Character Study (1)

I just finished class, and I'm walking to the dining hall. My senile chemistry professor was blasting the heater even though it's 89 degrees outside. Crazy old man! I hope the dining hall still has that snow cone machine they put in a week ago. I don't know what it is about shaved ice with artificial fruit syrup on top that is so appealing, but it sounds superb right now.
As soon as I take my first step into the dining hall, the cool crisp air from the air conditioning hits me full blast from above. I take a second to soak it in, let it sink into my bones and fully wash over me. Even though summer has just turned to fall, the temperatures here in Stanford can still get pretty high, and I know the worst has still yet to come.
I have my fingers crossed as I make my way toward the back of the cafeteria where the snow cone machine should be and- huzzah!- it's still there! I quicken my step and reach for the last cup but a bigger hand comes out of nowhere and snatches it before I do. I turn around, ready to yell at whoever stole the cup, but I bite my tongue when I realize that I've come face to face- or rather face to chest- with a big, surly football player. I see this guy's Stanford polo shirt with the tree emblazoned on the breast pocket and football helmet under his arm, and I tilt my head all the way back to see his face, which has a frown on it.
We're both silent for a second before he says, "Oh, I'm sorry. You can have the last one." And he gives the snow cone cup to me.
I blink and dart my eyes to both sides then look back at him before asking, "Are you sure?"
He nods once then turns around and walks over to the ice cream machine instead.

Canterbury Tales (1)

We talked in class about the prologue before I actually read it about how Chaucer's characters contradict themselves. But I could only pick up on a few of those: the Cook, the Merchant, and the Monk. But the others, I didn't understand how they contradicted themselves.
It was also difficult to follow and understand; I think it's because the story has rhyming stanzas so I don't pay much attention to the actual content or try to read between the lines; but even when I try to analyze, I still don't fully understand. I know that a lot of different types of people have all gathered together to make their pilgrimage to Canterbury, and the first person to get there receives a free meal. But I also read at the end of the prologue, that whoever shares the best story shall be given a full meal for free also. What's up with that?
I would like to read more about the merchant's story- how he's in debt- and the Oxford student's story- why he's so Type A. I can't imagine them getting to Canterbury first. I don't like the Cook all that much; I doubt he'll make it to Canterbury first also.
I feel like Chaucer is too loquacious (?) but in a writing sense (what's the word for that? Too wordy?) But he makes it difficult to understand the plot because he puts in so much unnecessary information. Chaucer's character descriptions for some of his characters are too lengthy in my opinion. The pictures in the margins helped me gain a clearer picture of some of the characters.

Bede and Canterbury Tales notes

Bede (pg. 74-82)

Declaration of Learning Independence

What does that ↑ mean? Denotatively, it means that I will announce my self-sufficient gain of knowledge. And going off that, I think a "declaration of learning independence" is someone branching away from the group to forge his/her own path to learn. And learning comes in all ways and forms. I think that everyone can break away from the classroom setting and learn something new on their own.
I'd like to learn independently because I don't have the patience to deal with some of my peers; but at the same time, I also know that I'll always get side-tracked, distracted. Studying abroad, or even going to a foreign country to explore and learn about the culture, would be ideal. I enjoy new experiences, especially those that involve traveling, and I think that that involves independence.

Big Question(s)?

Where do dreams come from? How do we dream? And how do they serve as a window into an individual's character?- I've always been curious about dreams and what they mean, what the subconscious is trying to tell you. I've done a bit of research on my own in the past, but I'd like to look further.

Vocabulary #4

Vocabulary list 4

Literature Analysis #1

Atonement- Ian McEwan

Tone? I "tone" know!

