Marcus (SL: Njiwamwitu Writer) and Sabine (SL: Willow Shenlin)’s meeting in SL –transcript 11/2/0/2007—
Note: the first 26 minutes were audio and chat. We moved to chat only in order to have a complete transcript of our conversation.
[8:20] Njiwamwitu Writer is Online
[8:24] Willow Shenlin: hi!
[8:24] Njiwamwitu Writer: Hi
[8:24] Willow Shenlin: I was just trying to find the questions on the wiki
[8:31] Willow Shenlin: http://www.eduisland.net/salamanderwiki
[8:35] Njiwamwitu Writer: 1st "meeting" - get to know each other through an activity that Javier and I developed (record this). - Follow-up assignment - listen to the recording and see if you learn anything new from listening to the conversation in retrospect. (Post what you learn on the research space) 2nd meeting - discuss initial ideas for answers to the assigned questions - Follow-up assignment - create a short piece of instruction (~5 minutes worth) using some tool ( e.g. BrainHoney) that you think will inspire your partner to be more interested in and capable of doing something to preserve the environment. (Post what you create on the research space) 3rd meeting - Share your lessons with each other and discuss. - Follow-up assignment - take your partners lesson and alter it to be something that you think would be more effective/inspiring for your context, from your point of view. (Post your adapted lesson and what you learn on the research space) 4th meeting - Share your revised lessons with each other and discuss. - Follow-
[8:35] Willow Shenlin: yes, but I was wondering about the questions that were asked in the Adobe Connect meeting
[8:36] Willow Shenlin: That's the activity that Clint mentions he developed with Javier
[8:36] Willow Shenlin: I emailed Clint to ask where he posted the audio recording of the Adobe meeting so that we could get those questions again
[8:39] Willow Shenlin: yes, looked like no one has posted anything either
[8:41] Willow Shenlin: to guess what our partner's childhood was like
[8:41] Willow Shenlin: and possibly and his/her favorite past-time was
[8:42] Willow Shenlin: There were 6 or 7 questions total...but I can't remember all of them
[8:42] Njiwamwitu Writer: what is past-time?
[8:42] Willow Shenlin: activity, hobby
[8:42] Njiwamwitu Writer: aha
[8:42] Willow Shenlin: ok, so if I have to guess yours.....
[8:43] Willow Shenlin: ok
[8:43] Willow Shenlin: great
[8:43] Willow Shenlin: yes
[8:43] Willow Shenlin: great
[8:44] Willow Shenlin: I don't see him as online on my Skype panel
[8:44] Willow Shenlin: but if he is, we should all use Skype talk to each other, even if he is not with us in SL
[8:46] Njiwamwitu Writer: sorry talking to him now
[8:46] Willow Shenlin: great
[8:46] Willow Shenlin: are you guys on Skype?
[8:46] Njiwamwitu Writer: 1. What kinds of things would your partner do for fun as a child? What kinds of things do you think they do for fun now? 2. List what you think might have been the main topics that were of concern for their community as they were growing up? 3. In the community that they were raised in, what were the three most important holidays, and what was the meaning behind these holidays for their family and community? 4. Who were the most respected and most trusted people in their community and why? 5. How do you think that the answers to each of these four questions would be different if your partner was raised in the same community you were raised in? (Answer each of the questions again, imagining that they were raised in the same community as you were.)
[8:46] Willow Shenlin: I'll be right back. Get some coffee
[8:47] Willow Shenlin: Oh that was fast
[8:47] Willow Shenlin: tell Clint that if he wants to talk with us, he can through Skype without having to log in SL
[8:47] Njiwamwitu Writer: any question for Clint?
[8:47] Willow Shenlin: no
[8:47] Njiwamwitu Writer: he has to leave now
[8:47] Willow Shenlin: ok
[8:47] Njiwamwitu Writer: ok
[8:51] Willow Shenlin: ok, here is a hint: I grew up in the countryside
[8:51] Willow Shenlin: in Normandy
[8:51] Njiwamwitu Writer: ok I grew up in a small Kenyan town
[8:52] Willow Shenlin: ok, so I'll guess that you enjoyed running through the streets playing soccer?
