As the summer holidays are just a few short moments away, it's time for our last series of updates. For the past two weeks the BigColaFor21 people were getting familiar with working life during their five-day TET period, so we only had about 10 or so people at school each week. So we spent the last two weeks cooking chicken tikka masala, which turned out to be a new kind of culinary experience for most students.
Before that our last writing task was to write a more or less fictional text about a day as a king or queen. We watched the film The Queen, starring Helen Mirren, and also listened to a song that is related to the topic. Since some of the texts are pretty long, we're going to publish them one, two or three at a time.
But before we get to the texts, I want to wish a happy summer to everyone reading this blog! See you guys in August! (You'll get a couple of updates before the summer break, though.)
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Queen
for a day
I would be the queen of the world. I would go to the place I ever dreaming. I
would go shopping a lot, pretty clothes and things. I would eat lots of sweets
and many different delicious food. I would go to every band consert I dream. I
would fix lots of parties and there would be lots of people. I would want a beach
house and there have to be a pool in a huge garden. I would want a new cool
car. I would want a new phone, iphone of course. I would want to dance, party
every day and every night. I would want that every day is like weekend. No
worry, busy and school of course. I would want to live like rich people. You
can buy everything you want and you get everything you want. I would want to be
with my friends all the time and have fun with them. I would lose all worries,
troubles and problems in the world. I would want to be the best queen of the
world. I would want to have king who loves me and stays with me forever. There
is so many things I want to do so I guess I will be queen for days, weeks, months
or years that I can to do those things.
Emily
Pommes
King for a day
I would spend my day in the castle. If I
were a king, I would want a breakfast served to bed in the morning. I would
sleep for so long, because I wouldn’t have to hurry anywhere. When I would wake
up, I would take steps and go to watch some TV. I would relax and enjoy being a
king. I certainly use the service that king would have. If I don’t have
anything set to do, I would go to play some sports like tennis or maybe even
golf. I would go shopping to and buy something nice. That would be nice when people
stare at the limusine and wonder who’s there. Anyway, I would like to have some
bodyquards. If I were fast and I had everything with me that I wanted, I would
have a dinner while in city. After that I would return to my castle and spend
the rest of my time with some friends. Lastly I would have to go to bed and get
some rest, but I wouldn’t mind because I got to be a king for a day.
Yes, I do know that it's mid-May already and the April Fools Day came and went. But it's never late for some good writing, is it? If you've never heard about GMail Paper, The Left-Handed Whopper or successful spaghetti plantations in Switzerland, do not worry - you've only missed a good laugh. But April Fools Day isn't always about having good friendly fun. You should never joke with real serious things - or intentionally make your best friend sad. Anyway, here's what our students thought about the whole April Fools tradition.
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I don’t play tricks on April 1st, because I hate it.
Someone always tries to fool me, and I never remember that I should’t believe.
Once my teacher told us that we were going to see the president, but outside
she said it was a lie. It was raining and I was wet and angry. So, I still hate
it.
I’m not always mad if someone plays tricks on me, but it’s not always funny.
If my dearest friend fooled me, I wouldn’t be very happy about it.
Sometimes April Fool’s day can be okay, even fun, but some people just can’t
stop early enough. Scaring people isn’t funny, I think. And disgusting things
aren’t nice, but little, not hurting jokes are fine. And I like nice surprises!
Julie Hale
Several years ago, on April Fool’s Day, my friend told
everyone that she was moving abroad with her family. We were all terrified, but
luckily she told the truth pretty fast.
Personally, I don’t like April Fool’s Day at all. I am pretty gullible and
don’t always see the difference between true and false. I am bad at inventing
good tricks, too. That’s why I don’t usually fool other people on April 1st.
And because I know how annoying it can get sometimes.
I don’t go mad about a trick played on me unless it goes too far. Sometimes the
people who play the tricks don’t know to stop in time and it just gets
annoying. Some people also go on too private and serious things and it’s not
too funny anymore. You need to know who to fool and how to fool.
Marie Cain
The famous tricks in Finland are the fart pillow trick
to your teacher and changing the chalk in your class in to a candy that looks
just like a chalk. Those tricks are old and not really even funny, but they can
light up someone's day. If I do tricks on April Fools day, they will be easy,
nothing too difficult to do and nothing that someone will flip the buck about.
I have played tricks on my teachers and friends, but
they’ve mostly failed. And I have been tricked, but I never fell for the
tricks, because they were quite sloppy. I wouldn't like to be tricked by my
dearest friends, because I don't want to get mad.
