Holy wow. I officially reserved my move today. And yesterday I registered to take the GRE in Peoria in December. All I need now is a shitton of boxes and an airplane ticket.
Since I have that pretty much under control, guess it's time to start flinging together stuff for my grad school applications. Top of the list: University of Illinois. I know who I'm asking for recommendations, know the program I want to get into, all that. Booyah!
I have the strong urge to add a "getting shit done" hashtag to this post.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
“There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same; there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view.”
This quote (via The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) just makes me smile for some reason.
This quote (via The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) just makes me smile for some reason.
Looking Ahead to November
Can't believe it's already September. It's seriously freaking me out. Even though Thanksgiving feels like forever away, I know it is going to fly from here on out. This being the case, I've been thinking about when I move home quite a bit lately, like how I hope to be employed and things I want to do.
The first thing on my mind is getting a job. I'm thinking I'll throw my name into the hat at the old coffeeshop I worked at, not for a regular gig but to pick up any shifts they need covered. I'm probably going to try and hook up with a waitressing job, since tips are totally where it's at. On top of that, my mom suggested I register as a substitute teacher, which the district apparently needs desperately. That pays pretty good money, assuming I can get work regularly, and on top of waitressing, I feel like I'd do pretty well. I'm going to live with my mom until I head to school, meaning my living expenses won't be too extravagant. Plus, I don't really go out and do much on a regular basis anyway, so saving until next fall will be not a problem.
There are a few things I want to do though. Things I can't wait to do actually! One of these is go horseback riding. Every Fall I get really into the idea of going; I used to as a kid quite regularly. Hopefully the weather is weird and nice in November, but I might have to wait until Spring to get my hankering conquered. The other thing I'm dying to do is take Draper, my dog, to Wildlife Prairie Park in Peoria. We went all the time when I was younger, but I haven't been in a few years. Draper would love it, and ever since I got him I've been wanting to get him over there for a day.
More than anything, I'm just excited to get back into the swing of life back home. And to get my plan hammered out for next year; that's very exciting, too! It'll feel so good to be back in Bureau County, working and hanging out. Since that has been my life on and off since I was 16, I'm itching to get back to what I know best. Oh, and Oriental Gardens runs with my loves won't be too shabby either!
The first thing on my mind is getting a job. I'm thinking I'll throw my name into the hat at the old coffeeshop I worked at, not for a regular gig but to pick up any shifts they need covered. I'm probably going to try and hook up with a waitressing job, since tips are totally where it's at. On top of that, my mom suggested I register as a substitute teacher, which the district apparently needs desperately. That pays pretty good money, assuming I can get work regularly, and on top of waitressing, I feel like I'd do pretty well. I'm going to live with my mom until I head to school, meaning my living expenses won't be too extravagant. Plus, I don't really go out and do much on a regular basis anyway, so saving until next fall will be not a problem.
There are a few things I want to do though. Things I can't wait to do actually! One of these is go horseback riding. Every Fall I get really into the idea of going; I used to as a kid quite regularly. Hopefully the weather is weird and nice in November, but I might have to wait until Spring to get my hankering conquered. The other thing I'm dying to do is take Draper, my dog, to Wildlife Prairie Park in Peoria. We went all the time when I was younger, but I haven't been in a few years. Draper would love it, and ever since I got him I've been wanting to get him over there for a day.
More than anything, I'm just excited to get back into the swing of life back home. And to get my plan hammered out for next year; that's very exciting, too! It'll feel so good to be back in Bureau County, working and hanging out. Since that has been my life on and off since I was 16, I'm itching to get back to what I know best. Oh, and Oriental Gardens runs with my loves won't be too shabby either!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
15 Films
Harumph. I was sick on Sunday, and still feel a little run down. To kill sometime before starting to actually do work, I'll do this:
1) Annie Hall -- It's my favorite movie of all time. Love the story, the dialogue, and the characters.
2) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind -- It's a classic now. The whole thing is so well done, and even Jim Carrey, who I can't stand usually, melts into the picture perfectly. Loves it.
3) Paradise Now -- It makes me cry like a huge baby every time I watch it. If you haven't seen/heard of it, it's about two Palestinian suicide bombers grappling with the decision whether or not to complete their mission.
4) It's A Wonderful Life -- Such a great movie! It just makes me smile everytime I watch it.
5) Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein -- As a kid, I was pretty morbid, and watched a lot of old monster movies. I also enjoyed Abbott and Costello movies. To this day, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is a Halloween must-watch.
6) The Great Mouse Detective -- One of my favorite Disney movies, and an unsung gem from the Disney collection. I was also a very dorky kid who loved (and still loves) Sherlock Holmes, so this rodent re-telling was right up my alley!
7) Che -- When I saw it in theatres, I was lucky enough to see the Roadshow Edition. At about 4 hours long, it was a serious time commitment, and was totally worth it. It's inspirational, touching, and heartbreaking.
8) Where in the World is Osama bin Laden? -- Morgan Spurlock is probably one of my favorite filmmakers. Loved Supersize Me and his short lived TV show 30 Days. But his one man search for Osama made for a movie that was both funny and enlightening, and a fantastic look at the real heart and soul of the Middle East.
9) Nightmare Before Christmas -- No one can top classic Tim Burton (as in pre-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). I know every word to every song in Nightmare, and still get as giddy every time I watch it as I did when I first saw it.
10) Breakfast at Tiffany's -- What girl doesn't want to be Holly Golightly? For being so iconic, the movie itself still feels underrated. Behind the image of Holly in the black dress is so much more than people give credit for.
11) Moulin Rouge -- It's dazzling, has a great soundtrack, and you notice something new everytime you watch it. Plus, Ewan McGregor is pretty good lookin'.
12) Factory Girl -- It's not the best movie ever made, but the recent Hollywood telling of Edie Sedgwick's meteoric rise to fame was enjoyable, and inspired me to start wearing dark, thick eyeliner and little tiny dresses.
13) What's New, Pussycat? -- Peter O'Toole, Peter Sellers, Woody Allen. It's hilarious, goofy, and well acted. It was the first Allen movie I saw, and still one of the best.
14) Schindler's List -- I once drunkenly declared my love for this movie while at a bar with friends. But it is a really great film, and Liam Neeson ... Well, my love for him is no big secret.
15) Love's Labours Lost -- Don't judge me. Don't even think about it. When I was in about 8th grade I discovered this Kenneth Brannagh masterpiece, based on the Shakespeare play. Set in Europe between the wars, and featuring all kinds of random Cole Porter and the like songs, it's dorky, campy, and endlessly entertaining. I know every word of the dialogue and soundtrack. It's no longer in print, but I was able to score a copy of the DVD on Amazon for pretty cheap a few years back; before that I had to rent it at the local video store, where I was the only one who ever did so.
1) Annie Hall -- It's my favorite movie of all time. Love the story, the dialogue, and the characters.
2) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind -- It's a classic now. The whole thing is so well done, and even Jim Carrey, who I can't stand usually, melts into the picture perfectly. Loves it.
3) Paradise Now -- It makes me cry like a huge baby every time I watch it. If you haven't seen/heard of it, it's about two Palestinian suicide bombers grappling with the decision whether or not to complete their mission.
4) It's A Wonderful Life -- Such a great movie! It just makes me smile everytime I watch it.
5) Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein -- As a kid, I was pretty morbid, and watched a lot of old monster movies. I also enjoyed Abbott and Costello movies. To this day, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein is a Halloween must-watch.
6) The Great Mouse Detective -- One of my favorite Disney movies, and an unsung gem from the Disney collection. I was also a very dorky kid who loved (and still loves) Sherlock Holmes, so this rodent re-telling was right up my alley!