[8:52] Willow Shenlin: and that now, you play soccer still
[8:53] Njiwamwitu Writer: I think you climbed trees and milked your neighbors’ cows
[8:53] Willow Shenlin: LOL!!!!!! Almost!
[8:53] Willow Shenlin: I did climb trees!!
[8:53] Njiwamwitu Writer: now I think most of your fun is spending time with your kids and meeting up with new people in Second life
[8:54] Willow Shenlin: My aunt had a farm and she once showed me how to milk a cow by hand. Usually it was always a machine
[8:54] Willow Shenlin: Excellent guessing.
[8:54] Njiwamwitu Writer: I did not play much soccer and don't happen much these days but I did climb trees
[8:54] Willow Shenlin: You did?! Interesting. How big was the town?
[8:54] Willow Shenlin: what did it look like?
[8:55] Willow Shenlin: What language does Kenya speak?
[8:56] Njiwamwitu Writer: not sure how many people that lives in Migori I guess population is relatively big 100000 but still mostly farmers not living exactly in town which gives it a very small impression
[8:56] Willow Shenlin: ah....cow farmers, right?
[8:56] Njiwamwitu Writer: I grew up on a mission station where I run around and play with my sister, neighbors and all my pets.
[8:57] Willow Shenlin: what pets?
[8:57] Njiwamwitu Writer: dogs, cameleons, turtles, rabbits
[8:57] Willow Shenlin: wow.....busy house
[8:57] Njiwamwitu Writer: killed a dangerous snake every now and then
[8:57] Njiwamwitu Writer: they were all outdoor pets
[8:58] Willow Shenlin: ah.....I have a serious problem with snakes......mice no problem, snake big problem
[8:58] Willow Shenlin: we had some vipers during the summer in Normandy
[8:59] Njiwamwitu Writer: Where I stayed in Kenya Lou is the tribal language and think they have 26 different tribes with different languages but the national languages are English and Swahili
[8:59] Willow Shenlin: If they are outdoor pets, did you park them so that they don't run away?
[8:59] Njiwamwitu Writer: what is vipers?
[8:59] Willow Shenlin: Fascinating! That's the Babel thing all over, isn't it?
[9:00] Willow Shenlin: Vipers are small venomous snakes.
[9:00] Njiwamwitu Writer: I guess :-)
[9:00] Willow Shenlin: Their bites are really painful and the venin can be deadly
[9:00] Njiwamwitu Writer: aha, I don't like snakes either
[9:00] Willow Shenlin: So what do you do now?
[9:01] Willow Shenlin: Teach, study, social coffee and discussion with fellow researchers?
[9:01] Njiwamwitu Writer: I grew up not far from Masai Mara which is one of the world most famous national parks and you have probably seen a lot of wild animal programmes from there
[9:01] Willow Shenlin: Ah yes!
[9:01] Willow Shenlin: Very beautiful
[9:01] Njiwamwitu Writer: yes so it was always exciting to go there for a visit
[9:01] Willow Shenlin: And the Masai people are probably the most "obvious" ones on TV
[9:02] Willow Shenlin: In fact, is the Masai tribe in that area at all?
[9:02] Willow Shenlin: or just a geographical misnomer?
[9:03] Njiwamwitu Writer: Nowadays I play tennis, squash, volleyball communicate with my friends far away via MSN and Skype, have a beer or two in local pub
[9:03] Njiwamwitu Writer: Yes the Masai people live in and around masai mara
[9:03] Willow Shenlin: What's squash?
[9:04] Willow Shenlin: I only know the vegetable ;-)
[9:04] Njiwamwitu Writer: a racket sport where you play a ball against 4 walls
[9:04] Willow Shenlin: Ah yes!!! and everyone has goggles to protect their eyes, right?
[9:04] Njiwamwitu Writer: I guess some but have never used myself
[9:05] Willow Shenlin: ok, next question
[9:05] Willow Shenlin: 2. List what you think might have been the main topics that were of concern for their community as they were growing up?
