See Pbuzz Home Page for new articles from Joy, Olivia, Tatyana, Catherine, Ritsuko and Stacey.
And Helena, too! She cannot see our blog in China (censored, I think), but has sent on a lovely article titled, "The Backyard of China," on Yunnan Province in China. And it has a nice photo of a man with his dog.
Thanks Hiromi and Stacey for your edits. I made very minor changes to both. See if you can spot them!
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Hungarian Letcho.
Spicy or mild, this sausage or chicken recipe will have the whole family clamoring for supper.
Ingredients:
1 Large onion.
3 Tbsp olive oil.
2 Green peppers, cut into 1 inch squares.
3 Peeled tomatoes. Canned will do.
3 Cloves garlic, chopped.
½ tsp chili.
1 chorizo sausage or 2 skinless, boneless chicken breast.
Directions:
1.Heat oil in large fry pan over medium heat.
2. Saute onions, garlic and peppers until limp.
3. Add chopped sausage and chili. Heat through.
4. Reduce heat and add tomatoes.
5. Simmer 10 mins, stirring gently.
6. Serve with rice.
Letter to a Young Man Who Went Extra Miles
It was rainy Saturday afternoon when I met you. Metrotown was crowded as usual, and the Real Canadian Superstore was even more horrific. Wiggling through the aisles where shoppers and carts flooded consumed me. I was in a bad mood.
Then I saw your beaming smile. It was like a beacon, noticeable from a distance. I lined up at your casher right away.
To be honest with you, I was a bit skeptical. While other cashers looked tired and worn, you seemed unreasonably happy. What’s this guy?
When my turn came and you spoke to me, though, I knew you were genuine.
“Hi, how’re you doing today?” you sang. You were quick and efficient. Scanning sound was rhythmical.
“I have something new today,” you said, opening the cash register. And you handed me a shiny looney—a new Terry Fox coin. It was then that Terry Fox coins had just started to circulate, and I had never seen one except TV commercial.
“My kids wanted this!” I cried.
“Yeah? How many kids?”
When I said three, you put five more brand-new coins in my palm. I was speechless.
“You made my day,” I managed to say, and you blushed and gave me your shy smile.
That was two years ago. But I still remember the day. When I left the store, I felt like skipping. It was incredible. And you know what? When I got home, I was a hero with the coins. I was happier and nicer for the rest of the day—and so was my family.
So thank you very much. Your extra kindness went a long way. You made a world a bit nicer place that day. And I try to do the same.
288 words
For “Raves” maybe?
Teacher's profile (The 3rd draft)
Dina said, "As for the'Teaser' part, perhaps you should check Brad."
Teaser: On Mondays, Dina provides another class, the tutorial Math for Level 7, 8 and 9.
In spite of having a tight schedule, she welcomed the sudden interview.
The All-round Teacher: Dina
Have you noticed a variety of plants with their healthy leaves beside Room 4? For many years, Dina has taken care of them as carefully as her students’ progress.
Dina has a long experience in teaching. While she was a university student, she worked as an instructor at a children’s camp. Inspired by the teaching activity, after graduating from university, she began pursuing her career in New Westminster School District, starting as a support staff in 1994.
After she had worked for SIGMA, Young Adult Program, for 6 years, Dina became a teacher at PALC in 2003. “Working with adult students is interesting,” she said, “because they have experienced life.”
During summer break, Dina teaches summer school in the high school. The intensive course requires a change in classroom management and a major adjustment for her. Doesn’t she feel it’s difficult? “Just different--I enjoy teaching,” she responded.
In the lab, Dina helps the students solve their problems in Math. Her one-on-one instruction has encouraged the self-paced students at all levels. “Practice and understand the basic concepts of Math.” she suggested in order to improve, “but the best is to ask for help.” She said that the students try too much by themselves. “Come and ask the teachers for help,” she advised.
This term, Dina has been teaching Social Studies 9 and 10 in the evening. As usual, her lessons start with a Brain Teaser, a visual puzzle. “Just have fun,” she explained, “but the main purpose is everybody focuses at the same starting point.” She talked about another result that her students look happy learning new vocabulary and thinking. “They’re quite pleased,” she said.
Dina’s classroom, Room 2, is amusing. She decorates it with colourful tags with review questions--“Who am I?” The exercises and resources can enjoyably lead her students to remember the previous lessons. Before her class begins, she also prepares several work sheets for the students such as, a map, a crossword, a vocabulary quiz and scrambled questions. “I try to make the review interesting,” she said, smiling.
About Dina
Graduated in Psychology and Biology at Simon Fraser University. She holds Bachelor of Arts and a Certificate in Liberal Arts. Afterward, she attended the Professional Development Program for a year at the same university.
Movie: Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Books: Harry Potter Series
Pastime: Gardening
Hobby: Keeping tropical fish. (She has 3 aquariums.)
