Then home, folded, and now it's back to work on the papers. Holiday? What's that? Later, when we get hungry we have leftover barbecued ribs and I am planning to make nachos. Happy Thanksgiving to you all. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Nov 10 - 06:07 AM 9 washers & 10 driers - I bet the staff were happy to see you on a public holiday, you probably almost paid their wages. sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 26 Nov 10 - 06:30 AM It's a family business, convenience store with a laundromat next door. They are a Korean family. The father is doing everything he can to drive his daughter nuts. He is micromanaging her education. She's a bright kid, she's doing very well in school. Whenever we go over there we are subjected to a long conversation with him about her. He's a good guy and wants only the best for her. She has an ally in her mother so she gets out from under his thumb occasionally. Our bananas have ripened. They are short and fat with very thin skins. The flavor is sweeter than the Chiquitas you get at the store. There seems to be a bit of orange flavor in there too. We've shared with the neighbors and still have quite few left. They are very filling. Two of them suffices for a meal. The nice thing about bananas is that they are a renewable resource. Alex planted two trees about a year ago. we are getting our first bananas now and at least three other trees have sprouted from the same place. the tree that gave us fruit has done its duty and will need to be cut down to make room for the little ones coming in behind it. Those two trees should provide fruit for a few years at least. I am procrastinating. I finished my two presentations and now have to read the three chapters for tomorrow's class. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 27 Nov 10 - 09:45 PM Charlie, I just started a thread on two lists of NZ songs I found. The NZ Folk Song List includes something called the Fishfinger Song. You should check it out. It ain't your old favorite. Caution: If you decide to use it you should change "orientals" to "Asians" and make it fit. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 01 Dec 10 - 02:47 PM Here we go! There are 9 days left in the term and I have a mess of work to do. I did catch a break yesterday. I thought we had to do 15 hours of observations. The number is really 10. I think I am done with that requirement. Now all I have to do is write them up... and write... and do more writing... and more... Yesterday I went to Wakana's school to do some observations. In the morning I watched a chemistry lab and in the afternoon I saw a government class. The second class was in a "temporary" structure. But what a structure! At some point in the past the school had needed six extra classrooms so they bought them from a New Zealand firm. What they got was six cedar log cabins just like the modern log houses we have back in Maine. The logs are uniformly cut and interlock to give 6 inches of wood for insulation, the ceilings are high and the room is wide and open. There are lots of windows. I felt like I was home again. Well, back to work! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Dec 10 - 07:19 PM anytime you feel homesick for Maine, you know where to go! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 03 Dec 10 - 08:09 AM This afternoon we were driving back to FD to pick up my pickup. I was telling Wakana about an episode of Top Gear I'd seen earlier where they finally get "The Stig" out of his helmet. For those who've never seen the show, The Stig is their "tame racing driver" who does all the timed laps for the cars they are evaluating. Since the early seasons they have never identified him. He always wears pure white race coveralls, gloves, boots, and a helmet that covers his whole head. Anyway, I told Wakana that the man in the suit was Michael Schumacher, a Formula One race driver. I was NOT prepared for her reaction! You see, years ago, when she was living and working in Tokyo she and a few friends would gather for an evening of entertainment and food at a restaurant owned by one of those friends. The entertainment was usually watching Formula One racing. Schumacher wiped the track with their favorite drivers. They hated him. Wakana was very tired at the beginning of our conversation but when she heard who was in the suit she got all fired up. And she abused me for not recording the episode! Ain't life strange... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Date: 03 Dec 10 - 08:16 PM Speaking of Guam, and your ultra-intelligent FINE Democratic 'Representatives'..This is a MUST SEE!!! Your tax dollars at work, at their finest...I'm glad we have the best..even if he is a Democrap! Absolutely Great Genius! GfS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Jeri Date: 03 Dec 10 - 08:42 PM No clue she was a formula 1 race car fan? I've never even heard of the show, Brett, but I see it's a BBC show. Is there a download of that show here? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Joe Offer Date: 04 Dec 10 - 02:56 AM Sanity, you may want to put your criticism in context: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20001567-503544.html. You know, I'm sure the good congressman fully understands that Guam won't literally capsize from overpopulation. Nonetheless, his colorful figure of speech makes a good point. Could it be that his critics don't understand "figures of speech"? -Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Date: 04 Dec 10 - 03:30 AM You actually bought that pantie waste explanation??? Even before you get to the 'tipping over' part, listen to him describe the size of the island..even that is screwed up. Nope, I don't buy the 'damage control' explanation...and if it was merely a 'joke' how did you like his delivery? Personally, I think this stuff is par for the course..and BTW, there are plenty more of these 'distinguished morons' spouting their nonsense! The Pelosi moronic clips fill several pages on 'youtube'!..even Hank 'you can call me Tip' Johnson has a few more. This guy has the space case rap of someone who just got up from being in coma...No, I take that back..He still is in a coma! Look, sometimes I like an elected guy, but NOT solely on the merits of what party he is affiliated with. An articulate statesman can be respected, even if his views differ from those that I may personally agree with. Some actually make me seriously consider their point of view, because they seem to have a great rap, which contains a little truth, instead of the policies of the party line.....but most of them might as well being promoting the thirst quenching wonders of bottled hot dog water! And BTW, the view I just expressed is consistent with the majority of the American public! It's the steadfast, bickering within themselves Democrats who are in an increasing minority! They fucked up!..just about EVERYTHING they promote! GfS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Date: 04 Dec 10 - 04:37 AM P.S. So do the Republicans! GfS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 04 Dec 10 - 08:50 AM Would those of you that want a fight please go elsewhere. Would the rest of you please ignore the troll. Let's keep this thread clean. Jeri, thank you so much for that site. I've been looking for full episodes... not very hard with my workload and all but... I did know that she used to watch Formula One but didn't make the connection with a British driver. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Date: 04 Dec 10 - 04:51 PM You are correct, Naemanson, I was going to post, on my last post, that we should move this to another thread. GfS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 04 Dec 10 - 07:26 PM Jeri, the episode is Season 13, Episode 1. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 06 Dec 10 - 07:33 PM I'm procrastinating again. I have so much schoolwork to do and four more days to do it. No classes on Wednesday because it is Our Lady of Kamarin day on the island. Nothing is open and there is a big procession around the cathedral. Wakana and I have our own tradition. Schools are included in the processions and faculty must be there. In the past we helped control the kids until the walking started then we'd sneak off to the nearby Mexican restaurant for lunch. This year we can park in the restaurant's parking lot. I'll go in with a good book and stake out a table. I'll eat nachos and drink iced tea until she comes in to join me. I haven't reported on animal happenings in the house lately. Shawna has settled in with all but Neko accepting her. Neko spends a lot of time being bitchy about both Mika and Shawna. She expresses her bitchiness by yowling, growling, spitting and batting at both of them. I would have thought she'd have learned to accept them both by now. Mika and Shawna are starting to play together. Mika pounces on Shawna when the dog isn't looking. He sneaks up on her and bats at her ears too. Shawna will play jump in Mika's direction occasionally. It's very funny to see. Shawna is also getting tired of Neko's crap and jumps at her too. No playing there. Mika has a new trick. He sits on the floor between my feet while I watch TV. If I pat on my chest he'll jump up and settle himself down for petting. He has a loud purr. I have to be careful though. Sometimes he wants to jump up to bite and scratch. I keep the water bottle close to hand. He has another trick. When I sit on the toilet he climbs into the pants bunched around my ankles and settles himself down very happily. It's hard to pull up the pants with him in there. Last night was our last real class in my Literature of the Pacific Islands course. We discussed the Kantan Chamorita. This is a form of entertainment that predated electronics. Groups of (usually) young people working at different tasks would sing a spontaneous four line stanza which could express a "wide range of emotions and experiences." These are done in a call and response format with two opposing groups. I will post the whole article in a separate thread under the music section. Quote from Kantan Chamorrita: Traditional Chamorro Poetry, Past and Future by Laura Souder |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 07 Dec 10 - 02:50 AM The full article on the Kantan Chamorrita is HERE! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 07 Dec 10 - 05:51 PM December 6 was a our wedding anniversary. I was out of my head with papers and Wakana was exhausted from work so nothing was done or said. Today is an island wide holiday so we took time last night to go to Gyoza-Yatai for dinner. We got there about 9:00. Frank (the manager) was shocked to see us at night because usually only go for lunch. We told him it was our anniversary and he gave us our usual table by the window. We ordered a Chinese salad, the Sanctuary Gyoza plate, a stone bowl of rice and gingered pork, and a dessert parfait. while we waited and drank our iced tea Frank and the waiter brought us a Happy Anniversary balloon. Motoki, the cook, came out to wish us well and talk with us for a bit. He arrived after the stone bowl and then, when he realized who we were, he wanted to take the bowl back to the kitchen to improve it. Don't know how he could have improved it. The food was great! The dessert was a tall parfait glass filled with Chinese almond jelly, whipped cream, some fruit bits, and, at the bottom, cornflakes. Try adding cornflakes to a jello and whipped cream dessert someday. You'll be surprised at how good it is. Just don't let the cornflakes get soggy. Eat it quickly. Today is Our Lady of Kamerin day. This afternoon the Catholics will be gathering for a procession around the Cathedral. For us, it's a day off... kinda. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: maeve Date: 07 Dec 10 - 10:01 PM Happy Anniversary, Wakana and Brett! Maeve |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 07 Dec 10 - 11:36 PM My video driver is messed up. I hope the colours show! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 07 Dec 10 - 11:40 PM Actually, it is my mozilla...I can see the colours fine in IE. (Sorry for the drift!) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 08 Dec 10 - 06:04 AM Many congratulations. We are celebrating our 40th on the 19th with a "bit of a do" (lunch + magician friend- no music to make sure I don't sing!). RtS Many are called but kazoo are chosen |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Dec 10 - 07:11 AM adding my congratulations to the list. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 08 Dec 10 - 09:33 PM Thank you. Kat, the colors are fine. All is appreciated. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 10 Dec 10 - 12:18 AM Finished Abaday's work yesterday. Working on observation writeups now. Still have to do the big paper for Flores. I think I will sleep all next week. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 12 Dec 10 - 12:27 AM Still working on Flores' paper. Anyone want to earn $50? write me a 10 page paper on Patricia Grace's Potiki in MLA format and get it to me by 1:00 Am Eastern Standard Time. I am so tired... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Ebbie Date: 12 Dec 10 - 12:56 AM I feel for you, friend. But it occurs to me that this is how almost all students feel almost all the time. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 12 Dec 10 - 10:27 AM And consider your above post the next time you're thinking about assigning your students a ten-page research paper! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 12 Dec 10 - 10:49 AM I have not yet assigned a ten page paper and do not ever intend to do that to them. It would be one choice in a range of possible assignments. One of the things we have studied, touched on really, is multiple intelligences and the resultant learning styles. Some people learn better through kinesthetics, or touch and manipulation. Give them a reading/writing assignment and they will not do as well unless it includes working in three dimensions. Some people are more focused on music (believe it or not) so an assignment for them might want to somehow include music. The theory goes on and on with more and more levels being defined. The hard part, for the teacher, is to incorporate them into a lesson plan for a group of students that might include several different learning styles. If you've ever been bored in a class that should have appealed to you it might have been the teacher's choices made along these lines. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Ebbie Date: 12 Dec 10 - 07:03 PM What would you say is *your* learning style? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 14 Dec 10 - 07:32 AM My learning style? As follows: Verbal-Linguistic 75% Musical 69% Logical-Mathematical 63% Interpersonal 44% Intrapersonal 38% Visual-Spatial 33% Naturalistic 25% Bodily-Kinesthetic 25% Nobody said it was cut and dried or even easy. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 14 Dec 10 - 07:37 AM By the way, as os 2:30 PM yesterday afternoon... IT'S OVER!!!! That was when I printed out the various pieces of the paper and put it all together in a binder. Today the only thing I've done that could be remotely called productive is... I took a shower. Tomorrow I get to work. I need to repair the sofa, clean the kitchen, clean up my side of the bedroom and get my laundry together, etc., etc. But for now I am done, until January 15 when we start up again. And this time we will have two sessions, one from January 15 to March 5 and the other from March 19 to May 14. In that whole time I will have only one Saturday off, March 9. I am NOT looking forward to the spring. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 14 Dec 10 - 07:52 AM Oh, and I took my recorder to class on Monday to record the Chamorrita and then we didn't do it. I gotta get that recorded. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 16 Dec 10 - 06:55 PM Wakana brought a cold home this last week and now I think she has passed it on to me. I ain't feelin' so good. Good thing I'm on vacation? I sent an email to my professor with a plan for recording the chamorritas. I'm waiting for an answer. If we can get a grant of some kind we might be able to stage a recreation of the kantan chamorrita and film it. That would be so cool. How does one write up a grant request? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 16 Dec 10 - 09:33 PM Find someone who knows how and beg them for help.:-) My sister was on the cutting edge of learning about learning styles when she was a teacher of fifth graders. We lived in CT at the time and she came out, from WY, for special training for teachers, of gifted and talented children, at UCONN. It was fascinating and explained a lot, to me, about the boredom my kids had in various classes and what may have helped my siblings and I had it been known back then. Thank goodness it is more recognised, now. My grandson does much better with music on and being able to sit on the floor, upside on the couch or what have you, anything besides sit in a rigid desk and be told to read. (They don't do that, thankfully!) