Mis metas

49. Learn enough Spanish to:
a) translate the spam texts I receive.
b) understand what's happening when I surf the radio.

~~~

Duolingo has finally gotten me in the habit of practicing Spanish daily.

At least it's been 3 weeks of something like this. I give myself weekend forgiveness if I'm not by an internet connection.

And, for the first time since high school, I'm honestly enjoying learning another language. They've done a great job of setting up the site like a game--pulling on the same sort of motivation that kept me going on Chip's Challenge back in middle school. I feel like I might actually be learning Spanish. (Though my favorite sixth-grade native speaker will laugh and correct my pronunciation when I tell me, "Mis zapatos son negros.") Figure it's time to set a couple of goals for the world beyond my computer.

Sesame Street is Genius

Today's lunchtime conversation wandered to the genius of Sesame Street. It's what happens when you have lunch with the parent of an almost two-year-old.

I requested a list of their favorite videos. Have now been watching for an hour. At least...



I think this is my favorite of the bunch.



Though Will.I.Am also makes me happy.


And India Arie is the two-year-old's favorite.

Hints of beginnings (aka maybe there's hope that I'll graduate after all)

On the bus, I sat to the grad student who I most frequently share an office with.* He'd been out late the night before celebrating with a friend who completed the job market process. Obviously this gets the two of us talking about our current state of "I-have-no-idea-what-next-year-is-going-to-be-like-itis."

But I'm getting an inkling that our advisor is beginning to start what I think of next year....now. (I guess it makes sense. One market ending means the next one's beginning. It's time to recruit the high school juniors to college and all.)

Other Grad Student: I wonder if he's going to have us all go out for dinner at the conference.
Me: Nah. I never see him at conferences.
OGS: He tried to organize something that one time. Of course, it didn't work out.
Me: I think I was behind that.
OGS: That sounds about right.

That afternoon got an e-mail from my advisor inviting me and a handful of his other past and present students to dinner at the conference.

Oh.

* Actually, not my officemate. Funny phrase for a reason.

I was going to write a longer post

and talk about who I hang out with at conferences

instead of my advisor.

Or, often, other people from my program.

But I finished my oatmeal and should go catch the bus again this morning.