Danny's Spreadsheet

As a teacher one of the most difficult decisions  is determining the best way to format lesson plans.  Sometimes principals will want one thing, and you as a teacher want another.  Most teachers want their content to be organized, elegant, and easily accessible; but usually the easiest thing to do is to jot down notes in a word processor. Don’t even mention the hassle of documenting all of the standards, learning results, and educational targets that school districts the world over are so fond of heaping upon teachers.

Excel guru,  math teacher extraordinaire, and NICS missionary Danny Whittaker has created a MS Excel template to help even the most disorganized planners organize their course content.  He’s incorporated buttons and macros into the template so adding classes and new days is nearly seamless process. He’s a former colleague of mine, and he’s gladly given me permission to distribute the form on my site.

During setup, you will need to enter your classes and your school’s academic calendar.  If you had difficulty doing this, Mr. Whittaker has even included an e-mail address in the file and he’s more than willing to answer questions and offer limited support.

Download it here!

Danny Whittaker’s Lesson Plans 2009-10 Template (MS Excel 2007)

One affordable and fun alternative is called Ubuntu. With a name derived from the Bantu word for unity and togetherness, Ubuntu is a computing environment based upon the Linux operating system. Its development has been funded mostly as an act of charity by South African entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth.

Aside from the cost, another benefit of Ubuntu is that it operates under the free software philosophy. This doesn’t mean “free” as in getting something for nothing, although that is usually the case. It means “free” as in you are free to modify and distribute it in any way that helps you or your organization. Almost all Linux source code is free to download.  This means the technically minded can completely reprogram, modify, or distribute the software. In Windows, the first that you do is click on a EULA (you know, that long scrolly text thing) saying that you won’t modify their software. Moreover, most non-Linux operating systems are licensed in such a way that you pay a per computer fee.  In Windows, if your computer breaks down and you replace it, you might have to buy the exact same version of Windows that you previously used. With Ubuntu, system administrators can install the software on as many computers as they need.

Using Ubuntu isn’t quite as easy as using Windows or Apple OSX.  When I use laptops I have experienced hardware compatibility issues, and I have had  to search for fixes.  For instance, early versions of Ubuntu required specialized software to make use or WiFi cards, and I’ve had slight issues with graphics cards. Fortunately, there are thousands of other Ubuntu users that participate in forum discussions and have many of the same problems in the Ubuntu Forums.  After a day or two, there has never been a problem that I haven’t been able to fix.

Ubuntu comes bundled with all of the software that you’ll need for day-to-day tasks. Open Office is a replacement for Microsoft Office. It’s not quite as slick as Office 2007; but if you’re still using Office 2003 or Office XP, you might even like Open Office better. Banshee and Rhythmbox work in the same way that Windows Media Player and iTunes work.  Moreover, the Ubuntu media players won’t install digital rights management on your movies and songs.  This means there will be no limit on the devices that you can use and the number of back-ups that you can make. Due to some patent issues, installing DVD playback requires a few extra steps, but it is an easy process.

In a school environment, the Edubuntu add-on disc can be installed and you’ll have a full featured array of educational software to use. There are games for kids as young as three, educational networking features, research tools, music composition software, as well as mind mapping and note taking tools.

Similar to Mac OSX, the one thing that you can’t do with Ubuntu is play the latest 3D games. You also can’t use certain proprietary programs such as iTunes. However, in a school setting that is a benefit and not a detriment.

The best way experience Ubuntu is to try it yourself.  In order to start using Ubuntu, you can go to the official site and download a CD image.  This comes in a special file called an .iso which you burn to a disc.  You can then stick it in your CD/DVD slot and reboot your computer. Having the disc in the drive will “boot to CD.”  From this point it will load a version of Ubuntu directly from the CD. If you like the environment and it seems to work on your computer, you can follow the menus and install.  If you select the dual boot option, you can select from either your original operating system or Ubuntu each time you boot your computer.

If you become a Ubuntu wiz, your entire computing experience will change. You’ll feel liberated from using Microsoft, the setup process will help you learn about your computer in new ways, and you will have the option to use a greater variety of software that is more flexible than what is offered for Windows and Apple OSX.

Visit the official website, and give Ubuntu a try.

