Can you believe we'll be in Paris in less than 2 weeks!!! I decided a have a lot of reading to do beforehand, so I went to the library yesterday and now have been on a crazy reading streak. I should be writing that paper or cleaning or something. So, since yesterday afternoon, I have read 2 books and am starting another.
Versaille was an interesting book but kind of cryptic and not what I expected. It described Versaille, all the rooms, etc. etc. in terms of the life of Marie Antoinette. Quite interesting. Made me feel a bit sorry for the poor Queen as well as very excited to see Versailles. I read all the history of the building on the official Versailles web page as well.
I also read The Sun Also Rises, possibly my first Hemingway, but maybe not. I didn't particularly like it. First thing I did when I woke up this morning was check out SparkNotes and try to figure out why this book was famous and if I was missing something. The dialogue was definately more modern than books that came before it. I liked it much bettter than Great Gatsby (I enjoyed the style much more) but they both are novels that seem centered around debauchery (on a side note - none of the kids I tutor know this ward ... they all think it means like virtuous).
I am also reading this book called something like Olympia, Paris in the age of Manet or something like that. I have read tons of books about artists lately, so I was pretty familiar with Manet's life to being with. At first I was not so impressed with Manet's paintings, but I have to admit they are really growing on me, now. I really enjoy them and am thinking about going to the Museum of Fine Arts again to check out the Manet's that are there. I haven't been to the museum in so long, it will be good to make one last stop before I go. Speaking of which, Katsu and I really need to go see the Fogg art museum and I am still bummed we didn't get time to go to the MOMA. Another day, I guess.
Well, I really better work on that paper or clean or something (especially since bookclub is at my house).
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Coming Up ...
This weekend is Katsu's graduation (his Master's is done!!! YEAH!!!). It is exciting because he didn't walk last year for his bachelors. Unfortunately, it looks like it is going to rain ... again ... it was pouring last year and they passed out poncho's to the entire crowd waiting in the field. And this year, the speaker at BU is the president of Afghanistan so security will be crazy. But, Katsu's brother Kiyo is coming in from London to see the graduation so we are really excited about that. We'll post pictures afterwards.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
Amanda's Thoughts of the Day
I checked out a set of lectures from the Boston Public Library (which I am going to miss SO much when we move) called "The History of English Language" by Professor Seth Lerer. It's a set of 36 lectures on 18 CD's - half an hour a lecture. Anyways, I have truly enjoyed them and just finished them today. I learned a lot about language that I never knew before which I really enjoyed. I also feel like my brain expands just listening to these things. I kind of regret that I wasn't able to study liberal arts that much in college - engineering only leaves you with so much time. I feel as though studying the liberal arts really expands your brain and lets you learn and understand the world in so many different ways.
Anyways, this brings up so many thoughts and issues about language:
Is one language better than another? More complicated than another? I would first say, no, but then the person who really spread these ideas (Noam Chomsky) sure took these thoughts to very liberal conclusions that I don't think I agree with. Does believing in a lingual relativism require believing in a moral or any other kind of relativism?
Is there a reason for promoting a standard English in schools? Should there be a standard English? Is African-American English any worse than normal language or simply different? When people speak differently than we do (i.e. with a different dialect, different pronunciation) are they any worse than us? Any less literate?
I think one of the interesting ideas from this course is that how can speaking a different dialect make one person more or less literate. More or less intelligent. In fact, a great many of the debates around language really center around politics. It used to be that a high class person in Middle English spoke French and Latin. However, as speaking solely English came back into fashion with the emergence of Modern English, the high-class person now spoke the London dialect with the "proper" spelling. How much do we use these same sort of ideas to judge the language of another?
More questions ... if language is constantly changing and is a dynamic creature, what is the value of learning proper grammar and spelling in schools? Is "proper" English neccessary if we can communicate? Is it simply a desire to ensure that our offspring stay in the correct social class and communicate likewise? Interesting questions, indeed. I wonder if with the new emphasis on grammar on the SAT, if grammer will be taught more thoroughly, especially in high school. Many question the learning and importance grammar in these veins, and yet, I still see value in grammar, especially as it helps students to be better writers.
And of course, that's not even brushing on spelling. Should we use historical and pseudo-historical spelling as we do, or should we have a phonological spelling?
Well, enough interesting questions for the day. But it's a lot to think about. I never really thought so much about language and the debates that will continually flood our society about it.
Amanda
Anyways, this brings up so many thoughts and issues about language:
Is one language better than another? More complicated than another? I would first say, no, but then the person who really spread these ideas (Noam Chomsky) sure took these thoughts to very liberal conclusions that I don't think I agree with. Does believing in a lingual relativism require believing in a moral or any other kind of relativism?
Is there a reason for promoting a standard English in schools? Should there be a standard English? Is African-American English any worse than normal language or simply different? When people speak differently than we do (i.e. with a different dialect, different pronunciation) are they any worse than us? Any less literate?
