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May. 30th, 2010 03:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
janetlinQ&A MEME
- Leave a comment saying, "Die Fragen, Fraulein!" ;) (or, you know, whatever)
- I'll respond by asking you five questions to satisfy my curiosity.
- Update your journal with the answers to your questions.
- Include this explanation and offer to ask other people questions.
from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
trustme1013
1: World traveler that you are, if you could have it your way, what bits of Kiwi life would you incorporate to US life?
Oh goodness. I especially love all the little environment-friendly things that are just a given there and how there's no (or very little), "you're just an alarmist, tree-hugging hippie" attitude in backlash. New Zealanders know they have something beautiful and precious and they do their damnedest to take care of it. I like both the sentiment and the practice.
I also love the profusion of skirts and dresses. I never really thought about it before (though I had been told Americans are peculiar in the omnipresence of blue jeans), but the first time I went I was surprised by how many women I saw doing everyday, normal stuff in skirts, where I would have expected pants (be they jeans, capris, khakis, whatever). I don't know if that's because the feminist movement didn't hit there as hard or what, but I like it. Whenever I'm there I take the opportunity to buy cute and simple skirts and dresses, 'cause it's hard to find ones here that aren't, well, dressy.
2: What do you miss most about Cottey? (Besides me, of course!)
I miss the suite life, the socializing, the built-in circle of friends who were always nearby so I never felt awkward or that I was going out of my way or imposing myself upon them just to hang out and do... really not much of anything. I miss the five-movies-for-five-bucks weekends for those of us who were staying in the suite. I miss the goofy, housekeeper-angering shenanigans like upending the couch and making a tent (no we are not too old for this!). I miss coloring books as stress relief during finals week (again, not too old). I miss Raney and not having to think about what to fix for dinner. I even actually kind of miss the weather, the extreme differences in the seasons: the really hot and muggy summer and yes even the bitterly cold winter. If it's going to be cold, dammit, be COLD. Namby-pamby forties and fifties is just lame. If I'm going to bundle up in a coat and scarf I want it to be worth it. Also snow. Cold without snow is pointless.
3: What is it about Russian that rocks your socks?
Hee. It's just beautiful. And I found it much easier to learn (and remember) than German because it sticks to its rules of grammar better. I think the teacher plays a big role, too. I liked German with Dr. Pearson but when I took it out here it was meh. So I think I lucked out with a Профессор who made Russian very, very fun to learn. Also the alphabet is just plain cool. ;)
4: What one book would you have as required reading in school?
Hm. There's so much that already is required reading, it's hard to say. I think, though, rather than an individual book, I would wish for more cultural diversity, especially in high school. I took a "World Literature in English" course in college and it was _such_ a revelation. I think the only non-American book we read in high school was Les Miserables. And, well, Shakespeare. Also the insights I got from my Victorian Novel course, especially about the rise of commodification and xenophobia and racism are very relevant and would do more good for young adults starting to vote and going out into the world than, like, The Yearling.
5: Do you think your life would have been different as a younger sister instead of an older sister?
I really do, yes. Throughout my life I've felt like... a trailblazer, to put it nicely (less nicely but more often I call it a guinea pig). My parents were learning how to be parents, I was learning how to be a kid and how to grow up, without even older cousins to serve as any kind of example. So I was/am very timid and unsure and with a sometimes paralyzing fear of Doing It Wrong. I think if I'd had someone to look to and follow, I would be confident - and therefore more capable - and more of a risk-taker. That coupled with my insatiable curiosity (currently tempered by aforementioned paralyzing fear) would have led to a _whole_ lot of mischief, yes, but also a lot of valuable life experience in general that I think I really missed out on, and without which I kind of feel handicapped now that I'm staring down the barrel of 30 and big-time, no-doubt-about-it adulthood.
- Leave a comment saying, "Die Fragen, Fraulein!" ;) (or, you know, whatever)
- I'll respond by asking you five questions to satisfy my curiosity.
- Update your journal with the answers to your questions.
- Include this explanation and offer to ask other people questions.
from
trustme10131: World traveler that you are, if you could have it your way, what bits of Kiwi life would you incorporate to US life?
Oh goodness. I especially love all the little environment-friendly things that are just a given there and how there's no (or very little), "you're just an alarmist, tree-hugging hippie" attitude in backlash. New Zealanders know they have something beautiful and precious and they do their damnedest to take care of it. I like both the sentiment and the practice.
I also love the profusion of skirts and dresses. I never really thought about it before (though I had been told Americans are peculiar in the omnipresence of blue jeans), but the first time I went I was surprised by how many women I saw doing everyday, normal stuff in skirts, where I would have expected pants (be they jeans, capris, khakis, whatever). I don't know if that's because the feminist movement didn't hit there as hard or what, but I like it. Whenever I'm there I take the opportunity to buy cute and simple skirts and dresses, 'cause it's hard to find ones here that aren't, well, dressy.
2: What do you miss most about Cottey? (Besides me, of course!)
I miss the suite life, the socializing, the built-in circle of friends who were always nearby so I never felt awkward or that I was going out of my way or imposing myself upon them just to hang out and do... really not much of anything. I miss the five-movies-for-five-bucks weekends for those of us who were staying in the suite. I miss the goofy, housekeeper-angering shenanigans like upending the couch and making a tent (no we are not too old for this!). I miss coloring books as stress relief during finals week (again, not too old). I miss Raney and not having to think about what to fix for dinner. I even actually kind of miss the weather, the extreme differences in the seasons: the really hot and muggy summer and yes even the bitterly cold winter. If it's going to be cold, dammit, be COLD. Namby-pamby forties and fifties is just lame. If I'm going to bundle up in a coat and scarf I want it to be worth it. Also snow. Cold without snow is pointless.
3: What is it about Russian that rocks your socks?
Hee. It's just beautiful. And I found it much easier to learn (and remember) than German because it sticks to its rules of grammar better. I think the teacher plays a big role, too. I liked German with Dr. Pearson but when I took it out here it was meh. So I think I lucked out with a Профессор who made Russian very, very fun to learn. Also the alphabet is just plain cool. ;)
4: What one book would you have as required reading in school?
Hm. There's so much that already is required reading, it's hard to say. I think, though, rather than an individual book, I would wish for more cultural diversity, especially in high school. I took a "World Literature in English" course in college and it was _such_ a revelation. I think the only non-American book we read in high school was Les Miserables. And, well, Shakespeare. Also the insights I got from my Victorian Novel course, especially about the rise of commodification and xenophobia and racism are very relevant and would do more good for young adults starting to vote and going out into the world than, like, The Yearling.
5: Do you think your life would have been different as a younger sister instead of an older sister?
I really do, yes. Throughout my life I've felt like... a trailblazer, to put it nicely (less nicely but more often I call it a guinea pig). My parents were learning how to be parents, I was learning how to be a kid and how to grow up, without even older cousins to serve as any kind of example. So I was/am very timid and unsure and with a sometimes paralyzing fear of Doing It Wrong. I think if I'd had someone to look to and follow, I would be confident - and therefore more capable - and more of a risk-taker. That coupled with my insatiable curiosity (currently tempered by aforementioned paralyzing fear) would have led to a _whole_ lot of mischief, yes, but also a lot of valuable life experience in general that I think I really missed out on, and without which I kind of feel handicapped now that I'm staring down the barrel of 30 and big-time, no-doubt-about-it adulthood.
