Mrs. Peachey was on TV doing the Lion Dance last night.
Friday, 3 April 2009
Journal entry from Emilee O'Grady
Thank you Emilie for the following Journal entry.
1st April 2009 ( Taipei 101)
OMG, today was really awesome. We went to the second tallest building in the world. It was kind of scary and really fun. It was scary to go outside because I thought I would fly away with the wind it was that strong. The elevator really badly hurt my ears going up within 37 seconds. When we went up to the 91st floor we looked out the window and the view was amazing. It was kind of scary to stand at the edge because I thought I would fall out. Or even the side would fall down. It was really fun because the souvenir shop was awesome. I bought really cool things like a building of Taipei 101 and lots more. It was really fun and an exciting experience for Taiwan as it was the best place we’ve been to so far on our trip to Taiwan.
Earlier that morning we went to the Queensland government trade and investment office where we met Ms. Elizabeth Sullivan. We had lunch with her. We ate Mos burgers (known as rice burgers). Thank you Ms. Sullivan for introducing us to this food. We looked out the window and saw the Taipei 101 building . After lunch we headed into the conference room and we discussed the most amazing thing about Taiwan. Today was the best day ever.
1st April 2009 ( Taipei 101)
OMG, today was really awesome. We went to the second tallest building in the world. It was kind of scary and really fun. It was scary to go outside because I thought I would fly away with the wind it was that strong. The elevator really badly hurt my ears going up within 37 seconds. When we went up to the 91st floor we looked out the window and the view was amazing. It was kind of scary to stand at the edge because I thought I would fall out. Or even the side would fall down. It was really fun because the souvenir shop was awesome. I bought really cool things like a building of Taipei 101 and lots more. It was really fun and an exciting experience for Taiwan as it was the best place we’ve been to so far on our trip to Taiwan.
Earlier that morning we went to the Queensland government trade and investment office where we met Ms. Elizabeth Sullivan. We had lunch with her. We ate Mos burgers (known as rice burgers). Thank you Ms. Sullivan for introducing us to this food. We looked out the window and saw the Taipei 101 building . After lunch we headed into the conference room and we discussed the most amazing thing about Taiwan. Today was the best day ever.
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Mr. Artates' HPE lesson with WenHua Students
Today I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to teach a year 6 class with 34 students at WenHua Elementary. I decided to conduct a HPE lesson that would introduce the Taiwanese students to games that we would normally play in Australia. We played a game of Whistle Mixer, Stuck in the Mud, a dice game and even hand ball. The students seemed to enjoy the games we played especially Stuck in the Mud and hand ball. It was interesting to see the reactions that the students had when they held a tennis ball. It was as if they had not seen one before. What impressed me the most about the lesson was the students’ willingness to learn. They were so attentive and very cooperative. I know they behaved liked this, not because a foreign teacher was teaching them, but because this is how they behaved in classrooms normally. Students in Taiwan seem to want to learn and this would make the teacher’s job here easier. They would get through so much in a day! The experience has made me think about my boys back at Stretton and I do miss them and hope they are working very hard. I am glad I have had this opportunity and will remember this experience forever.
Christian Artates
Christian Artates
Day 10 Excursion to Taipei 101 Building & National palace museum
Taipei 101 is one of the tallest buildings in the world with 101 stories above the ground and 5 stories below. It stands 508 metres tall! Taipei 101 observatory's elevators are Guinness Record-breaking high speed pressurised elevators, that reach a speed of 1010 metres per minute. The children also visited the National Palace museum where they were able to view artefects such as the Jadeite cabbage from the Ch'íng Dynasty (1644-1911), the meat shaped stone and the standing lady painted with colours from the Táng Dynasty (618-907)
Day 10 Lunch at Commissioner's office
Thank you very much to Commissioner Elizabeth Sullivan, Alice, Ben and all the team at the Queensland Government trade and investment office for welcoming our study tour to Taiwan and for hosting a beautiful lunch in their office.
School performance by Breannah
Once a month the students of WenHua are given the opportunity to participate in a concert in front of the school. The children then donate money to the student council to be given to the needy.
Breannah was invited to perform. We are all proud of you Breannah!!!! Well done.
Breannah was invited to perform. We are all proud of you Breannah!!!! Well done.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Day 9 Tea ceremony Workshop
Today we took part in a traditional Taiwanese tea ceremony. Tea was first found, cultivated and utilised in China approximately 4,000-5,000 years ago.
It was originally used for Chinese medicine and became popular as a drink during the Tang Dynasty.
Positive Characteristics of tea:
It was originally used for Chinese medicine and became popular as a drink during the Tang Dynasty.
