So, seeing as I apparently decided that Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese weren't enough, I have added Thai to the languages I am learning.
It's bad.
Really bad.
And I love it~
Also filling out the application for the TaLK program. It would mean a gap of one to two years in my university studies, (unless I manage to attend a uni there as an international student) but I'm alright with that.
On a side note, I never really gave much credence to the 'school doesn't quantify you as a person' thing. I was always the one with the good grades, did my homework faithfully, studied and all that.
However, now, in university, I can understand from where that stems.
In my university classes so far, I have been poked fun at by one of my professors for my political beliefs, realized that, while the class is called 'Literary Interpretation', it should read 'The Professor's Interpretation of the Literature', told that I would understand the world more thoroughly if I just set aside my own curiosity, taken to task for thinking creatively, and reminded that my own mind and thoughts aren't worth anything in the eyes of my professors.
Now, had this been just one or two professors, I could handle it. Not an issue. However, it's been multiple professors spanning a decade of schooling and 5 different institutes of higher learning.
I've been told that not doing well in university would prevent me from getting decent jobs.
That it shows that I'm not a 'team player'.
That I can't be more than a blip on the radar with average or, heavens forbid, below-average grades.
That my life will be dictated by numbers given to me on an arbitrary scale of grading based on whether I showed up to class, answered questions, memorized facts and spit them back out.
That these professors hold my entire future in their hands.
I'm not okay with that thought process.
I will admit, I'm not the greatest student. I can do deadlines like no one's business, but I learn in a way that doesn't gel with the classroom curriculum of university now. I prefer to study it myself, to go through the process to get an answer in a way that makes me understand. I don't like classrooms. People learn at different rates, and listening to the same question being asked in different formats when the answer was in the reading for that day just makes me want to stay home, study there, and show up for the test. Which I have done. And passed the class with flying colors. Unfortunately, despite the fact that I am paying to attend school, professors and universities have decided that attendance somehow reflects on your skill as a student.
I am sorry. I have met people who go to classes religiously and still fail. I have met people, of whom I am one, who can only show up for the test and pass without issue. It isn't whether you are there or not that dictates your ability to learn. It is how well the information is processed. I don't need to sit in a classroom three days a week for two hours to listen to the handful of people who didn't read the assigned reading asking very stupid questions. To be honest, I consider that a waste of time that I could be using on something more productive.
I am, however, an intense, driven, curious learner.
I am more than willing to devote hours to learning about something I've never heard of previous to it being mentioned in conversation or on a website.
I love to find out new things.
I believe that you can learn more about life living it that you can reading about it.
I am more than capable of testing on whatever it is that you so desire to test me on, and if I don't know it, you can bet your lunch money I'll be looking into it.
I don't expect that people will care about my university GPA in 5 years time. I think that my understanding of the world as it works outside of the classroom will make more of a difference.
It's just frustrating that I require to tend to my GPA like a sick kitten in order to be able to show my ability.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
You know, sometimes I hate me.
Have you ever known that person what wants something or likes something so much that they pretty much take on every task related to said like/love/desire/obsession?
That's me.
Stupid, crazy, insane me. I won't feel like this in two weeks, but, for now, with midterms looming and my knowledge of my languages feeling millions of miles away, it's understandable.
However, I refuse to let that stop me. I have a goal, and I won't stop until I reach that goal. *Nods*
That will not stop me, though, from freaking right the hell out about it for now.
That's me.
Stupid, crazy, insane me. I won't feel like this in two weeks, but, for now, with midterms looming and my knowledge of my languages feeling millions of miles away, it's understandable.
However, I refuse to let that stop me. I have a goal, and I won't stop until I reach that goal. *Nods*
That will not stop me, though, from freaking right the hell out about it for now.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Ahahahahahahahaha!!!!
