#k yon

[yonphilia]

HI HRU BABES 🫶 i hope you're doing well mwahhhh kisses <3

HIIII K BB!!! I AM WELL THANK U🫶🏼🤭😨🩷 i am going to a basketball match rn💆🏽‍♀️ and thinking of a new theme while m at it! BUT HOW BOUT U?? HOW HAVE U BEEN??? mwah mwah smooches for u <3 💋

[direktoriku]

Why Do You Love Me (Yok K.) - Yon K.

[tembanglawas]

Andaikan (Yon K.) - Yok K. & Yon K.

[amirazat]

I’ve seen a few K@taang fans say that Aang telling Katara to forgive Yon Rha in The Southern Raiders is a parallel to Katara helping Aang leave the Avatar State. I really don’t like this take, for a simple reason:

The Avatar State is a supernatural uncontrollable rage. Katara’s anger is not.

On multiple occasions, Aang states that he regrets his actions while in the Avatar state, and he doesn’t like feeling out of control in that way. We even see his rational spirit’s reaction to the Avatar State when it detaches from Aang’s body to speak to Roku in “The Avatar State”.

Aang wants to be stopped when he is in this state. When Katara reaches out to him, she is not trying to change his mind, she is trying to allow his rational mind to regain control. She is giving him agency, not denying him agency.

By contrast, while Katara is angry in The Southern Raiders, we’re never told that her rational faculties aren’t still operational. She’s determined. Not possessed.

At no point does Katara say that she regrets acting in anger. Instead, we see her exercise judgement and mercy even when face to face with the man she saw kill her mother.

This is not someone who is out of control.

(Not that she necessarily would have been out of control if she did kill him.)

The fact that Katara wasn’t out of control and didn’t need to be stopped is further reinforced by the fact that, unlike Aang who agonises over his actions in the Avatar State after the fact, Katara doesn’t express regret at her actions or relief that she didn’t kill Yon Rha. Instead she re-states her initial position that she will not forgive him.

All of this makes Katara’s anger at Yon Rha very different from the Avatar State. She is in control of her actions and does not want or need to be stopped. Trying to stop her isn’t helping to reassert her own control over her actions, it’s questioning her active decisions. It’s denying her agency instead of enabling it.

An emotional woman is not the same thing as an irrational or out of control one.

[the-badger-mole]

Walk Around In Circles

Katara couldn't explain it. the sense of deja vu she got around Zuko. The moment he stepped off the boat and his eyes clashed with her furious glare, it felt familiar. Like she'd been waiting her entire life for this confrontation. But if Zuko felt it, he didn't let on. His focus arrow sharp on Aang.

The next time she felt it, she'd been tied to a tree. That part was new. What felt familiar was his pleas for understanding, and her ire at his audacity. The nerve of him! Still putting his pride and his country's valor over what was right.

Still?

Katara's anger was forgotten in that instant. What did still mean? The question was promptly chased away from her mind when he dangled her dearest treasure, her mother's necklace before her face. She had never been here before. She didn't recognize the uncertainty behind Zuko's bravado. She did not want to take his hand and lead him away from his foolish pursuit. She just wanted her mother's necklace back, and if she had to pry it from his cold dead fingers, she would.

Two times, a cave sent her reeling. The first time, was when she heard about them. Oma and Shu. Two lovers divided by the animosity of their people. What had they been fighting about, Katara had wondered. What was so important that Shu had to die before it could be resolved? Was was so unimportant that Oma and Shu thought their love could thrive in spite of it. The second time, Zuko had landed at her feet. Had anyone asked her about it later, she wouldn't have been able to explain her sense of betrayal. She'd let Zuko in. She had actually thought the part of her that recognized something in him had been telling her that she was seeing the good in him. But he'd made her look and feel more foolish than she'd ever felt in her life. From then on she was determined to squelch any sense of familiarity she felt towards him.

When he arrived, begging to even be their prisoner, Katara felt a type of rage she didn't have a name for. That was new. There were so many things in her life that enraged her, and she knew the feeling well, but this particular flavor of rage was new. It made her want to throw Zuko off of the cliff. It made her want to pummel his chest until it caved under her bare fists. It made her want to claw at him demanding to know why he betrayed her. How he could do it after everything.

After everything.

That gave Katara pause again. There was no everything. There was only a stupid girl who thought she saw something in a dark cave that wasn't really there. So when she went to Zuko that night, when she threatened his life, she was shutting a door. Building a stone wall. He would never get that close to her again.

He held her. They had left her mother's murderer alive, and she felt too many things to call it any one emotion, but it came out in tears, and Zuko didn't complain once as she sobbed into his shoulder. He held her and murmured soothing words that only made her cry harder. Promises that she did what was right for her. That her mother would be proud. That he was proud. That there was nothing wrong with what she chose. That Yon Rah was the most pathetic creature on the planet, and if she changed her mind, he would gladly take her back to put him out of everyone's misery. That made Katara laugh, even through the tears. It was just the sort of half joke he would make.