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 18 Dec 10 - 04:35 AM Yeah, I often wonder how my life would have turned out if I'd been taught differently. And if they could have diagnosed and treated ADHD. Today was Saturday, the first Saturday I've had off since October! What luxury! I woke early but took a nap. We took the dog over to the campus because that's pretty much the only place where she can run free. Th college is closed up except for the instructors in their offices correcting papers desperately trying to make their deadlines and go on their vacations. Wakana has set up a work table in the living room for her final exam corrections. Right now she's in there with Lord of the Rings on the TV and a pile of paper in front of her. She using an awful lot of red ink. I have had to come to grips with an awful thought. When I finished my work and started my vacation I pulled my video games out of the closet and set up for a marathon gaming session. Yesterday I put them away. They were boring me! I guess I'm growing up. Sigh... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Desert Dancer Date: 19 Dec 10 - 10:59 PM Saw this on Robert Krulwich's NPR blog and thought of you: End Of The Week Doodle ~ Becky in Tucson |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 24 Dec 10 - 07:41 AM Thank you Becky, that was awesome. I saved the picture. Wakana and I got a kick out of the previous blog on hating math. That woman can talk nonstop. Very good. In about 1 1/2 hours it will be Christmas Day. We went to Hoa Mai for Christmas Eve dinner. Tomorrow I'll do a roast beef in the slow cooker. Wherever you are and whatever your circumstances Wakana and I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: maeve Date: 24 Dec 10 - 07:42 AM Same to you both, Brett and Wakana. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Dec 10 - 10:50 AM it was christmas almost 3 hours ago here! Happy Christmas Brett & Wakana & Maeve love from sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: ClaireBear Date: 24 Dec 10 - 11:40 AM ★Merry★ 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ • •。★Christmas★ 。* 。 ° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π____*。*˚ ˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/\ 。˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜田田 門 ˚and a Happy New Year, Brett and Wakana! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 24 Dec 10 - 08:01 PM Thank you all. I gave Wakana a new batch of carving tools. Later this week I'll throw together a rack to put all her tools in. I'll set it up so she can hang it off the carving table I made for her a few years ago. Right now she's out mowing the lawn. After that she won't have enough energy to do any carving. She might not have any energy to take the dog the the school or to go to the beach like we discussed. No worries. She's happy. She gave me an envelope full of money to use to pay for my university fees and buy my books for the next term. Hmm, I gave her fun stuff and she is allowing me to continue the torture... Is there a pattern here? The roast is in the cooker and slowly working it's way to Christmas dinner. Not sure when it will be ready. We'll have mashed potatoes, peas, Roast beef, and a big slice of Crown Bakery bread pudding for dessert. Crown Bakery is acknowledged by all nut the other bakeries as the best one on the island. It is where we bought our wedding cake six years ago but now it is having some problems. You see, nobody expected the rad construction in front of their shop to drag on for as long as it has. The newspaper says their sales are down by 50% since the road work closed off half their access. The whole area is one huge nasty snarl of slow moving traffic. They really are good though. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 24 Dec 10 - 08:48 PM Here is the local version of Twas the night before Christmas. I stuck a Glossary on the end for the Chamorro words. Twas the night before Christmas, and all over the isle, The stores were jam-packed, lines as long as a mile. Midnight Masses were done, some as early as 10, Then it was back to the house, to make kelaguen. The kids were watching wrestling, should have been in their beds, While visions of boñelos dagu cha-cha-cha'd through their heads. My five dogs were all barking, as the midnight hour came near, And Santa came calling, but with carabao, not reindeer. He landed on the roof with such a bump and a shake That I jumped up and ran, thinking, "Laña! Earthquake!" To the window I flew, then I cursed and I muttered, Because it, like the rest, was still typhoon-shuttered. So I ran out of the house to our kitchen outdoors, As the coconut trees swayed along white sandy shores, When what before my wondering eyes did appear now, But a miniature bullcart and eight miniature carabao, With a little manamko' driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment that it had to be Tun Nick. With a clatter of big hooves, his carabao they came, He said, "Sst, hoy!" and then called them by name; Now Junior! Now Nene! Now Tita and Ding! Hafa Ko! Hafa Doll! Hafa 'Sus and Ping! To the top of the pickup! To the top of the tin! Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away again! Tun Nick landed his own sled, right there on our roof, So I looked for my cell phone, so I would have proof. He was dressed all in red, from his foot to his head, He didn't wear boots, but jingle-belled zories instead. His eyes, how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! And his nose was red as a small pika donne'. He came down the roof, wondering where he should go to, And his big bushy beard was as white as some potu. He had a broad face and a little round tummy, Which he rubbed happily as he ate guyuria so yummy. He spoke not a word as he put presents under the tree, A seven-day bracelet for the wife, a new machete for me. The kids all got Wii games, betel nut cutters for Tun Ben, Then he turned to go and almost knocked over the belen. Ai adai, it was plenty hot, so he loosened his collar, Then sprang to the roof and to his team gave a holler. The carabao flew off, carrying Santa over the sea, And he yelled out: "Felis Pasgua! And to all, esta ki!" KELAGUEN From Wikipedia: Kelaguen is a Chamoru dish from The Mariana Islands eaten as a salad/side dish or as a main course. A pickling marinade of lemon juice, fresh coconut, green onions and hot red chilies is used to marinate cooked chicken, shrimp, fish or raw beef. The acids in the marinade "cook" the raw beef instead of heat. It is served cold or at room temperature and eaten as is, over rice, or wrapped in a warm corn or flour tortilla (or the Chamoru version, titiyas) with finadene on the side. Though a simple dish, kelaguen reflects the complex history of the Micronesian archipelago's Hispanic-Asian-influenced native culture. It is similar to South American Ceviche and Filipino Kinilaw/Kilawin. boñelos dagu: yam donuts typhoon-shuttered – Many homeowners do not bother to take the shutters off their windows between storms. Note: It has been five years since the last storm hit Guam. bullcart/carabao – Carabao are a small version of the water buffalo manamko – Chamorro word meaning wise old one Tun Nick – Tun is a word meaning, roughly, uncle. Carabao Names [Junior, Nene, Tita, Ding, Hafa Ko, Hafa Doll, Hafa 'Sus, and Ping] – These are common nicknames here on the island. The only one I can speak to with certainty is 'Sus which is short for Jesus (pronounced as in Spanish, i.e., Hay-soos.) Nene seems to mean 'sweet one' or sometimes 'grandmother.' Junior is self explanatory. zories – Back home we called them thongs or flip-flops. Here they are also called slippers. Nobody recognizes flip-flops. pika donne' – Local Chile pepper. Very red and very hot. Potu – Rice cakes made with sweet tuba (an alcoholic drink made from fermented coconut water) guyuria – From Wikipedia: Guyuria are traditional Chamorro cookies. They are also known as Chamorro jawbreaker cookies due to their historically rock-hard texture. Guyuria was originally made with flour, coconut milk, and a sugar glaze. The dough is first made as one solid mass. Small pieces of dough are pinched off. Each piece is rolled out on a wooden guyuria board or on the back of a fork. Once enough cookies are formed, a batch is fried, cooled, and finally coated with a sugar glaze. The glaze is then allowed to dry on the cookies. Belen – Manger scene Ai adai – Literally "What a day!" It's an expression of despair. If you've had a bad or difficult day you say "Ai adai!" Felis Pasgua – Don't know why this is here. It means Happy Easter! Perhaps Santa is saying that with his visit the season is over until then. esta ki – As near as I can figure out this means "until then" or "See you later!" |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 24 Dec 10 - 09:37 PM How very kewl, Brett. Thanks! I have printed it off to read to the family on Sunday. Merry Christmas to you, Wakana, and the critters! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 25 Dec 10 - 09:55 AM Brett and Wakana- It's sunny but frigid here in Maine this Christmas morning. The van is all packed with presents ( with care!) for my family down at the farm on Georgetown island and Judy's folks up in the hills of Lincolnville. We just have to pack the tupperware dishes full of gold dollar coins frozen together with ice cubes into the portable freezer chest, for the amusement of nieces and nephews. Then we'll be on the road again! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 27 Dec 10 - 04:58 AM Today we got a package from my brother in Alaska. He sent me a nice hot-weather hat and they sent Wakana a neat little bowl made of slices of paper all glued together. There is also a package of lemon flavored pasta and one of lime & Thai chili cashews. Those look spicy. All this arrived in good condition though the trip took 23 days. Unfortunately the two packages of homemade cookies did not fare so well. These are possibly OK to eat but they have been crushed together and the different types of cookies are indistinguishable from each other. Then there is the plastic bag with the brown shapeless goo. The label says 'peanut butter fudge' but I have my doubts. My younger daughter sent me all four seasons of Jeeves & Wooster. I love it. I've been doling them out slowly to savor the whole run. Charlie, your Christmas card arrived today. Thanks so much. It was nice to see the pictures. For those of you who are into Facebook I have added pictures of animals into my page. I have some nice ones of Wakana and Shawna in the car. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 27 Dec 10 - 10:42 AM Brett- I've been enjoying the photos you've been posting of your "family" on Facebook. You and Wakana really shouldn't be starving your poor cats so. I'm considering call in the local authorities. It's a "snow day" here in Maine and even Judy doesn't have to go to work today but can simply hang out at home and watch the snow pile up. The snow should be over by early afternoon. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 28 Dec 10 - 08:50 AM Snow piling up is the first stage in snow being shoveled. Here I had to wear a headband while making the iced tea because I was sweating from the walk we'd just taken while wearing shorts and t-shirts. In a few minutes I'll take Shawna out again. It's late and I no longer need the sweatband. Temperatures are down this evening to almost 80. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 28 Dec 10 - 09:05 AM That headband has to be a trial, or at least a stitch. I hope you soaked it well in the ice water before wrapping it around your...head. I did do a little shoveling yesterday, and this morning, and now that I've had breakfast I might just go out again and tidy up the walks and driveway again. I really wish you were here so you could better appreciate that high drift of snow in the back parking lot. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Amos Date: 28 Dec 10 - 03:53 PM Why don't you just package up this so-called snow and send it to Brett to put in his tea.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 28 Dec 10 - 10:24 PM One winter of that parking lot was enough for me. While it was not a major part of my decision to move away from winter it certainly played a part. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 28 Dec 10 - 10:42 PM That's one thing that would keep us from moving back to New England OR Wyoming, either one. I might complain about the Banana Belt of Colorado, but I do not miss the snow and the wind and the snow.:-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 29 Dec 10 - 08:34 AM So, let's see, it's one CD envelop packed with snow for South Pacific Brett, one for Amos in Sunset San Diego, and one for Luvykat nestled in the Banana Belt of Colorado. There's plenty more left out back to mail out if there are any others here feeling deprived. My Brooklyn relatives are still resident here in Maine, down at Robinhood Farm. Their neighbors back home were describing horrid conditions on their local streets; there's a viral video of City work crews trashing someone's parked car as they try to extract one of their own vehicles from a snow drift. They are fearful of what urban Wendigo/Godzilla they might encounter. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 30 Dec 10 - 04:01 AM The funny thing is those urban dwellers are probably fearful of living in the "snowy north country." I've heard maore than one of them say to me that the quiet and/or the solitude would be frightening. They prefer the safety and security of life in the city. So far this year they've had snow and wind storms. Nine years ago it was a terrorist attack. What's next? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 30 Dec 10 - 10:55 AM Brett- The family is safely back in their Brooklyn zip code as of yesterday, even found a parking space for their van. I do find it amusing that the Brooklyn concept of a "big move" is from one zip code to another, which in the case of my niece Julie was a trek of two blocks. But even so life was too weird out there in the "wilderness" and she moved back within two years! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 31 Dec 10 - 01:37 AM Yesterday we took Mika to the vet for his rabies shot. We took Shawna along because she loves to ride in the car. We decided to go to lunch and asked if we could leave Shawna there. When we came back after eating and grocery shopping we found Shawna in the enclosure behind the vet's office with a bunch of other dogs. Thee was a young man tossing dog toys for them. Shawna was very interested but clearly didn't understand what was happening. She watched and when a toy came her way she sniffed at it but didn't touch it. She has clearly never learned how to play. On the way home we let Mika out of the box. He settled down just outside the door and at some point he disappeared. We found him when we got home. He was snuggled up in the groceries, sound asleep. We went over to the university today to have a picnic lunch and let Shawna run. She loves it over there. Later I drove up to the gas station for some fuel and air for the bike tires. I took Shawna and leashed her in the pickup so I could drive with the windows down. She could just stand in the window and get her head out into the wind. Tonight our neighbor is having his annual New Year's bash. He asked if he could park cars in our back yard and I can see that he has set up another neighbor's yard for parking as well. His family have been working like dogs for the last week getting ready for the fun. I'm not sure what time we'll go over but the animals will be locked into the house all evening. Today is the last day of the year. Wakana and I were talking it over and decided this year has been quite eventful. It has included the loss of my job and my new goal of a master's degree, the acquisition of two more animals, a car accident and the subsequent purchase of a new car, and Wakana's parents came to visit and had a great time. It's been a good year for us and it has been good sharing it with all of you. Happy New Year! