As a member of a country that has been facing multicultural issues since its conception, it is my duty to scribble a few thoughts on the UK government's latest idea of teaching Britishness in schools. Seriously.
David Cameron impressed me this morning on Radio 4. People should not be forced into a culture, but be inspired by it. link Apartheid was, to a great extent, a massive project by the Afrikaner government to enforce Afrikanerdom on its multicoloured citizens. In primary and secondary school, I was force-fed the ideologies, histories and conventions of Afrikanerness, and it was alien to me. I resented the instrusion and the fact that I didn't have a say in the matter. In primary school, for instance, we had to partake in volkspele. It might seem quiant to outsiders, but I felt silly wearing a ridiculous dress and bonnet, belting out patriotic songs at the top of my lungs. The problem with this ritual was that it did not develop as a natural expression of Afrikaans culture, but was enforced as such by the government. As a result, I can't stand volkspele, and I am deeply embarassed by it.
In secondary school we had to sing the National Anthem every week. My lips were sealed: even then I knew I'll never 'live or die' for any country. The pinnacle of enforced Afrikaner nationalism was the veldskool, so backwards an institution, it's not even featured on wikipedia. This "field school" was a compulsory week-long camp (taking place once in primary school, once in high school), where one was subjected to endless brainwashing sessions on topics such as the evils of rock music, pseudo-religious dogma, and how to survive in the wild. All these measure failed. It didn't make me or anybody else I know a patriot, in fact, I resented for a long time being an Afrikaner. This is what the UK government will achieve. In fact, today's report on extremism among Muslim youths should serve as a first warning. You can't force anybody to belong to a culture; they must want to belong.
But here I am today, at peace with my Afrikaner roots to the extent that I'm proclaiming it on my blogspot. What has changed?
South Africa, first of all, and suddenly who I was (a white Afrikaans person), was my choice and not something you had to be. I also support the hackneyed concept of Ubuntu - you are because you belong. And my belonging is rooted in a long history of Afrikaners (who never did volkspele!), some more heroic than others. It gives me a place from which to launch my point of view, and an excellent spot from which to exlore the world. Dankie, almal.
PS: For another, funnier view on veldskool, go here
Monday 29 January 2007
Monday 22 January 2007
Lessons
So this weekend we cycled up what must count in this part of the UK as one of the hardest hills to climb: the 16% incline at Streatly, Berkshire. No photograph ever does an uphill justice, take my word for it, it's nasty.
I started prepping myself the day before, constantly repeating things like 'never stop' and 'don't look ahead, just look back' and 'breathe, breathe'. I psyched myself up to such an extent that I found the actual ascent to be easier than I expected. What makes this particular climb a bastard, is that it's quite long and it becomes markedly steeper towards the end. I made it, without my granny gear - yoohoo!!
Now, like all things, there are some lessons to be learnt from this endeavour. I learnt that I could achieve something if I make it more afwul in my mind beforehand, and the actual event is not so bad. (This must have a name in pop psychology). I learnt that not to stop means pushing down even if you are going so slow your front wheel wobbles dangerously from side to side. I learnt that I am much fitter than I thought I was, and that you can, actually, achieve something worthwhile if you put your mind to it. Nice feeling!
Now on to writing, and this philosophy deflates. I find reading the Internet and blogs a bit dispiriting, because there are just so many writers and sooooooo much to read. Where will I find a corner in which to make my mark? Yesterday I tried writing and there was a great vacuum of creativity where usually I have a modicum of creative ideas. When my medical examiner - who was not even supposed to appear on the scene!!! - looked at the ravaged victim, and he had NOTHING to say, well, then I knew it was time to stop. How do you force yourself to continue through a famine of craftmanship? And my jokes feel lame, aaarrrgggg!!!
But I will not look forward, but back, to all the thousands of words that I have typed, and I will carry on. Good girl!
I started prepping myself the day before, constantly repeating things like 'never stop' and 'don't look ahead, just look back' and 'breathe, breathe'. I psyched myself up to such an extent that I found the actual ascent to be easier than I expected. What makes this particular climb a bastard, is that it's quite long and it becomes markedly steeper towards the end. I made it, without my granny gear - yoohoo!!
