Lesley in Hong Kong

TEDx Hong Kong ED - School's Out

TEDx HongKong - ED

Saturday 15th June 2013 10am - 4pm

633 Kings Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong

 

Website for more information  click here

Ideas Worth Spreading

'The fact is that given the challenges we face, education doesn’t need to be reformed — it needs to be transformed'

-Sir Ken Robinson

I discovered TED Talks on You Tube a few years ago and I use it from time to time in my classes.  Sometimes I come across one that really hits the spot of a particular concept I want to explain and sometimes they are just so damn interesting I bring them into my classroom to inspire my students. The point is that speakers on TED Talks can present an idea so much better than I can.

For instance I grew weary of listening and watching my students do presentations locked in the the restricting mind numbing Microsoft world that is PowerPoint.  I decided to have a power point free year.  I showed them all the TED Talk - A Modest Proposal,  David Bohannon explaining a scientific concept through dance and although didn't expect them to bring that exactly into the small space in front of the whiteboard, I did expect some imagination and creativity so they would at least think about presenting their ideas differently.  I got it.  I had Y7s playing music, rapping, singing, role playing and making art in stead of reading their dry power points.

Click here for more inspiration

When I start teaching the IB English A Language & Literature course (International Baccalaureate site) and all that it involves, the following TED Talk - Jay Walker on the World's English Mania is a marvellous introduction and discussion point for my students to start thinking about the way English is used around the world.  

When I became aware that TEDx was coming to Hong Kong to talk about education I quickly registered and bought my early bird ticket in order to secure my place.  

The event in Quarry Bay was from 10am - 4pm and we were encouraged to register by 9am to ensure a seat.  I felt it would be quite a test of our dwindling concentration spans as I read the itinerary.  As any teacher knows keeping the attention of an audience involves short bursts of information with a variety of ever changing strategies to hold their interest.   Overall this was achieved and the clever addition of the most coordinated man on the planet, Chris Brien and his percussion group 'Tribe' was inspired.  Of course he didn't just perform, he explained his notion that rhythm can bring out creativity, improve IQ levels and boost the immune system  Mozambique Drum Lesson 40 .

I obeyed the instructions and  got there early to take my seat on the 1/F.  It was announced that there were 1000 people attending the event which was actually in the space of the Island Evangelical Community Church and on two floors.  1/F where the stage was with the real live speakers, and 2/F where it was streamed onto to screens.  The rooms were very nicely appointed but surely there are bigger spaces in Hong Kong where everyone could be seated on the same floor?  

When it came to a break and my entitlement to a free drink, I felt that in the short time and given the amount of people, would mean there was no chance to join that queue as well as the queue for the ladies toilets!  Good job I'd brought my own.

I have a feeling that God had kind of sneaked into this event through the back door.   But we were sat in a church so may be he did use the same entrance as everyone else?  Brett Hillard the Senior Pastor of Island ECC spoke with ease, was engaging and certainly made this atheist think.   I was particularly impressed with his creative marketing and brochure ideas and am still allowing the phrase "If you are not failing you are not trying" run through my mind.  

I had my eyes opened by Julian Zhu, excuse the pun, to an organisation called Dialogue in the Dark

Activities to book which is, according to Trip Advisor, Hong Kong's most popular attraction.  DiD is an experiential venue to help understand what it is like to be visual impaired.  With a white cane in hand and eyes bound shut you are guided around a variety of every day places for 175 minutes. There are options for Eating in the Dark and Birthdays in the Dark.The summer holiday is coming up and I certainly intend to visit.

Merijn Everaarts was compelling regarding the epidemic of one use plastic containers used in Hong Kong and his illustrations and statistics really did bring home the message that we will soon drown in waste.  He has developed a sustainable plastic bottle called The Dopper and The Dopper Water & Waste Academy aims to empower citizens to take personal responsibility for reducing waste.  Note to self - tap water in Hong Kong is safe so why do I buy it in bottles?  