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Dec 10 - 02:04 AM & Happy New year to you two, too wishing you a great 2011 sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 31 Dec 10 - 11:59 AM Brett and Sandra- So it's probably already 2011 where you are. How's it feel? Cheerily, Charley Noble, still stuck in 2010 |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Dec 10 - 08:34 PM no different today - but if you'd asked me last night while I was eating my dinner, 12 large & delicious local king prawns (shrimp) with what the manufacturer called garlic sauce (60% garlic with a bit of oil & stuff to hold it together!) I could have breathed on you - I was tasting garlic & garlic & garlic & garlic all night! ummmmm I have the rest of the prawns & sauce to eat today! I think I'll have some bread & salad with it this time. If the way you start the year is the way it will continue - yum! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 31 Dec 10 - 09:51 PM Sandra- Got to love that garlic! Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 31 Dec 10 - 11:56 PM Brett & Wakana, thanks for sharing it with us. Sandra, sounds yummy! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 01 Jan 11 - 01:39 AM Today is, according to the Japanese and the Koreans, one of four days that a dog can clearly state the date. According to their cultures dogs do not go bow-wow they say wan-wan. So today the date is wan, wan, wan-wan. The next three are: wan, wan-wan, wan-wan; wan-wan, wan, wan-wan; and wan-wan, wan-wan, wan-wan. Our neighbor, the firefighter, is throwing his New Year's party today. Cars fill our yards and the road. Music is blasting. People are wandering back and forth. The poor dog was terrified. We found out how she feels about loud noises when we took her out last night. The parties in the neighborhood we blasting fireworks and shooting and she just headed back into the house. So we couldn't get her to go out to do her business. To get her to settle down we bundled her into the car and took her over to UOG to run and, more importantly, to leave nasty surprises for the grounds maintenance crew. When we got home we wandered over to the party for some dinner and brought her back the bones. She's happy now. Happy New Year! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 01 Jan 11 - 11:36 PM Sick as a dog last night. Something I ate at the party. Emptied out the stomach and the bowel in short order and spent the rest of the night hurting. Not going to his parties again. Poor Wakana has to work to prepare for her return to FD and she is starting to feel the pressure. Probably doesn't help for me to be saying that I still have two weeks to go. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 04 Jan 11 - 07:51 PM Wakana got back to work and was stuck with proctoring a class for a teacher who was absent. There was good news though. Her least favorite class with three of her least favorite students is now smaller. Two of those students have been booted out of the school. She came home very happy last night. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 04 Jan 11 - 08:02 PM Brett and Wakana- As Texas Earl Robinson used to sing: You teach 42 students and what do you get, Another day older and deeper in debt; St. Peter don't you call me to that Golden Gate, I owe my soul to the youth of this State. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:28 AM Wakana is still enjoying her job. It's amazing how much two students can affect her. She has more energy and enjoys going off to face the rest of them. Tonight we went to Chamorro Village for the first time since Wakana's parents were here. The prices are higher. We paid $18 for two 3-choice dinners and two bottles of water. The platters we carried home were heavy with pancit, chicken kelaguen, red rice, and lots of yummy BBQ. We gave the bones to Shawna and that left all three of us very happy and full. I received all four seasons of Jeeves & Wooster from my younger daughter for Christmas. Wakana and I have been enjoying them, rationing them carefully so they will last longer. Thank you Amy! On my refrigerator is my calendar from my granddaughter. Imagine a piece of construction paper liberally and beautifully painted angel with a teeny little calendar stapled to the bottom. It's great! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 05 Jan 11 - 07:58 AM Brett- "We gave the bones to Shawna"!!! I'm shocked. Giving chicken bones to dogs is a contentious subject in our household after the family celebrations. Maybe the canines in our family history were less robust than your island hound. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 05 Jan 11 - 06:25 PM Actually these were beef bones. We do not give chicken bones to the dog. Chicken kelaguen has no bones. It is chopped chicken meat pickled in a spiced lemon juice and delicious. Check out the following recipes I Googled for you: @@@@@ 5 pounds of skin-on chicken thighs 2 cup of lemon juice (fresh) 1/3 cup of lemon powder (UPDATE: original recipe had 1-1/3 cups) 4 tbsp. of lime juice 4 tbsp. of salt 1 medium yellow onion, diced 2 tbsp. of diced hot red peppers 1/2 cup of diced green onions 1/2 cup of fresh grated coconut Grill the chicken thighs, unseasoned. Make sure they aren't overcooked; juices should still be flowing when you pierce it with a knife or a fork. Let it cool enough to prepare, but it should still be warm for the next steps. Dice/cube the chicken, about 1/2-inch pieces. You can skin the chicken if you like, but for most authentic flavor, include the skin in your diced pieces. Combine the lemon juice, lime juice, lemon powder and salt, making sure the salt is well dissolved. Set aside half the liquid mixture. Pour one half of the liquid citrus mixture with the warm chicken and mix so that there is an even coating on all the chicken pieces. Add the onions and hot pepper and mix again. (Traditionally, we hand-mix at this step). Refrigerate overnight. Add the rest of the liquid mixture to the chicken and toss/mix again. Garnish with the coconut and green onions. Serve cold with hot white or brown rice, wrapped in warm corn or flour tortillas, or by itself. You can add more or less salt to taste, and add more or less hot pepper to achieve the desired spiciness. @@@@ Kelaguin Monuk (Chicken & Grated Coconut) One of the most popular Chamorro dishes, kelaguin is often served with the main meal but makes a great starter or appetizer. 1 chicken baked or barbequed without spices. 1 medium coconut grated 1 or 2 lemons 1 bunch green onions 3 tbsp crushed red pepper salt Some people use a food processor, but REAL Chamorros wouldn't think of it! Remove skin from chicken and tear meat from bone. Discard bones and skin. Chop chicken into small pieces, almost fine. Place in bowl. Chop green onions, add to chicken mixture. Add coconut. Sprinkle liberally with lemon juice and salt. Add crushed peppers. Continue to season to taste, using salt, additional lemon juice and crushed peppers, so that no one flavor overwhelms the others. Serves 4-6. Serve with warm tortillas or try something untraditional, shrimp chips! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 09 Jan 11 - 09:59 PM I keep and eye on the news stories that scroll through on the Yahoo Home Page for no real reason except every once in a while they have an unusual or funny story. Today I saw a discussion about the mint wanting to stop making the penny. On that page I saw a link to a quiz by the Kiplinger Group about the Federal deficit. I managed to score 50% but it opened my eyes to an interesting fact. Since the 1960s the only two presidents who managed to balance the budget and run a surplus were Johnson and Clinton. The Republicans apparently like to spend and spend. Then they call Democrats the Tax and Spend Party. If you want to try the quiz here it is. Federal Debt Quiz |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 10 Jan 11 - 12:12 AM One of Wakana's students is known island-wide for his ability with the ukulele. He just sent me his YouTube video sites. I thought I'd pass along a few of them. While my Guitar Gently Weeps In this video he is about 12 or 13. Tears in Heaven Not sure how old he is in this one but he still looks pretty young. Samba Pa Ti This is a more recent video, Possibly only a year ago. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 10 Jan 11 - 04:13 AM Those are really neat, Brett! I love hearing the uke played well. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 14 Jan 11 - 02:42 AM Well, it's over. Tomorrow I go back to school. This term we will have 4 1/2 hours on Saturday morning and another 3 hours on Monday evening. I'm glad I can split it up like that. It was tough doing 7 1/2 hours straight plus ALL the homework was due on the same day. So it's back into the pit! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 14 Jan 11 - 06:34 AM 100! When I hear youngsters on any instrument play that well, I ignore my fantasies about learning a proper instrument at 67 and consider burning the washboard. best of luck with the studies,Brett, don't forget the apple (?mango?) for the teacher! RtS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 15 Jan 11 - 07:29 AM Best laid plans and all that. I was scheduled for a morning class on Saturday and an evening class on Monday. The professor was having trouble getting students to stay for the Saturday class so he just took some of us and put us where he needed us. Now I am in class from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM every Saturday from today to March 12. And now that we're in our second term they are taking the gloves off. A lot more homework and tighter deadlines. I don't know how my working classmates will be able to do it all. I have doubts about my own abilities. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 19 Jan 11 - 06:11 AM It is Wednesday and I have just shocked myself with the realization that my homework is done! Probably the only time this term. Today they closed and evacuated the entire downtown area of Hagatna, including Our Lady of Academy high school, when a construction crew uncovered a 350 pound unexploded bomb from WWII. The first I heard of it was when I tried to make a left and found the road blocked by police cars and flashing lights way down the street. Apparently it took two attempts to get the fuse out of it. They finished up around 2:30, just in time for the heavy traffic. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 19 Jan 11 - 08:43 AM Wow! It's been a long time since we had such excitement in Maine. Actually we did used to sneak into Reid State Park (known as Mile Beach prior to being designated as a park) after World War 2. The Beach had been used for target practice by planes from the Brunswick Naval Air Station and the dunes were festooned with all sorts of interesting hardware such as "dud" rockets, machine gun and cannon shells, and bombs. What fun we had sneaking in and collecting them! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 20 Jan 11 - 01:10 AM No duds here! This stuff was fired, and dropped, with malice aforethought back in July 1944. One of Wakana's students asked her if she thought the bomb was Japanese. She told them that the Japanese only bombed Guam on December 8, 1941, and that was only out at Sumay. They had no reason after that. It was the Americans who blasted Guam with one of the largest bombardments of the Pacific war. It was the Americans who turned the largest town into a clutter of broken bits. I just printed out some forms I will need for classroom observations. Mika jumped up on my desk when the printer began working. He is a very curious cat. After I was done I set the papers aside to do something else and when I turned back to them he had chosen that spot for his bed. He looks very comfortable. "Teacher! I couldn't do my homework because the cat was lying on it." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 20 Jan 11 - 08:14 AM It's funny to realize our luck in so many ways. I was just sending a friend a message. She'd commented on missing out on a trip to South America. Here's part of my reply. "It's funny about missing out on the chances of lifetimes. My grandfather had the chance to go to Mongolia with Roy Chapman Andrews in search of dinosaur fossils. He stayed home and met my grandmother instead. If he'd gone none of the Burnhams you know would be here." On that expedition Andrews found the first dinosaur eggs. It was a momentous occasion. And my grandfather decided not to go. Because of that decision, and probably hundreds more, my father was around to meet my mother. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 20 Jan 11 - 09:32 AM But how was the dinosaur omelette? Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 24 Jan 11 - 08:14 AM OK gang, here's where I could use some help. I need to research the impact of social networking sites on teens for my Adolescent Psychology class. Some of you are teens. Others have not been a teen in a while. What I am looking for are articles on the various social networking sources out there. This would include Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Email, Texting, etc. Also, I would like to hear your take on social networking as follows: What systems do you use? How often do you use it? What is the main purpose of these systems for you? What would you do if they were to disappear overnight? How often do you check your page/source? Does it interrupt your classes/workday? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 24 Jan 11 - 08:31 AM Brett- I haven't been a teen since 1960. But I can be a great help when you're researching how people born in the Pleistocen are now using social networking website. Good luck with this project, and be discrete about what images of yourself you send out to people you do not know well, in the interest of furthering your research! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Jan 11 - 08:48 AM some australian sites Social Networks Laboratory University of Melbourne Research in the social networks laboratory concentrates on the analysis of social networks, and in particular the development of exponential random graph models for social networks (p* models). These models assume that a large-scale network emerges from combinations of local patterns of interaction among small overlapping subsets of people. Such patterns can often be interpreted as the result of a localized social process, a set of behaviours within each subset of individuals. As a result, these models provide ways to examine large scale network structures (the macro- or global level) as the ramification of overlapping and intersecting localized behavioural patterns (the micro- or local level). Social Networks Adapting Pedagogical Practice: - University of Wollongong Social networks and the end of privacy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 24 Jan 11 - 05:17 PM Charlie, I am also interested in hearing from adults so I can compare with the teens who answer. As for pictures, I doubt anyone other than family is interested in seeing an old gray haired fat man. Thanks for the links, Sandra. I'll check them out. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Jan 11 - 06:22 PM Mudcat is the only social network I use! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 03 Feb 11 - 05:47 PM Kelli just sent me a newspaper story from Bath about a group of Morse High School students building a replica shallop. I must know more. How on Earth could someone get a bunch of teens to put down their cellphones and video games long enough to build something so complicated? Where did they get funding? How did they get parents to let their kids work in a shop with lots of razor-sharp tools? I sent an email to the teacher named in the article. The article is HERE. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 03 Feb 11 - 08:19 PM Brett- Pretty neat that some kids are still making history. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 05 Feb 11 - 05:09 AM The teacher, Eric Varney, was quick to respond. He seems to have the idea that I want to start my own project. I do not have the time. But I sent the emails off to Larry and Gordon and they forwarded them to others in the canoe club. This is Saturday evening. I spent all day in classes. I'm tired but today was different. The classes were fun! Am I changing or is the change happening with the instructors? Anyway, I sent some pictures of our canoes off to them. I hope they like them. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 05 Feb 11 - 12:19 PM Nice to have a teacher who at least shows some interest in his students. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 05 Feb 11 - 11:12 PM Morse has always been good for that. When my kids were there I never had a complaint with any of the teachers. Kelli's first Christmas concert a bunch of the teachers used handbells to play a song for the kids! