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Hi
I’d just like to say that I’ve now finished this programme with A New Directon, and I have started a new programme with them called Headstart.But dont worry this programme is still related to the 2012 olympics.
And also I’d just like to wish you all a happy new year and thanks for reading my blog.I hope you continue to follow me,by reading my new blog.
A couple of weeks ago we went back to a new direction HQ and sent,a very ( how shall I say)charming email to Katherine(LOCOG’s education manager) about our feelings towards the age(over 18 by January in 2012) you had to be in order to volunteer for the 2012 Olympic games,in London and how unfair it would be for many teenagers who would miss out on the chance to be a part of the games.But about a week ago now myself and the rest of the take five/francouver productions were very excited after hearing that the 2012 olympic comity would be considering to lower the volunteering age ,following the Vancouver winter games 2010.
But after seeing the freakishly alien like 2012 mascots today,I am not sure if many young people would want to get involved in the games,based on the mascots.Dont get me wrong,I fully support 2010 but I dont feel the mascots will be the most effective they could,in order to get young people involved.I feel the concept behind the mascots is right,to bring in a little of the history of the first olympics in Greece,but personally I would be scared of them,being a young child.
I guess though that the mascots Wenlock and Mandeville have obviously been very well though out,and designed by a dedicated team to make the 2012 games as succesful as they could be.
Its wednesday the 14th of April,and this time last month I was packing to leave for Canada on the New Direction Take Five trip to the winter paralympic games in Vancouver.Today we’ve just been doing a bit of reflection at the New direction offices in stratford,along with Rebecca,Steve and Franma.
We began the day by discussing the trip to Canada,asking each other general and personal questions about the experience and what should be done now,that we have gained knowledge about the winter olympics.It was quite insightful to find out everyones views about the time we spent together,and the way we bonded as a group,when we went rouind the little meeting table and asked each other about what we thought was the best moments/highlights(for me it was on he last day in the evening,just after the ice skating and Johnny was trying to get a final interview from us but then me,Kim,Renaye,Joe and Jake turned the cameras on them,and finally quized them about their experience).
Altogether,today has made me review the time I spent on the trip with everyone,and I discovered that this was not just gonna be a one off event.That we were going to keep revisiting the experience and try to stay in contact with a new direction, working together to help them create opportunities like this again again for other kids.But also attempt to help out LOCOG too,by suggesting ways we would improve the 2012 games, here in London not just for young people but for as many people as possible.One way we are going to spread the olypmic buzz,is by attending some events held by a new direction,and also by doing a whole year assemble on thursday for our school.
Unfortunately I just found out that I,and others my age will not be able to volunteer for any of the olympic events!But Jake is busy composing an email to Katherine,the education manager at LOCOG to see if she might be able to help us out,and maybe get us involved in the volunteering program.
more about "Day 3 – Claudia’s diary – the day ahe…", posted with vodpod
Today we had a much later and calmer start to the day,in the morning we finally got the chance to do some blogging,and enter captions for a group of photos that we sent off to BBC London.
After we had some lunch,we went to the Museum Of Anthropology to learn about the Canadian culture.For me personally the visit to the museum was really interesting,I learnt loades about the first nations their lives,their culture, and their history.We saw huge totem poles,art work by Bill Read, huge long houses outside and we saw some unusual modern art too.I knew a little about the first nations from some books I have read,but I hadn’t realised just how important it was and how integrated it was in the 2010 winter games and art work.
Afterwards in the evening we went to a university campus to see the ice sledge hockey.I was really looking forward to this,I had been told by a lot of Canadians that it would be really fun.And it WAS!!!
We saw the Korean vs the Swedish team,and it was just crazy!It was so much fun,watching the game,everyone was up on their feet supporting their team,up beat music was played at each interval and the players were brutal towards each other.This had to be the best part of the trip so far!
Traitor of the day:Kim,supporting Korea*she knows why*.
Most amazing parts of the day:Looking at this huge sculpture at the MOA,”The Raven and the First Men” by Bill Read.Also while we were being interviewed by Johnny on culture..we saw bald eagles!!!!!
Today,we traveled all the way to Whistler mountain to see alpine skiing and interview a couple of paralympians.We had a terribly early start,and a long 2 and a half hour journey before us,but thankfully our jolly coach driver Ron kept us all entertained with pop music and canadian tales.At first I dreaded the journey,but as we drove around we were amazed at the Canada’s beauty.We drove past Stanley park,(this park is bigger than central park in New York)lots of stunning mountains like cyprus mountain,(where most of the snowboarding goes on) and across Cambi bridge which connects northern Canada with the rest of Canada.
