My favorite readings from this semester include: Sita Sings the Blues, The Missing Queen, and Twenty Jataka Tales. In Sita Sings the Blues, I loved the idea of watching a movie and the animation and the songs were very entertaining. The Missing Queen is a fantastic modern version of the Ramayana. I loved that it was sort of like a detective story and it was told from a character that was not in the original story. I did the same sort of thing with my storybook and it was nice to see someone else's take on the same concept. I loved the Twenty Jataka Tales because I love seeing different culture's children's stories. I feel like you can tell a lot about a culture based off of the life lessons they teach their children in their stories.
Some suggestions for future students would be to plan ahead and stay on top of your readings. There is a lot of reading for this class and it can become difficult to stay on top of. Especially when your other classes start to get crazy.
Monday, May 2, 2016
Reflections
I am most proud of my storybook project for this class. It was a joy for me to revisit characters from my project in Mythology and Folklore and I had so much fun. I am proud of myself for developing the characters personalities more in this storybook. I will really be sad to see Wolfgang and Hunter go.
One of the most valuable take aways from this class is creative writing. Writing the stories for this class was a great stress reliever. I would like to continue this. Who knows? Maybe one day I will write a book or something from my creative writing.
Tech Tip: Weather Widget
I added the weather widget to my blog today! I wish I would have done it sooner! I think it is a great addition to the blog!
Famous Last Words Week 14
This week I would love to take a moment to talk about a recitalnado.
What is a recitalnado? Well, I'm about to tell you.
This Friday I went to one of my best friends senior recital. As a music education major this recital is something she has been working for over the past four years. I don't know if you realize this but being a music major is harder than you think. You would think that it would be easy but it is not. They spend hours in class and some classes don't even have credit! On top of that they spend countless hours working on perfecting their skills. She bought a brand new dress, picked out music, food for a reception, she even wrote a song and dedicated it to her parents. The weather was getting bad and she was stressing herself to try to be done before it got worse. About halfway through the recital someone came into the room and told us we needed to leave Catlett and take shelter at the Physical Sciences Center. I felt so awful. She had spent countless hours preparing for this moment and because of the weather she was not going to be able to finish. The Physical Science Center was complete chaos. Everyone and there dog was there. Not joking. There were so many dogs! Which I love! Once norman was in the clear we decided to go back to Catlett and let her finish her recital. She was so grateful for everyone that came and was able to have a great attitude about the entire situation. She was absolutely amazing and I am so proud of her! She definitely had a recital that no one will ever forget!
Here is a picture of her after the tornado. Isn't she gorgeous?
What is a recitalnado? Well, I'm about to tell you.
This Friday I went to one of my best friends senior recital. As a music education major this recital is something she has been working for over the past four years. I don't know if you realize this but being a music major is harder than you think. You would think that it would be easy but it is not. They spend hours in class and some classes don't even have credit! On top of that they spend countless hours working on perfecting their skills. She bought a brand new dress, picked out music, food for a reception, she even wrote a song and dedicated it to her parents. The weather was getting bad and she was stressing herself to try to be done before it got worse. About halfway through the recital someone came into the room and told us we needed to leave Catlett and take shelter at the Physical Sciences Center. I felt so awful. She had spent countless hours preparing for this moment and because of the weather she was not going to be able to finish. The Physical Science Center was complete chaos. Everyone and there dog was there. Not joking. There were so many dogs! Which I love! Once norman was in the clear we decided to go back to Catlett and let her finish her recital. She was so grateful for everyone that came and was able to have a great attitude about the entire situation. She was absolutely amazing and I am so proud of her! She definitely had a recital that no one will ever forget!
Here is a picture of her after the tornado. Isn't she gorgeous?
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Week 14 Storytelling: Girl on the Flyer
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| Missing Person from Stidhamreconstruction |
I looked at the flyer with a photo of a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. The caption read in bold letters "MISSING TEENAGE GIRL". I turn away from the flyer with tears in my eyes. That is not just any teenage girl. That is my sister.
It started like any other day. My alarm went off about four times and I pressed snooze every time. I did not want to go to school. I wanted to keep dreaming the day away. My mom came in and told me to get up and get ready or else I would be late. Not that it really mattered. Groaning in protest I got up and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and do my hair. I had just put toothpaste on my toothbrush when my mom pounded on my door.
"Nancy. Is your sister in there with you?"
I rolled my eyes, "No. Why would we be in the bathroom together mom? That is weird."
"You sure?" my mom asked nervously.
My mom's tone was starting to make me worry. I opened the door. "Yeah, mom she's not here." I saw the panic in her eyes. "Mom, what's wrong???" She runs down the hall, grabs her phone, and dials 911. "MOM!" I yell.
I hear a voice on the phone "911 what's your emergency?"
My mom's voice trembles, "Yes, I can't find my daughter. I think she's been kidnapped."
Suddenly I feel the world spinning around me. I run to my sisters bedroom and the window is open and her stuff is everywhere. Drawers were on the ground and I saw scratch marks on her headboard. I fall on the ground as the world goes to black.
I wake up in my bed. It was only a dream. I sit up and hear a lot of people in the house. Police are everywhere. They are asking my parents questions about my sister. My mom pulls out a photo of her from our family vacation over spring break. I run back to my room and slam the door.
How could I have let this happen? I was in the next room. How could I not have heard her? I hope and pray that someone, anyone could find my sister and bring her home to me.
