Here's where we get to know each other! My name is Joy and I'm currently a Sophomore at UWM, majoring in Elementary Education. I'm 24 years old and just returned to school this past fall after a 4 year hiatus. I'm sure it would be much more exciting if I could say I spent that time backpacking through Europe (I'm sure it would have helped me out in this class at the very least) but in reality I spent it in the United States Army (which was a whole different experience!!) I must say I learned a lot about myself through those years and will never regret that time. I spent most of it stationed in Virginia on a tiny post called Ft. Story. I also did a 15 month tour in Iraq and that was where I celebrated my 22nd and 23rd birthdays. Long story short, I completed my enlistment and moved back home to Milwaukee where I was born and raised. I have a fairly large family of 4 sisters (one being my twin) and 7 nieces and nephews. I have no kids myself and no immediate plans for any, but I couldn't imagine my future not including a few.
I signed up for this course specifically because I have no background in Irish literature or history- or anything -and I would love to learn more. I'm always open to discovering new cultures and finding out new perspectives. In general I enjoy reading most anything, so why not zero in on a specific theme? It's very hard for me to chose a favorite novel, just as it's hard for me to pick a favorite movie, song, etc. I'm always stumped when asked a question like that because I tend to like so many that I can't bring one specific example to mind to tout above the rest. I suppose to pull one from recent memory, I could say I really enjoyed reading The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. The novel revolves around the construction of a cathedral in medieval England. Although it may sound pretty boring by my description (sorry!) it pulled me in. This probably happened because I'm very much a history buff.
As far as my expectations of a novel- I try not too have many. This way it's easy not to be dissapointed if the story doesn't fit into a specific mold. I do need it to be something that can keep me enthralled though. It's hard to keep going if it doesn't grab my interest somehow.
My history with English classes have been basic through high school and then Creative Writing and Amerian Literature up to 1900 while here at UWM. In the American literature course, we read short stories and poems from some of the earliest American authors, starting with Christopher Columbus (Letters), up to Herman Melville and Emily Dickinson. I feel this class will be different because it seems we will be spending more time on fewer works and dissecting them as a whole, rather than covering a lot of material with just a brief overview and introduction to each.
My background in Irish literature is non-existant, as I stated before, but I know that my experiences through previous literature courses and literary explorations outside of the classroom will provide me with an interesting perspective. On the opposite end, maybe my lack of background will enable me to share a fresh and unbiased opinion to our future discussions? I suppose time will tell.
I belong to a few online communites, as I'm sure most UWM students do. I have accounts with Facebook, Myspace and Livejournal (although I must admit, Facebook has somewhat bullied it's way into being my top priority as far as these sites are concerned and the other two accounts have been sadly neglected these days) I find Facebook to be very useful to me, since I've made friends with so many people from different backgounds who are in all different parts of the world at any given moment and it's great to have a medium that allows us all to still stay connected. Since it's my most visited site, I'll also post it as my link to share:
http://www.facebook.com/
It's also hard or me to chose one place I would like to go, since I want to visit so many!! My goal is to visit as many places as I can before I die, although I'm off to a slow start. Staying with the mindset of HAVING to chose one option, I would go with anywhere in Italy. To share what I've already been able to see, I'm posting this picture I took at Dair Mar Elia Monastery in Mosul, Iraq (taken on that 22nd birthday I mentioned earlier!) The picture doesn't really give the grandest impression, but for me it was amazing to be able to walk through it. The monastery was built in 595 AD, the oldest Christian monastery in Iraq. It was breathtaking for me just to be in the midst of so much history.
Youtube- this took me forever. I wanted to share something amazingly groundbreaking or fall on the ground funny, but it just didn't happen. Anything I really found funny probably wouldn't have been appropriate, so I thought I would look for something that was Irish related- that was a massive failure. So as it ends, I've forced these dancing monkeys upon you all and beg your forgiveness (they're good for at least a LITTLE chuckle, right?) I'm not as tech-saavy as I would like to be, so I'm not sure if I'm doing this right. To cover all bases, I'm going to post the URL and the embeded code, so the video should at least be accesible in some way...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44Y-_JAjAwE
Hi Joy,
ReplyDeleteI'm also an elementary education major at UWM. How far along are you in the program? I have two semesters left and at this point I can't wait to be done and finally have my own classroom. The program at UWM has really taught me a lot about teaching and I'm anxious to get out there. One of the main things we learned about last semester is about the importance of being culturally responsive teachers. That's why I am looking forward to this class and learning about a new culture that I don't know very much about. Last semester I did my student teaching in a 3rd grade classroom at Tippecanoe Elementary and it was an incredible experience. I just completed the Praxiss II exam and passed which was a huge relief! If you ever want to share teaching tips or advice sometime just let me know. Since this is a literature class perhaps we could trade lesson plan ideas for children's literature. I started collecting novels to use in my future classroom when I'm a professional teacher. There are so many novels out there that I still want to read.