So, after almost one full semester of classes, I can no longer keep a straight face in either my Japanese or Chinese classes. Thanks to my classmates, whom I adore (most of the time), I have a TON of hilarious stuff to think about every time I do my Japanese homework or open my Chinese textbook. I've made a short list of things talked about or said in classes:
We'll start with my Japanese class:
'Why is Hitler buying a wallet?' - Spoken about a drawn picture of a man what looked a lot like Hitler buying a wallet. Not kidding.
'Oishii desu ka.' (Is that delicious?) - Spoken by my groupmate while pointing to: Shoes, another group members crotch, and my boobs. In front of class.
'Booshi desu ka.' (Is that a hat?) - Spoken whilst pointing ANYWHERE.
'Watashi wa whatever you just said negative tense.' - One of my favorites.
Teacher: 'What does Mary-san need?' (Picture of Mary standing IN FRONT OF THE RESTROOM ASKING WHERE IT IS) Answer (From one of my groupmates, of course.): Glasses. Or a seeing-eye dog.
Teacher (after a mix up of nemasu and nomasu (sleep and drink)): Don't sleep the alcohol! Drink the alcohol! Sleep after.
Teacher (on bowing): Americans bow to us with their hands like this. (Prayer position). Don't pray to us. We not gods. Is funny though.
In Chinese class:
'Wo ai...wait, wo shi gong bao jidan.' Teacher: 'Ai or shi. Pick one.' 'Wo shi gong bao jidan.' (Ai means love. Shi means am. He quite literally said 'I am kung pao chicken.'
'Gao's a little brat.' 'Yeah, and Bai seems really shallow and completely oblivious.' 'Gao's never gonna manage to hit that.' 'Seriously! He invites her on a date and she tells him to bring everyone else? Either she's an idiot or a master at getting out of going on dates.' 'Maybe she's a lesbian?' 'Nah. She just wants Wang Peng.' 'Li You's not going to stand for that. Wang Peng's her territory.' - This is a long, drawn out conversation about the CHARACTERS IN THE TEXTBOOK!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't stop laughing.
Not in my Chinese class, but put here because: my Chinese conversation partner said it and it made me laugh for a good ten minutes and Kevin from UKISS tweeted it:
Chinese Partner: (Discussing how much money it takes to fill up my ancient car every month) O.O 'Your car drink the gas?' 'Pretty much.' 'So much! It drink drink drink...your car DRUNK.' Even now, I can't stop laughing...
Kevin: Shi hao chi! (Written in characters (which, yes, I can read) while discussing going out for food) - Means 'I am good food.' He corrected himself later, but it just goes to show anyone can make mistakes. ^_^
The only reason I don't laugh when I'm working on Korean is because I'm self-studying that, so there's no classmates to make me laugh.
Anyway, I'ma go back to wasting time. ^_^ (It's WAY too late here to study anymore.)
Jalisse!
We'll start with my Japanese class:
'Why is Hitler buying a wallet?' - Spoken about a drawn picture of a man what looked a lot like Hitler buying a wallet. Not kidding.
'Oishii desu ka.' (Is that delicious?) - Spoken by my groupmate while pointing to: Shoes, another group members crotch, and my boobs. In front of class.
'Booshi desu ka.' (Is that a hat?) - Spoken whilst pointing ANYWHERE.
'Watashi wa whatever you just said negative tense.' - One of my favorites.
Teacher: 'What does Mary-san need?' (Picture of Mary standing IN FRONT OF THE RESTROOM ASKING WHERE IT IS) Answer (From one of my groupmates, of course.): Glasses. Or a seeing-eye dog.
Teacher (after a mix up of nemasu and nomasu (sleep and drink)): Don't sleep the alcohol! Drink the alcohol! Sleep after.
Teacher (on bowing): Americans bow to us with their hands like this. (Prayer position). Don't pray to us. We not gods. Is funny though.
In Chinese class:
'Wo ai...wait, wo shi gong bao jidan.' Teacher: 'Ai or shi. Pick one.' 'Wo shi gong bao jidan.' (Ai means love. Shi means am. He quite literally said 'I am kung pao chicken.'