(430 words)
Teache's profile part 2--Helen
The 2nd draft
The Active Canadian Teacher: Helen
Oftentimes, Helen recommends her students not to use their electric translator, bilingual dictionary in class. In her essay, “Throw Away that Translator!” she describes how to improve English based on her progress in Portuguese. Should we really stop using our translator? “If you can’t guess the meaning of a word, the translator could help,” she accepted the situation, “but translating is not a way to learn language.” She suggested to us that reading helps well written language. “Read, read and read--find something you enjoy reading instead,” she said.
Volunteering in Brazil and learning Portuguese
Helen visited to Brazil for the first time since she had met her Brazilian friend in Canada. During the 6 months stay, she was attracted to the country and the people. “It’s amazing! The people are so friendly,” she said, “in order to know them and to stay, I had to speak Portuguese.”
Although she was only 19 years old that time, she started becoming involved in volunteering, teaching English to the local people. “Only the rich can learn English.” She revealed the unfairness between rich and poor. The school in the poor district didn’t have even a piece of chalk, so she called her family in Canada to send her materials such as, pencils, papers and English books for beginners. To visit to Brazil, she prepares clothes, toys and stationery to donate to the children. What benefits has she gained through the volunteer? “Inner satisfaction and a passion for results. I have more attachment for the poor kids,” she said.
Her business career
After graduating university, Helen chose her career in the field of business. At first, she worked for the government organization, Business Development Office in Maple Ridge as the Assistant Official to advise people how to start businesses. 2 years later, she changed her job to her own business, whole sale import jewellery from South Africa; she worked with her business partner for 10 years. “No schedule and flexible time is advantage,” she said, “but I’ve learned I’ll never have a business partner.”
Becoming a teacher--“This is what I want to do!”
Since she had been inspired by teaching English in Brazil, she went back to university to obtain a Bachelor of Education to become a teacher in Canada. After completing the program, she worked as a Teacher on Call, a substitute teacher for a year and half. “I went everywhere and taught every single subject,” she said, “even Grade 1 and Japanese class.” Then she worked for the Adult Learning Centre at Columbia Square for 2 years, and finally, she came to teach at PALC in 2005, covering all subjects, including Accounting 11 and 12. “It’s a wonderful place! I’m lucky to work here. I’m learning from students--they’re eager to learn--always want to learn,” she said.
The editor of Pearson Patter
Last year, Helen voluntarily acted as the editor of the newsletter, Pearson Patter, and helped showcase the students’ works. “It’s an enjoyable job. Reading and compiling the wide range of topics is very interesting.” Time consuming and analyzing the students’ hand writing may be the difficult part, but she will be challenging the editor for the second time. Indeed, her flexibility and spirit of volunteer is admirable.
About Helen
Born in Edmonton, Alberta. Graduated Simon Fraser University. She holds the Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Economics. In 2001, she also attended the Bachelor of Education at University of British Columbia.
She started playing tennis when she was 12 years old. While studying at university, she served as the president of the tennis club. Currently, she enjoy it as a social activity and plays the game once a week.
Language: English, French, Spanish and Portuguese
Movie: The Way We Were
Book:
Food: Chocolate and Coffee (“Brazils” is the best!)
Hobby: Tennis and Golf
Pastime: Travelling
(642 words including subheadings)
Hi Ritchan,
It could be more concise, but I really like Helen's profile.
There's Helen I didn't know. New! Exciting!
And the quotes you picked are effective.
Speedy cooking
Morisoba
As summer comes, I easily lose my appetite with hot and humid weather. I prefer to have a seasonal Japanese cold dish, Morisoba. When I lived in Japan I was addicted to the buckwheat noodle, because of its coolness. Buckwheat is good for a hypertensive to prevent the plaque builds up in the blood vessels. I recommend Morisoba as a low calorie healthy diet. It is served with a small bowl of the special sauce, Tsuyu—made from dried anchovy, mushroom, and sea tangle, sugar, soybean sauce and a small amount of Japanese alcohol. It sounds difficult to cook however we can pick a ready made Tsuyu on the oriental sauce shelf.
Ingredients
2 bundle Soba--Japanese vermicelli—approximately 180g
30g dakon—white long radish
1/3 green onion
1/3 dried sea weed
40mL Tsuyu
Cold water
Wasabi—tube type—horse radish
Directions
1. Put 2 bundle of Soba into 3L boiling water, cook for 7-8 minutes.
2. Rinse cooked noodle with cold water, drain well.
3. Blend the cut daikon, make it puree.
4. Chop the green onion.
5. Bake slightly the dried sea weed, cut 3 cm length or crumble it.
6. Put separately the blended daikon, chopped green onion, crumbled sea weed, and small bean amount of Wasabi on a small plate.
