summercomfort (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
summercomfort) wrote2003-08-11 12:51 am
summercomfort) wrote2003-08-11 12:51 am
(no subject)
Well, Chinese school went well today. The video-taping of mom teaching the little kids... some parts got messed up, and I got pretty lousy pans because the camcorder stand is messed up and hella old. But anyway, if we want to convert it to digital to put on the Chinese School website, I think I'll recommend getting the Dazzle Video Creator, which converts analoge to digital and vice versa, for $200. Or maybe get the baby version that captures in smaller size for $70. We're currently using one at work to convert MLK tapes, and it works pretty well, although the one at work is the firewire version.
Then I rushed home, stopping at Safeway to grab some fruit/veggies. (Finally applied for Safeway card). yummy gummy people came and we watched Hard Day's Night, which was fun, especially hearing people laugh at the parts that I laughed. Not bad for last minute get-together. Parents were alarmingly cooperative and helpful.
A little worried about subbing for 4 weeks, but also excited. After watching mom manipulate those cute little first-graders today, I've gained much greater appreciation for her teaching skillz. Or maybe I'm finally understanding this stuff and what to watch for... Her ability to lecture to the whole class while making individual contact with the students... and going over things just the right amount... and keeping the proper atmosphere in the classroom.... And charisma.
I've been rereading some JinYong, and marvelling at the complexity of characters and character interactions that he is able to weave. It's almost traumatizing, how real it can be, especially given the genre. (Martial Arts... it's like Fantasy, or Sci-Fi). He is indeed a master. Not only is he capable of weaving intensely complex plots that span 4 generations and 4 books, seamlessly control the flow of the narration, and write drama without being dramatic (very easy to do, especially given Chinese' penchant for flowery 4-character words), he populates his stories with such real people and real interactions -- everyone not only with their own complex set of emotions and value systems, but also with their own complex ties to society, to peers. There are so many things left unsaid, so many hesitant actions and cautious dialogues, situations unfair not because the protangonist loses, but because truth doesn't get explained. Then again, truth is usually too complex to explain. Only JinYong can pull it off -- action, drama, romance, characters that you can't wholly love or hate because they're too real-- all in one expertly narrated package. I don't think I can handle this. Maybe I need to run and hide in his earlier, more idealistic works.
Dad, John, and I are going on a 2-day trip to Sequoia National Park on Wed/Thurs. Not that it really matters, since I probably won't be updating LJ anyway.
Then I rushed home, stopping at Safeway to grab some fruit/veggies. (Finally applied for Safeway card). yummy gummy people came and we watched Hard Day's Night, which was fun, especially hearing people laugh at the parts that I laughed. Not bad for last minute get-together. Parents were alarmingly cooperative and helpful.
A little worried about subbing for 4 weeks, but also excited. After watching mom manipulate those cute little first-graders today, I've gained much greater appreciation for her teaching skillz. Or maybe I'm finally understanding this stuff and what to watch for... Her ability to lecture to the whole class while making individual contact with the students... and going over things just the right amount... and keeping the proper atmosphere in the classroom.... And charisma.
I've been rereading some JinYong, and marvelling at the complexity of characters and character interactions that he is able to weave. It's almost traumatizing, how real it can be, especially given the genre. (Martial Arts... it's like Fantasy, or Sci-Fi). He is indeed a master. Not only is he capable of weaving intensely complex plots that span 4 generations and 4 books, seamlessly control the flow of the narration, and write drama without being dramatic (very easy to do, especially given Chinese' penchant for flowery 4-character words), he populates his stories with such real people and real interactions -- everyone not only with their own complex set of emotions and value systems, but also with their own complex ties to society, to peers. There are so many things left unsaid, so many hesitant actions and cautious dialogues, situations unfair not because the protangonist loses, but because truth doesn't get explained. Then again, truth is usually too complex to explain. Only JinYong can pull it off -- action, drama, romance, characters that you can't wholly love or hate because they're too real-- all in one expertly narrated package. I don't think I can handle this. Maybe I need to run and hide in his earlier, more idealistic works.
Dad, John, and I are going on a 2-day trip to Sequoia National Park on Wed/Thurs. Not that it really matters, since I probably won't be updating LJ anyway.