It feels incredibly strange that Practicum 2 is just around the corner.
In fact, orientation days were yesterday and today. Well, I guess I should say, orientation DAY was yesterday. Today was a PA day for schools in my board (which would normally mean that teachers would be attending workshops for professional development), and my practicum school told all of the teacher candidates to just stay home and have the day off.
I like this school already.
It's very different from the school where I did my first practicum, but in a good way. This school is located in a part of town that is known as having a high immigrant population. The street on which the school is located is referred to commonly as the "landing strip", because the affordable housing in the area provides easy lodging for those who have just arrived in the country.
The result of having such a high amount of diversity within the school is a magnificent sense of community unlike any other that I have seen.
During orientation day yesterday, I got to attend an assembly put on my one of the school's cultural associations. It was a celebration of a certain holiday that's coming up. The air in the auditorium during this "assembly" was absolutely electric. The event was organized almost entirely by students, and included videos, dancers, singers, and a fashion show. Each aspect of the show was accompanied by rousing cheers by the student body. The support demonstrated by the students for this cultural celebration was inspiring.
In fact, I would go so far as to say that the secret word of the day yesterday was "inspiring", because there were many moments during the day that left me in awe.
It's quite nice that I get to spend my dreaded French practicum in this amazing school environment.
It's funny, though. I dreaded this practicum so much, but when I found out what classes my AT teaches, and how she's teaching them...it was, well...inspiring.
Somewhere in the writer's condo, a bell rings and confetti falls to the floor.
So here's what I get to teach:
* Grade 10 Academic/Enriched Pre-IB French (Yes, that's a mouthful...I forgot to mention that this place is an IB World School)
* Grade 9 Applied French for Beginners (A class for English language learners to get their French credit)
* TBD
My AT only teaches two classes this semester (a semestered school, thank goodness), so we're going to work together to maybe find me a third class to teach with another teacher. Or something. I don't know. Frankly, I'd be content with just the two classes. They're going to be veeeeery interesting.
The grade 10 class is going to be an absolute joy, because I will be helping my AT with their first unit, which will be on la Francophonie d'ailleurs...which means that we're going to be actively studying different Francophone regions in the world outside of France and Canada. They're starting with the Acadian diaspora in Louisiana.
The writer flails joyfully in her computer chair.
Oh man, French for beginners. The textbook is just...wow. It's from the 80s, and it still thinks that France uses the Franc and that its denizens have terrible hair. It's going to be a mission of mine to do something about this awful textbook. I'm probably going to use it for things like...vocabulary. That might be the extent of it. I have a week to plan lessons, because I start teaching that class first when I officially start practicum.
Unfortunately, I have to snap back into reality, because typing out that last sentence reminds me that we do, in fact, have an extra week of school, and that this last week before practicum is full of due dates. Everyone I know at school has at least two assignments due next week, so...here's hoping we all survive the week and can begin Practicum 2 in one piece!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
An Ode to Luck
In the past, I've tended to be that person that everyone thinks is "so lucky".
Of course, by past, I do mean from about grade nine forward, since I don't think anyone could possibly believe that I had any luck in my middle school years.
Anyway.
I've been lucky because...
...everything I ever auditioned for in Drama Club in high school, I would get.
...if there was a job I REALLY TRULY wanted, I would get it.
...I was able to get into my Master's program despite only finishing my undergrad with a 78% average.
...I was able to get into Teacher's College despite...only finishing my undergrad with a 78% average.
...I *could have had* the opportunity to study with a scholar I admire in Pennsylvania, should I have chosen not to DO Teacher's College.
...Since finding out where my second practicum will be, I have had the distinct pleasure of doing both of my practicums in schools in the area that are both influential in this school board.
There are other examples, but I'll leave off there.
What's unfortunate is that I think my luck might have finally run out. I still haven't gotten a phone call from the only board to which I bothered applying so far for an interview. I feel like I am at a stage where I need to begin contemplating a Plan B.
The mere idea that there MUST be a Plan B is in itself incredibly depressing. Everyone seemed oh so certain that I would get a teaching position.
"Oh, your teachables are French and History?! Of COURSE you'll get a job. Everyone wants French teachers!"
Of *course* I'll get a job. That's why I'm sitting in front of my computer, fevered, wrapped in two blankets, typing furiously and glancing at my phone every 30 seconds or so, attempting to will it to ring. Waiting to see if maybe my "luckiness" will actually do me good once again. Always waiting. Always questioning.
Maybe I should've gotten that PhD instead.
Of course, by past, I do mean from about grade nine forward, since I don't think anyone could possibly believe that I had any luck in my middle school years.
