The Joy of Learning!Written by Mike Lim
“ Part of what motivates me to write this book is a concern that we’ve lost touch in education with sheer joy of what it means to learn something new.” Thomas Armstrong, Author, Awakening Genius in ClassroomI think I was around 6 years old, when my mum decided to put me into Piano class. I am quite sure it was an afterthought because it was my younger sister who was first put into class. Till today, I could still remember, following my mum and sister to her classes at Yamaha. Why was I asked to learn piano with my sister? I guess it was my demonstration of my musical ability on piano (which was bought for my sister to practice). Without any formal music lessons, I stunned my family by playing tunes from TV shows on piano. And, of course, I disrupted my sister practice sessions (and maybe, self-confidence, in process). My mum, a “talent scout” of sorts insisted that I should have formal training to bring out best in me. Like all parents would do. So, I began to attend piano lessons each week in a small cramped room that was only big enough for my piano teacher, piano and me. Frankly, I cannot really remember much of lessons. But, without a doubt, I could definitely recall constant nagging of my mum to practice everyday pounding in my head. This went on for about 2 years. During those two years, I did not take any practical exam, as I was averse to idea of being graded. Fear of failure, maybe. Soon after, my dear mum withdrew me from piano lessons. I guessed she must have realized that I was not going to amount much since I had adamantly refused to go for any practical exams. Was I being a difficult child to my mum who probably had so much hope in me to be next Richard Clayderman or even, a Mozart in making? How could it be when I had actually passed my theory exam with flying color (shocking everyone in process!)? To top it all, my piano teacher was very pleased with me and raved to my mum about my prodigious musical talent during initial few weeks of piano lessons. But, I just wouldn't go for any exams and hated piano lessons as weeks passed.
| | Bolivia: A Geographic PortraitWritten by James Chartwell
South America's primary mountain range, Andes, attains one of its widest points in Bolivia. Here Andes are divided into two subranges, Cordillera Oriental and Cordillera Occidental. Peaks in these areas are in excess of 20,000 feet. Between these subranges lies Altiplano which contains highest navigable lake on earth. Lake Titicaca, which also lies in Peru, is 12,507 feet above sea level.Also in Altiplano is one of Bolivia's capitals, La Paz. At 11,700 feet it is one of highest cities in world. This region is home to one of centers of Inca civilization and pre--Inca cultures. Lake Titicaca is what helps make Altiplano livable. This body of water is large enough to temper coldness in its vicinity. Grains have been raised for centuries on surrounding arable land up to amazing elevation of 12,800 feet. The area supports a major group of subsistence farmers to this day. Bolivia has had a troubled history. Aside from numerous internal struggles, country first lost its access to Pacific Ocean in a conflict with Chile. It then lost its northern territory of Acre to Brazil in a dispute involving rubber industry in Amazon Basin. On top of all that, Bolivia was forced to give up 55,000 square miles of southeastern Gran Chaco territory to Paraguay. Bolivia has reactivated its claim to restore Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, to secure sovereign maritime access for Bolivian natural gas. Modern Bolivia is product of European domination, however that influence has not affected some of Amerindian population clusters. But these indigenous Bolivians still lost their land as did their Peruvian and Ecuadorian counterparts. However, what made richer Europeans in Bolivia wealthy was not land but minerals.
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