The Final One (BEDS 030)

Here we are, folks: the final blog in Blog Every Day in September 2016. I may have missed a lot of days this month, but I couldn't miss this one.

I entered this month with a major streak under my belt. SInce the beginning of July, I hadn't missed a single update, which is probably the most amount of content I've made in the most condensed amount of time since this blog started. (That's three blogs a week for two months straight. That's insane.) I was determined, this year more than ever, to make it out of September with 30 shiney new posts added to that list.

Alas, that didn't happen. I missed several days this month, sometimes for no reason at all other than I had homework to attend to, and didn't have time to do both. Sometimes I announced this on Facebook and Twitter. Sometimes I didn't, allowing myself to just disappear from the internet for a few days. (Except not actually, because I have a tendancy to spam Twitter when I'm procrastinating. Lol whoops.)

Still, though, we end the month today with a total of 20 blog posts, which is still a lot for thirty days. Now, with a tangible sense of relief, I leave behind the constant guilt of not blogging and return to the much more manageable realm of blogging three times a week. 

Normally about now, I'd start thinking about NaNoWriMo and the novel I plan to write in thirty days, starting thirty one days from now. But, for the first time since 2011, I'm considering not participating. With all the stuff going on in all of my classes, I'm just not sure I can commit to 50,000 words.

Then again, I thought the same thing last year and ended up going for it anyway. So I guess we'll see.

Until later,

- Justyne

No Comprendo (BEDS 027)

Today, I'd like to tell you the story of how I dropped out of my Intermediate Japanese class after only being in it for about a day.

First, I'd like to start off by saying that I have never dropped a class in university before. I normally can't tell if I'm going to like a class or not within the add/drop period, and after that point I normally just stick it out until the end. (I'm very stubborn in that way.) The only reason I dropped this one is because I knew, after just one class, that this would not go well for me.

All will be explained in time.

It was Wednesday, the second day of school, and Japanese was my only class that day. I showed up an hour early, so I could buy some textbooks before class. The line, however, was so long that by the time I got out of there I was already fifteen minutes late on my first freaking day. No worries, though, not a big deal. I'll just sneak in quietly and sit near the back.

An excellent plan, if the door to the classroom wasn't located a mere few feet away from the professor, at the front of the classroom, for everyone to stop and stare at me as I scurried in mid-lecture.

Already, we're off to a great start.

After I sheepishly sat down in the first empty see I saw, right at the front of the class, the professor continued. She was going over the syllabus, highlighting certain assignments and whatnot, and while I felt a little lost without a physical copy in front of me, I could manage without it.

Then she said the following statement:

"You've probably noticed that, up to this point, I've been speaking entirely in English. That's because I want to make a gradual shift from English to Japanese, so you all can get used to speaking the language easier."

Seems reasonable, right? Defintely. And it was, for the next three seconds. After a slight pause and a nod, some unknown force picked me up and dropped me down in rural Japan--because my prof was speaking fluent Japanese at a rapid pace that I couldn't follow if someone was pointing a gun to my temple.

What made it worse? She was asking the class questions, and they were answering her. She was writing things on the chalkboard, numbered one to five, and I only recognized a single word out of the bunch. I sat there in shock and in panic, because clearly one of two things had just happened:

Scenario #1--I had actually somehow managed to register myself for an advanced language course, or,

Scenario #2--I had somehow fallen into a parallel universe, where everyone is automatically fluent in Japanese and such a course is simply an easy way to get a university credit.

(Or, Secret Scenario #3--it had simply been too long since my Intro class and I probably shouldn't have considered registering for a more advanced class without some thoroughly thorough review.)

So as I'm furiously pulling up dictionary app after dictionary app, trying to figure out what the hell was going on, the teacher starts calling on people. She picked one student at the far end of the class, and asked him to go first. This is good, I thought. I can work with this. I can listen to everyone else and narrow it down through the process of elimination.

