It is interesting how much time I have available to me this semester. I feel like I am not doing anything. Busy, but not at all stressed about school. I even have an exam today in 3 hours and I am done studying for it and not worried in the slightest that I am online goofing off. Because of all of this free time that I am not used to having, I decided that it was time for me to work on a project that has been on my mind for a while.
I am taking pictures of the letters of the alphabet. So far I have A, B, C, S, and W. They were cute pictures from around the house that I just went around with my camera. I still need to just take a nice little walk around SLC and find all the letters. I would like to have enough letters for 3-4 full alphabets of unique letters for future projects.
I would like to get a SHURDHA name frame by the end of the year for our family wall. If I were rich, I would go back to Al's trophies and frames and get a group of frames with matting that I could use in the future for the family wall so that the frames would match Endrit and I's wedding picture. I may just do that next year after I pay off the student loans. It would be expensive, but it would be a good thing I think. Who knows if I actually do this.
9/30/09
9/24/09
Muse
I am a fan of music. I like most everything accept rap and country. Even those I can stand for a while depending on the artist. Because of this I have a wide range of musicians that I listen to. I love Pandora. I have several stations that I have made depending on my moods. One is all classical piano music. One is my emo/gothic music station. One is my punk station. One is my church music station.
It has been hard for me to find a favorite artist because it depends on my mood and the day someone asks. Well, I think I have my favorite musical group. Muse. I like this band because there is songs for every mood. Even on their latest album they have a "symphony" in 3 parts. It also has rock songs my Dad even likes. It has taken me a while to determine that above all, I like this band. The writer of the songs is a conspiracy theorist and it comes out in the lyrics as well as his love of science. I am not sure about the conspiracy theories, but I do like the science songs. Here is a you tube smattering of songs that I like.
Feeling Good
Newborn
Stockholm Syndrome
Thoughts of a Dying Atheist
Sunburn
Citizen Erased
Butterflies and Hurricanes
It has been hard for me to find a favorite artist because it depends on my mood and the day someone asks. Well, I think I have my favorite musical group. Muse. I like this band because there is songs for every mood. Even on their latest album they have a "symphony" in 3 parts. It also has rock songs my Dad even likes. It has taken me a while to determine that above all, I like this band. The writer of the songs is a conspiracy theorist and it comes out in the lyrics as well as his love of science. I am not sure about the conspiracy theories, but I do like the science songs. Here is a you tube smattering of songs that I like.
Feeling Good
Newborn
Stockholm Syndrome
Thoughts of a Dying Atheist
Sunburn
Citizen Erased
Butterflies and Hurricanes
9/21/09
Problem Student
This might come as a shock to some of you, others it might fit in with your established view of me, but I am usually labeled as a "problem student." In most of my classes this is the case ranging from Elementary to University. In my memories in high school I was going strong as a problem student but teachers looked past it because of my 4.0. They don't like to mess with the smart kids. Well, in University it seems like your grade is dependent upon how much you can kiss up to the teacher. I have not been one to do this, there presents the problem. There is a class that I am in right now that should be 2 classes. There are way to many students for it to work in the way the teacher wants it to work. Large group discussions with 5 people raising their hands and the teacher specifically glancing over you because you are too opinionated just doesn't work. Small group discussions work.
Today I got reprimanded by my teacher. It is a class about becoming an ally for culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Right now that is a huge passion of mine and I have experiences that she will shut down because they are the "white" experience. Because my group likes to talk about things like this, even during the break and before class, we sometimes strike up a small conversation within the larger conversation as it fits our need. We get reprimanded for talking more in depth about the issues. She should know that her teaching methods don't work with the current population of students she is working with. Why are her experiences "better" than mine? I talk about it because I care about it. The conversations are a comment to a neighbor here and there not a low roar for the entire class.
