The Social Necessity of Certification

I agree with the movie Good Will Hunting where it talks about that you don't need to go to school to learn things. How it's silly that people can learn amazing things for free at a local library, but instead pay thousands to go to school to learn the same things. I think that the drive to get a certificate saying that you know things is only a social necessity. We go to school because
1. we are lazy and tend to not push ourselves to learn things on our own
2. we have the often wrong idea that a piece of paper saying someone knows something insures that they (a) know it and (b) will use it properly for your advantage
3. we like to look smart.

I find that when I read at home I read scifi/fantasy, basically mind candy. When I read at Starbucks, basketball games, or Borders ... you know, somewhere public, I tend to read smart sounding books. In fact, I go to Borders and Starbucks sometimes because I know that I will read something worthwhile there. Just like when I exercise in public I do a much better job of it than when I exercise in private (if I even bother exercising in private, more often I sleep in). I want complete strangers to think well of me and approve of my smart and healthy behaviors. My social drive actually does a lot for me. If it weren't for others I would be a dumb, fat, slob.

In a gym I like the idea that I fit in with all the healthy looking individuals around me. I strive to be healthy with them. In a school I like the idea that I fit in with all the smart people around me. I strive to fit in. In my Christian workplace I like that I'm surrounded by people who are trying to be good God-lovers. I strive to love God better. Maybe others, like me, lack the personal motivation, but have a basic desire to better ourselves, and so we put ourselves in situations where we feel forced to do what is healthy for us.

Lots of people say that we are dumb in groups "stupidity by committee" and all that, but I suggest that it is often groups that motivate us to be better as well. It all depends on the group that you choose.

"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but the companions of fools suffers harm."

Food for thought. Go to Starbucks and think about it.

A Treatise on Nerdiness

I think that nerdiness is the result of an over-productive passion (obsession) that is based and limited to one subject. So you could be nerdy about many different things, but only on a one-at-a-time basis. For example you can have a math nerd, a science nerd, a one-line joke nerd, and, my beautiful husband who is currently being passionately nerdy about cooking a good meal for our friends who are coming over. The thing? Nerds are kinda cute - especially when their obsession produces good things. ;D

facts and suches

In my cooking class the kids are making gingerbread houses this week (the same ones Keiko and I made last year) and it's pretty darn fun. One group decided to made a gingerbread tepee, and it's pretty cute, but I think that it may have turned into a volcano.

Shooting is pretty fun for me, and interesting. Well, the shooting is fun. Josh and I go with some friends, Jeffrey and Flora. I'm an E class shooter, Josh and Flora are C class shooters, and Jeffrey is a B class shooter. For the last two weeks I have won first place in my class, but I shoot the whole time with the other three, not with people who are in the same class as I am. I am at least twice as slow as they are. Every single time I shoot with them I feel like I'm four years old again, running after Jess, not being able to do anything as well as all the people that I'm with. It's very frustrating. Josh keeps saying, "Well, next year you'll be as good as we are now" which is what I heard my entire childhood from my parents. It's not a phrase that I like hearing. In fact, I hate it. Each week I go to the indoor range and practice by myself. Each Sunday I go hoping that I'll be a little bit closer to their speed. And each match I feel like I'm the slow child again. Sigh. I hate growing character. It hurts.

the cutest thing!

Over-hearing a conversation between a Brazilian student and a Korean student about how to address mail (in America) and which side the stamp goes on. So cute!

On the sad end of things, I'm desperate for vacation. My patience with my misbehaving students is rapidly dwindling and instead of reacting calmly I'm letting them get to me. Ack! How do I love the kids that drive me nuts? (and not just the ones that are easy to love?)

I'm going shooting (at the range) after school today. That'll help a bit, but it's not a permanent love-filled fix.

A Nerdy Moment

All nerds need a moment to appreciate their hobby every now and then, here is mine:

Today my "A Frequency Dictionary of Spanish" arrived in the mail. This is a book of the most often used 5,000 words in Spanish listed NOT in alphabetical order, but in the order that they are most used in. I'm in Heaven. At word #746 I have only not known 8 of the words (from Spanish to English). I don't know how high my English to Spanish skills would be though. But the first word that I didn't know, #343 reads as follows, "ello pron it (subj-n) ?que se perdia con ello?" (obviously the first question mark is upside-down and I'm missing the accent marks on que and perdia).

This word, "ello", utterly confounds me. For years I have been telling poor pathetic Spanish 1, 2, anad 3 students that there is no such word as "ello" because they figure that since the singular ella turns into the plural ellas, that logically the plural ellos reverts back into the singular ello instead of the actual word "el with an accent on the e". Sigh. There would be a word called ello. What I don't get is who on Earth ever uses this word? I speak Spanish and hear it all the time and in all my 12 years of this language I have never heard this word except in mistaken students. Who uses this word so much that it ranks above important words like "hand" and "room?"!?! Where are they? Is is just some random guy who sits in a room all day saying "ello" to make up for the billions of Spanish speakers who NEVER say this word? Or did they all get together and say, "Hey, we'll trick her. Whatever you do, don't say ello in front of her. Boy, this will be a good joke!"

#343. my downfall.

sigh.

it's been a while

Well ... I've been busy teaching and living and enjoying my new place for the past month and a half. Josh and I are still saving for a house. He was so sweet this week and bought me my first real Christmas tree for our place. Today I won the shooting competition for my class. I'm really enjoying shooting but I want to be able to practice a lot more and kick everyone else's butt! Basketball season has officially started. We had a tournament this last week and won 2nd place, which for these pre-season tournaments is pretty darn good. Our first game of the season is this week.

It's funny, last year bb felt all-consuming, but after the real all-consumption of last summer, I realize now that I still have time for lots of hanging out and relaxation. This year is just all around a LOT easier than last.

Dee's back is hurting her, so we won't be doing the 1/2 marathon this January. I'm really sorry that she's not doing well, and I'm sorry that I won't get that great runner's body, but I'm not so sorry about missing the hours and hours of running.

It's been really fun to TA the mountain bike class this semester. As fun as road riding is, I honestly just enjoy mountain biking more. Maybe because of all those memories of me and dad ... and then me and Josh in the early years. Road is fun, but not as alive as mountain.

Josh is doing well. Each week he comes up with something different that he wants to buy, but he's actually only buying new stuff about once a month, which is down a lot from a year ago (yay).

So ... over all life is pretty darn good. And I have to say that the cynic in me is just trying to enjoy it while it lasts because I know this world too well to think that happiness can exist for very long.

it's been a while