Download Ubuntu

]]> http://www.cullenhartley.com/2009/07/ubuntu-the-best-operating-system-for-educators/feed/ 0 http://www.cullenhartley.com/2009/07/basic-sentence-diagramming-quick-reference/ http://www.cullenhartley.com/2009/07/basic-sentence-diagramming-quick-reference/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:03:09 +0000 cullenhartley http://www.cullenhartley.com/?p=507

Sentence diagramming is a valuable tool to help students visually represent the structures of sentences. It’s true that it is not essential. There are many people who comprehend the deep structures of the English language that do not know how to diagram, but everyone who understands diagramming understands basic grammar.

However, one road that I’ve crossed in my instruction is how to grade diagrams. Often time students understand the grammar, but they forget the diagramming technique.  As a teacher, I had to ask myself whether to deduct points for small mistakes.  The conclusion that I’ve reached is that when presenting tests containing diagrams, I should allow my students to utilize a reference guide that reminds them of the sentence diagramming forms.  This allows me to use diagramming as a way to determine if the students are understanding grammar, and I don’t have to deduct points for mistakes in diagramming technique.

This chart uses the Reed-Kellogg system.

I’ve created a basic sentence diagramming chart. In the coming weeks, I’ll make one for advanced concepts.

I’ve uploaded the chart in both OpenOffice.org 3.0 and PDF formats. Feel free to modify and distribute this material.

Basic Sentence Diagramming Chart (PDF)

Basic Sentence Diagramming Chart (OpenOffice.org 3.0)

As an English teacher, I spend hours each month smacking my hand against my head as I see grammatical errors made in school publications and student work. Many of these errors are small and would be prevented with just a little more instruction or attention to detail.

Earlier this year, it was my privilege to attend a class conducted by Simon James Sharp, a textbook editor for Macmillan Publishing.  He claimed that professionals in the publishing industry face the same problems that English teachers face, inconsistent and erroneous writing.

Simon Sharp revealed that one small step publishers take to help this problem is to create an in-house editorial style guide. A style guide provides a quick reference for expectations concerning punctuation, grammar, and document formatting. Just as teachers might not comb through a grammar textbook each time they send parent correspondence, it is doubtful that professional authors and academics will look through a five-hundred page Chicago Manual of Style. However, both groups might look through a ten page quick reference sheet.

In order to help remedy the problem of erroneous writing in Christian schools, I’ve created a simple style guide that will help educators review stylistic expectations for professional writing.  Ideally, such a reference would be consulted when students complete work, teachers create assignments, and administrators send memos.  If the entire school is making a concerted effort to create consistent professional correspondence, it will inevitably filter down to increased student achievement in language arts.

Before going further, I should note what specifically makes this a Christian document. First, many of the rules contained in it are from the Grammar and Composition series, one of the most used textbook collections in Christian schools. Second, it contains sections on using spiritual language.

I’ve uploaded three versions of my hand-dandy little guide.I recommend downloading the PDF version unless you intend to make changes. Feel free to download the OpenOffice or Word formats and edit it before distributing it to your particular organization. It has a Creative Commons 3.0: Attribution, noncommercial, share-alike license; and I enjoy it when people use my material.

Style Guide for Christian Schools (PDF)

Style Guide for Christian Schools (OpenOffice Format)

Style Guide for Christian Schools (Office XP)

]]> http://www.cullenhartley.com/2009/06/style-guide-for-christian-schools/feed/ 0 http://www.cullenhartley.com/2009/05/american-vs-british-spelling/ http://www.cullenhartley.com/2009/05/american-vs-british-spelling/#comments Mon, 25 May 2009 11:00:01 +0000 cullenhartley http://www.cullenhartley.com/?p=473

At the school where I teach, one of the reoccurring questions in the English department is whether a teacher should deduct points when students use British spelling in essays. For me, the answer is absolutely not! Students in international schools are shuffled from school to school and system to system; it is wrong to penalize students for doing what they’ve been taught.

As a teacher, I do sometimes have difficulty remembering the differences between British and American spelling. In a red-eyed marathon though a stack of essays, I have accidentally deducted points for students that use an opposite-side-of-the-Atlantic spelling technique.

Recently I came across a fantastic chart by Susan Jones that outlines the differences between American and British spelling. I asked the site administrator, Georgia State University Professor H. Patricia Byrd, for permission to adapt the chart to my website. She responded, “Of course.”

Perhaps this will help me make fewer mistakes. I hope that it helps other English teachers as well.

I’ve uploaded the chart in both Word 2007 and PDF versions.

American vs. British Spelling (Word 2007)

American vs. British Spelling (PDF)

Before 2005′s big property boom, nearly all Western foreigners lived in pristine condos or downtown apartments.  After the en bloc madness was over, all but the richest foreigners were forced to move into Singapore’s HDB littered heartland.  My journey over the past four years has been from a three bedroom apartment at Mt. Emily, to a rented room near Pasir Panjang, to a two bedroom HDB in Clementi.  The roughest part is that I’m still paying the same rent!