Except that student wasn't ready. So she picked another student, sitting in the front row at the opposite end of the classroom--me.

I swear, in that moment, everyone heard my heart plummet from my chest down into the depths of the basement. My blood pressure skyrocketed, my brain fried, and as desperately as I wanted to say something--anything--any and all Japanese vocabulary evaporated, and the only phrases coming to mind were in French. (Yes, you heard me. FRENCH. After being dormant for five years, my sub-par French skills picked now to rise to the surface.)

Luckily, I got out of it, through a quick shake of my head once she finally asked me if I was ready. I desperately tried to follow along with the volunteers she picked to speak up and introduce themselves, but that ended up being pretty useless as, like I previously mentioned, everyone else in the class seemed perfectly capable of not only understanding the prof, but also replying just as quickly as she was. I exited the class feeling shaken, clueless, and in an absolute panic about how I could possibly manage to pass this course, let alone do well in it.

But like I said, I'm stubborn. I resolved to do the extra work, convinced that I was capable and could do it. I headed straight back to the bookstore, eyes set on that course's text and workbook.

Back in my intro class in PEI, my professor--bless his soul--made his own textbooks using outside resources. He sold it in the bookstore with a construction paper cover for six dollars, easily my cheapest textbook ever. No other prof I've had has done that, and I will forever be grateful for the money that professor saved me on my first round of textbooks.

HOWEVER. In the University of Winnipeg's intro class, they use a different textbook, which continues to be the requirement for the first half or so of the Intermediate class. Everyone else in my class had these materials--excpet for me. And I was convinced that if I could just get my hands on that workbook, I could power through all of the beginning excercises and emerge with fresh knowledge and understanding of the language that would, if not teach me to swim, at least prevent me from drowning entirely.

Except the problem is, the Intro text--while definitely required and used in the Intermediate class--was not listed as a required Intermediate text as the bookstore. Which means that the bookstore, through no fault of their own, only ordered in accordance to the Intro class.

Which means that, by the time I got there, the workbook that I had been counting on, the basket that I had put literally all of my eggs in, was gone. Sold out. Probably not going to be restocked, because that's just the way my life was going.

I bought the textbook that day, and contemplated over the next couple of days over how to proceed. But after I spent those couple of days stressed out to the point of not even being able to think...I just locked onto Web Advisor and dropped the course. I returned the text the next day, got my refund, and focused my stress and worrying on my other four classes.

Because that amount of stress, my friends, simply is not worth it. Sometimes you gotta know your limits and draw the line when you get there.

Hope you all enjoyed watching me suffer!

Until later,

- Justyne

Education vs. Career (BEDS 020)

My stance on university has always remained the same: take courses you're interested in, and find a job later. Education first, career second. I haven't failed to notice, though, the value society puts in the career you have after.

I'm not naive enough to believe that wanting a good job is not a motivating factor for attending university. In fact, if I'm being completely, 100% honest, it's a big reason I reapplied. It's a common reason, and an extremely valid one. If you want to be a lawyer because of the big, fat paycheck you'll get, I applaud you! (Mostly because I find law extremely dull and confusing, and I would never, ever, pursue it.)

But I hate--hate--when the topic turns to what I'm going to do after school. I hate that so many people view the lack of an intended career path as a downfall, a weakness, a liability. I resent all of the condescending thoughts that my degree is useless, or that the courses I'm taking will not benefit my future.

This year, I decided to take Japanese. It had no relation to any of my major requirements. The credit probably wasn't going to do me many favours on my transcript. But I took it in my first year, I liked it, I was good at it. I wanted to increase my conversational skills in the language, so I registered for the course.

Of course, I ended up dropping it after the first class, but that's another story entirely.

When I first started my degree, I hated it. The courses in my major were too broad, too general, too....bleh. I had no interest, so I dropped out. But the longer I'm here, the more narrowed the classes get, the more I like them. The more I'm interested. The more I actually care about what I'm learning, as opposed to the piece of paper I'm going to get afterwards.

