It’s been a busy time since the start of the year.
- Nicholle started her first full-time position as a teacher. She teaches Culinary Arts and Home Economics (foods) at Burnaby Central Secondary.
- We were 11 years married in Feb; It’s getting quite serious between us.
We had no snow for Christmas but a good dusting in January. It’s so nice to get out in the morning before there are any footprints and crunch around in the park across from our place.
We had a lovely visit from my old pal Declan Murphy, who I met in Kathmandu during my stint there. Chef Nicholle cooked us up a mighty feed one afternoon: we were also joined by Alan Burns (Crosshaven – Kathmandu – Vancouver) and Maria & her husband Ger; Maria was my student two years ago and is now a Technology Education teacher
Me and the lads got up to some devilment, but the best pic of the visit is Alan, decked out in a World Cup 2002 geansaí, teaching a random passerby how to play conkers, outside his local psychedelic dispensary (you can buy LSD over the counter there!)
Dec is a teacher so I brought him out to spend the day with some of my old students. Dante is currently a teacher candidate and is doing his practicum with Alex as his school advisor. I taught Dante last year and Alex back in 2019/2020. Nicholas was in my class two years ago.
I’m coming towards the end of my PhD and I have a lot of irons in the fire right now. I am writing and reading, of course. I’m also giving a lot of time to service roles at UBC and elsewhere, but being of service like this is rewarding in its own way and helps me to grow in different ways.
I’m not teaching a class right now but I give occasional talks and presentations on different topics. Below is a pic taken after my presentation to a group of educators from China (who were at UCB to study for three months). I spoke about my work around metaphor and teacher identity and had fun cutting up Möbius strips with them.
Be(com)ing Canadian
Receiving my Canadian passport raised some issues, again, for me. More here
(April 8, 2024) Under The Crown
https://kieranfor.de/2024/04/08/under-the-crown/
I’ve shared some more of my writing on my website, if anyone is curious: https://kieranfor.de/writing/.
I’d love to hear any thoughts/comments you have to share. Email me at kieranforde@hush.com
Craic!
Nicholle and I sent to see Joe Wang in February. Joe is from the same province as Nicholle and studied at the university down the street from where we used to live. He has a PhD in Biochemistry, though he makes a living from his comedy. See him here making fun of (then) VP Biden in 2010.
I’ve been doing some more practical learning. In Jan I completed a Basic Vehicle Maintenance & Operations course at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Last Monday, I had a great Day at BCIT learning how to use the wood lathe: see my account of that below.
(April 20, 2024) SW9
https://kieranfor.de/2024/04/20/hands-on-learning/
I was excited to learn with Rory and to develop more hands-on skills like the ones I learned on the Machine Shop Course at UBC.
(Nov/Dec 2023) Student Machine Shop Course https://kieranfor.de/2023/11/30/student-machine-shop-sms-course/
I’ve been chairing more book launches with the Curriculum Studies in Canada project. Some are of more interest to me than others but this latest one I found especially interesting.
I’ve also been learning more about ropework in the evenings, to give my hands something to do and to occupy my brain with something other than words!
I am enjoying semi-regular puppy therapy these days. Some neighbors play with their new puppies across from our place so I pop over and play with them whenever I see them; it’s a wonderful time-out from the doom and gloom in the news.
Nicholle relaxes by cooking: I am a very lucky man, I know 😀
There’s a bunch of pics over on the Menu Page (for me to refer to when I get asked what I want for dinner!). I’ve included the one below because the sourdough base and sauce she makes for pizza is phenomenal.
That’s all for now.
Keep on keepin’ on.
xK & XX