I took a break from Greek today to ride around downtown. I took some pictures on the outskirts of the Central Business District, when I had an okay view of part of the skyline (no part is prettier than any other), and I took one picture on Magazine Street where I saw something you don't see everyday--a SWAT vehicle. I guess I could see it everyday, though, if I commuted down Magazine, since it looks abandoned and no longer functioning.
I saw it on Saturday for the first time, coming back from the Crescent City Farmers' Market. Today's trip was a more leisurely route, and I brought the camera so I could show you.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009
3 Pictures
See the Library, the Graduate Carrels room, and my carrel (where several of you have called me!).
Friday, September 11, 2009
Busy
I've been busy. Classes started a couple weeks ago (just after the last time I wrote here), and they've been my main concern, while my in-between time has been put towards meeting the other students in the program.
I won't go into the details of the classes here, because I'm sure they would be dull to most of you. In short, I'm taking four classes: Ancient [Attic] Greek (four times a week in the morning), Skepticism, Plato [The Republic], and Heidegger [the Nietzsche lectures]. The latter two are thinkers who operate in ways somewhat familiar to me (although I make no claim to understand either), whereas Skepticism is my first real foray into "analytical philosophy," which is a modern version of philosophy that's, let me say, not quite my interest. Greek is kind of nice--a technical class more than anything, and since it isn't five hours a day, five days a week (as was my intensive introduction to Greek this summer), it feels easy. We're translating one of Plato's shorter dialogues, the Crito. These classes keep me well busy.
To facilitate my studies, the library on campus offers carrels to grad students--essentially my own little cubicle inside the library, which I can stock with 75 books for a year, if I so choose. So far, I've got five on the shelf. My carrel has a luscious curtain separating me from all the other grad students with carrels. The only problem with it--a problem on campus generally--is that it is too well air conditioned. Outdoors it is, as you can imagine, quite hot and quite humid quite often. Air conditioning would be refreshing if a) I wasn't drenched in sweat and b) I didn't have to sit still. Unfortunately, both are almost always the case, so I fear catching a chill. I have yet to place judiciously a sweater or two around campus. Today, wet from the rain (it was a miserable day here which I won't dwell on, having already dwelt within), I sat in my carrel with my luscious curtain around my legs and feet. More permanent solutions to this are currently in the works.
On days when it doesn't rain, I bike to and from campus. It's incredibly convenient. On days, like today, when it does rain, I can take the street car, which isn't too bad if it's prompt (which 'twas today).
Anyway, things are going swimmingly here (yes, sometimes near-literally [did i make that joke already on here?]), so worry not, fear not. And I haven't caught the swine flu yet either, because I do not touch my eyes or mouth after I haven't washed my hands. I hope you too are taking your hygiene seriously.
So goes the report.
I won't go into the details of the classes here, because I'm sure they would be dull to most of you. In short, I'm taking four classes: Ancient [Attic] Greek (four times a week in the morning), Skepticism, Plato [The Republic], and Heidegger [the Nietzsche lectures]. The latter two are thinkers who operate in ways somewhat familiar to me (although I make no claim to understand either), whereas Skepticism is my first real foray into "analytical philosophy," which is a modern version of philosophy that's, let me say, not quite my interest. Greek is kind of nice--a technical class more than anything, and since it isn't five hours a day, five days a week (as was my intensive introduction to Greek this summer), it feels easy. We're translating one of Plato's shorter dialogues, the Crito. These classes keep me well busy.
To facilitate my studies, the library on campus offers carrels to grad students--essentially my own little cubicle inside the library, which I can stock with 75 books for a year, if I so choose. So far, I've got five on the shelf. My carrel has a luscious curtain separating me from all the other grad students with carrels. The only problem with it--a problem on campus generally--is that it is too well air conditioned. Outdoors it is, as you can imagine, quite hot and quite humid quite often. Air conditioning would be refreshing if a) I wasn't drenched in sweat and b) I didn't have to sit still. Unfortunately, both are almost always the case, so I fear catching a chill. I have yet to place judiciously a sweater or two around campus. Today, wet from the rain (it was a miserable day here which I won't dwell on, having already dwelt within), I sat in my carrel with my luscious curtain around my legs and feet. More permanent solutions to this are currently in the works.
On days when it doesn't rain, I bike to and from campus. It's incredibly convenient. On days, like today, when it does rain, I can take the street car, which isn't too bad if it's prompt (which 'twas today).
Anyway, things are going swimmingly here (yes, sometimes near-literally [did i make that joke already on here?]), so worry not, fear not. And I haven't caught the swine flu yet either, because I do not touch my eyes or mouth after I haven't washed my hands. I hope you too are taking your hygiene seriously.
So goes the report.
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