23 Nov.
After Sampa: And then got back and to study hard! i have my last culture essay to write, then the final which i'm kind of scared about. In Portuguese: an oral presentation on a topic of choice that will last about 20 min. (like a mini lecture in Portuguese) I also have a Portuguese in-class essay and final.
I hardly do anything that is not study related except for going to the dance class Tu and Thurs and going to play with those kids at the school. There is just so much reading and I’m not fast reader. I like to annotate and understand things as close to fully as possível
mas estou mais o menos triste que jã vem o final. :(
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Esssay #3
17 Nov 2009
ESSAY #3
So it was great that we went to Cachoeira right before this essay is due, not.
But this part #3 is usually the most enjoyed by students because it is the one on popular culture and music and all that sort of stuff.
I wrote my essay on the implications of having Carmen Miranda be the international spokesperson of Brasil, but also for the Whole of south America--from a feminist perspective.
People love to bag on Carmen Miranda, but i decided that the issue is much more complicated.
I have to say I am really rather proud of this essay, the most I have been with my papers so far, and I think it's because I am the most passionate about this one.
How is studying and doing homework here?
Oh my gosh! it is really an effort. I'm not going to lie. Not only because there are far more distractions here than I'm used to because of course I want to go out and explore, but also I usually live with all other students and haven't studied around a family in a really long time. But I get my stuff done.
I am somewhat picky about study ambiance, and organization and usually everything has to be in a particular order. The desk cleared my laptop, an area where I can spread out all my sources, i have to feel comfortable, I need to have a glass of water, and really prefer when it is quiet.
Oh man and the process of writing a paper for me. First I have to transfer any relevant quotes into word, then categorize them into patterns for how my essay might flow, it's just super organized in detail and I honestly think it's just busy work procrastination. but again, that is my process and I manage.
However, the biggest struggle for writing papers here, for me, is the whole sleepy thing. I get sleepy and tired around 7PM and want to go to sleep. (still don't know if it's the weather, food, my imagination, all of those) That really only gives me like 3 hours a day of homework time when I account for classes, then eating times, and shower. And reading exacerbates this problem because it makes my eyes so hard to keep open even though the material is interesting.
(TIPS)
But I think that by now I have gotten better. I can stay up longer and I just close my door, put my headphones on and turn it up--to stay awake, it really helps. I also have to keep drinking water to keep having to go to the bathroom. Open the windows sometimes because it gets pretty windy and it flutters around all my papers and the blinds that keep falling out.
Anyway, I can control how much i let external distractions get to me, but not bodily functions and I want to sleeeeeeeeeeeeppp. Sleeping feels so good.
And I wake up early too because my room faces east and I get the bright morning sunshine through my window at 4 o'clock in the morning. I wake up at 6, the latest.
ESSAY #3
So it was great that we went to Cachoeira right before this essay is due, not.
But this part #3 is usually the most enjoyed by students because it is the one on popular culture and music and all that sort of stuff.
I wrote my essay on the implications of having Carmen Miranda be the international spokesperson of Brasil, but also for the Whole of south America--from a feminist perspective.
People love to bag on Carmen Miranda, but i decided that the issue is much more complicated.
I have to say I am really rather proud of this essay, the most I have been with my papers so far, and I think it's because I am the most passionate about this one.
How is studying and doing homework here?
Oh my gosh! it is really an effort. I'm not going to lie. Not only because there are far more distractions here than I'm used to because of course I want to go out and explore, but also I usually live with all other students and haven't studied around a family in a really long time. But I get my stuff done.
I am somewhat picky about study ambiance, and organization and usually everything has to be in a particular order. The desk cleared my laptop, an area where I can spread out all my sources, i have to feel comfortable, I need to have a glass of water, and really prefer when it is quiet.
Oh man and the process of writing a paper for me. First I have to transfer any relevant quotes into word, then categorize them into patterns for how my essay might flow, it's just super organized in detail and I honestly think it's just busy work procrastination. but again, that is my process and I manage.
