Could the lack of discipline be the problem?

[placidfemme]

Ahh, but you forget what my father and my uncles fought for before it was Southern and Northern Rodesia.........

What happened to South West Africa?

you know what the funny part is.... I learnt more history about Zimbabwe/Rhodesia/Southern Rhodesia from Wilbur Smith books then I did at school...

[Sniper]

Lol, fair enough. I learnt most from my father and the various places we travelled around. PM me if you want to know how it went.

EDIT: Can you speak or understand basic Afrikaans PF?

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

Totally agree with you. How refreshing. We were brought up to respect people places and things. Hell I learn't not to even mutter under my breath - my folks had bionic ears. My parents didn't smack me much at all. Maybe 3 times and boy I deserved it!! I had been warned.

I don't have children. I lived with a guy that had 2 "right little shits" I'm told. Well when they were with me they were great. The rules were laid down, boundaries in place. I never had a tv. They learn't to have quality time with their father and I. Their first comment was "What are we gonna do without a tv" After 3 weeks - they said they loved staying at my place, we did fun things together, talked, played games. In fact when the guy and I split up they wanted to come and live with me! Boy they tested me - I was consistent, only once did I need to smack one - it was on the legs and not done out of anger at all, and she had been warned 3 times what the consequences would be! The rest of the time it ws time out, they knew for how long, and that I would come and get them when that time was up.

I have a particularly lovely memory of the boy - he ws 5 when his dad I started going together and 8-9 when we split. I had taught him how to cook - esp cakes - after we split he rang me and said "Hey ya gotta come and help me make this cake - Dad can't"

The girl at 5 1/2 couldn't even write or say her name out loud (so much for our school system) She knew I never accepted the excuse "I can't" she always got "Have you tried?" It took that little girl 20 minutes to be able to spell her name out loud and the next morning she came to me and was so excited as she recited it to me again!

I had rung the health nurse about her as she seemed "slow" - all it was - was lack of attention at home. Of parents not teaching or spending the time with them.

I'm by no means perfect, but consistency and teaching them respect and courtesy - did actually get through. It certainly made life easier for me and them. I had so much fun with them. As a stepmother I also ensured they had time on their own with their Dad, more often than not - they wanted me along.

We didn't have alot of money, and you didn't need it to make fun. One sunny day I said to them they could make a hut - I was given a look as if I had really lost the plot - however we had some steps to our place, and I showed them the space underneath, gave them some old blankets and bits of wood around the place. I then gave them lunch in their hut (crikey the only time they willingly ate marmite sandwiches!!) and juice. Their father thought I was nuts - just bring em inside for lunch. I said hell no it's their special place, they have made it. I made him go and see it and praise how well they had done.

Those children blossomed through love, care, attention and boundaries.

[placidfemme]

EDIT: Can you speak or understand basic Afrikaans PF?

No not really I went to Eaglesvale (Afrikaans/South African type school... was one of the best private schools in Zim). We had a choice between Afrikaans and French...

The French teacher was hot... so I took French (and failed lmao)

[Brian d marge]

Its all right here ..

we have the odd nutter and the Yakusa ,,( they provide the stalls at the fireworks ,,and own the banks !! -- and the police ! -- )

but overall , we never see the police ,,, never get a speeding ticket , if you lose you wallet it will be returned WITH the money still in it

I have had a pushbike stolen , twas returned by the police

the police are nice here ,,the good guys ,,they are helpful


The kids play in the street , the doors are lft open and unlocked ,

People are helpful .kind and friendly.

Our son has been bought up to be kind and friendly and helpful to others ( we noticed it the other day, he gives his toys to others if they didnt have any ,,,)

Thing to do ... Start at home ...ignore the idiots and strike a blow for common sence ..

Its going to be interesting , I havent been back for a while so it will be first impressions and all that ..will report back in a few days time ...


Stephen

( schhols will be an interesting choice ...Here every kid spends time before they start cleanin the school ,,,, and the teacher is the law .....but by 13 years old they start with the cram scools and stuff ,,,so we are outa here with that sh^&*

[placidfemme]

Totally agree with you. How refreshing. We were brought up to respect people places and things. Hell I learn't not to even mutter under my breath - my folks had bionic ears. My parents didn't smack me much at all. Maybe 3 times and boy I deserved it!! I had been warned.