From a personal point of view I have been teaching in Hong Kong for 10 years now.  I did my PGCE at The University of Hong Kong and have worked in local schools.  The message I left HKU with was that I should be a 'change agent' and bring about change in the syllabus by incorporating new ways of teaching into the schools in Hong Kong where students are under a vast amount of pressure to pass exams and constant testing evades every waking hour.  Unfortunately the waking hours seem to be once the students are home and in the middle of the night.  Sleeping in class is so common it is acceptable behaviour.  Sleeping in the staff room is also acceptable.   I am not in the local system at the moment but I know that educational reform in Hong Kong is an up hill battle.  I cannot comprehend why any reform is resisted but find it a complete paradox that research regarding new ways of teaching in Hong Kong is blinkered.  The so called 'new ways' of teaching are not in any way new, they go on in the rest of the world as common good practice but in Hong Kong if they are not sitting in rows and passing or failing tests, are not under stress to complete after school tuition or are not carrying spine crushing bags they are not good students.   It was, therefore, with great interest and expectation  that when Sophie Leung took the stage with her tag line 'Instilling Hope to Students in a Skewed Education System' I thought I would hear something new.  She fell well short of the mark and was yet another Hong Kong voice of empty cliches with no actual concrete idea.  

Dr Yvonne Chiu was a very interesting speaker with an array of extremely complex ideas, notions and theories.  Since I returned from TEDx I have read more about her ideas, she made me curious and wanting more.  She had an impact on me.

Peter Kenny, who was last, and I guess was 'top of the bill' was extremely engaging and obviously used to the stage.  He spoke of inclusion, international schools and local schools building links to address the situation we currently have in Hong Kong of having huge waiting lists for international schools yet local primary schools closing down in the local system with not enough students to attend them.  My only complaint was that I wanted him to speak for longer.

CEO Reach Education Organization 

There were 13 speakers expressing their ideas about education in Hong Kong and asking us to question whether we are doing the right thing for children, the  city itself and the future.  Each segment will be available to the public via the recordings made on the day so everyone has the opportunity to listen. 

 

 

 

 

Patriotism

 

                                                                     It's just a little kiss

See the kiss on the balcony

Watching the Wedding Yesterday

Patriotism means, by definition, a devotion to ones country.  In accordance with said definition I am, therefore, not patriotic because I cannot say wholeheartedly that I am devoted to my country.  Being an expat in Hong Kong for 'n' amount of years could make others think I didn't care about England.  But they'd be wrong.  I am devoted and I am proud to be English. Yesterday I was glued to Theresa's telly all afternoon until the big moment of that kiss on that balcony and I truly truly enjoyed every minute of it.

The Royal Family

As the members of the British Royal Family made their way to Westminster Abbey and took their places, all behaving impeccably, it was obvious that they know how to put on a jolly good 'do'.  They have their pick of the best church, the best flowers, the best carriages and of course the world class top number one best route to the venue and then on to the reception. 

Queen Elizabeth I

But it's not just because they have one of the best driveways in the world to parade up and down (The Mall) its because of the crowds.  The public, who turned out to wave at them in the hope of getting a quick glimpse of the Royals really made that wedding day into an atmospheric event and made it historically important. 

Emotional Day

It is very emotional to watch any wedding.  The open exchange of vows and the support of both families is a marvelous and memorable event for any couple.  Its guaranteed to form a lump in ones throat.  Having the whole thing televised and broadcast around the world to over two billion people and having the route lined with thousands of enthusiastically waving people is mind blowing.  And it's that atmosphere of the gathering of a large crowd in celebration that gets my bottom lip quivering.  The emotion and overwhelming friendliness renews my patriotism and fuels my devotion to England.  All of those people, some had camped out for days, sitting and standing in the open and feeling secure establishes a trust in mankind.  People of all ages gathered together for the same purpose without fear. 

 

Crowds on The Mall

There goes my bottom lip goes again! 

Long may they reign over us

I have heard the press say that the moment the couple kissed on the balcony was the moment the British Royal Family re established themselves.  I think they are wrong.  The billions around the world who watched on screen and the thousands who made the journey to The Mall, Hyde Park and the streets lining the route from The Goring Hotel to Westminster Abbey and then on to Buckingham Palace didn't need that kiss.  Be sure they wanted to see it.  But the planning and excitement that was generated prior to the big day surely proves that Britain loves their Queen and that one day we will see King William and Princess Catherine. 

