Calling all independent Filipino (whether you're based in the U.S., Philippines, or wherever) film and video makers, click
here and don't make me
SP*T it out!
I was going to do an activity/discussion with the kids at school to help them cope with their fears about the war. These kids have been through enough, having been in the 1st grade when they eye-witnessed the planes hitting the Twin Towers on September 11 two years before. Since the school is on the lower east side of Manhattan, one side of the school faced the Twin Towers and those classrooms saw the planes going in. Fears are a dangerously close reality for them. How do you deal with that? What the hell do I know? I was thousands of miles away when this all happened. Its no longer a matter of just assuring kids that they're safe. They saw the hordes of people walking uptown from the towers that day. They know danger can come close to home. The point of having a discussion was to help them at least open up about their fears - maybe sharing them with their peers might help. Beyond that? I have no idea. I can barely deal with what's going on myself. I am against this war not despite but precisely because I know 3 people who are there. And knowing 3 people who are serving (or soon to be deployed) in the war in Iraq is one too many. It makes me think, well, is this war worth the possibility of sacrificing their lives? It makes me sick to my stomach knowing that it is not. No life is worth the sacrifice for this stupid war.
The
reading section has been updated.
Also added a Recent Referrals section courtesy of Stephen Downes on your left, way way down, scroll, baby, scroll!
My $tipend finally arrived on Wednesday. B also received payment for freelance work too. And so, that night at 11:30pm we rushed to
Chase to deposit our long awaited inflow of moolah so we could start spending the next day (i.e. pay off some debts). Immediate debits? Of course:
Rent
Credit card bills
Cell phone bills
Plane ticket to Manila (yes, really)
Black Ink for my printer
CD Case
Brian finally has $$ for eyeglasses. Yehey!
After dinner tonite, that's it for the "splurges." This money has to last me til at least August! Ayayay!
Only because I have a million other assigments I need to be working on right now, a new twisted form of procrastination has taken place: I updated my
Special Education Resources page.
Thanks for nothin' Dubya
Thank you for making us feel once more that though our words may not be heard, they are at least spoken -- this will make us stronger in the future.
[Via
Metafilter ]
Yesterday, the elementary school had a fire drill. Afterwards, the principal announced that we would be having
more fire drills, as well as, shelter drills . I don't recall having shelter drills when I was in school. I guess it's a sign of the times.
For the first time I have a negative balance on my checking account, and yet if you looked at me, I would not have to tell you that I am happy. I'm not delusional of course. Obviously negative balances (on checking acounts or anywhere else for that matter) do not help bring about positive thinking. I'm stressed as hell that my stipend hasn't come in yet. Even though I am fortunate (these days anyway) to be living with family, I've been trying to stretch what money I do have as far as possible so that god forbid I wouldn't have to ask the 'rents for money. Of course, I've already falied miserably in that department. And yet, believe it or not, I'm still the happiest I have been since I could remember.
The attitude-ridden, non-stop loud mouth kids are starting to grow on me. I can't believe it. The classroom teacher has asked me to teach a couple of whole class "lessons" with little warning (5, 10 minute notice at most) and i've managed to get through them with surprising success. I really don't mean to sound over-confident when I say that I really astonish myself. I'm proud of myself that for some weird reason, the kids listen, and participate, and miracle of miracles, follow my directions! Anyways, confidence is underrated. I relish these rare times when I can truly feel like I did something well. They seem to realize that I don't tolerate much and I can sometimes over hear them saying, "put the cards/toy/storybook away, she's gonna take it away!". Despite my reputation for strictness (don't laugh, its true! I'm stricter than their regular teacher!), I got hugs (out of the blue) and was told my even by the toughest kids, "I wish you were our teacher." Haaay, ang sweet. It will be important for me to remember this next time I have to break up a fight. Which still happens, unfortunately, every day or so.
