Those who can't teach?

I have the greatest respect for Teachers, the job they do is undervalued in our society, whereas it should be celebrated and respected. I remember at university in the toilets some graffiti above a toilet roll holder "Bachelor's Degree in Education: Please take one" and everyone has heard the saying "Those who can't do....teach" at some stage in their life, and possibly may have said it a couple of times themselves. But, I would argue the opposite, and challenge anyone who thinks teaching is easy to get up in front of a class of students (Teenagers especially, ergh) who have no interest in learning and teach them something, anything for 1 hour. After that hour is up you will find out a few things about yourself.


Firstly, whether you have a fear of public speaking, because if you do, they will tear you to shreds with their cold intimidating gaze leaving you a jabbering mess. Secondly, whether you can think on your feet, quickly, can you deal with a smart-arse who is out purely to make you crack and prove their own worth to their peers, if you cant, you're going to look like a fool. Lastly, do you have enough confidence in your own knowledge and abilities to show someone else, because if you dont it will show.


Those things I learnt pretty quickly in my last job which involved training adults at least once a month. Not only were they adults, who are generally set in their ways and resistant to anything "unfamiliar", some were of another breed called "Professionals", this basically means they knew that they knew more than me. Irrespective of whether they had paid 1500 dollars to be in that class, they knew more than me, were older and had much more experience. Initially this scared the living daylights out of me, and I remember vividly running to the toilet during breaks to have a good cry because I didnt think I could do it, they had tested my limit and broken it, and I still had to keep going til the end of the day. Worse still, I had to give them "Feedback" forms at the end of the class so I could read what they really thought (My boss eventually had the ingenious idea of developing feedback forms on the students). What you all want to hear though, is that this eventually stopped and I conquered the classroom with my wit and charm and vast knowledge and beat these self loving professionals into the type of submission any student should be in. Well, eventually, yes. However part of me breathed a sigh of relief when I was made redundant from that role (after the absolute despair of losing a job I loved, and the feelings of rejection from being the one given the boot) on realisation that I would not have to teach again, at least not for a while!


However, last week, my new boss, volunteered me to do some training (to be fair, I did say on my resume that I had experience on it, and it was one of the reasons they gave me the job) and that feeling of fear came back to my stomach. Oh God! This time round, I know the following things: I definitely know more than these guys about what I'm training them in; I dont have to use a classroom, its all one on one at their computer; There are going to be some difficult students.


After two days (with 8 days to go) here's how its gone, I've had two people cross their arms sit back and tell me "I Dont like it and you're wasting your time here" (Would you know how to deal with that?) I've also had the new experience of teaching someone with a severe disability and an apparent attitude problem (Here was I thinking that no one in a wheelchair was either mean, or egocentric or had a giant chip on their shoulder, after all, my previous experiences were non events where the students who were handi-capable were just average people, who happened to have their own seat) I've also had several very accomodating and keen students who though what I was teaching them was absolutely marvellous and any criticisms were constructive and about the subject and not about my ability. Those students by the way, are every teachers favourite... anyone who is keen and happy, friendly and wants to learn is a joy to have in ones classroom.


So, I am off, again to teach this morning. *Deep Breaths* (I'm Psyching myself up)


To all the teachers, I salute you, to all those who continue the adage "Those who can't do, teach" I say, get up there and have a go and we'll see if you can really "do" or "teach"!

Buy My Stuff: eBay Auction

Last week our flat was robbed. 


We didn't have Insurance.


We do now.


However, this doesn't negate the fact that there are some things I need to replace, and frankly, I dont have the cash (This is why people have insurance, and incidentally, if you are thinking right now, "Wow! I dont have insurance either?" Get some! DO IT! If you cant afford to replace your 10 most valued possessions outright, then you need insurance)


So, I'm selling off my old Mobile Phone, and a few other things which will be posted in the near future. Every little bit counts!!!


Plus, I figure, if I'm not using it, someone else could be. So why recycle it, when it could be re-used! So, I'm being environmentally friendly too!


Anyway, Here it is. A Nokia N95.

Grow Your Own

Since moving into the new flat we've taken advantage of the small area next to our backdoor underneath the stairs to the upstairs flat for some nice plants. Edible Plants!

