There was a dog that slept in our back yard prior to the fence was installed. This dog was barking at times and brother said that he might just strike its head with his fist and destroy the animal. Mom worried that the dog might bite brother when and if he strikes the dog.
Dog was poisoned soon after.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Uncle1
Mom and Uncle1 were closest. She told me many things about him.
When he was young, he liked to tell stories he read to workers. His nickname was "張大白話"
He went to 惠文中学, He was very good with soccer and was a good leader. Team used to play other schools and win. After that, he took the entire team to a restaurant and stuck the school with bill.
They used to have a maid Liu who will make shoes for them by hand. Uncle1 was too active for the shoes to last. A pair of hand-made shoes might last one day.
Some Chinese people used to smoke opium and so did his father. One day uncle1 came home and threw away all the opium and equipment. He learned that that was out-lawed.
Uncle1 was in the airforce as a navigator.
Uncle was not careful with his relationship with women. I am not sure that it was good for him in the long run.
When mom's dad was in jail for a year or two, mom's mom was having an affair with someone renting a room at their house. They both knew the secret but never said anything.
When uncle1 worked in Osaka, his children were first there then left for the US. Mom said that he really missed the kids and cried a lot.
In the early 1960s', he was still in the service but he was in Taipei a lot. He was riding a Vespa motorcycle. He would take me and my older brother for a ride up to the mountain with tombs.
When he was young, he liked to tell stories he read to workers. His nickname was "張大白話"
He went to 惠文中学, He was very good with soccer and was a good leader. Team used to play other schools and win. After that, he took the entire team to a restaurant and stuck the school with bill.
They used to have a maid Liu who will make shoes for them by hand. Uncle1 was too active for the shoes to last. A pair of hand-made shoes might last one day.
Some Chinese people used to smoke opium and so did his father. One day uncle1 came home and threw away all the opium and equipment. He learned that that was out-lawed.
Uncle1 was in the airforce as a navigator.
Uncle was not careful with his relationship with women. I am not sure that it was good for him in the long run.
When mom's dad was in jail for a year or two, mom's mom was having an affair with someone renting a room at their house. They both knew the secret but never said anything.
When uncle1 worked in Osaka, his children were first there then left for the US. Mom said that he really missed the kids and cried a lot.
In the early 1960s', he was still in the service but he was in Taipei a lot. He was riding a Vespa motorcycle. He would take me and my older brother for a ride up to the mountain with tombs.
Mom and dumplings
When we lived under the mountains, uncle1 and uncle2 visited us at times. They made dumplings.
Uncle1 made thin ones and uncle2 made fat ones. We used to joke by saying the shapes match the shapes of their bodies.
Uncle1 made thin ones and uncle2 made fat ones. We used to joke by saying the shapes match the shapes of their bodies.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Mom's physical punishment
Mom used to hit us when we did not follow her directions. I did not like the atmosphere of our home when I was in middle school so I was out a lot. She would lock me out and I had to climb the wall to get in.
Mom later said that she was not like that at the beginning. Three brothers were just boys being boys. Uncle #3 said, "You are the mom and you do not even know how to deal with those boys." That is when mom started physically punishing us.
Mom was often verbally abusive.
Mom later said that she was not like that at the beginning. Three brothers were just boys being boys. Uncle #3 said, "You are the mom and you do not even know how to deal with those boys." That is when mom started physically punishing us.
Mom was often verbally abusive.
Mom's mom
Mom's mom was mean to mom. She would hit mom with thin sticks often.
Mom said, " I do not even cry. If mom can kill me. Let her."
Later, her mom had liver cancer. She did not even go and see her die in Shanghei.
Mom said, " I do not even cry. If mom can kill me. Let her."
Later, her mom had liver cancer. She did not even go and see her die in Shanghei.
Mom's dad and asthma
Mom's dad had asthma. He used to just sit at night instead of actually sleep. According to her, he would just pile blankets around and get through cold winter nights of HeBei.
Mom often said that her dad did not die of asthma but died of diarrea at the age of 82.
Mom often said that her dad did not die of asthma but died of diarrea at the age of 82.
Mom's older sister
Mom's mather was the second wife of mom's father. The first wife had two daughters and these daughters did not like the new mother. They were married then and the older one never came back to visit. The second sister did not marry to a good family so she would come back sometimes.
