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Life Onboard |
LAST UPDATE
July 12, 2005
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| January 22, 2004 |
"GET Real" - Get Teachers' Introductory Event
GET serious! |
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| GET teachers and coordinators in
full party regalia |
The Global English/Espanol Training (GET) is an educational programme onboard Peace Boat that aims to teach communicative English and Spanish, with the understanding that communication and language skills are vital for building peace. The ship is a unique environment for language learning as students can learn and then interact with English speakers amongst guest speakers, staff and crew, as well as in ports of calls. Additionally, GET teachers from various English-speaking countries including the United Kingdom, North America, and Oceania, also contribute to the diversity of people onboard Peace Boat. On January 20 and 22, participants were able to see the different faces of the GET teachers thanks to two contrasting GET events.
The first was the International Music Event organized by teachers Darius Hill and Laura Burritt. This event was part of a campaign to raise money for NGOs in South Africa that advocate fair access to treatment for people with HIV/AIDS. The show was kicked off in Latino style with a sensational salsa show from GET coordinators Melissa Ramirez and Rika Satake. They were joined by Megumi Asano from Mexico, one of the Spanish teachers. After the show, participants and other GET teachers could not wait anymore to show off their moves on the dance floor where American Chuck Johnson's "body popping" wowed the crowd. |
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| Todd Bruell colouring in the
donation barometer |
The evening took a slightly more sober turn as Peace Boat staff Paul Mason introduced the aim of the campaign, to raise $2500 for HIV/AIDS treatment by the time Peace Boat reaches Cape Town on February 1. To this end, American Todd Bruell introduced the barometer, a huge white ribbon to be coloured in red as the fund total increased. The MCs for the evening, David Boyd and Makiko Abe then introduced a video message from former guest Machingura, a passionate HIV/AIDS activist from Zimbabwe / the United States. Machingura's music and warmth had touched many people onboard before he disembarked in Mumbai to participate in the World Social Forum. He and a few representatives from Peace Gang, the onboard choir, sang to encourage people to give generously.
Peter's Band from Kenya then took the stage and in a wildly energetic display of complex polyrhythmic drumming accompanying the singing and dancing, incited the whole crowd to join in, dancing and playing anything they could get their hands on from rattling banana shakers to musical bells. People of all ages were caught by the infectious beats and showed their appreciation with their feet. |
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GET Real!
Several nights later, the GET teachers revealed their serious and opinionated side in a panel discussion on various issues surrounding their own countries and lives as non-Japanese in Japan. Questions ranged from asking teachers what they thought was the most peculiar thing about Japanese society, to what drove them crazy about other non-Japanese living in Japan.
Some of the more controversial answers given were an opinion expressed by Tanya Roth, that some members of the international community behave in an manner in Japan that they wouldn't do at home, and concerns were voiced by Dave Tipple and Keith Goldstein about the over-concreting of Japan. These stimulated some interesting discussion about changing Japanese morals, as expressed by Jaime da Silva.
The event - which reflected the diversity of opinion that exists within this group - was smoothly facilitated by Kane Niwa. A follow up event is being planned to continue some of the more interesting discussions that arose between the teachers and the audience. |
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