Books do furnish a room

Here's an interesting article about what our books say about us.

An intellectual disposition, a way of being in the world...

Please skim the article and then comment here.

What's the last book you read for pleasure?

What books are in your house?

Are there any titles you've heard about which you have not yet read, but are eager to? If so, please describe the topic and mention the title if you remember.

Finally, are there any books you have read more than once?

Re: Positioning

Wish I'd continuously kept an online journal when I first came to Mexico a little over five years ago. It would be great fun to look back on the posts now to see how I or my surroundings have changed.

Working for a prestigious school here in southern Mexico has been a broadening (and sometimes exhausting) experience. It's not so much time in front of groups that is wearing. That's the fun part. It's all the planning and administrative work that tires me. I still, five years on, haven't taken the time to really explore all there is to do and see here. Although I have settled in to the daily routine of living here, my high-school Spanish has not greatly improved, but I can communicate and make my way around town, and must say the people who've befriended me have done so in a warm and gracious way. I don't feel like a stranger (much) but my intractibility has caused small difficulties from time to time. For instance, I served for a year and a half as the coordinator of English at the school, but was recently asked to pass on the position to a native Mexican because I wasn't much good at schmoozing with parents about their children's progress.

The many students I have worked with, of varying teenage years, have all been bright and there has never been a problem communicating with them. I often get them to write essays and fictional pieces and they mostly have shown high degrees of creativity.

Generally, however, there is a lack of interest in reading (even in their first language) for pleasure. Students will do required academic reading and almost all are computer literate and surf the Internet for pleasure. American and European music with English lyrics are widely appreciated and the themes are understood, and in fact, many students do read pop fiction, but when asked about it generally deny having recently read anything. I guess it's not cool to admit to that particular penchant. For instance, a large percentage were familiar with The Da Vinci Code before the movie came out, and all know what to expect in the next installment of the Harry Potter series, but nobody seems to want to discuss these things for fear of appearing too literate in front of their peers. Only adults occasionally discuss local writers of import such as Rosario Castellanos or Jaime Sabines.

American movies are very popular as are dubbed or subtitled television shows from the U.S. Sit-coms top that list, although, youth-oriented soap opera styled programs and crime melodramas also rank high. There is stiff competition in this area from the home-grown telenovelas that proliferate. A friend told me early in my stay here that Saturdays traditionally featured old black and white Pedro Infante movies, but the watching of these, too, is generally denied among the youthful crowd I deal with on a daily basis. MTV and TeleHit are thoroughly absorbed and though traditional fare is observed, it is hardly acknowledged. There are several cineplexes which seem to thrive, but I know of at least five smaller movie theaters that have closed during my residence.

Here in Tuxtla Gutierrez, the city museum was closed and in a state of disrepair when I arrived, and though it is open to the public once again, it is never crowded, nor, it seems, is the Casa de Artesenias much frequented.

In the bookstores, there is a dearth of historical reading matter. This city is filled with schools and the bookstores carry loads of technical and academic titles, but one is hardpressed to find a good picture book of local history.

Not too long ago, an extension was built onto one of the modern malls, the most modern, in fact, and a Sanborn's opened bringing with it the cosmopolitan flavor of Mexico City. It is the only place in town I know of where someone like me can find a small selection of books and periodicals in English, and though some English language magazines have generally been available for some time, it is nice not to have to go to San Cristobal for the occasional novel.

So that seems to be the general states of affairs. This is an area rich in cultural tradition, but most of it you have to learn by word of mouth. I have been here, as I say, for five years, and all things being equal, will probably remain for the foreseeable future. I think I will use some of my free time to explore and note what I find.

How Could You Do It?

Plagiarism is on the rise, and it’s not just about students’ term papers. Consider the sordid case of Ann Coulter... more» Check out this article and let’s have your comments on this topic. Is it fair for someone to do a lot of research and others to receive payment for articles based on that research? What is plagiarism to you? Would you consider using unresearched material? If yes, under what circumstances? Is it ever right to do so?

