well, my spring semester has officially started.
let me see, i'm not up to my eyeballs with homework, yet. i do have a lot of reading to do, however. i'm suppose to be reading "Mexican Mosaic" by Buchenau (?) and Cicero, and some other online readings that i have not yet gotten to.
so let's talk about what's going on so far:
in ancient rome: we are discussing the geography of rome. so we won't be lost and know exactly where the professor is when he speaks about the seven hills of rome. i think that pretty much covers the first week. we also had a trip to the library on friday, so that we can get started on our research papers.
i picked up an English class with Dr. Heckler on Friday. i had pretty much promised myself, my husband, and my kids that i would NOT take 5 classes. but, if i want to finish in this millennia, i really need to. so i'm taking language and culture...so far it has been a repeat or blend of grammar and descriptive linguistics from last semester. arbitrary rings a bell, and so does prescriptive and descriptive grammar/language.
in mexican cinema: we have literally sprinted through thousands of years of mexican history in a week. from the people that walked across the berring straits to the calderon election. a very compact, concise (not very detailed history), but enough to get us started on our first movie tomorrow.
in contemporary mexico: we are covering the same thing as mentioned above (it is the same professor) up until benito juarez (yesterday). the class will cover 1910-present. so, i think we are just about to start on the real class material.
in world civ. II: guess what? it is pretty much starting with columbus, cortes, the treaty of tordesillas....so my life and classes pretty much feel like groundhog day (the movie). yes, again, i have heard of ysabella and ferdinand. etc., etc. i think we are suppose to have a quiz today. lucky for me, i lost my folder with my notes on friday at pan-am.
what i know:
this is semester is going to pick up speed and come at me fast and furious. i need to prepare. i guess that means that i should stop blogging and get ready for class.
interesting coincidence, though. in my hemingway class, my professor explained to us the significance of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Well, my civ II professor in speaking of spain, said that the best paella he has ever eaten was in Santiago de Compostela. so i guess i have to someday visit the place for its historic significance and for its awesome paella. don't you think?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
spring comes early
well, so much for loving my semester break. :(
i received an early email from one of my professors, who is anxious to dive into Ancient Rome. hmm? what i'm trying to decide is whether or not this is a good thing. yes, i can get a head start on one of my classes. no, i don't to start worrying about my classes.
oh, well...
Shall we dive in?
the first book is The Nature of the Gods by Cicero. so, i made the long trek to the university bookstore today to buy it. i have started on the introduction and have had to stop to look up 2 things. (and please forgive me if i sound stupid!)
1. what does Hellenistic mean? i'm sure i was suppose to have learned that in my civ I class, but it just doesn't ring ANY bells.
well, according to the merriam-webster definition it is:
of or relating to Greek history, culture, or art after Alexander the Great.
of or relating to the Hellenists, which is a person living in Hellenistic times who was Greek in language, outlook, and way of life but was not Greek in ancestry.
2. what does the translator mean when he writes, "This early acquaintance with prominent figures...made him the most highly educate of emergent orators when he embarked on a forensic career in his mid-twenties.."
surely, Cicero was not part of CSI, right? or would it be RSI for Rome Special Investigation. what does CSI even mean? i never watch the show.
no, my dear reader, upon further investigation into the merriam webster dictionary, i believe forensic means his public career. the definition is: belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts of judicature, or to public discussion and debate.
o.k. so now i've moved past page xv. i still have a lot of pages left in the introduction. i wonder how much more "research" i will have to do in order to get through this book.
i'm going to spend another 10 minutes reading and call it a night.
bonsoir et bonne annee!
i received an early email from one of my professors, who is anxious to dive into Ancient Rome. hmm? what i'm trying to decide is whether or not this is a good thing. yes, i can get a head start on one of my classes. no, i don't to start worrying about my classes.
oh, well...
Shall we dive in?
the first book is The Nature of the Gods by Cicero. so, i made the long trek to the university bookstore today to buy it. i have started on the introduction and have had to stop to look up 2 things. (and please forgive me if i sound stupid!)
1. what does Hellenistic mean? i'm sure i was suppose to have learned that in my civ I class, but it just doesn't ring ANY bells.
well, according to the merriam-webster definition it is:
of or relating to Greek history, culture, or art after Alexander the Great.
of or relating to the Hellenists, which is a person living in Hellenistic times who was Greek in language, outlook, and way of life but was not Greek in ancestry.
2. what does the translator mean when he writes, "This early acquaintance with prominent figures...made him the most highly educate of emergent orators when he embarked on a forensic career in his mid-twenties.."
surely, Cicero was not part of CSI, right? or would it be RSI for Rome Special Investigation. what does CSI even mean? i never watch the show.
no, my dear reader, upon further investigation into the merriam webster dictionary, i believe forensic means his public career. the definition is: belonging to, used in, or suitable to courts of judicature, or to public discussion and debate.
o.k. so now i've moved past page xv. i still have a lot of pages left in the introduction. i wonder how much more "research" i will have to do in order to get through this book.
i'm going to spend another 10 minutes reading and call it a night.
bonsoir et bonne annee!
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