She didn't know that. She didn't know him well enough to know that. But...she did know that. As certainly as she knew the desert was hot and water was wet.

After that. She knew more. She knew his sense of humor (which no one else but Toph understood), and how to read when the tension in his shoulders was just annoyance and when it was actually something he needed to talk about. She knew when he needed space from everyone (though he never seemed to mind her presence). She knew his crooked smile (he only ever seemed to let her see it). She knew his scent (because she did his laundry with everyone else's, of course...). She knew that he liked having his scalp scratched, even though she had never actually done it himself.

She knew that he would die for her.

The despair she felt seeing him fall to Azula's lightning hurt the more for the familiarity. She would not let him die. Not this time.

There was no time for her to question that. This time. This was the first time he'd risked his life for her. They hadn't been friends that long. Still, when she beat Azula, there was nothing on Katara's mind except getting to Zuko's side. She could help him (this time she could help him). And when his flesh came together under her hands, and he took a deep breath, and Katara felt like she could breath again, too, it felt like she had been able to right a deep wrong.

It had been a long time since she'd stopped being bothered by the sense of deja vu. She didn't know how to explain it, but she felt as if she'd known Zuko forever. When they kissed for the first time, though...oh, it felt like coming home. Katara sank into his embrace and she fit in his arms so well. When she leaned in to kiss him again, and she didn't question the rightness of it. There was no thought in her mind at all except one.

Oh! How I've missed you, my love.

[calderacitylovers]

Zutara SlowBurn FanFiction: Personal Favs, part I

·        I AM STILL HERE by owedbetter Published: 2017-10-09 | 77K words | 7 Chapters

After the Last Agni Kai K heals Z with the help of bloodbending. Very sweet.

 ·        THE SUMMIT by AJLenoire

Chronicles post-war years, as Gaang and other characters gather for annual summits to keep peace and build relationships between the Four Nations. Katara yearns for a bigger purpose than the Avatar’s companion and slowly grows into a shrewd diplomat. Very sweet slow burn ZK story. Has mature scenes.

 ·        CLOTHE ME IN SEASONS, DRESS ME IN SNOW by sadladybug Published: 2015-01-05 | 62K words | 7 Chapters

Follows old Zuko as he reflects on his life and what would have been if he kept Katara closer. Absolutely beautiful, but also a devastatingly heart-breaking story about loss and pain.

 ·        SILENT DECLARATIONS by Megara Pike (Megara_Pike) Published: 2021-01-20 | 2,6K words

A short story based on animation by Hayley Wong. Z finds K asleep in her study and carries her to bed. Very sweet, gentle story.

 ·        COVERED IN YOU by evergreenonthehorizon Published: 2021-04-02 | 55K words | 14 Chapters

Eight years after the war Z convinces K to take on a role of a Southern Water Tribe ambassador in the Caldera city. Both are completely clueless about each other’s feelings. Features political talks, big gestures, and a ball. Very cute, sweet slow-burn story. Has mature scenes.

 ·        TEN STRIDES IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION by evergreenonthehorizon Published: 2021-04-03 | 29K Words | 12 Chapters

A collection of short stories filling in the gaps between some of the events of ATLAS3 and up to the Last Agni Kai. Features accidental cuddling, embracing in the rain, sharing a bed for warmth, post-Ember Island Theater discussions, being discovered, waiting to be kissed, Suki & Katara being good friends, battle plans, Zuko & Sokka getting drunk, slow burn & angst. Very sweet.

 ·        THE SWAY OF THE SUN by TheBlackBriarSparrow Published: Published: 2019-10-14 | 102K Words | 27 Chapters

Two years post-war Gaang reunites in Caldera city for a secret party in honor of the overworked Fire Lord’s birthday. Rebels attack the palace setting a thrilling consequence of events in motion. Adventures, investigations, and fights ensue. Z & K work together and enlist old friends to help find missing people. Beautiful slow-burn story with an exciting plot.

·        A WARM EMBRACE by ewinkie Published: 2020-10-06 | 19K Words | 7 Chapters

An ATLAS3 rewrite from Southern Riders to the Last Agni Kai. Katara and Zuko have to hide in a cave following their encounter with Yon Rha. Comforting turns to cuddling, which turns to waking up on Appa's tail in each other's arms. Katara is shocked at how comfortable she is. Zuko is shocked that Katara doesn't hate him for it. Features sharing a bed, being discovered, slowburn, and lots of teenage silliness.

 ·        FOLLOWING BLUE by Boogum Published: 2018-11-07 | 39K Words | 10 Chapters

ATLA S2 rewrite. After Katara falls from Appa’s saddle during a pursuit, the Blue Spirit becomes her reluctant companion and helps her reunite with her friends. Ba Sing Se scenes are completely rewritten, and Z ends up joining the Gaang much earlier. Thrilling beginning, sweet middle, average ending.

