Thinking about my life

[eumelia]

Ever since I was discharged from the Army I've obviously a lot of time on my hands, some that I've used wisely (transcribing my poems, going to the gym, dating etc.), some... not so much (spending too much time on-line, probably).
That time has also been used to what I want to do with my life... and I've decided that either this year (or next depending on what happens during the coming months) to study English lit and probably "regular lit" as well at University... it took me a while to realize that this is what I want to do, because I've been so indecisive the past two years (the army really fucks you up) and that my true passion in writing (fiction, non-fiction and poetry) studying Lit is the best for me.

Where and when is still to be decided.
How? My parents has the foresight to open up a fund for me to use for studying, plus the money the army is supposed to hand over for school and stuff.

I feel good writing this down for almost all to see.

Comments

[that-redhead.livejournal.com]

That's great!! I started out as an English Lit major myself, but then switched to History. Good luck with your studies :)

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Thank you.
Why'd you switch to His(her :)story, BTW?

I still to get my finals grades from my school, it's ridiculous how long I can postpone going back to my old stomping grounds (my old high school), I mean it's been over two years since I graduated, you'd think I'd be over the trauma.

[that-redhead.livejournal.com]

I switched to herstory because I've always had a fascination with it. When I was a kid, I used to read National Geographic magazines, and wished that I could visit all of these exotic places and meet these people. History is like a conglomerate of geography, culture, and past events.

Plus, English was kinda boring to me in college. The courses were rather dull, and the professors were so full of themselves.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I'm actually a little scared, 'cause I'm kind of a slacker when it comes to studying (though it could just be memories of High school and army courses coming to haunt me).

[that-redhead.livejournal.com]

I'm a bit of a slacker too. Just remember that you're the only person that can learn the information for youself. Also, it helps setting a study schedule. It's one of the many study skills that I teach my students :)

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the advice, it's nice to know there are grad students out there who know what it's like to be lazy.

I've actually started thinking about this because my sister recently finished her dissertation(I'm twenty, she's 33, yes I know the difference), but it made me begin to wonder, "okay so I don't know exactly what I want, but I know in which direction I want to go"
She's going to stay in Academia, is that what you want to do as well?

PS she's an Historian as well (medieval, mid-Eastern studies... heavy stuff)

[that-redhead.livejournal.com]

Yep, I want to be a college professor :) I love teaching, researching, and history. It's the perfect fit.

I want to study women's history, preferably something having to do with European history. American history is boring.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I'm happy you have such a clear goal in mind... mine is so vague I may as well have fog-for-brains.
I mean, being an author is all well and good, but what kind, what genre, what style... blah, complicated and too much to think about ;)

Is American History boring because there isn't a lot of it, or is it just not interesting to you personally?

[that-redhead.livejournal.com]

A little bit of both. The U.S. has only been around for a little over two-hundred years. Most of American history is very one-sided and male oriented. I find that there isn't anything in American history that really interests me. Also, there are a ton of American history professors out there. I like to be different ;)

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

As the Emperor was supposed to have said "Vive Le Differance!"

[that-redhead.livejournal.com]

hehehe..

And yes, I'd be more than happy to make a banner for you. What do you want on it?

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Thanks... I'm not sure yet, but I'll get back to you on that as soon as I think of something.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

A little off topic... I want to make my Journal Friends Only and wondered of you could (only if you don't mind and have the time of course!) make a banner for me?
Thanks.

[trouble2urh3art.livejournal.com]

Hun, I think it's great that you want to do it. How long were you in the army for?? What was it like, I’ve always wondered. My parents at some point or the other were considering putting me in the army, but that was only because I was a bratty kid, and they wanted to instigate some kind of discipline on me, and their brilliant plan was sending me away. They should have done it. I would have loved to get away from them and the house for a while.

ooh i love writing poems as well, i have a whole diary filled with em. Never really shared them with anyone though. They are not that great, they dont follow the standard poetic techniques of applying juztaposition, apotrophes, Censure, alliterations and what not, they do have figurative language and metaphores. Some of wich i make rather difficult to detect cause it is for my own reading pleasure. If you's like to read one or two i can show you. How come you hav'nt posted any of your stuff. I'd love to read :)

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

*hides head* I'm ashamed...

Not really, it's just that I'm in the process of rewriting a lot of them, I have six notebooks of them.

And sure, I'll show you mine, but quid pro quo is fair game... you gotta show me yours *wink*

[trouble2urh3art.livejournal.com]

ooh six books filled with me. I just have one lousy journal. heh.

Maybe when your ready you can publish them some day.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I plan to... I have one poem published. I'll post it. Tell me what you think.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I don't write in the traditional sense either, I think it's important to break the mold.

The Army was (and in many ways) still is very important in my personal development. In Israel you are required to draft in (I'm sure you can guess why) and girls are also drafted (into certain combat units as well) and it was the first time I really had to come to terms with how sheltered and spoiled I was.

In a lot of ways the Army opened my eyes to how I really can get along with people so different from me and that I am able to respect authority, disrespect it on the sly and have to balls to challege it.

[trouble2urh3art.livejournal.com]

whoops i spelled juxtapositions wrong up there.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

That's okay, I understood :)

[hagar-972.livejournal.com]

TAU has, to the best of my knowledge, the only Creative Writing program in Israel, and they've got some high caliber authors giving classes there, from what I remember.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Yup I know... I'm not sure about the creative writing thing though... kinda craps my own style I think.
Am planning on TAU, I'm not moving to J-M for school.

[jsn-berg.livejournal.com]

I think that's really cool. I think people who can just sit and write are also cool. You should do it. Have you ever thought of becoming a writer?

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Most of my life.
But I get insecure about my abilities and talent, I sometimes feel so mediocre that I feel like giving up and maybe doing something... else.