We also picked up an outdoor shelf thing from Bunnings, which has done a pretty good job of cleaning up the area even more. Infact everything you can see in this picture, (except the bikes) was pretty much bought from Bunnings. Yep, this is how we use the car... I'm so familiar with bloody Bunnings thesedays it's crazy. It's like I'm prematurely ageing.... one Sunday morning, whilst down there picking up some Herbs, I ran into a friend, doing the same thing..... the first thing he said is "Oh My God, I'm getting old, instead of running into people at the Pub, I'm running into them at Bunnings on a Sunday morning... this just feels wrong."

Anyway, I should stop slagging them off, as chances are, I'll be back there again soon.... next time we need soil or something.

Our little garden is very cool though, we have water saving pots  (because Melbourne's still in a drought) some Rosemary, Mint (yay for Mojitos!) Coriander, Parsley, Oregano, Capsicum, Thai Chillies, Spinach, Spring Onions... we're also growing some Heirloom varieties that we picked up on a trip to Diggers. So with any luck some Hungarian Heart Tomatoes (Big, Juicy, great for Pasta Sauces and Goulashes.....mmmm Goulash) and some grapefruit Tomatoes (little yellow cherry sized tomatoes) as well as some Habanero Chillies.....

The Gardens already giving us some food. Last weekend I needed Mint for a dish and instead of buying it from the market like usual I had to remind myself we have more than enough growing at home.

Something about growing your own food gives an enormous sense of pleasure and well-being...not to mention it tastes better knowing that your effort has gone to nurturing it. I remember my Oma and Opa's suburban backyard in Strathfield, Sydney was mostly taken up with Vegetable Gardens when we went to visit them. I always thought it was weird that they only had a tiny amount of grass and a vast expanse of Vegie Patch. Now I see it was completely sensible.

I would love to write more, but right now its 8.30am and I'm already late for work.

Have you got a Garden? Tell me about it...

Making "Free Money" on the Internet

About 3 Years ago, maybe 4, I got scammed on the internet. I was very, very embarrassed. Thankfully, I wasn't scammed the traditional ways, there was no Viagra involved, nor any Nigerian Princesses or Big Lottery wins in Lagos. I did however, have to change my credit card straight away and I lost 40 bucks... I was also very pissed off.

So, the scam was to do with "Quitting your job and getting paid to do Surveys everyday." Basically I paid to get access to a site of links.... yer, I know.... how foolish can you be? Especially when most of those sites are US Survey sites and not Australian. But, it was at a time when I absolutely hated my job (Data entry with Australia's biggest Telco) and I was looking for a way out. Survey's seemed as mind numbing as  data entry but with the added bonus of not having to start at 7.30 in the morning.

Little did I know, that with a quick search I could have found about 10 Australian sites, that actually do pay you to do surveys. 4 Years on, and as you can see, I'm still working my 9 - 5 (and sometimes later) job, and have I re-couped that 40 lost dollars on the initial scam. The Answer is Yes, and then some. Right now, whilst writing this I am doing a survey (possibly the longest ever) and I get about 3 to 4 a week, but only finish about 1 or 2 as the rest I'm generally screened out of. The amount of money I earn from this isn't much, maybe 100 dollars a year? But the way I see it, it's 100 that I didn't already have. Recently, I went through a phase of picking the sites that actually paid me and deleting my account on every other site, as most of them run on a points system and you might get a payout at 2000 points, but when each survey is maybe 1 to 2 points, its going to take forever and a day to see any money. I'm patient, but not that patient, especially when said sites only send you a survey once a month.

Here are the ones I'm with and why.

Rewards Central & MyOpinions
Previously Emailcash, but forced to split up into Shopping site and survey site. But you can still port your MyOpinions Survey points into Rewards Central which definitely helps you get paid faster. I get about 30 dollars a year from these sites for surveys and mostly looking at email advertising, I'm sure I'd get more if I bought a lot of stuff on line, but I just dont. However, if you do buy a lot of online things, especially Holidays, Computers, things from Deals Direct then you should be with this site. The last time we went overseas I clicked their referring links and bought our travel insurance and tickets through their affiliates and ended up getting a nice batch of points which helped me get paid a few months earlier. Considering I would have been going to those sites anyway, it worked out well. These guys send you a cheque for either 100 dollars or 30. And yes, if you click on the links and join, I will be earning points out of it.