I may have been prompted back into university with the possibility of a better job, but I stick around because I am invested.

The things we discuss in class are things that pique my interest. I'm taking a course in Canadian comics, with books on the syllabus that I'm genuinely excited to read. I'm taking a popular literature and film class, and on the very first day we screened Inside Out. (Even more impressively, I managed not to cry.) I'm taking a class about fairy tales--FAIRY TALES. If that's not the literal most perfect class for me, I don't know what is.

Even though school stresses me out, and I breathe a sigh of relief every time a break comes along, I am genuinely happy to be here. I am genuinely excited about what I'm studying, about (some of) the papers I'm assigned to write. And that's how it should be.

Sometimes you need a degree to do what you really want to do--but, as I've said before, I have never been one of those people. So right now, all I care about is being challenged, thinking critically, and being exposed to new perspectives that I wouldn't have seen otherwise.

At least that way, I'll have some pride in the piece of paper I get at the end of it all, instead of disappointment from not getting the career I set my mind on.

Until later,

- Justyne

Micro Fiction Monday: End of Summer (BEDS 019)

I dipped my big toe in first. The water was cold—freezing, even—but so was the air around me. The sun was just beginning to shimmer above the horizon. It was too early to be awake, and far too soon to be leaving.

At least, that’s what everyone said. But summer was ending, and already I could see a yellow tint on the leaves above the cabin. Registration for classes had come and gone, and back-to-school ads plagued the radio that my sister had brought down to the beach every day. Now, the car was getting packed and loaded, and soon our summer home would disappear behind the mountains for another nine months.

I lowered myself onto the dock, easing the rest of my foot into the water. I swung my other leg around and eased it in, too, shivering as I did. There was no time to be slow, no time to get used to the temperature. So I slowly swung my legs beneath the water, hands gripping the dock, and stared off at the horizon as the sun inched its way up. The other cottages dotting the lake remained dark, and the birds and crickets remained quiet.

In that moment, it was just me and the lake. Just how I liked it.

                
Eventually, my peace ended. I was called back to the car, the engine revved, and we pulled out of the driveway for the last time. With my sister already asleep on my shoulder, I watched as our house disappeared out of sight, taking my summer with it.

Disney Tag (BEDS 016)

Hello again, friends! I don't often do tags (i.e. question-and-answer games), but since this is Blog Every Day in September....well, I'm gonna one today. I took some Disney-themed questions this blogger over here, so let's have some fun!

A scene in any Disney movie you wish you could experience?

The lantern scene in Tangled. Duh.

An unforgettable experience/moment you've had at the Parks?

My entire 20th birthday was pretty unforgettable, because how could a birthday spent in Disney World not be?

In particular, though, what I probably enjoyed most was dancing to YMCA and the Macarena in Downtown Disney after a full day spent at Magic Kingdom. It's the little things, guys.

What non-Disney song(s) reminds you or brings back memories of Disney and/or the Parks?

I mean, I have an entire playlist of park music that I listen to, so....

When was the first time you went to a Disney Park? 

2011! I was 17, and it was the first vacation I took that I paid for entirely by myself. Money well spent, if you ask me.

If you could choose any of the characters to be your best friend, who would you choose?

Probably Stitch, because ??? How could you not want him as a sidekick??

Who are your favourite Disney princesses?

Tiana, because she teaches girls to work hard for what they want, and Anna, because she and I are literally the same people.

Name a scene/moment in any Disney movie that never fails to make you cry?

Have you seen Inside Out? Yeah, that.

What is the first Disney movie you remember seeing?

The first one I distinctly remember seeing is Monster's Inc. when it first came out in theatres. (2001...I woulda been about 5 or 6?) I know I watched A Bug's Life before that, but the only thing I remember about it is that we had a VHS tape that wouldn't work? Idk I was little.

What is your favourite Disney movie?

Tangled, without a doubt. Has been since I saw it in 2011.