During this transition, my workout venue is perhaps the only aspect of my life that has become more convenient and affordable. When I first arrived in Singapore, I was lured by the wild promotions and flashing signs of California Fitness.  The advertisements told of free complementary visits and sessions with a personal trainer.  The reality is that you only get the complementary visit if you sit through their sales spiel, and the free session with a personal trainer is just a commercial for more sessions with a personal trainer.  During the trainer’s high pressure sale, he poked my belly and said, “You like burgers, eh??!”  Shocked and naive, I was hoping that he’d just check my form on some of the workout machines and help me write down a good training schedule.

The California Fitness sales scheme was secretive and inexcusable.  I wanted a piece of paper that listed the their standard rates.  Instead they pounded me with questions and attempted to extort every last dollar.  Knowing full well that most people don’t go to the gym that often, they entice you with overpriced four year, three year, and two year plans available in not-very-different gold, silver, and platinum levels.  I eventually settled on a one year plan for something in the ballpark of sixty U.S. dollars a month.  After my first year I regretted my decision and canceled.

After I moved to HDB territory, I learned that there’s a better realm of fitness available in Singapore.  These small gyms are typically located near community sports centers and go by the name ClubFitt.

At a ClubFitt, there’s no pressure to join, and the pricing schemes are reasonable.  Adults can pay $2.50 per visit or the more ambitious can buy a six month membership for $170 (Those prices are Singapore dollars). There are bargain memberships available for seniors, students, and those willing to go at off-peak hours.

The environment is wholesome, but still tough enough to take fitness seriously.  Rather than the Spandex clad tai-tais and business high-rollers of the California Fitness set, ClubFitts will have buff National Servicemen working side-by-side with aerobic aunties.

If you have a question about the fitness equipment, there’s always a staff member willing to answer.  They will never pressure you to pay an extra fee.  There’s also plenty of equipment to use, and I usually have to wait less time than I did at the more expensive Orchard Road California Fitness.

There are, however, a few drawbacks. First, the rules are quite strict.  I’m not allowed to carry my water bottle with me and I have to leave it on a shelf outside the gym. For sanitation reasons, you are also required to carry a small towel at all times.  If you should forget your towel, the staff will force you to go buy a dollar towel from their counter.  The shower room, which I rarely use, is old and dingy.

The Singapore Sports Council makes a PDF available that provides comprehensive information about the ClubFitt gyms scattered around the island.

ClubFitt Gym Directory

If that link doesn’t work, more information can be found at the Singapore Sports Council’s official website.

Singapore Sports Council

International schools are some of the finest educational institutions in the world.  Wealthy families send their children to places like the Singapore American School or United World College; and their kids have chances to use the most advanced equipment, participate in international sporting events, and prepare for the Ivy League.  Yet there are drawbacks for some students, but many of these problems can be solved by selecting a school that has a Christian focus over the typical, worldly-wise international school.

This leads to the question:  Who should choose an international Christian education?

1. Students that need extra support

International Christian schools tend to be smaller, and class sizes often hover around fifteen students.  Just as Jesus taught that every person matters, from the outcast leper to the poorest farmer, teachers at international schools believe that every child matters.  In contrast, some elite international schools pride themselves on high standardized test scores.  These schools also have long waiting lists.  If a student gets to secondary school and it looks like his test score won’t measure up, they’ll often ignore that student and hope he leaves.  The typical rate of stay at an international school is around two years.  If your child doesn’t perform, there’s a rotating door of others that might. At international Christian schools there is an emphasis on the whole child; we care about more than just test scores.

I’ve seen students diagnosed with ADHD, Asperger’s disorder, and dyslexia thrive when placed in an international Christian school. At their previous schools they felt marginalized, but in an international Christian setting they felt loved. As a consequence, they were better educated and became well-rounded people.

2. Families with a sense of humility

At many international schools you’ll see BMWs and Ferrari’s in the after school pick-up line; maids tuck lunch bags into the backpacks of little ones; students brandish branded watches; and Spring Break trips to Cannes and the Alps.

At an international Christian school, you will have a smattering of wealth here and there, but there will also be an equal amount of middle class humility. Many of the students will be the children of pastors and missionaries.  School trips won’t be nearly so ostentatious.  They will usually be to budget locations or designed to facilitate service to the poor. Like any private school, there are moments of perks and privileges, but teaching entitlement and elitism is never the intention.

