Bureaucracy by Eileen (August 26, 2016)

There was a new building built over this last year at Dalat called the CASTLE.  It is really nice - three stories, lots of windows, open-air hallways.  It is the largest building on campus so it fits its name that way, but its name is also an acronym for 'Center for the Arts (art classrooms), Sciences (science labs), Technology (computer labs and tech offices are there), Library, and Educational Services' (learning assistance and E.S.L. teachers as well as counsellors are there including Garth's office).  It is right across the courtyard from my classroom.  One unexpected thing I like is that I can see out my classroom window when my students are starting to come out of their Specials (library or art or computer class) and go to meet them at the bottom of the stairs to lead them back to our classroom.

The building was completed in July though occupancy was not officially allowed until the day before school started (August 3rd).  One implication for how this affected us this past summer was that we had no library for the summer (end of May until the beginning of August) as this is the only library in Penang that is usable for us.  That was pretty hard as all of us love to read, but we managed.

About a week ago (August 20th or so) I saw some workers painting yellow parking lines on the sidewalk about 15 feet over from the CASTLE.  These lines were being painted in front of where the Junior Class store is, which is a building beside the CASTLE.  These lines are like a grid and looked like motorcycle parking though why they would be in a thoroughfare where elementary students walk back and forth to the playground and where people line up for the Junior Class store - I couldn't figure that out.  Did the Junior Class want one person in each rectangle and then call them over when their drink is ready?  Is it for a new children's game?  I couln't reason it through so I just put it out of my mind and hoped we would find out one day.

The Dalat Newsletter this week cleared it up.  Here is the story:

Are those new motorcycle parking spaces in the elementary school drop off and pick up area?

Yes and no. Yes, they are motorcycle parking spaces, and no, those spaces are not going to be filled with motorcycles. As part of the city paperwork process for the CASTLE building we needed to paint them. In the long term they will be moved to the front of campus, but for now, this was the best location to place them.

Let's paint motorcycle parking spots some random place, but at least it fulfills building code :)