Now, like all things, there are some lessons to be learnt from this endeavour. I learnt that I could achieve something if I make it more afwul in my mind beforehand, and the actual event is not so bad. (This must have a name in pop psychology). I learnt that not to stop means pushing down even if you are going so slow your front wheel wobbles dangerously from side to side. I learnt that I am much fitter than I thought I was, and that you can, actually, achieve something worthwhile if you put your mind to it. Nice feeling!
Now on to writing, and this philosophy deflates. I find reading the Internet and blogs a bit dispiriting, because there are just so many writers and sooooooo much to read. Where will I find a corner in which to make my mark? Yesterday I tried writing and there was a great vacuum of creativity where usually I have a modicum of creative ideas. When my medical examiner - who was not even supposed to appear on the scene!!! - looked at the ravaged victim, and he had NOTHING to say, well, then I knew it was time to stop. How do you force yourself to continue through a famine of craftmanship? And my jokes feel lame, aaarrrgggg!!!
But I will not look forward, but back, to all the thousands of words that I have typed, and I will carry on. Good girl!
Wednesday 17 January 2007
Me and Mac
In today's The Times, I read that Apple Computers is now known as Apple Inc. I am proud to be an Apple Mac Mini owner, but the thing is driving me bonkers (and this has nothing to do with cycling). My husband is a lovely total computer nerd, and he assured me that "it's the best". And it is, I don't disagree. But now it's become too slow and it's going to cost me a lot of money to a) get more memory or b) invest in a fancy-schmancy, dual-thingy processor something. The little circle, you see, that whirrs round and round while I'm waiting for
my favourite gossip pages link,
my blog,
the GOB blog link,
any interesting links from the aforementioned blog,
my documents with the various stories I'm currently working on,
and my various email accounts
to open, just takes too long. And I get so angry, I want to smash my precioussss white boxiesss until its microchipped brain provides me with the holy grail of computer use: instant response. My husband is on the case.
Breathe in, breathe out.
According to the Book of Nameslink here, my ideal name should be....Pamela. They must be joking! For my faithful readers (you too, ma), a challenge: go play the game and see what you're supposed to be called.
Pamela signing off.
my favourite gossip pages link,
my blog,
the GOB blog link,
any interesting links from the aforementioned blog,
my documents with the various stories I'm currently working on,
and my various email accounts
to open, just takes too long. And I get so angry, I want to smash my precioussss white boxiesss until its microchipped brain provides me with the holy grail of computer use: instant response. My husband is on the case.
Breathe in, breathe out.
According to the Book of Nameslink here, my ideal name should be....Pamela. They must be joking! For my faithful readers (you too, ma), a challenge: go play the game and see what you're supposed to be called.
Pamela signing off.
Tuesday 16 January 2007
15 bytes of fame
I got mentioned in today's Grumpy Old Bookman blog link here and I feel as if I've just won my first Costa! Wow! Thank you!
Today I did supply in a Primary School. I am a secondary school teacher, but I was nervous as hell waiting for the kids to arrive. (I've taught classes with small children before, in case you think they're allowing defective teachers in schools, but I taught music, which I'm vastly confident of.)
A tiny maiden comes up to me, and says:
'Good day, Mrs WONG! I've never heard such a strange name before!' and she gives me a few heart-shaped stickers. Huh? The teaching assistant corrects the mistake: they were told the previous day that a Mrs Wong would be taking the class.
I taught them my name, first, and then writing, literacy, and numeracy. Learnt a lot in the process.
For literacy, they learnt about descriptive words, for example the big castle, and how to find settings in stories. None of the fairy tales they later had to analyse, however, had the settings in words (e.g. 'Once upon a time, in a field, there was an Ugly Duckling.'). It was either implied, or in pictures. I don't know if this really matters, but it bothered me.
Children are wonderful to teach - they are beyond sponges. They will soak up information and ideas with the greatest pleasure. I could've folded that square into six parts and told them the bits are called possums, and they would have learnt it, just like that. Which is also a scary thought. Do parents really know what their children are learning? I think I might be a painful parent one day.
Today I did supply in a Primary School. I am a secondary school teacher, but I was nervous as hell waiting for the kids to arrive. (I've taught classes with small children before, in case you think they're allowing defective teachers in schools, but I taught music, which I'm vastly confident of.)
A tiny maiden comes up to me, and says:
'Good day, Mrs WONG! I've never heard such a strange name before!' and she gives me a few heart-shaped stickers. Huh? The teaching assistant corrects the mistake: they were told the previous day that a Mrs Wong would be taking the class.
