Last class we started off the night with some tales from moon festival, and we learned a round from Australia, "Kookaburra." We'll try singing it one more time next time!
Lucas talked about surfing in Oceania, and surprised us all by teaching us all how to "surf without getting wet!!" He showed us some beautiful wave-shaped rocks in Australia, and explained how they were formed. But he suggests that we actually don't go "rock-surfing," as it might damage the rock!
Marian told us an interesting dog-walking joke! :D And then shared her impressions of three islands in Oceania: Hawaii, Guam, and New Zealand. She told us about sunbathers, aboriginal architecture, and cave stalactites and stalagmites. She also brought postcards and photos so that we too could see these islands!
Jeff shared a surprising and saddening piece of news about "garbage in paradise." Jeff recently learned about a trash-covered island in the beautiful paradise of the Maldives. He told us that the Maldives are a nation made up of 1192 islands, with only 192 of those islands inhabited. Their total land is 298 km squared, stretching over 90,000 km squared ocean. The population of the Maldives is only 328,536 people, and the number of tourists exceeds their population each year (850,000 tourists in 2012). 300-400 tons of trash are produced there EACH DAY (3.5kg per day per tourist), and since the Maldives have no place to create a landfill, they have chosen one island to dump all their trash on. Jeff gave us a vivid description of this trash-filled island. If you want to see more check out the article at 
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2162653/Maldives-island-paradise-Thilafushi-trashed-reduced-pile-rubbish.html; the photos in this article show us exactly what Jeff was talking about. Jeff also mentioned that the Maldives are another island nation threatened by rising sea levels.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-2162653/Maldives-island-paradise-Thilafushi-trashed-reduced-pile-rubbish.html; the photos in this article show us exactly what Jeff was talking about. Jeff also mentioned that the Maldives are another island nation threatened by rising sea levels.
Jerry gave us a special presentation and a plea for help, because the beautiful and historical old trees behind his studio are going to be cut and moved to make way for a new road in Yilan City. He showed us the google map of Yilan City and pointed out how most of Yilan City is now covered with concrete, and so very few old trees remain in the city, and he made a good case for scrapping the road and saving these trees. Jerry asked us all to speak for the trees, and to help save them, and if anyone has connections, to please help! I think there is lots we can do to help these trees before it's too late, even if we don't have any political connections. This week in class we'll brainstorm for more ideas for what can be done to save these old trees.
Thanks to Lucas, Marian, Jeff, and Jerry for your presentations! We all learned a lot, and I loved the wide range of topics that you covered.
Last week at 8pm, I was surprised by a special teacher's day ceremony, and the college gave me a little bottle of wine that we all made last year! Yum!
Then, at the end of class, I introduced the disappearing islands and put you all into island homes.
See you tomorrow night, 10/3, for a brainstorm on what we can do to save our island homes, and for more presentations about Oceania and Europe!
Sincerely, Abbie
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