However, the biggest struggle for writing papers here, for me, is the whole sleepy thing. I get sleepy and tired around 7PM and want to go to sleep. (still don't know if it's the weather, food, my imagination, all of those) That really only gives me like 3 hours a day of homework time when I account for classes, then eating times, and shower. And reading exacerbates this problem because it makes my eyes so hard to keep open even though the material is interesting.
(TIPS)
But I think that by now I have gotten better. I can stay up longer and I just close my door, put my headphones on and turn it up--to stay awake, it really helps. I also have to keep drinking water to keep having to go to the bathroom. Open the windows sometimes because it gets pretty windy and it flutters around all my papers and the blinds that keep falling out.
Anyway, I can control how much i let external distractions get to me, but not bodily functions and I want to sleeeeeeeeeeeeppp. Sleeping feels so good.
And I wake up early too because my room faces east and I get the bright morning sunshine through my window at 4 o'clock in the morning. I wake up at 6, the latest.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Quote: 3 year old
10 Nov. 2009
There is an independent school nearby for children of a certain "underpriviledged" community in Salvador, and I go there and play with these super energetic and bright children. Oh they always seem so excited. Anyway when I asked one of the girls (she is apparently very fond of me and sometimes can't let go of me--literally she'll hold on to my leg for a really long time even if I'm trying to walk) what she wanted to be when she grows up and she said:
"um..lavar pratos...lavar pratos e limpar casa"
wash dishes and clean houses.
then I asked what she thinks her sister wants to be and she said the same thing.
This isn't a super surprising response though considering the class and gender relations. Over 90% of the domestic workers in Bahia or all of Brazil I can't remember are poor Black women. And this is involved with the politics of being a woman and their assumed qualities and also because of the institutional racism and sexism that makes it almost impossible for Blacks and women, and especially Black women to see upwards mobility because of course domestic work is not paid to the level of work and skill that it takes.
And this supports that children are really astute to perceiving situations--but of course I could just be reading into this, and assuming that may be washing dishes and cleaning houses is something someone she cares for a lot does, and looking up to that person, she would like to do the same.
Oh I managed to find a picture of us. That's her on one of such occasions (and that's me, the taller one :).
I know it makes it awkward with the faces out of the picture, but oh well. She's so adorable like all the other kids I've had the opportunity to work with. They have such great energy and that's why I like being around kids.
ps. I work at the on-campus day care at my university and miss them--oh the movie BABIES is coming out!! I can't wait
Oh right some vocabulary I learned from the children:
macaquinho=piggy back ride, they LOVE those
They also all called me Tia, although I am not their aunt. So I guess it can be used as a form of respect of elder but not super formal like "a senhora/ o senhor" which is very formal.
It's so funny because on my way to class the other day I was trying to get past one of the bancas (newstands) and there were like 7 teenagers getting stuff there and I was saying licensa, licensa, and then one girl said "deixem a tia passar" and I am only like 4 years older but they still called me Tia, and I laughed.
There is an independent school nearby for children of a certain "underpriviledged" community in Salvador, and I go there and play with these super energetic and bright children. Oh they always seem so excited. Anyway when I asked one of the girls (she is apparently very fond of me and sometimes can't let go of me--literally she'll hold on to my leg for a really long time even if I'm trying to walk) what she wanted to be when she grows up and she said:
"um..lavar pratos...lavar pratos e limpar casa"
wash dishes and clean houses.
then I asked what she thinks her sister wants to be and she said the same thing.
This isn't a super surprising response though considering the class and gender relations. Over 90% of the domestic workers in Bahia or all of Brazil I can't remember are poor Black women. And this is involved with the politics of being a woman and their assumed qualities and also because of the institutional racism and sexism that makes it almost impossible for Blacks and women, and especially Black women to see upwards mobility because of course domestic work is not paid to the level of work and skill that it takes.