[9:05] Y Willow Shenlin: Concerns of political nature maybe?
[9:06] Njiwamwitu Writer: I guess
[9:06] Willow Shenlin: I do not recall any historical facts about Kenya like in neighboring countries such as war
[9:06] Willow Shenlin: ok, how about your community in Kenya had concerns of water supply
[9:06] Njiwamwitu Writer: Uganda and Idi Amin was not far away
[9:06] Willow Shenlin: the farmers would really need water for the cattle to survive
[9:07] Willow Shenlin: ah yes
[9:07] Willow Shenlin: indeed
[9:07] Willow Shenlin: Were there problems of civil war in Kenya?
[9:08] Njiwamwitu Writer: farmers in France are always protesting against something so maybe they were throwing grapes at city major to drink more whine or to serve milk in the schools or... :)
[9:09] Willow Shenlin : Ahahaha!!!!!
[9:09] Willow Shenlin: They are protesting mainly against the price of milk
[9:09] Njiwamwitu Writer: water was a common problem where I grew up as it is a dry area and when rains are delayed people are suffering
[9:09] Willow Shenlin: They are getting a smaller and smaller piece of the pie and are not happy about it because keeping a farm up
[9:09] Willow Shenlin: and running is really difficult and financially tough
[9:10] Willow Shenlin: The summers like last year were terrible for our farmers in France
[9:10] Willow Shenlin: April was hot and sunny....too early for the summer. Usually April is a rainy month.
[9:10] Njiwamwitu Writer: do you come from a wine district?
[9:11] Willow Shenlin: but then everything started growing too fast
[9:11] Willow Shenlin: then the rains did not stop the whole 3 months of summer......spoiling everything
[9:11] Willow Shenlin: terrible.....lots of suicide....very sad
[9:11] Njiwamwitu Writer: what do they grow where you grew up?
[9:11] Willow Shenlin: no, Normandy is the apple cider and cheese region of France
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: wheat
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: some corn in the later years
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: (American influence on farming)
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: oat
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: mainly dairy farmers
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: so Normandy has about 100 different cheese
[9:13] Njiwamwitu Writer: in Migori it was basically maize, tomatoes, pineapple, papaya... but a lot of sugarcanes as they have an sugar industry there
[9:13] Willow Shenlin: not counting the yogurts, heavy cream, etc
[9:13] Willow Shenlin: mmmmm, we grow green beans in Normandy
[9:13] Njiwamwitu Writer: aha so a cheese paradise, what is your favorite cheese?
[9:13] Willow Shenlin: arggggg......even in my mom's little garden.....I ate too much green beans when i was a kid
[9:14] Willow Shenlin: I love goat cheese, mild, toasted on fresh bread....yummy!
[9:14] Willow Shenlin: what was your favorite dish?
[9:14] Njiwamwitu Writer: I made a special order when having a Finnish visitor of Aora Blue Cheese from Finland it is just excellent, still have some left
[9:15] Willow Shenlin: Aora blue cheese.....that's a local cheese too?
[9:16] Njiwamwitu Writer: My favorite dish that I had a lot when I grew up was kuku and ugali which was like a chicken stew with a thick maize porridge
[9:16] Willow Shenlin: ah, I've seen that porridge....in a documentary about the children of Zaire
[9:17] Njiwamwitu Writer: today I eat a lot of Thai and Indian food
[9:17] Willow Shenlin: ah? I cook a lot ....so we ate a mainly what we are familiar with from back home
[9:18] Willow Shenlin: also I cook a few things from Normandy....also it is a bit more "Mediterranean" than the original Norman food
[9:18] Njiwamwitu Writer: watched a movie yesterday and thought about you...
[9:18] Njiwamwitu Writer: Michael Moores’ Sicko :-)
[9:18] Willow Shenlin: my husband loves pasta....his grandma was from Bologna...so he cooks pasta all the time
[9:18] Willow Shenlin: ah Michael MOore...
