I Heart Education

Elli is on my lap and I think Jackie went upstairs, so perfect time to write. I was reading over a few of my blog entries from the last few years. The post I made at 750words.com yesterday I used as a blog post after some revision. It's good. In fact, some of my other posts are written well also. My writing is kind of bouncy and meandering and fun to read, even a little entertaining. And in no way is it all positive rosy depictions of life. Not at all. But I think I address reality, somewhat. I don't however post on my blog when I'm depressed. If I did that, the flavor would be totally not fun, if I got any words at all on the page. "Nothing to report." Maybe that's all I'd be able to spit out. Fun stuff. Very Eeyore-esque.

I started my blog in January of 2014, when I went back to college at the freeing age of 44, as an undergrad junior at Indiana University, where my husband was assistant professor. I was pretty convinced he would get tenure, we would stay in Bloomington, and our son would attend IU also. I thought if I was attending, he would be able to see me study, kind of modeling the behaviors of a college student. And I did. I studied and read and wrote fiction and poetry and research papers. A lot of my work at that time just ended up taking me away from my kids. But I was convinced the modeling would end up being a good idea. Then, of course, Steve did not get tenure and we had one year to prepare to move. Which is a long time, ample time to perform all the tasks of relocation well, but too long if you're not really into saying goodbyes. Steve moved in January of last year, and the kids and I followed in July. We have now lived here for 6 months.

What's that? Do I miss college? Do I want to go back? Good questions. I miss some of it: the structure provided by the attendance of classes and the bus schedules, the topics of creative writing and world literature were really fun to dive into. What I don't miss is sitting with all these 19 year olds at the age of 44. If I saw a class buddy in the hall at another time in the week, a very limited "Hi" was sometimes pushing it. I wasn't there to be social, though class time was the most socializing I had done aside from church in years. I loved it. But not one of my professors was older than me. I'm not being age-ist, but as sometimes happens with age, we think we've learned a few things over the years, and someone who has not been there yet cannot possibly see things the same way. It was an odd combination, not being as knowledgeable as my professors---or even as many other students!---but having experienced more of LIFE. Very weird. I loved the tasks, the studying, the writing assignments, the books. God, I love the books.

So, recently, I went into a college bookstore, and browsed the shelves, recognizing, "Oh, I remember taking English 101..." and passing quickly by the accounting and nursing sections. I was drawn to some textbooks, some lit books and lots of others, but settled on buying 6 books to bring home and study in my own time. What a great idea! I can spend a little bit of money on books at a discount college book store, and map out my own course of study for them in whatever topic I choose! Which actually is really close to my previous approaches to attending 5 different schools altogether. I never cared about the degree I would receive at the end. I was loving the learning. Best times in my life. Could it be possible to get a good education of a topic by choosing to read and maybe give myself some writing and research assignments? And, if I liked a topic so so much, I could find more resources to study in 201, 301, and 401 advanced classes. Of course, all this studying would enrich my life incredibly, or so I assume, but would it help me get related employment in the case of my husband no longer bringing in the bacon? That would be a "no." Unless I could impress someone in an interview, displaying all the knowledge I retained and was able to retrieve appropriately at any given time. HA! I guess it's possible.

World Lit Canon

Home-Spun Narratives
*Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro
*Buddha's Orphans by Samrat Upadhyay

Immigrant Tales
*The Thing Around Your Neck by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
*Open City by Teju Cole
*There Are No Elders by Austin Clarke
*This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz
*That Blackfella Blood Sucka Dance! by D. Bruno Starrs

About Me Blog (World Lit)

What is your major and why did you choose it? I am a junior, majoring in English with an emphasis or minor in Creative and/or Professional Writing. At the end of all that, I plan on getting a certificate to teach secondary education. I choose English because I am absolutely drawn to words! I’m compulsive about editing. I can’t help but count the grammar and spelling errors in everything I read. I choose Creative Writing because I enjoy painting a picture with words. I choose professional writing because… why not? Best job in the world, to write for a living. Lastly, I choose high school English teacher because I want to try to make those classes enjoyable and fun for the students. For every type of personality, for every interest, there is a book. Everyone should love reading. Where have you traveled in the world? In 1997, I lived in a small town near Wiesbaden, Germany, on the Rhine River. My husband was getting his International MBA from Pepperdine in California, and his second year he went to The Business School in Oestrich-Winkel. We lived in Eltville, a town with famous vineyards up on the hills behind the old castle and church. We took walks down by the Rhine River, which borders the south. In the morning, we would walk to the bakery and buy fresh pretzel rolls, called Laugenbroetchen, or just broetchen. Before leaving for Germany, I took a seven-week course on speaking German, which helped a bit. We attend church there, and though I didn’t understand but a few words, the music was lovely. Also, for vacation while in Germany, we traveled to Venice, Florence and Rome, Italy, and Prague, CR. What country would you like to visit and why? I would love to visit Norway. The fjords with small towns look amazing. My husband lived there for two years, and he is passionate when he talks about it. We look forward to taking our kids to Europe, to see where we lived and visited, and to make new memories with them in new places. My son went to Mexico City last summer with his school, and I would love for him to show me around there someday. What area of the world would you like to know more about and why? I am open to learning about any location, really. I enjoy the history (if it is taught by a passionate teacher or tour guide,) the food and the culture. If I had to choose one place, I would love to know more about the regions and small towns of Italy. Walking around the tourist areas of Venice, for instance, is lots of fun, but cutting through back streets and alleys where laundry is hung out the window and children play in the streets holds my attention much longer.