↑ Like "I don't know." (I'm not that great at puns). Even though "tone" is something we learned in 8th grade, I still have trouble deciding the proper tone for a novel. I need a list of words to sift through, and I found a fairly good one for future reference. If any of you out there have the same trouble as me, maybe you'll appreciate this, maybe not. But it's here if you need it. (I know I do.)
 http://www.mshogue.com/AP/tone.htm

Harry's Alternative World

   I've decided to write about something completely different but one of my favorite things ever: Harry Potter. For those of you who don't really know me, I am an avid Harry Potter fan, an enthusiast of sorts. On Pinterest, I have a whole board dedicated to the series and its fandom. I read scenarios that might have taken place after the final battle, analyses of different events. But what makes me think the most is the alternative universes, especially what would have been if Harry's parents had not died, or if Neville had been chosen by Voldemort as a threat instead of Harry.
   Sometimes I think about how Harry's life would be different if Voldemort didn't exist and Harry's parents were still alive. I like to imagine a bubbly little boy raised by two loving parents (and three uncles) in Godric's Hollow among a wide variety of other wizarding families. James, Siruis, Remus, and Wormtail would tell Harry stories about their legendary pranks during their time at Hogwarts, teach some of them to him, pass on the legacy. Each Marauder would have a completely unique relationship with little boy.

No Respect! (Another Rant)

   As I observe society and its (mostly younger) people, I can't help but be appalled by the lack of respect towards others and towards themselves. The younger folk (preteens to early 20s) seem to have lost- or not been properly taught- respect. They walk around on their high pedestal, thinking they are so cool when in actuality, they are not. Preteens and teenagers, especially, need to get their heads out of the clouds (and out of their butts) and learn some good old fashioned respect! 

   When I hear the way some kids talk to elders- whom they should treat with civility-, I cringe because if I said the things they said or in the way they said it, I would get backhanded by my mom or dad before I could even close my mouth. I am in shock and disbelief when I hear kids talk to their parents with no regard for manners. And the parents are partly to blame because they never disciplined their children, but they need to be taught a lesson. Sometimes the parents even complain about their rowdy kids, but hello! it's your fault for not properly teaching them manners. It starts at a young age. And I hate the kids (and parents not doing a good job) putting on airs without politeness.

   I have two specific personal examples about a couple kids that could use a good spanking. The first was this past summer when I took a class trip overseas. One girl, "Brianna," went with her mother, and the attitude the girl had was absolutely shocking! She made snappy comments, complained literally all day, and blamed her mom for everything that didn't go in her favor. Eventually, I lost it and snapped a comment right back at her when she was disrespecting her mother (Brianna was complaining about how she was tired of taking pictures). Another time was also during summer vacation when I went to Newport Beach with my cousins. We were walking on the boardwalk, and a group of about 5 preteens was walking towards us. And rather than politely say "excuse me" to get past us, one boy yelled "Beep beep!" and shoved through. I turned around and yelled, "It's called saying excuse me!" (My brother and older cousins wanted to go back and give them a good whupping; shame they're older than 18.) Do kids not know the meaning of the words "manners", "respect", and "politeness"? How do they have the nerve, the GALL to be that disrespectful? Have they no shame? Do they really think they're hot stuff? That they can walk around with their "swagger" and do whatever, say whatever they want? NEWSFLASH! They're not! And I really want to just slap some sense into them because it's infuriating. 

Why Do We Fear the Unknown?

   Even as a little kid, I've been scared of the dark. But why? Darkness is just the absence of light. As I grew up, I realized that I wasn't necessarily afraid of the dark; I'm frightened of what lurks in the dark, what creeps in the shadows. I don't know what could be out there, what dangers lie in the umbrage. And although I'm more disturbed by the possibility that someone is hiding and can jump out at me, I still don't know what the darkness hides, so I'm apprehensive about venturing into it.
   And while this is only one example, why do we fear the unknown? (And don't try to deny it; on some level everyone fears the unknown.) We like knowing what's going to happen, what actual is hiding behind the corner. We take comfort in the knowledge of what's out there. Our minds like to make things fit, like to make sense out of things, always try to see the picture or make out a familiar shape. We feel uncomfortable in a situation we are unsure about, and we need to make sense out of it. And a lot of this is why it's so hard for us to make changes in our lives, especially career changes. We don't know how it'll turn out and it scares us. Taking that first jump, that leap of faith is the hardest. How will it turn out? I don't know. We find comfort in familiarity so anything that is not makes us stop and wonder. Not knowing is unsettling, unnerving.
   I think a lot of us fear death (myself included) because 1) obviously we want to still live, and 2) because we don't know what will happen to or become of us. (For the religious folks out there, you have it worked out.) In life, we have things ending all the time (projects, days, conversations) but we always know that they'll come up again in the future. The finality of death scares us. We are unsure of what happens next (or doesn't). Life is basically like a schedule: wake up, eat, go to work or school, come home, eat, sleep, and repeat. So when our schedule is in jeopardy of death- the fact that we won't have a schedule anymore, so to speak- or in jeopardy of just not being a schedule anymore, we are alarmed because we don't know what to do or how to react.
   Admittedly, I fear the unknown. I like knowing what's going to happen. I prefer to have control over my own situations or those that affect me. Unfamiliarity is uncomfortable to me- and to many others, I'm sure. And death frightens me as well. I think about what will happen. What will become of my mind? My spirit? All these questions that don't have answers shake me.
   And yet, through all of this, the unknown yields something exciting. Anticipation and the guessing can be fun. So I suppose it's all about finding a happy medium, or balancing out the excitement and fear. Because in reality, all of the future is the unknown. And we can't be scared forever, right?

