Something New - Month Three

[smallhobbit]

More new in the sense of doing things which haven't been possible for some months, but very little in the completely new stake.  However ...

First up story_works Take A Leap Challenge for the month was to find a new way of 'stilling'.  Probably for me lying on my bed completely engrossed in an audio book is the closest I come to being still.  But I sat by the canal and I sat on a bench in the park and enjoyed the outdoors, so at least I can say I tried.  I also had a go with an audio app which played calming sounds, but it wasn't easy to use on my phone and I was adding new sounds onto the ones I was already hearing, rather than replacing them.  I ended up giggling too much as the birds tweeted away in a thunderstorm with a heavy sea and pouring rain.  It works okay on my laptop though.  So, I aimed for something new even if it didn't particularly work.

Three FutureLearn courses:
Introduction to Intercultural Studies: Language and Culture by the University of Leeds.  Part of the same series of courses I did one of last month.  It was okay-ish and the discussion about how language influences and reflects different cultures was interesting but no more than that.

Introduction to Korean Philosophy by Sung Kyun Kwan University.  I signed up for this one because it looked very different.  I would have found it easier if I'd had a deeper understanding of Western European philosophy.  The basics were interesting and I have learned some things, but I have nothing really to connect it to.  If I do something else on the subject of Korea in the future it may well prove helpful.  For once I wasn't sufficiently confident to do the assignment - I really didn't feel I understood the concepts well enough to produce anything worthwhile.

Rome (A Virtual Tour of the Ancient City) by University of Reading.  One of the lecturers has constructed a virtual 3D model of Rome in ancient times, and this course is based around the model.  The course concentrates on the architecture of Rome, and shows pictures of modern day Rome and the ruins, as well as looking at coins and written records of Rome, mostly poetry.  My own interest is more the people, rather than the buildings, and although something about the people can be learned from the architecture I didn't feel my own knowledge was particularly advanced.  There were several opportunities to explore parts of the virtual model, but my laptop loaded very slowly, so after the first couple of times I decided my interest wasn't enough to justify waiting for it.


One other new thing:  some of you will recall I've spoken of Gloucestershire Bundles, a local charity I support.  I've now taken on the role of bookkeeper for them.  It's not an onerous task, maybe three hours a month, but that is certainly something new.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Good for you! So many new things. I am always so impressed.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. I'd be delighted if they were more dramatic, but at least they're something.

[rusty_armour]

It's great that you've become a bookkeeper for the Gloucestershire Bundles. It may only be three hours a month, but I'm sure it will help the charity out a lot. :-)

I'm sorry that the FutureLearn courses weren't a bit more engaging. I have to confess that I found the idea of a virtual tour of Ancient Rome pretty exciting. I can understand why it would be frustrating if you were having trouble loading the 3D model and the course dealt with architecture more than people.

[smallhobbit]

I'm happy doing it - and it releases the charity founder to do something else within the organisation.

The theory of virtual Rome appealled, but after I'd had a couple of goes I realised what I'd gain wouldn't outway having to wait for it.

[aome]

The language influence on culture is totally my cup of tea - I wrote my undergrad thesis on a related topic.

Sung Kyun Kwan University

I had to do a double-take when I read that because one of my casual friends in high school was named Sung Kwan Kim (as opposed to his younger brother: Sung Nam Kim).

[smallhobbit]

Sung Kyun means a balance in education, so as I understand it, a rounded education.

It's a very interesting subject.

[corvidology]

I really admire the way you're still finding new things to pursue in the middle of all this.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. I think it would be even easier now to get stuck in a rut, so I'm trying to find small ways to try something new.

[luthienberen]

Impressive array of topics! I hope the next courses you do are of more stimulating for you. :)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. It's impossible to tell until I start a course whether it will work for me or not, but anything I learn has to be a plus.

[luthienberen]

Oh definitely agree that learning even a little helps us :)

[debriswoman]

Delighted you are still learning new things:-)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you :)