Culture Shock; Thursday, Period 2 [03/28].

[somethingwithturquoise]

Did….did the teachers go ahead and have the students head to the Danger Shop this week just so they could sit in a simulated version of a classroom that was nearly identical to the classrooms throughout the entire school?

Yes. Yes, they did. Summer thought it was hilarious, and she figured it would be even more so if the students wound up spending the entire class period waiting for rancors or giant floating heads or magical unicorns to burst through. Which they wouldn't.

It was a metaphor, you see, for disappointing expectations. Just like real life!

"A common question that you'll probably ask yourself a lot in school," Summer started, from where she'd perched herself cross-legged on top of the desk in front of the 'classroom', "is 'when are we ever, like, going to even use this stuff?'"

"Especially," Kanan noted, from where he was leaning back against the same desk, arms crossed over his chest, "when the school you're learning things in is this one. Not every class is exactly steeped in academia, here. Unless you figure you're going to be watching movies-" he didn't say holos, he was kinda proud of himself, "-for a living, or looking into a career modeling or..." He uncrossed his arms just to wave a hand around, vaguely. "... Going into business selling catapults made out of popsicle sticks, most of what you're picking up here probably seems pointless."

At least at the temple, he'd learned life lessons that would've been relevant to a Jedi. If, uh, if that hadn't gone right to hell on him.

"But it is possible," Summer said. "I mean, would I ever have imagined that learning how to make jello would be a key component in what I'd be doing after I graduated? Not in a million years, and yet, here we are. It's great if you already know what you're going to be doing after school; that way, you can really look at what you're learning with a critical eye and see what to take with you. But if you're anything like me at your age," Summer, you were eighteen, "you have no idea what you're going to do with your future, which puts you in a unique position to discover something really wonderful."

...like jello!

"Hell, I still don't know what I'm going to do with I grow up," Kanan quipped, grinning crookedly. Because there was no way he was talking about any of it in front of the class. Easier to make a joke of it - and of himself - than talk about evil empires, and all. "And you don't have to, either. But today we'd like you to take a look at the foundations that Fandom has given you, and look at possible future paths you can take when you go home. Think about how you can apply your experiences here to help you with your futures."

"And maybe," added Summer, "some of the things you're pretty sure you won't be needed, though you might surprise yourself. Something that seems pretty useless now might turn out to be a big help some day."

Like jello!

Dollar Store Arts and Crafts, Thursday, Period 1

[geniuswithasmartphone]

Today, the table was spread out with crayons and paraffin, mostly, though there were also lengths of string, shot glasses, plastic molds and even...eggs?

Okay then.

"Now then, most of the time, you want a candle, you just go buy a candle," Hardison said with a smile. "Other times, though, maybe you don't have that option. Maybe you need somethin' that'll burn for awhile an' all you have are crayon. Crayons are just wax an' color, so you can definitely set a crayon on fire an it'll burn, but if you got time an' wanna make somethin' pretty an kinda fun, then you can make a candle outta crayons."

At each work station was an electric hotplate with a double boiler resting on it. The bottom of the double boiler was filled with simmering water, and the top was empty, waiting for the students to add their crayons.

"Now, you can make a taper candle the old-fashioned way," Hardison explained, holding a bit of waxed string over a deep container of colored wax. "You dip the string into the wax, pull it up, let it cool for a few moments usually by dippin' it into cool water, then dip it again. This allows layers of wax to form, turnin' it into a tapered candle. You can do different layers of different colors an' once the candle is wide enough, you can even decorate it, either by added little accents, like beads somethin', or by carvin' it."

He set that aside to finish later, and continued on. "Your next option is poured candles, which you get by - you guessed it - pourin' melted wax into molds an' lettin' them harden that way. You've got a number of different mold options available to you to try an' experiment with. Just break up your crayons, add some paraffin to make sure it's smooth an' plenty waxy, an' let them melt together. You can also add a few drops of essential oils if you wanted to make a scented candle. Then pour, experiment, an' decorate."