'Gao's a little brat.' 'Yeah, and Bai seems really shallow and completely oblivious.' 'Gao's never gonna manage to hit that.' 'Seriously! He invites her on a date and she tells him to bring everyone else? Either she's an idiot or a master at getting out of going on dates.' 'Maybe she's a lesbian?' 'Nah. She just wants Wang Peng.' 'Li You's not going to stand for that. Wang Peng's her territory.' - This is a long, drawn out conversation about the CHARACTERS IN THE TEXTBOOK!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't stop laughing.
Not in my Chinese class, but put here because: my Chinese conversation partner said it and it made me laugh for a good ten minutes and Kevin from UKISS tweeted it:
Chinese Partner: (Discussing how much money it takes to fill up my ancient car every month) O.O 'Your car drink the gas?' 'Pretty much.' 'So much! It drink drink drink...your car DRUNK.' Even now, I can't stop laughing...
Kevin: Shi hao chi! (Written in characters (which, yes, I can read) while discussing going out for food) - Means 'I am good food.' He corrected himself later, but it just goes to show anyone can make mistakes. ^_^
The only reason I don't laugh when I'm working on Korean is because I'm self-studying that, so there's no classmates to make me laugh.
Anyway, I'ma go back to wasting time. ^_^ (It's WAY too late here to study anymore.)
Jalisse!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Of Sprained Ankles, Corn Mazes, and Flashcards
Flashcards are EVERYWHERE. On my desk, the cat perch, the floor, the file cabinet. Literally everywhere. In the center, me. The occasional swear words mixed with 'How in the hell did Korean get mixed with Chinese? And this is Japanese! Grrrr!' My roommates are wisely keeping away. Perhaps a little backstory is needed for this one.
A bit over a week ago, I sprained my ankle pretty badly. I pampered it over the weekend, and, come Monday, I was crutching around campus. Unfortunately, once I got home, I realized that had been a mistake. My ankle was still swollen, but my FOOT was five times it's usual size. A brief consensus with my grandmother (a retired ER nurse) told me that if I decided to continue with wandering around campus as I was, I would put my foot at great risk. So, for the past week or so, I've been sitting, bored, at home, studying to make sure I didn't miss anything in my classes. Which is what has led me to sit, surrounded my flashcards.
Ok, so not quite ALL week. On Friday, after three days of elevation, ice, and ace bandages so tight my toes turned purple at times, I could FINALLY walk on my foot. Having already promised to go with Japan Club to the corn maze, I went to the meeting. Two hours of making paper cranes and it was finally time to leave for the maze.
A note about this maze before I go any further. This is what was called a 'flashlight maze'. Therefore, inside the maze is pitch dark, and you use a flashlight to see your way. This was not told to us when we went, therefore only ONE person in our group of 30 brought a flashlight. Fortunately, flashlight apps on phones were available. I bought a glowstick, not so much to see by, but so that someone could find me if I got lost. ^_^
The ride there was filled with sushi and conversation about whether or not sushi should be made with avocado. Once we got there, I started chatting with a couple of people from club before we had all made it to the maze and got ready to go inside. I got separated from the people I was going to walk with, and wound up in a different group. I only knew three people, so it amused me to no end when one of them got overly-excited, started running and wound up in the mud. It had been raining for the past three days, so the ground was uneven, muddy, and very very precarious. How our ONE phone with a flashlight got passed around to the tall, skinny guys I'll never know, but that's how it wound up happening. At one point, I asked Adrian to slow down, only to hear from behind me: 'What? I'm back here.' 'Then who has the light?' 'Me.' -.- 'That helps.' After a little while, our group of about 10 had whittled down to three: Me, Adrian (the tall skinny one with the light), and Keifer, whose arm I was attached to. We had decided to keep each other upright on the slippery ground. Most of the maze, all I'd heard on my right was softly accented swearing every time he stepped in a puddle or 'Are you ok?' any time I slipped. We'd done well to keep each other out of the mud. At points, it wasn't uncommon to hear: 'Anata wa doko desu ka?' 'Koko desu!' 