April fool pranks are funny, but sometimes they get
too far. For example I remember this one trick when this boy accidentally ”cut”
his finger really bad. Then he started to scream and his mom freaked out and
called 911. Then the boy licked all the ketchup off his hand and yelled ”April
fool's mom!”. He was grounded for a long, long time...
Michelle Iron
Usually people do funny tricks on April 1st. I have
done just little tricks for my family. But usually they have remembered what
day it is, so the trick has failed.
April fool’s day isn’t a big thing to me, but I think it is ok. Of course some
people use it for bullying. That’s very wrong. For some people the day is a
nightmare.
I’m not mad if someone plays a trick on me. Of course it depends who does the
trick and what’s it like. If it’s humiliating it goes too far and I don’t like
it at all.
I don’t remember, if anyone has ever played me a trick. So I can’t tell
anything about it.
Charlotta
Snowhill
For me April first is just another day. Of course I
like pranks and jokes, but I’m too lazy to do them. My sister and cousin love
April fool’s day. One year my cousins did the rope prank. When we came home
there was rope across our street. Me and my sister didn’t get it, but our dad
got it right away. We were laughing so hard when our cousins came and yelled
“April fool’s!”
When we were in primary school our principal told everybody that the school’s
washing machine was broken so the plates were hot so we would have to eat with
our gloves on. It was funny at first year, but then he told the same joke every
year. Altogether my friends and I pranked a lot in school, but almost everytime
we failed.
I think April fool’s is fun and all, but as always someone will ruin it by doing
something really stupid and someone will get hurt or something.
Alice River
The jokes that people pull on each other are usually
some classical fools to relatives, friends or family. I like to play tricks on
other people myself, because it’s a lot of a fun and it is easy to trick
everyone. But sometimes these jokes can hurt someone. They’re still usually
harmless jokes like for example:” The lottery joke.” I have fooled my family
many times in a row now and it was a sweet trick. I’m always prepared for April
Fool’s Day, that’s why no one has ever got a chance to trick me. I usually
figure them out quite easily. I’m never mad about others’ jokes or tricks, because
they don’t harm me. I wouldn’t mind being fooled, but that breaks my record for
not being fooled yet. Some tricks really get too far and often someone gets
hurt.
Alan
Richards
On April fool’s day people do tricks to their friends.
I do some tricks on April fool’s day. I put a neat on my teacher’s chair. And I
switch the chalk to chalk licorice. And I sit on the neat by myself. When I was
little and I was in the day care center the ladies told us when we went to
dinner that there is an ice cream car outside. All kids ran out fast. And we were
so busy to get out that we didn’t put shoes so we ran out only with our socks
on, everybody. And when we get out there’s no any ice cream car anywhere. The lady
came out too after us and shouted: April, April fool’s! We all were sad when we
went back inside without ice cream. But anyway it was the greatest trick that is
ever done to me and I will remember it always. :D
Emily Pommes
April Fool’s day is an international joking day.
People do tricks on each other and try to plaind side each others for example
to look somewhere. I have done a lot of tricks, but when I’m getting older I don’t
do tricks so much as when I was younger. I did tricks like I put a piece of
tape under the tap and when you opened the tap all of the water would come on
you and make you wet. Also I’ve been joked by my friends and family, but
usually when you realized that someone has done a trick for you, you just
laugh. The idea of April Fool’s day isn’t that you do tricks for other people.
The idea is that you have fun with your friends and maybe do some kind of silly
tricks. Well sometimes it could go too far, but don’t worry your friends just
want to have fun.
Our series of interviews continues with
the interview of history teacher Pekka Haavisto. The interview was conducted by
Wayne Teller. Without further a due, let’s get going.
Is this your favorite job?
- Well it’s the best job among the jobs
I have done.
What is the most interesting period of
time in history for you?
- It’s hard to say because always when
you introduce yourself to a new subject it becomes more interesting. Still, I
would say the 19th and 20th century is the most interesting period of time for
me because I have to teach it. The 20th century might be the most interesting
for me.
What is the favorite period of time for
pupils?
- I think that the pupils also like the
20th century, especially the wars. Some pupils ask in the 7th grade when we are
going to talk about World War II. But maybe you should answer this question
yourself.
What is the best thing in this job?
- People of course. That you’re working
with interesting, funny and good pupils. When I come back to school after a
holiday, for example, I don’t have to look at those faces for long until I
already feel better.
How long have you worked as a teacher
and how long have you worked in Pikkola?