I sent her an email. I tried to explain how paramount this issue is to me and my family. I see what happens with my in-laws and husband. It is no longer a bystander position for me. I want to learn in that class. I want to hear the experiences of the students not just one set of experiences from the vantage of one person. There is more to learn. I hope that she doesn't take offense to the email. I was tactful. I told her the importance these issues have to me. I don't want to fail the class because I have something to say along with all the other people who have something to say that don't get a chance to say because of the classroom structure. It is the classroom structure that labels me as a problem student. I don't work well in that environment and an education department should understand that.
Today I got reprimanded by my teacher. It is a class about becoming an ally for culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Right now that is a huge passion of mine and I have experiences that she will shut down because they are the "white" experience. Because my group likes to talk about things like this, even during the break and before class, we sometimes strike up a small conversation within the larger conversation as it fits our need. We get reprimanded for talking more in depth about the issues. She should know that her teaching methods don't work with the current population of students she is working with. Why are her experiences "better" than mine? I talk about it because I care about it. The conversations are a comment to a neighbor here and there not a low roar for the entire class.
I sent her an email. I tried to explain how paramount this issue is to me and my family. I see what happens with my in-laws and husband. It is no longer a bystander position for me. I want to learn in that class. I want to hear the experiences of the students not just one set of experiences from the vantage of one person. There is more to learn. I hope that she doesn't take offense to the email. I was tactful. I told her the importance these issues have to me. I don't want to fail the class because I have something to say along with all the other people who have something to say that don't get a chance to say because of the classroom structure. It is the classroom structure that labels me as a problem student. I don't work well in that environment and an education department should understand that.
9/19/09
9/18/09
Camcorder Pics
Endrit and I got our camcorder today. I LOVE it. It is small and user friendly. Now I just need to get a tripod and figure out the subject matter of the first video...of course it will include the grandkids:)
Here it is!
9/17/09
Student Teaching
Okay. I have told you that I wanted to student teach at SLCSE for a while. Well, it isn't going to happen. I am okay with that. I observed another teacher that I would like to teach with. I also need to go and observe a couple more teachers. I go and meet with the one teacher I really like tomorrow. It will be fun.
Favorite part.
Chapter 111 of The Lost Symbol is my favorite chapter. I will quote a very short part of it that made it my favorite chapter.
"'Timing aside,' Solomon said, 'I find it wondrous to note that throughout history, all of mankind's disparate philosophies have all concurred on one thing - that a great enlightenment is coming. In every culture, in every era, in every corner of the world, the human dream has focused on the same exact concept - the coming apotheosis of man...the impending transformation of our human minds into their true potentiality.' He smiled. 'What could possibly explain such a synchronicity of beliefs?'
'Truth,' said a quiet voice in the crowd.
Solomon wheeled. 'Who said that?'
The hand that went up belonged to a tiny Asian boy whose soft features suggested he might be Nepalese or Tibetan. 'Maybe there is a universal truth embedded in everyone's soul. Maybe we all have that same story hiding inside, like a shared constant in our DNA. Maybe this collective truth is responsible for the similarity in all of our stories.'
Solomon was beaming as he pressed his hands together and bowed reverently to the boy. 'Thank you.'"
So cool.
"'Timing aside,' Solomon said, 'I find it wondrous to note that throughout history, all of mankind's disparate philosophies have all concurred on one thing - that a great enlightenment is coming. In every culture, in every era, in every corner of the world, the human dream has focused on the same exact concept - the coming apotheosis of man...the impending transformation of our human minds into their true potentiality.' He smiled. 'What could possibly explain such a synchronicity of beliefs?'
'Truth,' said a quiet voice in the crowd.
Solomon wheeled. 'Who said that?'
The hand that went up belonged to a tiny Asian boy whose soft features suggested he might be Nepalese or Tibetan. 'Maybe there is a universal truth embedded in everyone's soul. Maybe we all have that same story hiding inside, like a shared constant in our DNA. Maybe this collective truth is responsible for the similarity in all of our stories.'
Solomon was beaming as he pressed his hands together and bowed reverently to the boy. 'Thank you.'"
So cool.
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