Interview with Marcus Templar on the Macedonian Issue 2011

AMAC: Professor Templar, last year, in October 2010, you presented a number of lectures across Australia on the Macedonian issue and its geopolitical significance today. These lectures were organized by the Australian Macedonian Advisory Council in coordination with Greek-Australian organizations in many Australian cities. Which cities did you visit, and how would you describe your experience? Marcus Templar: My experience in Australia was unique. The people were very friendly and courteous. The trip made me realize that life on the downside is not bad. I had some difficulties understanding Australian English, but I am sure they had problems with me as well. I suppose, it was the case of an Athenian visiting Macedonia in the old times, or that of an Ozolian from Locris visiting Ionia. To ask for an interpreter would have made me look like those FYROM officials who insist they need one when interacting with the Bulgarians; or like the Croats when dealing with the Serbs. We know it is not necessary! I gave nine presentations in six cities: Melbourne, Canberra, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Sydney. I found every city to be special, each in its own way. Australia is a diverse country with distinct points of interest. I made many friends, but unfortunately, due to a very heavy schedule, it is not easy for me to maintain ties. I hope they forgive me for this. When I visited Australia I was on a sabbatical, my first in 28 years, and I relished the change. I enjoyed the football match between St. Kilda and Melbourne, the cricket match between India and Australia. I was hoping I would get to watch a rugby match between the Wallabies and the Old Blacks, but I was not that lucky. Perhaps I will be luckier another time. I hope to visit Australia again, although I am not sure when due to my professional obligations that send me off to places of the world which no travel agent would recommend. I really appreciated the hospitality I was met with, and I want to publicly thank all who invited me and made this trip possible. Marcus Templar: I was pleasantly surprised by the large turnout. The central topic of my presentations was the history of the Slavs of the South Balkans, which, in essence, is the history of the Slavic people of the FYROM and, partially, of present day Bulgarians and Serbs. I was not particularly surprised by the attendance of members from the FYROM diaspora, just as I was not surprised by their reactions to my presentation.

Regina's Big Mistake | A Best Picture Book Review

Regina's Big Mistake holds a special place in my heart, as the book that helped my daughter learn to deal with her inborn trait of perfectionism. Especially helpful to me was the fact that Regina's frustrations in the book center on her imperfect efforts to draw, since I knew that my daughter had a considerable artistic talent that she was unable to express because she would become so frustrated when her efforts did not match the picture in her head.

Despite the fact that this is a "lesson" book, it is also a good picture book apart from the message. That is important to me, as it is a personal rule of my own never to sacrifice the quality of the story just because it happens to have a "worthy" message.

is a fairly straightforward story that will resonate with most children, but most especially with perfectionists who strive to be perfect and are frustrated enough to give up when their efforts do not match their expectations.

The teacher, Mrs. Li, passes out paper to the children to draw a jungle scene. When Regina makes a mistake and tears the paper, she gets one more sheet but is told to "draw around it next time; you're wasting paper." She's so afraid to make a mistake she starts to copy from the children around her, but makes hers slightly different when they complain to her that she is copying. Almost done with her drawing and pleased with it, she gives it a final touch - and makes a big mistake. Can she turn the mistake into a positive piece of her artwork? Finally she sees a solution and is able to make her drawing work.

series.

The slightly soft-focus illustrations are soothing and comfortable with a sketchy look, as if mimicking a typical child's drawing, appropriate for a story about children drawing. 

The protagonist of the book, Regina, is a child of African-American descent. Her classmates are a wide mix of races, and the teacher, Mrs. Li, is of Asian descent.

Is my child still a perfectionist? Well, yes, she is. My interest in this book was never to "cure" her, as her perfectionism is simply a trait she was born with. She is now a gifted artist, and I believe that the type of perfectionism she deals with is frequently called the "artistic temperament." 

But this book, along with one other titled Christina Katerina and the Box , did do exactly what I needed. Though very different in approach (Christian Katerina adapts instantly to any new circumstance), they were my curriculum to help her to learn to look beyond the "mistake" that didn't appear exactly the way she had wanted it to appear, and work with what is in front of her. Of course, the better she learned that lesson, and the more she drew, the more her attempts did, in fact, look just like what she saw in her head.