(I'm runnin' real low on ideas here, guys.)

Until later,

- Justyne

Grace VanderWaal (BEDS 015)

I don't really follow a lot of reality TV. (Unless it's, like, the Food Network or something.) I'll watch an episode or two here and there, but I definitely don't get caught up in The Bachelor like some people do.

But damn, I'm a sucker for audition clips. You know, for shows like America's Got Talent or The X Factor, where they have particpants audition live in front of an audience. I don't like watching the bad audition that everyone makes fun of, because to be honest I cringe too much to take enjoyment out of it. But what I do like watching are the good auditions--the ones that get the golden buzzer, the ones that get a standing ovation and a yes from every single judge.

I love watching these because it's like I'm watching someone's dream come true, right in front of my eyes. Because in that moment, it is. Regardless of whether or not they win, no matter how far they make it in the competition--in that moment captured on film, everything they have been wishing for is coming true. And it makes me so, so happy to see them so happy.

Last night, Grace Vanderwaal won America's Got Talent. I saw her audition back in June, and I've watched it a hundred times since. Her voice is stunning and her personality sparkles, and I don't think I've ever been happier about the results of a reality show. She deserves it, I think. When I watched the results this morning, myself--along with a million others--watched all her dreams come true.

And I'm so, so happy for her.


Until later,

- Justyne

How to: Blog Every Day (BEDS 013)

Sometimes, writing a blog is easy. Sometimes I know exactly what to write about, the words flow nicely, and I'm able to finish my day knowing that I uploaded some well-rounded and damn-near great content.

Other times--particularily in Septemer--not so much.

Every year, as the summer winds down and thoughts of school begin to rear their ugly head, I start to plan my annual BEDS challenge. I always have great intentions. I always plan to write as many posts as I can ahead of time, and I always have a list of brainstormed ideas for when my pre-written schedule inevitably runs out. I always think it will go smoothly...which, really, is my first mistake.

Something always comes up. I don't write as many blog posts as I would have liked, and my brainstorms never spark as much inspiration as they did when I first wrote them down. So by halfway through the month, you get posts like this: ones written between classes, my iPad in my lap, fingers furiously typing the first words that pop into my brain. And, quite honestly, you'll all be lucky if I even think to proof read this before hitting "publish".

So today, I present to you this: a quick, dubious how-to guide for somehow managing to upload a new blog every day.

Step 1: Remember that you have a blog in the first place. You'd think it'd be easy, remembering something I've had to do regularily since 2013. Alas, as we have all seen in the past, I forget often enough that it should probably be of some concern to me.

Step 2: Carry your laptop around everywhere. (Or, in this case, an iPad named Suzie.) To blog every day, you need to sqeeze in as much time as you can. Five and ten minute gaps between classes can and do provide a lot, but it's hard to blog when you don't have a device connected to the internet. (A phone works well enough, too.)

Step 3: Remind yourself that it's ONLY FOR THIS MONTH. Then you can go back to your leisurely pace of three blogs a week. Ah, the good 'ol days...

Step 4: Stare at a blank screen for a solid five minutes. Because writer's block is gonna happen, so you might as well get it out of the way right at the beginning.

Step 5: Tell yourself that yes, Tumblr will definitely give you an idea for a blog post. Somehow.

Step 6: Write about literally the first thing that pops into your mind. These posts don't have to be long. Stretch the topic out into a few paragraphs, and you can call it a day.

Step 7: Get it done before midnight. It ain't tomorrow until 12 am.

Step 8: Tell yourself that there are other time zones in the world. It may be tomorrow here, but it's still yesterday somewhere.

Step 9: Hit "Publish" and hope for the best. It's as good as it's ever gonna be at this point, and sometimes you just have to decide to put it down.

Step 10: Move on to something else instead of prepping for tomorrow. Because If you can do it today, you can sure as hell do the same thing tomorrow.

Until later,

- Justyne