 ·        ANOTHER WORD FOR ALCHEMY by FanPanda13 Published: 2014-08-19 | 108K words | 24 Chapters

Five years post-war Aang summons old friends for a summit and invites them on a trip to investigate mysterious locations where he experiences loss of bending. Features Gaang setting Z & K up, travelling on Appa like in the olden days, lots of sparring, royal courting, magnificent navy ships & war ballons. Thrilling story with fun banter between old friends. Slowburn, mature content.

 ·        CONSUME ME WITH FIRE, FLOOD ME WITH DESIRE by Dacamia Published: 2020-08-14 | 86K words | 24 Chapters

Steamy ATLAS2 and ATLA S3 rewrite. Z & K accidentally meetup on their way to Ba Sing Se and decide to travel together. Features aged-up characters, lots of intimate scenes, staying in a beautiful cave, helping villagers, betrayal in Ba Sing Se, reunion, forgiveness, etc. Explicit mature content.

 ·        ROOTS AND WINGS by zukoscomet Published: 2020-08-14 | 250K words | 25 Chapters

A series of short stories of Z & K as they grow closer, confess their love for one another and start a family.

 ·        THOSE WHO FAVOR FIRE by hiwasseelane Published: 2021-05-02 |29K Words | 13 Chapters

An ATLAS3 rewrite. Sweet, teen-appopriate.

Here’s a link to Part II of my personal favs.

Here’s a link to Wholesome Zutara Short Stories.

[sokkastyles]

This is something I've turning around in my mind due to the general discourse around Katara "hating" Zuko, and obviously she doesn't hate him at all after TSR, but do you think she truly even /hated/ him after Ba Sing Se? She was absolutely within her right to be hurt and angry about his choice, and I'm glad the show actually let her hold onto that for awhile b/c so often K has to be the bigger person and manage everyone else's emotions, but being hurt and angry at someone, even lashing out at them b/c of that, isn't the same thing as hating them imo. Like tbh their entire vibe to me from the moment Zuko turns up at the Western Air Temple until TSR is exes after a bad breakup but there's still unresolved feelings there, which was certainly an interesting writing choice for them to go with (only made more so by the textbook romance writing grovelling in TSR.)

Yeah, she isn't mad at him because she hates him, she's mad at him because she cares about him, because she wanted to care about him, and because she thought he cared about her. Even when she tells the gaang that Zuko was "pretending to be a human being" in the catacombs, it gives the impression that she is trying to convince herself that what she's saying is true, that the moment they shared and the vulnerability Zuko showed in that moment wasn't real.

The other thing that gives the lie to the idea that Katara hates Zuko or just sees him as an enemy is that when she confronts him when they are alone, and threatens him, she doesn't react to him like she thinks he's lying about wanting to do the right thing, she confronts him about how "you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past." In front of everyone else, she makes it seem like she thinks Zuko is just evil, but when she's alone with him, she makes it clear that she knows he isn't, and that this is really about how she can't trust him, how he broke her trust. It's personal, not just about him being fire nation.

And the fact that she waited to tell him this in private, while denying her feelings in public, is absolutely romantic coded. I've also pointed out before that the framing of the confrontation mirrors the final scene between Zuko and Mai (or rather, that the Zuko and Mai scene, which is explicitly romantically coded, mirrors this one), Katara standing in the doorway to interrupt Zuko's triumphant moment with a reminder that his past isn't so easily moved past, and a reminder of who he's hurt. It absolutely gives vibes of an ex who you still have feelings for.

Which is why it's hilarious that Bryke made that comment about zutara being a relationship you experience before realizing what you really need (with the implication that Katara really needs Aang and Zuko really needs Mai), because what it actually feels like is two people who were immediately drawn to each other, ended up hurting each other, broke it off, but then still had feelings for each other and ended the series closer than they were before. If Bryke really wanted us to think zutara were not good for each other, then there could have been a moment where, when Zuko and Katara get their closure with each other, there's also the G-rated equivalent of "let's just be friends." Maybe have Katara say something like, "I forgive you, but I can't make the choice you want me to make." This is also in an alternate universe where Zuko more explicitly encourages Katara to kill Yon Rah. But none of that happens. The episode does not tell us that Zuko is not good for Katara or vice versa. It has Katara end the episode by explicitly disagreeing with Aang and enthusiastically embracing Zuko without any hesitation at all.

That hug is so meaningful because it's the release of tension that the narrative has been building up since that moment in the catacombs. It's not that Katara hated Zuko but now cares about him, it's that she wanted to care about him way back in the catacombs and now she's able to express that without being afraid that he'll break her trust.

[brookesophelias]

“The Southern Raiders is a perfect example of why Zutara doesn’t work." (OP commentary available).

reddit post here. fire heats up water; water calms fire.