'Koko wa doko desu ka?!' (Where are you? I'm here! Where is here?!) We met up with people along the way, which always led to happy yelling and hugs. After a bit though, it would be just the three of us again. We picked up Vanessa, the girl I'd ridden with, at one point, and our group became four. Once Vanessa joined, the laughter just kept coming. Other than slipping into the mud numerous times, it was always Vanessa who noticed when we lost people after we'd met another group. She'd then move to the middle, in front of Keifer and I, talking about how she wasn't getting eaten by the corn people. At one point, I fell behind. Keifer was helping Vanessa stay upright until she got her bearings again, and I'd paused to readjust my pants. When I looked up, they were gone. I moved through the maze, hearing Vanessa asking about me. Then I heard Keifer yell 'I see her! I see the glowstick!' He rounded the corner and found me, and the four of us continued. After a while, Adrian's cell phone rang. I can only assume they were asking where we were, because Adrian mentioned we were still in the maze and then, after a few seconds of listening said 'WHAT?!?!' Turns out, pretty much everyone else had made it out already. Seeing as we'd let Adrian lead all night, we were still exceptionally lost. Finally, after another half an hour of wandering, or so, we emerged from the maze, laughing. Never letting Adrian lead again, THAT'S for sure.
Anyway, I has to get back to studying. :p
^_^
A bit over a week ago, I sprained my ankle pretty badly. I pampered it over the weekend, and, come Monday, I was crutching around campus. Unfortunately, once I got home, I realized that had been a mistake. My ankle was still swollen, but my FOOT was five times it's usual size. A brief consensus with my grandmother (a retired ER nurse) told me that if I decided to continue with wandering around campus as I was, I would put my foot at great risk. So, for the past week or so, I've been sitting, bored, at home, studying to make sure I didn't miss anything in my classes. Which is what has led me to sit, surrounded my flashcards.
Ok, so not quite ALL week. On Friday, after three days of elevation, ice, and ace bandages so tight my toes turned purple at times, I could FINALLY walk on my foot. Having already promised to go with Japan Club to the corn maze, I went to the meeting. Two hours of making paper cranes and it was finally time to leave for the maze.
A note about this maze before I go any further. This is what was called a 'flashlight maze'. Therefore, inside the maze is pitch dark, and you use a flashlight to see your way. This was not told to us when we went, therefore only ONE person in our group of 30 brought a flashlight. Fortunately, flashlight apps on phones were available. I bought a glowstick, not so much to see by, but so that someone could find me if I got lost. ^_^
The ride there was filled with sushi and conversation about whether or not sushi should be made with avocado. Once we got there, I started chatting with a couple of people from club before we had all made it to the maze and got ready to go inside. I got separated from the people I was going to walk with, and wound up in a different group. I only knew three people, so it amused me to no end when one of them got overly-excited, started running and wound up in the mud. It had been raining for the past three days, so the ground was uneven, muddy, and very very precarious. How our ONE phone with a flashlight got passed around to the tall, skinny guys I'll never know, but that's how it wound up happening. At one point, I asked Adrian to slow down, only to hear from behind me: 'What? I'm back here.' 'Then who has the light?' 'Me.' -.- 'That helps.' After a little while, our group of about 10 had whittled down to three: Me, Adrian (the tall skinny one with the light), and Keifer, whose arm I was attached to. We had decided to keep each other upright on the slippery ground. Most of the maze, all I'd heard on my right was softly accented swearing every time he stepped in a puddle or 'Are you ok?' any time I slipped. We'd done well to keep each other out of the mud. At points, it wasn't uncommon to hear: 'Anata wa doko desu ka?' 'Koko desu!' 'Koko wa doko desu ka?!' (Where are you? I'm here! Where is here?!) We met up with people along the way, which always led to happy yelling and hugs. After a bit though, it would be just the three of us again. We picked up Vanessa, the girl I'd ridden with, at one point, and our group became four. Once Vanessa joined, the laughter just kept coming. Other than slipping into the mud numerous times, it was always Vanessa who noticed when we lost people after we'd met another group. She'd then move to the middle, in front of Keifer and I, talking about how she wasn't getting eaten by the corn people. At one point, I fell behind. Keifer was helping Vanessa stay upright until she got her bearings again, and I'd paused to readjust my pants. When I looked up, they were gone. I moved through the maze, hearing Vanessa asking about me. Then I heard Keifer yell 'I see her! I see the glowstick!' He rounded the corner and found me, and the four of us continued. After a while, Adrian's cell phone rang. I can only assume they were asking where we were, because Adrian mentioned we were still in the maze and then, after a few seconds of listening said 'WHAT?!?!' Turns out, pretty much everyone else had made it out already. Seeing as we'd let Adrian lead all night, we were still exceptionally lost. Finally, after another half an hour of wandering, or so, we emerged from the maze, laughing. Never letting Adrian lead again, THAT'S for sure.