Vocabulary #3

Vocab list #3

What Is A Hero?

   "Working hard is important. But there is something that matters even more, believing in yourself." -Harry Potter. Both Beowulf and Harry Potter are considered heroes of the time period in which their stories were written. But however similar they are in their respective accomplishments, they are still different in goals, motives, and personalities. Beowulf fought to gain glory and maintain it, while Harry Potter was thrust into the hero role to defeat the most feared villain of all time, Voldemort. Nonetheless, Beowulf and Harry Potter exemplify the heroes of the respective time periods in which they were written through their actions, intentions, and conduct.

Will Study for Food (& a Stream of Consciousness Rant)

  Can I just go off on a little rant about the idea of going to college? Okay, thanks. According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 66% of high school graduates continue with education and enroll in college. To be honest, I thought that number would be lower, but that's beside the point. For most people, what other choice is there after high school besides college? These days, it seems like the only way you can be successful is to go to college to continue studies in a more funneled and narrowed down way; and even then, about 17% of college grads are still unemployed. Why did these poor kids go through all the schooling and money just to end up unemployed? It makes me wonder (and I'm sure it makes them wonder) what the point of all that was.
   There are seldom opportunities for success without going to college. It seems like the only way to be successful without a college degree is by learning a manual labor skill, like automotive technician, or getting lucky and hitting it big in Hollywood. Why is it so hard these days to find a stable job without excessive amounts of education? I know that education is key, that obviously you need the knowledge to do your respective job well. But still, why is it so hard to find something that 1) makes you happy but 2) still makes enough money for you to live well? Because let's face it: money is the driving force of any economy and without it, you won't survive for very long. My mom has told me that work places are raising starting to hire only those with a Master degree. The outrage! It really makes me sit down and think if it's all really worth it, if the money and the schooling is all really worth it. What is the world coming to when a college student has to pay about $20- to $30,000 for college that, even then, won't qualify him/her for a job after graduation?
   Sometimes college seems less and less appealing when I think about the cost. It irks me that it costs so much; it aggravates me that each field is becoming more and more competitive, that I'll have to spend even more money on more schooling just to qualify; it angers me that I feel out of options, that college is the only path I can take to be successful.
    And why is it so expensive? Why are books so expensive? Why is the actual tuition so high? Why can't the government help more to pay for all this? Why can't it understand that we need help and that by helping us, we can help the government in turn? Not to get too much into politics and economics, but the middle class really does suffer the most. We're too rich to get financial aid like the poor people, and we're definitely not rich enough to cruise by and pay full tuition like it's no big deal. (And the concept of lower class/ unemployment/ all the financial aid going to them is a completely different rant.) I'm sick and tired, as all other middle class citizens are, of getting the short end of the stick. I have such mixed feelings about college: should I go? what could I do if I didn't? it costs so much money, but it's worth it right? where would I go after high school if I didn't go to college? I don't know. Too many thoughts, too much stream of consciousness. I don't want to deal with this right now.

Vocabulary #2

Vocabulary list #2