Address to the Class of 2015

Address to the Class of 2015

Never forget who you are and where you come from.

Now you're becoming an adult and all decisions you take will bring consequences so try to take the right ones.

Making mistakes is the best way to learn so don't worry about them.

In your life, there will be good and bad days, live each one with peace and a big smile.

Be ready for every situation in life; anything can occur in an instant.

Enjoy life; you don't know when it's going to be over, and don't worry about the little things.

Foster good relations with your teachers. If you see them later in your life, greet them warmly, even if it is difficult getting along for now. They will be thrilled that you remember them; they will surely remember you.

Think like your teacher.

Pay attention in class or at least do the homework yourself, so at the end of the year you won't be worrying like hell about failing.

Don't waste time. Time is your most valuable asset.

Party on the weekends; it's good for distraction.

Dream like you're going to live forever and live like you're going to die tomorrow.

 

Prepare yourself; education is a valuable treasure; learn as much as you can.

Don't worry during exams; life is the biggest exam.

Enjoy everything you do, whether it is easy or difficult, but especially when it's difficult.

Finish a career. It will be the best decision you ever take.

Then, Find a job and work hard, try to be the best at what you're doing.

Think before you act; never act without thinking.

Talk to your parents about whatever you want, and never stop talking to them.

Read.

 

Meet a lot of people and keep your real friends close. Let someone break your heart. Keep a secret.

Spend time with the people you love. You won't regret it. Love and be loved in return.

Don't wait too long but neither too short to find the right partner. Maybe ten years is good enough. Enjoy now, life is too short.

Make love at least once, but have a lot of sex. Use condoms.

However, do not mess with someone else's wife. It really makes them angry.

Smile.

 

Never say never, or gossip about some one, you don't know what you are going to do.

Do and say everything you want to no matter who may be against you.

If somebody wants to make you feel bad about yourself don't listen, that's only a proof of their insecurity.

Times are changing; now, men and women do have the same rights. Nobody is inferior or superior.

Don't be afraid of changes some of them will be good for you.

Try to take advantage of all opportunities that stand in front of you.

Work out. Chicks like it.

 

If you want something well done do it yourself.

Be willing to ask for help, but be able to take charge.

You need to stand down before you can stand up.

Expect nothing from anybody, nobody owes you anything, but help everybody that you can.

Diversify, you can't trust banks unless its yours.

Defeat all your fears; don't let them defeat you.

Smile when you have problems or when you do something ridiculous.

Sing, and if you are really bad at it then whistle.

 

Take care of the people you care the most about and don't disappoint them.

Take care of the water; don't eat too much, and don't have a lot of children.

Appreciate paper and the trees it is made from.

Don't contaminate. Take care of the environment, you will need it someday.

Drink but don't get drunk.

Travel but not on drugs.

Don't see "Water World".

If it stinks don't touch it.

Whatever you do, always be honest, and...

Keep smiling.

 

--from the students of Lengua Extranjera (2006), after listening to Baz Luhrman's Everybody's Free (to Wear Sunscreen)

Let's Start Blogging

 

 

Try it. You'll like it.

 

 

Start by introducing yourself.

Blogging Timeline

A history of blogging Timeline at Wikipedia.

Summer Isn't What It Used to Be

What a strange summer this is turning out to be. A is in California, with his mother, visiting his family and attending Ivy’s graduation. I am here alone until Saturday. That isn’t the strange part, however. It’s that this is summer, and I have gotten stuck teaching two classes for five hours a day—a total of 25 hours a week, which is more time in front of students than I had to put in during the regular semester. What kind of summer vacation is this?
They are not difficult classes to teach—only five students (two from 8:00 to 10:00 and three from 1:00 to 4:00), but long. I find more than 90 minutes of one activity a strain, and there is a lot stuff to do in preparation for August with no time to take care of it. I know I’m lazy and a time waster, but at this point in my life I treasure my down time and I tend to stretch out those moments until they eat into what should be busy time. Like now, I would rather be writing a journal entry than grading papers.

