Ciao amigos

I've learned to dance in the rain pretty well and it's refreshing. But anyway I am away for a while because life gets in the way of blogging or blogging in the way of life. My treshold is not high as you might know so before I completely start spinning I have to retreat. So I work through my things I have to do and than come back to visit you again. Because i can't miss ya. Hope you understand. See you soon. Don't know when,but you'll see.
Ciao Marja

West Coast

Wanaka Holiday (last Part) : The Westcoast

On the way back home we took the road over the Haast pass, West Coast and back over Athur's Pass. It takes a couple of hours longer but is really worthwhile. We had planned to stay overnight at the West Coast but Mayke didn't feel well and the kids were homesick to their friends (and electronics) . Therfore we will go back to the West Coast this year for a long weekend.

When you go through the Haast Pass the dry bare brown mountains start to change into nice green ones with beautiful tree ferns and patches of ancient rainforest. It rains most of the year but they closed the tap when we came through. It is subtropical on the West coast.

This tap was still open but very local

The road on the West Coat, goes along a rough beautiful coastal area with beaches. You can't swim there though and often can't reach it. The West Coast is up till Fox Glazier nearly completely deserted.

 

Fox glazier together with Franz Josef Glazier are relics of the last iceages. The terminal of Fox glazier, which you can see on the photo, is only 5 km from the same named town. It is a 13km long still moving glazier which is fed by 4 alpine glaziers. It flows almost to sealevel, which is unique.

West Coast

Between Fox Glazier and Franz Josef Glazier we stopped to eat at the Buschman's centre. Usually people get eaten on the West Coast, by the sandfly above. Luckily they hang this huge one. The normal version is teeny weeny.

In the centre you can eat, drink and there is a little museum and shop and they have a few animals around the place. The deer brown eyes smiled at me.

The centre is in Pukekura, the smallest town on the West Coast with a population of two. They make use of natural resources. These stools are covered with possums which are a pest in NZ.

Just past Hokatika we took the road inlands over Athur's Pass and discovered a Moa on the top somewhere. We reached Christchurch around the evening.

Cute thoughts

How I understand the mind

Intelligence

What is intelligence. In the beginning of 1900 they started to measure intelligence to identify children with a learning problems. They tested children of different ages and looked how the average child scored. Over the year it changed a little bit but nowadays an IQ of 100 is still the score for how the average child performs. A score of 85 is better than 16% of the same age and a score of 115 is a score better than 84 % of the same age.

We have to take in mind however that these tests are test of a persons ability not of aptitude. Not every person's aptitude is developed because of for example their circumstances. Different opportunities can make a great difference.

First of all if you are born into a family were you have access to knowledge , books , computers and can join sports and clubs, this hugely affects your IQ. When you have access to excellent nutrition, love and encouragement it positively effects your IQ enormously. You are very likely to reach your potential.

Secondly about 20 % of the population have some form of learning disability. Even if their potential is above average they can perform extremely below that because they learn differently and process slowly. I think that intelligence is not fast processing as often is the general believe. These children get blocked and can't access the curriculum because they are slow in reading and writing and processing the language for example. But some children with learning disabilities understand their matter better than average.

Furthermore have you heard about the Pygmalion effect. This means that teachers influence the performance of students. Teacher tend to give more positive feedback, they relate more positively to high expectancy students. They relate better to the child they were once. they challenge them more and these students get more change to show their abilities as opposed to low expectancy students.

Luckily academic ability is not the only source of success later in life. Things as motivation, perseverance, emotional intelligence and even luck are sometimes even more important. A good start can however make an enormous difference.

I believe like Howard Gardner says that there are different form of intelligence which are
logical-mathematical
linguistic
spatial intelligence
Musical
Bodily-kinesthetic (sports)
Interpersonal intelligence (social skills)
Intrapersonal intelligence (understand yourself)
I think everybody has a strength in one of these areas

If you achieve in your area depends however on your opportunities, your background etc. My son was written of by the system but made an enormous progress and he will prove everybody wrong . He is in a fabulous school so he will get there. So many don't

Cromwell. Clyde and Alexandra

Holiday Wanaka Part 3
From Wanaka we went on a day trip to Cromwell, Clyde and Alexandra in the heart of Central Otago (in the South of the South Island) The cities thank their establishment to the discovery of gold in the Clutha river. When gold ran out Cromwell became a farming and fruit area and is called the fruitbowl of the South. The first thing what we did when arriving in Cromwell is to buy delicious cherries and plums. Than we visited the old city, a preserve of the past

The bridge by Clyde. Clyde was officially the administratieve centre of the Goldfields. The Clutha river has its source in Lake Wanaka and enters the Pacific Ocean at the other end. We had a short walk along the river. it was too hot that day

The Clyde Powerstation is New Zealands third largest hydro power station, with a capacity of 400 megawatts.
Next we went to Alexandra were you can find some gorgeous shops.

Shaky Bridge in Alexandra ~ This bridge was once used by wagons and horses
It was so hot here that we headed back early in the afternoon so we had some time left for a dive in the pool

The second change

The prompt for writers Island this week was changed. I waved it in the final piece of my short story. Although it's difficult to keep it short.