Positive Characteristics of tea:
- slows aging
- reduces blood clots and prevents high blood pressure
- reduces blood sugar level and helps to prevent diabetes
- reduces dental cavities
- reduces cancer risk by retarding the mutation of cells
Stretton in the newspaper
There is an article on Stretton's study tour in the China Times (national newspaper here in Taiwan that is also published in Australia, and Europe) Rebecca at Wen Hua has kindly translated it for us. A television station also filmed us today during tea ceremony
News from China News, Monday, March 30th
The 13 students and teachers from Stretton State College, Queensland, Australia are having a 3-week study tour in Taiwan, which is sponsored by Taipei Municipal Wenhua Elementary School. The students take part in activities such as making dumplings, diabolo, calligraphy, ceramic, pressing flowers, etc. The students were more than hilarious in the dumpling class. Their faces were full of expressions while they were rolling the dough and enclosing the filling of the dumpling.
Teachers, parents and students gave their hearty welcome to these young guests from Australia, who will stay in Taiwan for 19 days. This year’s study program has been prolonged to 3 weeks in contrast to last year’s 2 weeks. This will give the chance to have a better insight into Taiwanese culture and lifestyle. Dr. Huang, San-chih, Principal of Wenhua expressed that the study program will be filmed and later be broadcasted around Australian cities, to show that Taipei is a friendly and safe city and also to encourage western students to choose Taiwan to study either for a long or short term.
Due to the careful planning of Wenhua, the Queensland Government approved the abroad study tour for elementary school students for the first time last year. This year the program was prolonged from 2 weeks to 3 weeks.
The local school, Wenhua not only arranged these Australian students to join local students’ classes, but also organized cultural experience courses such as Chinese language, calligraphy, ceramic, flower pressing, lion dance, diabolo, dumpling making, folksong, and tea ceremony. There are also excursions to famous places such as Beitou Hot Spring Museum, National Palace Museum and the Taipei Zoo. The Australian students study together with the local students in class, playing together during the recess. In the evening they stay with their home stay families. In this way they experience how the Taiwanese family life is like.
The 13 students and teachers from Stretton State College, Queensland, Australia are having a 3-week study tour in Taiwan, which is sponsored by Taipei Municipal Wenhua Elementary School. The students take part in activities such as making dumplings, diabolo, calligraphy, ceramic, pressing flowers, etc. The students were more than hilarious in the dumpling class. Their faces were full of expressions while they were rolling the dough and enclosing the filling of the dumpling.
Teachers, parents and students gave their hearty welcome to these young guests from Australia, who will stay in Taiwan for 19 days. This year’s study program has been prolonged to 3 weeks in contrast to last year’s 2 weeks. This will give the chance to have a better insight into Taiwanese culture and lifestyle. Dr. Huang, San-chih, Principal of Wenhua expressed that the study program will be filmed and later be broadcasted around Australian cities, to show that Taipei is a friendly and safe city and also to encourage western students to choose Taiwan to study either for a long or short term.
Due to the careful planning of Wenhua, the Queensland Government approved the abroad study tour for elementary school students for the first time last year. This year the program was prolonged from 2 weeks to 3 weeks.
The local school, Wenhua not only arranged these Australian students to join local students’ classes, but also organized cultural experience courses such as Chinese language, calligraphy, ceramic, flower pressing, lion dance, diabolo, dumpling making, folksong, and tea ceremony. There are also excursions to famous places such as Beitou Hot Spring Museum, National Palace Museum and the Taipei Zoo. The Australian students study together with the local students in class, playing together during the recess. In the evening they stay with their home stay families. In this way they experience how the Taiwanese family life is like.
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Day 9 Sydney's speech at school assembly
Sydney Hamnett gave a fantastic speech today to the students of WenHua Elementary school at their assembly. We are all extremely proud of you Sydney.
Sydney Hamnett’s Address to Wenhua Students
Hi, I’m Sydney Hamnett and I’d like to talk about my school Stretton State College. We have a lot of things different to here at WenHua Elementary. We don’t have to clean the school, we have cleaners for that and the school is on the ground level not four floors like WenHua. We have separate buildings that hold two – four classrooms.
I am at the middle school which is just across the road from the primary school. At the middle school we have a lot of classes and have to move from one to the other.
We do not eat in the classrooms in Australia. We eat in eating areas and we bring our own lunch from home. The lunch is not provided by the school like here.
We only have two breaks and have only four periods per day. Where as there are seven periods here and six breaks. School goes from 8.45am to 2.45pm unlike the school day here that goes from 8.00am to 4.00pm and some children then go to extra classes after school as well.
Thank you.
Xie Xie.
Sydney Hamnett
Stretton State College
Brisbane
Australia.
Sydney Hamnett’s Address to Wenhua Students
Hi, I’m Sydney Hamnett and I’d like to talk about my school Stretton State College. We have a lot of things different to here at WenHua Elementary. We don’t have to clean the school, we have cleaners for that and the school is on the ground level not four floors like WenHua. We have separate buildings that hold two – four classrooms.
I am at the middle school which is just across the road from the primary school. At the middle school we have a lot of classes and have to move from one to the other.
We do not eat in the classrooms in Australia. We eat in eating areas and we bring our own lunch from home. The lunch is not provided by the school like here.
We only have two breaks and have only four periods per day. Where as there are seven periods here and six breaks. School goes from 8.45am to 2.45pm unlike the school day here that goes from 8.00am to 4.00pm and some children then go to extra classes after school as well.
