6th+Grader+at+Large

6th Grader at Large - Zoe Risher
One of our 6th graders is out having the school year of a lifetime. She is traveling around the world, learning her math and science (and more) in true hands-on fashion. Zoe will be coming back to join us this spring, and we are very excited to learn all about her adventures.

If you'd like to know more about what she and her family are up to, check out their website [|www.365pictures.net]

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By: Zoe Risher
“Finally!” Mia shouted. “Let’s go to the zoo, now!” I ran to the door and opened the door excitedly. “Okay, let’s go!” chirped Mom.

At the Sydney Taronga Zoo we watched so many animals! We saw furry, sleepy koalas; slippery seals; slithering snakes; Asian elephants; and many more. I was surprised how big the zoo was! At 1:15 P.M., we began a zoo tour. First, we went to the animal kitchen, where they prepare the food for the animals. We got to see dead, frozen mice, rats and bugs. They looked a little creepy, but I enjoyed seeing all of the animals’ snacks. Later, we went to see the nocturnal exhibit. I liked seeing the nocturnal creatures, but it was a little dull to listen to descriptions of so many animals. After that, we went to the zoo education center, which was definitely my favorite part of the tour, because we got to touch kangaroos, snakes, iguanas, birds, an opossum and more. I loved going inside the cages and being with the animals!

After the tour, I was starving, and could hardly walk. “Okay, let’s get a hamburger.” Dad suggested. It turned out that the kitchen was closed, which meant that there were no hamburgers, so I got a sausage roll and a brownie instead. The brownie was so yummy, but the sausage was so gross! When I was done, Mom excitedly exclaimed, “Let’s go on the chair lift up to the exit!” as though that were the best idea ever. We all eventually agreed, and, ten minutes later, we were getting in the car. “That was so fun!” I giggled. “Let’s go again!”

To see a picture of a koala at the Taronga Zoo, click this link:

http://365pictures.net/start/365_Page_2.html#25

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By Zoe Risher
Currently, I am traveling to and discovering places I have never been before, hoping to learn different peoples’ cultures and lifestyles from around the world. My first stop is China, a huge country in Asia with a population of 1.3 billion people who all live in an unfamiliar way from what I am used to. I find that there are completely irregular things that the Chinese do, eat and learn. I am writing this report to spread the interesting culture of the people here in China. When I pictured China, I saw a very dangerous place. I thought that everyone would be looking at me with anger. I imagined that everyone would push me around and try to talk to me in Chinese that, to me, sounded like a mix of made up words all pushed together. I was scared that I would get hurt and everywhere I looked, there would be dark alleys and old, dingy stores with beggars staring at me with miserable, bored eyes. I pictured that nobody would be out, wandering the dark, musty alleyways that looked like the perfect spot for a lonely ghost to be living. In reality, China is nothing like I thought it would be. People are out night and day: old wise -looking men, strolling; Anxious-looking mothers, hauling their kids home from a long day at school; men playing mahjong outside a bar at night; grandmas walking slowly as their small, fluffy dogs guide the way, sniffing around at the roots of trees; many people jogging just to get exercise. The streets are usually full of shoppers and kids. Everyone is always smiling and is curious about the tourists’ looks that are different from their own. Not all things in China are joyful and pleasant though. For example, crossing the street can be very hazardous. Cars do not stop while you cross the street! Even when the walking signal is green, cars just zoom right next to you. I avoid crossing the street whenever possible! Another not-so-great thing about China is that when you are walking around, men come up to you and demand that you purchase one of their watches. It is not very fun to be walking down the street and have a man shuffle up to you with a greedy expression on his face, and force you to buy a watch. Other than that, China is an okay place to be, and is a very different country than I thought!

I meandered lazily into a market, and saw a blur of commotion: Kids scampering frantically along the tight aisles, looking for their mothers; parents shopping for food to bye and catching their naughty children as they tried to eat everything that their little chubby arms could carry; store keepers yelling themselves hoarse about how their toys and gadgets were so much higher quality and less expensive than the other sellers’ products. It turned out that everything was inexpensive. I got a beautiful fan for six Yuan, which is less than one dollar! I also saw toothpaste for three Yuan, which is about forty cents in dollars. A surprising Chinese aspect for me was how inexpensive everything was. When I looked around, I saw everyone bargaining. At every stand, people where making the prices of there products more reasonable. People where lowering prices for food, toys, clothes, furniture and books. Even though nothing was very much money, people still thought the prices were too high for them to buy. In all of the places I have been, I have never seen so much bargaining. I also saw that after purchasing a heavy product, old men would rushed over with bamboo poles on their back and two strings hanging down from either side. The men all wanted to carry heavy items for the shopper. It was their job. The heavy things were attached to the strings and the man would carry it on their backs for money. It was a hard, tiring and dangerous job for old men to be doing.

I learned a lot about the Chinese education system. It is a very different system from what I am used to at home. In my school, the teachers call on kids individually, are patient and are there to help you learn. If you do not get an answer right, the teacher is patient and might say, “ No, that is not the correct answer, please try again.” In the Chinese schools however, the teacher does not call on people individually. If a student loses in a game, the teacher will say, “ You’re a loser!” in front of the rest of the class. In China, kids stay in school a lot longer than I do, and the teachers are much more strict! Kindergarteners go to school at 7:00 am, and come home at 12:00 pm for lunch. Then, the students come back at 2:00 P.M. and stay until 6:00 or 7:00 pm. The same goes for elementary schools, but high school students go back at 8:00 pm. and stay until 10:00 P.M. But, not all students go home for lunch and dinner. If the parents cannot afford a nanny or anyone to look after their kids, the child will stay at school and eat alone. In elementary schools, there is usually a small group of kids called the young pioneers. They are responsible for making sure that the other students are dressed appropriately for the day at school. In my school, there are no such things as the young pioneers! In China, Parents really want their kids to study hard and be serious about their homework. A lot of parents do not let their kids watch T.V. only the news. All day, when they are not at school, the young learners can only study for a next day of hard work.

Even though I really did not want to go to China, and I miss my other school and my friends back in Spain and in the U.S.A, I am happy that I came. I am pleased that I came. I am pleasantly surprised that everyone is nice and helpful: People offering to help us; everyone is usually smiling; People asking us if we need help finding our way around. China and its people are much more friendly, helpful, open and understanding than I expected. I feel safe, and happy in China.