                                                                  Excellent idea!

Its a tradition that will continue  as it has for centuries and I for one am proud of it and I am patriotic. The less said about the Princesses stupid hats the better...

Oh dear!

 

Weekend in Shanghai

Chen Yi, the first communist mayor of Shanghai

I have to admit to being not very well travelled when it comes to China.  I have lived in SAR for nearly ten years now but have been some how magnetically repelled from the mainland because of the horror stories I hear on a daily basis about:-

• dirty toilets
• dirty air
• dirty streets
• dirty trains

Then there is the danger angle people like to thrap on about:-

• risk of earthquake
• risk of flood

Not to mention the general physical risks of:-

• being robbed
• being in a car accident
• being swindled

Taking my life in my hands I visited Shanghai, China's most populous city to find it was none of those things and whats more I had a great time and came back all in one piece.  I enjoyed it, I felt safe and I would go back.

ART

There is lots of art to see and the first stop was Shanghai Museum of Art situated next to the People's Park.  At the moment there is an exhibition of American Print Makers and we saw famous pieces by Jasper John's and Jim Dine.  After that we headed for 50 Moganshan Road which is a higgledy piggledy complex of converted warehouses filled with a vast variety of contemporary art.  Hundreds of visitors are attracted to this area every day and as well as the art there are trendy cafes and coffee to be had.  There is also the Museum of Modern Art, a state of the art glass building inside the People's Park but at the moment it just has a cafe inside - no art.

Pervert taking photograph of young girl's legs

 

THE PEOPLE'S PARK

The People's Park itself is a myriad of life.  A well looked after garden plus a few small theme park rides, it attracts a variety of people.  Sit on the grass and enjoy your picnic.  Practise tai chi to your hearts content.  Dress up in a panda outfit and thrill the children.  Advertise your unmarried grown up children being available for marriage (there was loads of that).  Play chess.  Beg.  Stop bewildered tourists and ask them questions to practise your English then offer to take them to a tea ceremony (we had that lots of times). All very friendly and non threatening.  I was even protected from a particularly annoying beggar in the park by some Shanghai people who felt the need to keep me safe and send her on her way.  They then translated what they had said for me which was basically 'get a job and stop bothering the tourist's!

Weeeee!

WANTED - GROOM FOR MY DAUGHTER

 

NANJING ROAD

Upon arrival on Nanjing Road pedestrian street the hawkers selling copy everythingyoucanthinkof pounced but being used to it on Nathan Road the usual technique of eyes front and ignore was implemented.  Although I wasn't quite ready for the wheelie shoe sellers who zipped about on a type of roller skate wheel that can be attached to any shoe.  They obviously felt that I was in the market for wheelie shoes but I politely declined, at first, after the 8th person zipping up to me on their trendy wheels I had had enough.  That's when Fairy Land Foot Massage lit its beacon and led me up their wonderful staircase to wonderfulness.  See previous blog.

Fairyland Foot Massage, Shanghai

THE BUND

In the evening, after one of the most delicious and interesting meals of my life at Lost Heaven.  See previous blog. 

Lost Heaven

We did The Bund.  The most famous area by the river lined with magnificent historic stone built structures dating back to a time when the west had a strong influence on the city.  On The Bund side of the river are the neo classical and art deco style buildings while across the river are the futuristic modern buildings all lit up and pretty.  Having said that it was Earth Hour when we arrived which meant that most of the lights had been switched off for an hour so the impact of them all coming on again at 9.30pm was thrilling, albeit not environmentally that friendly!