Anyway.
I've been lucky because...
...everything I ever auditioned for in Drama Club in high school, I would get.
...if there was a job I REALLY TRULY wanted, I would get it.
...I was able to get into my Master's program despite only finishing my undergrad with a 78% average.
...I was able to get into Teacher's College despite...only finishing my undergrad with a 78% average.
...I *could have had* the opportunity to study with a scholar I admire in Pennsylvania, should I have chosen not to DO Teacher's College.
...Since finding out where my second practicum will be, I have had the distinct pleasure of doing both of my practicums in schools in the area that are both influential in this school board.
There are other examples, but I'll leave off there.
What's unfortunate is that I think my luck might have finally run out. I still haven't gotten a phone call from the only board to which I bothered applying so far for an interview. I feel like I am at a stage where I need to begin contemplating a Plan B.
The mere idea that there MUST be a Plan B is in itself incredibly depressing. Everyone seemed oh so certain that I would get a teaching position.
"Oh, your teachables are French and History?! Of COURSE you'll get a job. Everyone wants French teachers!"
Of *course* I'll get a job. That's why I'm sitting in front of my computer, fevered, wrapped in two blankets, typing furiously and glancing at my phone every 30 seconds or so, attempting to will it to ring. Waiting to see if maybe my "luckiness" will actually do me good once again. Always waiting. Always questioning.
Maybe I should've gotten that PhD instead.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Embracing Chaos
Hooo boy.
Have I been busy? Indeed I have.
Since my last post (and the relatively large GAP between the last post and this one should provide some clues here), I have been simultaneously stressed to the core as well as, well, busy. Very very busy.
School started up again, of course. And with that, the school decided to pretty much pick up where it left off pre-holiday break and inundate us with work right off the bat.
In the past three weeks, I've had two major assignments to do (presentation, reflection - joys), I've been (re-)introduced to two term-long major assignments (unit projects for both curriculum classes), more presentations (TES, resource in FSL), and I find myself in a situation where for the first time all year, I might have to hand in an assignment late.
This past week was the worst of it, so far. Between things occurring in my personal life (being cryptic is the key to success) and the monumental workload I've had to endure, I more or less began to succumb to what I'm pretty sure was a series of minor panic attacks. Nothing serious, just me entering a catatonic state, perpetually contemplating where my life is right now, and having to come to terms with the fact that I have had to apply to jobs so that I might actually begin my career, and what if they don't like me, what if I get a crap job, what if I can't get a job at all, what if I screw up next practicum--
Etc. Etc.
I understand that our program must be compacted in a certain way in order to allow for our two practicums and our internship, and still be done the program in about 8 months, but given that I am not the only one in this state of mind, it's difficult to say that what we're forced to endure is in any way "good".
Let me return a second to the "applying for jobs" part of this post which I alluded to in my string of panic above. The reason why I have bothered posting today is because today, I finally sent in my application to the Toronto District School Board, thereby commencing my first round of board applications. I intend on also applying for the York Region District School Board, and perhaps for fun, either the Upper Grand District School Board (and maybe move back to Guelph?) or the Grand Erie District School Board (the board in which I experienced my own formative education). I'm gunning for the TDSB or the YRDSB, for obvious reasons of convenience. Given the language evident on the UGDSB website, the idea of getting a job there currently might be a bit of a pipe dream.
It's an exciting day, even though my language might seem to indicate that it is not. I am slightly skeptical in nature, and hesitant to state that my dream job will simply land in my lap (in contrast to what was told to us by someone at a presentation who had *just that* happen in her professional life - good for her, but this is not the norm).
It's mildly comforting to know that one of my askew puzzle tiles has finally been fitted into place - I have confirmed my internship for May. What's nice about this internship is that it opens up into an employment opportunity, which is very important to me, especially given my aforementioned skepticism.
Providing that I survive this semester, I will be excited to simply get a job. Any education-related job (that I enjoy).
Have I been busy? Indeed I have.
Since my last post (and the relatively large GAP between the last post and this one should provide some clues here), I have been simultaneously stressed to the core as well as, well, busy. Very very busy.
School started up again, of course. And with that, the school decided to pretty much pick up where it left off pre-holiday break and inundate us with work right off the bat.
In the past three weeks, I've had two major assignments to do (presentation, reflection - joys), I've been (re-)introduced to two term-long major assignments (unit projects for both curriculum classes), more presentations (TES, resource in FSL), and I find myself in a situation where for the first time all year, I might have to hand in an assignment late.