I taught them my name, first, and then writing, literacy, and numeracy. Learnt a lot in the process.
For literacy, they learnt about descriptive words, for example the big castle, and how to find settings in stories. None of the fairy tales they later had to analyse, however, had the settings in words (e.g. 'Once upon a time, in a field, there was an Ugly Duckling.'). It was either implied, or in pictures. I don't know if this really matters, but it bothered me.
Children are wonderful to teach - they are beyond sponges. They will soak up information and ideas with the greatest pleasure. I could've folded that square into six parts and told them the bits are called possums, and they would have learnt it, just like that. Which is also a scary thought. Do parents really know what their children are learning? I think I might be a painful parent one day.
Sunday 14 January 2007
Breakin' records
Today, my husband and I cycled 85k in 4hours 18 min! A record for me, for sure. Yesterday we were super organised (for a change) and read through a few back copies of his Cycling Plus magazine and decided to do half of the route of the Hampshire Cyclosportive starting at Highclere Caste. He plotted a route on the GPS, and we woke up at 6 this morning to start cycling at 9.
What a perfect day! Firstly, the wheather was divine, blazing blues skies, not a hint of wind. The friendly staff at the Carnarvon Arms allowed us to park our car there, since the castle is closed. We also missed out on the private roads that were used for the cyclosportive. It was great, great, great! I obviously ride better early in the morning, and we set out on a 22 kph pace for the first 40km. We filled up with cappucino and energy bars at the Sutton Scotney Texaco. Pay them a visit - they have a shop cat! On the way we came across a group of female angels, otherwise known as a group of women walking two disabled children in buggies. Angels.
I lost steam the last 20k and our final average was 19,5kph. I tend to bonk rapidly and the last few miles to The Carnarvon was filled with lustful thoughts of food. But we made it, and had the most incredibly delicious Sunday roast at the pub.
I'm tired today and this is a very unimaginative post, I know, I know. Alas. Can't disappoint the crowds.
What a perfect day! Firstly, the wheather was divine, blazing blues skies, not a hint of wind. The friendly staff at the Carnarvon Arms allowed us to park our car there, since the castle is closed. We also missed out on the private roads that were used for the cyclosportive. It was great, great, great! I obviously ride better early in the morning, and we set out on a 22 kph pace for the first 40km. We filled up with cappucino and energy bars at the Sutton Scotney Texaco. Pay them a visit - they have a shop cat! On the way we came across a group of female angels, otherwise known as a group of women walking two disabled children in buggies. Angels.
I lost steam the last 20k and our final average was 19,5kph. I tend to bonk rapidly and the last few miles to The Carnarvon was filled with lustful thoughts of food. But we made it, and had the most incredibly delicious Sunday roast at the pub.
I'm tired today and this is a very unimaginative post, I know, I know. Alas. Can't disappoint the crowds.
Thursday 11 January 2007
Inspiration
I have been writing a lot the past few days. I have finished an article and scribbling away on a novel. Not the novel, a practise story. Never knew it was possible to know so little about punctuation, dialogue, how to create a character without being too obvious and so forth.
The Internet is crawling with help, and I found this gem, The Easy Way to Write. Make your millions by writing a book on how to write a novel in 30 days. Now, I've chased him up through Google, and for some reason or the other, I couldn't find one of the millions of books, articles etc. that he has claimed to have written. Instead, he is the classic Internet bestselling author of the book on how to write a novel in 30 days. Especially interesting is the website link that explains how Rob has had far too many 'recording, stage, film, and TV credits' to mention. He is a master at fiction, it seems. But EVEN MORE interesting is another site link on the easy way to diet, also by Rob. A master at his craft.
I adore the Grumpy Old Bookman. His advice is practical and so negative it brings tears to my eyes and hope to my chest. Thing is, I dreamt of big money and prizes, and his book, which you can download for free from here, is fabulastic. Unlike some other, er, bestsellers, this is simple, old-fashioned good advice. After reading his book, I at least know what to expect (nothing) and that the only (non-existent) chance of literary success is possible after maybe 30 YEARS of hard work, and some luck.
