The Future of Education

Last night I went to a lecture at Griffith University (South Bank Campus) - the speaker was Richard Katz speaking about education towards 2020!  It was very interesting to hear what he had to say, though I would have liked to have heard a little more detail about the future - there was a film about the history of education which was great too.  I spoke with him afterwards.

Attendees were given free GU library cards too - so shall have to visit the library there and see what it is like.  I will be back there again today for a post-grad event.

I left around 8 pm - walking alone down towards the bus station at QPAC.  Some rain - just a little.  Worth an umbrella.  There were a few people around, and the Big Wheel, was slowly doing its rotations, but there seemed to be very few, if any, people in it.  Rainy nights or days even, are not good for patrons on the big wheel.

It is so handy to catch the bus from Paddington to QPAC. 

My China memories

At the Gallery of Modern Art there is an exhibit which depicts a Shanghai supermarket.  A small one, one you are likely to find in the back streets, a small convenience store.  All the packaging was empty - but it gave people an opportunity to look at the products on the shelves, some of which was packaged such that the product would be familiar.  I think of OMO, Pantene, and so on. 

I remember the first time I went into a supermarket, opposite the college, late one night just after we arrived,and I was overwhelmed by all the Chinese writing and the 'unfamiliar' products.  I learned in time, to recognise the packaging,and yes, there is some English (more and more so) on the packages which makes it easier, but first glance, it is a challenge.

Gallery of Modern Art

There is an amazing array of wonderful exhibits at the Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane.

Where to next?

I am house sitting - at least for the next year as I complete my Master of Arts, and complete some writing tasks.  One work that I am almost completed is an e-book with information about teaching/living in China.

I set out to try and describe what life was like living and working in China, but I am already at around 10,000 words and there is not a lot of advice for would-be teachers, but it could be a good read.  It does attempt to describe the challenges of living and working in China, without scaring anyone off.  I would not set out to 'scare' anyone  but there are some things worth knowing before you go to China.

It is not a "free" country as we in the west would know it - the communist party members are everywhere, and sometimes there is a dislike of foreigners (laowai) so one needs to be careful about obeying the country's rules, and certainly any criminal or civil disobedience is not acceptable.  Still, I  keep writing.  When will it end?

Another teacher goes to China

I met briefly with another ESL teacher who is going to Shaoxing - she will be meeting up with the lady I am house sitting for.  They have been friends for years, and look forward to spending time together in China.


I had a funny experience last week when I was in South Australia.  I drove from Adelaide to Mt Gambier and back again (you can see some of my photos here.)  On the return journey I had to say overnight at Meningie (horrible motel, but awesome views of the lake!  Sunset and sunrise!)


I had planned to drive straight through but a major storm was brewing, so choose to remain there rather than drive on and risk driving through the heavy storm.  I set off the next morning at 7 am, and it allowed me to take a little time and look at Murray Bridge (the Princes Highway bypasses MB now), and also go into Hahndorf. 

Murray Bridge

Chinese fisherman and friend

I drove down to the river to take a few photos of there - I recall (vaguely) that I had been there as a child, so I was keen to see it. 

There beside the river were two men, and as I passed clicking with my camera, they waved and said "hello" - I looked a little closer as I waved back to see that both men were clearly of Asian origin.  I said "Are you from China?" and they replied "Yes", so I said "Ni  hao" (hello in Mandarin)

The response from them was more "ni hao's" and an excited speech in Mandarin that I did not understand.  "Tinboodong"

The older man (the fisherman - who had caught nothing at that point), spoke good English, but the younger man had little English.  It turns out they both come from Wuxi - not far really from where I was in Shaoxing.  It is closer to Shanghai.  They knew Shaoxing. 

Funny place to meet two Chinese guys who could have come from anywhere in that vast county!

Moving out

I am moving out the of the house sit today.  Just for a few weeks as the owner is coming home.  I meet her at the airport in the morning. 

I took knickers to Ipswich yesterday. I am pleased with my little effort to help those disadvantaged with the floods.  It has been quite a moving experience.  I had been to Ipswich just days before the big flood.  In fact the Bremer River was already in flood - but I saw for myself some of the damage it did later on when the river broke it's banks and poured the dirty sludge through the city.   Coles supermarket is being completed cleaned out - and will need a complete refit.  One can see other buildings around - shops, offices, etc closed - some are being rebuilt and others sport a notice - 'due to floods we have relocated to......"

I went to Ipswich early, then went to Wynnum. Met with a guy doing work on the history of the professional fishermen in the Wynnum area, and then eventually headed back to Paddington.

I had seen views of the Brisbane River and the city from the top of the cliffs of the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point.  It was the site of what was Southbank TAFE - one of the very early TAFE colleges in Brisbane.  Recently it had been demolished and parklands developed there.  A nice looking cafe sits on the top of the cliffs giving diners a fantastic view up and down the river.  One day I will go there.

From the cliffs to the city.

I had time though to stop and take a few photos from the top of the cliffs.

Looking upriver from Kangaroo Point

From Expo 2010 - some of the farewell performance.

This is quite amazing!  Look at the musicians sitting on the invisible chairs.  How do they do it?