[9:19] Willow Shenlin: the poor guy is really a target for American "patriots"
[9:19] Willow Shenlin: I did not see that movie
[9:19] Willow Shenlin: that's the one about the medical system in the USA
[9:19] Willow Shenlin: right?
[9:19] Njiwamwitu Writer: He goes to Canada, UK, France and Cuba and compares the health system with US
[9:19] Willow Shenlin: He was on Oprah with a couple of people from the health system...for all of them to defend their views. very hot discussion.
[9:20] Willow Shenlin: mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, i bet the US is not happy to see themselves compared to a communist system like Cuba
[9:20] Willow Shenlin: even though it is the most efficient health system I've heard of
[9:20] Njiwamwitu Writer: was quite funny when he took 9/11 fire fighters declined medical care in US to get treated for free in Cuba
[9:20] Willow Shenlin: France's getting in deep trouble. no more money
[9:21] Willow Shenlin: wow!!!!!!i did not know that!
[9:21] Willow Shenlin: no wonder they are not mentioning this on the news here
[9:21] Njiwamwitu Writer: it is worth watching
[9:21] Willow Shenlin: I’ll look it up
[9:22] Willow Shenlin: 3. In the community that they were raised in, what were the three most important holidays, and what was the meaning behind these holidays for their family and community?
[9:23] Willow Shenlin: In the US, the African American community makes a big deal of ......ah, brain freeze...what's the name
[9:23] Willow Shenlin: i was going to ask if it is the same holiday in Petroria
[9:23] Willow Shenlin: Kwanza?
[9:24] Njiwamwitu Writer: In my family as well as in the community which is mostly Christian the biggest holidays was Christmas and Easter. I guess in Kenya independence day is big as well but for us Swedes midsummer is probably third biggest
[9:24] You: midsummer? tell more?
[9:25] You: teh Equinox? you celebrate teh equinox?
[9:26] Njiwamwitu Writer: longest day of the year and we dress a pole with flowers and dance around it. Ladies pick seven different kinds of flowers and put under the pillow to drem of their future prince
[9:26] You: was it easy to do this in Kenya?
[9:26] Njiwamwitu Writer: Equinox I do not know what it is
[9:27] Njiwamwitu Writer: not really but only spent 6 of my first nine years in Kenya and stayed in sweden for some years before getting back for last two years of high school
[9:27] Willow Shenlin: a lot of traveling.
[9:28] Willow Shenlin: we French are traditionally not so .....travelers
[9:28] Willow Shenlin: it takes my parents 6 months to organize a one month trip to the States :-)
[9:28] Njiwamwitu Writer: :) so what was your most important holidays?
[9:29] Willow Shenlin: In my community, the biggest holidays were also Christmas and Easter
[9:29] Willow Shenlin: Catholics
[9:29] Willow Shenlin: August was the month of the Virgin...so it had some special masses for it
[9:29] Willow Shenlin: But mainly Catholic holidays. Nothing regional or ancient
[9:30] Njiwamwitu Writer: I remember my father always organized a projector and generator and showed people the Jesus movie during Christmas and it was always interesting as many people had never seen a movie before and really got into it and people were crying and screaming...
[9:30] Willow Shenlin: Ah! Another big one was Kings' day. My family is big so we would all gather at my grandma's house after church and eat rice pudding and a special bread
[9:31] Willow Shenlin: goodness.....we do take a lot for granted.
[9:31] Willow Shenlin: was your father a missionary?
[9:31] Njiwamwitu Writer: yes he is a pastor and was a missionary
[9:32] Willow Shenlin: from Sweden...and then to South Africa? goodness...what an intriguing life.
[9:32] Willow Shenlin: 4. Who were the most respected and most trusted people in their community and why?
[9:33] Willow Shenlin: I’d guess that your dad would have been the most respected person in your community then
[9:35] Njiwamwitu Writer: I think pastors and bishops are very respected as religion is important. Also members of parliament and local decision makers. Age brings a lot of respect in the culture and older people always showed great respect. Also traditional healers have a lot of influence although by “us” missionaries viewed with big skepticism :)
[9:35] Willow Shenlin: in my community, i think that it was the old priest. It was a time when villages did not worry about strangers and violent events...so most adults were getting along just fine
[9:35] Willow Shenlin: mmm, yes.
