Wednesday, 14 February 2007
US gas quality
While a friend was filling up with gas (Australia = Petrol) today, I noticed that their regular, plus, and premium fuels had octane ratings of 87, 89, and 91 respectively. In Australia, it's 91, 95, and 98, meaning that our regular fuel in Australia is equivalent to the 'premium' fuel in the USA. As an aside, regular fuel is currently selling for $2.069 per gallon, or $0.547c per litre, to three decimal places.
Friday, 2 February 2007
American high school culture
After two weeks at Parkview High School (PHS), the differences between the US and Australian education systems are worth investigating. The first is that although we may learn less in the USA, we compensate by taking a whole lot more time. Classes begin at 8.00AM and are run in four 90 minute blocks each day. A five minute break between blocks is all the time students have out of the classroom, with the exception of a 30 minute lunch break, which is inside and strictly monitored.
The 1700 PHS students are fed mostly by the mass produced, packaged food at the cafeteria in four 30 minute blocks from 11.00AM - 1.10PM, roughly 425 students per block. It's possible to bring your own, healthy food, although this is widely considered 'un-American.' Apart from talking to students, that's a boring 2 hour supervision session. I have it every single day.
PHS does not require students to wear a uniform. Currently in fashion are massive jeans worn low. And by low, I mean that if kids here didn't wear boxer shorts, they'd all be putting our plumbers to shame. To compensate, XXXXL sized T-Shirts are also in fashion, as they're the only thing long enough to cover up where the pants left off, if you catch my drift. Drawbacks of this fashion statement include having to play basketball with one hand, and looking like a total dork. Apparently this look is for the 'Gangstas'. So I take that 'dork' comment back. Looking sweet guys.
Speaking of sweet looking Gangstas, I was addressed not as "Coach Jackson", or even "Coach", but as "G" yesterday.
Me: "Good morning sir."
Gangsta: "Yo; Whaddup G!"
Upon further investigation, G was found to be an abbreviation of "G-Unit", which is apparently a yo-wiggedy-waggedy bunch o' rappers. Rappers are apparently musicians, and are really down with what is goin' on.
In other fashion news, school spirit is quite strong, with most students wearing T-shirts, baseball caps, fleecy jackets and other paraphernalia with "Property of Parkview", "Parkview Football/Wrestling/Baseball/Swimming etc", "Parkview Vikings", and other school related logos. Curiously, the cheerleaders are always decked out in their distinctive uniforms, possibly in readiness for spontaneous bursts of kicking and screaming, known here as cheer leading. Or perhaps it's just to remind everyone that they're more special than everyone else. Likewise, the basketball team has a professional looking green Adidas tracksuit, and a professional looking locker room to match.
When I'm not supervising students in the cafeteria, I'm most likely found in the Gymnasium, which is the PE teachers' hangout. One inspection of the gymnasium, one could be excused for thinking one had mistakenly trespassed a private school. In Australian terms the gym could be described as a massive basketball stadium, decked out in the green and gold of PHS, with polished wood floor decorated with a viking in the centre circle and PARKVIEW painted in big letters at each end. The place has capacity to hold around 2000 spectators, meaning school sport is a big deal here.
If you're any good and have ambitions to excel at football, basketball, baseball or any other ball, you'll be playing for your high school. Club competitions are for the has-beens or never-has-beens. High school sport provides the pathway to college sport and then to professional sport, and also gives the less studiously inclined incentive to pass enough classes to be eligible to participate.
As an aside, all sportsmen and women over here are called "Athletes". Which is a little amusing, considering a cheeseburger chomping football lineman is hardly Cathy Freeman. Speaking of football, PHS has not won a match for over six years. Ever. Not even by accident. Trying to tactfully breach the subject with the 'DE'-fensive teams coach, I mentioned I'd heard a rumour that we hadn't won a game in some time. Once his laughter died down, he managed to confess that "that ain't no rumour." Which kind of left me nowhere to go. I did ask one of the players, and he said they're a chance (to win a match) next year, as the new head coach has all the players in the weight room and is working them hard. Apparently the departed coach never had them lift any weights or do much physical conditioning at all!
