Communication Book Excerpt
Dear K1B Parents,
So, I was kind of worried about what Monday would be like. The two weeks leading up to the Christmas show were pretty hectic, and any routine I had established was-pretty much-thrown out the window. Not that that was such a bad thing. But I wondered what the kids would be like afterwards, when it was time to get back to business.
They were great. They cheered in unison when I told two kids to pass out the phonics books.
I've been working them pretty hard most mornings. Every kid is now eagerly participating in the “phonics phestivities” (heh heh). It's pretty fun. One trick I do pretty well is playing dumb in front of the class. I'll deliberately mispronounce words and they will collectively correct me. Saying “Pal” instead of “pail,” for instance. It's a scream. Of course, I tell them they're right. None of this is going over anyone's head. Thank God.
We made little Christmas trees on Wednesday. On Thursday we made stockings.
I wanted to make something for the kids. After awhile, I decided to put together what you call a “mix CD.” Some of the songs aren't in English. In fact, one is in Chinese. I really didn't intend to give the kids something to study as much as something to be enjoyed. I just tried to pick songs that I thought children would like. The common theme among them is “joy.”
Anyhow, I'm a music lover. One thing I'm sincerely grateful for is the fact that I grew up around people that turned me on to cool music. I probably sit and do nothing but listen to music for twenty minutes every day. It's a form of meditation, I suppose. It's a source of peace in my life.
To me, that's what Christmas is all about.
Have a good one.
Ryan Joseph Hudson
1.) “Hunter”-Bjork. Bjork is from an island called Iceland. It's the very opposite of Taiwan in terms of climate. I'm told she sang the opening song to the 2004 Summer Olympics. She is a mother.
2.)“Metaphysical”-Miho Hitori and “Money Mark.” “Metaphysical” Miho Hitori is a Japanese woman who moved to New York City. Her style of singing is called “freestyle.” She sings whatever comes to mind.
3.) “June”-Trans Am. This is an instrumental piece from Trans Am's new album. Many of the songs on the album protested the U.S. invasion of Iraq on the grounds that doing so was unjust.
4.) “Home Truths”-Michael Karoli and Polly Eltes. These two musicians are from Germany. Michael Karoli was the guitarist to a group named Can. Can lived in an old castle.
5.) “Monter Au Ciel”-Transglobal Underground. The woman singing is named Natasha Atlas. Her family comes from Egypt, Morocco and Palestine. She has traveled the world most of her life. She speaks and sings in about six languages, and I don't which one she is using in this particular song.
6.) “Thank You for Sending Me An Angel”-Talking Heads. I was jumping around the living room to this song before I was your children's age. The song, as I understand it, is about being confident in yourself.
7.) “Build High”-The Pixies. “Build high,” I think, is good advice. Like “think big.” The Pixies are a very influential American rock band. On this song, they play a country-western tune. Or try to. A real toe-tapper, this one.
8.) “At Three Springtime”-Chang Loo. I have no idea what the title is supposed to mean. I can't understand any of this song. There are many Chinese oldies that I like and this is one of them.
9.) “I Fought Piranhas”-The White Stripes. The White Stripes are from my home state of Michigan. They are from Detroit city. A few years ago, no one knew who they were. Now, they are world-famous. They have always tried their very best to make the best records they possibly could while being true to themselves. They are like heroes to me.
What could be cooler than fighting piranhas and living to sing about it?
10.) “Sayonara America, Sayonara Nippon”-World Standard and Kama Aina. These musicians are playing a song by a band called The Happy End. “Good bye, America, good bye, Japan.” Bye bye!
If anyone would like more information or music from any of these artists, please feel free to ask and your request will be happily obliged.