7) Che -- When I saw it in theatres, I was lucky enough to see the Roadshow Edition. At about 4 hours long, it was a serious time commitment, and was totally worth it. It's inspirational, touching, and heartbreaking.
8) Where in the World is Osama bin Laden? -- Morgan Spurlock is probably one of my favorite filmmakers. Loved Supersize Me and his short lived TV show 30 Days. But his one man search for Osama made for a movie that was both funny and enlightening, and a fantastic look at the real heart and soul of the Middle East.
9) Nightmare Before Christmas -- No one can top classic Tim Burton (as in pre-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). I know every word to every song in Nightmare, and still get as giddy every time I watch it as I did when I first saw it.
10) Breakfast at Tiffany's -- What girl doesn't want to be Holly Golightly? For being so iconic, the movie itself still feels underrated. Behind the image of Holly in the black dress is so much more than people give credit for.
11) Moulin Rouge -- It's dazzling, has a great soundtrack, and you notice something new everytime you watch it. Plus, Ewan McGregor is pretty good lookin'.
12) Factory Girl -- It's not the best movie ever made, but the recent Hollywood telling of Edie Sedgwick's meteoric rise to fame was enjoyable, and inspired me to start wearing dark, thick eyeliner and little tiny dresses.
13) What's New, Pussycat? -- Peter O'Toole, Peter Sellers, Woody Allen. It's hilarious, goofy, and well acted. It was the first Allen movie I saw, and still one of the best.
14) Schindler's List -- I once drunkenly declared my love for this movie while at a bar with friends. But it is a really great film, and Liam Neeson ... Well, my love for him is no big secret.
15) Love's Labours Lost -- Don't judge me. Don't even think about it. When I was in about 8th grade I discovered this Kenneth Brannagh masterpiece, based on the Shakespeare play. Set in Europe between the wars, and featuring all kinds of random Cole Porter and the like songs, it's dorky, campy, and endlessly entertaining. I know every word of the dialogue and soundtrack. It's no longer in print, but I was able to score a copy of the DVD on Amazon for pretty cheap a few years back; before that I had to rent it at the local video store, where I was the only one who ever did so.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Loading Up
Alright, so I know I just posted yesterday about how I got a few books over the weekend, but today I ordered a few more that I cannot wait to get in the mail. So I have a problem wherein I buy a lot of books -- it could be worse! Besides, I'm reading through the ones I got this weekend very quickly (as in I'm done with one and halfway through another already) so I need to keep up!
So, what did I order? Well, I geeked out a bit. I went online with the mission of pre-ordering Hooman Majd's new book, The Ayatollah's Democracy, which comes out this month. I've been dying for this book to come out since I heard about it several months ago. Did that. Amazon recommended the book Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America's Future. Read the first few pages, and can't wait to read the rest. Basically it's about US diplomacy, and how the US would find more natural allies in Iran and Turkey, where democracy has an embedded history, rather than Saudi Arabia and the like. See, it's been a while since I've discovered a really good book about contemporary Iran. The last one I read was All the Shah's Men, which is about the 1953 Operation Ajax, the CIA coup against Prime Minister Mossadegh. It was really good, but his random assertions about modern Iran were pretty poorly delivered. Anywho, since it's been a while, I'm really excited I have those two coming.
I also ordered The Complete Stories of Evelyn Waugh, which is one of his books that's hard to come by in stores. Waugh wrote in Great Britain right around WWII, about the aristocractic class. His satire is amazing, and his books usually leave me laughing out loud. He definitely wrote for the time period, meaning sometimes it's hard to make out exactly what he's talking about between cultural references and different places around London, but once you get into the flow, it's hysterically funny. Since he's kind of obscure now, most stores carry just a few of his books, all of which I own. I'm pretty thrilled to be getting one I haven't even seen before!