I think one of the interesting ideas from this course is that how can speaking a different dialect make one person more or less literate. More or less intelligent. In fact, a great many of the debates around language really center around politics. It used to be that a high class person in Middle English spoke French and Latin. However, as speaking solely English came back into fashion with the emergence of Modern English, the high-class person now spoke the London dialect with the "proper" spelling. How much do we use these same sort of ideas to judge the language of another?
More questions ... if language is constantly changing and is a dynamic creature, what is the value of learning proper grammar and spelling in schools? Is "proper" English neccessary if we can communicate? Is it simply a desire to ensure that our offspring stay in the correct social class and communicate likewise? Interesting questions, indeed. I wonder if with the new emphasis on grammar on the SAT, if grammer will be taught more thoroughly, especially in high school. Many question the learning and importance grammar in these veins, and yet, I still see value in grammar, especially as it helps students to be better writers.
And of course, that's not even brushing on spelling. Should we use historical and pseudo-historical spelling as we do, or should we have a phonological spelling?
Well, enough interesting questions for the day. But it's a lot to think about. I never really thought so much about language and the debates that will continually flood our society about it.
Amanda
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Happy Mother's Day
Happy Mother's Day, everyone!!!!!
We are busy getting ready to move and such. We have packed up quite a bit and have gotten most of the things we need for our trip to Europe. I am getting so excited!!!! It will be nice to move ... we only have 3 more Sundays at church - only 3 more weeks of Primary, yeah!!!
Katsu is graduating in just a couple weeks now. His brother, Kiyo, will be here from London, which we are very excited about. Katsu has to close the building he is a resident assistant for on Monday, so I will be in charge of entertaining Kiyo. I don't know what we'll do yet. Hopefully it will be good weather and I can take him around the Freedom Trail. Honestly, I am tempted to drive down to Newport and get one more day out of our year's pass to the mansions ... hmmm ... I miss the mansions down there.
Our friend Crystal came and visited us today. It was nice to see an old friend. At first, it was a bit unfamiliar as it has been a long time since we've spent time together. But after awhile, it was just like old times, esp. after Katsu's laughing attack.
I am trying to write up a paper to hopefully publish in the ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) about the physics program that I helped with this semester, trying to increase the retention and grades of freshman women engineering students. I hope I can finish it - all the administrators seem somewhat doubtful, but it is at least something to keep me busy. I can't believe I only have 4 tutoring sessions left! I am almost done! Hopefully, I can pick up some more business in Michigan.
Check out my tutoring webpage:
www.geocities.com/amandafunai
Well, that's about all for our life lately! Happy Mom's Day
We are busy getting ready to move and such. We have packed up quite a bit and have gotten most of the things we need for our trip to Europe. I am getting so excited!!!! It will be nice to move ... we only have 3 more Sundays at church - only 3 more weeks of Primary, yeah!!!
Katsu is graduating in just a couple weeks now. His brother, Kiyo, will be here from London, which we are very excited about. Katsu has to close the building he is a resident assistant for on Monday, so I will be in charge of entertaining Kiyo. I don't know what we'll do yet. Hopefully it will be good weather and I can take him around the Freedom Trail. Honestly, I am tempted to drive down to Newport and get one more day out of our year's pass to the mansions ... hmmm ... I miss the mansions down there.
Our friend Crystal came and visited us today. It was nice to see an old friend. At first, it was a bit unfamiliar as it has been a long time since we've spent time together. But after awhile, it was just like old times, esp. after Katsu's laughing attack.
I am trying to write up a paper to hopefully publish in the ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) about the physics program that I helped with this semester, trying to increase the retention and grades of freshman women engineering students. I hope I can finish it - all the administrators seem somewhat doubtful, but it is at least something to keep me busy. I can't believe I only have 4 tutoring sessions left! I am almost done! Hopefully, I can pick up some more business in Michigan.
Check out my tutoring webpage:
www.geocities.com/amandafunai
Well, that's about all for our life lately! Happy Mom's Day
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Graduation
Yesterday was my graduation. It was a long busy day for all of us. We had to get there before 8:00 to line up at the Fleet Center - the huge stadium where the Boston Celtics and the Bruins play their basketball and hockey games. I was picked to be a class marshal because I had the highest GPA in my class. So, I had to carry the flag. It was actually kind of fun and I was one of the very first people to get my diploma. They did the speed-version of giving out diplomas. They had four lines - a set of people gave you your diploma, you walked up the stage and took a picture with your dean, and then you walk back down the stairs. And each of the lines is doing the same thing - so it is totally crazy. They don't say anyone's name and you share your .5 seconds of fame with 3 other people, at least. But it was fun. The music had a lot of energy - wasn't the old normal graduation music. And they said my name when I put the flag in the front of the auditorium. Fun day.
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