Anyway, I has to get back to studying. :p
^_^
Friday, October 7, 2011
Mid-terms, cat gravity, and roommates
So, here it is, 0530 hours, and I'm awake. -.- I had gone ahead and forgotten there was a time such as 0500, seeing as I'm up until about 0200 or 0230 every night studying or doing homework. The latest is usually 0330, but that's only if I'm working after school. Currently, the cause of my wakefulness at this unremembered hour is sickness, namely a cold that doesn't want to let me sleep. Fortunately, with payday tomorrow (well, technically TODAY -.-), I'll soon have medicine. ^_^
Well, 5 weeks into my journey and I've figured something out. I need a Korean tutor. Even devoting one to two hours a day to learn doesn't work so well when everything you're using to try to help you learn works at a different pace or teaches differently from the others. With mid-terms coming up in the next two weeks, the temptation has been laid to back off my Korean studies. I'm having none of it, though. So, I've opened the floodgates of e-mail, and my request for assistance is now out there somewhere, floating around in-boxes all over the net. Hopefully, someone will respond. ^_^
I'm trying to figure out if I should panic before exams now. I panicked before my first Religion in China exam, as it was rumored to be exceptionally hard. I did well. I panicked before my Chinese mid-term and also did well. I studied very hard for both exams before taking them, but worried I didn't study enough. Mid-terms are coming. If I panic now, I wonder what I'll be like when finals come around. o.o
I have been battling a homework problem as well. It's called cat gravity. For those of you unfamiliar with cat gravity, it's when you are trapped in one position because a cat has taken it upon themselves to use you as a bed/perch/lookout point/etc, and you don't want to move for fear of disturbing the cat. Sometimes it's because they look so comfortable, other times it's because you didn't move them before they fell asleep and they will claw you to ribbons if you wake them up. It usually happens without me really noticing it. I'll be doing my homework and move to adjust my seating, (I can't really sit in one position for long periods of time,) only to find my lap has been annexed by at least one, if not both, cats. Trying to adjust with them on my lap leads to my legs looking like lightly-used scratching posts. And if I happen to be eating at any point, not only is there cat gravity, there is also a tiny, self-righteous, loud kitten proclaiming that my food has become her's in its trip from kitchen to desk. Fortunately, both of these problems are easily solved by doors and headphones.