Zuko allows Katara to choose what she wants, & ultimately K elects not to murder Yon Rha. a significant concept in all 3 stories in this series—as a whole—& individual characters is choices. Z keeps K grounded in a manner Aang can’t.

whether they consciously acknowledge that or not, Z’s family is what happens when you let revenge consume. going on this field trip is crucial for both of them in becoming different people. i doubt K saw the advantage of taking anyone else. without K confronting The Southern Raiders, i doubt the message of “being different than your current self is always one action away” is something Z truly believed.

Aang is The Avatar; it is really difficult to separate him from that; he wouldn’t let go of K with Guru Patik. the idea of revenge is so unlikely for A as an Airbender, & Avatar. keep in mind that A “slept” on his duty for centuries; he was a kid, afraid & unprepared for wars. Z & K aren’t. it’s hard not to hear command when A spoke.

now, you could argue that Z would have gotten an education of world with Toph or Sokka but both are unlikely. Toph, an expert fighter, was sheltered otherwise & blind. Sokka is a non-bender.

this essay could continue. let me know if that's something you'd be interested in.

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Papers for Week 35, 2024

Functional diversity of dopamine axons in prefrontal cortex during classical conditioning. Abe, K., Kambe, Y., Majima, K., Hu, Z., Ohtake, M., Momennezhad, A., … Sato, T. (2024). eLife, 12, e91136.3.

The pupil dilation response as an indicator of visual cue uncertainty and auditory outcome surprise. Becker, J., Viertler, M., Korn, C. W., & Blank, H. (2024). European Journal of Neuroscience, 59(10), 2686–2701.

Visual statistical learning in preverbal infants at a higher likelihood of autism and its association with later social communication skills. Bettoni, R., Cantiani, C., Riboldi, E. M., Molteni, M., Bulf, H., & Riva, V. (2024). PLOS ONE, 19(5), e0300274.

Computational reconstruction of mental representations using human behavior. Caplette, L., & Turk-Browne, N. B. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 4183.

Spiking activity in the visual thalamus is coupled to pupil dynamics across temporal scales. Crombie, D., Spacek, M. A., Leibold, C., & Busse, L. (2024). PLOS Biology, 22(5), e3002614.

Role of dopamine neurons in familiarity. Fleury, S., Kolaric, R., Espera, J., Ha, Q., Tomaio, J., Gether, U., … Mingote, S. (2024). European Journal of Neuroscience, 59(10), 2522–2534.

Infralimbic activity during REM sleep facilitates fear extinction memory. Hong, J., Choi, K., Fuccillo, M. V., Chung, S., & Weber, F. (2024). Current Biology, 34(10), 2247-2255.e5.

Information-based TMS to mid-lateral prefrontal cortex disrupts action goals during emotional processing. Lapate, R. C., Heckner, M. K., Phan, A. T., Tambini, A., & D’Esposito, M. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 4294.

Jointly looking to the past and the future in visual working memory. Liu, B., Alexopoulou, Z.-S., & van Ede, F. (2024). eLife, 12, e90874.3.

Self-organization of modular activity in immature cortical networks. Mulholland, H. N., Kaschube, M., & Smith, G. B. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 4145.

Grouping in working memory guides chunk formation in long-term memory: Evidence from the Hebb effect. Musfeld, P., Dutli, J., Oberauer, K., & Bartsch, L. M. (2024). Cognition, 248, 105795.

Peripheral preprocessing in Drosophila facilitates odor classification. Puri, P., Wu, S.-T., Su, C.-Y., & Aljadeff, J. (2024). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(21), e2316799121.

Heuristics in risky decision-making relate to preferential representation of information. Russek, E. M., Moran, R., Liu, Y., Dolan, R. J., & Huys, Q. J. M. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 4269.

Ventral tegmental area dopamine projections to the hippocampus trigger long-term potentiation and contextual learning. Sayegh, F. J. P., Mouledous, L., Macri, C., Pi Macedo, J., Lejards, C., Rampon, C., … Dahan, L. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 4100.

The expression of decision and learning variables in movement patterns related to decision actions. Selbing, I., & Skewes, J. (2024). Experimental Brain Research, 242(6), 1311–1325.

The differential impact of active learning on children’s memory. Stanciu, O., Jones, A., Metzner, N., Fandakova, Y., & Ruggeri, A. (2024). Developmental Psychology, 60(5), 904–915.

Predictions and errors are distinctly represented across V1 layers. Thomas, E. R., Haarsma, J., Nicholson, J., Yon, D., Kok, P., & Press, C. (2024). Current Biology, 34(10), 2265-2271.e4.

Graded decisions in the human brain. Xie, T., Adamek, M., Cho, H., Adamo, M. A., Ritaccio, A. L., Willie, J. T., … Kubanek, J. (2024). Nature Communications, 15, 4308.

Visual boundary cues suffice to anchor place and grid cells in virtual reality. Yang, X., Cacucci, F., Burgess, N., Wills, T. J., & Chen, G. (2024). Current Biology, 34(10), 2256-2264.e3.

