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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 21 of 21. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Verloren on January 29, 2010, at 21:39:28
It's Friday night and I'm bored. I was supposed to have plans with my friend tonight but she canceled and I didn't have a backup plan in place.
So I'm drifting around the internet. I should probably be reading, or knitting, or even sleeping. But I don't particularly feel like doing much.
ho hum-Verloren
Posted by Sigismund on January 29, 2010, at 21:50:12
In reply to Bored and a little lonely, posted by Verloren on January 29, 2010, at 21:39:28
You're bored! Well.
I'm going, as I may have said, to teach English in Vietnam soon. How good would your English have to be to find this funny? Since they have had a communist government they should have the requisite pessimism (war, socialism, land reform, embrace of capitalism) to find it amusing, but what about the English angle? The language in the piece is simple and yet.......Some of the students will have very good English, some not. I'm giving thought to my absolute inexperience in teaching English.
> What do we do now?
ESTRAGON:
Wait.
VLADIMIR:
Yes, but while waiting.
ESTRAGON:
What about hanging ourselves?
VLADIMIR:
Hmm. It'd give us an erection.
ESTRAGON:
(highly excited). An erection!
VLADIMIR:
With all that follows. Where it falls mandrakes grow. That's why they shriek when you pull them up. Did you not know that?
ESTRAGON:
Let's hang ourselves immediately!
VLADIMIR:
From a bough? (They go towards the tree.) I wouldn't trust it.
ESTRAGON:
We can always try.
VLADIMIR:
Go ahead.
ESTRAGON:
After you.
VLADIMIR:
No no, you first.
ESTRAGON:
Why me?
VLADIMIR:
You're lighter than I am.
ESTRAGON:
Just so!
Posted by Sigismund on January 29, 2010, at 21:51:51
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely » Verloren, posted by Sigismund on January 29, 2010, at 21:50:12
An English teacher I know suggested that you'd have to have a very high standard of English to find this funny.
Of course it may not be funny.
Posted by Sigismund on January 29, 2010, at 21:57:33
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely, posted by Sigismund on January 29, 2010, at 21:51:51
I won't be able to talk about the war, I won't be able to talk about Beckett, they won't like anything Russian, I don't want to eat dog in Hanoi (though roasted is said in today's paper to be scrumptious...it's an unfortunate word when thinking of roast dog, don't you think?).
I shall have to be a picture of restraint and decorum.
Posted by Verloren on January 29, 2010, at 22:29:54
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely » Verloren, posted by Sigismund on January 29, 2010, at 21:50:12
Hello Sigi,
Well, I find it relatively amusing but I wouldn't recommend it to beginner or even intermediate English students. The mandrake reference may be lost to them and does not carry any especially delightful symbolism.
English uses "they" and "them" where other languages do not. That sentence alone may require excessive explanation that would hinder the effect of it.
The English used is simple, I agree. But as one passage, the meaning may require more explanation than they would be ready for.
I did find the end amusing. What is this from actually? I'm imagining a play.
-Verloren
Posted by Verloren on January 29, 2010, at 22:43:40
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely, posted by Sigismund on January 29, 2010, at 21:57:33
Also, would you need to teach them necessary English?
Numbers & signs?
Questions & direction?
Differences in types of english?
Example:
Where is the toilet? (Why do Americans call the toilet by so many different names? -- the john, the throne, bathroom, restroom, powder room, lavatory, the pool, washroom, the head, latrine, the crap-per, mens'/ladies' room, little boys'/girls' room.)-V
Posted by Sigismund on January 29, 2010, at 22:47:24
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely, posted by Verloren on January 29, 2010, at 22:29:54
I find this amusing
>Let's hang ourselves immediately!
VLADIMIR:
From a bough? (They go towards the tree.) I wouldn't trust it.It's from "Waiting for Godot".
I can't very well say "My name is Sigismund, I am from Australia, I suffer from social anxiety, how was communism?"
I will have to look for what you were referring to with
>English uses "they" and "them" where other languages do not. That sentence alone may require excessive explanation that would hinder the effect of it.
Posted by Sigismund on January 29, 2010, at 22:51:39
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely » Sigismund, posted by Verloren on January 29, 2010, at 22:43:40
No, their English will be pretty good. I'm not sure what they'll have difficulty with. Maybe questions and tenses? Even street kids have relatively good English, such that you can have a conversation with them. They will want to learn English so they can make money. They will be adults, and maybe only 5.
Posted by Sigismund on January 29, 2010, at 22:57:38
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely » Sigismund, posted by Verloren on January 29, 2010, at 22:43:40
>Differences in types of english?
That's what I've enjoyed most in "The Wire". The African-Americans (as we say these days and they most certainly do not) will say "I'll think on it", as in Shakespeare, whereas we say "I'll think about it".
An Americanism I've noticed is that (many of) you say "I could care less" meaning (for us) "I couldn't care less", which sounds more logical to me.
Posted by Verloren on January 29, 2010, at 23:37:34
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely, posted by Sigismund on January 29, 2010, at 22:57:38
Hmm, I might look into "The Wire". I've heard of it only a bit. As I understand, it is satire?
"The African-Americans (as we say these days and they most certainly do not)"
-I never understood why people insist on making that distinction "african". It seems rather rude to me. And no, I have rarely hear black people refer to themselves as African-American any more than I hear others refer to themselves as Irish-American, French-American, Asian-American, Scottish-American, etc, etc.