This past week was the worst of it, so far. Between things occurring in my personal life (being cryptic is the key to success) and the monumental workload I've had to endure, I more or less began to succumb to what I'm pretty sure was a series of minor panic attacks. Nothing serious, just me entering a catatonic state, perpetually contemplating where my life is right now, and having to come to terms with the fact that I have had to apply to jobs so that I might actually begin my career, and what if they don't like me, what if I get a crap job, what if I can't get a job at all, what if I screw up next practicum--
Etc. Etc.
I understand that our program must be compacted in a certain way in order to allow for our two practicums and our internship, and still be done the program in about 8 months, but given that I am not the only one in this state of mind, it's difficult to say that what we're forced to endure is in any way "good".
Let me return a second to the "applying for jobs" part of this post which I alluded to in my string of panic above. The reason why I have bothered posting today is because today, I finally sent in my application to the Toronto District School Board, thereby commencing my first round of board applications. I intend on also applying for the York Region District School Board, and perhaps for fun, either the Upper Grand District School Board (and maybe move back to Guelph?) or the Grand Erie District School Board (the board in which I experienced my own formative education). I'm gunning for the TDSB or the YRDSB, for obvious reasons of convenience. Given the language evident on the UGDSB website, the idea of getting a job there currently might be a bit of a pipe dream.
It's an exciting day, even though my language might seem to indicate that it is not. I am slightly skeptical in nature, and hesitant to state that my dream job will simply land in my lap (in contrast to what was told to us by someone at a presentation who had *just that* happen in her professional life - good for her, but this is not the norm).
It's mildly comforting to know that one of my askew puzzle tiles has finally been fitted into place - I have confirmed my internship for May. What's nice about this internship is that it opens up into an employment opportunity, which is very important to me, especially given my aforementioned skepticism.
Providing that I survive this semester, I will be excited to simply get a job. Any education-related job (that I enjoy).
Monday, January 3, 2011
New ___________
It is a custom around these parts that at the start of a new year, you have to make resolutions. I've had bad luck with resolutions in the past, so instead, I tend to make recommendations.
It is recommended that I keep practising my French so I can be the best French teacher possible.
It is recommended that I enlarge my library of history books (Canadian, mostly) so that I can be the best History teacher possible.
It is recommended that I utilize my newly-purchased copy of Wii Fit at least once a day, at least 20 minutes per day.
It is recommended that I find a job related to my career path, the sooner the better.
It is recommended that I begin planning my wedding, date TBD (but probably 2012).
It is recommended that I keep trying new recipes so that I can be more comfortable in the kitchen.
See? Resolutions aren't so bad or so unfeasible if I call them recommendations. Besides, I really need to be doing all of those things anyway, especially the "finding a job" part.
Which brings me to the next point on the agenda. Just before school let out for the holidays, I attended a Professional Preparation Conference. The name sounds big and fancy, but it was more or less a glorified job fair, with addedfirepowerworkshops. The most important part of the "conference" was the last day, when school boards from this part of the province (and beyond) set up tables and talked about why we should flood our resumes into their offices for consideration. Being a reasonable and realistic person, I got information from as many different school boards (as well as from many different non-school education job prospects) as possible. One consistent fact that I heard from most of those presentations is that January is the month to start sending in applications.
It is now January. (Duh.)
I spent some time just before the holidays polishing up my resume, which I will send to my unwitting friends for review before I fix it up further and save it as a PDF. Then I have to write three or four different cover letters, one for each school board/non-school education job, using the template that we were shown during the presentation on the first day of the conference. At some point this month, I will have to send out all of these resumes and cover letters befitting the requirements of each school board (through a third-party site or to the school board/employer itself).
Oh, and I have an interview for an internship on Wednesday.
I'm tired already.
On top of all of that, the new semester has begun. Luckily, I still get Mondays off. I no longer have the luxury of Wednesdays off, though, as my elective happens at 8:30 in the freaking morning.
Finally, some thoughts on World of Warcraft's new expansion, Cataclysm.
(No, I will not make a separate post...this post has an on-going theme of "newness", so this is probably the best time in which to discuss this bastion of nerdiness. If you want to avoid the nerdiness, now's a good time to stop reading.)
With my free time over the holidays, I got to play quite a bit of Cataclysm. Quite a bit. My moonkin is level 85, and she is fully kitted out and ready to raid. The drastic shifts in the gameplay for most classes has kept the game interesting going into its seventh year, and Blizzard has renewed its license to print money.
I feel a little bad for healers, since healing in general took a serious blow to the face. However, it's for the best. In WotLK, healers could close their eyes and make random clicks and folks would stay alive. Now healers have to relearn their respective classes and employ some strategy, effectively weeding out those who cannot make the change. Adapt or die, etc.