- I have taught 12 years, although I am
already 46 years old. I kind of woke up late to this job and started my studies
in the university quite late. So I was a bit over 30 years old when I started
teaching. In Pikkola I have worked for 10 years.
Is it easier and more comfortable to
work in the new building as opposed to the old one here in Pikkola?
- Yes and no because I like to go to the
teachers’ room during the breaks and now it’s further away than it was before. But
that’s a small problem. But if we don’t count that, it’s nicer and more
comfortable here. One thing is these new devices that probably are already in
use in the old building too. Another thing is that the school feels like
there’s more space because all the people aren’t in the same building. There
are more good things to say about this than bad things. When we talked about
which subjects are going to move to the new building we (history teachers)
volunteered and I don’t regret that decision.
Some pupils (not me though) have
complained about some of the school subjects being a waste of time. Of what use
is history to the pupils, in your opinion?
- That’s probably one of my favourite
questions which I’m happy to give an answer to. I could approach it a little
differently and say that, when you think about many school subjects, most of them
can be considered as tools. They’re taught because they enable you to do
certain things. Languages, for example, are a tool that you use to read, talk
and write. But at the end, I think that content is more important than the
tools. History is one such content that you can discuss with the help of those
tools. Many people around the world are interested in history, although I’m not
sure if that motivates the students. Even more important is that history gives
people knowledge and understanding of themselves and of this world. I think
that history is a subject that helps you to understand life itself.
During your career, have you ever had to
change your perception of history or change the way you teach it? After all,
history too does change…
- This is also a very good question, and
I must say I could’ve done a better job in this regard. I mean, I don’t always
have the time to update my knowledge on everything as much as I should. Of
course we also follow the study books quite a bit and every time the publishers
bring out new editions, they’re updated with some new research. There have been
a couple of times that I’ve had to change my view on some things, when new information
has come available. Actually, last autumn I took part in a teaching conference
that made me think about certain things. And I’ll probably change some things
in my teaching when I’m going to teach that subject the next time.
The
title says it all, basically. Except for Andy G, we’re all Finnish teens in BigColafor21.
But what is it like being a teenager in Finland? First we read texts about
teen life in countries like Argentina, the US, Italy and Australia. After that
it was our turn to tell the rest of the world about Finnish teens (that’s us). You'll find some really nice texts here, so be sure to check them out!
How do you spend your free time?
- Every week I go to school and waste a lot of time there. Foolish. After
school I watch TV, listen to music, play video games, read, draw or write.
What are your hobbies?
- I don't really have any hobbies, but last year I bought a skateboard and
tried to practise, but the weather was always bad and there aren't many places
nearby with great places to skate. So, I'm trying again this year and I hope I
don't fall too many times.
Do you get pocket money?
- No, but I get stuff. For example I cleaned our whole
apartment and my mom bought me two CD's from my favorite artist online.
How is school life for you?
- Well, I'm going to be honest here: school sucks. But
let me explain a little; I like to come to school and chat with friends and be
with people, but the classes... Man, if only I could be the one to decide what
subjects we are having in our school, nobody would ever even think of staying
home because school is stupid and boring and my Xbox is nice. (But after all we
would actually have a video game class.)
What do you worry about? What are the biggest
pressures in your city?
- I have to worry about school, studying, pets, mom,
brother and keeping the house up. That's a lot of stuff. And I also have to
worry about myself, because I might be sick, but the only way to find out is to
get some bloodwork done and man... I have a serious problem with needles. But
enough with me. The other teens don't really worry so much as I do, or at least
I don't know about it if they do. Eveyone wants to blend in, be a part of ”the
group”. But to do that, they have to change a lot. And when they do, they
become something else, they are not themselves anymore. That's why I don't want
to blend in, and I'm trying to be me as much as I can.
Are you proud of your country?
- Honestly? No, not really. I mean, Finland is cool
and everything's supposed to be fine here, but I just don't like this country
made of men with beer bellies. I'm planning to move to the USA when I have the
money to do so. And all because it would be nice to live in a place where the
temperature outside is just a little bit warmer.
What do you think about the stereotype of teens in
your country? Do you agree?
- Well, what I have heard from the interwebs is that
some people think that we don't have any cultural knowledge. Once someone asked
me in a chatroom that 'how can you own a computer? Aren't you people in Finland
very poor?' And another chatroom, another time, someone asked me if we had
polar bears walking around. I just laughed my butt off!
What is your ambition? What would you like to do when
you're older?