The Rabbit Died

I didn’t think I’d post another entry so soon, but I’m a little upset and I wanted to note: Tekkie died today. He was left here around four o’clock and seemed fine, but when A and I came into the house around six, the rabbit was dead on the kitchen floor. There was nothing wrong with him on the outside, so we assumed he must have been poisoned by eating dead leaves from the tree outside. I had allowed him to wander around the enclosed patio. It was either that or perhaps parasites from the lettuce he had been fed. Such a delicate little thing. He was turning out to be a bit of a nuisance with the foot nipping and constant pooping, but he really was a cute little ball of fur. I had him here less than two weeks. I can’t seem to keep a pet, and it always hurts when they’re gone.

Alone with a Rabbit

Another depressing weekend sitting here alone, except now there is a rabbit with me—given to me by my students for my birthday, but all he does is crap and bite, so he is not good company.
I have papers to grade and charts to prepare—work which should have been done a week ago, but I haven’t the enthusiasm needed to complete my tasks. In this new position, there is no end in sight. I’m expected to work through the summer now, so days just repeat themselves. This semester will end in a couple of weeks, and the faces will change, but the work will go on and on and on. It is no longer fulfilling.
I don’t get time to write. I’m snatching moments to make this entry. Granted I’ve just passed through my memorial week, when I have vowed not to write, but it is like that most of the time now. There is too much to do—none of which I want to do. I’m feeling old, lonely, and often despondent. Uncreative. Repetitive days do not inspire.
These moments when the space is too warm and I don’t even feel like getting dressed, I sit in front of a fan and smoke cigarettes and stare into space dreaming of things I will write, but those thoughts don’t make it to the page. It seems I often journalize to express my angst, but frequently I don’t even do that. Rather, I often succumb to the numbingness of sitting through a movie I’ve already seen several times because that requires no expulsion of energy, and it can sometimes revive a pleasant memory of the ephemera surrounding the original viewing. Of course, there are times when I push myself to write things down and this has thus become a Journal of Disappointments and Depression, perhaps not something I am ever going to want to reread if the veil lifts.

Ambivalence

This is the time of year I feel so ambivalent about. Yes, it’s spring. Days are sunny, but not so stifling hot, and there is a sense of renewal in the air. But specifically these two weeks in early April are a painful reminder to me of that April of the year 2000… At this juncture, I find it difficult to believe five years have passed, and how much my life has changed. …
April is also tax time and again I become aware of my neglected duties. I am no patriot, but I know what I’m supposed to do. Blank forms are upstairs—I just never get around to remitting them.
This is also the time when all test preparation begins. Third partials are this coming week—then extemps are to be administered—followed too closely by final exams. This year will be different in that I will not have the summer off.
I did not go up to New York during Semana Santa, but hope to, perhaps, make the trip some time in July. I can take two weeks, but my financial situation is not as it once was, so I’m not sure yet when I will return. A is setting up something for a seminar in Spain around that time, and it would make sense to take care of my business simultaneously, but well…
Yesterday was the day of the water dumping. I don’t want to say more about that, but simply note it here to remind myself of how crazy Stress Week makes me. It’s a poor excuse, I know, but some things never change. They just manifest themselves in different ways.
I want to go to San Cristóbal today even though I have so many things to do and should get to them. I mean to go no matter what is pressing. Sometimes I get sidetracked by details, but I am always reminded that, “Life is short. Carpe diem.” Occasionally, I take heed and rush headlong into whatever appeals to me most. There is so little diversion on offer and what I like—I like. When the final tally is taken, I want to come out winning and as I see it, there’s only one way I can. Perhaps there is more than one way, but not many, not by a long shot.