Global Perspectives

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On Thursday 17 June, Oats got to participate in the Chinese Day. I spoke with Else O’Leary and Petra Trambas to find out what they thought about the day. They learnt about Chinese New Year, and learnt how to draw the character 福 (fortune) in calligraphy. They also got to dress up in traditional Chinese clothes, and play instruments after a performance by the Chinese Music Ensemble. Both Else and Petra said that learning the “Little Apple” dance was the highlight of the day. Dana Hutchinson who ran this day for Oats said that she was very impressed with the level of participation, and that everyone gave it their best go. Wednesday 23 June was when Backhouse got to participate in the Japanese Day. Lucy Wilson and Sarah Mundy informed me that they played lots of Japanesestyle games, which enhanced the Japanese spirit created during the day. They played games called Oodama, Mukade Kyousou, Taifuu no me, Darmuma Hakobi, Dekapan and Rajio Taisu. They also made Japanese style hats, with a circle coloured to their respective houses, and they got to make bento style boxes. Backhouse got to go to the botanical gardens in the morning and drew pictures of the Japanese garden, and Penn stayed at school and watched a Japanese movie while they ate their bento boxes.

On Thursday 24 June, Mott particpated in the German Day. On this day, the students got to make Butterkekse (butter biscuits), Kinderpunsch (hot fruit punch), Laternen (lanterns) and go ice skating. I asked the students what the most exciting thing was and unanimously said ‘ice skating’! The students learnt what people do in Germany during winter time, such as the food they eat and how ice skating is important to their culture. I talked to Agnes Knogler, who ran the German Day for Mott, and she said that the students were really resilient. I asked her what she wanted to have for next year’s Global Perspectives Day, and she said that she would love to teach the students a song that they sing during a Laternenlauf (lantern parade), and have their own version of Laternenlauf.

This new addition to the Connections course allows for students to broaden their knowledge of language and culture by participating in fun, engaging and beneficial activities to enhance their learning experiences. It is also a good opportunity for students to develop their relationships with their classmates and teachers. (L-R) Frysters James Wong, Wilkie Haddow and Maggie Hopster enjoying Gaufres! Photo: Trish Menadue

7 Oats at a performance by the Chinese Wind Ensemble. Photo: Monique Gall.

Right: Mott on the rink! Front and centre: Ruby Rollins. Second row: Michael Vickers and Sebastian Fearn. In the back: Ava Carlton. Photo: Matt Dixon. Japanese Games! L-R: Otto Maiz-Casas, Oscar BatemanLark, Emerson Darke and Poppy Cracknell. Photo: Lauren Grieve.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a breath-taking New Zealand film that really illustrates the nature of New Zealand’s bush, people and wildlife.

The film follows the story of Ricky Baker, a troubled Maori foster kid, as he tries to adjust to his new family who live on a farm near the New Zealand wilderness. When his foster mother dies suddenly, Ricky fakes his suicide and runs off into the bush, immediately getting lost. Hec, his foster father, easily finds him. But a broken ankle and a countrywide manhunt push the two deeper into the wilderness, and closer to each other, as they attempt to escape the authorities pursuing Hec for the supposed abduction of Ricky.

This film will have you laughing all the way through—except for the moments where your heart breaks. It gives you the impression that New Zealand is a lush, inspiring place with mysterious bush that stretches as far as the eye can see. And gives you an insight into the people who are just as wild as the yawning expanse of wilderness that shrouds the New Zealand landscape. Would highly recommend.

Every term one of the four languages studied at Friends’ (Chinese, Japanese, French and German) has a day where the culture behind that language can be showcased by selling national foods and playing games children in that country would play.

German Day will be in Term 4 and what a day it will be! Bratwursts, both vegetarian and meat, are on the menu as well as Berliners (if all goes according to plan) and they will be sold in the Open Gym.

Berliners are delicious doughnuts filled with jam with sugar on top. The name originates from the story of a Berlin baker who, in 1756, was turned down by the Prussian military but served as a field baker and began frying doughnuts on an open fire for the soldiers, which the soldiers named after his home town, Berlin (leitesculinaria. com). Interestingly, Berliners are not called ‘Berliners’ in Berlin but instead, called Pfannkuchen.

“In Austria we call ‘Berliner’, ‘Krapfen’, and they are one of my favourite pastries. Traditionally, they are served around the time of lent (from late January until about Easter). My family in Austria owns a bakery, so when I was a child there was always a steady supply of delicious fresh ‘Krapfen’”, said Agnes Knogler, teacher of German.

Berliners aren’t the only foods that are important to German history. Bratwurst were made in harsh winters hundreds of years ago so there was no food wasted (kitchenproject.com). And in addition to pastries and baked goods when one thinks German food, one does consider all the smallgoods and meat products the country is renowned for.

Christine Wittlinger, teacher of German and Head of Languages Faculty, said, “On a personal note, although Germany is known to be a country of meatlovers, 12% of the population are vegetarian or vegan. This is the highest rate in Europe. I have been a pescatarian (eating fish but no meat) for 30 years.”

Looking at food from different cultures is a great way to learn about a country’s history and lifestyles.

As part of German Day, and being the national team sport in Germany, a game of soccer will be played on the bottom green, open to all those who want to participate, but if soccer isn’t for you, feel free to drop by the BAMOT Theatre for a round of karaoke with friends. While karaoke doesn’t hold significance for German culture, it is fun for everyone!

“Ich bin Schnappi das kleine Krokodil, Komm aus Ägypten das liegt direkt am Nil. Zuerst lag ich in einem Ei, Dann schni schna schnappte ich mich frei.” German Karaoke in the Asten (Lecture) Theatre, 2019. Photo: Christine Wittlinger.

Das Wunder Von Bern is a German movie set in 1954 and about a boy named Matthias who struggles to adjust to living with his father who returned from being a prisoner of war after nine years in Siberia. Matthias’s relationship with his father only gets worse, ending in him seeing football player, Helmut Rahn, as a father figure. This leads him to attempt to travel to Bern to see Germany play against Hungary for the 1954 FIFA World Cup.

Football is seen as a beacon of hope in the dark times of post-World War 2 Germany in this sports and drama genre film.

I love it because it holds lots of conflict, plot twists and a heart-warming redemption arc. I would recommend Das Wunder Von Bern to everyone, especially sports enthusiasts! Das Wunder von Bern (dir. Sönke Wortmann, 2003) Custard Berliners. Photo: Nadine Frick.

Our Times is a Taiwanese Romantic Comedy told from the perspective of a woman named Lin Truly who reminisces about her past experiences in high school. The film follows the perspective of Lin’s nerdy teenage self as she ends up intertwined with a malicious bully named Tai Yu. They eventually become friends and Lin Truly manages to convert Tai Yu from his bullying nature.

The highlight of the movie was probably the fight scenes between Tai Yu’s gang and his nemesis’ gang. Despite the terribly unrealistic action, these fight scenes were very comedic.

The character development of Tai Yu was reasonably inspirational and told the viewer that a situation could be easily overcome with a little bit of perseverance and tenacity.

Overall, I would recommend this film to anyone who is studying Chinese as a language as it is beneficial for teaching the layout of Chinese sentence structure. With its light-hearted humour and engaging plot this movie is an easy one to watch and one the whole family can enjoy.

Our Times (dir Yu Shan Chen 2015)