I think it is really cool that you were in the army. I definitely support our troops and I want to thank you for serving our country. My cousin also went to Iraq and we are so happy that he made it home safe as I'm sure your family is as well.
I'm with you on the very little background knowledge of Irish tradition. I'm looking forward to learning more about it and I hope that the novels we read will inspire lesson plan ideas for my future teaching.
Best,
Nicole Gehrman
Hey Joy,
ReplyDeleteFirst off I want to say that I respect and am thankful for your courage and involvement in the US Army. I have a really good friend who is in the Marines currently and I know it is hard for him but he says it makes him stronger every day and he too discovered a lot about himself while he was there. So, thank you. Secondly, I have always wondered what it would be like to have a twin. That’s neat that you have one. If I had a twin I would invade her closet all the time.
I also took Creative Writing here at UWM and I enjoyed it very much. I agree with your expectations of a novel—I try not to have expectations so that way I’m not let down I’m just forced to read it and may actually end up enjoying it!
Italy has been one of my dream destinations since I was 10. I don’t know what it is about the place, but it seems so beautiful in pictures and what other people have told me. The architecture and history also draw me into it.
I also enjoy Facebook for the same reasons you do, and because I have found long lost friends who I had forgotten about. It’s neat to be able to communicate with someone who is in Japan or England, and not only learn about their life there, but also not paying long-distance phone bills just to communicate with them!
Hello Joy,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much on your advice to follow our fellow classmates. It worked like a charm. Also, it truly does mean a lot to me that you served in the army. My brother just got back from his 14 month tour in Afghanistan. It takes a certain type of person with an outstanding ability to put themselves last after hundreds of millions of people that they've never even met, and would probably not do the same in return. I myself admit that I am too selfish and scared to serve in any armed force. It is a fact I am not proud of, but I appreciate those who have the ability so much more because of it, especially after such a close person in my life just went through similar conditions. I could go on and on about this topic so I should probably stop, but am forever grateful for people like you and my brother who are willing to sacrifice everything for the good of the people.
On a less solemn note, congratulations on going back to school. I know many who leave for whatever purpose it may be with intentions to come back but never do.
As for the rest of your blog, I can relate with the lack of knowledge of the Irish culture. I hope that our experience will be a good one.
Italy is up there in my top 3 places to go. I hadn't mentioned in my blog that I love to cook and the food there looks to die for. Along with the gorgeous skyline that is often portrayed through pictures and television. I am curious as to if you have visited anywhere via the Army? I know my brother has gone to Germany, Ireland, and one or two other places. I do not recall why he got to go to those places, but he said the trips were pretty awesome.
Good luck on your schooling, and I wish you the best.
Hey Joy,
ReplyDeleteI was excited to read that there was a fellow soldier, or in your case veteran, in the class. I am a medic in the Army and spent a good part of last year at Fort Sam Houston for training, so I cannot imagine my birthday was much better than yours spent in Iraq, though I can imagine it was a lot cooler. I was wondering what your MOS was?
I am glad to hear that I am not the only person in the class that knows absolutely nothing about Irish literature and history. I can breathe easier knowing that I will not be the only person confused and filling up the discussion board with questions. It does seem that your history with English classes is a bit more extensive that mine, so you will probably end up answering some of my questions and I apologize ahead of time for that.
I am sorry to report that I do not share your enthusiasm for history. Though I always did well in the history classes I took in high school, I always hated learning all the dates and names and events placed throughout history. So suffice to say that we will not be crossing paths in any history classes in the foreseeable future.
You will be happy to hear that I enjoyed your youtube video and that it even made me laugh a little, which was kind of embarrassing since I was watch it in the library, and received a number of questioning glances.
Looking forward to having class alongside you this semester.
-Fay
Hi Joy,
ReplyDeleteI certainly wouldn't call a 15 month tour in Iraq as "not exciting"! My brother did two tours in Iraq, and we're so glad to have him back home with his family. I come from a military family, myself, so I'm very aware and grateful for your sacrifice.
I love Ken Follet's _The Pillars of the Earth_. Have you had a chance to read his new one? While I didn't like it as much as Pillars, it will still really good. I'm also a real history buff and love historical fiction.
I like what you said about this course being more intensive than a survey. I've found that in the past, I tend to get very over-excited and jam way too much literature in the course. In survey courses that's somewhat necessary, but I'm hoping with this course we can really take time to deconstruct the Irish novel in close, critical ways. While it was hard to contain my enthusiasm and reign in my book list, I hope that the novels we will read will be entertaining, but also useful for discussion about the Irish novel.
Welcome to the class, and I look forward to working with you!