Saigon (HCMC) Vietnam 2010

An ELT conference hosted by SEAMEO in HCMCfollowed by an 11 day holiday(well-deserved I might add!) in Vietnam. These are some pics from my few days in Saigon (so much more exotic-sounding than Ho Chi Min City, no?). Click on the photo to access the album.

Inner Child's album

I invited a friend to come with me to McClellend Sculpture Park in Langwarren, but he decided he needed to stay home and work on his motor bike. So instead I took my inner child. She was exquisite company!


Inner Child's album

Melbourne in May 2010

I recently discovered that I like to take photos of my 'life' rather than write about it. Click below for a taste of May 2010.

Melbourne in May 2010

Pics of Japan

Took soooooooooo many photos in Japan. Just wish I had a better camera. If you want to check out a couple of albums, here are the links.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=207967&id=623433202&l=daeb970656

and

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=209249&id=623433202&l=6a2ca70cb9

and

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=209482&id=623433202&l=d06b9c93fd

and finally!!!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=213564&id=623433202&l=15190052a7

Hakone Open Air Museum, Japan

I went to Japan!!!

I really meant to keep this blog happening and up to date but.................well, life in meat space got in the way! (I still can't believe the non-cyber world is called meat space!)
Had a short 12 day holiday in Japan last month. My first (but definitely not last) visit. Hmmmmmmmmmm. Very interesting place. So easy to travel around even without the language. Highlights? Visit to Hakone Open Air Musuem (check out the video), an interview with a Hiroshima survivor, and having my feet eaten by Dr Fish. Weirdly delicious. Oh and of course the FOOD.

Storm!

In the light of Haiti and Chile the storm that hit Melbourne last weekend was nothing. However, I post a video I took of it anyway. Mind you it was far worse in other parts of Melbourne than where I live, but it was AMAZING all the same!!! Stirred some primal memory. I felt like a cave woman sitting at the mouth of her cave, both thrilled by, and fearful of, the noise of the rain, and thunder, and the spectacle of hail stones the size of pistaccios (it's what I am eating as I type this so that is what came to mind obviously). Thrilling!!!!!!!!

Where to from here?

This blog started life as an adjunct to the ICT course. As the course winds down, what now? I'll think I'll keep it going and so if you ICTers want to stay in touch this way, please do! Can't guarantee the content will always suit your tastes or interest as the blog morphs into something more personal. In which case let me know and I will remove you from the readers list.




Went to a fab exhibition and cocktail party recently at the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria) in Melbourne. Ron Mueck - an Australian born artist living in LA. He's only been 'recognised' for his work since 1997. I can't tell you how moving -viscerally moving- his work is. If you ever get the chance to see it somewhere do make the effort.

Here are some pics I took (photography was permitted!). The one above right is of my friend Jane standing next to In Bed 2005. This gives you a good idea of the dimensions of this wax figure. I just wanted to climb into bed with her and feel all safe and tucked in!

And this baby is HUGE!

mystery sound week 12

And just for Anne! Here is what you were hearing in week 12 'My Mystery Sound". Was your guess right?

my not so dreamy-looking dream classroom

This looks far more pedestrian than it really is! There is lots of natural light in this room and windows you can open if you want to; one whole wall is in fact an interactive whiteboard, all tables have built in computer touch screens (see photo insert)and have Skype and a plethora of fabulous CALL programs and tools installed ready to go and students have unlimited downloads available. Each student has a notebook. There is a printer in the room but it is not on view. I should have added a quiet reading corner with a few bean bags but I ran out of time to re-jig the drawing. Imagine they are there near the bookcase. There is magnetic strip running around the room like a picture rail to facilitate displaying student work in hard copy form. Also the walls can be written and drawn on. There is a PA system linking all classrooms on each floor to facilitate assessments across levels.

The carpet is pleasant underfoot and students can sit on the floor for some tasks if they wish; the chairs are very comfortable and ergonomic, and the tables, moveable. The teacher console has internet access, controls audio and video and there is also a document camera. The airconditioning works all the time and the atmosphere is very pleasant and conducive to learning - the walls are sound proofed. There are a couple of large pot plants as well but they haven't been delivered yet! They are flowering orchids -dark russet and yellow.

AVATAR in 3D - magic!

I want to live on Pandora! What a magical film. I just wonder if most of the punters get the message -hope so.
(Oh, and the lead is an Australian actor.)

ee cummings

I've been trying to catch up with all the tips posted on forums and this is me playing with Vocaroo, a Web 2 tool Vale suggested in response to one of Mohammed posts. Let's see if it works.
http://vocaroo.com/?media=vxJN1GQiv2srUofJ6

and I can also embed it like this:




Bingo!! It does! Cool.