So, what did I order? Well, I geeked out a bit. I went online with the mission of pre-ordering Hooman Majd's new book, The Ayatollah's Democracy, which comes out this month. I've been dying for this book to come out since I heard about it several months ago. Did that. Amazon recommended the book Reset: Iran, Turkey, and America's Future. Read the first few pages, and can't wait to read the rest. Basically it's about US diplomacy, and how the US would find more natural allies in Iran and Turkey, where democracy has an embedded history, rather than Saudi Arabia and the like. See, it's been a while since I've discovered a really good book about contemporary Iran. The last one I read was All the Shah's Men, which is about the 1953 Operation Ajax, the CIA coup against Prime Minister Mossadegh. It was really good, but his random assertions about modern Iran were pretty poorly delivered. Anywho, since it's been a while, I'm really excited I have those two coming.
I also ordered The Complete Stories of Evelyn Waugh, which is one of his books that's hard to come by in stores. Waugh wrote in Great Britain right around WWII, about the aristocractic class. His satire is amazing, and his books usually leave me laughing out loud. He definitely wrote for the time period, meaning sometimes it's hard to make out exactly what he's talking about between cultural references and different places around London, but once you get into the flow, it's hysterically funny. Since he's kind of obscure now, most stores carry just a few of his books, all of which I own. I'm pretty thrilled to be getting one I haven't even seen before!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
To Occupy me 'til Lunch
Four Jobs I’ve Had
1. Cashier at Walnut Family Foods
2. Waitress at the Coffee Cup
3. Barista at Eco Espresso/Townsend
4. Intern with ITCO
Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over Again
1. Annie Hall, because Woody Allen is a genius
2. In The Loop, because I hope to one day work in that exact environment (does it exist?)
3. Nightmare Before Christmas, because no one can top classic Tim Burton
4. It's A Wonderful Life, or any Frank Capra movie for that matter.
Four TV Shows I Love to Watch
1. Mad Men, because I am classy and sophisticated
2. True Blood, which is an anamoly because I don't like other sci-fi type stuff
3. Big Love, which has shaped my perception of Mormons
4. Countdown with Keith Olbermann, because I'm a stereotype.
Four Places I've Been on Vacation
1. Australia
2. Paris
3. Kenya
4. New Zealand
Four Favorite Dishes
1. Beef Teriyaki from Oriental Gardens
2. Chicken Bacon Cheese, which is as heavenly as it sounds
3. Meringue cookies, they totally count
4. Chilli, with no onions.
Four Websites I Visit Daily
1. www.foreignpolicy.com to check headlines
2. www.modcloth.com to torture myself
3. www.blogger.com to waste time
4. www.facebook.com/www.twitter.com to keep up with my babies.
Four Places I'd Rather Be
1. Bureau County, because home is where you are happy.
2. The corner of Diversey and Clark, heading to a movie at Landmark after browsing at Borders and eating a nutella and strawberry crepe at Le Creperie.
3. In Paris, getting out of my first class of the day (pipedreams never die.)
4. At the apartment, cuddling with my cat, or at home, cuddling with my dog.
Four Books You Love
1. Evelyn Waugh's "Decline and Fall" or "Put Out More Flags". I laugh out loud.
2. Kerouac's "Maggie Cassidy". I love the books about his childhood.
3. Hooman Majd's "The Ayatollah Begs to Differ". A very real, very enlightening look at Iran.
4. Fitzgerald's "The Lees of Happiness". It makes me sob everytime.
TWO YEARS AGO, I...
1. Was still going to IVCC
2. Had just started working at Eco Espresso
3. Still had no clue what I was doing with my life.
ONE YEAR AGO, I...
1. Was starting my senior year of college (so much changes in a year!)
2. Had my own apartment in Lincoln Park
3. Felt 100% at peace with my life for the first time in way too long.
THIS YEAR, I...
1. Graduated college
2. But not before writing a LOT of papers on Iran.
3. Experienced the kind of broke that leads people to be successful writers and artists.
SIX MONTHS AGO, I...
1. Was knee high in Chicago crappy Spring
2. Was trying to figure out what to do after Graduation
3. Still had 3 months left of college.
YESTERDAY, I...