The tuning of tuning: How adaptation influences single cell information transfer. Zeldenrust, F., Calcini, N., Yan, X., Bijlsma, A., & Celikel, T. (2024). PLOS Computational Biology, 20(5), e1012043.

[o-sachi]

SeNDInG U ThIS FoR oCTObER kasi baka ako na ang paglalamayan sa semana santa 😇🙏 sIgn n i2 n umabse-- joWk lnGz bHad pHoexx Yon STAY SAFE GURL 🧎‍♀️✨ (hindi ako jejemon pls believe me)

Kmsta k n bb quo

Cge pasok n q sa bohai m w8 lng

Ingat din… ingat sila sayo

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[yonphilia]

THE THEME IM OBSESSED !!!! so cute 🩷

ANDJXIWMXKD THANK U THANK U!! ITS NOT QUITE DONE BUT THENK U SM ILY⭐️🤭🩷

[direktoriku]

Mobil Tua (Murry) - Murry/Yon/Yok/Tonny K.

[viiviiiiiiiiiiii]

Hello?

Okey. Mag uupdate lang ako dito. Para i remind ang self ko.

Nov 6,2024

Gumising ako ng 5am. Normally talaga 6:30am pa ako nagigising siguro nasanay ako sa ganoon gising sa pag rerelieve ko sa batangas branch.

7:52am na yata ako nakapag time in sa office. Kabado pa ako nito dahil advance ang pinag titime inan namin tapos traffic pa.

First time gamitin ng whole day yung isa kong phone. Mostly kasi yung isa kong phone ang gamit ko dahil mas matagal ang battery niya. Pero main phone ko naman ito. (Gulo ba?)

3 weeks na yata akong walang fb app sa phone. (Ang saya lang nagka roon ako ng peace of mind kahit konti)

Hindi pa rin ako tinatantanan nun asawa ng friend ko. Facebook,IG,discord,gmail, messenger ng kapatid ko. Puro mura yun natatanggap ko galing sa kanya. (Lahat na yata ng mura nasabi na niya sa akin, tapos sinabihan niya ako kulang ako sa atensyon, kung nakakatulog paba ako dahil may nasira akong pamilya? ) minsan gusto ko sumagot. Gustong gusto ko idefend yung self ko. Pero dahil puno na siya ng galit kahit anong explain ko sa kanya hindi niya yon tatanggapin. Iniisip ko palage if mali ba talaga makipagkaibigan sa isang lalaki? Like? Ni remind ko narin naman yun guy na hindi ako papatol sa kanya dahil may asawa siya at friend lang tingin ko sa kanya. Nag uusap kami ng magkaibigan! A friendly convo!! Nothing else. Hindi ako una nag cha chat sa kanya. Never ako nag goodmorning sa kanya, never ako nag ask if anong problem nila nun asawa niya dahil ayoko makisawsaw, never ako naging sweet sa kanya, NEVER AKO NAG UPDATE SA KANYA NG NANYARE SA ARAW KO!!!!!!! Isang tanong isang sagot lang convo namin. At mas madami pang "G?" Sa convo namin!!!!

Nadamay pa yung long guy friend ko. Lumayo ako sa kanya. Seryoso. Close guy friend ko siya! Ina ask ko siya dahil nga guy siya na friend ko na may girlfriend.

"May time ba na feel mo nilalandi kita?"

Tinanong ko talaga siya. Sagot niya "no! Never. Ang taas ng bakod mo. Seryoso! Super taas ng wall mo. Sorry sa word pero parang ayaw mo magpapasok ng ibang tao sa mundo mo! HAHAHAHAHA. Umiikot yung mundo mo sa Anime, k drama, ML, stardew valley, work(na dumadagdag sa stress mo! HAHAHAHA), bahay, simbahan, Exercise, kape. Nothing else. Diba sayo ko sayo. Try new things. Mag memessege ako sayo ng lunes friday ka mag rereply ang sipag mo!" (ETO TALAGA REPLY NIYA)natawa ako dahil totoo to. Nakikita ko chat niya pero if di naman importante hindi ako mag rereply.

So eto ako. Laman ng messenger ko puro babaeng friend ko lang. workmates ko, madir, at kapatid ko. Wtf? .

[peryodismo2425]

Ang Aklat sa Likod ng mga Munting Hiwaga

Ni Zab Juanico | Nobyembre 9, 2024

Sa isang mundo na puno ng pagbabago, hindi natin maitatanggi ang aliw at kaligayahang umaalab sa ating puso kapag nagbabalik-tanaw tayo sa mga bagay o lugar na naging malaking bahagi ng ating simula. 

Sa muling pagbisita ko sa gusali ng University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) K-2, namangha ako sa mga pasilyo nito na kung dati ay laking-laki ako—ngayon ay tila sumikip at lumiit na. Dito ako kinumusta ni Teacher Vicka. Parehong-pareho pa rin ang kanyang itsura sa gurong aking unang nakilala noong kinder pa ako, humigit-kumulang labing-isang taon na ang nakalipas.

