the more I use chopsticks whether in a Japanese or Vietnamese restaurant, the more I get used to it...
I'm getting used to the speed of the highway... sometimes it doesn't feel like I'm going 70... maybe because everybody else is going around 80 or 90... the way I measure speed by sight or the blur of the scene is relative...
I'm not going to finish my two boxes of summer readings... I have five books started at the side of my bed- one about: gradschool, poetry, fictional account of literary life (more on this later), the English language, and author's letters and other correspondences - and two graphic novels...
it's difficult getting in touch with my UT advisers- they don't have regular summer office hours plus they're busy either enjoying their summer or traveling for their own education... I did get the books I'm going to use for my composition classes... I ordered the other book I need so it's on its way hopefully...
for my Master's I have to be proficient in another language... so I started reviewing my Spanish... my friend's aunt is tutoring me twice a week en gratis... basically I'm just trying to refresh my mind so that when I start taking classes I don't have to begin in the most basic level... what I like about this session is the chance to hear Spanish spoken, I'm still trying to get to the point of being comfortable enough and courageous enough to speak it... the good news is that I understand most of the things said to me... I started watching the Spanish channel (cartoons, talk show, entertainment news, news, sports, telenovelas) I get the gist of what they're saying and if I don't focus and try to listen to what they're saying then all I hear are fast gibberish... I also borrowed some Spanish poems with English translation, and I'm working on Reading comprehension on the Elementary Low and High levels... I can't wait to get to the speaking part but I know that I have to have good vocabulary and grammar knowledge before I get there...
random google search- I saw the article I wrote last semester in the Setonian called "Students wander to foreign lands" in the website of the company I mentioned (CEA)...
I'm reading George Gissing's New Grub Street, it's about the literary life... I like it so far... it's discussing issues such as hack writing, the market, the vulgar, literary snobs, networking, pragmatism, money, patrons, literary circles, editors, reputation, fame, favorable connections, Literature as fine art, aspirations, starving artists, diplomacy, writing versus teaching, (wo)man of letters, journalism vs Literature... it reminded me a bit of Honore De Balzac's Pere Goriot... this novel is about 500+ pages long but I'm finding it fascinating and easy to get into (maybe because I'm a writer and the topics discussed are still current)...
Sounds cool, Mike. I thought you spoke French, though. Oh well--good luck with the Spanish. You're in a great area to just be able to listen to folks speak, aren't you? I'll bet you'll pick it up easily with the help you're getting.
And I may have to check out that book. Sounds cool. And if it reminds you of Père Goriot, then it's got to be worth a look.
I promise I'll be in touch about Philly soon. Things got crazy with work for awhile. I have a Blackberry now, so that's complicating things, too, as I'm sure one can imagine! Haha :)
Posted by: Karissa at July 3, 2007 1:00 PMhey Karissa,
I like french culture and Paris but I have more background in spanish so because of time limits I have to choose which is easier to pick up in a short time and reviewing it I'm discovering that there's more to like in spanish culture as well... just let me know about Philly whenever...
New Grub Street definitely Balzac-esque... there are the themes of "appearances, socialable ambitious young men entering society, gossip" and more, a drama involving literary folks of the industry and literary wannabees... hopefully you're enjoying your work and its benefits.... do you think your job will ever give you the new "iphone"? wouldn't that be wicked?... how are you liking the blackberry?