Benefit of the community over the individual

This piece called "The Dutch Way: Bicycles and Fresh Bread" from the New York Times by Russell Shorto resonates with my experiences and thoughts regarding community planning in Madrid versus here in America. We need to reduce our dependence on fast food and cars, and appreciate the simple things in life, like fresh food and exercise.

Best quote:

"This in turn relates to lots of other things — such as bread. How? Cyclists can’t carry six bags of groceries; bulk buying is almost nonexistent. Instead of shopping for a week, people stop at the market daily. So the need for processed loaves that will last for days is gone. A result: good bread."

(Just replace cyclists with pedestrians in Madrid, and you get the same idea).

Motivation for taking risks....

The next time you are afraid of change, afraid of trying something new, afraid of venturing into the unknown, think of my words:

How do you know what you like if you've never tried anything else? -Laura Fitzgerald

Final Day at St Giles San Francisco

What a whirlwind month it has been! I'm so happy I had the opportunity to explore San Francisco with a great group of teachers and students. The memories I have made are ever-lasting. Multilingualism opens many doors of opportunity and provides new insight into old thoughts. I hope the students of St Giles continue to practice and refine their English communication skills, as we need future leaders of the world with a global perspective.

BIG GULP for BIG FOOT!

We went to the movies today and I ordered a medium drink and they gave me a medium drink that was meant for BIGFOOT!! Look at the size difference between the creamer and the soda.. This is one of MANY reasons why people are fighting obesity here in the USA.

Combating Tobacco Use.. One person at a time.

Taken at the SUNY Farmingdale Campus, Long Island, New York.

world peace?

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. -American author Mark Twain.

On being a grown up...

Maturity is the ability to do a job whether or not you are supervised, to carry money without spending it and to bear an injustice without wanting to get even. Ann Landers

VICTORY REPORT

WOW! What a great afternoon I had, teaching the international students how to play kickball, baseball and american football. Some of the students had never touched a football or held a bat before today.. after 12 yrs of school/PE class! Many of the students told me they had only played the virtual versions of these games in their home countries. What kinds of games and sports do these students actually learn and play around the world?? I wonder if most schools treat Physical Education as a formal class, or as a recreation period? Physical Education is not just about playing sports. I strive to promote the wellness of children in the 21st century.

It is my goal for students to develop moral, ethical, and cultural values related to healthy living, sportsmanship, cooperation and critical thinking.

Technology is wonderful, but Nintendo Wii will never replace the feeling of accomplishment when you hit a home run or catch a football on the fly!! I am so proud of the students who tried their hardest, and caught onto the rules and played the game correctly with relative ease! It was a wonderful accomplishment for everyone involved.

As for me.... I'm still working on my spiral. ;)

Baking Cookies..... and other moments of childhood

Today I had an interesting conversation with one of the international students. He comes from a powerful, high-society family, where money is no object. The kid flew to summer camp in FIRST CLASS, and was disappointed that a limo did not transport him to the university, for pete's sake!!! :) To strike up a conversation during breakfast, I asked him, "So who is the better cook in your house? Mom or Dad?". He told me that neither of them cook, and that his housekeeper cooks every night, even for holidays and special celebrations such as birthdays and Christmas. He spends most holidays with his nanny (in addition to the other staff of the mansion). I asked him if he ever had the opportunity to bake Christmas cookies with his mother (VP of an international bank), to which he replied, "she's too busy to bake and cook".

My heart broke when he told me that. This boy is one of three sons, all under the age of twelve. I suppose everyone has their own priorities and lifestyles, but I found it very sad that something as simple and wholesome as baking cookies has never been a shared family activity in his home.

We may not have access to a stove or oven here at camp to bake cookies, but I am glad that I can help these students live a more down to earth life, and enjoy simple things like walking in a nice park or playing cards in the recreation room. I am even glad I have the opportunity to teach them other [mundane] activities like making their beds and doing their laundry!

Kids can easily accumulate mountains of toys, clothes, iPods and other material things, but they will never forget how much (or little) TIME was spent on them. Here at camp, I hope they know how special they all are to me, and I hope spending my time on them will help them grow as young adults. I know my days here help me grow everyday as an educator and also as a human being.

In closing, How do you spend quality time with your children? Do you enjoying repeating traditions from your childhood with your own children? How do you see parenting in 2011? Easier or more difficult with the influence of technology?

Fun day at "Painted Ladies", Alamo Square, and Golden Gate Park

Pictures of students from week three enjoying activities in the city.

Coit Tower/North Beach/Chinatown tour...

It has been a wonderful experience to watch the students bond, despite differences in age, physical appearance, cultural and lingual barriers. In the slideshow below, our students are participating in on-site activities and the Coit Tower/North Beach/Chinatown tour...

Alcatraz, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf and Ghirardelli Square

Great part of San Francisco filled with history and interesting things to do and see!

Casino Night at St Giles SF Summer 2011










St Giles San Francisco Summer Camp..Weeks 1 & 2

It's been a busy past two weeks here at St Giles!  I've been getting to know my students, and proudly watching their English communication skills improve everyday.  I can't believe sixty students go home tomorrow!  The time went so fast.  Thirty new students join our program, and will be ready to join in on the action starting Monday.  It's been such a rewarding experience to observe young people interacting and participating with the other teens of this program.  We are so blessed to live in the 21st century where we can easily fly and travel for pleasure, while learning so much about our fellow man in an educational environment.  These students would never have had another opportunity to meet, if it wasn't for this program.  What would our world look like without borders?  I think John Lennon said it best.. "Imagine there's no countries.. Imagine all the people, living life in peace".

When children are taught from a young age that diversity and appreciation of other cultures is a beautiful thing to be cherished, our world will live as one.

On a side note, I pet the sweetest dogs today in Washington Square Park.  The love of an animal is so strong, it even attracted the attention of children in our program who come from communities where keeping domesticated animals like dogs and cats is uncommon.  Once the children overcame their initial apprehension, they were in love too!   Some of them who had never pet a dog even let the dog give them a sloppy doggie kiss on the face!!

Stop to pet a dog in the park today!  Give someone a hug! Show loved ones you care! Today and always..

Summer Program kicks off at CSUEB!




This July, I am working in San Francisco at California State University (East Bay Campus). 40 students arrived today (expecting 115 by tomorrow!) for our ESL summer program. These teens come from all corners of the world including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Barcelona, Paris, Hamburg, Sao Paol, Slovakia, China, Milan and more!!! We had a great afternoon playing cooperative games and exploring the campus together. Can't wait to go to the city and see some great sites like the Golden Gate Bridge on Tuesday.

It is a wonderful and enriching experience to teach children in such a diverse program.

Count your blessings, and not your problems!

Much love to you all!