The current endgame is no joke. Crowd control (an expression which will be completely foreign to people who only started playing last expac) is required in instances again. This time around, though, more DPS classes have some kind of reasonable CC and some kind of silence or interrupt available to them, thereby encouraging Blizzard's policy of "bring the player, not the class".
As for the actual raiding scene...as I stated in the beginning, my moonkin is ready for raids, but has not stepped foot in one just yet. Apparently, my 10-man is going to start up either this week or next, and I will probably have to restrict my playtime to once a week, depending on what night becomes our designated "raid night". I volunteered to put myself on a DPS rotation with my good friend's rogue so that she may be able to see the content and so that I may be able to step aside and do schoolwork if necessary. It's a win-win scenario.
Of course, S will disagree with that...but that's because S wants to raid with me. WoW is kinda *our thing*...but I anticipate that he will get used to the new arrangement, and it really will be better for all of us in the long run. I will still be able to excel in school, and my 10-man will still be able to raid. I'm very excited.
And with that feeling of excitement, I will bring this post to a close. 2011 is a new year with new prospects, new interests, and (hopefully) a new job on the horizon. I am anxious to see what the next 12 months hold.
It is recommended that I keep practising my French so I can be the best French teacher possible.
It is recommended that I enlarge my library of history books (Canadian, mostly) so that I can be the best History teacher possible.
It is recommended that I utilize my newly-purchased copy of Wii Fit at least once a day, at least 20 minutes per day.
It is recommended that I find a job related to my career path, the sooner the better.
It is recommended that I begin planning my wedding, date TBD (but probably 2012).
It is recommended that I keep trying new recipes so that I can be more comfortable in the kitchen.
See? Resolutions aren't so bad or so unfeasible if I call them recommendations. Besides, I really need to be doing all of those things anyway, especially the "finding a job" part.
Which brings me to the next point on the agenda. Just before school let out for the holidays, I attended a Professional Preparation Conference. The name sounds big and fancy, but it was more or less a glorified job fair, with added
It is now January. (Duh.)
I spent some time just before the holidays polishing up my resume, which I will send to my unwitting friends for review before I fix it up further and save it as a PDF. Then I have to write three or four different cover letters, one for each school board/non-school education job, using the template that we were shown during the presentation on the first day of the conference. At some point this month, I will have to send out all of these resumes and cover letters befitting the requirements of each school board (through a third-party site or to the school board/employer itself).
Oh, and I have an interview for an internship on Wednesday.
I'm tired already.
On top of all of that, the new semester has begun. Luckily, I still get Mondays off. I no longer have the luxury of Wednesdays off, though, as my elective happens at 8:30 in the freaking morning.
Finally, some thoughts on World of Warcraft's new expansion, Cataclysm.
(No, I will not make a separate post...this post has an on-going theme of "newness", so this is probably the best time in which to discuss this bastion of nerdiness. If you want to avoid the nerdiness, now's a good time to stop reading.)
With my free time over the holidays, I got to play quite a bit of Cataclysm. Quite a bit. My moonkin is level 85, and she is fully kitted out and ready to raid. The drastic shifts in the gameplay for most classes has kept the game interesting going into its seventh year, and Blizzard has renewed its license to print money.
I feel a little bad for healers, since healing in general took a serious blow to the face. However, it's for the best. In WotLK, healers could close their eyes and make random clicks and folks would stay alive. Now healers have to relearn their respective classes and employ some strategy, effectively weeding out those who cannot make the change. Adapt or die, etc.
The current endgame is no joke. Crowd control (an expression which will be completely foreign to people who only started playing last expac) is required in instances again. This time around, though, more DPS classes have some kind of reasonable CC and some kind of silence or interrupt available to them, thereby encouraging Blizzard's policy of "bring the player, not the class".
As for the actual raiding scene...as I stated in the beginning, my moonkin is ready for raids, but has not stepped foot in one just yet. Apparently, my 10-man is going to start up either this week or next, and I will probably have to restrict my playtime to once a week, depending on what night becomes our designated "raid night". I volunteered to put myself on a DPS rotation with my good friend's rogue so that she may be able to see the content and so that I may be able to step aside and do schoolwork if necessary. It's a win-win scenario.
Of course, S will disagree with that...but that's because S wants to raid with me. WoW is kinda *our thing*...but I anticipate that he will get used to the new arrangement, and it really will be better for all of us in the long run. I will still be able to excel in school, and my 10-man will still be able to raid. I'm very excited.