1. Watched Teen Mom. Stop judging me.
2. Contemplated the War in Iraq.
3. Got a haircut.
TODAY, I...
1. Was running late.
2. Worked on a report for work.
3. Am going to call Katie!
NEXT YEAR, I HOPE TO...
1. Move home and find a job (what up, waitressing?!)
2. Enjoy the time I have with my friends and family before going back to school.
3. Find a great program at a great school and get into it!
THREE ITEMS I HAVE BRAND-LOYALTY TO ARE...
1. H&M
2. Baked Ruffles
3. Naked smoothies
THREE SONGS I KNOW ALL THE WORDS TO ARE...
1. "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel. And Kim and I have a dance to it, too. No joke.
2. "New Virginia Creeper" by Old Crow. I know all their songs, actually, but that one's fun.
3. "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight and the Pips. I can belt that one out like no other.
TOP THREE LOCATIONS I'D LIKE TO RUN AWAY TO ARE...
1. Bureau County.
2. France.
3. The apartment (just to get away from work.)
FIRST THREE PEOPLE I THINK ABOUT ON A DAILY BASIS ARE...
1. Kim/Helen/Katie. My beloved babies.
2. My family, who I miss immensely.
3. Draper, who I also miss immensely and is also a beloved baby. Except not, cause he's a 5 year old dog.
1. Cashier at Walnut Family Foods
2. Waitress at the Coffee Cup
3. Barista at Eco Espresso/Townsend
4. Intern with ITCO
Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over Again
1. Annie Hall, because Woody Allen is a genius
2. In The Loop, because I hope to one day work in that exact environment (does it exist?)
3. Nightmare Before Christmas, because no one can top classic Tim Burton
4. It's A Wonderful Life, or any Frank Capra movie for that matter.
Four TV Shows I Love to Watch
1. Mad Men, because I am classy and sophisticated
2. True Blood, which is an anamoly because I don't like other sci-fi type stuff
3. Big Love, which has shaped my perception of Mormons
4. Countdown with Keith Olbermann, because I'm a stereotype.
Four Places I've Been on Vacation
1. Australia
2. Paris
3. Kenya
4. New Zealand
Four Favorite Dishes
1. Beef Teriyaki from Oriental Gardens
2. Chicken Bacon Cheese, which is as heavenly as it sounds
3. Meringue cookies, they totally count
4. Chilli, with no onions.
Four Websites I Visit Daily
1. www.foreignpolicy.com to check headlines
2. www.modcloth.com to torture myself
3. www.blogger.com to waste time
4. www.facebook.com/www.twitter.com to keep up with my babies.
Four Places I'd Rather Be
1. Bureau County, because home is where you are happy.
2. The corner of Diversey and Clark, heading to a movie at Landmark after browsing at Borders and eating a nutella and strawberry crepe at Le Creperie.
3. In Paris, getting out of my first class of the day (pipedreams never die.)
4. At the apartment, cuddling with my cat, or at home, cuddling with my dog.
Four Books You Love
1. Evelyn Waugh's "Decline and Fall" or "Put Out More Flags". I laugh out loud.
2. Kerouac's "Maggie Cassidy". I love the books about his childhood.
3. Hooman Majd's "The Ayatollah Begs to Differ". A very real, very enlightening look at Iran.
4. Fitzgerald's "The Lees of Happiness". It makes me sob everytime.
TWO YEARS AGO, I...
1. Was still going to IVCC
2. Had just started working at Eco Espresso
3. Still had no clue what I was doing with my life.
ONE YEAR AGO, I...
1. Was starting my senior year of college (so much changes in a year!)
2. Had my own apartment in Lincoln Park
3. Felt 100% at peace with my life for the first time in way too long.
THIS YEAR, I...
1. Graduated college
2. But not before writing a LOT of papers on Iran.
3. Experienced the kind of broke that leads people to be successful writers and artists.
SIX MONTHS AGO, I...
