The Adventures of Grover and Tylene: Making Light!

Well, here we go again...another week, another blog. Go me for actually remembering to do so! I am a superstar (oh so confident, eh!) Ha ha...I just said Eh! Must be a little lonely for all things Canadian...particularly the bacon! Oh how I miss real bacon. Okay, I realize "turkey" bacon is a "healthy alternative", but really, do the words "healthy" and "bacon" go together in your mind??? Not so much in mine. Hmmm, bacon!

Thank goodness that's out of the way! Perhaps, at one point, when I'm a little closer to returning home, I will make a list of all the things that I miss about Canada. I fear doing so right now would make me just a wee lonesome for home! In the meantime, I shall write about the wonderful Kuwaiti experiences of the past week. Hold onto your seats, this one is going to be exciting.

Last week was a busy week. Report cards were completed with time to spare, comments were rather well written, if I do say so myself (oh, by the way, in case you didn't know, I am a linguistic learner) and my students "made light".

We're currently doing a until on electricity. The activity the students were working on last week was making a little light bulb light up using wires and two AA batteries. Now, one aspect of the PYP Unit of Inquiry is that students are actually supposed to inquire. So rather than giving them the procedure, I gave them their materials and allowed them to play until they found the right combination. I also took to heart that playing with 3 volts of electricity could not really cause that much damage should wires be hooked up incorrectly.

Anywho, on with the project. They are quite fascinating to watch when you set them to such a task. You see who your "bosses" are, those who are willing to just "sit back and coast" and those that really wanna participate, but are overpowered by the "bosses". A little teacher intervention and all was happy in Grade Five Yellow.

The learning that occurred was quite remarkable. First, do not hook both ends of the same wire to both ends of the battery pack...it gets hot. I had to giggle when I heard the yelp of a fifth grade boy, who didn't have the sense to drop the battery pack and leave it on the table...kept trying to pick it up to remove the wire. Oh the joys.

The second bit of profound knowledge was the discovery that, and I quote, "We made light!". That statement was followed by hoots and hollers that could be heard down the hallway. Once one table "made light" the competition was on!

The final part of the experiment was creating a switch for the light using brass paper holders and a paper clip. Such an activity was a little beyond the student's level of "inquiry" so a little teacher help went a long way...sometimes it was just a matter of talking the circuit through with them. For other groups, it required considerably more "assistance". Oh well, what can you do! All in all, the activity was a fun time had by all. I am sure my dear brother Michael will be sooo proud of his little sis who not only managed to make a circuit, but was also able to add a switch to it. Good lil' electrician's apprentice. I think with all of this new experience, I might need to increase my "apprentice" fees to double what I am getting now! Tee hee hee.

The other highlight of the week was a Friday trip to The Avenues. Now, to merely say that I went to the mall to go shopping would seriously limit exactly what The Avenues is. First of all, it's a work in progress...there are still several wings to be added. Secondly, I have yet to see the whole part that is already built...too big...not enough time. Thirdly, shopping malls in Kuwait are kind of reflective of the wealth of the nation...the bigger the better!

At any rate, a trip to The Avenues resulted in lunch at TGIFriday's, a new sweater from H & M and a movie. Yup, I have gone to my first movie in Kuwait. We went to see Bride Wars. Now, keep in mind that because it was a romantic comedy that anything that resembled affection was cut...so from time to time the movie would go from one scene to another...I had imaged it would be a smooth transition, but not so much.

As for the experience itself...holy cow! The chairs are perhaps the most comfy "movie' watching chairs in the world. I have half a mind to "borrow" one for my home (after I get a television, of course). The price of caramel popcorn and two waters was only 1 KD (4 dollars). Admission to the move was 3 KD (12 dollars) but that is fairly comparable to back home. The other perks are that you can go to the VIP theatre for only 6 KD and there are only 25 people in the theatre. In addition, you have your own private concierge for popcorn and treats. VIP movie experience will be next on the agenda.

The final stop at The Avenues was at Carrefour. I must say that I prefer shopping at Sultan Centre. The difference is shopping at Wal-Mart versus Safeway. I'm all about the Safeway atmosphere, and although I pay considerable more, the headache is considerably less. Back to Sultan Centre I will go.

And that was that. I spent the weekend relaxing, baking cookies and treating myself to an afternoon at the spa. Perhaps that is something that I will need to do every week. I am sure I can always find something to pamper...manicure, pedicure, facial, massage...there's a month already.

Still trying to decide on a February destination...trouble is we have a February break for 4 days and then a March break for 3 the very next weekend. Is it necessary to travel both weekends...no, but would it be fun! Oh yes! so we will see what the next little while brings.

I think that is where I will sign off. I look forward to returning home in 21 weeks...can't hardly believe it.

Until then...

G & T!