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 13 Feb 11 - 07:08 AM Today we stopped at the Mobil station in Ipan. As I prepared to fill the tank a pickup pulled into the other side of my pump. As he got out of the truck I heard Joan Baez on his stereo. I asked if it was the radio but he said it was a CD. Turns out he is a huge fan of folk music from that era of the Kingston Trio, Peter Paul & Mary, the Highwaymen, etc. We talked for quite a while. He lives here in the village of Talofofo. We're going to have to get together someday. I still have a few Roll & Go CDs. I guess I'll give him one. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 13 Feb 11 - 10:47 AM Brett- Did I ever send you the new Roll & Go CD titled Watch Out!? I'm losing track of who I sent what in my old age. Hey, the temperature here in Maine may reach 40 F today! Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: gnu Date: 13 Feb 11 - 01:24 PM 40 F Charley? Send some up this way eh? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 13 Feb 11 - 02:03 PM gnu- Sorry, haven't got the time. Got to make it down to the beach for surfing before the tide turns. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 14 Feb 11 - 03:32 AM There is a new video on the military buildup. Tomorrow there will be a court hearing on a lawsuit intended to stop the movement of the Marines onto the island. See it here! Here is a video I stumbled across showing some of the sites in the southwest quadrant of the island. The restaurant, Jan Z's is a place Wakana and I go to quite often. An afternoon in Guam... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 14 Feb 11 - 03:43 AM I don't have that one yet Charlie. I went out to drop some letters today. That means I visited some of the local high schools with my letter of introduction begging them to allow me to come into their school t make some observations. I went to Okkodo, Simon Sanchez and Saint John. Simon Sanchez took the letter and said they would call me back. Okkodo actually tracked down a couple of teachers and made an appointment on the spot. Saint John sent me right down to observe the pottery class that had just started. I didn't expect that. It was very interesting. The kids were working on a range of projects. At one end were the newbies making built up pots. At the other table were the more experienced students making some rather interesting stuff. Two boys were trying to replicate Roman sculpture and doing a good job of it. Two girls were trying to decide what to do with their clay cubes. There were examples of the work around the studio including one that was cut in a tricky step pattern with a series of mazes inside. A marble dropped in the top had to work its way down through the mazes until it dropped out the bottom. Other work in the place was amazingly delicate and beautiful. Good first day of observations. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: GUEST Date: 15 Feb 11 - 01:01 AM Pottery is really hard! I tried it in New York while I was living there and it's all about the upper body strength and arm muscles, that and getting the lump of clay centred on the wheel. Fun though! Kelli |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 22 Feb 11 - 02:49 AM I went out to check the mail today and found... the new Roll & Go CD! Thank you Charlie! You guys sound great. I can't wait to hear the whole thing. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 22 Feb 11 - 10:18 AM Brett- Wow! That shipping crate arrived fast. I think you'll particularly enjoy the Ballad of John Silver. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 22 Feb 11 - 12:08 PM Thanks for the links, Brett. It is unimaginable what the DO wants to do a Pagat. It is so beautiful and pristine. They always seem to take over indigenous places. I hope they can be stopped in the instance, esp. You asked: What systems do you use? I have facebook and twitter accts. How often do you use it? FB maybe once per week, twitter hardly ever What is the main purpose of these systems for you? FB to see what family and friends are doing and some marketing of a small shop I have had to suspend for now. that is what I twittered about and some about my novel I was writing What would you do if they were to disappear overnight? I would not miss them. Having just spent six days in hospital, it became clear to me I don't really miss much about the internet except Mudcat and email. How often do you check your page/source?Not sure what you mean unless it's FB etc. Of course, I check Mudcat several times per day. Does it interrupt your classes/workday? Yes, sometimes.:-) Hope that helps! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 24 Feb 11 - 06:03 PM While looking for ship pictures to compare to one on the Georgetown, Maine, Facebook page I found a page of wallpaper pictures which includes some very nice photos of sailing ships. You can find it HERE! There are other pictures there, some quite funny. I like the one of the star destroyer over San Francisco Bay. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 26 Feb 11 - 09:50 PM Last night Wakana and I went to the Phoenix Center at Father Duenas Memorial School to see Beauty and the Beast. It was phenomenal. Ostensibly it was a high school musical but there was a number of college kids in it and some very capable adults working on the set and choreography. There was a live orchestra with a conductor who, at one point in his career, played Carnegie Hall in NYC. The hit of the show were the kids. FD is a boys school so they need to import girls for the female parts. The two girls who played Belle were both former students of mine. The Belle from last night was one of my favorites. She is a stunningly beautiful young woman with a magical voice. I couldn't be prouder of her if I was her father. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 05 Mar 11 - 10:56 PM Today I am on vacation for two weeks. I have finished the second term and the third term starts on March 19. I have been receiving emails from somebody who thinks Democrats are the spawn of Satan. I finally wrote back pointing out that there is blame to be pointed at both parties but that the Republicans have been in the White House for 34 of the last 47 years. The Democrats have only been in charge for 13 years with terms scattered here and there. Those Democrats must be pretty special to be able to do so much bad in such a short time. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 06 Mar 11 - 09:15 AM Brett- Are you trying to confuse "somebody" with facts? Play fair! Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 11 Mar 11 - 04:26 AM Bad news! A huge earthquake has struck Japan. Tsunamis and fire are destroying Miyagi Prefecture. Wakana's home prefecture felt it at magnitude 6 on the Japanese scale which only goes to 7. We have not been able to contact her parents. Her brother is in Tokyo so he and his family should be fine. Wish them luck. By the way, the tsunami will be here in a few minutes. We live on high ground and the authorities are evacuating the low lying areas. Wish Guam luck. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 11 Mar 11 - 08:02 AM Brett- This is truly a terrifying earthquake and tsunami, and we certainly hope all the folks you know and we know (not to mention everyone else!) in and around Japan are able to avoid the worst of its impact. I'm also worried about our entire West Coast. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 11 Mar 11 - 08:11 AM fingers crossed for Wakana's family - I spend Friday mornings teaching at a Craft group run by members of a Japanese church & I've just sent an email to the minister asking if he has any news from family/friends sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: SINSULL Date: 11 Mar 11 - 08:22 AM Stay safe, Brett. The west coast here is getting ready as well as Hawaii. Even Australia has warnings. Wakana must be worried about her family. It make take days to get in touch. Try to stay calm. Mary |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: SINSULL Date: 11 Mar 11 - 09:15 AM Guam's tsunami warning has been lifted. Some good news anyway. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 11 Mar 11 - 10:15 AM Brett, thanks for letting us know you and Wakana are safe. I thought of you two and her parents when I heard the news. I am giving thanks her family is well and able to contact her as soon as possible. This or something better for the highest good of all concerned. Take good care and be safe, luvyakat |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 11 Mar 11 - 06:40 PM Yes, we are safe. The tsunami was a washout. Saipan, and island north of us, reported a 2.6 foot rise in water levels and here in Guam the Pago Bay buoy registered a 6 inch rise. I have heard that Guam is relatively safe from tsunamis due to the shape of the island and how it sticks up out of the ocean. There are very few places that have the gradual rise of the seafloor that a tsunami needs to rush inland. In Japan everyone is safe though Wakana's parents had no power until this morning. In Japan that is very unusual but then the circumstances were unusual. They never lost gas or water so they were able to cook. They have kerosene heaters so they were able to keep warm. Poor Aunt Sachiko spent the night in a neighbor's car because she was too nervous about aftershocks. Today starts the cleanup. Oh, one tragedy. My brother-in-law lost his Martin in the 'quake. He reports that it is "broken." |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 11 Mar 11 - 07:22 PM I received a reply from Dom saying that everyone he knows is fine, tho one parishoner's mother is still in a refuge. As his email was sent 6 hours ago, she might be with family or friends now. he also said - Thank you so much for concerning with Japan. Please pray for Japan continually as many people are hurting who I don't know. sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 12 Mar 11 - 06:41 AM This afternoon Wakana managed to get in touch with her parents. They are fine. They suffered very little damage and were without power for a while. When the power came on at 4:00 AM they quickly cooked some food both to use up what might thaw in the freezer and to prepare for the next power outage. Aunt Sachiko joined them today and will stay with them for a few days. She didn't sleep at all last night in the car but had a good nap today at her brother's house. Charlie, you were right. Japan is one of the safest nuclear power generators in the world and now they have lost control of one plant and may lose the other. All of their redundant safety systems failed. The Fukushima plant has one reactor that has blown its containment building apart and they are worried about the other five reactors on site. They've evacuated people for 20 kilometers around the northern plant and 10 kilometers around the southern plant in Fukushima. Damn! I wish you and the Clamshell Alliance could have been wrong on this one. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 12 Mar 11 - 11:52 PM Thanks for letting us know, Brett. I am so glad to hear they are alright. What a scary tragedy. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 13 Mar 11 - 11:55 AM Brett- There are times when I'd rather not be right, and this is certainly one of them. See the main thread on Nuclear Meltdown for my latest update, and particularly what I have to say about when to take iodide tablets (conferring of course with appropriate medical authorities). Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 15 Mar 11 - 03:31 AM Earlier today I saw a chart showing elevated radiation levels. The chart included the prefecture where Wakana's parents and aunt live. I am watching NHK World which is Japanese news and programming in English. Check it out for up-to-the-minute news on the tragedy. NHK World |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 15 Mar 11 - 10:30 AM Thanks for the link, Brett. I just had my first lesson in Japanese.:-) Are Wakana's parents safe from radiation? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Maryrrf Date: 15 Mar 11 - 03:30 PM Even though her parents are safe, this must be agonizing for Wakana. It's horrifying for everyone to see the devastation, but Japan is her home. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 15 Mar 11 - 06:47 PM I told Wakana when she came home last night that she should ask her parents and aunt to join us in Guam until things settle down in Japan. I'd heard earlier that they had higher then normal radiation levels in Utsunomiya which is about 30 miles south of where they live. She called them and extended the invitation but they want to stay where they are. It has been very tough for Wakana. Smaller Japanese disasters have affected her. After one earthquake there was quite a drama where the rescue teams were trying to free a woman and her child from a car that had been buried by a landslide. We watched it on TV when we were in Japan. They got the kid out but the mother died of her injuries before they could free her. Wakana cried for quite a while on that one. According to NHK World the rule of thumb used by rescuers is after 96 hours you are only going to find bodies. However they are still finding living survivors in the wreckage. There have been a number of "miracle rescues" shown on TV. But the numbers are staggering. According to NHK one town had 24,000 residents and at this point they've only been able to account for 5,000 of them. Whole towns have been literally swept away. And then there is the nuclear power plant leaking radiation all over the place. Wakana's parents appreciate our offer and will take us up on it if things get too hairy. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 15 Mar 11 - 07:17 PM It leaves me speechless with tears. I hope her parents will come to you. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Jeri Date: 15 Mar 11 - 07:22 PM I can understand Wakana's feelings. I've heard stories about things that happened to people I didn't know, in places I didn't know that haunted me for weeks after. The horrors of my imagination were probably greater than reality. This is her homeland and these are her people, and everything is so much more real. I don't know how much worse it must be, but she, and you, have my support. There are people who volunteered to stay in the Fukushima plant to try to get the situation under control. They're being called heroes. I have no doubt in my mind that heroes are exactly what they are. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 15 Mar 11 - 07:29 PM This situation has to be incredibly stressful for you both. I wish we lived closer to you and could be of more help. Charlie and Judy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 16 Mar 11 - 07:27 PM Jeri, there are a lot of heroes right now but I have to agree that those working at the nuclear plant rank very high. Trust me, you are helping by being wherever you are. My only disappointment is Donuel who is running scared of the threat. I'm glad Wakana does not read the Mudcat because his posts would really bother her. He should leave scare-mongering to the Republicans. They are professionals and do it right. It's important to remember what has happened. Japan is the most quake ready nation on earth. They have been visited by devastating quakes over and over. They have also been victimized by tsunamis. I read a story yesterday about a woman who lived in a town where they had annual tsunami drills. They had safe zones on high ground. When the sirens went off she went straight to the high ground and on to the higher ground beyond, turned and watched the wave sweep over the supposedly safe zone. This disaster is unparalleled. Japan's earthquake measurement system only goes to 7. This measured 9! They prepared for the types of tsunamis they had seen in the past. These washed hospital patients out of the fourth floor of the hospital. The building stood but only those on the fifth floor survived! The point is that you can prepare for the reasonable event but this goes beyond reasonable. The nuclear power station was protected from tsunamis and built to withstand earthquakes. It would have been safe from anything. But this was far and away much more than you could plan for. As of this morning the death toll has hit 13,500 people and they expect it to keep climbing. This is the worst disaster to hit Japan since the Allies firebombed the Japanese cities. In terms of physical destruction (not loss of life) it is worse than Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined with the added horror of nuclear fallout. There is no way to understate the level of the disaster. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 17 Mar 11 - 08:30 AM Tonight Wakana came home and announced she'd been invited to someone's home for a gathering in support of Japan. We mounted up and arrived in time for a Baha'i prayer meeting. Another new experience. I have been in Baptist churches and Catholic churches, I've seen Unitarians gathered in... whatever they do. But this was my first experience with Baha'i. They started with music on the stereo, then we read prayers from sheets given to us when we entered and ended with more (kind of middle eastern) music. A couple of people read from a prayer book and one woman sang something that might have been in Arabic. It sounded pretty good. Afterward we ate and drank the refreshments and talked. The group was mostly European-Americans (you know, white people). There were only two Japanese in the group but some of the European-Americans had lived in Japan and loved the country and culture. It was fun and new. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 20 Mar 11 - 05:55 PM I was filling out a job application to be a teacher next year. When I got to the space for ethnic origin I refused to call myself "white." Here is Guam white is a minority. I am vastly out numbered by people whose ethnic origins are Chinese, Korean, the Philippines, Japan, the Caroline Islands, Yap, Chuuk, Palau, Pohnpei, and more. White, as a race and as a color, is outnumbered. I thought about it. They use African-American for black people. Hispanics used to be call Spanish-Americans. There are Filipino-Americans. Indians are Native-Americans. So I've decided to try something new. European-American! It fits, it's fair, and I like the sound of it. European-American doesn't sound as elitist as "white" and it is more accurate. Let's give it a try. From now on I ask those who have to fill out forms and anything else that refers to your ethnic origins to use this term. When speaking with friends and acquaintances about ethnicity please use European-American to replace the former word White. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Jeri Date: 20 Mar 11 - 06:17 PM The thing that bugs me (as an occasional pedant) is that ethnicity and origin-country is NOT race. There IS no defined "white" ethnicity. Religion is probably closer to ethnicity than race, but still, not really. European-American DOES fit, in a vague, generic way. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 20 Mar 11 - 11:05 PM I think all such designations are more or less generic. It used to be easy, White, Black, Red, Yellow. It was easy but not fair. My history professor used to quote somebody from the 17th or 18th Century who said something like "Some are born booted and spurred while others are born with a saddle on their backs." Thank God those days are gone. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 21 Mar 11 - 12:08 AM I notice now most forms say tick all that apply. I've been tempted to claim the smidgen of Native American we have in our family along with "white." Here is what I tried to post earlier, Brett: I like it Brett. Just the other day I hesitatingly ticked the WHITE box, but I didn't like it. I DO like what Morris Dees uses, i.e. American of whatever descent, so maybe American of European descent, though that is a bit wordy. His thing was to show we are all Americans first. From now on I will also list European American. Thanks! BTW, I have part of your package ready.*bg* (this is weird. Each time I have tried to submit this, I get a Babel pop-up window asking me for text to translate!) Trying one more time. Nope. Back in a moment. Turns out Max was experimenting.:-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 21 Mar 11 - 06:46 AM I was surprised when updating my organ donor form (the Skiffler remains are going to medical science- to give students a laugh!) that Irish was one of the ethnic categories they need to know. Are there specific Irish genes that would affect the use of organs? I had one grandfather who was born of Irish parents in India, but spent all but a few years of his teens in Birmingham, does that make me 1/4 Irish or 1/4 Indian? RtS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 22 Mar 11 - 07:52 PM I remember an artist introducing a song and saying he is of Irish and German descent. He claimed to have all the charm of his German ancestors and all the efficiency and control of his Irish background. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: curmudgeon Date: 22 Mar 11 - 08:28 PM Reminds me of my friend Cormac McCarthy who claimed an ancestry that combined the wit and charm of the Germans with the iron discipline of the Irish - Tom |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 29 Mar 11 - 08:43 AM That might have been who I was thinking of, Tom. Nice to see you back on this thread. Yesterday I finished watching the first season of Sea Patrol on Hulu. For those who do not know of it Sea Patrol is an Australian TV show about a Navy patrol ship operating in Australian waters. It's very well written, nicely acted, and very nostalgic for me because it reminds me of some of the TV shows I watched as a kid. I loved it. Unfortunately Hulu only has the first season available and I understand there are four more seasons available in Australia. I will have to wait until I have a job in order to buy the seasons on DVD. But that's OK because I need to watch the first season again in order to try to understand what the hell they are saying! There were no subtitles or closed captions and it has been too long since my ear got used to the dialect spoken down there. Hopefully the DVDs, when I can get them, will have closed captions (if they can find a translator). Wakana is funny. She goes through her days convincing herself that she isn't a very good teacher. Then she undertakes her latest effort to make FD a cutting edge school on Guam. Starting tomorrow some of her students will be taking the National Japanese Language Exam. FD is the only school offering it this year though next year other schools will follow suit. Then they'll have to follow her again because this year she will be the first on the island to enroll students in the Japanese National Honor Society. The effort is making her very tired but she is really cutting a swath for herself. I'm very proud. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: SINSULL Date: 29 Mar 11 - 08:54 AM Brett, We hear of shortages of basics in Japan - toilet paper for instance. Would Wakana's parents be offended by a CARE package for themselves or to share with neighbors? Any idea what to include? Mary |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Mar 11 - 09:51 AM congratulations to Wakana! Sea Patrol Google Australia search for Sea Patrol |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 30 Mar 11 - 09:05 AM Mary, you are so kind. Wakana is touched by your offer. Her parents, though, are not in any area affected by the shortages. They have all they need. Besides, sending such a package to Japan would be prohibitively expensive. Perhaps you could take the money you would have spent on this and give it to the Red Cross for Japan. Alternatively you could send the money to the nearest Japanese embassy or consul. I think the Red Cross is the better choice. The other day an old friend (American) sent her a check for $100 for her parents. Unfortunately there is no way to forward the check to them in any way they could use it. Cashing a personal check in Japan costs upwards of $50 what with the fees and all. The Japanese just don't use checks. This makes life interesting for lottery winners because they are given their winnings in cash, sometimes a large enough bundle to fit into the trunk of their car. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: SINSULL Date: 30 Mar 11 - 09:21 AM Will do, Brett. The news from Japan just gets worse and worse. No, the sky is not falling but now they are saying it will be years before this nuclear mess is over. I keep you and Wakana in my thoughts and prayers. Mary |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 02 Apr 11 - 11:29 PM I finally had my first morning class yesterday. The professor has been off island dealing with the death of a parent. This class will require some changes on my part. Usually we can pipe up when we want to contribute to a point or ask a question. Professor Miller is partially deaf. If you want to contribute to the class you need to get her attention then wait for her to come and stand in front of you. She reads your lips to augment her limited hearing. C'est le vie. This term is proving to be a little difficult to schedule. Usually we have to do observations or some other community activity. This term Professor Hendricks is conducting a study on change for students moving from middle to high school. We have to devote 10 hours to interviewing kids, parents, and teachers. This is not popular with most of the class because it is more difficult to schedule than observations. I have no opinion. Our third class, the practicum, has not yet started. This is serious because we are now three weeks into an eight week term. We are rapidly running out of time and we have no professor or schedule. I'm glad I'm not paying for these classes. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 13 Apr 11 - 11:22 PM I am remiss in not telling the story of Wakana and the pigs. Our mountain apple trees are bearing, and dropping, their fruit. About two weeks ago when Wakana went outside to walk the dog she heard a strange noise and found a pig snarfing down apples under the tree behind the house. Now, we aren't talking about the cute little pot-bellied pigs nor are we talking Piglet. No, this creature must have weighed in at around 200 pounds! Shawna gave chase and the pig ran off but he has been back. The plus side is that we don't have to rake up fallen apples. The down side is that the pigs have rooted up a couple of areas in the back yard. More fun in Guam. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 25 Apr 11 - 05:52 PM Latest pig count: at least a dozen. We have a family group. There are a couple of large pigs, i.e., about twice the size of our dog, several smaller pigs (about Shawna's size), and a mess of small piglets (about half her size). They visit our tree pretty much every evening. Wakana is thrilled. Usually the apples spoil and smell up the yard. Now the yard smells of pig. Not much better. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 25 Apr 11 - 09:17 PM "Pigs is pigs!" I seem to remember that from American literature. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: ranger1 Date: 25 Apr 11 - 10:29 PM Personally, I don't trust pigs. Not since I was three or four and visiting relatives on their farm in northern Vermont. They had a very large sow that was kept in a box stall. Twice during the weekend we were there, she broke out and went for me each time. Pigs are omnivorous, and I probably looked like her mid-morning snack. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 09 May 11 - 01:07 AM The other day I noticed a little shrine attached to our telephone pole. Back in October Wakana and I had a car accident and wiped out the only wooden pole on that stretch of road. The pole was in sad shape and needed to be replaced. Thanks to us the town of Talofofo lost its power for a few hours and the road got a nice new concrete pole. Now another car has hit the same pole. That stretch is very dangerous and needs to be approached with caution. This time someone died. It makes me feel a little strange. If we'd not had that accident nobody would have died. Our neighbor with the herd of dogs told Wakana that the pigs killed one of his dogs. He was out in the back yard shooting at them with a bee-bee gun. I expect we'll be hearing the sound of guns shortly. I hope they'll use guns. Hunters on Guam tend to use snares to catch wild pigs. The animal squeals in the bush until the hunter gets back to check his trap. I don't care how many dogs a pig kills to protect its young it doesn't deserve that. Yesterday on Mother's Day Wakana and I went to Chili's for a steak dinner. While we waited for the food I was amazed to hear Richard Thompson's 1952 Vincent Black Lightning on the muzak system. What a great piece of music. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Desert Dancer Date: 09 May 11 - 01:58 AM Just heard him sing that in Santa Monica last night! It is a good song. And we got to hear him do it solo, from about 15 feet away. ~ Becky in Long Beach |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Ebbie Date: 09 May 11 - 11:03 AM "Now another car has hit the same pole. That stretch is very dangerous and needs to be approached with caution. This time someone died. It makes me feel a little strange. If we'd not had that accident nobody would have died." Naemanson Sounds to me like they need to make that stretch of road less dangerous. For all we know, the previous pole before it rotted also claimed fatalities. Looks to me like your experience made them take notice. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: gnu Date: 09 May 11 - 07:25 PM Nasty rigs them pigs. When I was about ten my old man's cousin took me out to see the piglets and encouraged me to jump up on the stall... HOLY CRAP ON A CRACKER THEY ARE NASTY! Knocked me on my ass and the stall was made with 3" rough sawn timber. She was chewing the splinters and making lots of noise when I peeked through the "slats" after I stood up.... while Thomas, Henseley and my old man were laughing their asses off. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 09 May 11 - 08:58 PM There are a lot of accidents along that stretch, Ebbie, and the person who died was not the first. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 16 May 11 - 02:02 AM As of a few moments ago I sent off my final project for my assessment class and officially finished the third term. In two weeks the summer term begins. Summer term ends on July 29 ( my b-day) and the Fall term begins on August 13. I only have one class during that term but I will be also teaching and writing lesson plans. I expect that will be the session that kills me. My dad is in the hospital again. I don't know what will happen next. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 16 May 11 - 08:26 AM Brett- Please convey our best wishes to your family, and we hope for the best. Charley and Judy |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 16 May 11 - 09:10 AM best wishes to you & your family sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 22 May 11 - 10:54 PM Life goes on. Today is Wakana's last day of classes. She has two days of final exams, correcting the exams, and then she is done for the school year. I, on the other hand, have about 10 days until my summer classes start. I'll be in class all summer. Technically my next vacation will be about this time next year! The thought wearies me. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 22 May 11 - 11:42 PM Ouch! No time off at Christmas, even? Maybe they need a few good snowstorms to give you a bit of a respite!?**bg** Of course, snow in Guam would mean a major shift of the Earth's axis or somesuch, so... just think, you'll be done with all of it, soon, right (close to done in a year?) And then, able to command a proper salary as a prof with more paper to his name. Or, am I remembering wrongly?:-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 23 May 11 - 08:51 AM Brett- Well, won't it be nice just to know that Wakana has some time coming up to relax, recharge her batteries, putter around in the yard planting new green things and chasing away the pigs and goats, while you are reading more exciting educational literature, writing research papers and preparing for exams? I truly envy you. Time for another cup of coffee and a stretch. Sure, you can't find some time to fly over to join Roll & Go at Mystic? Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 28 May 11 - 12:37 AM Oh Charlie. I would LOVE to be at Mystic. Tell you what. Let's start planning now to be there when they first sail the Morgan. That is a sight I really want to see. And it's far enough away to make it possible for me... assuming they don't do it during the school year. I am now on track to qualify for two teaching certificates. On July 21 I will take the Praxis Principles of Learning and Teaching exam and the Praxis Literature - Content exam. If I pass the first one I get to be a social studies teacher. If I pass both I can be a language arts (literature) teacher. If I don't pass the first one I get to be unemployed. No pressure. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 28 May 11 - 12:42 AM By the way, Wakana and I were driving to the cemetery to walk the dog the other day when we passed through a rain shower. We were driving down a steep hill that looks out over Talofofo Bay and the Pacific Ocean. A rainbow blossomed off to our right and ran down into the water of the bay. No pot of gold though it could be under the water. If so it an stay there. That is where a ship loaded with ammunition was wrecked during the war. The bottom is scattered with old shells and no sea creature made them. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 28 May 11 - 11:38 AM Here's to rainbows! Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 30 May 11 - 07:40 PM This is it. My first day of summer classes. I'll be in class as a student until August and then as a student teacher until June. Then I should have my degree and be able to pull down the big buck ($1). I am worried about my father. He seems to have given up. He won't eat much and just sleeps all the time. There's nothing wrong with him. The doctor's say his blood work is fine. He just won't do anything. It's not looking good. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 30 May 11 - 07:56 PM Brett- How closely are you and family members following his medication? Sometimes one's attitude can be radically altered by new medication. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 01 Jun 11 - 02:55 AM I just got a message from my mother. Dad is fading fast. He's in the hospital but has lost 11 pounds in the last two weeks. My brother is headed out there to try to help. Dad is very weak and sleeps most of the time. My sister, the doctor, talks to Dad's doctor all the time. She is monitoring things from Montana. She says Dad's doctor is doing a good job. The problem is Dad. He has given up and only wants to fade away. So I might be coming east sometime this summer. Maybe I can shake some time loose to visit some of my old friends. It would be a quick trip because I need to be here for my classes. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 01 Jun 11 - 02:14 PM Oh, Brett. It is so hard to be faraway when something like that is happening. Do you think he is depressed? Have they tried to treat him for that? It's hard to understand why someone who seems to be healthy has just decided to give up and let go, but then, maybe it's not for us to know. Sending you hugs, anyway. Take care, kat |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Jun 11 - 11:39 PM hugs from me, too |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Ebbie Date: 01 Jun 11 - 11:48 PM And from me. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 02 Jun 11 - 08:59 PM Brett- We can always fine some overnight space for you here in Richmond or in Georgetown, and some musical distractions too if you like. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 03 Jun 11 - 11:32 PM I got the word a couple of hours ago that my dad died. The world is so much smaller now. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Ebbie Date: 04 Jun 11 - 02:34 AM Oh, I am so sorry. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 04 Jun 11 - 03:59 AM sympathy & more hugs love from sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Dahlin Date: 04 Jun 11 - 09:01 AM My sympathies old friend. Dick D |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 04 Jun 11 - 09:04 AM Brett- I'm so sorry to hear that. Please give our condolences to your mother and the rest of the family. Charley Noble and JudyB |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 06 Jun 11 - 08:21 PM On Tuesday there will be an open house commemorating my father and his work. Lots will be on display. If you can get there you should go to see how busy he was in his retirement. Featured will be the rifles and pistols he made or restored, the ships and birds he carved, the gnome houses he built, the varied stuff he filled his house with from the stone arrow heads he collected as a child to the replica viking ship candle holder he too from a book and the wax tablet he made copying one he saw in Archaeology magazine. Featured will be Rachel, the Civil War musket carried by his great grandfather, a Civil War pistol carried by Commodore Perry's physician, and the cannon that fired the first salute to this nation's (USA) 200th birthday. (My friend Richie and I did that in advance of the official salute fired by the National Guard on Mars Hill at sunrise on July 4, 1976.) Basically if it attracted his attention he tried to make one. The house is not to be believed. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 07 Jun 11 - 12:16 AM Wow, it sounds like a great museum and testament to an very interesting and talented person, Brett. My condolences to you and your family. It can leave one feeling so bereft when a parent passes on. Much strength to you and lots of love, kat |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 07 Jun 11 - 01:00 AM Here is Dad's obituary. I think they did o good job on it. Bruce Barkley Burnham NEW LIMERICK - Bruce Barkley Burnham passed away June 3, 2011. He was born Dec. 16, 1927, in Clinton, Conn., to Carroll Ackley Burnham and Marjorie Schmelke Burnham. His sister, Barbara Philippe, lives in Bonita Springs, Fla. Bruce graduated from Morgan High School and attended the University of Connecticut and Louisiana State University studying oil geology. In 1946, as a Marine stationed in Guam and Beijing, he worked repatriating Japanese prisoners of war. Bruce was a draftsman for Electric Boat, New London, Conn., and for Hughes Aircraft, Tucson, Ariz. In 1956, after several years bent over the drafting table and eager to feel the desert sun on his back, Bruce joined the Border Patrol, serving in Texas, upper New York state, Miami and Vermont. He went on to become an Immigration Inspector in Maine and Freeport, Bahamas. In 1949 Bruce married Dorothy Darnstaedt. Bruce and Dottie crafted an original and unconventional life, living for a time on a schooner in Noank and without running water in Vermont, but loved best their red farmhouse in New Limerick. They raised their children to be open-minded, unconventional thinkers committed to a highly personal view of happiness. Bruce was an intellectual, a craftsman, a botanist and gunsmith. He crafted muzzle-loading rifles and ring boxes, built furniture, HAM radios and fireplaces, carved scrimshaw and made ships in bottles. He enjoyed nature in all her forms and was widely read, particularly in the fields of history and science. Endless curiosity, a rare sense of humor and limited patience with fools were the hallmarks of this unique man. Learning was his passion, dogma his antithesis. Bruce opened his home and his heart to those who sought shelter or knowledge. His wife, children and grandchildren love him dearly and will seek to live up to his ideals of intellectual vigor, scientific inquiry and reliance on the natural world to provide answers to life's questions. As a friend or relative of Bruce's you will have feasted on milk weed, paddled a canoe and sailed it home, pondered the origin of boulders and come to understand your place in the universe. To live in the world was not enough without the endless quest to explore and understand it. Bruce is survived by his sister; his wife; his children, Brett, Bryn, Dana, Dori and Nathan; his eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. There will be an open house in honor of Bruce 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, at Burnham farm, County Road, New Limerick. Friends may make gifts in Bruce's memory to Cary Library or Houlton Humane Society, care of Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730. Online guest book and condolences at www.dunnfuneral.com. Cast my ashes to the wind, and let my soul go free. Cast my ashes to the wind, And hope the best for me. Let me drift on wind and tide, mountain and forest and ocean's shore, cast my ashes to the wind, that I might be with those gone before. - David Darnstaedt April 17, 2001 Published in Bangor Daily News on June 6, 2011 |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Ebbie Date: 07 Jun 11 - 01:24 AM Lovely testamonial to a remarkable man. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 07 Jun 11 - 01:24 AM an amazing man |
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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 |
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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 |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: SINSULL Date: 07 Jun 11 - 08:19 AM So sorry Brett. Mary |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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!" |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |
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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... |
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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 |
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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? |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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..." |
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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. |
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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 |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: maeve Date: 24 Jul 11 - 07:51 PM What a horrible shock, Brett. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 25 Jul 11 - 02:07 AM adding my condolences |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 03 Aug 11 - 09:59 AM Sounds great, so far! |
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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). |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 10 Aug 11 - 10:18 PM lucky students that you have your technology! |
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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? |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Aug 11 - 01:01 PM good luck from me, too |
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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. |
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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? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 07 Sep 11 - 10:57 PM Brett- The hurricane was no more powerful than a regular nor'easter, maybe a little more rain. Now we're getting some more rain this evening from what's left of tropical storm Lee. Time to bail the boat out again! Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 07 Sep 11 - 11:17 PM Brett, I think your teaching strategies are BRILL! Those kids are lucky and they will remember you and, what you've taught them, forever. Any chance of being able to see your power point slides? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 13 Sep 11 - 08:09 AM If you are interested there is a new website by the Guam Visitor's Bureau at http://www.visitguam.org. I stopped by there yesterday to see what kind of free stuff I could score. I also wanted to ask if they could have someone come talk to my students about the role tourism plays for Guam. Tourist businesses have really suffered since the March disasters in Japan. Tourism is way off and there is no prediction for when the numbers will come up again. On top of that there are some congressmen in Washington wondering if maybe they should cancel the build-up (i.e., moving the Marines from Okinawa to Guam). There are a lot of people here investing heavily in anticipation of those people coming here. If it doesn't happen the island faces an economic crisis that will hit here a lot harder than the current recession is hitting the States. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 Sep 11 - 03:59 AM Guam Visitor's Bureau lot of interesting stuff to do - including this War Dog Cemetery Located at Naval Station. Those interested in visiting the Cemetery must call Naval Station Pass & ID Office at 339-6217, 7:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. Instructions will be given to address a letter to the Commanding Officer stating purpose of your entry on base. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 24 Sep 11 - 03:32 AM Last Wednesday I went to see Dr. Landstrom. He is a hand surgeon (one of the best in the USA). He had the results of a series of nerve conduction tests. He tells me I have severe carpal tunnel in both wrists and possible nerve damage. He is scheduling me for surgery at the soonest possible date. The good news is that he will do arthroscopic surgery that will not require a lot of cutting and sewing. Bu he does not know if I will be able to play the guitar when he's done. If the nerves in my wrists have been compressed for less than six months then they might regenerate. If longer, they won't. And the lack of control in my fingers might be caused by something else farther up the nerve system, possibly in the neck or inside the skull. Start saving your money. I might have to sell my guitars... (Attempt at black humor) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Sep 11 - 10:52 AM fingers crossed, best wishes for a good recovery |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 24 Sep 11 - 11:06 AM Brett- There have been great advances in carpal tunnel surgery in recent years. My mother had operations on both wrists and was delighted with the results. Total success in outcome is probably related to early intervention but surgery will at least relieve pain and prevent further damage. Hoping for the best! Today we're off to another Portsmouth Maritime Folk Festival. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 08 Oct 11 - 04:10 AM We are at the weekend that separates the first quarter from the second. I have a ton of work to do, literally. I have all the students' notebooks to grade. It took five reusable grocery bags to get them all home. I have to get them graded before my surgery on Tuesday. Sigh, I don't know if I can do it but I'm certain taking time to write this isn't helping. Last quarter I had the kids build an atlas of the island. The telephone book has maps of all the villages so all they had to do was start with that and identify 11 features with pictures and a paragraph or two. This quarter I am going to give them a list of things to go ut and find. They will have to add them to their atlas. I foresee them doing this exercise at least twice or maybe even three times between now and Christmas which is the end of the Guam History class. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 08 Oct 11 - 08:47 AM best wishes for your surgery |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 08 Oct 11 - 09:28 AM Brett- The Atlas project sounds like a great way to get your students involved. Have you thought about adding images of each location via Google Earth, or collecting vintage photographs? One could also do a Power Point presentation of the resulting atlas, as I've done from my Facebook album Steamboat Days. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 10 Oct 11 - 02:38 AM Good ideas. I am planning to do something with Google Earth but it will probably not be in this semester. Maybe with the second class in the second semester (Guam history is a half-year course). I have been going through the notebooks/journals I assigned the students. It's a long difficult process but one which is almost done. I only have one class left to do. Tomorrow is the surgery. I don't think I can use my hands tomorrow but I hope to be back at work the day after. Somehow I have to lug all these notebooks back to school. Happy Invasion Day! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 10 Oct 11 - 08:19 AM Are they doing both hands at once? I was thinking they usually do one at a time, given you some time to recover full use of the hand in question. I'm also thinking it actually didn't take Dahlov that long to recover full use of her hand. If it were my hand, I'd probably remember better! Good luck with the surgery. We did our last boating for the summer with a friend; it was 80 degrees F. in October. Quite lovely! Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 13 Oct 11 - 09:17 AM Surgery was two days ago. It was endoscopic which means they didn't cut the hands open. Instead the doctor cut two holes, one in my wrist and one on the palm of the hand, and reached in with tiny instruments to cut the sleeve and release the pressure on the nerves. I now have two band-aids on each hand and my palms and wrists are badly bruised and sore. And the feeling is coming back to my fingertips. Of course, that isn't why I went in to see the doctor in the first place. I have minimal control on the pinky and ring finger of each hand. They tend to quiver and go to their own places. The doctor says it MIGHT be the result of the carpal tunnel and it MIGHT clear up in about six weeks. For now I have to avoid lifting anything heavy (i.e., 10 pounds or more) until the incisions heal. That's pretty much everything. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 13 Oct 11 - 04:43 PM Brett- "And the feeling is coming back to my fingertips" That's very encouraging news. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 14 Oct 11 - 02:04 AM I'll second that. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 30 Oct 11 - 12:10 AM I guess I was jumping the gun on thinking the feeling was coming back to my fingertips. I guess I'd have to say there is no substantial change. And the lack of control and tremors in my outboard fingertips seems to be getting worse. It's difficult to type and playing the guitar is completely beyond my ability. Still, there is no snow predicted in the near future (nor in the distant future). We've had a lot of rain this season. The other day I was almost bitten by a mosquito! But December should bring us an end to the rainy season... I've been trying to put my lesson plans together for Guam History. I am not good at seeing the themes of historical perspective I guess.A textbook makes it easier because someone has already done that for you and laid it out in the chapters. I am working from a people's history of Guam. I need to find those themes on my own. And what makes it difficult is that I am teaching a culture that is not my own. There are subtleties I cannot see. In fact, when working on it I just get so angry at the self important white idiots who thought they knew better and who considered the island their own property to use as they pleased without consideration of the people to whom it belonged. In 1898 the Navy "captured" the island from the Spanish in a series of events that would make a good comedy. They came, arrested the Spanish officers in the government, raised a flag then took it down, got on their ships and left. The island was left without a government for the first time since 1668. And the USA didn't bother setting a government in place for the next 14 months. And then the guy they sent out here was a jumped up martinet who had no idea of what the place was like or what was needed to be done. He arrived, banned alcohol, ordered unmarried couples to marry, forbid the sale or transfer of land, kicked the priests off the island and then told the people they had freedom to worship as they pleased, and he forbid the fiestas that were the center of village life. He set up schools where they kids could learn English and get rid of the abominable language of their parents, he forbid the people from selling produce or alcohol (their only traditional sources of cash) to the ships that came to visit, and he set up a new tax system and began confiscating land if the people didn't pay their taxes. Essentially the Naval governors did whatever struck them as needed doing. They issued orders and, because they were naval officers they expected them to be carried out. In 230 years of Spanish government the local people were not as regulated as in the years of the naval governors. In an early petition to the US government asking for a civilian government they made the comment that they had been better off under the Spanish. I'm just disgusted with my forebears. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 30 Oct 11 - 11:26 AM Brett, it seems the USA was consistent, if nothing else, in its "conquering/vanquishing" of indigenous cultures wherever it landed. What you've written could be the history of Native Americans/First Nation all over, again. What makes it even more interesting, from a study standpoint, imo, is it being so contained and so removed from the "mainland" of the USA. I echo your sentiments about the actions of the majority of those who went before us. It is a good and right thing you are doing...the people's history. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 30 Oct 11 - 11:55 AM Brett- It's a dreary march, our quest for empire, with many a twist and turn. And we still have not learned the lesson. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 31 Oct 11 - 05:04 AM I hope your hands (slowly) get better |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 05 Nov 11 - 06:43 AM I just calculated the amount of rainfall for the last six months. In that time we have been blessed with 79.09" of rain. The back yard is sopping wet. I need my four wheel drive to get around in it as I need to use the back yard to turn around. My ex-wife is in the hospital with heart trouble combined with a fever. Though I make as though she is the devil herself I do hope she is OK. My daughters would be heartbroken if their mother were to slip away. We are in November, the month of holidays. Of course there are Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving but I work for a Catholic school so we also had November 2, All Souls' Day, off. Then December 8 we have the Feast of the Immaculate Conception off as well as Christmas break starting on December 22. I estimate we have 28 school days left in the semester. I've been shopping for a new car. I don't like letting go of the pickup but it only gets 21 miles to the gallon. A new Hyundai gets upwards of 40 gets up to 40 miles to the gallon. It will take a bit longer to scrape up a bit more money to get a decent down payment together. Currently I'm considering the Elantra. I hate car shopping. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 05 Nov 11 - 09:29 AM Brett- How about one of these: click here for photo But don't forget to rewind it. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 09 Dec 11 - 08:48 PM When you are busy time sure slips past. I'd rather watch it drift by me like a slow moving river instead of the tsunami it has been lately. I bought a Hyundai Elantra. It's short and sleek and has lots of science fiction lines and all the bells and whistles. I now can hook my iPod directly into the stereo system except that the iPod died about a week after I got the car. I miss it. And I cannot get another one on the island. You see, last weekend GovGuam finally paid back the income tax refunds from the previous two to three years. And everyone went shopping. They used the shopping malls to hand over checks and then mailed the rest of them. The lines curved out of the buildings and around the perimeter. Some people stood in line for two days. I waited for the mail and got mine the following Tuesday. So the banks were crowded and the stores were crowded and now there is little left to buy. It's a good year to be a retailer on Guam. My classes are going well. The girls are good students in general. I say in general because there are always a few rotten eggs. I'm especially having fun with the Guam History and Culture class. In fact it distracts me from the American Government classes I should be teaching. I spent several hours this morning downloading pictures from a cache I discovered while looking up something else. Good stuff. Wakana is very tired. Working two jobs is getting to her. This will be her last semester teaching at the college. She really needs to quit working 11 hours a day in the classrooms and then another 3 to 4 hours at home. Animals are all well except that Mama Kitty and Neko refuse to accept Mika. He is bigger than them now and a formidable cat. He keeps trying to play up to them and they keep hissing and growling at him. His new favorite thing is to find the dry mud in the dooryard and roll in it. Dirt really stands out on a white cat. Kelli is leaving England. She and her family should be back in Maine by February. I think it's a dirty trick to bring her husband and child to Maine at that time of year but that is the plan and she's sticking to it. Next week is Wakana's last before Christmas Break. I don't finish until the following Thursday. I can't wait. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 09 Dec 11 - 09:32 PM Brett- Thanks for the update. Sounds like you're both hard at work but finally getting some satisfaction from it. How are your wrists now? Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 10 Dec 11 - 01:17 AM Brett, it's so good to hear an update from you. Life seems to be such an adventure living there, from the way the government operates to the interesting and challenging students, and the entertaining critters! Did you ask Santa for iPod? Maybe he could do a flyover? Really glad that you have a car now that you like. It's also good to hear Wakana will be able to slow down after she's done with the college. What is it about critters that they enjoy rolling around getting themselves so dirty? I've seen horses do it, dogs do it, cats, etc. but not a white cat. That must make quite a picture. I really enjoyed the Guam pictures and old maps etc. that you sent in the last PowerPoint. It's neat to know you have found another great cache. Isn't February in Maine close to Maple sugar time? Or is that still too early? At least her husband will be jumping in with both feet, eh?**BG** I hope you get to see them sometime this year. Take care and thanks again, luvyakat |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: mmm1a Date: 21 Jan 12 - 10:17 PM How are things in Guam ? I Don't really post alot but I have enjoyed reading your posts about your life in Guam. I know that I will never get to see alot of other countries, so I realy like hearing about them from people who live there. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 22 Jan 12 - 05:03 PM Brett- Did you and Wakana survive the Christmas holidays? Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: GUEST Date: 25 May 12 - 05:04 PM Hey, Brett, your school year should be winding up soon. Any plans for a visit to the States this year? Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Ebbie Date: 26 May 12 - 11:14 AM I'm reading a book published in 1997 in which there is a large section about Guam. Written by Oliver Sacks, it is 'Island of the Colorblind'. Sacks is/was a neurologist studying several plants in Micronesia that appear to result in serious ailments. Interesting stuff. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 06 Jun 12 - 07:02 AM Hi guys, It's been a while since I checked in. As of yesterday it's been a year since Dad died. I have survived another year in high school. The girls were unable to drive me away. Now Wakana and I are on summer vacation. The problem with my fingers that I complained about last September was finally diagnosed as two or three disks in my neck. I will go to the Philippines next week to see a neurosurgeon about the problem. In the meantime the problem has become pretty bad. It is spreading to the middle and index fingers. I am back to typing with just the index fingers, can't trust the others to go where I want them. Wakana is fine as are two of the cats and the dog. Neko, unfortunately, has feline leukemia and is getting skinnier and skinnier. Wakana will not give up on her. Mika has grown huge. I have a picture of Wakana holding him. His forelegs and head are on her shoulder and his body stretches all the way down to her waist. Shawna is doing very well. Wakana took her to school when she went in to clean up her room. The other teachers were amazed that she was the same dog as before. She looks 100% better, healthy and shiny and fat...ter. Not much more to report. I bought a Nook to use for my travels. I loaded it up with books and enjoy reading them even though I had to give up the scent and feel of the real thing. Lugging the nook is easier than lugging enough books to keep me happy on long trips. The downside is that Wakana keeps stealing it to play Bejeweled. She would not dream of spending the money on her own gadget but will run my battery down, happily oblivious to the rest of the world. She needs her own. I'm tired now and will end. I'll check in again later and try to keep up the thread. Brett |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 06 Jun 12 - 07:47 AM Brett- Nice to get an update. We also lost one of our adopted cats to feline leukemia. But we did manage to keep him for about 6 years and he seemed happy until his last day. We still miss the big lug. Off to Mystic tomorrow. Any chance that you will be revisiting the States this summer? Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: SINSULL Date: 06 Jun 12 - 11:40 AM Thanks for the update, Brett. Maybe a surprise gift for Wakana is in order? Mary |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 06 Jun 12 - 12:15 PM it has been a while! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Amos Date: 06 Jun 12 - 01:45 PM Hafadai, Brett!! A |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 23 Jun 12 - 11:43 PM OK, here is a long post about my trip to the Philippines. Some of this was written on my Nook while there and the rest is pieces of emails from me to Wakana. I mention the peso quite often. The exchange rate is 40 pesos to the dollar. [Written on my Nook on the first night.] I arrived this morning around 7:10. The plane was actually comfortable. Lots of leg room but I did get an exit row. Before we landed the two women sitting next to me warned me a bout taxis. They said the taxi is the only way to get around but to make sure I take one from airport service. They said there are plenty of taxis you cannot trust. They also told me to have the hotel call a cab for me. That way I can be sure they will take note of the license number. After customs and immigration I wandered out to find a money exchange. A man wearing a license pouch approached me to offer taxi services. I told him I needed to exchange money first. He directed me to a I kiosk then waited for me. I was concerned he might be one of the unscrupulous cab drivers but I took some comfort in his license. The main directed me to a room marked "Transportation Services." He and another man asked for 2500 pesos to take me to St. Luke's. I took some comfort in their licenses and paid them. They took me out to an unmarked car. I objected that the car was not marked a They pointed out the license plate and then to the plates on the marked cab. They were the same design whereas the cars driving by had a different design. I got in. The driver was young man who spoke very little English but he still tried to talk with me. He said he had "children" but it turned out he only had one, if indeed that was actually a picture of his wife and child. The child was three years old according t him. He also managed to say "Driver hungry! Stop Jellibees?" He also said "No money." He kept repeating it until I agreed to buy him breakfast We stopped at Jollibee, a hamburger joint similar to McDonalds. He had a fried chicken dinner while I had beef tapa and rice. When we left we needed someone to stop traffic so we could back out. I had to tip the guy who did that for us. And that seems to define the overall attitude here. Everyone is in a mad scramble for money. Children walk through traffic with their hands out knocking on car windows. People have their places set out for helping drivers park. People watch you as if you were fresh meat (though that just might be my own outlandish look and behavior). Anyway, as we got closer to the hospital he began to try to make me understand that his daughter's birthday was coming and he had "No money." He even managed to use the word tip to get his meaning across. As I got out of the car he asked for American dollars as a "souvenir" but I pretended not to understand. I bid him good day and went into the hospital. It turned out to be the right hospital but wrong building. It took some walking around to find the right office. And it was closed. You see, June 12 is Philippines Independence Day. No offices are open today. So I checked into the hotel. The room is small and the bed is like a brick but I had been up since 345 AM and I needed a nap. I slept several hours. Later I went across the skeet to Starbuck's. I bought a dub sandwich and cafe latte and a WIFI card. I sent an email to Wakana. I stopped at the grocery store on my way back and got something to drink and some cookies. Now I am settled into my room for the night. @@@@@ [Email to Wakana] Tuesday, June 12, 2012 5:41 PM Arrived safely. All offices are closed. It's Independence Day for the Philippines. Hotel room is small but has a kitchen. Seems to be clean but bed is a match for the rice cracker futon. I took a cab from the airport. It cost 2500 pesos. The driver didn't speak much English but made it clear he was hungry and wanted to stop but he had no money. As we got closer to the hospital he started to talk about his daughter and how it would be her birthday tomorrow but he had no money. I gave him 20 pesos as a tip. He asked American money as a "souvenir." I