I originally just titled this blog as "Josh Groban" but felt it was a little stupid. But he is in fact the subject of this post. His new album Illuminations came out on Monday and I am absolutely transfixed! He has the voice of an angel and there is something about singing in another language that just makes me melt. I'm sure my Mom thinks I'm a little crazy. How many people do you know who blast Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli while they do physics on a whiteboard in their room?
This type of music has recently become my favorite. I love the smooth vocal and instrumental arrangements. Most of the popular mainstream music is often a compilation where the instruments, or beat, or any other part of the music completely overpowers the vocals. As a female, I know that I most often appreciate a song for the lyrics or the mood and not so much the beat or energy.
And as I said earlier.......there is something about singing in Italian/French/Portuguese/Spanish that is simply irresistible from these men. I know that I generally disposed to men who are.....nerdy.....however, I would not find myself refusing a man who could sing to me like that!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Au Pair
After being rejected from NASA (at least that specific internship) because I am not an engineer, I have decided to do something else with my summer while I contemplate my future. With my newly rediscovered love of French, I am thinking about applying to be an Au Pair over the summer.
I have always wanted to stay on my own in another country (or anywhere other than my hometown) and this appears to be a great opportunity. Currently, my French is not up to par with living there but I think that I can change that with a little bit of work. I almost wish I had kept more of the French notes that I had from school.
The application to the program is a little intense. I am struggling with writing 500 words to the program and potential host family about myself, my qualifications and when I expect from the program IN FRENCH. Google translate is good to help with words and phrases when I get stuck, but I feel completely incompetent. I wish I could speak as well as I understand.
I wish I could just contact someone and do this directly rather than have to go through a program, but the accredited part means that I won't get ripped off in the end. I am excited to think that I may be able to spend an entire summer in Paris! That would be fantastic....even though I would not get paid very much. Given the loss of my scholarship last semester (keeping a 3.7 in college is rough in the physics department) and my current scarcity of funds I hope this is somewhat reasonable. It would most definitely be a one in a lifetime experience.
I have always wanted to stay on my own in another country (or anywhere other than my hometown) and this appears to be a great opportunity. Currently, my French is not up to par with living there but I think that I can change that with a little bit of work. I almost wish I had kept more of the French notes that I had from school.
The application to the program is a little intense. I am struggling with writing 500 words to the program and potential host family about myself, my qualifications and when I expect from the program IN FRENCH. Google translate is good to help with words and phrases when I get stuck, but I feel completely incompetent. I wish I could speak as well as I understand.
I wish I could just contact someone and do this directly rather than have to go through a program, but the accredited part means that I won't get ripped off in the end. I am excited to think that I may be able to spend an entire summer in Paris! That would be fantastic....even though I would not get paid very much. Given the loss of my scholarship last semester (keeping a 3.7 in college is rough in the physics department) and my current scarcity of funds I hope this is somewhat reasonable. It would most definitely be a one in a lifetime experience.
Monday, November 8, 2010
le mot que je désire
When I took French in Jr. high from the illustrious Mr. Baigue, I learned to love the language. I never did develop of love for French classes however. The immersion method he employed resulted in a heightened understanding of the construct, but was not as enabling in the actual practice of speech. There are several things for which I am eternally grateful to him for. The first is introducing me to the language. If I had been in a class where the teacher insisted on grammatical complications and memorizing verb conjugation, I can guarantee that I would have become vehemently disenchanted. As this was not the case, I developed a taste for languages. I wish that this had extended to a natural ability to speak other languages, but alas, it has yet to be so.
The second thing I an grateful for is for introducing me to the musical Notre Dame de Paris. This adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel by the same name is one of the greatest masterpieces of art in music I have ever experienced. The beauty of language and culture is showcased on a grand scale that left an impression on my 14-year-old self that has yet to fade. As I listen to the soundtrack (which has been on my ipod for years) I still get a secret thrill from the melodies and envision the vague images I remember from watching the filmed production so many years ago.
This belle langue has faded in and out of my life for years. Since high school, I have not had many opportunities to practice speaking (although that has always been the more difficult part for me). I wish in some part that I could move to France, for several reasons, and become fluent. Sadly, I don't see that happening any time soon and I will have to continue settling for watching the filmed production of Notre Dame de Paris (that I just ordered off Amazon.com) and listening to Lara Fabian, Bruno Coulais, and the other French artists of my collection.
The second thing I an grateful for is for introducing me to the musical Notre Dame de Paris. This adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel by the same name is one of the greatest masterpieces of art in music I have ever experienced. The beauty of language and culture is showcased on a grand scale that left an impression on my 14-year-old self that has yet to fade. As I listen to the soundtrack (which has been on my ipod for years) I still get a secret thrill from the melodies and envision the vague images I remember from watching the filmed production so many years ago.
