First week complete, suckas.
Short story: my classes are AWESOME. Also, sort of important, so I'll get it out of the way first-I am not technically in my introductory Japanese class yet. I crashed it both today and yesterday... as did like ten other people, which bites. I am fifth on the waiting list. Also, today, three or so enrolled people didn't show up. Does that mean I'm closer to getting in, or did they talk to the teacher beforehand and had great excuses? I don't know. However, I have been talking to people, who assure me that they have never been on a waiting list that didn't pay off, so there's that.
Long story:
Traditions in East Asia
Okay, this was the class that I thought I would drop. It's the earliest class I have, and four credits I don't need. However, I thought this was a good idea before I met Professor P.
You guys, Prof P is a beast.
Apparently, this class is going to focus on how traditions have changed recently, what with television and the internet making normally very regional ideas known on a global scale. BADASS. Also, she asked us all to write our names on index cards, and to talk about our families and our ancestors. I realized something that day, and told her as much: for all that I'm descended from both Irish and Scottish clans, more than anything I feel like my ancestors, traditions, and beliefs stem from the United States Armed Forces. I don't know when this happened? It still feels really true for me, though.
Prof P smiled, told me that that was indeed a family, and, when I told her I was distantly related to Robert E. Lee, she laughed and called me a blueblood. She is like... okay, I don't know how many of you have seen Gilmore Girls, and frankly I am ashamed to even have to use it as an example, but she reminds me of Rory's Korean friend, but older and just a zillion times more kickass.
Now, I'm torn! The syllabus clearly states that the workload is pretty intense, but I love the professor-and this isn't just because she made a good first impression. There are multiple people in my class who have sought out this teacher again and again, just to take her classes. One girl has taken everything this professor has to offer at UCSB. She sounds like a gem, and this was apparently a hard class to get into. Suggestions are welcome.
Milton:
I was actually underwhelmed by this one, which is a bit of a bummer because it's the only CCS class I've taken so far (my first Tale of Genji class is on Monday). It was heavily discussion-based, which I normally like, but I don't really feel like we came to any conclusions? Like, most of the class-the professor included-thought that “On the Morning of Christ's Nativity” was a really happy poem, because, hooray, Jesus is here now. However, I noticed that most of the stanza talked about the death of all of the old gods. For example, it specifically mentions Apollo losing his sight, which struck me as a kind of horrific image. I asked my peers, “Can you imagine being able to see the future for your entire life, and then, suddenly, you don't? I would freak out.” People thought that I was taking the imagery too literally, but I don't think it was any more literal than Christ being born.
Prof O'C wasn't the best mediator, unfortunately. He's never taught a CCS class before, and it showed, I think. I hope this class picks up, because I like the people in it and Milton is hard, but eh.
It probably doesn't hold up to well, because I had it yesterday and it was totally eclipsed by the awesome that is Japanese 1.
Japanese 1:
What surprises me the most is just how much I've learned already! It's mostly review of what I've already picked up from anime and Jpop, but we're learning hiragana at a mean rate, and I can already sort of recognize some letters! YES. Also everyone is really nice and the TA tries to pronounce “Armstrong” with a Japanese accent, even though it's difficult. “Hilary” triply so. (“Hee-ra-ree,” but like. Way, way more difficult.)
The workload seems manageable, Prof C is... okay, the professor is adorable. She's this tiny, bouncy Japanese woman who is just so happy you are interested in Japanese, and says “so desu ka” in the cutest way... like, if giggling were words. I want to stay in this class so bad it is palpable, like people around the room feel the pressure and go “damn, this girl wants to stay in this class!”
It's like that.
I don't really have much to say, but if I didn't answer a question, just ask me in the comments! Tonight, I'm going to a showing of the new Star Trek movie with two people from my high school (E. S. and L. K., I don't know if you know the latter, Mom, but the former hangs out with J. D. If you're really curious, I'll just tell you). Hooray for things changing and staying the same!
Long story:
Traditions in East Asia
Okay, this was the class that I thought I would drop. It's the earliest class I have, and four credits I don't need. However, I thought this was a good idea before I met Professor P.
You guys, Prof P is a beast.
Apparently, this class is going to focus on how traditions have changed recently, what with television and the internet making normally very regional ideas known on a global scale. BADASS. Also, she asked us all to write our names on index cards, and to talk about our families and our ancestors. I realized something that day, and told her as much: for all that I'm descended from both Irish and Scottish clans, more than anything I feel like my ancestors, traditions, and beliefs stem from the United States Armed Forces. I don't know when this happened? It still feels really true for me, though.
Prof P smiled, told me that that was indeed a family, and, when I told her I was distantly related to Robert E. Lee, she laughed and called me a blueblood. She is like... okay, I don't know how many of you have seen Gilmore Girls, and frankly I am ashamed to even have to use it as an example, but she reminds me of Rory's Korean friend, but older and just a zillion times more kickass.
Now, I'm torn! The syllabus clearly states that the workload is pretty intense, but I love the professor-and this isn't just because she made a good first impression. There are multiple people in my class who have sought out this teacher again and again, just to take her classes. One girl has taken everything this professor has to offer at UCSB. She sounds like a gem, and this was apparently a hard class to get into. Suggestions are welcome.
Milton:
I was actually underwhelmed by this one, which is a bit of a bummer because it's the only CCS class I've taken so far (my first Tale of Genji class is on Monday). It was heavily discussion-based, which I normally like, but I don't really feel like we came to any conclusions? Like, most of the class-the professor included-thought that “On the Morning of Christ's Nativity” was a really happy poem, because, hooray, Jesus is here now. However, I noticed that most of the stanza talked about the death of all of the old gods. For example, it specifically mentions Apollo losing his sight, which struck me as a kind of horrific image. I asked my peers, “Can you imagine being able to see the future for your entire life, and then, suddenly, you don't? I would freak out.” People thought that I was taking the imagery too literally, but I don't think it was any more literal than Christ being born.
Prof O'C wasn't the best mediator, unfortunately. He's never taught a CCS class before, and it showed, I think. I hope this class picks up, because I like the people in it and Milton is hard, but eh.
It probably doesn't hold up to well, because I had it yesterday and it was totally eclipsed by the awesome that is Japanese 1.
Japanese 1:
What surprises me the most is just how much I've learned already! It's mostly review of what I've already picked up from anime and Jpop, but we're learning hiragana at a mean rate, and I can already sort of recognize some letters! YES. Also everyone is really nice and the TA tries to pronounce “Armstrong” with a Japanese accent, even though it's difficult. “Hilary” triply so. (“Hee-ra-ree,” but like. Way, way more difficult.)
The workload seems manageable, Prof C is... okay, the professor is adorable. She's this tiny, bouncy Japanese woman who is just so happy you are interested in Japanese, and says “so desu ka” in the cutest way... like, if giggling were words. I want to stay in this class so bad it is palpable, like people around the room feel the pressure and go “damn, this girl wants to stay in this class!”
It's like that.
I don't really have much to say, but if I didn't answer a question, just ask me in the comments! Tonight, I'm going to a showing of the new Star Trek movie with two people from my high school (E. S. and L. K., I don't know if you know the latter, Mom, but the former hangs out with J. D. If you're really curious, I'll just tell you). Hooray for things changing and staying the same!