pretended I couldn't understand him and walked into the hospital. I'm at the Starbuck's. The hotel has no WIFI. Here I can get on the internet but it costs 60 pesos to use it. Not sure you'd like it here. There is no secure feeling as you walk around. In Japan people look at me and I can see curiosity in their faces. Here they look like sharks trying to decide if you are tasty. I can't see how anyone would dare get drunk here. Two women on the plane warned me to be careful on the streets near St. Luke's. I can see what they meant. Everyone is hustling for money. The streets and buildings are dirty but there is no trash like you'd see in an American city. Cars, trucks, buses, jeepneys, scooters, motorcycles and bicycles seem to follow no road rules and the lines on the pavement seem to be only guidelines. Several times I expected to crash but we survived. So, here I am. I haven't figured out how to make a phone call. Once I do I'll give you a call. I hope you remember to check your email. @@@@@ [Email from Wakana] Wednesday, June 13, 2012 6:40 AM Hi. I'm glad you are safely in the Philippines. I just remembered you could send emails using your Nook. Sorry, I'm late. What a difference when you are not at home. I closed the door little early last night and I talked to the cats and dog more than usual. By the way, were you able to meet the TakeCare people yesterday? You said all offices were closed. Any way, you have the doctor's appointment today. I hope your doctor is good and nice. I told you the Philippines is a third world country. They know the dollar is strong and they want to get MONEY. But, 2500 pesos to get your Hotel was not bad. I thought 6000 pesos or over. If you don't make phone calls (from pay phone or hotel), please use email. I will check my email often. Also I will have my cell phone with me when I am outside or if I go out. @@@@@ [Email to Wakana] 6/13/12 - Quezon City Quiet night. Bathroom has one of those rain showers with the huge shower head. Really cool. It also has no bath mat and a slippery tile floor. Really scary! I got to TakeCare at 8:30. They told me I was at the wrong hospital, that I should be at the one in Global City. They pointed out that the referral said Global City. But they accepted me there and gave me the paper to see the neurosurgeon when his clinic opens for the two hours he is open this week! It's on a first-come-first served basis. I plan to be there at 2:00. I am writing this at a little place next to the hospital. It is CafeFrance. I bought a large orange juice, a ham and cheese omelet, and a croissant for 200 pesos. The orange juice is really a form of orange drink, not really juice, but it comes in a glass with a narrow waist that is easily 10 inches tall. The omelet is good as is the croissant. And WIFI is free! @@@@@ [Email to Wakana] Wed, 2012/6/13 Good morning! I am glad you checked your email. It's good to know you are well. I could not meet with the TakeCare office yesterday. Just like them to set an appointment for a holiday. After I drink my coffee I will go up to the office to check in. They open at 8:00. It was a quiet night last night. I watched some TV and read for a while. On the way back from Starbuck's I stopped at a grocery store but they had very little for sale. I bought some water and C2 and some cookies. I bought couple of magazines, Time and Newsweek. My coffee is almost gone. Time to go. @@@@@ [Email to Wakana] Wednesday, June 13, 2012 3:08 PM Hi, I was a good boy! Honest! It wasn't my fault. The doctor's office opens at 2:00. I had nothing to do but wait so I decided to wait in his office. I got there about 12:45. You'd have been proud of me. There was a note on his door saying his clinic would not be open today! Remember, it's only open once a week! I went to TakeCare to notify them. They will try to hook me up with another doctor. They told me to go wait for them to call. Remember Hawai'i? I am frustrated and angry and working hard not to show it. @@@@@ [Email to Wakana] Wednesday, June 13, 2012 10:35 AM Hi, You did get my long email. You answered telling me you were cleaning up around the mailbox. I guess it wasn't that long. I met with the TakeCare people this morning. They said I was in the wrong hospital. We got it sorted out. I will see the neurosurgeon this afternoon. @@@@@ [Email to Wakana] Thursday, June 14, 2012 10:04 AM Hi, I went over to the TakeCare office first thing. I took them some pastries from CafeFrance to let them know I had nothing against them personally. I told them about my trip to Hawai'i and asked for their help. I told them the scar on my wrist came from a very painful and unnecessary procedure because I could not get an MRI. I hope that will make them work harder. I have to get back to the hotel @@@@@ [Email to Wakana] Thu, 2012/6/14 Hi, Last night's call cost over 3,000 pesos! No more calls. Sorry. I saw a doctor today... finally. Apparently TakeCare requires doctors to try a few weeks of physical therapy before they will authorize surgery. Dr. Lipana says physical therapy will not fix the problem but we have to do it anyway. So, I will come home tomorrow as planned. I will get the physical therapy in Guam and then have Stratton request the surgery. Once that is approved I will come back here to get the work done. @@@@@ [Email to Wakana] Friday, June 15, 2012 9:47 AM Hi, In about an hour I will check out and head for the big mall near the airport. I will spend the day there. My flight lands at 4:00 AM. I cannot wait to see you again and hold you and touch you. @@@@@ [Email to Wakana] Friday, June 15, 2012 12:41 PM Hi, I checked out of the hotel and took a cab here to the Mall of Asia. I am here for the day. It's a huge mall. I've been walking for the last hour and still I am nowhere near my arrival point. I am now at the food court, or maybe only one of several food courts. As I walked I passed several familiar fast food places but none are represented here. Some of the names I see are Kamay Kainan, Tom Yum Thai, Hecky's Lechon, Laoag, Fat Boy's, and Pinoy Toppings. I haven't had a real breakfast yet but I an not hungry. Later I'll go somewhere to eat and sit for a while. I might go to a movie just to kill some time. I have 10 hours till I have to be at the airport. Security is a big deal here. Last night when I went to WalterMart (I love that name) a security guard searched my bag. Here they search it before you can enter the interior of the mall. Almost every store and restaurant has one or more guards, mostly acting as door openers but in uniforms and armed at least with a Billy club. I went to bank this morning and as I waited my turn at the ATM I noticed there was one guard outside the bank armed with a shotgun and another armed guard inside who only unlocked the door when the outside guard nodded. The ride down here was a whole other experience. The cab driver danced his car through the traffic with a combination of horn, accelerator, and brake. At one point he passed a bus by running half on the sidewalk. There was no attitude of hurry or anger, just concentration and quick looks using mirrors and turning his head. The military would be well advised to start the training of pilots by having them "fly" through Manila traffic. I never saw any evidence of highways. The drive to, and the later drive from, the hotel wound through the small streets of the cities. The only open roads similar to a highway were the bridges over the larger rivers. On today's drive I noticed a few billboards for hotels that extolled one virtue I've never seen advertised before. The hotels included the phrase "NO BROWN-OUTS" in their ads. Apparently they have their own back up generator. I guess I'll go find a bathroom and then see what is playing at the movies. More later. @@@@@ [Notes written on the Nook] 6/15/12 I went to the movies. Lockout is a crumby movie. Wakana will miss nothing. I had a pork dish for lunch at the food court. It was very good. It's now 2:22 and I have 6 more hours to kill. Nothing to say. Random Observations Driving to the mall we passed the Cultural Center, a large blocky building. The sign, chrome letters on a concrete or stone block. The letters are whole but the block is dark with mold. In the three cab rides I've taken I do not remember any rough patches of road. The streets are in pretty good shape. I say the streets are but the sidewalks leave a lot to be desired. On my walks between the hotel and the hospital the sidewalks are narrow and broken and filled with obstacles. At one point, the narrowest sidewalk, there is a square block of concrete sticking up about four inches. It was the base for a street light. I know what it was because the jagged twisted metal of the pole still sticks up out or the block about six inches, maybe more. Remember, you dare not put a foot in the street! After that there are uneven points where new parking areas might have thrown up a mound of asphalt. Oh, and the drivers park on the sidewalks. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 24 Jun 12 - 12:21 AM Throughout the trip one theme kept running through my mind. This is the America the Republicans would build! There is nothing for the people. When children beg in the streets, when there is no police presence controlling the flow of traffic or protecting the people, when an ambulances sit tied up in traffic with the lights flashing and siren blasting only to get edged out by someone who HAS to get ahead, when there are people wandering in and out of traffic trying to sell whatever they can, when businesses (including restaurants) have to hire security guards to manage customers and banks keep their doors locked by armed guards inside and out, when you can drive from beggars to shopping mall in five minutes assuming the traffic in front of the yacht club doesn't slow you down, then you will know that the Republicans have had their way. There is no oversight of cleanliness of restaurants, no control of traffic, the sidewalks are not safe and nobody does anything about it despite crowds of people using them, there is no system to move from one side of the city to the other quickly, i.e., no highways or other limited access transportation routes, and so much more. That is when you know that the conservatives are glorying in the running of the country into the ground. And some of you might say we already have it in the USA. I don't know. It's been a while since I was in an American city. Maybe we are already there. I know there are areas like this in most cities in the USA. I know that there are plenty of examples of what I've listed above to be found in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, etc. I think the difference is in the scope. In Manila it is everywhere. There were housing units (the name gives them way too much dignity for what they look like) that look like piles of broken boxes leaning over the filthy slime that fills the river flowing through the neighborhoods. You know the river is bad because you don't see any children playing in it. Or that might be because they are out begging in the streets. This is the America of Mitt Romney and his compatriots. (There is one exception to the comparison with America. The streets are dirty but there is no trash! Everywhere you look you see people with brooms keeping the litter under control. Too bad they cannot emigrate to the USA and teach us something about this.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 24 Jun 12 - 06:05 AM what a medical run-round! I assume your fund didn't pay your air fares & accommodation, etc? I have a Philipina friend who I rarely see now she is has grandchildren living in a country town. When she's not visiting them she is back in the Philipines visiting her family. We've spoken once, briefly about the poverty in the Philipines but you've given me info I didn't know. sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Roger the Skiffler Date: 24 Jun 12 - 06:10 AM Welcome back, Brett! RtS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 24 Jun 12 - 04:19 PM SIGH!!! Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: katlaughing Date: 24 Jun 12 - 07:39 PM Yes! Welcome back! Hope everything goes smoothly for the follow-up etc.! My Rog was in the Philippines in the Air Force in the 60s. It doesn't sound as though much has changed. It is wonderful to hear from you, again. kat |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 28 Jun 12 - 11:10 AM Still working the runaround but things aren't so bad here on the island. I went in for physical therapy. The therapist acknowledges that PT won't help. We did three sessions and he ran out of things to do. That does't mean he was inexperienced or incompetant. He just recognises that there is nothing he can do. He will send a report to my doctor admitting defeat. My doctor will forward that to the insurance company where it needs to be approved. Then I can head back to the PI for surgery. And yes, Sandra, transportation, accomodations, and meals are out of my pocket. Wakana is in Japan now for badly needed r&r. She'll be back next Wednesday. She's visiting family, shopping in bookstores, and eating in her favorite places. I get to take care of the animals. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 28 Jun 12 - 10:10 PM The animals appreciate that, I'm sure. Our niece Heather has been teaching English in Japan for much of the year and keeps posting photos on her Facebook page of all the wonderful things she and her friends find to eat. She speaks fluent Japanese now but is looking forward to returning to Maine this August and beginning law school. Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: SINSULL Date: 28 Jun 12 - 10:43 PM Brett, Is there no other option? US, maybe? Or Japan? The Phillipines seem precarious at best. SINS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 29 Jun 12 - 04:44 AM medical bureaucracy! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 01 Jul 12 - 12:22 AM I do have choices and on the surface they seem pretty good. I could go to California, Hawa'ii, or even New Zealand. The problem is money. Those places cost much more to get to and a lot more for lodging and food. Trust me, when I heard NZ was on the list my heart skipped a beat. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Jul 12 - 03:57 AM so much we (all) could do if we had money! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 01 Jul 12 - 04:40 AM I forgot to mention that the neighbor with the herd of dogs has built a fence to try to control them. I guess our complaints finally got through. There is chainlink in the front with stacked concrete cylinders for the back. We contributed quite a few of the cylinders. The larger dogs are now contained. There are gaps in the system that allow the little dogs to squeeze out. Wakana has made it her quest to block up all the little exits. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Charley Noble Date: 01 Jul 12 - 07:04 AM We have some good music friends in Auckland, NZ, if you decide to fly there for medical services. They might be delighted to put you up. Cheerily, Charley Noble |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 01 Jul 12 - 07:41 AM we also have a few NZcatters. sandra |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 03 Jul 12 - 08:15 PM I would love to go to NZ but only at a time and in a condition where I could explore it. At this time it ain't gonna happen. I've spent another two days pursuing medical treatment. Monday morning I called the physical therapist and confirmed they had sent the report to my primary doctor. I went to see him and spoke to the nurse who works with him. I told her the story and she said she would pull my file and they would get back to me. I lingered in town for a few hours and got no call. Tuesday I went in to see the doctor. He had the report but had no idea what he was supposed to do with it. I went to TakeCare and asked them. They want a standard referral. They then told me that would get authorization for another consultation… in the Philippines! That was the point at which I let my frustration show. The rep hastily told me that with all I had done the surgeon I would see would definitely recommend surgery and I could get that done on the same trip. God, I hope so. Today is a holiday (Happy Independence Day!!). All the offices are closed. Tomorrow back into it full and pushing hard. Every time I hear someone arguing against socialized medicine they generally comment on how difficult it is to get the treatment. Obviously those people haven't had to deal with an HMO. This thread is too long. I need to start another. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Studying in Guam From: Naemanson Date: 03 Jul 12 - 08:34 PM The new thread is at BS: Getting well in Guam. |
