The Unspoken Things

-
This week I did a lesson for my classes on 'utopia' vs. 'dystopia.' I showed them a short clip from the film Children of Men, but I knew it wouldn't have the same impact on them it had on me the first time I saw it; our city streets are not so different from the scenes depicted in the movie. I doubt they realized London had been changed for the movie to resemble a dystopic nightmare, and I didn't point it out to them. (Click on the link above for a short advertisement for the film which shows what I am referring to.)

I also showed them this video. I debated with myself as to whether I should, but I ultimately did because I think the overall message of the song is powerful. (It's something I can't speak about openly here, but if you watch the video, and remember where I am, you'll perhaps understand why I hesitated.)

There are certain topics we have been "asked" not to discuss here, under any circumstances. I look forward to the day I am no longer under this mantle and can speak freely. But I do respect why we have been asked, and I have agreed to comply. So if this blog at times seems to be lacking discussions which you think must certainly arise from living in China, it is not oversight.

Comments

myself said…
Then I just can't wait til you leave China...I'd love to hear what you have to say as a "westerner". It's one of my favorite topics of conversation. Don't worry, I'm on the "no-Visa to China list" anyway ;-)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Busy Bee Suz said…
These must both have been eye opening for some. Thanks for sharing with us. I never saw the Movie, and I am intrigued now.
LOVE that Song and video too. take care, suz
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Caution/Lisa said…
Your students seem more advanced than mine! Then again, maybe it's the teacher :)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Bingham's said…
Children of Men was a good movie. It really did have quite the impact on me as well. It is just hard for me to understand how they can not grasp how just one person can change so many things. But, then again, I know that there is a reason they don't think that way. Maybe you will make on impact on just one person in your class, who knows.....
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Technodoll said…
That was one freaky movie... thankfully Clive made it bearable. Ugh.

You're much more patient than I am with censorship, I would have gotten in much trouble a long time ago LOL :-)
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Its Just Me - Daring to Dream said…
I'm with Technodoll on the whole Clive part. But I understand what you are dealing with. Wasnt in the peace corp, but knew some missionaries that experienced something like what you are experiencing. Not long before you leave...then you can speak as free as you want as often as you want for as long as you want :)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Rebecca Foster said…
Myself, no-visa list? Interesting...I bet that is a story!

Well, I really do think the message is universal. And I hope they do know, what they do makes a difference. I hope I inspire them to be their best selves. It's what I'm here for.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Quick Notes

-
I cut my hair today, it now looks like Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction. It took two hours, it was the most meticulous haircut I have ever received. He was amazing. I wish I could take him with me to Chongqing. Tomorrow I move into a hotel with the other volunteers in downtown Chengdu. We have a few days of meetings and then I move to Chongqing on Wednesday. It's about 4 hours away by train. Our new school helps us move, I am crossing my fingers they bring a car or some strong men to help! My suitcases are hella heavy. We had a banquet last night for our host families. The power went out so we ate in the dark, and then we decided to move to a restaurant next door where dinner started all over again. It was a very China evening. I will post pics asap.
Read more

This One Time I Thought I Was Really Hot (But It Was Just The HVAC Talking)

-
Back in San Antonio, my friend Stacey had asked me to pick her up from the airport. It was full summer, and for those of you who haven't been in San Antonio in the summertime, you know that expression 'hot as an oven'? Well, I like to say San Antonio summers are 'hot as downwind from an exhaust pipe.' (Which means when you actually are downwind from an exhaust pipe, things get really unpleasant.) It's quite common for there to be a temperature difference of 35-40 degrees between indoor and outdoor air during a San Antonio summer. True story: I had a small heater at my work desk and turned it on in the summer, not winter, because the air conditioning was on so high in our building I froze to death at my desk. So anyway, I go straight from the gym to the airport to pick up Stacey. It's 10 pm but still around 100 degrees outside. Inside, it's a balmy 60 or so. Gotta give those tourists a false sense of comfort! I'm pacing a bit in the baggage area wa...
Read more

Really?!?? AKA, Cultural Mishaps in China, They Will Happen

-
After judging a speech competition all morning at a school that is not my own, I was asked to hand out the second place prizes. They also asked some other teachers, but I missed the details because they only gave them in Chinese and I didn’t understand everything. I was only supposed to hand out 4 of 12 prizes. But the prize girl kept handing me certificates, so I kept handing them out, while the audience laughed at me. I didn’t know what was going on, so I just kept going until someone stopped me. Later, I was interviewed for the school news, on video, and the girl interviewing me asked me this question: Random Girl: “When you made the mistake and everyone was laughing at you, what did you feel inside?” Really, random girl? Really? On camera you ask me this? Really? Two years ago, this would have devastated me. Now, I just have to laugh and say, “Oh well! Such is life in China.” Cultural mistakes will be made. It happens. For the record, I told her I felt that it is maybe go...
Read more