And this supports that children are really astute to perceiving situations--but of course I could just be reading into this, and assuming that may be washing dishes and cleaning houses is something someone she cares for a lot does, and looking up to that person, she would like to do the same.
Oh I managed to find a picture of us. That's her on one of such occasions (and that's me, the taller one :).I know it makes it awkward with the faces out of the picture, but oh well. She's so adorable like all the other kids I've had the opportunity to work with. They have such great energy and that's why I like being around kids.
ps. I work at the on-campus day care at my university and miss them--oh the movie BABIES is coming out!! I can't wait
Oh right some vocabulary I learned from the children:
macaquinho=piggy back ride, they LOVE those
They also all called me Tia, although I am not their aunt. So I guess it can be used as a form of respect of elder but not super formal like "a senhora/ o senhor" which is very formal.
It's so funny because on my way to class the other day I was trying to get past one of the bancas (newstands) and there were like 7 teenagers getting stuff there and I was saying licensa, licensa, and then one girl said "deixem a tia passar" and I am only like 4 years older but they still called me Tia, and I laughed.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Culture class
our culture class is divided into 4 modules as i said before
there is an the afro-brazilian experience in all of them
module 1: focuses on the history of brazil and bahia and the african experience
module 2: afro-brazilian religious tradition especially those developed more in Bahia and their relationship with african roots
module 3: Racial identities in music, literature dance, and the arts; cultural products
module 4: concerned with the black movement in contemporary brazilian society, and questions of race and gender ina political context
thre are a few homiork assignments in which you answer questions about half a page long. usually there are around 5 questions per module
then there are 4 , 3 -page papers; one for every topic/module
and it's open to whatever you want to write about some aspect of the afro-brazilian experience that was covered in that module. referencing at least 3 articles from that module
there is also a 2 hour midterm and final (at the end of each of the 2 sections of the course that i mentioned before)
there is an the afro-brazilian experience in all of them
module 1: focuses on the history of brazil and bahia and the african experience
module 2: afro-brazilian religious tradition especially those developed more in Bahia and their relationship with african roots
module 3: Racial identities in music, literature dance, and the arts; cultural products
module 4: concerned with the black movement in contemporary brazilian society, and questions of race and gender ina political context
thre are a few homiork assignments in which you answer questions about half a page long. usually there are around 5 questions per module
then there are 4 , 3 -page papers; one for every topic/module
and it's open to whatever you want to write about some aspect of the afro-brazilian experience that was covered in that module. referencing at least 3 articles from that module
there is also a 2 hour midterm and final (at the end of each of the 2 sections of the course that i mentioned before)
portuguese class
portuguese class:
everyone has to be enrolled in one of the levels, i believe there are four levels into which you are placed through an exam.
the quarter is actually divided into two sections in which you can get different grades and then they just combine them for your final UC grade.
5 mini-testes 25 points
1 written test 20 points
1 oral evaluation 20 points
2 in class essays (450 words) 20 points
homework 15 points
section I total 100 points
the other half is pretty similar except you have to do a project to present to the class the last day of school.
the mini testes are pretty short and easy nothing to stress about as long as you do homework and pay attention in class, you get 20 minutes but usually people finish in like 10/15 minutes
the midterm is pretty easy too, but it's an hour long.
everyone has to be enrolled in one of the levels, i believe there are four levels into which you are placed through an exam.
the quarter is actually divided into two sections in which you can get different grades and then they just combine them for your final UC grade.
5 mini-testes 25 points
1 written test 20 points
1 oral evaluation 20 points
2 in class essays (450 words) 20 points
homework 15 points
section I total 100 points
the other half is pretty similar except you have to do a project to present to the class the last day of school.
the mini testes are pretty short and easy nothing to stress about as long as you do homework and pay attention in class, you get 20 minutes but usually people finish in like 10/15 minutes
the midterm is pretty easy too, but it's an hour long.
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