jacki long: Day 4998: A Canadian Memory & After-hours Learning.

Friday, May 1, 2026

Day 4998: A Canadian Memory & After-hours Learning.

"Suburbs": junk collage, digital.

Want music?

Click: Aretha Franklin, Natural Woman.

2GN2S

A Canadian Memory.

I had the tv on but was working on something else when I heard them mention the Aurora Borealis. And it reminded me of one of my trips to Canada, I was lucky to stay with Marian and Cam Steuart, and their two huge German Shepherds. I kept asking about seeing the "northern lights" as I was only there three nights and I really wanted to see the amazing lights. Some of the Canadians told me if I did, to be sure and whistle so the lights would dance!

I slept on the couch and on the last night as I was listening to the news they mentioned the aurora made good watching that night. It was almost midnight and the whole house was asleep. I threw on a robe, and took the dogs for a walk. We went out into the adjacent field and the news was right it really was spectacular. Then I remembered and started whistling. I will never forget the look those two dogs gave me! I had never before, or since felt so stupid.

I love the Canadians.

After Hours Learning

A teacher in South Africa keeps her classroom open long after the final bell rings, offering a quiet, well-lit space for students who don’t have electricity at home. Instead of ending the day when lessons finish, she extends it — turning the room into a place where children can complete homework, read, and prepare for the next day.

As evening settles, the classroom fills again, not with formal instruction but with focused silence and shared purpose. Desks that were busy during the day now hold books and notebooks under steady light, giving students the chance to learn without interruption.

It’s a simple decision, yet it carries lasting impact. By opening the door a little longer, she creates opportunity where it’s often limited — showing how one space, used differently, can support growth far beyond school hours.