Class discussion

During the discussion in class when we were talking about how Nissenbaum approaches history compared to how history has been approached throughout our school experiences, one idea popped into my head.

The way Nissenbaum approaches history not only makes ordinary people from historical times more real, but its in a factual. Pretty much, the only way you could understand how ordinary people lived during the 19th century would have been by reading novels or other works of fiction. One major classic novel that comes to mind, especially when it comes to Christmas traditions, is Little Women. I remember reading Little Women and one scene/chapter that stayed with me was they way in which the family celebrated Christmas. It wasn't as big of a deal as it is today. The thing is, however, is that Little Women is a work of fiction. Although it was written during the 19th century and is obviously intertwined with various aspects of culture at that time, you still can't help but think its a work of fiction. Nissenbaum, however, used real people and their actual traditions and rituals. This has more validity because it is based on actual fact. Even though he approaches history on a more personal level than say text books do, it is still factual and you can't help but take every word seriously and valid.

The one thing that I enjoy with the approach Nissenbaum takes is that it gives Little Women, one of my favorite books, validity.

I dont know if I made any sense in this new post, but I just felt the need to get this out there. It was in my brain and I needed to get it out and analyze it. Please forgive me if I dont make any sense...

I feel like I haven't been updating enough lately. I felt like for a while I was good with the whole blog updating and relating it to class/christmas, but now I realize that I'm just really busy lately. I don't mind the blog either, its just hard to come up with a topic and the time to do it.

Anyways, it seems that I'm involved in mad secret santa's this year (more than ever before). I'm in one for this class, one for my hall, and one with my friends from home. I'm actually glad we're doing a secret santa with my friends because I wont have to shop for as many presents nor will I have to spend as much money, meaning better gifts for fewer people that actually mean something to me. We set up the secret santa with my friends through a cool website called elfster.com (or something- that might not be the exact site...), but I thought it was cool that you can set it up online so simply.

Anyway, thats all for now, I'll try to update more before the end of the semester because I feel a need to and I feel like my poor blog has been neglected.

Hmm...

So, I havent updated my blog in quite some time. It could either be due to lazyness, or a complete lack of anything interesting or relevent to say pertaining to Christmas.

I would like to work on my sixth paper, but I'm waiting until I get the fifth one (because I know its horrible and will need revisions). So, I havent been able to get around to that.

Also, Christmas is on its way. When I was home over break, there were a lot of houses with decorations up already. It was obnoxious, but they were there. Now that I'm back at school, I'll be in my room and I'll hear someone playing Christmas music. Its getting me in the mood. A lot of people have decorated their rooms/doors as well already. The thing is, though, is that I really really really need to go Christmas shopping and havent found the time to. I doubt I will find any time to shop until I'm home for break and the semester is over. The problem with waiting until I'm home is that I still need to get my secret santa gift.

Anyway, I've lost a lot of motivation to do work lately. I just want to relax and indulge in the holiday season, but I still have finals and papers to do. All well, its all good...

BLOG

So my fifth paper is probably the worst thing I've ever written. Usually analysis type papers are my jam and I can usually get through them without a problem. For some reason though, lately I've been lacking motivation to put effort into anything. Its slightly pathetic. I'm not sure what it is, I'm just thinking that I might be getting slightly homesick, which is weird because the one time I went home since coming to school, in september, all I wanted was to get back to school. I didn't want to be home at all. This has also led me to understand Christmas a little more...

Basically, I can understand how being with friends and family on Christmas is so important. I think its amazing that there is a holiday, or a special day, to meet up with friends and family and show them how much they mean to you with presents and such. I might be because I haven't been away from everyone for this long before. I still keep in touch with them. But I just miss the whole family/friendship feel. I'm just hoping that this Christmas will be a memorable one in that I, for once, take loved ones for granted. I'll actually appreciate the holiday. I'll write more about this at some other point, right now i'm extremely distracted...

So...

So I just realized that my Dickens paper is pretty morbid....hmm....

A Christmas Carol

So, basically, I just wanted to mention that I was really excited to start reading a Christmas Carol simply because I really like Charles Dickens. I just think he comes up with great stories, many of which are classics, and makes it easy to understand and imagine where all the characters are coming from and such. I remember reading Great Expectations and loving it, and I already knew I'd like a Christmas Carol since I already knew the story. I just wanted to share that.

I'm also happy to get to discuss the book. I like reading books and then analyzing them in a group of people. I enjoy hearing everyone else's thoughts/interpretations. I just wish we could have spent more time doing this on various aspects of A Christmas Carol, but I guess thats what the paper is for. As unhappy and apprehensive I am about this next paper, I dont think it'll be too bad because papers such as these, where we get to analyze an aspect of a work of literature, aren't very difficult or troublesome. Papers such as the last one (research papers that needed primary documents) are a bitch, and I just dont enjoy doing them.

And thats all I have to say about that.

There is a city by the sea...

I actually meant to post this yesterday after class, but I couldn't find the time until now.

Basically, I just wanted to discuss a little further the main topic during monday's class: the first semester of college- Is it what you expected?

Actually, college is what I expected, except I think my expectations where higher in some aspects and lower in others. I actually thought the classes and material would be a lot harder. I'm not saying I'm not challenged at all, because I sure as hell am, but I thought I'd be drowning and completely lost. I just wasnt sure if my high school education had prepared me enough for college, but I'm finding out that it did. The organizations, resources, and programs on campus, however, have exceeded my expectations. The truth, is that I had always wanted to go to school in a city. It was hard to imagine myself on a campus such as Geneseo's (even though this school was my top SUNY choice, and my second choice overall), but I'm finding that I'm thoroughly enjoying myself here and keeping myself busy.

Another issue I wanted to address, is how people feel like they can be more of an individual and express themselves more freely here than in high school. My graduating class was about 300 people, but I was usually tracked with all the same AP/Honors kids so we were all basically used to each other. I was pretty much the same in high school as I am here. I used to crack jokes, but get serious about my work, as well as basically be who I am. I honestly couldnt care less what anyone thought of me. I would usually get involved in class debates and express my view without hesitation, and the truth was, that I was somewhat of a bitch in high school too. I mean, I was also friendly and I'd joke around, but I wasnt afraid to say what was on my mind to anyone. Here, however, I'm more cautious with what I say and I'm much less of a 'bitch'. I don't want anyone to necessarily hate me, and I just want to have a good time and have everybody be chill with me. So, basically, I'm more of myself here because I basically just do what i want, listen to what I want, wear what I want, etc, but I'm simultaneously not as much of myself because most of the bitchyness that I expressed in high school is subdued. I actually have an extremely short temper and get angry a lot, but thats only come out here a couple of times (even though it wasnt necessarily directed at anybody).

But yea, thats that. I'm sure I'll come back to this topic at some point again, but I feel like this post is long enough for now.
See everyone in class tomorrow.
PAYCE