I should explain that here, PE teachers are employed as Coaches of a certain team. For example, my mentor is the head basketball coach, and this seems to take up the majority of his time, with a couple of PE classes here and there. The more important sport one coaches, the lighter their schedule is made, to give them adequate time to manage their teams. Since Springfield is the very town where basketball was invented (in 1891), basketball is a big deal here. All the PE teachers usually coach something, and instead of being called "Mr" they're addressed as "Coach" Brown, or "Coach" Jackson, making me feel really special and important, although being a student teacher I don't coach anything yet. Coach Jackson. It's got a nice ring.
The 1700 PHS students are fed mostly by the mass produced, packaged food at the cafeteria in four 30 minute blocks from 11.00AM - 1.10PM, roughly 425 students per block. It's possible to bring your own, healthy food, although this is widely considered 'un-American.' Apart from talking to students, that's a boring 2 hour supervision session. I have it every single day.
PHS does not require students to wear a uniform. Currently in fashion are massive jeans worn low. And by low, I mean that if kids here didn't wear boxer shorts, they'd all be putting our plumbers to shame. To compensate, XXXXL sized T-Shirts are also in fashion, as they're the only thing long enough to cover up where the pants left off, if you catch my drift. Drawbacks of this fashion statement include having to play basketball with one hand, and looking like a total dork. Apparently this look is for the 'Gangstas'. So I take that 'dork' comment back. Looking sweet guys.
Speaking of sweet looking Gangstas, I was addressed not as "Coach Jackson", or even "Coach", but as "G" yesterday.
Me: "Good morning sir."
Gangsta: "Yo; Whaddup G!"
Upon further investigation, G was found to be an abbreviation of "G-Unit", which is apparently a yo-wiggedy-waggedy bunch o' rappers. Rappers are apparently musicians, and are really down with what is goin' on.
In other fashion news, school spirit is quite strong, with most students wearing T-shirts, baseball caps, fleecy jackets and other paraphernalia with "Property of Parkview", "Parkview Football/Wrestling/Baseball/Swimming etc", "Parkview Vikings", and other school related logos. Curiously, the cheerleaders are always decked out in their distinctive uniforms, possibly in readiness for spontaneous bursts of kicking and screaming, known here as cheer leading. Or perhaps it's just to remind everyone that they're more special than everyone else. Likewise, the basketball team has a professional looking green Adidas tracksuit, and a professional looking locker room to match.
When I'm not supervising students in the cafeteria, I'm most likely found in the Gymnasium, which is the PE teachers' hangout. One inspection of the gymnasium, one could be excused for thinking one had mistakenly trespassed a private school. In Australian terms the gym could be described as a massive basketball stadium, decked out in the green and gold of PHS, with polished wood floor decorated with a viking in the centre circle and PARKVIEW painted in big letters at each end. The place has capacity to hold around 2000 spectators, meaning school sport is a big deal here.
If you're any good and have ambitions to excel at football, basketball, baseball or any other ball, you'll be playing for your high school. Club competitions are for the has-beens or never-has-beens. High school sport provides the pathway to college sport and then to professional sport, and also gives the less studiously inclined incentive to pass enough classes to be eligible to participate.
As an aside, all sportsmen and women over here are called "Athletes". Which is a little amusing, considering a cheeseburger chomping football lineman is hardly Cathy Freeman. Speaking of football, PHS has not won a match for over six years. Ever. Not even by accident. Trying to tactfully breach the subject with the 'DE'-fensive teams coach, I mentioned I'd heard a rumour that we hadn't won a game in some time. Once his laughter died down, he managed to confess that "that ain't no rumour." Which kind of left me nowhere to go. I did ask one of the players, and he said they're a chance (to win a match) next year, as the new head coach has all the players in the weight room and is working them hard. Apparently the departed coach never had them lift any weights or do much physical conditioning at all!
I should explain that here, PE teachers are employed as Coaches of a certain team. For example, my mentor is the head basketball coach, and this seems to take up the majority of his time, with a couple of PE classes here and there. The more important sport one coaches, the lighter their schedule is made, to give them adequate time to manage their teams. Since Springfield is the very town where basketball was invented (in 1891), basketball is a big deal here. All the PE teachers usually coach something, and instead of being called "Mr" they're addressed as "Coach" Brown, or "Coach" Jackson, making me feel really special and important, although being a student teacher I don't coach anything yet. Coach Jackson. It's got a nice ring.
Temporary update
Andrew and Mark have been taking some photos and updating their blogs, so click the links to see some pictures of icy Springfield trees.
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