JAZZ IN SHANGHAI

On The Bund is the Peace Hotel which contains a very cool jazz club.  We look our positions on high stools at the bar and enjoyed the band.  Wow!  Excellent live music.  I didn't enjoy the cigarette smoke quite so much and it was a surprise to be in a bar full of smoke these days.  There is talk that China will ban smoking in public places very soon.  Let's wait to see how it goes?  A bit more jazz after the Peace Hotel involved a taxi ride to JZ Jazz Bar, 46 Fuxing Road, near Yongfu Road which was, again filled with smoke, and a zillion more people.  It is Shanghai's hippest jazz club.  After a difficult attempt at trying to get close to the stage and being told we had to pay 500 RMB for the privilege, we moved back to the free seating and let the jazz wash over us.  Yeh daddio!

OLD SHANGHAI AND YU GARDENS

Next morning more exploring was on the itineray and a visit to Yu Gardens and Old Shanghai.  It was crowed.  Very crowded.  But very exciting and filled with atmosphere and tourists being lead around by ladies in red caps and the dreaded electric megaphone.  Oh dear!  The buildings and temples were stunning and food stalls overwhelming.  We made our way out of the more crowded tourist shuffle area down some back streets where the real people lived and enjoyed a lunch which was cooked for us as we watched.  There were ceramic dishes already prepared with the ingredients, vegetables, fish or meat or just a veggie options with noodles or rice.  Once you choose your dish it was placed over a gas flame until it bubbled and cooked everything.  I think it was the original Pot Noodle.

So I wasn't in any danger as far as I know and I now know the horror stories are just that - stories.  There was even a Marks & Spencers with a sale on with a great coat just wating for me!

 

MORE PHOTOS WILL BE POSTED SHORTLY

 

Gender Apartheid

During the oppressive years of apartheid in South Africa the world introduced sanctions so that they were excluded from competing in international sporting events and trade.  The strong opposition to the way South Africa governed its country was felt.  Eventually the unequal treatment of black citizens in South Africa was changed by law and the sanctions were lifted. 

This makes perfect sense to me.  Discriminating against someone because of their skin color is nonsense.  It is an archaic idea and one which is totally unacceptable in 2007.

But there is another form of apartheid practiced in some countries.  Instead of the word being used to describe discrimination against a race it is used to discriminate against gender.  Gender apartheid is rife in some Middle Eastern countries. 

I lived in Saudi Arabia for seven years, from 1989 to 1996.  Gender apartheid exists.  Woman are discriminated against under strict Sharia Law.  There are other strongly Islamic countries in the Middle East who do treat women as equals so I think it is the Saudi interpretation of the the law, as well as medieval traditions still in force, which allow such appalling treatment of women to go unquestioned by the same nations who applied sanctions to South Africa for practicing apartheid against black people. 

But Saudi Arabia is rich and powerful.  It has oodles of oil under its deserts and that makes everything a whole lot different.  Not allowing South Africa to take part in the Olympics and refusing to buy their fruit and meat just isn't as bad as not having enough oil to power massive petrol guzzling cars although frankly we wouldn't miss their female teams at the Olympics because there aren't any. 

It is a human rights issue and one that is overlooked by the nations who want and need to maintain relations with Saudi Arabia to keep those oil supplies flowing. So the fact that women are not allowed to drive, cannot work in public, cannot travel without being in the company of a male family member, must cover their body shape and hair with a black nylon abaya while the male Saudis where 100% white cotton, a cool fabric, can be harassed on the streets by the religious police if they don't conform to the dress requirements just continues. 

The photograph above shows, Laleh Seddigh, Iranian formula one driver at the Bahrain Grand Prix Track and two woman who actually took part in a protest in Riyadh in 1991.  This coincided with the American troops using Saudi as a base during the Gulf War, they brought female soldiers with them who were seen driving military vehicles.  Some Saudi women felt this was the right time to change the situation for them.  If American woman could drive then why couldn't they?  All the women involved in the protest were arrested and soon after there was an announcement on the Saudi TV that it was now illegal for women to drive, they would never be issued with a driving license as these delicate creatures need to be protected from the dangers of cars so they could only sit in the passenger seat if the driver was their husband, they have to sit in the back if the driver was anyone but their husband.

The third photograph is Saudi's first female pilot,Hanadi Zakaria, although she is not employed by Saudia.  She can fly a plane but has to be driven to it by a man!

This outrageous situation has to stop.