1. Was knee high in Chicago crappy Spring
2. Was trying to figure out what to do after Graduation
3. Still had 3 months left of college.
YESTERDAY, I...
1. Watched Teen Mom. Stop judging me.
2. Contemplated the War in Iraq.
3. Got a haircut.
TODAY, I...
1. Was running late.
2. Worked on a report for work.
3. Am going to call Katie!
NEXT YEAR, I HOPE TO...
1. Move home and find a job (what up, waitressing?!)
2. Enjoy the time I have with my friends and family before going back to school.
3. Find a great program at a great school and get into it!
THREE ITEMS I HAVE BRAND-LOYALTY TO ARE...
1. H&M
2. Baked Ruffles
3. Naked smoothies
THREE SONGS I KNOW ALL THE WORDS TO ARE...
1. "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel. And Kim and I have a dance to it, too. No joke.
2. "New Virginia Creeper" by Old Crow. I know all their songs, actually, but that one's fun.
3. "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight and the Pips. I can belt that one out like no other.
TOP THREE LOCATIONS I'D LIKE TO RUN AWAY TO ARE...
1. Bureau County.
2. France.
3. The apartment (just to get away from work.)
FIRST THREE PEOPLE I THINK ABOUT ON A DAILY BASIS ARE...
1. Kim/Helen/Katie. My beloved babies.
2. My family, who I miss immensely.
3. Draper, who I also miss immensely and is also a beloved baby. Except not, cause he's a 5 year old dog.
I'm Too Good at Changing Direction
Been a while since I've really updated on my life. Honestly, I've mostly been posting while bored at work (productive?), so they haven't been too awesome. Whatever.
Anyway, life update. Where do I even begin? Basically, everything has changed once again. Yes, I've only been in Ridgecrest for about two months or so, but this town is not for me. At all. And working for the Defense Department? Not so much up my alley either (surprise, surprise, right?). So, what am I doing? Moving home, of course! Around Thanksgiving I'm going to be heading back to Bureau County. And in the fall, I'm going to be going to grad school. Not in France, but still! I'm pretty pumped. Turns out any "I'm sick of school" feelings were only end of the year stress, and after being out for two months, I cannot wait to get back to writing papers and doing research. I'm checking out programs primarily in Illinois, because I'm not feeling this whole not being a train ride away from my beloved people thing. My mom was laughing when I told her that -- "You can go to Africa and Paris and want to go to the Middle East, but you just HAVE to drive Main Street in Princeton. Gotta cruise through Walnut." It does sound ridiculous, but I'm still pretty young (22 for one month today) and I'm not ashamed of how connected I am with home. In fact, I'm kind of proud of it.
Anyway, back to the whole grad school thing. I'm kind of torn between doing a MA in Middle Eastern Studies or Political Science. U of I is an affiliate with the American Institute of Iranian Studies, an organization that provides grants and things to learn Farsi (YESPLEASE), and they have a program where I could write my dissertation and do research on Iranian politics and political identity. It seems like it will be harder to find a Poli Sci program that will allow me to focus that much on one country. I mean, I could always do a Middle Eastern Studies MA now, and if I want to I could do a second one in International Politics or something like that. And honestly, at this point, doing two Masters doesn't sound that intimidating to me. I love school; why not then? Besides, in the Poli Sci world, degrees are currency, so the more I can get under my belt while this wave of academia sweeps over me, the better.
Of course, this does mean Ben and I will be long distance again. It also mean postponing the wedding. I'm not focusing on that stuff, though, because what's important at this juncture in my life is doing what I need to do to fulfill my goals. We did long distance once, we can do it again. Besides, it seems like it will be better for us to be apart a while longer.