I don't have children. I lived with a guy that had 2 "right little shits" I'm told. Well when they were with me they were great. The rules were laid down, boundaries in place. I never had a tv. They learn't to have quality time with their father and I. Their first comment was "What are we gonna do without a tv" After 3 weeks - they said they loved staying at my place, we did fun things together, talked, played games. In fact when the guy and I split up they wanted to come and live with me! Boy they tested me - I was consistent, only once did I need to smack one - it was on the legs and not done out of anger at all, and she had been warned 3 times what the consequences would be! The rest of the time it ws time out, they knew for how long, and that I would come and get them when that time was up.

I have a particularly lovely memory of the boy - he ws 5 when his dad I started going together and 8-9 when we split. I had taught him how to cook - esp cakes - after we split he rang me and said "Hey ya gotta come and help me make this cake - Dad can't"

The girl at 5 1/2 couldn't even write or say her name out loud (so much for our school system) She knew I never accepted the excuse "I can't" she always got "Have you tried?" It took that little girl 20 minutes to be able to spell her name out loud and the next morning she came to me and was so excited as she recited it to me again!

I had rung the health nurse about her as she seemed "slow" - all it was - was lack of attention at home. Of parents not teaching or spending the time with them.

I'm by no means perfect, but consistency and teaching them respect and courtesy - did actually get through. It certainly made life easier for me and them. I had so much fun with them. As a stepmother I also ensured they had time on their own with their Dad, more often than not - they wanted me along.

We didn't have alot of money, and you didn't need it to make fun. One sunny day I said to them they could make a hut - I was given a look as if I had really lost the plot - however we had some steps to our place, and I showed them the space underneath, gave them some old blankets and bits of wood around the place. I then gave them lunch in their hut (crikey the only time they willingly ate marmite sandwiches!!) and juice. Their father thought I was nuts - just bring em inside for lunch. I said hell no it's their special place, they have made it. I made him go and see it and praise how well they had done.

Those children blossomed through love, care, attention and boundaries.

Good on you. A little love and attention (and no TV ) does go a long way. Life has too many distractions these days for some parents to spend quality time with thier kids (not always due to people being bad parents, but needing money etc therefor having to work instead of spending as much time with the kids).

*doesn't like TV*

[placidfemme]

but by 13 years old they start with the cram scools and stuff ,,,so we are outa here with that sh^&*

cram schools? What do you mean by that?

[Wolf]

The French teacher was hot... so I took French (and failed lmao)

Yeah, well you're supposed to listen to the teacher, not ogle the teacher. You were obviously too distracted by the "hotness". You needed the old prune-faced harridan we had for French - not only would there be no distractions, you'd be too terrified to get it wrong...

[placidfemme]

Yeah, well you're supposed to listen to the teacher, not ogle the teacher. You were obviously too distracted by the "hotness". You needed the old prune-faced harridan we had for French - not only would there be no distractions, you'd be too terrified to get it wrong...

I did listen to her... wasn't my fault I didn't understand her (speaking in French)... she was my favourite teacher

See now if I had taken Afrikaans, that teacher was about 96, and apparantly she threw the blackboard duster at pupils... proberly would have passed her class too... afterall wjho speaks French in Zim? No-One.... who speaks Afrikaans in Zim? Nearly 3/4 of the white population

[The Stranger:Me]

One of the things I have a problem with is the example set by our "leaders"

Every time the govt make a screw up (very frequently) it turns out that no one is to blame. People learn from the example and apply it to their own situation.

It's not my fault I don't have a job.
It's not my fault little Johnny is a shit.
Hey if the PM can commit fraud, why can't I?
If those in parliament openly flout the law (and many do) why shouldn't I?

We should have a maximum term which a politician may be elected for (say 3 terms) so as to stop career politicians from compromising any principals they may have once had for the sake of their careers and to force them to survive in the real world for a reality check at some stage in their existence.

[Wolf]

See now if I had taken Afrikaans, that teacher was about 96, and apparantly she threw the blackboard duster at pupils...

Ah, so our French Teacher taught Afrikaans in Zim before she came to us. Thank you, PF, I never knew that.

[Korea]

cram schools? What do you mean by that?

Same in Korea~ Korean students spend their lives in schooling:
Elementary school 8am - 3pm (and on Saturdays!)
High school 8am - 9pm! or even later...