3. Families that want to protect their children from drugs

I once met a successful publisher who had his start teaching in a wealthy Hong Kong international school. He reported that rich kids often snort cocaine between classes, and the school administration has no financial incentive to stop it. No sane parent will want to send their kid to that environment.

Moreover, relaxed drinking laws in overseas settings lead to a legal, underground drinking and party culture in many international schools.  Most international Christian schools have rules and expectations to the contrary- and these rules are enforced.

4) The children of missionaries, pastors, and Bible college professors

Many Christian international schools were started to help the families of missionaries and pastors. In addition to helping the pastor’s ministry by allowing the children of different religious leaders to share the common experience of growing up, international Christian schools often offer discounts and scholarships to these families.

5) Home schoolers that need advanced classes

The process of homeschooling is something many families cherish, but unless the parents are scholars there are limits to the process.  In a home school environment, parents can prepare better fields trips, deliver more individualized instruction, and adapt schedules to the students’ circadian rhythm.  However, senior level Anatomy and Calculus require professional instructors and mastering competitive sports requires competition.   International Christian schools will reinforce the Christian values of most home school parents and deliver excellent higher level instruction to the students.

6) Parents that spurn relativism

Since the Modern Age, many people have given up on truth.  Either they feel that truth doesn’t exist or it is too hard to discern.  This leads to many throwing up their hands and reaching the contradictory conclusion that “everybody’s right” about the moral, ethical, and religious diliemmas of the day.  Most Christian schools are certified through an organization called the Association of Christian School International (ACSI). All teachers credentialed through this organization must write a philosophy statement detailing their understanding of truth and God’s Word.  There is a diversity of opinion within the organization, but the reality is that if a teacher thinks that there is no truth, that all religions are the same, or that “everybody’s right,” then he won’t be allowed to teach at a Christian school.

It doesn’t happen often, but last week I had an argument with another teacher.  The incident was over a minor playground protocol issue. I made the controversial judgment call to bend the rules a bit, and in response the other teacher stonewalled and refused to dialog. She felt undermined by my actions, and I felt like she did not treat me as an equal.  The situation ended with her sending me a harsh e-mail, and me, sucking it up, and apologizing profusely. What I’m not afraid to admit now is that teachers, not just students, can learn things on the playground.

The whole thing is now “water under the bridge,”and we both, at least, have a mutual understanding of why we acted the way that we did. I would probably forget the whole thing if it wasn’t for something in that harsh e-mail: an insulting name.  No, it wasn’t some four letter profanity or not-fit-to-print derogatory label.  As my grandma Inez might have said, “just a little dig.”

The next morning at a prayer meeting I told another teacher, a father of five, that my feelings were hurt because of this label.  Not wanting to gossip, I didn’t share any details.  (I’ve spilled more beans on this blog post than I did to that teacher.)

I felt assured when this well respected teacher told me not to worry about it.  He reminded me that often times people say things out of anger, but when correction truly comes from God it will be gentle and caring. God corrects us like a good father corrects his children, only in the worst situations (not a playground debate) will correction be direct and humiliating. It’s tough to remember a time when my own father used harsh language against me, and I can recall several Bible verses that speak against using such language.  Take Colossians 3:21 that tells Fathers not to embitter their children; or consider the many Proverbs that do label people foolish, but always provide a wise alternative.

However, after reflecting upon this advice, I began to feel bad again.  Not because of anything other teachers have done to me, but because of what I have done to my students over the tears. You see, I have called students names similar to what that fellow teacher called me.  Think about labels like immature, irresponsible, and (only once or twice) stupid.

If I were in a court-of-law I’m sure that I could justify a case for any one of these labels.  Eleven and twelve year old kids do act immature.  When a student forgets homework or school uniform several times in the same month, it is irresponsible.  And the “stupid” kid was running around the community in school uniform doing something so embarrassing that my boss would discipline me if I described it online.

Yet, after a little reflection, I realize that when I chastise kids using labels, it rarely helps the situation.   At its worst it reinforces the label and gives an internal justification for the kids to carry on with their inappropriate behavior.

In Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence he describes the phenomenon in detail:

Criticisms are voiced as personal attacks rather than complaints that can be acted upon… It leaves the person feeling helpless and angry… From the vantage point of emotional intelligence, such criticism displays an ignorance of the feelings it will trigger in those who receive it, and the devastating effect those feelings will have on their motivation, energy, and confidence to do their work.