Other news? Well, I went shopping last weekend with Lisa. Ben and Steve came later on, which was cool. We went to Barnes & Noble, and I got a couple books. It's been a while since I bought any books, so I was definitely in need of new reading material. I picked up Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote, which I read in two days. It made me cry; awesome story. I also got A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, which is about his time in Paris as a young man. According to Ben no one LIKES Hemingway, but I do. I also picked up a little collection of Anton Chekhov's short stories, which I'm excited to read. One thing about my reading habits that's really unfortunate is that my favorite fiction writers are all dead, making it frustrating when you finish reading someone's body of work. This happened with Fitzgerald way too quickly. When they put out And the Hippos were Boiled in their Tanks I was beyond excited, because I'm inching closer and closer to the end of Kerouac's writings (a sad, sad, sad fact). So I'm trying to branch out into my favorite writers' contemporaries, or similar genres. Hence the Hemingway. I haven't read many Russian novels before, but I do have a Dostoevsky and a couple books by Nabokov, all of which I love.
This was really long, and I plan on posting a survey (to kill more time) in a second. Sorry for all the chatter!
Anyway, life update. Where do I even begin? Basically, everything has changed once again. Yes, I've only been in Ridgecrest for about two months or so, but this town is not for me. At all. And working for the Defense Department? Not so much up my alley either (surprise, surprise, right?). So, what am I doing? Moving home, of course! Around Thanksgiving I'm going to be heading back to Bureau County. And in the fall, I'm going to be going to grad school. Not in France, but still! I'm pretty pumped. Turns out any "I'm sick of school" feelings were only end of the year stress, and after being out for two months, I cannot wait to get back to writing papers and doing research. I'm checking out programs primarily in Illinois, because I'm not feeling this whole not being a train ride away from my beloved people thing. My mom was laughing when I told her that -- "You can go to Africa and Paris and want to go to the Middle East, but you just HAVE to drive Main Street in Princeton. Gotta cruise through Walnut." It does sound ridiculous, but I'm still pretty young (22 for one month today) and I'm not ashamed of how connected I am with home. In fact, I'm kind of proud of it.
Anyway, back to the whole grad school thing. I'm kind of torn between doing a MA in Middle Eastern Studies or Political Science. U of I is an affiliate with the American Institute of Iranian Studies, an organization that provides grants and things to learn Farsi (YESPLEASE), and they have a program where I could write my dissertation and do research on Iranian politics and political identity. It seems like it will be harder to find a Poli Sci program that will allow me to focus that much on one country. I mean, I could always do a Middle Eastern Studies MA now, and if I want to I could do a second one in International Politics or something like that. And honestly, at this point, doing two Masters doesn't sound that intimidating to me. I love school; why not then? Besides, in the Poli Sci world, degrees are currency, so the more I can get under my belt while this wave of academia sweeps over me, the better.
Of course, this does mean Ben and I will be long distance again. It also mean postponing the wedding. I'm not focusing on that stuff, though, because what's important at this juncture in my life is doing what I need to do to fulfill my goals. We did long distance once, we can do it again. Besides, it seems like it will be better for us to be apart a while longer.
Other news? Well, I went shopping last weekend with Lisa. Ben and Steve came later on, which was cool. We went to Barnes & Noble, and I got a couple books. It's been a while since I bought any books, so I was definitely in need of new reading material. I picked up Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote, which I read in two days. It made me cry; awesome story. I also got A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, which is about his time in Paris as a young man. According to Ben no one LIKES Hemingway, but I do. I also picked up a little collection of Anton Chekhov's short stories, which I'm excited to read. One thing about my reading habits that's really unfortunate is that my favorite fiction writers are all dead, making it frustrating when you finish reading someone's body of work. This happened with Fitzgerald way too quickly. When they put out And the Hippos were Boiled in their Tanks I was beyond excited, because I'm inching closer and closer to the end of Kerouac's writings (a sad, sad, sad fact). So I'm trying to branch out into my favorite writers' contemporaries, or similar genres. Hence the Hemingway. I haven't read many Russian novels before, but I do have a Dostoevsky and a couple books by Nabokov, all of which I love.
This was really long, and I plan on posting a survey (to kill more time) in a second. Sorry for all the chatter!
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