Dave Allan Two : July 2004

#8 ....................... A Publication Of SchoolNet Global

In This Issue
We celebrate the Anglo-Canadian Connection. Late in June, children from Doncaster Elementary in Victoria BC Canada conferenced with children from St Mary's Primary in Folkestone Kent UK. Again, both schools were using Apple's iChat audio/visual software and both had the video capability provided by iSight cameras. The meeting spanned many thousand miles and 8 time zones. The Canadian children were beginning their school day and the English children were ending theirs. St. Mary's students took it upon themselves to publish SchoolNet Global pages complete with pictures recording the experience as they perceived it. Several teachers from other schools in Kent observed the event. The children in Canada were surprised to discover that on Canada Day (July 1) There is a ceremony in Folkestone to commemorate the Canadian soldiers who came to the UK during World War 11, many of whom lost their lives fighting in Europe. It is amazing how history can come to light with sudden awareness. The children realized that they were much closer in heritage than the huge geographic distance that separates them.

To conclude we begin a new feature. Steve Fabian is a Canadian doing doctoral research in Africa. We are lucky to be able to virtually be with Steve as he journeys to the East African city of Dar-Es-Salaam Tanzania and describes his experiences as he encounters other cultures first hand.

Cultures and Tradition across the World by Tom

Boys across the world talk to each other using the computer!

When we linked up to the Canadian children we found out that they have Hallowen just as we do. Also every year on the first of July they have Canada Day, this is slightly like St.Georges Day on April 23rd in England but they have fireworks and barbeques as well.

When we talked to them there were a few problems with the sound being crackly but it was overall a good link up and we could see them very well. More

Link up to Canada by Chris H

A picture of all of us!

We had a video/conference link to Doncaster school in Canada and we used the Apple iChat to link up! When we talked to the Canadian children we talked about some of our traditions.They have traditions like Canada Day on the first of July and Halloween
Some of our traditions are Halloween and Bonfire Night on November 5th.

There were lots of us there, including my friends from Year 6. More

An Amazing iChat to Canada

Look at our Ammonite!

Yesterday I did a link-up with Canada. It was great showing stuff to the camera and all that. First I was nervous but when I had done it, it felt like I was on T.V.

Mrs. Cotton had a teachers' meeting so the other teachers came in to watch. First we said our name and age in French. After that we did the song head-shoulders-knees and toes in French. Next they sang a song about Canada, in French. Then they told us about Canada Day and how they celebrated it. More

Link Up to Canada Report by Ellen C

Girls Talking Across the World

I think it is amazing that we can see and speak to people in other countries. We found out a lot of things about Canada that I never knew,
They have Cougars (they are wild big cats) and spiders in their gardens that we dont have here.
We also met their teacher and their school mascot which is a toy dog.We showed the children in Canada one of our school mascots, Valentino Bear. Smarty Bear is on holiday. More

Talking Live to the Children in Canada

Valentino Bear meets the Children of Doncaster School in Canada

On 23rd of June 2004, St Mary's Primary School linked up to Canada through computers. With the iChat camera and microphone, we could see and hear the children in Canada.

We took it in turns to ask the children questions. Then they took it in turns to ask us questions about England and Folkestone. We did some of our questions in French. In Canada they celebrate Canada Day which is a big party where they have hot dogs and fire works! They have Halloween just like us they celebrate by going trick or treating by dressing up and scaring people!More

Linking up with Canadian Children

A Piece of the Famous White Cliffs of Dover!

When we talked to the Canadian children I asked them a couple of questions. They celebrate some of the things that we celebrate. They share Halloween and Canada Day on July 1st.

We have a war memorial in Folkestone for the Canadian soldiers who were killed in the 2nd World War and some of the schools in our town take flowers to put on their graves on July 1st, to say 'Thankyou' and we have a short service with some prayers. Two of the teachers at the link up told the Canadian children and teachers about it. More

Arriving In Dar-Es-Salaam

A Tanzanian Dalla Dalla

"I arrived on time in Dar around 9pm. The arrivals area was not as chaotic as I anticipated. My driver was there with a sign bearing my name on it. He was very friendly - in fact, the owner even was there with his entire family. We had to wait for a girl from the UK. In the meantime, I waited outside with the owner's son, Sam, who is nine. He taught me some Swahili and informed me about Tanzania and Tanzanians. Tanzanian dance music blared over the loudspeakers.

The drive to the hostel was eye opening. Even though it was dark, we could make out the neighbourhoods we were passing by. People were out gathered around roadside stalls and busstops. The roads are mostly poor - they change from tarmac to dirt constantly. Some sections are extremely bumpy and the driver has to go at a snail's pace to avoid losing his tires.

We passed through the university which is a sprawling campus set amidst palm trees and other vegetation. It sits on a large hill and it is breezy there. The hostel was on the other side of this hill along a long and windy road. The hostel workers were very friendly and quickly got me to my room and bid me a good night. The room is spotless and clean, but very utilitarian so as to allow for an easy clean up.

Breakfast is served in a large patio covered with a large thatched roof. There is a view of a small valley from this patio, filled with palm trees waving in the wind and other lush vegetation. My breakfast was great - eggs, toast, bananas, chai and mango juice. Today is beautiful - it is hot, but about as hot as a hot day in Halifax. There are certainly some poor neighbourhoods around here - it is bizarre to travel from one poorer area in to a more prosperous one - all on the same road.

Walking in itself is a big experience given the lack of sidewalks. Cars and dalla-dallas roar past you shooting up big clouds of dust. I've been riding the dalla-dallas all day. This is a great experience - being crammed into a van built for eight, yet sitting 18. But it is dirt cheap." (More installments to come)