And with that feeling of excitement, I will bring this post to a close. 2011 is a new year with new prospects, new interests, and (hopefully) a new job on the horizon. I am anxious to see what the next 12 months hold.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Fable 3, or Why You Should Quit While You're Ahead
At the end of my previous entry, I promised to write a post about World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, the third expansion of the mega franchise by the gaming company that has done nothing but flourish over the past fifteen years or so.
This is not that post.
With the onset of free time that I received from finishing my first semester of Teacher’s College, I decided to hunker down and attempt to finish Fable 3. I am well aware that I am about two months late on this, but I now feel reasonably compelled to put aside my ambitions of writing a lengthy post about WoW to instead write a sizeable rant about what was supposed to be my (second-)favourite game of the final quarter of 2010. Lucky you.
I should warn you that this post will contain sizeable spoilers for Fable 3, its plot and game progression as well as mechanics. If you have zero urge to spoil yourself or to read what I have to say, then I don't want you to leave this post empty-handed.
An extremely cute holiday video featuring a really cute Japanese cat for those who don't want to read further. (Heck, even if you read the rest of the post, go watch the video. It's adorable.)
Last call, spoilers ahead!
================================================
Alright. Fable has had a pretty mixed history when it comes to reviews. It seems as if in the past, people either really LOVED Fable, or they completely hated Fable. In general, Fable 2 did better than the first Fable, but that was mostly because Lionhead/Microsoft Game Studios perfected upon certain elements of gameplay that were slightly problematic/boring in the first game. (Making money, figuring out how to be good/evil, maintaining property all come to mind as elements that were massively improved upon between Fable and its successor.) Naturally, I believed Fable 3 would be an improvement on even Fable 2. This excited me.
Another thing that excited me about Fable 3 was the premise. You are the daughter of the King of Albion circa Albion's version of the industrial revolution. Your brother becomes the King on your father's death, but his rule is built on tyranny. The people grow poor and restless, and you are called to lead a revolution against your brother. Um, kick ass. The trailer (the awesome version of which I cannot seem to find on the internet anymore - funny, that) instills a sense of absolute epicness regarding your undertaking as the new hero of Albion. You gain alliances with people in the kingdom, and together you thwart a tyrant. Yes, kick ass indeed.
When I picked up my controller after my large gaming hiatus because of school, my budding heroine was still in the process of gathering alliances. She carried on, kicked some ass, took some names, and eventually I had gathered enough people and made enough alliances to take on my brother. And take him on I did!
And then.
And I am disappointed to say that there is, in fact, an "and then".
And then you are asked to rule for your first year as ruler of Albion. What this entails is making sure that you make good on your promises with the various people with whom you allied yourself as well as amassing troops for the RANDOM SUDDEN THREAT THAT WAS INTRODUCED IN BASICALLY ACT 4 OF THE GAME. You need to gain 6.5 million gold in order to have enough to amass a decent enough army to fight the "darkness incarnate" about to invade Albion. You have 365 days in which to make this gold, while also making good on your promises (or breaking them, whatever, but the choice becomes make good on your promise or be a complete amoral dickhead in order to not spend money) which ends up costing you several hundred thousand gold. This would seemingly be possible, except for the fact that if you advance the plot at all by doing a day's worth of royal duties (making good on the aforementioned promises as well as other random pointless things), YOU SUDDENLY ADVANCE ABOUT A HUNDRED DAYS INTO THE FUTURE.
Uh.
Oh, did I mention that when you do advance about a hundred days into the future, you do not gain profits from your properties/businesses as if a hundred days have passed? So if you ended Day 1 with about $100,000 in your treasury and personal accounts, at Day 100 you have...$100,000 in your treasury and personal accounts, even if you have incoming assets. That's probably worth mentioning.
So I conducted an experiment. I finished the game while being completely moral, making as much money as I could (and I should point out that by the end, I was still in the hole by about $400,000-ish) and letting the final chapter happen after only three possible cash-making days. Sure, I was good, I got my good powers and I defeated the darkness. But most of Albion was killed, dead bodies littered the streets, and on top of that, the final boss was my best friend in the game who had gotten possessed by the darkness. And once the game was actually over, it was noted that my rule would be the one in which I LET ALBION DIE. And when you open the save file after all of this occurs, Albion has about one sixth of the population you started with, and the same dead bodies litter the streets.
Yeah.
I did some research when I was done playing through the plot, because I was sure as hell not going to continue with that save file, since the result was completely ludacrous, and I found that pretty much the only way to get the necessary gold was to use a goddamn exploit.