Another blogger further describes the consequences of insults:

“Did you put away your backpack?” means “I know you didn’t put away the backpack.”  It’s worse when mom doesn’t even bother to check, she just knows it.  That drives kids bananas.  “What is it about me that you just assume I don’t do anything right?”  What it is, of course, is history– he hasn’t done it the past 20 times.  Kids are empiricists though not statisticians. Past is a qualitative, not quantitative variable: if you don’t check now, then you can’t know now.

The kid thinks, mom just assumes I do things wrong.  Ultimately, this means he stops trying.

Perhaps I am being a bit too sensitive, but I do now understand that strong criticism works to create a negative reality more than a positive one. Every time I even mildly criticize a student without placing more emphasis on a solution, I am sabotaging their “motivation, energy, and confidence.”

In the book of James it says that the “tongue is like the rudder of a ship.”  In the past, I have always believed this, but I assumed that the ship was my own life.  Thanks to this incident, I now realize that, at least for teachers, the ships are the lives of our students.

Purchase Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman through my Amazon Affiliates program.

If you move from America to Singapore, your paycheck will have a larger number.  However, that doesn’t mean that you’re making more money.  The typical exchange rate between Singapore (S$) and US($) currencies is between 1.4 and 1.6. That means that one Singapore dollar will get you approximately seventy cents. Even if you account for the exchange rate, there are some products that are still more expensive in Singapore.

If you’re American, don’t buy the following products in Singapore:

1) High End Laptops

Last week I was at a blogger event sponsored by Claudia Lim’s 24Seven social networking company.  On display was a fabulous Lenovo w700.  I drooled over its gargantuan seventeen-inch monitor, Intel Core 2 Duo Processor,  integrated color calibration tools, and in-built stylus.  Dreaming, I wanted to check the price of this laptop.  My jaw dropped when I saw that Lenovo Singapore’s list price is S$8,000!  I checked the U.S. website.  The same laptop can be purchased in the US for $3,369.  The exchange rate is not 2.4; someone is gouging laptop prices.

But I don’t want to single out Lenovo, most of the brands do the same thing.  I was considering getting a Gateway P7805 FX series laptop here in Singapore until I realized I could save $500 if I waited until I returned to the US.  Some of my friends use Macs, and, unless they received the Ministry of Education discount, they face similar price problems.

The conclusion: don’t buy high performance laptops in Singapore.  The mark-up on some laptops is high enough that you could buy a plane ticket to the U.S. and purchase your computer for roughly the same price. In Singapore you can, however, buy mid-tier laptops like Acer with confidence that you’re getting a good deal.

2) Cake Mixes

Singaporeans don’t bake very often.  Even the most dutiful housewives that I’ve met at church don’t bake like Americans. They steam, stir-fry, and boil; but Singapore’s climate doesn’t lend itself to baking.  Consequently, baking supplies are difficult to find.  If you want cake mixes, you’ll need to visit specialty shops or the Cold Storage in Great World City. Expect to pay twice as much for Betty Crocker as you would in the States, and the selection will be varied and seasonal.

The solution: Buy a few of your family’s favorite mixes before coming to Singapore. Throwing a few boxes into your suitcase or shipping container will save you money and get you exactly what you want.

3) Video Games

Video games sold all over the world are region encoded.  Because electronics companies want greater control of their devices and they want to reduce competition, a game purchased in Singapore probably won’t work on a gaming machine purchased in the US, Japan, or Europe.

Video games tend to be more expensive in Singapore.  Of course prices vary, but at one time a Nintendo Wii cost S$700 in Singapore but cost only $250 in the United States.

The U.S. also has a flourishing used market that is hard to find in Singapore.  Most titles over a year or two old can be purchased at GameStop for less than $20.  You’re incredibly lucky if you find something like that in Singapore.

There is one exception, most Playstation 3 titles aren’t region encoded.  This might give your family some leeway if you’re frequently moving around.

4) Mid- Range Brands

Several brands, notably Coach, Nine West, and Timberland, have miraculously convinced the Singaporean people that they are upscale and designer.  Expect to pay  upscale and designer prices at shops with these brands.  In the States no one sees these mid-tier brands as top-of-the-line, and you will pay half of what Singaporeans pay if you check the J.C. Penny sales rack or a Midwest outlet mall.

5) American Beef

The mad cow scare of a few years ago got all of the Asians worked up and put the Korean and Australian beef lobbies into overdrive.  Today in Singapore the vast majority of beef is Australian. Botak Jones is one of the few outlets bold enough to serve USDA beef, but if you want it elsewhere you’ll have to go places like the hundred-dollar-a-plate Morton’s of Chicago.

