Oscar Neimeyer, the famous architect from Brazil, just died at the age of 104. Reading the news of this on the BBC, I realized that he must be the one who designed the government buildings in Brasilia, I have a photo of them here for you. It is the National Congress Building and it stirred up a memory from my childhood...
This building was pictured on the cover of my 6th grade Social Studies book and I had never seen anything like it. It looked like something from "The Jetsons" to me. When I expressed this to my teacher and also wondered what it was, she said to me, "That's a great question. Why don't you write a letter and find out, MIKE". And with that, she turned to the boy sitting in the desk next to me.
Startled, he blinked and to his credit said, "Well, it was Kay's idea.". She paid him no mind so he did as he was told and he wrote the letter. He received a very nice reply which he read out to the class telling us that it was a government building and that all the reviews of the building had been very favorable and that they were pleased to receive an inquiry from Conyers, Georgia! (And the stamp on the letter! Oh, I would so much have loved to receive it!)
You might think that I would have been upset about this, but I can't remember that to be the case. She, being a snooty kind of teacher, maybe didn't let me write the letter but it was my idea. I was the one who took notice of it and wondered what it was.
Architecture has always interested me. If I am not looking at trees and flowers, then you will find me looking at buildings!
Oh Kay, what a story!!! Isn't it funny the things that resonate with us when we were children? I often wonder what will stick in the minds of my own kids. You were right, that building DOES look like something from the Jetsons! No shocker here but I also love architecture and have often spoken of it in my New York City posts (don't know if you've seen any of those!)....I love walking architecture tours!!! So fun.
ReplyDeleteDear Audrey,
DeleteI will never forget those buildings on my Social Studies book. Most of the other kids could have cared less!
Oh yes, I have seen your NYC posts and have enjoyed them very much. Like you, I HEART NYC!
If they ever repeat a TV show from the 80's, from England, called "Six English Towns", don't miss it! (I hope that is the correct name, I am really bad at remembering titles of books and TV shows.)
I remember just being fascinated by the doorways!
What an odd and squelchy thing for a teacher to do . . . what on earth was she thinking?
ReplyDeleteWho knows? Teachers either loved me or hated me. My childish enthusiasm must have been too much for some of them.
DeleteOddly enough, I don't remember this teacher's name or even what she looked like! :-) I loved that Mike first told her it was my idea, that is the best memory of it for me.
Kay, I can't imagine a teacher doing that to you. I think that was awful. The best part is that you didn't let it "get to" you and enjoyed learning about it. I wonder if it was just because you were a girl? xo Diana
ReplyDeleteOh, see my answer to the comment above! It could have been because I was a girl, but also a girl who was not the smartest or the best-looking in the class! Luckily for me, my school friends would take up for me and that is what I remember the most.
DeleteTeachers can be bullies too.
It was indeed Oscar Niemeyer who designed not only this building but practically ALL of Brasilia when it was first built. His death and a short obituary were on the German news on telly earlier this week, that's why I know :-)
ReplyDeleteTo live to be a 104 years old, imagine that! If I'd be able to keep my mind and body relatively healthy, I wouldn't mind!
And just think how much he would have seen in his long life! When I read of his death and it showed some of his buildings, I just had to look further since I knew I would recognize the Congress buildings if I saw them again. You are right, it occurred to me that there can't be that many cities that owe so much to one architect!
DeleteIt truly does look like something straight out of the Jetsons!! That was most unfair to you. Teachers play such a pivotal role in children's lives.
ReplyDeleteIt does, doesn't it? I am still waiting to travel around George Jetson style, aren't you?
DeleteAnd pooh pooh to that teacher, it didn't bother me!
NO ONE can quelch my enthusiasm! :-)
Amazing building, and i don't blame you for being so interested as a child.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the kind of teacher who pushes the boys to achieve; to this day, studies find teachers are biased in favor of boys, especially in the math and science departments, even when they don't mean to be.
I have read the same thing myself about teachers favoring boys but having only one son, I didn't see it myself. My son takes after me, science and math, you can keep them! :-)
DeletePer your comment on my blog: idol in Hebrew is "'eliyl" (Plural is 'eliylim) which sort of rhymes with elohim (Hebrew for God - a singular plural). 'eliyl means good for nothing, worthless, nothing.
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling me this word in Hebrew. Idol=nothing.
DeleteAnyone reading this comment, you may click on the link above and read the sermons by Dennis Evans. They are always well written and I enjoy them very much.
Thank you, Dennis!
In this blog, when I was a kid one of the things I wanted to be was an architect, but I hated most modern architecture. But I was also in elementary school when Brasilia was being built and I loved it.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, isn't it, I don't really care for modern architecture either, but I quite liked these buildings in Brasilia too. When I saw this familiar building, it took me back to this childhood memory. I started not to have this as a post since it sounded so whiny, but all of this happened, so I decided to post it.
DeleteThanks for commenting!
Why on earth would the teacher do such a thing, Kay? That's awful. Yes, teachers can be bullies, too. Sadly.
ReplyDeleteWell, it served to tell a good story to my son when HE had a few teachers who were unfair. I tried to remember everything from my childhood if it could help in my son's upbringing, even if it wasn't always good!
Delete:-)
What an odd response. Lucky that you were able to remain positive about it. Some kids might have been completely crushed.
ReplyDelete