Seriously, Lionhead Studios? I get that you wanted this to be like "a real monarchy", but everything about this final keystone chapter was flawed. Why couldn't I gain money in the same real time that I should have? Why didn't more opportunities come up to save my people? Why must dead bodies completely litter the streets after I am done playing the game, as a constant reminder of the "great sacrifice" I made as the motherloving benevolent leader of Albion?
If it was possible to end the game directly after I became the ruler of Albion, I would not have needed to write this post. But the last chapter of the game ruined the rest of the game for me, to the point where I actually want to delete my completed save file and create a new one so I can run the game overnight to accrue funds like people needed to do in the original Fable. That's just peachy.
Okay, seriously...next post will be about Cataclysm. Then you probably won't see a game-related post from me in a very long time, either much to your dismay or to your enjoyment.
Happy holidays everyone!
This is not that post.
With the onset of free time that I received from finishing my first semester of Teacher’s College, I decided to hunker down and attempt to finish Fable 3. I am well aware that I am about two months late on this, but I now feel reasonably compelled to put aside my ambitions of writing a lengthy post about WoW to instead write a sizeable rant about what was supposed to be my (second-)favourite game of the final quarter of 2010. Lucky you.
I should warn you that this post will contain sizeable spoilers for Fable 3, its plot and game progression as well as mechanics. If you have zero urge to spoil yourself or to read what I have to say, then I don't want you to leave this post empty-handed.
An extremely cute holiday video featuring a really cute Japanese cat for those who don't want to read further. (Heck, even if you read the rest of the post, go watch the video. It's adorable.)
Last call, spoilers ahead!
================================================
Alright. Fable has had a pretty mixed history when it comes to reviews. It seems as if in the past, people either really LOVED Fable, or they completely hated Fable. In general, Fable 2 did better than the first Fable, but that was mostly because Lionhead/Microsoft Game Studios perfected upon certain elements of gameplay that were slightly problematic/boring in the first game. (Making money, figuring out how to be good/evil, maintaining property all come to mind as elements that were massively improved upon between Fable and its successor.) Naturally, I believed Fable 3 would be an improvement on even Fable 2. This excited me.
Another thing that excited me about Fable 3 was the premise. You are the daughter of the King of Albion circa Albion's version of the industrial revolution. Your brother becomes the King on your father's death, but his rule is built on tyranny. The people grow poor and restless, and you are called to lead a revolution against your brother. Um, kick ass. The trailer (the awesome version of which I cannot seem to find on the internet anymore - funny, that) instills a sense of absolute epicness regarding your undertaking as the new hero of Albion. You gain alliances with people in the kingdom, and together you thwart a tyrant. Yes, kick ass indeed.
When I picked up my controller after my large gaming hiatus because of school, my budding heroine was still in the process of gathering alliances. She carried on, kicked some ass, took some names, and eventually I had gathered enough people and made enough alliances to take on my brother. And take him on I did!
And then.
And I am disappointed to say that there is, in fact, an "and then".
And then you are asked to rule for your first year as ruler of Albion. What this entails is making sure that you make good on your promises with the various people with whom you allied yourself as well as amassing troops for the RANDOM SUDDEN THREAT THAT WAS INTRODUCED IN BASICALLY ACT 4 OF THE GAME. You need to gain 6.5 million gold in order to have enough to amass a decent enough army to fight the "darkness incarnate" about to invade Albion. You have 365 days in which to make this gold, while also making good on your promises (or breaking them, whatever, but the choice becomes make good on your promise or be a complete amoral dickhead in order to not spend money) which ends up costing you several hundred thousand gold. This would seemingly be possible, except for the fact that if you advance the plot at all by doing a day's worth of royal duties (making good on the aforementioned promises as well as other random pointless things), YOU SUDDENLY ADVANCE ABOUT A HUNDRED DAYS INTO THE FUTURE.
Uh.
Oh, did I mention that when you do advance about a hundred days into the future, you do not gain profits from your properties/businesses as if a hundred days have passed? So if you ended Day 1 with about $100,000 in your treasury and personal accounts, at Day 100 you have...$100,000 in your treasury and personal accounts, even if you have incoming assets. That's probably worth mentioning.
So I conducted an experiment. I finished the game while being completely moral, making as much money as I could (and I should point out that by the end, I was still in the hole by about $400,000-ish) and letting the final chapter happen after only three possible cash-making days. Sure, I was good, I got my good powers and I defeated the darkness. But most of Albion was killed, dead bodies littered the streets, and on top of that, the final boss was my best friend in the game who had gotten possessed by the darkness. And once the game was actually over, it was noted that my rule would be the one in which I LET ALBION DIE. And when you open the save file after all of this occurs, Albion has about one sixth of the population you started with, and the same dead bodies litter the streets.
