Oh the Humanity!: Friendship is International Adventure, Thursday, period 1

[locointhecoco]

"Bonjour!" Pinkie greeted as the students gathered for class, today. "Bienvenue à nouveau chaque poney! Aujourd'hui, nous allons à une belle ville en Afrique de l'Ouest . Espérons que vous avez tous brossé votre français!"

Because, sure, why wouldn't the creature from a universe that literally doesn't have a France speak French?

"Yeah, in case ya didn't follow that," Eliot said. "Today we're headed to West Africa, specifically Senegal, which was colonized primarily by the French. So that's their official language."

"Une belle langue pour un beau pays!" said Pinkie.

"You gonna be doin' that all day?"

"Oui!"

Eliot sighed. "Right. Well, we've got phrasebooks for everyone who isn't randomly fluent. We'll be hitting the capital city of Dakar, where you're reasonably likely to be able to find someone who speaks English. But, uh. Try not to wander too far off the beaten track."

"Je pense que vous allez aimer Dakar. Il semble si plein d'histoire et de la culture et des musées et il y a un zoo! Très amusant!"

"You sound like an online translator," Eliot said.

"Allons-y!"

Around the World in Sixteen Challenges, Thursday, April 7, 2016

[sith_happened]

"Welcome to Beijing," Anakin said, speaking loudly to be heard over the traffic as the class stood in Tiananmen Square. "This is China, the most populous country on this planet."

"This country has a long and storied history, as one of the great cultural centers of this planet," Obi-Wan continued. "There are relics of this past to be found everywhere - but its future appears equally bright and visible, in its way."

"In its way?" Anakin echoed, tilting his head at Obi-Wan.

"The local manufacturing culture has been rather brutal," Obi-Wan said lightly, "It remains to be seen if the future is as bright for certain classes as it is for the richer locals. Though I suppose that is true everywhere."

"Ahh," Anakin said, expression clearing slightly. "Today we're going to have you running around and learning about the culture of this country," via slightly embarrassing activities, as usual--"and we look forward to seeing you all at the end. Do not get into trouble here. You don't want to experience their criminal justice system. At all."

"But I am sure we can rely on you to be good," Obi-Wan said wryly. "Please. Go on. May the Force be with you."

Defending Yourself Against Magic | Friday, period 2

[nuclear_snide]

"So far," Bob said, in full-on lecture mode, "we've dealt with a number of potential dangers and responses. Now, while getting to blow up things that are trying to blow you up can be incredibly cathartic, sometimes the greatest danger isn't other things."

He rolled his eyes. "If I had a dollar for every time I've seen someone get into danger, then overexert themselves and get into even more trouble...well, let's just say that Harry wouldn't need to work to pay his rent. Even if I just used him as an example."

He shook his head. "Never mind. The point is, you need to know precisely what you can and can't do, what your limits are, and how not to reach them. Even the most seemingly effortless magic takes a toll over time, and small magics can build up. Sustaining a spell or ability takes additional energy, too. And it all has to come from somewhere. Unless you're doing nasty things to get it, which I do not recommend, it mostly comes from or is channeled by you."

Looking over the class, he shrugged. "Since I can't really ask you all to push yourselves to sheer exhaustion as an experiment, I'll just suggest that you work at finding out what you can comfortably do. Do it on your own, or I'm happy to help. What we're going to learn today are methods to counteract or extend those limits. Namely, feed yourself properly, get enough sleep, work regularly with your magic the same way you would a muscle, and above all exercise a bit of common sense, which goes a very long way in any sort of defence.

"So. Any questions?"