7. Pour Tsuyu into a small bowl for dipping.
8. Put the soba on the plate, mix 4-6 ice cubes with them to keep the noodle cold.
9. Put the prepared daikon and green onion into the sauce bowl little by little, add cold water if you need.
Tip
If you have a lemon, squeeze half of it onto the sauce bowl. Enjoy the fresh taste.
The sauce can be adjusted according to your taste.
Hi, Rosaria!
Great recipe!
I have a few suggestions as I am a Japanese woman.
"tsuyu"-> We say "soba tsuyu," the dipping sause.
In addition, we don't use lemon juice--but that's OK!
We normally add some chopped green onions and some wasabi to the dipping sauce.
Excuse me, Tokyo people are quite picky about how to eat "zarusoba."
Thanks, Rosaria.
I used to eat this noodle every week with my dad and rememberd my memories in Tokyo.
And, Hiromi san
Thanks for your comment.
I know Helen's profile has too many words. I'm wondering how many sentense I have to omit...I hope I could get some advice from you, my classmates and Brad.
Although writing is hard, I really enjoyed interviewing with the teachers. I've learned a lot from them.
See you tomorrow!
Black Towers Over There?
There once was Middlegate Mall on Kingsway, two blocks west of Edmond Street. It was a dump all right, so I didn’t feel a thing when the demolition had started.
The new development of the site began in 2004 with a huge excavation. Neighbours—retirees with baseball caps, moms with strollers, and children—stopped by the fences and watched the bulldozers dig the earth deep. Then huge trucks with concrete mixers and steel pipes came. A crane was built.
It was truly amazing to witness the progress of the construction. I have no idea whatsoever, but someone, engineers, all figured out how to build the massive buildings. They laid the foundation, installed electric and plumbing system, and God knows what else. I saw the building growing higher and higher each day. Look what human beings are capable of! I was in awe.
But as the second, and the third highrise were getting on the way, I grew uneasy. I didn’t like the buildings growing up to the sky. I didn’t like their windows looking at my living room. They began to look like—to me—Sauron’s Black Towers.
This is the truth: a highrise is ugly. It’s like a cardboard box stuck in the ground.
A flyer came at my door one day. A suite in Highgate Village (that’s the name of the development) is for sale. A penthouse (that’s what they said) of 850 sq. feet is 400,000 dollars.
That’s an insult. This is not downtown Vancouver. It’s Burnaby. I don’t care if it’s market value or not. It’s not even a land. A little space up in the air!
We build condos because we need affordable housing, or so that investors play money game? I hear a big shot with fine suit laughing in his spectacular office. I’d rather give the suites to the workers who built the building with their own hands. I saw them every day. In rains and cold winter. I saw them standing at the edge of the floor high up, washing walls and polishing the surface.
My mother-in-law tells me that there was an orchard in Burnaby fifty years ago. An orchard of apples and plums. And I imagine this place of another fifty years before and fifty years from now. Do you see what I see?
We are determined to dominate. Profit is our priority. We would multiply and invade the place. We call it prosperity, and I’m not sure. But never mind me. I’m talking nonsense. I’d better pack up and move to a mountain and live in a cave, huh?
430 words
A teaser: A brand new totem pole will be erected in the yard of New Westminster Secondary School on May 28, 2007.
A Brand New Totem Pole Will Be Erected
A brand new totem pole will be erected in the yard of New Westminster Secondary School on May 28, 2007. Its designer and sculptor is a well-known Aboriginal artist Xwa-lack-tun (Rick Harry).
The totem he has worked on for the school is made of yellow cedar. He carved a thunderbird on the top and a wolf at the bottom. Much of his work was inspired by traditional stories.
“The thunderbird represents supernatural beings; the wolf means loyalty and family,” he explained to the students, “We are families here, New Westminster.”
Xwa-lack-tun, a son of a hereditary chief, was born and raised in Squamish. He gained his skills and education from Emily Carr College of Art and Capilano College, but feels he learned a lot through trial and error.
“I’ve loved carving since I was a little boy, but I quit many times,” He said, “until I was 18 years old and my first production was sold.”
“I was wild at that time.” he confessed and smiled.
His works are seen throughout Vancouver and United States. A widely recognized piece is a set of double doors made from yellow cedar, both sides fully carved, for BC Hydro's main building in Vancouver.
In 2005 he received an honorable award from the North Vancouver Arts Council which acknowledged his contributions both locally and world-wide.
He also completed a ten foot carving of a Bobcat in yellow cedar for Brookswood Secondary School in Langley. There are more than eighty of his pieces in the School Districts within the Lower Mainland.
Healing and growth have become a central theme around the work Xwa-lack-tun does. By focusing on how the traditional stories relate to his own life, he shows people how to use this ancient knowledge to help heal ourselves.
First Draft 294 words
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