Yeah.
I did some research when I was done playing through the plot, because I was sure as hell not going to continue with that save file, since the result was completely ludacrous, and I found that pretty much the only way to get the necessary gold was to use a goddamn exploit.
Seriously, Lionhead Studios? I get that you wanted this to be like "a real monarchy", but everything about this final keystone chapter was flawed. Why couldn't I gain money in the same real time that I should have? Why didn't more opportunities come up to save my people? Why must dead bodies completely litter the streets after I am done playing the game, as a constant reminder of the "great sacrifice" I made as the motherloving benevolent leader of Albion?
If it was possible to end the game directly after I became the ruler of Albion, I would not have needed to write this post. But the last chapter of the game ruined the rest of the game for me, to the point where I actually want to delete my completed save file and create a new one so I can run the game overnight to accrue funds like people needed to do in the original Fable. That's just peachy.
Okay, seriously...next post will be about Cataclysm. Then you probably won't see a game-related post from me in a very long time, either much to your dismay or to your enjoyment.
Happy holidays everyone!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
The Countdown Begins - er - Continues...
It has been quite a long time since I have had any space (or time, for that matter) to myself. Practicum ended uneventfully (though it was an amazing experience, as I have alluded to before), and then suddenly we were all thrown into a meat grinder of rapid required reflection. We needed to reflect on absolutely everything...an experience that went well, something we did that we could critique so we could do better next time, alongside several informal reflections - whether alcoholic or not - with the people I have randomly dubbed "the OISE peeps" (appropriate, I know).
It has been a time of massive reflection. And reflecting is all well and good, but now I'm pretty tired of reflecting. It has hit that point where you repeat a word over and over again until the word becomes absolutely meaningless. That's pretty appropriate, actually. The process of reflecting on our teaching becomes a bit meaningless after a time. I can see the purpose of it, but something that is a weakness one day will eventually be changed upon a single reflection on the problem. Instead of hashing it out several times, graded and ungraded, why can't we just be left to our own devices to learn by doing and to do so while learning?
And so the countdown continues. A countdown to what? Well, there are actually two things for which I am "counting down", and now I will list them for you. Okay, the list is mostly for me. But if you're reading this, you might as well indulge me and read the list as well:
1) Christmas
Oh man, am I ever stoked for Christmas. Now that the plans have more or less been hashed out, I have discovered that I will be taking the train ride home for 5 days to bask in the glory of Christmas time with the family. For the first time ever, S will also be coming down to be with my family for Christmas, but he can't come until the 23rd. Whatever, small victories!
My money troubles have been quelled for now with a needs-based scholarship I received from the university. Receiving the scholarship made me realize that my OSAP debt is more or less a ticking time bomb, but now's not a very good time to REFLECT on that (there's that damn word again), so I'm just going to move on.
Slightly related to that, I managed to get my Christmas shopping mostly done. When I go home on the 21st, I will have some time to get those last-minute gifts for the people in my life for whom gift shopping is a notoriously tedious and difficult affair. Regardless, I feel (mostly) ready to begin the holidays now that my shopping is done, and also now that...
2) School is almost over (for now).
How sweet it is! Today is the last day of class for the fall semester. There's a three-day Professional Preparation Conference beginning tomorrow, but that will be useful and interesting. I managed to sleep in this morning by accident, and I missed my last FSL of the semester. Oops. However, I am in the Learning Commons waiting for History to start, and I have my last two assignments to hand in in-hand. Once I have relinquished control of these two pieces of sh--work, and once I have endured the AWESOME PARTY that will be History this afternoon (since even though today is actually a party, History class is always a party to me), I feel as though I will finally begin to count down the days until the holidays. Sure, I still have to haul ass out of bed to attend this conference from Wednesday to Friday, but...it's not quite the same as class.
So that's my personal reflection for today. Dammit, I just used that word again.
Coming soon, a post about World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Why? Because it's out, and it's awesome, and I'll actually have time to experience it in full very soon.
It has been a time of massive reflection. And reflecting is all well and good, but now I'm pretty tired of reflecting. It has hit that point where you repeat a word over and over again until the word becomes absolutely meaningless. That's pretty appropriate, actually. The process of reflecting on our teaching becomes a bit meaningless after a time. I can see the purpose of it, but something that is a weakness one day will eventually be changed upon a single reflection on the problem. Instead of hashing it out several times, graded and ungraded, why can't we just be left to our own devices to learn by doing and to do so while learning?
