This spring and last spring I have suffered from it. My brain just doesn’t want to follow the academic calendar here and shuts down about 3 weeks before school does. So far I’ve had my Web Programming, Environmental Issues, & International Trade Regulations finals and the only one I studied for was the last one but only for about 25 minutes. Tomorrow morning begins with a Marketing Management final followed by an International Economics final in the afternoon and again I cannot bring myself to study. I’ll bring my econ textbook with me and study in between…maybe. Tuesday I’ve got a Global Industry Analysis final and finally I’ll finish Wednesday morning with a Statistics final. Its hard to find motivation to study when: (a) I don’t want to, (b) blogging is even more appealing, and (c) there is almost no chance that I can fail any of my classes regardless of the final. I know I know these statements aren’t the mark of a good student…maybe I’ll try that next year.
I am excited to be finishing up. On Thursday we’re having an End Of Semester Party at our house for a bunch of friends. It should be really, really fun. Emily will still have another week before she finishes so my plans are to finish painting our room (which we started during Chinese New Year aka beginning of February), read in my book (Freakonomics), and take a two-day bicycle ride on the East coast of Taiwan from Hualien to Taitung. Its supposed to be a beautiful ride as well as easy enough for the less astute cyclist. I’ve been reading up on this particular ride on some of the other blogs’ of foreigners here in Taiwan who have taken the ride. Here’s one account with pics if you want to take a look. I’m excited to give it a go. You know what I mean; put a tent & sleeping bag on my bike’s little holder thing and ride off into the land of real men. Hopefully I’ll remember to take video footage and put together something cool.
Speaking of which I haven’t put up any new videos for a while. This is due mostly to my computer (thanks again Dick) going on the fritz with Windows and not coming back until I nixed Microsoft and am now using ubuntu 8.04 hardy heron as my OS. I really do need to figure out how to get my video editing software to run on this OS because I’ve still got footage from Korea I want to get up not to mention our upcoming party and then the bike ride.
On Friday my Environmental Issues professor, a very interesting Canadian women (I mean interesting in a good way), gave me two tickets to a show at Taiwan’s National Concert Hall for tonight that she couldn’t use. Emily and I had never been to a concert there before and it was really fun. We got all duded up and scootered over….we turned out to be among the better dressed for this particular event but I didn’t mind because I got to see Emily all beautiful. It turned out to be a concert of Taiwan’s performing arts school. I’m assuming its somewhat akin to Juilliard. They were very good. It made me want to play my violin more and get a little ensemble or something going.
Michael, maybe I shouldn’t say this but I think it’s a wise use of time to not study if there’s little chance that you will not pass the classes. No need to obsess and be a perfectionist. Have you learned the material? That’s what’s important! I’ve known people who studied so much that they confused themselves, tired themselves out and did badly on their exams. When you go on the bike ride, remember to take water bottles! Remember yours and Dad’s hiking trip in TN.? Ha ha! I’m glad you felt like playing your violin more! I’d so love to hear you play this summer!