- My ambition is to have a life that someone will
respect when I'm gone. My dream job is tattooing, and running a tattoo shop.
Michelle Iron
I spend my free time mostly at home. I don’t have
hobbies. I get on well with my parents. School life is okay. I think the
stereotype of teens in my country is that they use drugs. I have visited many
other countries, including Estonia, Sweden, England and India.
Paul Woods
My hobbies are listening music. Like pop, rock… I like
movies, drawing, singing and sleeping. I go to gym one or two times in a week.
In the summer I go cycling with my mum or my friends.
I don’t get any regular pocket money, but sometimes mum gives me money, if I go
to a movie theater.
I’m in the eighth grade now. I started primary school when I was seven.
Secondary school started when I was 13.
I agree with Sinead what she said about teens’ pressure of clothes and
everything like that. Too many teens choose their friends by looks and that
makes them feel the pressure.
Charlotta
Snowhill
How do you spend your free time?
- I often go to a city nearby with my friends and when
I’m home my favorite thing to do is reading and watching movies, I also love
coocking and baking. And I have two dogs.
What are your hobbies?
- My hobbies are riding, reading and down-hill skiing.
I started skiing when I was three and riding when I was seven. I hated reading
‘til I was 10 or 11 but then I read a very good book and now I’m reading all
the time.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in
your town?
- It’s a really safe and quiet town to live and
grow-up. The bad thing is that Kangasala is far away from all the action. The
bus connections are really bad and I won’t get a car before I’m 18.
Do you get well with your parents?
- Yes! My dad’s kinda funny and my mom’s my friend. That might sound lame but
my mom is really laid back and cool. Of course we argue a lot!
How is school life for you?
- I like school and I like to think I’m good at it. And
it’s one of the few places I can meet my friends.
What is the most memorable experience in your town?
- I’ve pretty much grown up here so there has been
many nice and few bad memories.
Alice River
How do I spend my free time?
- I spend my free time with my best friend, reading,
drawing, listening to music, watching Anime and reading Manga. And I also like
to only relax.
What do I like/dislike about living in Finland?
- I like Finland really. It’s beautiful in the summer
and winter. The autumn is my favorite season. When it’s still warm and when
trees are painted orange, red and yellow. It’s beautiful. But on the other
hand, winters are cold. Heh, this is my home country.
Where do I get pocket money?
- I get pocket money from helping at cleaning, washing
dishes and all that kind of things. I get 10 euro every Friday!!
What do I argue with parents about most?
- I argue about insane things. When I’m tired I start to
complain about everything. I argue with my mother most ‘cause I don’t have the
courage to argue with my father. :P
How is school life for me?
- My school life is okay. My grades are good and I’m
happy. I’m happy ‘cause I finally have my BEST FRIEND!! I’m in 8th grade right
now. It’s easy but I’m busy with homework. There just is sometimes too much
tests and homework!!
Have I visited any other countries?
- Yeah, indeed I have. I have lived in Italy one year
but I can’t remember anything ‘cause I was too young. I have visited the Canary
Islands many times. I have visited Turkey and Estonia too. I have also visited
Sweden of course, my neighbour country.
Roxie
Bluerose
How do you spend your free time?
-I usually spend my free time with my friends and, as
unfortunate as it is, school takes some free time from me, too.
What are your hobbies?
- I don’t have any real hobbies, but I like to read and
write, spend time with my friends and take care of my dog, and when you
consider how much I do these things, I think you could take them as my hobbies.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in
your town?
- I like living in my home town because it’s a pretty
quiet and peaceful place. On the other hand, when you want to go shopping or
something, there’s nothing for that in the town I live in.
Do you get on well with your parents?
-Yes, I get on pretty well with my family. Of course,
as any teen, I sometimes have problems with them, but I could still say we have
a pretty good relationship.
How is school life for you?
- It’s sometimes a little hard and maybe stressful,
especially when we have many tests coming up, but I can manage.
What is your most memorable experience in your town?
- I don’t really know. I have experienced a lot there.
Are you proud of your country? What do you like or
dislike? Why?
- Sometimes I’m proud of Finland, and sometimes it
makes me a little less proud. It depends.
What do you think the stereotype of teens in your
country is? Do you agree with it?
- It seems like most Finns think that teens are grumpy,
rude shoplifters. I’d like to find a way to prove them wrong.
Have you visited other countries?
- Yes, I have been in Sweden, United Kingdom, Norway,
Estonia, Lithuania, Malaysia and Australia.
Marie Cain
And since we always want to have some music here, here's one Finnish teen you might know.