Roommates, however, are not so easily deterred by doors, and headphones have no meaning to them. I'm not exactly sure what specific words I have to use, and in what order, to get them to leave me alone when I'm doing my homework or studying. I will specifically ask to not be bothered for the next two or three hours, only to find one of them poking at my shoulder a half-hour later with the wonderfully oblivious question of: What are you doing? -.- I understand that neither of them are going to school, but they know perfectly well that I work two jobs and have 15 credit hours, and therefore have barely ANY spare time. They know that when I come home from school, my time is completely taken up with homework, studying, answering the e-mails from my professors and my conversation partner, working on my research project, or taking a short break between subjects to maybe watch something on Youtube or whatnot. I'm debating between installing a trapdoor that drops into the basement or posting a sign that says 'If there is a Korean music video playing on my screen, do not disturb.' (I study while looping my K-Pop Youtube playlist.) I suppose I'll try the sign first. If only to be nice. ^_^ However, the first time I get interrupted studying for mid-terms and someone is not actively dying...basement trapdoor.
I've rambled on enough for this morning, I think. I believe I'll take another try at this 'sleeping' thing and see if I might be able to succeed. ^_^
Good night
안녕히 주무세요
おやすみなさい
晚安
Well, 5 weeks into my journey and I've figured something out. I need a Korean tutor. Even devoting one to two hours a day to learn doesn't work so well when everything you're using to try to help you learn works at a different pace or teaches differently from the others. With mid-terms coming up in the next two weeks, the temptation has been laid to back off my Korean studies. I'm having none of it, though. So, I've opened the floodgates of e-mail, and my request for assistance is now out there somewhere, floating around in-boxes all over the net. Hopefully, someone will respond. ^_^
I'm trying to figure out if I should panic before exams now. I panicked before my first Religion in China exam, as it was rumored to be exceptionally hard. I did well. I panicked before my Chinese mid-term and also did well. I studied very hard for both exams before taking them, but worried I didn't study enough. Mid-terms are coming. If I panic now, I wonder what I'll be like when finals come around. o.o
I have been battling a homework problem as well. It's called cat gravity. For those of you unfamiliar with cat gravity, it's when you are trapped in one position because a cat has taken it upon themselves to use you as a bed/perch/lookout point/etc, and you don't want to move for fear of disturbing the cat. Sometimes it's because they look so comfortable, other times it's because you didn't move them before they fell asleep and they will claw you to ribbons if you wake them up. It usually happens without me really noticing it. I'll be doing my homework and move to adjust my seating, (I can't really sit in one position for long periods of time,) only to find my lap has been annexed by at least one, if not both, cats. Trying to adjust with them on my lap leads to my legs looking like lightly-used scratching posts. And if I happen to be eating at any point, not only is there cat gravity, there is also a tiny, self-righteous, loud kitten proclaiming that my food has become her's in its trip from kitchen to desk. Fortunately, both of these problems are easily solved by doors and headphones.
Roommates, however, are not so easily deterred by doors, and headphones have no meaning to them. I'm not exactly sure what specific words I have to use, and in what order, to get them to leave me alone when I'm doing my homework or studying. I will specifically ask to not be bothered for the next two or three hours, only to find one of them poking at my shoulder a half-hour later with the wonderfully oblivious question of: What are you doing? -.- I understand that neither of them are going to school, but they know perfectly well that I work two jobs and have 15 credit hours, and therefore have barely ANY spare time. They know that when I come home from school, my time is completely taken up with homework, studying, answering the e-mails from my professors and my conversation partner, working on my research project, or taking a short break between subjects to maybe watch something on Youtube or whatnot. I'm debating between installing a trapdoor that drops into the basement or posting a sign that says 'If there is a Korean music video playing on my screen, do not disturb.' (I study while looping my K-Pop Youtube playlist.) I suppose I'll try the sign first. If only to be nice. ^_^ However, the first time I get interrupted studying for mid-terms and someone is not actively dying...basement trapdoor.