No luck for the elementary students either because they finish at 3 and by 4pm they're in the private academies (cram schools) studying extra science, math, English, Japanese etc. until about 10pm.
Then they go home and do homework until midnight before the day starts again.

Strangely enough, they are courteous, respectful to elders (must be confusianism), but overall ~ apart from math and science ~ not all that much brighter. Students here approach education as a test to get over. They cram, pass the test, and then forget everything they learnt, it seems.

[placidfemme]

Same in Korea~ Korean students spend their lives in schooling:
Elementary school 8am - 3pm (and on Saturdays!)
High school 8am - 9pm! or even later...

No luck for the elementary students either because they finish at 3 and by 4pm they're in the private academies (cram schools) studying extra science, math, English, Japanese etc. until about 10pm.
Then they go home and do homework until midnight before the day starts again.

Strangely enough, they are courteous, respectful to elders (must be confusianism), but overall ~ apart from math and science ~ not all that much brighter. Students here approach education as a test to get over. They cram, pass the test, and then forget everything they learnt, it seems.

Far out... And I thought schools back home where harsh...

Back home you catch the school bus (if your school is lucky enough to have a bus system...) at about 6am. Assembly at 7am, classes start at 7.30am. School finishes at 1pm. Compolsury (sp) sports 2 afternoons a week for a minimum of 2 hours. Then a compulsary club (art, religion, woodwork etc) one afternoon a week. Plus you do prep (like being in detention except EVERYONE has to do it for at least 3 hours a week) You get at least 30 minutes homework from each subject per day, totalling in about 3+ hours of homework a night, plus double homework on weekends.

In total your at school Mon-Thursday from 7am to 4.30pm. Then on Fridays from 7am to 1pm. Plus if you are talented enough to be picked for a sports team, every Saturday your playing games/matches against other schools or training...

Seemed harsh at the time, but looking back it was better to be at school busy all the time, then at home causing shit or doing nothing..

[Ixion]

Eh Matabeleland is the lower part of Zimbabwe where Bulawayo is... Was the first place discovered... often described as the best land in Zim... Mashonaland being further up north...

They still use the terms "Matabeleland, Mashonaland, Manikaland and so forth..." But now they are districts... like Northland, southland e.t.c... but obviously named after the tribes origionally found in those areas... (matabele and shona etc)

The Matabeles whopped the Mashonas who originally ruled there and drove the latter north. Brits did their usual thing and drove King Lobengulla and his impis out, and moved in. Became British South West Africa. (British to distinguish it from Portuguese South West Africa, the Portugals also having ambitions in the area).

Much later Cecil (who was indeed a fag, could he be else with a name like Cecil) got himself into the picture and somehow got his name stuck on it. And it was all downhill from there on. It was actually Jamieson, who was a ruthless bastard , but not queer, who did the dirty work (Same Jamieson as he of Jamieson's raid. ) Ruthless but incompetant, and the Brit troops did their usual thing of being wiped out , and dying bravely at Shangani.

Should have left it to the Matabeles, who were pretty good fighters. The Brits, as always, fought dirty.

[placidfemme]

The Matabeles whopped the Mashonas who originally ruled there and drove the latter north. Brits did their usual thing and drove King Lobengulla and his impis out, and moved in. Became British South West Africa. (British to distinguish it from Portuguese South West Africa, the Portugals also having ambitions in the area).

Much later Cecil (who was indeed a fag, could he be else with a name like Cecil) got himself into the picture and somehow got his name stuck on it. And it was all downhill from there on. It was actually Jamieson, who was a ruthless bastard , but not queer, who did the dirty work (Same Jamieson as he of Jamieson's raid. ) Ruthless but incompetant, and the Brit troops did their usual thing of being wiped out , and dying bravely at Shangani.

Should have left it to the Matabeles, who were pretty good fighters. The Brits, as always, fought dirty.

The Matabele are still the better of the two tribes... did you know that when Mugabe got into power (he is Shona) they killed thousands of Matabele in the Bulawayo area... the world ignored this because really what could they do?

World: Let them have the country, they deserve it, poor trodden down people

Mugabe: Sweet lets get revenge and kill the Matabele

World: Oh shit... better ignore that then admit we screwed up...