And so the countdown continues. A countdown to what? Well, there are actually two things for which I am "counting down", and now I will list them for you. Okay, the list is mostly for me. But if you're reading this, you might as well indulge me and read the list as well:
1) Christmas
Oh man, am I ever stoked for Christmas. Now that the plans have more or less been hashed out, I have discovered that I will be taking the train ride home for 5 days to bask in the glory of Christmas time with the family. For the first time ever, S will also be coming down to be with my family for Christmas, but he can't come until the 23rd. Whatever, small victories!
My money troubles have been quelled for now with a needs-based scholarship I received from the university. Receiving the scholarship made me realize that my OSAP debt is more or less a ticking time bomb, but now's not a very good time to REFLECT on that (there's that damn word again), so I'm just going to move on.
Slightly related to that, I managed to get my Christmas shopping mostly done. When I go home on the 21st, I will have some time to get those last-minute gifts for the people in my life for whom gift shopping is a notoriously tedious and difficult affair. Regardless, I feel (mostly) ready to begin the holidays now that my shopping is done, and also now that...
2) School is almost over (for now).
How sweet it is! Today is the last day of class for the fall semester. There's a three-day Professional Preparation Conference beginning tomorrow, but that will be useful and interesting. I managed to sleep in this morning by accident, and I missed my last FSL of the semester. Oops. However, I am in the Learning Commons waiting for History to start, and I have my last two assignments to hand in in-hand. Once I have relinquished control of these two pieces of sh--work, and once I have endured the AWESOME PARTY that will be History this afternoon (since even though today is actually a party, History class is always a party to me), I feel as though I will finally begin to count down the days until the holidays. Sure, I still have to haul ass out of bed to attend this conference from Wednesday to Friday, but...it's not quite the same as class.
So that's my personal reflection for today. Dammit, I just used that word again.
Coming soon, a post about World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Why? Because it's out, and it's awesome, and I'll actually have time to experience it in full very soon.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Halftime
Today, I took a trip that has become quite familiar to me.
I got on the streetcar. I took it east to the nearest subway station and rode the metro going north until I ended up at a familiar stop.
This is the way that I get to my teacher's college. But seeing as I have been doing my practicum over the past two weeks, today was the first day that I've made that trip in...well...two weeks.
Two weeks isn't exactly an eternity, but I couldn't help but feel a bit of a tug when I got off the subway and entered the school. It's strange how much of a connection I have developed with not the school itself, but its contents. Since September, I have learned a lot about teaching from at least three of my professors (won't really talk about that fourth one), and while my most crucial learnings have come from my practicum itself, I have enjoyed the toolkit my courses and colleagues have given me this year. I have also developed some fantastic connections and friendships with these aforementioned colleagues, and after being away from them for two weeks, I can legitimately state that I miss each one of them.
In fact, they're the reason why I made the trek to school today. I went out for coffee with a couple of my buddies from my program, and together we shared our practicum experiences over hot drinks and baked goods. It was nice. It also made me realize that I am eagerly anticipating that moment two weeks from now when we get to re-assemble as a cohort and share our collective wisdom gained from our four weeks in a school setting. Of course, the very fact that I'll get to simply see the faces of certain people in my program once again in two weeks also makes me quite happy indeed.
And now...I plan to spend the rest of my Saturday evening watching TV and planning a lesson to introduce Buddhism to grade 11s.
I got on the streetcar. I took it east to the nearest subway station and rode the metro going north until I ended up at a familiar stop.
This is the way that I get to my teacher's college. But seeing as I have been doing my practicum over the past two weeks, today was the first day that I've made that trip in...well...two weeks.
Two weeks isn't exactly an eternity, but I couldn't help but feel a bit of a tug when I got off the subway and entered the school. It's strange how much of a connection I have developed with not the school itself, but its contents. Since September, I have learned a lot about teaching from at least three of my professors (won't really talk about that fourth one), and while my most crucial learnings have come from my practicum itself, I have enjoyed the toolkit my courses and colleagues have given me this year. I have also developed some fantastic connections and friendships with these aforementioned colleagues, and after being away from them for two weeks, I can legitimately state that I miss each one of them.
In fact, they're the reason why I made the trek to school today. I went out for coffee with a couple of my buddies from my program, and together we shared our practicum experiences over hot drinks and baked goods. It was nice. It also made me realize that I am eagerly anticipating that moment two weeks from now when we get to re-assemble as a cohort and share our collective wisdom gained from our four weeks in a school setting. Of course, the very fact that I'll get to simply see the faces of certain people in my program once again in two weeks also makes me quite happy indeed.
And now...I plan to spend the rest of my Saturday evening watching TV and planning a lesson to introduce Buddhism to grade 11s.
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