Apple Educator’s Conference

Posted on April 28, 2009 by Sean

This past weekend was my first time in Hong Kong. Wow. To me it seems like Manhattan — even more people on the streets than Shanghai. Everyone young. Everyone Asian. Everyone sheik [except me].

Well I was in Hong Kong for Apple’s Education Leadership Summit. Apple brought together some of the best and brightest teachers from all over the world to share best practices in K-12 education. I was amazed listening to the trends and observations about today’s youth — they are described as “digital natives” (having been born into the internet age) while my own generation are called “digital immigrants”. And I agree.Think about it: immigrants are uncomfortable in their new, strange culture. But natives are totally comfortable, because they were born into this new techno-culture. My friends who are my age think I’m a technophile, but I can see that Michael (my son) is the real technophile!We have entered an age where common teaching methods are outdated and counterproductive because the learning context has changed. The learning context was books, newspapers, 30-channel TV, pen-and-paper. The new learning context is e-books, RSS-news, youTube, and weblogs. People are not learning and communicating the same way they did 30 years ago!At this conference, a key take-away for me is if I’m going to be relevant to the young people who now outnumber me in this new world (including my own kids) I must give up the idea of becoming a “teacher,” instead I must try to see what they see and learn alongside them. Only then I may have an opportunity introduce some wisdom from the past.

People watching in Chengdu

Posted on April 26, 2009 by Sean

Thursday was a “free day” in Chengdu. I slept in till 6:30 and took my time getting ready while watching BBC World News (the only channel I could understand.) Ate some great Chinese food on the breakfast buffet: a hot peanut/tofu dish, fried noodles, steamed dumplings, bread pudding, and the coffee was excellent. After catching up on email in my room, decided I wasn’t going to be a super-tourist; I’m not going 4 hrs away to see the panda research center (something most people would consider a “must do”). Instead I went to JinLi, one of the most ancient commercial streets in the history of the Sichuan province.

JinLi was crowded with Chinese tourists eating and shopping, snapping pictures. I felt it was analogous to Alexandria’s Old Town, except that JinLi is older by two millenniums. I think you can understand my thoughts: a historical place that has become a tourist trap.

Anyway, I only saw two Westerner’s briefly — everyone else Asian. I wasn’t surprised by the Starbucks [I don’t like going to Starbucks in China — it seems so expensive and unnecessary], TCBY, and Dairy Queen. There were several yummy-smelling Sichuan food stands, mainly noodles. I tried some kind of meat wrapped in a flat bread with fresh veggies (so good). And here I will admit that I did stop and get a DQ Blizzard. After watching people for a long time, I went to the city square with it’s huge statue of Chairman Mao Zedong.

After a day of being on my own, observing Chinese people and places… I’m thinking that the cultural differences are not as significant as I thought. The young people are joking/laughing, the children are curious about the fish in the pond, the old people are relaxed and observant, the buyers envy the same luxury brands, the couples are in love, the workers are busy… It is not hard for me to imagine that we have some relatives in common.

Tech Meetings

Posted on April 24, 2009 by Sean

This week my parent company held a technology meeting in Chengdu (central China) bringing together the tech staff from each of five international schools. It was a small group, about 9 of us altogether.

We spent two days reviewing next year’s budget and technology plans. The last day was given to community service in the Sichuan Earthquake zone.

This entailed repairing some older computers and network equipment. We then installed them at a middle school in the countryside and at community center for earthquake survivors.

My 42nd Birthday

Posted on March 13, 2009 by Sean

Since our arrival in China I have been hearing about these awesome, inexpensive foot massages ($7.00 for a one hour massage)! So I decided for my birthday to invite the kids to go with me for my very first foot massage. The largest room they had could only accommodate five people, so Susan watched and Megan charmed the Chinese workers.

Megan munching on a pineapple snack provided with the massage.

After the massage we walked upstairs in the same shopping area to eat at our favorite Indian food restaurant.

No birthday is complete without cake and candles. Susan and Megan made dad’s recipe for my favorite maple butter cake.