[9:35] Willow Shenlin :I agree. same situation in my village
[9:36] Willow Shenlin: I was raised on a 300 people village (not counting the cows:-))
[9:36] Njiwamwitu Writer: hehe
[9:36] Willow Shenlin: So the mayor and the priest were major authorities
[9:36] Willow Shenlin: then the butcher and the baker
[9:37] Willow Shenlin: We had an equivalent to a healer in the village.....but the Church has done too much harm for the healer to be respected.
[9:37] Njiwamwitu Writer: I have met similar comments in South Africa with the difference that they do not count the blacks which sometimes makes this country a very uncomfortable country to live in
[9:38] Willow Shenlin: also a lot of people who go and see him to adjust a shoulder, a back, a headache.....kind of a chiropractor with some other medicinal skills
[9:38] Njiwamwitu Writer: the butcher that is interesting
[9:38] Willow Shenlin: ouch.....I am still trying to understand the "not count the blacks"
[9:39] Njiwamwitu Writer: in Sweden the worst thing you can say is that you are a pastor
[9:39] Willow Shenlin: it seems so .....unreal
[9:39] Willow Shenlin: no way!
[9:39] Willow Shenlin: in Sweden? why?
[9:39] Njiwamwitu Writer: It is very taboo to mention even religion in a Swedish context and I was sometimes mocked for having a father who was pastor
[9:40] Njiwamwitu Writer: we are not a very religious kind
[9:40] Willow Shenlin: So, .....what world view does the Swedish people hold?
[9:41] Willow Shenlin: Sweden has a royal family, no?
[9:41] Willow Shenlin: I am asking because usually royal family hold some religious power (at least in most European histories)
[9:42] Njiwamwitu Writer: majority would probably say that they do not believe in God, officially we are a protestant country but most people tend to think that religion is bogus
[9:42] Willow Shenlin: interesting
[9:42] Njiwamwitu Writer: yes we have a royal family
[9:43] Willow Shenlin: but the royal family does not make any part in religion, then i guess
[9:43] Njiwamwitu Writer: especially younger generation
[9:44] Willow Shenlin: ah yes, same problem in France to
[9:44] Njiwamwitu Writer: they are not allowed to talk either politics or religion we like them as puppies travelling the world and selling Sweden
[9:44] Willow Shenlin: the younger generation is a lot more critical of the Church's bloody historical past and current blunders, and refuse to see it in any political involvement
[9:46] Njiwamwitu Writer: I guess but think in Southern Europe and especially US going to church or Cathedral is something normal in Sweden it is not
[9:46] Willow Shenlin: In fact, I agree with this and it tends to get in my face when i see the church in the US trying to convince their members to vote differently based on their leader's opinions
[9:46] Willow Shenlin: yes, interesting point.
[9:47] Willow Shenlin: maybe the comparison would be that if you are a French employee of the government (police man, etc...) you are not allowed to demonstrate your religious affiliation (i.e., no necklace with a cross, etc...)
[9:47] Willow Shenlin: ok...5. How do you think that the answers to each of these four questions would be different if your partner was raised in the same community you were raised in?
[9:47] Willow Shenlin: actually i am not sure. my little village was a bit reticent with its fist inhabitant of color
[9:48] Willow Shenlin: I remember especially because I became very good friend with their daughter.
[9:48] Njiwamwitu Writer: I think I would stereotype less and maybe more detailed as more points of reference would be the same :)
[9:48] Willow Shenlin: yes. It is interesting
[9:49] Willow Shenlin: despite the geographical remoteness of our "villages" the human experience seems to repeat itself
[9:49] Willow Shenlin: religion, politics, family, water/food
[9:50] Willow Shenlin: ok, let me copy this and I'll email you the transcript shortly