Part 1. The photographer Part 2. Prima Ballerina Anna Part 3. The second change

Elisa loved the view when they were driving down the mountain. They just went through the pass of the Northern Alps which bordered Movanie. Now a green patched land was stretching out in front of her. Soon they were driving on a long lane lined with waving tall trees. They still had to drive for an hour but time went fast because Elisa and Nicola could get along very well. The plan was to stay in the city of Lodia in a hotel and the next day they would be picked up by one of the Bovians who would bring them to their settlement. “Just wear something comfortable” said Nicola to Elisa, at night in the Hotel “You know they will feel estranged from us if we turn up all dressed up” “Since the King died they were left to themselves and became poor” “Also because they were discriminated by the Movans. The Movans spread all bad rumours about the Gypsies. “Really? Said Elisa. She suddenly felt a knot in her stomach. All the time she had thought of it as a big adventure but she hadn’t realised that it would not all be fun. “What if we try to get some of the traditional clothes, in the morning, you think that would be good? “Elisa asked. Yes, good idea” said Nicola. The next morning the ladies went out shopping and in a second hand store they found some beautiful Gypsy dresses. At the Hotel they changed themselves and danced around in it in front of the mirror. “Oh I wish I could dance like that Anna girl, Elisa sighted, “did you know that I often choreograph dance steps in my head when I hear some music. The truth is though that I am as uncoordinated as a drunk donkey. “Interesting ” laughed Nicola, “but don’t worry they will teach you”. And that was exactly what happened when they had arrived. A big party was organized. The people were all dancing on the ritme of the guitars. Elisa was trilled when she saw how elated these people were even though they lived in bad circumstances. She decided there and than to help them. She was disappointed though that nobody had known who Mark was but the next day they would meet an old Gypsy who was a fortuneteller. That kept her hopes up. “Sit down please” said the old Gypsy with the bandanna around her head” “I’ve to tell you something. An important day for us all has come. When the king was dying about a hundred years ago, he had a vision that one day a new king would stand up. He would marry a girl with dark long hair and together they would make the bovians strong again” "What happened back than is that the people expected that the man you have seen on the picture with Anna was thought to be the new King" the fortuneteller continued, " They found out that he was actually a son of the King. The King had saved his mother from some thieves who destroyed villages. He had brought her in safety and had spent the night with this beautiful girl. He had to go back to fulfill his duties though and never knew about the child. The name of the child was Mario. Just before Mario wanted to marry Anna he told her that he was going to be the new King. His mum had told him. Anna had passed on to her boss naively that she was going to marry a king. The boss informed the authorities. They were afraid and brought him over the border and he never saw her again and you know already what happened to her." Everybody was shocked that the vision had not come true and they gave up hope. Now a few months back Mark had come to the village. He seemed to be the grand grand son of Mario and looked exactly like him. Mario had married somebody else, but Mark is stil carrying the blood of the King. The minute he walked in here I knew he was going to be the new king” The vision would come true. He just had to find you and you first had to learn everything from Nicola."

"But why do I look like Anna and were is Mark. “Here I am” whispered Mark. He stood suddenly behind her. Eliza fell nearly of her chair. "Mark how did you get here?" she stuttered . “I came back here after I found you to wait here for you, just as I was asked to do" Mark said "The fortuneteller said you looked like Anna, that's how I could find you” laughed Mark,"the rest remains a mystery. Do you want to stay here with me? “asked Mark hopeful. "Yes, sighted Elisa and he took her hands. That night everybody danced till deep in the night. Elisa’s life had changed completely.

How I understand the mind

Memory

The photo above is not a Christmas tree with lights. No the coloured balls are brain cells or neurons. We've got about 10 billion of them. The fibres between these neurons are called dendrites. So how does a memory in the brain looks like. A memory is not stored in one cell.

No a memory is a pathway or pattern between many cells which can be spread all over the brain (75 % of the memory are however stored in the outer layer of the brain).

The pattern first gets created in our short time memory. This gets quickly lost. Therefore it has to be consolidated in long term memory. You do that to change the physical structure of the pattern. When we concentrate a electrical charge goes through the pattern. The easier it is to

activate the pattern the stronger the memory is. When an electrical signal arrives at a cell it has to pass a gap before entering the cell. Neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) pass the gap. These neurotransmitters stimulate the process to build a bigger entrance to the cell and make it easier to stimulate the next dendrite (fiber between cells).

To make a strong pathway you use repetition of information. Other tricks are to connect the new information to other strong pathways. For example to remember a name for example Quin Washington., you could relate the name quin to the word quintet (five) and think of the city Washington. Picture in your head 5 cities of Washington. Success guaranteed. So imagination and association is very important. When reading new information make a mind map of it. Tony Buzan developed them and they completely relate to how the brain stores a memory.

To create memories you also have to sleep good. During the dream time at night most of our memories get consolidated. Than we are relaxed and the brainwaves are exactly right. Relaxation is also key when taking in new information. Stop every 10 minutes when you learn and relax. When you have an exam week don't go on a strict diet. When you don't get enough nutrients or brain food memory suffers. Fruit and vegetables but also proteins in white meat and milk and fatty fish are for example good brain food.