“Charby! Kumusta ka na? Malapit ka nang mag-graduate no?” sabi niya sa akin. At sa sandaling iyon, nabalot ako ng kasiyahan.

Si Teacher Vicka Marie M. Siddayao, isa sa mga guro ng UPIS K-2. Kilala siya ng karamihan sa mga dating mag-aaral bilang tagapagturo ng kinder. Ngunit simula noong kasagsagan ng pandemyang COVID-19 taong 2020 hanggang sa kasalukuyan, guro na siya ng grado 2.

Kabanata I: Paglalakbay Tungo sa Pagiging Guro

Kagaya ng marami sa kanilang kamusmusan, nagsimula ang kuwento ni Teacher Vicka sa paglalaro at pagkukunwari na maging isang guro gamit ang blackboard, chalk, at ang kanyang imahinasyon. Lumaki siya sa piling ng kanyang dalawang lola na nagtrabaho bilang mga guro. Sinasama pa siya ng isa sa mga lola niya sa kanyang mga klase noon. Ang pagiging exposed sa mga guro habang lumalaki si Teacher Vicka ay isa sa mga dahilang nag-udyok sa kanya na maging guro.

Ngunit pagtungtong niya sa kolehiyo, hindi niya pinasok kaagad ang landas nito. Pagkatapos mag-aral sa ibang eskwelahan, lumipat siya sa University of the Philippines (UP) para tangkain ang kursong creative writing. Ito ang kanyang pinili noong una dahil naging manunulat ang ibang mga lolo at lola niya. Pero sa paglipas ng panahon, hindi na niya napusuan ang kursong ito kaya pinasok niya ang UP College of Education. Dito na siya nag-enjoy dahil sa mga kurso nito at sa mga kaibigang nakilala niya rito.

Kabanata II: Paghaharap sa mga Paghihirap

“For anyone fresh out of college, anything is challenging ‘di ba? Kasi bagong mundo, [tapos] magtatrabaho ka pa lang,” ika ni Teacher Vicka.

Ayon sa kanya, ang kakulangan ng background sa pagtuturo, maliban sa practicum, ang pinakamalaking hamon ng pagiging isang bagong guro. Sa panahong ito rin masusubukan ang pagkilala mo sa iyong sarili bilang guro—mga pilosopiyang mabubuo mo, mga gusto mong ituro sa mga bata, kung paano mo nais magturo, kung anong klaseng guro ka, at kung paano mo maapektuhan nang positibo ang mga bata.

Isa din sa mga hamong naranasan niya noong una ang pagsasaalang-alang sa mga magulang ng mga bata at ang kanilang mga alalahanin dahil hindi naman ‘yon itinuturo—wala namang kursong nakatuon sa pakikipagsalamuha sa mga magulang.

Dagdag dito, ilan pa sa mga naging hamon sa kanya ang pagbabago ng kanyang kapaligiran at mga routines sa unang pagpasok niya sa pagtuturo.

Kabanata III: Ang mga Chikiting

Mapapaniwalaan mo ba na noong 2011 pa nagtuturo sa UPIS si Teacher Vicka? Sa kabuuan ng kanyang panahong magturo at hanggang ngayon, inamin niya na hindi niya nakikita ang kanyang sarili na tinuturuan ang mga mas nakatatandang mag-aaral dahil ibang mundo na ito. Nakadepende na rin daw sa iyong puso ang klase ng mga batang napupusuan mong turuan. Pinili niya ang mga chikiting dahil mas inosente ang mga sagot nila. Nakaka-refresh at masarap din silang kausap dahil bagong-bago ang mga ideya nila at masigasig nila itong ibinibigay.

Ngunit nakapagturo na rin si Teacher Vicka ng mga mas matatandang mag-aaral kagaya ng mga klase ng kolehiyo, at ine-explore pa niya ang kanyang ibang mga opsyon.

Ngayon, pagdating naman sa paraan niya ng pagtuturo, inihayag niya na sinusubukan niyang sunurin ang isang “balanced way of teaching” dahil ang iba’t ibang mga araw at sitwasyon ay tumatawag pansin sa iba’t ibang paraan ng pagtuturo at pakikisalamuha sa mga bata. Kung minsan,  kaibigan ka na pinapakinggan sila at tinutugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan. Sa ibang pagkakataon naman, tutok ka sa pagiging guro upang matuto talaga ang mga bata. Ika nga ni Teacher Vicka, “...‘yung tamang balance lang of being a teacher, being a supporter, being a nurse, being all the hats a teacher has inside the class.”

Kaugnay nito, “Hindi naman siya always rainbows and butterflies,” pahayag ni Teacher Vicka patungkol sa pagtuturo. Ngunit, masaya para sa kanya ang pakikisalamuha sa mga bata dahil nawawala siya sa personal na mundo niya at nagsisilbi ito bilang pahinga mula rito.