Once we finally arrived at Whistler village we all got dressed into our bulky coats and trousers ready for anything,apart from the challenge that stood between us and the skiing slopes.And that challenge was a gruesome trek with steep hills and unhelpful,yet cheesy music.I felt nearly dead,and grumpy when I finally reached our destination,but soon cheered up after seeing GB athletes skiing very well.We also met two canadian girls around our age, one named Lisa who were at the event, part of a scheme a bit like ours but in Canada which gave an opportunity to Canadian kids,to go to some of the olympic and paralympic games.
Next we interviewed some paralympians,about what they did,their hopes for the future ect.It was really interesting as a couple of the athletes were part of an initiative, aimed at helping those who were injured while in the military and trying to get them into paralympic sports.And on the way to lunch me,Kim and Renaye managed to land an interview with an amazing former paralympian Patrick Jarvis,which just to annoy Joe beats his interview with that sports guy from the BBC(Graham Bell)
In the evening,we went to the Thunderbird Arena,to go watch wheelchair curling.At first, like most people I wasn’t expecting much,but then slowly but surely I began to get into the Olympic spirit.It was a really enjoyable event I had lots of fun,and we even managed to get to interview a few volunteers!But most surprisingly of all franma managed to get us an interview with the German paralympic team,she is amazing!
Most inspiring moment:Talking to the athletes,finding out their opinions about the winter paralympics,especially about how london could learn from Vancouver.
Funnies moment:Ron the driver made me laugh a lot,his amusing catchphrase “Right On!”
So today has been my first official day in Vancouver,Canada.The city has a really nice,calming atmosphere that welcomes you as as an outsider, also the streets are so clean, its amazing.It felt odd not looking down watching out for dirt and dog poo,as I walked through downtown Vancouver.
We had a reasonable start,a hearty breakfast and set off on our journey to the Harbour centre/Vancouver lookout tower.The city was just beautiful,from the lookout tower we could see all of the stunning city,including the mountains,the BC hall of fame and Victoria island.A helpful guide showed us around,explaining each landmark and what exciting activities there were for us to engage in around the city.We learnt some interesting facts about Vancouver,like how the city is mostly resedential with most of the population commuting quite far to downtown where it is urbanised and modern with impressive skyscrapers.
Listen to our AudioBoo at the Vancouver lookout tower/Harbour Centre!
Next we took a leisurely stroll to the BC hall of fame,catching breath taking views of the surrounding mountains around each block.Once we arrived,we realised that the BC hall of fame wasn’t just any museum.There were lots of fun interactive games for us to play,including mini curling,table ice hockey,mini ice hockey,moving climbing wall.We walked around amazed at Canada’s sporting history within the olympics,paralympics and other events,revealing Canadians determination and belief.
Once,we had finished discovering Canada’s sporting history we searched around hunting for divine food.And we ended up at a really nice sort of salad place that has pasta,sushi and an exotic collection of food.
Later we are off to go see,the wheelchair curling at the paralympic centre,in a really posh surburban area with lavish houses.I am extremely excited about the event as I’ve seen a few clips which have helped me to understand the sport slightly better,but Im hoping to pick up more of the rules and develope a better understanding.
Funniest moment of the day:Joe eating a strawberry,behaving really weirdly and scaring me for life.
Biggest surprise of the day:There are posters everywhere,advertising the paralympics,and winter olympics.The london 2012 committee could learn from this,raising awareness around the olympics
So,I started my work experience on monday 1st of march and I’ve been working with a creative company called Artburst Ltd.Artburst is a company run by Penny and Amy,working with children under the age of 5 ,children in primary schools, and those in the early years of secondary school.Each workshop includes,stroy tellling,drama activities,art activities and fun loved games for all the children to participate in.
They began the company with the intention of combining art and drama to encourage children to do things creatively think in a different way to what they are used too.They company run several workshops at the same time,for the under 5s there is a wondeful workshop called WONDERTOTS,and for the older children the most popular workshop is the ARTBURST WILD RUMPUS,based on the fantastic book,”where the wild things are”.
In my opinion Amy and Penny have created a wondeful company,that gives children an opportunity to be creative making,great creations that include masks,backdrops,dragons,rocking horses,butterflies,bees ect.Its not only me that beleives this,as they have received multiple awards from newspapers and some of boroughs where they have run the workshops.
I had soo much fun working with the company,and I am so thankful that Penny and Amy have offered me a place on their Artburst managing commity,as a young persons representative.I love that now I will be able to be part of their successful company.
Today’s workshop was lots of fun….
We focused on poetry techniques,and rapping.The group worked with a local rapper called breis,who performed a few of his raps,and told us about himself.We were put in 2′s to write a rap about each other.To begin we interviewed each other gaining information about each others life,including,their experiences,where they live e.c.t.
My partner was Joe,and i think he wrote a really nice poem about me,but unfortunately my poem,about him,was not as good.
Jake’s first video – taking during the training day at Stoke Newington School & Sixth Form, 2 weeks prior to the visit…
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