Author's Note: I based this week's story off of The Missing Queen by Samhita Arni (2014). In this version of the Ramayana, Samhita mentions Sita's sister Urmila. It made me really think about how difficult Sita's disappearance would be on Sita's family. I really wanted to focus on how Urmila may have felt when she discovered her sister was missing. The story made me think of how I would respond if my little sister went missing, so I wrote how I think I would have reacted.
Reading Diary Week 14: Missing Queen Part D
The Missing Queen by Samhita Arni (2014)
I thought this was a great story and I would recommend this novel to anyone! It wasn't quite what I had expected, but I loved the modern take on the Ramayana. It was really interesting to see the story of Sita unfold from the perspective of a journalist.
Something that I would love to elaborate on is Sam Bhoo Kha's story. I love the idea of the matriarchal society that he was a part of before Ayodhya came. The queen was in power, women had no shame and did not wear shirts because it was more convenient to feed the young, and they had freedom for women that was not common. My history teacher used to say, "behind the downfall of every man lurkes a woman." However, the queen was trying to avoid war and turmoil for her people. It was a man (brother to a girl that was assaulted) that started the war between Sam Bhoo Kha's tribe and Ayodhya. Although, some could argue that it was the girl's fault for going into the Ayodhya emissioner's tent. Regardless, I think this would be a fun story to tell.
I also loved how this version of the story ended compared to the original story that we read in class. As I was reading, I liked the fact that Sita died and Rama did not just take the boys and leave Sita in a forest. I thought that was a more suiting end because Sita could not survive on her own without her boys. Then there was the cliffhanger at the end. I would love for that to be Sita alive and well, however, part of me also wishes that it wasn't. I can't imagine Sita sitting in a cabin somewhere content in life when her sons are with their father that had abandoned them before they were born and thought their own mother was dead.
I thought this was a great story and I would recommend this novel to anyone! It wasn't quite what I had expected, but I loved the modern take on the Ramayana. It was really interesting to see the story of Sita unfold from the perspective of a journalist.
Something that I would love to elaborate on is Sam Bhoo Kha's story. I love the idea of the matriarchal society that he was a part of before Ayodhya came. The queen was in power, women had no shame and did not wear shirts because it was more convenient to feed the young, and they had freedom for women that was not common. My history teacher used to say, "behind the downfall of every man lurkes a woman." However, the queen was trying to avoid war and turmoil for her people. It was a man (brother to a girl that was assaulted) that started the war between Sam Bhoo Kha's tribe and Ayodhya. Although, some could argue that it was the girl's fault for going into the Ayodhya emissioner's tent. Regardless, I think this would be a fun story to tell.
I also loved how this version of the story ended compared to the original story that we read in class. As I was reading, I liked the fact that Sita died and Rama did not just take the boys and leave Sita in a forest. I thought that was a more suiting end because Sita could not survive on her own without her boys. Then there was the cliffhanger at the end. I would love for that to be Sita alive and well, however, part of me also wishes that it wasn't. I can't imagine Sita sitting in a cabin somewhere content in life when her sons are with their father that had abandoned them before they were born and thought their own mother was dead.
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| The Chicago Massacre of 1812 from Wiki Commons |
Week 14 Reading Diary: Missing Queen Part C
The Missing Queen by Samhita Arni (2014)
I think that Sita's sister, Urmila, has a great story to be told. I have a little sister and if she suddenly went missing I would do all that is in my power to find her. I don't blame her for being upset with her husband for getting rid of her sister. I don't think I would ever forgive my husband if he made my sister leave, especially without letting me say goodbye. I love that Urmila stood up to Rama in this story and said she did not want him to find another wife because he was still married to her sister. I know that must have taken a lot of bravery because in this world women don't seem to have a lot of power. If I wrote a story I would love to have it be right after Sita went missing. It would concentrate on Urmila and her efforts to find her sister and then the betrayal of her husband. I could only imagine how Urmila would feel when finding out that her own husband got rid of her sister.
Another scene I found interesting was the bar scene in chapter 21. I could either write the story about a regular customer that likes to come there and listen to the music or I could write about the singer herself. The song that she sung seemed to really hit home for a lot of people including the singer. I feel like there was a backstory to this song. I would love to create it. Perhaps her mother wanted her to marry an Ayodhya man, or maybe she had a friend that fell into the trap?
I think that Sita's sister, Urmila, has a great story to be told. I have a little sister and if she suddenly went missing I would do all that is in my power to find her. I don't blame her for being upset with her husband for getting rid of her sister. I don't think I would ever forgive my husband if he made my sister leave, especially without letting me say goodbye. I love that Urmila stood up to Rama in this story and said she did not want him to find another wife because he was still married to her sister. I know that must have taken a lot of bravery because in this world women don't seem to have a lot of power. If I wrote a story I would love to have it be right after Sita went missing. It would concentrate on Urmila and her efforts to find her sister and then the betrayal of her husband. I could only imagine how Urmila would feel when finding out that her own husband got rid of her sister.
Another scene I found interesting was the bar scene in chapter 21. I could either write the story about a regular customer that likes to come there and listen to the music or I could write about the singer herself. The song that she sung seemed to really hit home for a lot of people including the singer. I feel like there was a backstory to this song. I would love to create it. Perhaps her mother wanted her to marry an Ayodhya man, or maybe she had a friend that fell into the trap?
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| Singing woman in red from Shutterstock |
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