Your Voice
This is run by AC Nielsen, and they also run another panel Homescan (which is invitation only), which is basically, you scan all your groceries and put in the prices each week. Both are quite good, although Homescan gets to be a bit of a chore, (hence I quit) however the surveys do give you some good points usually, and its not that long before you can start getting rewards. Surveys are usually between 10 to 160 points and the lowest reward class is about 50 points (A 5 dollar donation to charity). I've gotten a few rewards out of this site... quite a few. Shopping vouchers and Movie tickets mostly although the more points you have, the better things you can get. I just tend to get the things that I dont feel like paying for normally, and I dont like paying for movie tickets (I'm not getting anything if you click on that link and join).

Valued Opinions
This site probably sends me the most surveys, and its also the site I've gotten the most rewards from, not cash, again like Your Voice they run on vouchers, but the vouchers you get are for the iTunes store, or Coles or Bunnings and other places. They used to let you get rewards at $10 but they've increased it to $25 now... when we were really cash strapped in Newcastle a few years ago, the $10 Coles vouchers I was getting bi-monthly really helped. Now though, I'll get iTunes vouchers and use them to buy Albums or iPhone apps I like. The surveys usually pay between 1 dollar and 8 dollars. but generally stick around the 2 to 3 dollar mark (Again, I'm not going to get anything if you click on the link and join).

Pure Profile
Just like Rewards Central, this site is a mix of advertisement clicking and Surveys, except you see the money you're earning, and when you want to get "Cash Out" they will deposit it straight to your Bank account and in any amount you like (as long as its over 25 dollars). I will generally get about 2 to 3 surveys a week from this site, and earn about 50 cents in watching advertising. Not hard work really considering it only takes up about 5 minutes of my time a week. I also get about 35 dollars a year (I will get something for you clicking the link.)

Vibe Village
This site is a little bit different, its known as "Word of Mouth Marketing" Basically you sign up to programs and they send you free stuff in the way of new products to try out...then you do something like "Host a party" where you basically tell your friends and family about this new product, and then you take photos of you "Spreading the Vibe" and you get more free stuff. So if you like hosting Tupperware parties and Avon Parties and Naughty Nites parties, this is probably the site for you. If like me, you dont feel comfortable with that, avoid like the plague. I have successfully completed 1 task on this site, and have not bothered since, because frankly, the whole thing smacks of effort (Again, I'm not getting anything for posting the link or for you clicking on it).

So there you go, ways for you to get more money for "Free" if you're into that, which I am....

Am I the Melbourne White Person they speak of?

There's a Site, Its more of a phenomenon really, you might have heard of it, its called “Stuff White People Like”

Months ago, the blogger behind Stuff white people like, released a book under the same name, and went on a book tour.... one of his stops was Melbourne. Infact, someone from the Age took said Author on a tour of Melbourne, whilst said author pointed out “White” things about Melbourne. It was all very glib and very, very white. Some comic genius called Ben, has now made a Melbourne version... (Although I have no idea if it was as a result of the Age's article... some of the parralells are definitley there.) I read this version yesterday, and shamefully, I could see myself echo'ed in some of its sentiments...and to be fair, I could see myself echoed in some of the original Blogs sentiments too, but definitley not all of them... that would be soooo painful! (But I know people who are EXACTLY like that) But since someone else has also pointed out that this is “Definitely me” I do feel the need to clarify.....on particular points. So here is one White Girls response to being a White Melburnian.

Not Liking Football
it's not that I don't like football, i'm just not that into it. One game of AFL is so long, and I dont understand the rules, and I dont think I really want to understand them either, I enjoy the spectacle, and the players stamina, but I've never been that obsessive about any sport, ever. Having said that, I do understand the rules of Soccer (Also know as “Real Football”) and I enjoy watching that, and I do follow a team... Newcastle Jets, because Melbourne Victory, Like Serie A, is full swan diving fakers. This is probably why I'll never be a full Melburnian too.

Fingerless Gloves
I wear them yes, I like them, they are so easy to type in but keep the rest of your hands warm! Whats not to like? This is important in Winter.... however, when I go outside, I have a lovely pair of leather gloves. And I love those too

Dirty 3 gig at Meredith Music Festival in 2004

In 2004 I spent the first 9 months of the year living in a Mouse infested share-house (That I look back on with great affection) in the western suburbs of Newcastle and was being referred to by one of the housemates as “The Pot-heads living in the Garage” (Which I don't they ever expected we would be told). Then we spent the last months of the year living next to the beach, in the Eastern suburbs.... but it was a long way from Meredith.

