Hello to whomever sees this. : )
Since my last blog, not a lot has happened. I went to my Uncle's funeral, which had my emotions totally confused. One second I wanted to cry, and a split second later, the choir would take me completely out of it by singing "stomp your feet and clap your hands" types of songs. Then they'd say something like "I don't know what YOU came here for, but I came to praise Jesus!!!", making me think to myself, "Well, I came to cry over my Uncle with my family" lol. I was annoyed until I heard that's what my Uncle and Aunt wanted. They didn't want it to be sad, so I guess it was fine in that way, I was just thrown off. Typically whenever my family gets together, something stupid happens ruining everything, but it was actually totally fine. I saw family members I hadn't seen since before Hurricane Katrina and didn't even expect to see and it was basically a nice family gathering. It's a shame the circumstances that occurred to cause it though.
After that, nothing happened, Christmas and New Year's were both pretty empty. I spent quite a bit of money on my nieces, nephews, and parents, but it was pretty empty with my family being split between Memphis and New Orleans for Christmas and New Year's.
Now, another school semester has started, and I feel somewhat lost lol. I have no Tech classes, so I don't feel like I have a "base" building anymore. I'm also....... frustrated. Something a little embarrassing I'll admit is that every semester I've had so far, I'd end up developing a crush on someone in one of my classes, and the false hope of something happening would drag me through each semester lol. This semester is almost totally devoid of anyone I find attractive, with the worst ratios ever. My African American Literature class has a ratio of 23 girls, and 8 guys, and two of those 8 are ugly.... UGH!!!! lol.
Speaking of English/Literature, I've been totally spoiled by 1020 last semester. 1020 seemed like it was never long enough, but my current English class doesn't end soon enough lol. The teacher isn't a native English speaker, and some pronunciations like rap (as in "find a rap song") and rape (as in, "the slave masters would rape the slave women") both being pronounced as "rap" in the same lecture is so unintentionally wrong that it had me rolling on the floor laughing in my head (I know, I'm terrible lol). It's got to be hard being in his position.
Me and Nolon are actually in this class together, but it feels so claustrophobic in the class that I doubt it will be as fun as 1020. It's a very stifling feeling coming from 1020, as if you'll be judged for the slightest thing, and I know how "my people" are, we can be incredibly judgmental of anyone different. We somewhat spoke about it in 1020 once (such as being criticized or made fun of for speaking properly by your own people, I actually went through that in elementary).
I feel like this is getting waaaay long, so I'll end it here. Bye! *smiles, winks, and waves*
Write on, Johnny. Good for you for staying true to your writing soul; it is a sacred spot to honor.
ReplyDeleteI do hope that the claustrophobic, judgmental class turns out to surprise you in positive ways. From the way you describe it, the class currently sounds like torture worse than the rapture for those on the evil side of life. African American literature is so fascinating as there is a rich connection to other aspects of culture like music, and you can easily see how influential the African American population has been (along with many marginalized groups) because of and despite the fact that they have been and still are oppressed in many ways.
Here's my unsolicited advice: Ask the teacher on Tuesday if you can talk about sex, but in a positive light unlike rape or rap or whatever it is.
I do miss all of you. It is quite strange not interacting with university students this semester...there's a hole in my heart that cannot even be filled by even the most uplifting "funeral music."
Jessica
Aside from how wrong it is that you don't have students to be around or motivate, sex talk can always ease things up lol, it just depends on the students. I was never the most vocal in 1020, but there were several students that were pretty vocal or at least sorta vocal. That was established in the first day during the discussion of whether Memphis sucked or not.
ReplyDeleteIn my current class, no one really says anything and I've seen students laughing while others were talking simply because of how they spoke as opposed to what was said, or even while they were just introducing themselves. It's a pretty claustrophobic feeling. That advice did just give me an idea though, and I might actually try it. Thanks. :)
Okay, I have to know about the implementation of Johnny's big, bold, and bad idea.
ReplyDeleteJessica