The Internet is crawling with help, and I found this gem, The Easy Way to Write. Make your millions by writing a book on how to write a novel in 30 days. Now, I've chased him up through Google, and for some reason or the other, I couldn't find one of the millions of books, articles etc. that he has claimed to have written. Instead, he is the classic Internet bestselling author of the book on how to write a novel in 30 days. Especially interesting is the website link that explains how Rob has had far too many 'recording, stage, film, and TV credits' to mention. He is a master at fiction, it seems. But EVEN MORE interesting is another site link on the easy way to diet, also by Rob. A master at his craft.
I adore the Grumpy Old Bookman. His advice is practical and so negative it brings tears to my eyes and hope to my chest. Thing is, I dreamt of big money and prizes, and his book, which you can download for free from here, is fabulastic. Unlike some other, er, bestsellers, this is simple, old-fashioned good advice. After reading his book, I at least know what to expect (nothing) and that the only (non-existent) chance of literary success is possible after maybe 30 YEARS of hard work, and some luck.
Monday 8 January 2007
Virgin birth
I am becoming a writer. See, I am using positive, affirming phrases, stating (to the universe, in particular) what will be, not that I might be, or am trying to be, or would like to be. I am becoming a writer.
And it is hard.
It's much harder work, actually, than I've thought. I've read that you have to spend a long time behind the computer, writing, and that is my first obstacle. I love reading stuff - the reason for wanting to be a writer - and I am constantly side-tracked by interesting stuff to read. I bought the Sunday Times yesterday, and I am still reading it. It is better to put more of it next to the toilet, because I forget about it, being there, and am pleasantly surprised when going to the loo.
In yesterday's paper, there is an interesting article on Scientology. The first time I've heard about the ...uhm, religion?religious fantasy?cult?science? that is Scientology, my friend P told me, with his decisive snigger, that it was created by a science fiction writer. At that moment I lost interest, to be honest. (I've got a few other tales to report re this phenomenon, but later.) Somebody should tell them that Christianity is for free.
Back the travails of writing. I am in a bad mood. I dreamt that my father had to play a piano examination and that I was his tutor, and he became very nervous. So one of the first lessons of writing is that it's harder to write when you're in a bad mood. I sat down for two hours trying to make sense of an article, and I gave up in disgust. I feel that I do not know anything.
...But, I wil move towards the positive, as extolled by McKenna et al Moving forward, I am a writer, I can see it. I can feel it, and smell it.
And it is hard.
It's much harder work, actually, than I've thought. I've read that you have to spend a long time behind the computer, writing, and that is my first obstacle. I love reading stuff - the reason for wanting to be a writer - and I am constantly side-tracked by interesting stuff to read. I bought the Sunday Times yesterday, and I am still reading it. It is better to put more of it next to the toilet, because I forget about it, being there, and am pleasantly surprised when going to the loo.
In yesterday's paper, there is an interesting article on Scientology. The first time I've heard about the ...uhm, religion?religious fantasy?cult?science? that is Scientology, my friend P told me, with his decisive snigger, that it was created by a science fiction writer. At that moment I lost interest, to be honest. (I've got a few other tales to report re this phenomenon, but later.) Somebody should tell them that Christianity is for free.
Back the travails of writing. I am in a bad mood. I dreamt that my father had to play a piano examination and that I was his tutor, and he became very nervous. So one of the first lessons of writing is that it's harder to write when you're in a bad mood. I sat down for two hours trying to make sense of an article, and I gave up in disgust. I feel that I do not know anything.
...But, I wil move towards the positive, as extolled by McKenna et al Moving forward, I am a writer, I can see it. I can feel it, and smell it.
Friday 5 January 2007
The Creation
This is my first-ever blog. I am tempted to immediately test whether I am able to create a link....
It is now 10 minutes later and because I use a Mac, and I'm not that computer literate in general, I will have to wait for my husband to come home and be his kind assisting self.
This is my problem with computer help manuals: I sort-of know what I want to do, but I don't know what to call it in geek speak. (It would be REALLY useful if I could add a link now to some fancy site) So now I've visited the Blog Helpspot, and it is really useful, except I am using Safari and have no idea where to find that little earth-picture-with-a-link-thingy link...aha!
It is now 30 minutes later and I have successfully erased a nice long blog with links etc. Short version: does anybody know of a user-friendly translator of computer terms for illiterati like me? For example: what does this mean?
'Clicking BlogThis! creates a mini-interface to Blogger prepopulated with a link to the web page you are visiting'...link
And, by the way...geek speak
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