It’s our Destiny

Posted on March 7, 2009 by Sean

Tonight Rachel made me watch Slumdog Millionaire. The kids bought it on the street this week and watched it last night… they said it was the kind of movie I’d like. They were right. The setting in Mumbai was so fascinating. And I’m always hooked when someone is redeemed, or rescued.

I also think it is appealing when we can have hope. Hope that I am not trapped in this slum, never to break out. Hope that there is more to this life. Hope that there is someone greater than me who has a plan for me. Hope that I am destined for something.The concept of destiny is brought out in the movie. This makes sense to me as I think real hope relies on destiny, because it is hard to have hope for a new future if you don’t believe in some kind of god or hidden power that controls the future. At the end of the movie, Jamal whispers, “It’s our Destiny.” I think we all have one.

Megan

Posted on March 6, 2009 by Sean

This is one of Michael’s snapshots of Megan. You should check out his Flickr Photostream.

My Language Teacher

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Sean

This is my Chinese Language teacher, Lydia.
A benefit of my job is two hours with a language tutor each week.
Lydia is from the north-central part of China, called Inner Mongolia.
(Seems like she’s always this cheery.)

First steps with a MacBook

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Sean

A big part of my job is helping teachers with technology. And today was a major milestone because all the teachers received a new white MacBook. Exciting? Yes. Scary? A little. This is a brand new experience for most of us. Hey, I’ve been a PC guy for 20 years. Now I’m unlearning and relearning.What? No right click?! How am I going to copy/paste?!I’m a newbie; so how am I supposed to help these teachers? …I have a feeling I’m really going to like it. [Michael is already lovin’ it.]

Prayer Requests

Posted on January 19, 2009 by Sean

01/17/08 English Class Standardized Test – Our students will
be taking a standardized English exam (written, oral, and speaking) on January
17th. They must reach a certain competency level in English in order to study
abroad. Their ambitions are to go to the UK for a Master’s degree this coming
summer, and this standardized test is their last requirement. Please pray for
them in this coming week and especially on the 17th, that their studies would be
focused, that our efforts with them will help allow for a passing grade, and
most importantly, the “seeds” planted will take root for eternity.

01/04/09 Home Group — Should we start a fellowship group in
our home? After being here a while, we are seeing that other “like-minded”
expatriates need fellowship, rest, and spiritual encouragement because their
daily work in schools, orphanages, and other places among the locals can be
draining.

12/21/08 Local College Students — ANSWER– We have begun
the English class in our home. We currently have four students coming twice a
week for one-hour sessions, practicing their English. Their names are Wayne,
Sandy, Jessie, and Wendy (all English names given to them by their professors).
Because of the nature of the class, we are able to share about ourselves and
American culture — pray that our conversation is seasoned with truth and grace
that these students would begin to seek the Lord.

Tianjin History #1

Posted on November 19, 2008 by Sean

Did you know that Eric Liddell – missionary & Olympic gold medalist – was
born in our city, Tianjin? Yes — and he returned to Tianjin years later to
spread the Gospel. We visited his home, now a historic site, not far from our
apartment.

The movie Chariots of Fire made famous the story of Eric Liddell. During the
1924 Olympics he found that his best event – the 100 meter dash – was scheduled
on Sunday. Beholding his commitment not to run on the Sabbath, he dropped out
of the race. But later that week, Liddell captured the gold in his worst event
– the 400 meter – setting a long lasting world record.

“For Eric Liddell, however, this was not the ultimate race. The son of
Scottish missionaries to China, he saw his whole life as a race: a race for the
Kingdom of Heaven. That is why, two years after taking the Olympic gold, he
sailed to China, to become a missionary himself. Having seen the Chinese need
for science education, he had devoted himself to science studies at Edinburgh.
In China he became a teacher at the Anglo-Chinese school at Tientsin.”
[Tientsin: a translation for Tianjin.] –excerpt by Christianity Today,
taken from chi.gospelcom.net

See what the Chinese officials wrote on the plaque below:

C4

Author Archives: Sean