This belle langue has faded in and out of my life for years. Since high school, I have not had many opportunities to practice speaking (although that has always been the more difficult part for me). I wish in some part that I could move to France, for several reasons, and become fluent. Sadly, I don't see that happening any time soon and I will have to continue settling for watching the filmed production of Notre Dame de Paris (that I just ordered off Amazon.com) and listening to Lara Fabian, Bruno Coulais, and the other French artists of my collection.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Like a Chicken
As my last name would imply, I have the dubious privilege of using the word "chicken" in whatever context I desire. This fact, however, is completely irrelevant to my post.
I know that I have always had a bit of a problem with trying to do to much and not being able to ask for help. I like to think that I can do everything on my own. Its not like I'm trying to be superwoman, but I like to be independent and take care of myself. There is a bit of me that is very proud and doesn't like to admit that I can't actually do everything. But I don't let it hinder me, for the most part, when I am in dire straits. I think that I enjoy, in a very perverse and masochistic way, being so busy I can't think straight. For one thing, I feel incredibly productive because I am always doing something. I like being able to look at what I have accomplished and see the good it does, either for me or anyone else. This tendency has also nearly been my undoing on many occasions.
It didn't take me very long to figure out that college classes were different than high school. Some ways were good, others were a little frustrating. This did not deter me from plowing full steam ahead with a full class load, working 20 hrs a week and tutoring math in my spare time. Over the course of time this load has only increased to include a calling as the president of my sorority, boyfriends from time to time, as well as volunteering in the Human Performance Lab at the U. Most of the time, I am pretty good with effective time management. I even let myself be lazy on occasion. Other times, my entire world falls to pieces and it all comes crashing down together around my ears. Right now, things are hanging in a precarious balance.
Given a slight breakdown last night, I think I might be on the verge of a major collapse. I might end up running around like a chicken with its head cut off (hence the title) but at least I know that it is by my own choice. Its at times like theses that I have to seriously reflect on my choices and paths I follow. Is this academic career something I can actually handle? Am I crazy? The answer is yes to both questions. I am crazy. Exactly crazy enough to do what I set my heart and mind on. So even if I fall apart a couple times along the way, I get to learn how to puck myself up, take the helping hands that are offered to me and learn from my mistakes. Its the only thing I can do.
I know that I have always had a bit of a problem with trying to do to much and not being able to ask for help. I like to think that I can do everything on my own. Its not like I'm trying to be superwoman, but I like to be independent and take care of myself. There is a bit of me that is very proud and doesn't like to admit that I can't actually do everything. But I don't let it hinder me, for the most part, when I am in dire straits. I think that I enjoy, in a very perverse and masochistic way, being so busy I can't think straight. For one thing, I feel incredibly productive because I am always doing something. I like being able to look at what I have accomplished and see the good it does, either for me or anyone else. This tendency has also nearly been my undoing on many occasions.
It didn't take me very long to figure out that college classes were different than high school. Some ways were good, others were a little frustrating. This did not deter me from plowing full steam ahead with a full class load, working 20 hrs a week and tutoring math in my spare time. Over the course of time this load has only increased to include a calling as the president of my sorority, boyfriends from time to time, as well as volunteering in the Human Performance Lab at the U. Most of the time, I am pretty good with effective time management. I even let myself be lazy on occasion. Other times, my entire world falls to pieces and it all comes crashing down together around my ears. Right now, things are hanging in a precarious balance.
Given a slight breakdown last night, I think I might be on the verge of a major collapse. I might end up running around like a chicken with its head cut off (hence the title) but at least I know that it is by my own choice. Its at times like theses that I have to seriously reflect on my choices and paths I follow. Is this academic career something I can actually handle? Am I crazy? The answer is yes to both questions. I am crazy. Exactly crazy enough to do what I set my heart and mind on. So even if I fall apart a couple times along the way, I get to learn how to puck myself up, take the helping hands that are offered to me and learn from my mistakes. Its the only thing I can do.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Speak Now
Although I have already expressed how much I LOVE Taylor Swift, I simply cannot resist. HEr new album Speak Now was released last week and, in a nutshell, I feel my life is more complete. Alright that does sound ridiculously cheesy and stupid, but I am really excited right not. This CD has some of Taylor best work on it (I believe) and it is so personal, as she wrote every song on it! 
My personal favorite is the song "Mine" that was released quite a while ago. This song, more than anything, I think shows the evolution of Taylor as a person and an artist. Realistic and painfully sweet, it is a truer love song than most anything she has written before. The music video for the song is just as sweet. At the end, when Taylor's character get married and it shows flashes of her life with children and her husband, I nearly cried the first time I saw it. This is about the single most girly and sweet post I've ever done, so I think I'll just leave the link to the music video and call it a day.
Taylor Swift's Music Video "Mine": http://justjared.buzznet.com/2010/08/27/taylor-swift-mine-music-video-premiere/
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