I've rambled on enough for this morning, I think. I believe I'll take another try at this 'sleeping' thing and see if I might be able to succeed. ^_^
Good night
안녕히 주무세요
おやすみなさい
晚安
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Three Asian Languages. One year to get at least semi-conversational. I'm insane. o.o
Hello everyone. ^_^
This past summer, I had an epiphany. I finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life, or at least what I wanted to study in college. My last stab at college ended with me changing my major about 8 times, loving every class, and having the GPA of a rock. -.- However, never deterred and never one to stop aiming high, I applied to a 4-year university in my city. I indulged in the option to write an essay about WHY I should be allowed to study there, explaining my horrid GPA, my inability (or, actually, my refusal) to pin myself down to a major in that time, and my intentions this time around. I wasn't expecting much, mostly just hoping I didn't get a letter back that was nothing but laughter. I started preparing to go back to community college, but ran into a barrier. The community college wanted TONS of information for my financial aid stuff. Not wanting to apply for classes I might not get aid for, I pouted while I watched the Russian class I was thinking of taking fill up and struggled to get all the information they wanted. I forgot I'd even applied at university.
Until the letter came.
It was waiting on my desk when I got home from work one day, thanks to my roommate not forgetting my recent application. I ripped it open, ready to get the rejection over and get back on the tedious task of getting the community college to accept my financial aid. In the back of my mind, though, I noticed something. This is really thick for a rejection letter.
It wasn't.
The next day, I was in the adviser's office. I told her my dream. She smiled, nodded, and signed me up for two classes without really speaking. After a couple more minutes, I had 15 credit hours and walked out smiling. It was only about 20 minutes later, as I was on my way back home that I realized something. I was now taking Japanese and Chinese simultaneously. After a brief moment of shock, I shrugged. Why not?
Three weeks later, school in session, I made a decision. I was going to study abroad. I knew that. But I was going to three different countries at various points in my college life. I made the appointment and let it be known: I wanted to go to South Korea. THIS summer. Mind you, Korean isn't offered at my university. So, I did what any good language student would do: I checked out every book in the library that looked helpful. Now, three languages stared me in the face, daring me to learn them at the same time.
Challenge accepted.
Now, if you don't mind, I have a Japanese dialogue to learn by tomorrow, Chinese character homework, and Korean flashcards to go over. ^_^ Wish me luck.
This past summer, I had an epiphany. I finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life, or at least what I wanted to study in college. My last stab at college ended with me changing my major about 8 times, loving every class, and having the GPA of a rock. -.- However, never deterred and never one to stop aiming high, I applied to a 4-year university in my city. I indulged in the option to write an essay about WHY I should be allowed to study there, explaining my horrid GPA, my inability (or, actually, my refusal) to pin myself down to a major in that time, and my intentions this time around. I wasn't expecting much, mostly just hoping I didn't get a letter back that was nothing but laughter. I started preparing to go back to community college, but ran into a barrier. The community college wanted TONS of information for my financial aid stuff. Not wanting to apply for classes I might not get aid for, I pouted while I watched the Russian class I was thinking of taking fill up and struggled to get all the information they wanted. I forgot I'd even applied at university.
Until the letter came.
It was waiting on my desk when I got home from work one day, thanks to my roommate not forgetting my recent application. I ripped it open, ready to get the rejection over and get back on the tedious task of getting the community college to accept my financial aid. In the back of my mind, though, I noticed something. This is really thick for a rejection letter.
It wasn't.
The next day, I was in the adviser's office. I told her my dream. She smiled, nodded, and signed me up for two classes without really speaking. After a couple more minutes, I had 15 credit hours and walked out smiling. It was only about 20 minutes later, as I was on my way back home that I realized something. I was now taking Japanese and Chinese simultaneously. After a brief moment of shock, I shrugged. Why not?
Three weeks later, school in session, I made a decision. I was going to study abroad. I knew that. But I was going to three different countries at various points in my college life. I made the appointment and let it be known: I wanted to go to South Korea. THIS summer. Mind you, Korean isn't offered at my university. So, I did what any good language student would do: I checked out every book in the library that looked helpful. Now, three languages stared me in the face, daring me to learn them at the same time.
Challenge accepted.
Now, if you don't mind, I have a Japanese dialogue to learn by tomorrow, Chinese character homework, and Korean flashcards to go over. ^_^ Wish me luck.
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