Higit pa riyan, may isa pa siyang sinabi na aking sinasang-ayunan. “Marami akong natututunan tungkol sa buhay pag kausap ko ang mga bata. Iba rin kasi sila kausap ‘di ba? Parang very fresh ‘yung mga ideas nila—parang minsan nakakalimutan natin na it’s just that simple ‘yung mga solusyon natin sa buhay, sa mga problema natin.”

Nang tanungin kung mayroon siyang naaalalang pagkakataon na tumatak sa kanya bilang guro, nagbigay siya ng halimbawang tiyak na makaka-relate ang marami: “Kunyari, it's a bad day for you. It’s not always a good day for anyone, right? [...] hindi mo namamalayan na siguro mainit na ‘yung ulo mo inside the class. Tapos biglang sasabihin ng bata sa‘yo, ‘Huwag kang galit.’ [...] ‘Di ba, tapos matitigilan ka! Talagang natigilan ako. Sabi ko, ‘Ay sorry, sorry, sorry.’ Tapos kinausap ko siya nang maayos.”

At dahil nga matagal nang nagtuturo si Teacher Vicka sa UPIS, kinuwento niya na maituturing niyang isa sa mga nakalulugod na tagumpay bilang isang guro ang pagtatapos sa eskwela ng kanyang unang batch ng kinder. Hindi niya kasi naisip na tatagal siya sa UPIS sa puntong maaabutan niya pa ang pagtatapos nila. Sana, nagsilbi ito bilang paalala sa dami-daming taon na nilaan niya sa paglilingkod at pagpapasaya sa mga batang dumaan sa kanilang unang hakbang sa paaralan.

Kabanata IV: Ang Pagkakakilanlan sa Labas ng Pagtuturo

Sa tagal ng kanyang pagiging guro, unti-unti nang nahubog ng trabaho ni Teacher Vicka ang pagkakakilanlan niya. Kahit sa labas ng paaralan, binubuo ng kanyang mga kapamilya at kaibigan ang kanyang pagkakakilanlan batay sa kanyang pagtuturo. Nagsasabi sila ng mga bagay gaya ng “She’s a teacher,” tuwing pinapakilala nila si Teacher Vicka—para mapalapit na rin ‘yung mga bata sa kanya. Ngunit paminsan-minsan, gusto rin niyang makapagpahinga mula sa kanyang buhay sa eskwela at buhay bilang isang guro. Kaya sa ibang mga pagkakataon, iginigiit niyang huwag siyang ipakilala muna bilang guro. Para na rin ma-de-stress ang sarili mula sa kanyang trabaho, gumagawa si Teacher Vicka ng iba’t ibang mga bagay kagaya ng pagtakbo, pakikipagkita sa mga kaibigan, panonood, at pagbabasa ng mga libro. Hilig din niyang lumabas nang siya lang para wala siyang kausap. Very demure, very introverted.

Paborito niyang pagkain ang pizza o kahit anong pagkaing may keso. At para naman sa paborito niyang inumin, ani niya, “Kahit sino tanungin mo, alam nila ‘yung sagot. Coffee.” Nagtawanan kami.

Kabanata V: Pangarap at Talinghaga

Nang tanungin si Teacher Vicka kung ano ang mga ninanais niya para sa kanyang kinabukasan at para sa kinabukasan ng UPIS, “Sana siguro I hope I don’t forget why I decided to teach. [...] Parang sana, in the future, hindi ‘yun mawala—na may sense of purpose pa rin [ako] na I want to teach children even if I let go of teaching. Kunyari at some point in my life, na maisip ko pa rin na makapagturo in other ways,” wika niya.

“Sa UPIS… Anong pangarap ko para sa UPIS? Sana magka-aircon—joke lang,” biro niya, “Ah siguro na patuloy lang ‘yung UPIS na humubog ng students like you na ang sineserbisyohan ay ang bayan. [...] ‘Di ko naman kailangan ng mga bata na magsa-stay talaga. Pero ‘yung ano ba—may paninindigan din sa mga isyu. ‘Yun naman talaga ‘yung goal ng UPIS. [...] ‘Yun siguro, na patuloy lang na mag-develop ng mga bata na ganoon, ‘yung may pakialam sa nangyayari sa paligid.”

Nang tanungin naman si Teacher Vicka kung anong bagay ang maihahalintulad niya sa pagtuturo, bilang talinghaga, napaisip siya.

“Siguro…” humina ang kanyang boses. Minata niya ang kapaligiran, “Tumingin sa paligid e,” aniya, sabay ngiti sa akin. Napatawa kami muli sa kanyang pagbiro.

“Libro. Kasi ang libro maraming chapters, maraming yugto, no? So ‘yung teaching din for me marami siyang iba’t ibang chapters. May chapter na sobrang eager ka to teach, may chapter na hindi. Tapos iba-ibang types of stories din siya. May nakakatawang stories, may nakakatakot na stories, may nakakainis na stories—may horror, may comedy. Kumbaga parang iba-iba rin siyang uri ng kuwento. So I guess, libro kasi [ang] dami mo ring matututuhan sa lahat ng iyon.”

