Guess where I’m going, and what I’m doing tomorrow???  Here are hints.

 

 

 

I don’t plan on telling my parents until after I get back, but I’m going skydiving!  Hopefully I’ll be back tomorrow telling you how it was.  Oops… I probably jinxed myself, didn’t I?

Today was my second day on campus (I only have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays), and came upon the university’s street fair.  Student groups sit under tents and give out information to people passing by, hoping that they’ll join their (fraternity/sorority/outdoor club/political group/multicultural center, etc).  FYI, I didn’t join any clubs.  I’m not on campus enough to make it worthwhile, plus I joined too many clubs as an undergrad. 

 

Students enjoying lunch outsideI did this once, and it actually wasn’t too hard.Fall is here. 

Today, I successfully finished my first day of school.  For those that don’t know, I’m back in Oregon to pursue my Master’s in TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages).  I have no academic experience in Linguistics (which is what most of the TESOL classes are), therefore I need to jump through some hoops before I can get into the Master’s program.  I have to take two linguistics classes, do well in them, and get recommendations from those professors before I can apply for the graduate program.

I walked onto campus this morning feeling nervous and excited to learn.  I’ve always like learning and taking classes, but it was different being an older student.  When I was an undergrad, I never worried about how my tuition was being paid.  My parents, scholorships, and student loans covered all of that.  This time, the $1000+ tuition for two classes is coming from my checking account, and my views towards classes are completly different. 

It’s the same situation as when I was teaching English to adults in S. Korea.  The older students were always more attentive and eager to learn because 1) they chose to be there, and 2)  they paid for their classes, not their mothers or fathers.  I’m paying a lot of money to be here, so unike the 18 and 19 year freshmen, I’m not searching out places to socialize, joining clubs, getting tickets for football games, looking for cute boys, or sunbathing on the campus lawn.  My goal is to study and get good grades, and that’s why I don’t plan on working this term.

My 10am “Biligualism 480″ class turned out to be pretty interesting.  I’m bilingual myself, so it was a topic I could fully understand, even though I had never critically analyzed the way this has affected my life and growing up in the States. 

These are some of the questions we plan on covering this term:

• How is language stored in the brains of bilinguals?
• Does growing up with two languages hinder language acquistion as many people believe?  Does it help it along?
• Why do bilinguals often mix their languages when they speak?
• Is there any system to this switinching , or is it random, as monolinguals often believe?
• How do various countries around the world deal with questions of educating bilinguals?

Being confined on a Boeing 747 and breathing the recycled air of others for 10 hours was more than my body could handle.  I arrived in Los Angeles not feeling the greatest, but was happy to be somewhere familiar.  Two days later, when I finally made it back home, I was full blown sick.  Once I dropped off my things, I basically slept for the entire day and night.  I’m feeling better today, but am still out of it.

This and that:

Hopefully internet will be hooked up by this weekend. (Right now, I’m at the public library.)

The new term starts on Monday, but my first class is on Tuesday.

The first weekend of fall looks to be fabulous, with highs in the upper 70’s F.

I’m staying at my brother’s, and we’re sharing a 3 bedreoom house.

My ride is a white Toyota Previa minivan. It’s not sexy, but it was (almost) free. My dad lets me drive it, and I just have to pay for gas.

Today’s goal is to look for a cell phone.

I’m now in the transit lounge at Incheon airport, taking full advantage of the free internet terminals here.  There’s an Asian chick sitting to my right, hovering over me.  And no, tapping your fingernails is NOT going to get me off this computer faster.

Last night at the Bangkok airport, Korean boy band “SG Wannabe” was also leaving Thailand.  There were hordes of girls with signs screaming as they were being ushered through the airport.  (And yes, I took pictures and video.)  The group ended up standing right behind me for passport inspections.  Koreans were turning around in line and taking pictures, so they were quickly taken to a separate area.

I’m now off to board my flight.