Thank you.
Xie Xie.
Sydney Hamnett
Stretton State College
Brisbane
Australia.
Chinese with teacher Winnie
The children are saying, "Wo Chen Da Han Bu Cho"which means I am really good!
Day 8 Tae Kwon Do Demonstration by student
I don't think anyone is going to bother this little boy in the playground!
Day 8 Tae kwon do
Today we were taught a Tae Kwon Do lesson from Su Fu (master) Yung Cha Feal. He is the coach of the Taiwanese International Tae Kwon Do team.
day 8
Today I asked the children what was something that they had seen or experienced here in Taiwan that they would not in Australia? Here are their responses.........
Emilee: I use chopsticks here to eat my food. I have eaten beef noodles.
Sydney: There are lots of mopeds here in Taiwan. I have been on one.
Frances: More people here live in apartments than in Australia. There are many small lanes and the shops are very tiny. There aren't many large shopping centres.
Nick: There are a lot of stray dogs roaming the streets. There are interesting toys for sale at the markets.
Shay: I saw a dog on a scooter. The houses are small.
Breannah: There are cemeteries everywhere. They have tomb sweeping. You can find buns with ice cream inside.
Kevin: There are no seat belts in the back seat of cars. I drank black tea.
Zachary: Here you take your shoes off before you go inside the house and when inside you wear house slippers. I ate squid and it was chewy.
Cameron: The food here is really different. They have a MRT (mass, rapid, transit) .
Jacob: The toilet paper goes in a bin here and they have squat toilets. You can have eggs that are boiled in tea. (egg tea)
Mitchell: Sometimes I catch wild cats with my homestay family in cages and we give them to people to sell. I have seen chicken feet for sale at the night markets.
Mr. Artates: When they take photos, they all do peace signs. The crossing lights have pictures of a man that runs when you ned to cross faster. They sell Stinky Tofu that is not very aromatic by nature.
Mrs. Peachey: I have seen a cat on a moped, dog on a moped, chicken on a moped and whole families on a moped. The night markets are amazing with every animal body part for sale. Lots of people. I have eaten fish chin and eel - very tasty!
Emilee: I use chopsticks here to eat my food. I have eaten beef noodles.
Sydney: There are lots of mopeds here in Taiwan. I have been on one.
Frances: More people here live in apartments than in Australia. There are many small lanes and the shops are very tiny. There aren't many large shopping centres.
Nick: There are a lot of stray dogs roaming the streets. There are interesting toys for sale at the markets.
Shay: I saw a dog on a scooter. The houses are small.
Breannah: There are cemeteries everywhere. They have tomb sweeping. You can find buns with ice cream inside.
Kevin: There are no seat belts in the back seat of cars. I drank black tea.
Zachary: Here you take your shoes off before you go inside the house and when inside you wear house slippers. I ate squid and it was chewy.
Cameron: The food here is really different. They have a MRT (mass, rapid, transit) .
Jacob: The toilet paper goes in a bin here and they have squat toilets. You can have eggs that are boiled in tea. (egg tea)
Mitchell: Sometimes I catch wild cats with my homestay family in cages and we give them to people to sell. I have seen chicken feet for sale at the night markets.
Mr. Artates: When they take photos, they all do peace signs. The crossing lights have pictures of a man that runs when you ned to cross faster. They sell Stinky Tofu that is not very aromatic by nature.
Mrs. Peachey: I have seen a cat on a moped, dog on a moped, chicken on a moped and whole families on a moped. The night markets are amazing with every animal body part for sale. Lots of people. I have eaten fish chin and eel - very tasty!
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Day 7 Mountain climbing
Todays mountain climbing activity was a P&C coordinated activity for the students, families and surrounding community members. It started with an assembly at the school and an address by Mr. Wu, Ching-Ji the deputy Mayor of Taipei City! We all met him and presented him with a small gift.
The P&C sponsor the day providing water, lunch at the top of the mountian and raffle prizes. The idea is to promote excerise and physical activity.
The mountian climb which takes 2 hours from the school to reach the top (one way) is an anual event. Mt. Yangmingshan National Park is a very scenic area of Taiwan with great views of the city below. We shall all sleep well tonight! Participants usually collect rubbish along the way. So kind of like Walking Wheeling Wednesday crossed with Clean up Australia day only on a Sunday and in Taiwan!
When we reached the end of the walk, we all had lunch and they drew raffles. Then 2 hours back down the same way!
The P&C sponsor the day providing water, lunch at the top of the mountian and raffle prizes. The idea is to promote excerise and physical activity.
The mountian climb which takes 2 hours from the school to reach the top (one way) is an anual event. Mt. Yangmingshan National Park is a very scenic area of Taiwan with great views of the city below. We shall all sleep well tonight! Participants usually collect rubbish along the way. So kind of like Walking Wheeling Wednesday crossed with Clean up Australia day only on a Sunday and in Taiwan!
When we reached the end of the walk, we all had lunch and they drew raffles. Then 2 hours back down the same way!
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