Mom said that uncle #3 was not nice to the sister.
Once this uncle had a stick from an unbrella and was using it to annoy to the baby the sister was carrying. He did it for a long time and finally mom grabbed the stick and uncle started crying. Mom was maybe 6 or 8 years older than this uncle.
Mom said that uncle #3 was not nice to the sister.
Once this uncle had a stick from an unbrella and was using it to annoy to the baby the sister was carrying. He did it for a long time and finally mom grabbed the stick and uncle started crying. Mom was maybe 6 or 8 years older than this uncle.
Mom's work
Mom worked as a temp after three of us brothers got to about ten years old. There was a lack of nurses so she got a job. The location was a bit far so mom did not want to go. Mr. Chen of fourth floor told her that she should go. Nursing job is with Taipei city government and it is a good pemanent job.
She went to 松山衛生所. The person in charge, 胡端本 was very nice to her. She was a good worker also.
She went to 松山衛生所. The person in charge, 胡端本 was very nice to her. She was a good worker also.
Mom's temper
A student looked at her quiz once during high school, mom got angry. She threw her answer page(made with a stone slab) and broke it. She demanded that the other student to pay for a new one.
Mom went to first grade and became the best student in her class. She did not go to second grade since her father did not want her to. She went to third grade and again got the best grades after not going for a year. After fourth grade, her father did not let her go to school any more. He did not want her to be mingling with boys. He got her a tutor and teaching her at home.
He taught her old books (四書五經). She was a good student. She could recite the entire 論語 with perfect 之乎者也.
Due to wars, she never got any diploma in China after attending many schools for short periods.
She finally arrived Taipei and got a degree in nursing.
He taught her old books (四書五經). She was a good student. She could recite the entire 論語 with perfect 之乎者也.
Due to wars, she never got any diploma in China after attending many schools for short periods.
She finally arrived Taipei and got a degree in nursing.
Mom and cat
There was a cat at our house during the 50's and mom fed it often. However, the cat was very fond of uncle #3 who mom did not care for too much. She said that the cat would show a lot of feelings when that uncle got home. Mom probably got jealous.
One day, she poisoned the cat.
One day, she poisoned the cat.
Mom and abortion
During my visit in the summer of 2007, mother told me about her abortions. She said that she had a total of three for economical reasons. She said that Dad was very much against it by saying, "These kids are here to live, not to be killed".(他們是來投生的，不是來求死的)
It seemed that she regretted doing so.
It seemed that she regretted doing so.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
1957 vs 2007
SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2007
Scenario:Jack goes quail hunting before school,pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun,goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario:Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins.Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario:Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal.Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie.Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from statebecause Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario:Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's carand his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal,goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembersbeing abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.
Scenario:Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations.Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario:Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state.Newspaper articles appear nationallyexplaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist.ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school systemand Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends upmowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario:Johnny takes a part leftover firecrackers from 4th of July,puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2007- BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called.Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents,siblings removed from home, computers confiscated,Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch listand is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario:Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee.He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job.She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
Scenario:Jack goes quail hunting before school,pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun,goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario:Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins.Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark. Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario:Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal.Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zombie.Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from statebecause Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario:Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's carand his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal,goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse. Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang. State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembersbeing abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.
Scenario:Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smoking dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations.Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario:Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state.Newspaper articles appear nationallyexplaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist.ACLU files class action lawsuit against state school systemand Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum. Pedro given diploma anyway but ends upmowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario:Johnny takes a part leftover firecrackers from 4th of July,puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2007- BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called.Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents,siblings removed from home, computers confiscated,Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch listand is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario:Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee.He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job.She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Good Teaching
Children are inherently very smart.
We should keep tricking them into believing that that is true.
If a child missed seven out ten word problems, say, " WOW!! You got three correctly for the first try".
If a child can not do something, say, " When I was your age, I was worse. Let's try it again. I am sure you can get better".
Good thing to say: This is easy. You can do it.
We should keep tricking them into believing that that is true.
If a child missed seven out ten word problems, say, " WOW!! You got three correctly for the first try".
If a child can not do something, say, " When I was your age, I was worse. Let's try it again. I am sure you can get better".
Good thing to say: This is easy. You can do it.
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