A taste of Italia

The closest I've ever experienced Italian culture is reading translated plays by Italian playwrights; analyzing neorealist Italian films during late night film classes whilst silently wishing we could rather just watch La vita e Bella over and over (anyone else cry every time they watch it?); becoming best friends with foreign exchange student Cristiano Fontana in 10th grade (cried when he left too...and I do recall promising to visit his country one day haha!); 'rocking out' to Luna Pop and introducing Utah to their awesome sound on late-night radio (true story, I was a DJ on KRCL 90.9FM!); eating 'Pomino' tomato basil pasta sauce, and pretending to have entire conversations in that beautiful language with one of my greatest and dearest friends, Alyssa. Che cos'è una ragazza di fare?

That's it. As close as I've been to Italy. Not too fantastic is it haha!

This semester one of my modules for my degree is 'Contemporary Culture in Italy'...why we're only studying Italian culture and no others is beyond me. Not sure how it's supposed to aid my life in any sort of way. Although, according to one of the textbooks it claims:

"It is not difficult to understand how our course could help South African students to come to terms critically with their own society, with the period of transition witnessed since the country's first democratic election in 1994 and the changes that are still taking place within it." (Weinberg, 2004)

Well really, I think that's quite a stretch, but hey, I'm ALL for it! So what better way to kick start this 'Italian adventure' than to indulge in a tasty Italian inspired meal .... wait for it.... PASTA! Pasta topped with fresh grape tomatoes, parsley, smoked mozarella, olive oil, stringy peppered bacon, crushed garlic, molten butter and fresh cream, that is.

Here's to a semester full of Italian dishes to accompany each chapter I study! And if it helps me to 'come to terms' with living in a post-apartheid Safrica I'll let you know. Arrivederci!

"Information Overload"

Is a term I had to learn for my Information Science exam. And after studying at unearthly hours for the past week and a half, my brain feels like it wants to shut down. That is until I wrote a multiple choice communications exam (hello tender mercy!) and now I feel like I can return to the land of the living whilst I prepare for my psychology exam in a week and bit. Whew.

Received great advice today from my dear mum at precisely 8:27 A.M (the time I officially started understanding the Schramm theory) which is important enough to pass on to all within the view of this post:
                                                       

TAKE A BREAK then return to the books. Your brain will absorb more info.

Now please excuse me while I take a much needed nap and give my brain a little holiday...

Its on days like these...

...that L is inspired to write. Welcome Spring!

One down, four to go!

Hesiod's Theogony

Just for interests sake, this is what L had to draw for her Greek mythology assignment - its the family tree of the First Beings, the Titans and the 12 Olympian gods, all according to Hesiod's Theogony...fun stuff:

What's keeping L busy?

THIS:


That's right, I have once again returned to days of increased stress and applying my mind to gaining 'higher education'. This time I am studying for a BA in Language and Literature with an emphasis in Creative Writing. So far I'm coping, thanks for wondering... I think I just may be addicted to learning. Cramming more knowledge into my brain gives me a thrill of note I tell you!
So if you are trying to get hold me and I do not answer my phone, please know that I am either a) catching up on sleep from pulling an all-nighter to complete an assignment b) studying for said assignment c) am tongue tired from reading all those big words!