Kagaya ng kanyang naging talinghaga sa pagtuturo, masasabi talaga na si Teacher Vicka ay maihahalintulad sa isang aklat. Dahil katulad ng bawat isa sa atin, binubuo siya ng mga yugto at kuwentong humubog sa kanyang pagkatao at pagkakakilanlan. Gaya ng mga salita sa pahina ng isang aklat na nananatili magpakailanman, ang mga kuwentong isinapuso ni Teacher Vicka at ang mga pangalan ng estudyanteng kanyang inalala ay mananatiling buhay—sa bawat alaalang binuo niya, sa bawat pangarap na kanyang tinulungang maabot, at sa bawat aral na iniwan niyang gabay sa puso ng kanyang mga mag-aaral.

Katulad ng mga kabanatang ating natapos sa isang libro ngunit muling binabasa, ikinagagalak ko na nabigyan ako ng pagkakataong balikan ang kabanatang ito ng buhay ko sa UPIS, kahit sa isang munting sandali lamang.

Sana rin, sa pagwakas at pagbasa mo nito, nabigyan kita ng isang masaganang silip sa librong ito na ating pamamagatang, “Teacher Vicka.”

[drachenfalter]

So, I know the doylist reason that the retired Yon Rha is portrayed as a pathetic loser living in misery is because it's a children's cartoon and they couldn't let K & Z actually kill him.

But in world, this is a really bizarre outcome. Because from what we've seen otherwise, the Fire Nation rewards ruthless men like Yon Rha.

Like, you would expect him to be a decorated war hero for the war crimes he committed, for "defeating" the last southern waterbender and removing the "southern threat". You'd expect him to retire comfortably with enough wealth to hire someone else to take care of his old mother if he does not want to do it (and he didn't seem like the compassionate type).

Like, what happened for him to end up where he is?

Did he somehow personally piss off Ozai enough to get stripped of his titles, but not enough to get killed?

Did someone else claim the glory while he ended up with empty hands?

Did the FN somehow keep the whole thing secret from its people, meaning Yon Rha "accomplishments" had to stay secret too?

(Except they're not hiding that the FN is at war and the Southern Raiders are still active when Zuko and Katara go after him.)

[ghelgheli]

The Stuff I Read in December 2023

favourites in bold

Books

Calling a Wolf a Wolf, Kaveh Akbar

The German Ideology, Marx & Engels

The Dark Forest, Cixin Liu

Yuri/GL

Hanamonogatari, schwinn

The Moon on a Rainy Night / Amayo no Tsuki (Vols 1-2), Kuzushiro

Run Away With Me, Girl, Battan

Opium, Aji

Asashi to Satsuki, Fujita

The Guy She Was Interested in Wasn't a Guy At All / Ki ni Natteru Hito ga Otoko Janakatta, Sumiko Arai

Free Soul, Ebine Yamaji

Short Fiction

Yon & Mu, Junji Ito

A Day in the Life of Anmar 20X1, Abdulla Moaswes [strange horizons]

Muneera and the Moon, Sonia Sulaiman [fiyah]

The Center of the Universe, Nadia Shammas [strange horizons]

Honeydew Toxicity Event, Porpentine Charity Heartscape [link]

Palestine

Palestinian Anarchists in Conversation: Recalibrating Anarchism in a Colonized Country, Joshua Stephens [link]

Anarchist, Liberal, and Authoritarian Enlightenments: Notes From the Arab Spring, Mohammed Bamyeh [link]

Our Siege is Long, Esmat Elhalaby [link]

Anti-Zionism as Decolonisation, Lara Kilani & Leila Shomali [link]

What's the matter with the Israeli working class?, Daphna Thier [link]

Inside the Pro-Israel Information War, Lee Fang & Jack Poulson [link]

Refusing Genocide, Rasha Abdulhadi & Beatrice Adler-Bolton [link]

‘A mass assassination factory’: Inside Israel’s calculated bombing of Gaza, Yuval Abraham [link]

"Theory"

Western Marxism, the Fetish for Defeat, and Christian Culture, Jones Manoel [red sails]

On Contradiction, Mao Tse-Tung [marxists dot org]

The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, Walter Benjamin

Other

Multimodal datasets: misogyny, pornography, and malignant stereotypes, Abebe Birhane, Vinay Uday Prabhu, Emmanuel Kahembwe [arxiv]

On Anthony Bourdain, Lz. A. [red sails]

The Myth of Man the Hunter: Women’s contribution to the hunt across ethnographic contexts, Abigail Anderson et al. [doi]

Monster, Terrorist, Fag: The War on Terrorism and the Production of Docile Patriots, Jasbir K. Puar & Amit Rai [link]

Deaths Pulled From the Future, Beatrice Adler-Bolton [link]

In The End We All Do What We Must: Universal Paperclips, Clicker Games, AI, and Agency, Sam Keeper [link]