I've been trying to think of ways to occupy my time now that my spanish class is over. I am still at least a month or two away from going back to work and until now I've been content with my activities for the most part. It's only been recently that I've become somewhat bored. It is this lack of time-fillers that has led me to decide on a few things to keep things new.
One thing I've done is clean and revitalize my aquarium tank, prepping it for some Fire Bellied Toads. I've had one before that I inherited from Scott because he was moving to Portland but it died over a year ago. I let the tank sit empty up until recently but I managed to keep the water plant alive the entire time and I'm sure it's grateful in it's own plant way for the better light and the circulating fresh water. I am planning on having two or three toads this time so they can have some toad friends. These toads are social animals who will rest and cling to one another in and out of the water. I'm sure I'll have to make runs to the pet store to purchase crickets and mealworms on a regular basis to keep up with them. I'll entertain any name suggestions you may have.
Another way I've decided to stay busy is begin taking guitar or banjo lessons. I own one of each thanks to some family members who surprised me with the banjo a few Christmases ago. It remains one of the greatest presents I've ever received. When they gave it to me I wasn't quite sure what to say and I actually had to fight back a few tears. I don't know if they noticed that or not, but I was very touched.
While I've tooled around with both instruments, I've only recently taken them out of their cases full time and am using them in part as decoration. When I was in eighth grade I took a few weeks or so of banjo lessons from an extremely talented and well-respected banjo player named Jim Bowman. I enjoyed the lessons but decided to discontinue them because I didn't think the lessons were worth the ten-dollars-per-hour fee. Looking back, I wish I had stuck with it. As it turned out, Jim thought that I had more talent than he did at that age. I wish I had known that then or that my father had been more pushy. He contends that he never wanted to be one of the pushy parents -and he never was- but I wish he made that one exception. My feelers are out and I may go back to Jim for lessons again, assuming he still gives them and if the cost isn't too outrageous. If it's anywhere near the ten buck range I'd go five times a week!
I'm kicking around a few other ideas to stay busy. Some are artsy. Today I purchased a drawing pad and some charcoal sticks. I thought I'd try some charcoal drawing and see if I couldn't turn up something half respectable. I'm also brainstorming on a story for some animation I'm going to try and whip up. Who knows how successful that will be. My only fear is that I will try to do too many stimulating things at the same time and end up losing my motivation for all of them. I'll probably get into a groove just as I have to go back to work.
These are some of the things I'm working on to stave off boredom, all while following up with my spanish. I want to remain current and not forget what I've learned so far. I am still trying to work on the immersion trip to Costa Rica as well as a work-related trip to Eugene, Oregon.
I want to take a personal trip out to Portland, Oregon again this winter (whether I can snowboard or not) as well as another trip to New York City.
Keep checking back. I'll be sure to keep you up to date with where I don't end up going and which projects I abandon.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
¡Mi clase de español es acabado!
It's official: My spanish class is over!
Yesterday (Monday) I had my final regular class which was the chapter eight test. I failed it, miserably, but the class is over either way. I knew going into the test that I would not fare well but I buckled down, pushed my way through and received a whole 40%!!!!! I was grading it myself before I turned it in and I figured I would only receive a 50% at best, so I wasn't really surprised. The teacher also tallied up the final course grade and told each student if he/she needed to take the "optional" final exam. It's "optional" because anyone can take it if they want to, but some people have to take it if they didn't meet specific requirements set forth on the first day. Those include, but are not limited to, watching the out-of-class videos, correcting test scores, and attending class.
After I turned my test in and he graded it, my teacher told me that I did not have to take the final exam and showed me my final course grade. Now, let's take a brief moment to review the circumstances here. Of all tests, your lowest grade will be dropped with the exception of the chapter eight test. That test will count no matter what. So far, not so good because of my 40%. The previous test (test six, which is not posted because he has it. I turned it in after making corrections because I failed it also) was dropped. That left the chapter 7 test (posted on the right) 64% averaged along with 74%, 75%, 96%, 100% and 100%. There were some other factors involved with the grading but suffice it to say that those 100s and the other A saved me. My final course grade is a 80%, a B. The good news is that it's a B as any other, like an 89. It's all the same. What makes it more humorous is that when he showed me my grade he kind of made some sort of noise and showed me his calculator which displayed a 79.9. He rounded it up to an 80 and told me not to take the final implying that it may drag my average to a C if I did poorly. I wasn't planning on taking the final anyway. It's cumulative and there's way too much stuff to cover by this Thursday.
I may go in and speak with the professor on Thursday to review my test scores, retrieve my chapter six test so I can post it, and get some advice regarding traveling to Costa Rica.
* * * * *
more to come on life events as they unfold (or probably way after they unfold...)
Yesterday (Monday) I had my final regular class which was the chapter eight test. I failed it, miserably, but the class is over either way. I knew going into the test that I would not fare well but I buckled down, pushed my way through and received a whole 40%!!!!! I was grading it myself before I turned it in and I figured I would only receive a 50% at best, so I wasn't really surprised. The teacher also tallied up the final course grade and told each student if he/she needed to take the "optional" final exam. It's "optional" because anyone can take it if they want to, but some people have to take it if they didn't meet specific requirements set forth on the first day. Those include, but are not limited to, watching the out-of-class videos, correcting test scores, and attending class.