The solution: Go to Malaysia where they’re a little more laid back.  Right across from Woodland’s checkpoint is a TGI Friday’s that serves all of the American beef that you can fit in your belly.

Explore the beautiful coastline and sprawling shop houses of Malacca.

When you mention the word “Singapore” to your typical, C-in-Geography American, images of 1970s National Geographic photos of Asians on bikes, easy going, arts-and-crafts peddlers in colonial shop houses, and old aunties serving head-intact duck specialties flood their mind.  The real Singapore is a modern, pan-island megapolis where you’re more likely to see a Starbucks patron with a laptop than any of these anachronisms. Fortunately, Malacca, Malaysia, is just a short bus ride from Singapore and a place where the old world dreams of misguided Americans can be realized.

Getting There

The most inexpensive way to get to Malacca is to take a bus.  Even though I was going on the busiest possible holiday, I was able to stop by the Queen Street Bus Terminal near Bugis and purchase a ticket for less than thirty dollars. Unfortunately you can’t buy a round-trip ticket, but I’m assured that return tickets to Singapore are typically plentiful and affordable.  However, because my trip was during the last day of the Chinese New Year public holiday, I had to scrounge for a return ticket.  I eventually found a pricey one ($48) through Luxury Tours and Travels.

From Chinese New Year – Malacca and Singapore

From Chinese New Year – Malacca and Singapore

From Chinese New Year – Malacca and Singapore

Accomodation

My accommodations were right in the middle of Malacca’s historic district at the family-owned Tang House. The facilities were quaint and affordable.  For only RM35 (S$15) I got a one night’s stay, internet access, and a toast-and-egg breakfast.  My tiny room did have an aircon, and the sheets and floor were fairly clean. (Even people traveling with a family can get cheap rates at this place; a triple room costs only RM 70 a night.)

The Shop Houses

I didn’t have to worry about being bored in Malacca. Getting lost among the shop houses and talking to all of the eccentric artists provided hours of interesting entertainment. Hillary took us to her friend’s new art and t-shirt shop, the Baboon House. Located on Heeren Street, the Baboon House has a cafe and showcases art by Malaysian artist Ro Ger.

Along Jalan Tan Cheng Lock, I chanced upon the art gallery of Jehan Chan, one of Malaysia’s national artists. Mr. Chan, an artist for over 30 years, paints two different types of subjects: seascapes and koi. The koi are drawn in a realistic and colorful perspectives; the seascapes tend to be cubist renditions of Malacca’s shoreline.
The friendliest artist that I met was named Stanley Ho. An aging vegetarian that watercolors in his rundown shop, Mr. Ho will stop and talk to you for hours.  He’ll tell stories and share how Malacca has changed.  An inquisitive person, he’s not shy about asking you the details of your own life.

Another reason to visit Malacca is its rich religious history.  A Jesuit priest names Francis Xavier is a legend in the community.  A statue of him sits next to the ruins of a church that he founded, and few things will give you a better sense of history than gazing upon the tombstones of the early colonists.  If you ask locals, you can hear far fetched tales about St. Francis. My friend Hillary told me a story about a ship that was once caught in a tumultuous storm.  Rather than panicking like the sailors, Father Xavier prayed for the sea to calm.  Sometime during the night, he dropped a cross into the ocean. After safely landing ashore, Francis saw a crab carrying his cross. In turn he blessed the crab and released it to the sea.  To this day, apparently, the crabs in Malacca have crosses on their back.In addition to Catholicism, Malacca has Christ Church, a century’s old Protestant church still in operation, and I also visited an interesting museum about how the area obtained its Islamic heritage.

Before you leave Malacca, there are certain dishes that you must try.  Along Jonker Street just a stone’s throw from the Tang House, is an unnamed restaurant that serves the most savory bowl of laksa. The flavors are stronger and the vegetables are fresher than anything you will be served in Singapore.  I was also very fond of the chicken rice balls, a dish exclusive to the area but available at many restaurants.

I was able to visit Malacca after Hillary, the gal who blogs at Precious Living.com, invited me to her family’s Chinese New Year party. I felt that it was an honor to be invited because in many families only relatives attend these reunions. Hillary’s family was open and hospitable; Hillary’s friend Nadia and her boyfriend Nic Khoo were there as well.  It was a thrill to see Malacca and spend the holiday with them.

Additional Resources

A Tourist Map of Malacca