Making Connections

I didn't really blog about my internship at all so I thought it would be important to mention what I have been doing for a month.  Wow it's already been a month!!  Time sure flies.

As Natasha and Larissa mentioned to me before, it is indeed a dynamic internship.  I basically do anything associated with English.  It involves a huge range of things that I never thought would be related to what I already know how to do.  The exposure has opened up many new possibilities for me.  So far, I have transcribed English interviews and organized research material for my host contact.  I have given talks about Canadian culture (really hard to define us by the way) and the Canadian education system in a local secondary school.  I am currently helping a NET (Native English Teacher) in a primary school with language instruction, reading, writing, and preparing for an English drama for multicultural day.   I am also helping with the BA language studies summer camp at IEd, where I have to converse with students in English to train their language proficiency.  These duties will probably take me up to the beginning of July.  Not sure what mid-late July and August will be all about yet, but probably more exciting and hard work. 

I'm really enjoying it so far: meeting lots of people, gaining new experiences, getting together with old friends and family, seeing what they are up to... It's funny how it doesn't feel like I am learning much new material though.  It probably sounds like I am wasting my time here but do let me clarify before you get ahead of me.  I went through my life basically picking up bits and pieces of knowledge, experiences, and ideas that virtually made no sense.  Everything seemed to be "just the way it is" just because.  This internship is helping me to bridge the gaps, make connections, and finally give me a sense of clarity of these disjointed segments.  It's giving me a similar feeling to the one described in The Five People You Meet in Heaven.

Although it's probably not something someone pays you to do ($3000 CAD from York), and not a target learning objective of an internship, I learned a lot about my family and why they behave the way they do.  Here is an example.  I was always puzzled at why my dad dumps a huge meal into his stomach and "finishes" within five minutes.  He rushes me and conflict ensues until disastrous ending results.  It's just typical.  But now I am seeing the reasons behind it. 

He grew up in Hong Kong.

Yes.

that is the reason.  the end.

I am working at the primary school now, and I get about 45 minutes for lunch from 12:30-1:15.  After tidying up the classroom, following the NET around for preparations, lesson follow-ups, and discussions, I get about 30 minutes.  Since the primary school has 7 floors, by the time you get to G, out to the canteen, you get about 25 minutes.  Wonderful.  Line up to order at the canteen, line up to get your food, 15 minutes left. 

Prett much feels like this every lunch.  It's the Dragon Boat Festival in Tai O on June 6.

Ready?  Set?  Go!  Eat!! eAT!! EAT!!!  Yum.  Not really.  Didn't taste much at all.  Whatever, get out now.  Love to be there 5 minutes before class starts, but no can do.  Walking up the stairs take longer too.  1:15-- huff huff puff....

I knew my dad was from Hong Kong, and I knew he dumped food into his stomach.  Now I know why.