After I turned my test in and he graded it, my teacher told me that I did not have to take the final exam and showed me my final course grade. Now, let's take a brief moment to review the circumstances here. Of all tests, your lowest grade will be dropped with the exception of the chapter eight test. That test will count no matter what. So far, not so good because of my 40%. The previous test (test six, which is not posted because he has it. I turned it in after making corrections because I failed it also) was dropped. That left the chapter 7 test (posted on the right) 64% averaged along with 74%, 75%, 96%, 100% and 100%. There were some other factors involved with the grading but suffice it to say that those 100s and the other A saved me. My final course grade is a 80%, a B. The good news is that it's a B as any other, like an 89. It's all the same. What makes it more humorous is that when he showed me my grade he kind of made some sort of noise and showed me his calculator which displayed a 79.9. He rounded it up to an 80 and told me not to take the final implying that it may drag my average to a C if I did poorly. I wasn't planning on taking the final anyway. It's cumulative and there's way too much stuff to cover by this Thursday.
I may go in and speak with the professor on Thursday to review my test scores, retrieve my chapter six test so I can post it, and get some advice regarding traveling to Costa Rica.
* * * * *
more to come on life events as they unfold (or probably way after they unfold...)
Monday, November 24, 2008
Whatever
This is just a quick post to prove that I'm still alive and to illuminate and acknowledge that I'm losing motivation for certain things. Like blogging. I've had several ideas, trips or other goings ons that would make for wonderfully poetic blog posts sure to captivate and titillate but I haven't felt the desire to sit before this internet machine and type it up (which is kinda weird because once I begin typing I find it hard to stop). I'm also losing motivation for my Spanish class. I still enjoy it and still want to learn it as much as ever, but with the semester winding down and a poor grade on the last test (which, along with excuses, will be posted as soon as I get it returned to me by my instructor) I find it hard to take seriously anymore. I am ready to move on to Costa Rica and actually apply what I learned in a more practical and sink-or-swim format (also, today I had another test which I am expecting to do somewhat poorly, if not completely poorly on). It's not a lack of motivation for the Spanish, it's a lack of motivation to study for it. I sit down and try to study but always find a way to distract myself.
- On my way home today I stopped by my normal gas station and filled my tank up. I got a twenty-cent discount which dropped the price to $1.79/gallon. Paying thirty-eight bucks for a full tank versus the seventy-five it used to be is a welcome silver lining to a toilet bowl economy. Who says a recession and deflation are all bad?!?
- I feel as though I'm in a transitional phase of some sort. I just don't know what that entails or where I might come out after it's over. There's only one way to find out: keep a keen eye focused on my blog. Yep, that's how. I'm sure I'll post more about it...eventually.
Stay tuned.
- On my way home today I stopped by my normal gas station and filled my tank up. I got a twenty-cent discount which dropped the price to $1.79/gallon. Paying thirty-eight bucks for a full tank versus the seventy-five it used to be is a welcome silver lining to a toilet bowl economy. Who says a recession and deflation are all bad?!?
- I feel as though I'm in a transitional phase of some sort. I just don't know what that entails or where I might come out after it's over. There's only one way to find out: keep a keen eye focused on my blog. Yep, that's how. I'm sure I'll post more about it...eventually.
Stay tuned.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Spanish Quiz and Exam
My Spanish class was recently given a geography exam in which we needed to label five countries and five capitals. I studied the night before and felt comfortable with all of the countries and capitals of the Spanish speaking world. After having taken the exam I thought I missed one. I was not sure of one particular country we had to identify and I was torn between Guatamala or Nicaragua. Naturally, I chose the wrong country, Guatamala. I was slightly surprised when I received my test back and saw a fat 70 written across the top. As it turns out, the other two errors were only technical. I neglected to put an accent in Panamá and I wrote "Dominican Republic" instead of "República Dominicana." I would have appreciated some partial credit because, technically, I had identified the countries as asked, but I am not going to fight the grade.
We also received our chapter five tests back today. This test felt slightly easier than the chapter four test and I finished it fairly quickly, both of which made me wonder how strong my results would be. I was anticipating a "B" because of my gut feeling and that I had some concerns over a few of my answers. After finishing I took an extra moment and went over my answers and ended up changing one. It's a good thing I did because had I not, I would not have received the 100 on the exam.
Chapter five test and the geography quiz are posted to the right.
We also received our chapter five tests back today. This test felt slightly easier than the chapter four test and I finished it fairly quickly, both of which made me wonder how strong my results would be. I was anticipating a "B" because of my gut feeling and that I had some concerns over a few of my answers. After finishing I took an extra moment and went over my answers and ended up changing one. It's a good thing I did because had I not, I would not have received the 100 on the exam.
Chapter five test and the geography quiz are posted to the right.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
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