When we get older our memory doesn't get worse. But if you don't use it you loose it. Same as with muscles. So exercise your brain. The only thing what happens when you are old is that the process to store and retain memory is slower. This is because the circulation of the blood is getting slower which brings oxygen to the brain. Oxygen is very important for good brain functioning. So if we know the right tricks we all can get smarter. Intelligence isn't fixed. So even when you are old you still can raise your IQ. Blogging is a good way for brain exercise I think.

What do you think?

Magic

A poem and part two of a story for writers Island. The prompt was magic

Magic gypsy dance by marja blom

lifted into wonder
of a mystical night
wakened by crying violins
Moonlight illuminates untouchable feet
of a swirling beauty
who calls the one
with a bitter song so sweet

Flaming black eyes
enter the magic
fuelled by thundering clapping
Awakening the spirit of romance
of two silhouettes who understand
the language of gypsy dance

Part 1: The photographer
Part 2 : Prima Ballerina Anna

Elisa was already searching for weeks to get some answers to her questions after her encounter with Mark. She never heard of him again. Now she stood in front of the door of a villa where Drs Jotta lived. Drs Jotta seemed to be like her, a descendant of the Bovian people, a Gypsy group and they said she might know more.

Elisa nervously straightened her skirt and pushed the bell. A dark middle-aged lady dressed in jeans and an oversized colourful shirt opened the door. Her mouth fell open when she had a good look at Elisa and stared at her for some time. "I brought the photo as I told you about on the phone, Mrs Jotta" said Elisa quickly" as she handed over the photo. "Call me Nicola" she mumbled, while having a look at the photo. "The likeness is stunning" she said more to herself than to Elisa. " But eh sorry come in , I'll get you a drink"

When the two had settled down Nicola started straight away " The lady on the photo is prima ballerina, Anna" Anna was the daughter of a rich Gypsy man in Movanie. About a 100 years ago there were two groups of people in Movanie, the Movans and a nomadic gypsy group the Bovians. The Bovian people were becoming very influential under the strong leadership of their king. Because the Movans were afraid they would take over, one day they killed the king and his family and lots of Bovians flee the country to were we live now.

Many stayed behind and one of them was Anna. Anna was since a young age one of the best gypsy dancers. The manager of the ballet company in Movanie saw her dancing one day and asked her to study at her school. Anna became the best. The story goes that one day after her performance a man was at her dressing room to bring her a thousand roses . They say that every performance he sat on the balcony and Anna danced only for him. She was better than ever. They said that he was going to marry her but one day he disappeared and Anna fell into a big depression. A year later she became sick and died.

"Oh how horrible" Elisa softly said" do you know who the man was? and why do I and Mark look like them and....." I don't know" Nicola interrupted her. I think that man is the one we saw on your photo" It is very intriguing to me too. I am studying these people, eh my people you see. The only way that we might get some answers is to go to Movanie. Do you want to come with me Elisa?" "Yes of course" said Elisa excitedly.

Elisa had made some arrangements. She had taken some time off work and told everybody of her plans. Everybody was exited but some found that she was just following a ghost. After a couple of days the two left in the black Mercedes of Drs Nicola Jotta. It was all like magic to Elisa.

Part 3 next week

How I understand the mind

part 1. Conciousness and unconciousness

What is conciousness? There are several theories about it but I like to think of it as a snapshot of what we experience now. All the information we get from our senses gets combined in the brain at a certain time and place and gives us a snapshot from our environment.

So that's how we experience the world? No the concious part is only the tip of the iceberg. How we experience it and how we react to it is for the biggest part unconcious.

For example for a lot of actions and things we rely on our long term memory. We have our automatic pilot on when we are walking, writing, biking etc. We don't do these things conciously. Most of the time we are not aware that we are doing these things, otherwise our working memory would collapse from the amount of information.

We only put in our working memory things we attend to. Now put 10 people on the same spot and ask them what they see or experience. They each will give you probably a different story. They each take in different details.

What we attend to can be driven by our instinct. When we are hungry we see food everywhere.

What we attend to depends on past experiences which determine our preferences. If we are asked to focus on a crowd, KB will pick up the rugby player and I will spot the Dutch people.

What we attend to depends also on if we have seen it before. If we have seen a street lots of times, our brain says; seen that ,done that and pays no attention to it. So we remember the street the same as last time. Again we use our long time memory to fill in the details

If we are in a new situation or learn something new, we concentrate. The dopamine level in our brain goes up which is necessary for learning and we take in lots of details. We are very concious.

Emotion is also a factor as to how we experience the world. How? Say in the past we walked on a bridge and somebody scared us terribly. The brain takes in fear associated with bridge. Over the years the person forgets about the experience and it becomes unconcious. The emotion remains accessable though. So what can happens is that when the person walks on a bridge he can become highly anxious. The brain still associates fear with a bridge but the concious mind doesn't know why.

When we say we have a good fibe or a bad fibe about something or someone than the reason is probably somewhere in the unconcious.

The best start we can give our children therefore I think is giving them lots of positive ecxperiences or good fibes for later.

What do you think?