Lentil As Anything

Never eaten at Lentil as Anything, although was always told by our first housemates here how good it was. St Kilda just seems like a long way to go to eat vegetarian. We had something similar in Newcastle, it was called the Hare Krishna cafe, and it wasn't full of tossers (all the time) and you didnt have to wait long periods to be served or for anything.

Bonsoy

Not a fan of bonsoy, or soy in general, I drink it because I have to if I want to drink coffee at a cafe without having the ill affects of lactose plague me and everyone around me for the next 3 days after it. I have found one soy milk I dont mind and its been altered to taste like skim milk. If the supermarket doesnt have it, then I try to cover the taste of the Soy by adding chocolate to it.... because in my books, chocolate covers everything.

Liking or hanging out in Northcote

It's supposed to be Gritty Inner suburbs but its in the middle of suburbia.... to get there by anything but Car is a total fuck-around and once your there, its actually pretty quiet! Sure there's the social club, and a couple of Bars, but really. Its just a street. I have that much closer to home, and my home is Much closer to the city.

Loving Mulled wine

my love for Mulled wine....i could explain away as a german thing....? I haven't really had it in years though, I have a job, I can afford nice wine, and I don't want to wreck it by cooking all the alcohol out of it and ruining it with herbs and spices. Really though, making it, just smacks of effort. In Germany you buy it from stalls in the street... to have with your bratwurst... If they had both of those here in winter I would drink more Mulled wine.

Loving and raving about the Moroccan Soup Bar

Never been to the Moroccan soup bar.

Dropping the ‘North’ from your suburb

This is kinda hard because the North is a pre fix in North Melbourne, and even then its really a West, because I live in West Melbourne..... and when I say I live in West Melbourne, most people say “Where's that? Near Werribee or something?” or “Isn't that all rail-yards, thats not really a suburb.”. Maybe not, but I bet I get home quicker than you do when I'm in the city.

Ceres

I don't understand what Ceres is except that thinking this might be the place everyone keeps talking about where you can make your own bike ? Can you garden there too?

Fire-twirling

I'm lacking in hand eye co-ordination. Not the sort of person suited to twirling fire at a high speed. People would get hurt. I would hurt my self.

Tibetan Prayer Flags

Never owned Tibetan prayer flags...but I do "like" buddhism. Mainly because of Monkey or “Journey to the West” as its called. I do however own a lot of Asian things, hats, dresses, pictures, Maneko Cats, Feng Shui good luck tokens....I'm sure this comes under a different heading.

ACCA (Australian Centre of Contemporary Art)

ACCA is something i keep hearing about but never find... Although the First place I heard about it, and its “Reputation” is in Shane Maloney's crime fiction book “framed” or something. I'm sure this is too mainstream to be considered “White”

Shanghai Dumpling House

Guilty as Charged...I do love the shanghai dumpling house, its frikkin cheap and the chilli sauce is amazing.

Hating on Sydney

I dont like sydney....so guilty as charged....the hating on sydney has mellowed....Mostly because of a strange affinity I have for the Hawkesbury river. Oh and Sydney Rock Oysters.... best oysters I've ever tasted. The blog 52 Suburbs paints Sydney in a wonderful light too.

Earthchoice Dishwash Liquid

Guilty! (Although I wish it were in a glass bottle or something NOT PET)

Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam

Before moving to Melbourne I spent a month travelling Vietnam, and it was life changing. Really, it should have been 3 months, but we ran out of money and the Visa situation would have been a bit tough. My spouse spent a lot of his youth in South East Asia, including living in Cambodia, but it has more to do with his parents work than any white cheap fantasy.

Pronouncing Chile as 'Chil-AY'

Guilty! I'm pretty sure I do this.

Pretending to Hate Cars

I didn't like cars for the past two years, but then we bought a car and I love my car, but it took a while... the freedom is wonderful and the car we have is a 406 Peugot..... I've always liked french cars and I totally love my Pug. The costs are a bit much and thats about all that shits me....