It still amazes me how a mixed American child of German and African descended parents would still be categorized as "african-american". Are racial categories necessary? What would we call people then? Surely we can't just call them Americans, can we?
Is it really That politically correct to assume the entire racial background of someone not known personally?
I have seen very dark skinned people who from afar would appear "African-American" but are actually native to India once you see them closer. What then...
"An Americanism I've noticed is that (many of) you say "I could care less" meaning (for us) "I couldn't care less", which sounds more logical to me."
Could vs couldn't, that is the question.I suppose you could make the assumption that it is meant "I am able to care about this less than I currently do". Whereas, "couldn't care less" is meant "I care so little there is no possible way to care any less than I do now".
But then again, what would be the point of being able to care lesser than one did? Personally, I say both but impart the same amount of dismay to each.
This conversation has me very excited now.
-v
Posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 30, 2010, at 1:57:16
In reply to Bored and a little lonely, posted by Verloren on January 29, 2010, at 21:39:28
I'm too bored, i've been writing my life thoughts and no responded to them. Ugh, man life just get's overwhelming for me. Look at people's lives, and their great I usally just go to bed, then get up the next day and do the same.
Something will come along...
Posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2010, at 10:55:26
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 30, 2010, at 1:57:16
Me too more bored each day same old same old. sigi what's this about VietNam I don't think I believe this. Love PJ
Posted by Sigismund on January 30, 2010, at 13:00:44
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely, posted by Verloren on January 29, 2010, at 23:37:34
Well all the negroes (not allowed to say that) in The Wire call themselves n*gg*r (nor that especially). It's like all the names for retardation (I'm probably not allowed to say that either) like cretin. (Aren't our waves of fashion something?) You're right. If I was American it would be ridiculous to describe myself as English-American given that my forebears (that is a word, right?) came from there (I think). There are all these cultural sensitivities about race that are specifically American, I think, probably mainly about keeping up appearances. Harry Connick came to Australia and was judging a variety show and there was some quite lame act which would have been not worth watching 25 years ago where these men dressed up in afro wigs and blackened their faces. It was just dumb and unfunny, but his reaction was interesting. He said he was shocked and offended and would have walked
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DhNJsU2N6Q
(He loves this show! That's very nice of him to say that.)
America has been dealing with racism ever since its inception. Australia is light years behind us. Hmmmmmm. I think it's an important issue too, but I think it extends beyond symbolism, at which point I feel it is important to mention all those countries that have suffered from their encounter with the west, in particular Vietnam and Iraq. I'm more interested in armies than wretched TV, but even so, they were right, it was extraordinarily lame and I only became aware of it because it was on the news.
Posted by Sigismund on January 30, 2010, at 13:06:07
In reply to Let's talk about race, posted by Sigismund on January 30, 2010, at 13:00:44
>it is important to mention all those countries that have suffered from their encounter with the west, in particular Vietnam and Iraq.
In which Australia has played its part.
Posted by rnny on January 30, 2010, at 16:43:08
In reply to Bored and a little lonely, posted by Verloren on January 29, 2010, at 21:39:28
I am bored and lonely most of the time, not just Friday nights when plans fall through!
Posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2010, at 19:00:24
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely, posted by rnny on January 30, 2010, at 16:43:08
I am also. Right now also. Phillipa
Posted by Verloren on February 1, 2010, at 14:07:40
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely, posted by rjlockhart04-08 on January 30, 2010, at 1:57:16
Sorry you're bored too Rj. And sorry no one has been responding to you. Personally, I just figured you were blogging and therefore no response needed. Life thoughts are good to get down in writing. I hope you're keeping a log of them as well.
I'm supposed to try to avoid comparing my life to those I perceive as having a better situation than me, but it's hard not to do. Every time I see people seemingly happy, it makes me wish for that. And I never recognize the moments when I'm actually happy and other people may be envying me.
Sorry life is overwhelming. But you're right; something will come. It will definitely be different and hopefully for the better.
-v
Posted by Verloren on February 1, 2010, at 14:15:58
In reply to Let's talk about race, posted by Sigismund on January 30, 2010, at 13:00:44
"If I was American it would be ridiculous to describe myself as English-American given that my forebears (that is a word, right?) came from there (I think)."
So what would you call yourself then? How would you be categorized? Would you need to be?
How could we identify with you if we don't know your background? Does it make it less humane if we can't categorize you in some way or more humane if we choose not to?
"There are all these cultural sensitivities about race that are specifically American, I think, probably mainly about keeping up appearances."I agree.
-Verloren
Posted by Verloren on February 1, 2010, at 14:19:49
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely, posted by rnny on January 30, 2010, at 16:43:08
((((((Hugs Rnny))))))
Sorry to hear. Let's endeavor to not be as lonely. I'm going to find one new hobby that involve other people. I've been thinking about learning chess.
Now, I just wish I liked being around people.
-Verloren
Posted by Verloren on February 1, 2010, at 14:23:04
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely, posted by Phillipa on January 30, 2010, at 10:55:26
I am going to try to get out of my boredom. I am going to try new hobbies this year. I've always wanted to learn chess and work with ceramics.
Boredom is not a good feeling.
How are you now?
-v
Posted by Phillipa on February 1, 2010, at 19:34:40
In reply to Re: Bored and a little lonely » Phillipa, posted by Verloren on February 1, 2010, at 14:23:04
Bored unless doing something. Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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