Movies That Make You Think

Sometimes I do love the art faggery of movies that make you think...but I love a good dose of Kung Fu. My parents love “movies that make you think, my sister loves “movies that make you think”...and I like Bruce Lee, Jet Li and Jackie Chan...and Anime and Stoner movies.... get me in a Cinema with a choice of the latest Kevin Smith film, Jackie Chan Film or Studio Ghibli film against some Indie Silent film by an arts student from inner New York and the Former will win every time. Jackie Chan flipping nameless goons in downtown Hong Kong wins over Angst everytime man, everytime.

Trackies

I own one pair of trackies.... and I hate wearing them outside.... this has more to do with Bogans in Wallsend and wanting to separate my self from them. Tracksuits are for Athletes and Bogans. They are not acceptable street-wear.

Pretending To Be A Nerd

Dont need to pretend, I am. You want to talk Computers? Technical Speak? SQL? Java? Relational Database Structures? Open Source vs Apple vs Microsoft? Lets do it. The conversation will end with your eyes glazing over though once you realise you're out of your depth though.

The World Section of The Age

There are only two sections of the Age I read.

The Quiz

The Good Weekend/A2 section.....

Well this is oversimplifying it a bit, i read more, but that generally doesn't include the world section. 

The Windsor End of Chapel Street

Guilty, the only part of Chapel St I like is the Windsor end

South side versus North side

Yes, there are more but I will end here:

Unashamedly I prefer the North Side.

So I guess I am White... but I dont know about being “Melbourne brand White”.

Live Simply, So others may simply live.

I love Stencil Art, and this I saw this morning whilst walking to the Tram Stop to go to work.

I was running late, I was in the Mood for a Coffee, but I lost my free coffee vouchers, I was listening to some great tunes on my headphones and this caught my eye.

I like the way its formatted to be palindromic. It's almost like a Haiku....except the middle line is missing a syllable.

So simple, yet so profound. Awesomely powerful for a Friday morning, yet it reminded me that I should just enjoy the walk and the sun and the moment.

I was touched.

The Nerd... Sporting it up

I'll be the first to say that Academically I've always been in there competing to be the biggest geek, getting first, second, third, prizes, computer science camps...A's... I'm the overachieving type, I enjoying "knowing stuff". I've never been the best, but I sure as hell did a lot better in the class room than outside it.

 

Sport...nooooooooooo, I've always subscribed to the belief that whenever I feel the need to exercise, I should lay down until said feeling passes. Of course, I've done my share of after school activities...Gymnastics (I got kicked out for talking too much and not paying enough attention), Trampolining (I stopped, I dont remember why), Little Athletics (This was doomed to fail after I came last in every race and I was petrified of the starting gun, so I made my mother stand behind me with her hands over my ears at the starting line) and the swimming carnivals at school where ever time they insisted I enter a race and end up fishing me out half way down the pool because I sank like a stone.

 

I have of course, had my moments.... I once came 9th in cross country at school.... there were 10 people in the race and I walked the entire track... but the teachers still got annoyed at me for not turning up to the regional's. I played football (soccer), and enjoyed it... but I was always put in a position where running was minimal and after playing a season with a Christian Girls team, was not invited back because I swore too much on and off the field. I did also, do 5 years of classical ballet, and 1 year of Jazz, but failed my last Ballet exam and then was asked to leave the school when I became a teenager and started mocking the teacher.... teenagers....brats, even the nerdy ones with glasses. Lastly, Karate...well, being at university and having formed a habit of being lazy, I really got annoyed that after starting at the same time as someone and then taking a year off only to come back and find him teaching really put my nose out of joint. I'm sure if I had put in as much effort as he had though, I would have been at the same level.

 

So, this year taking up a new form of Martial Arts, as I've mentioned previously, I was extremely nervous about my grading, this last weekend....Nervous like I am when boarding a plane.

Without going into too many cliché's, I did put in the extra work this time....doing what every teacher tells their student.... Practice...every day. I did...not every day, maybe every 2 days. I also started doing extra classes, just because, I was not "getting it" like everyone else seemed to be. Long story short, I went in, did the best I could, and sure I wasn't perfect, but I graded... in fact, shock horror, I came third....3rd, best female for Light blue...(yes, there were more than 3 females) in Melbourne (another girl from my Dojo took 2nd Prize).... to say I was elated... well that's putting it mildly.... I was over the freaking moon!

 

Perhaps the Einstein was right.... Genius... 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration.

 

I'm going to stop now, because this is all becoming a bit clichéd.