A Few Exciting Ideas for the New Year: Kicking Resolutions, Making Goals and Studying Travel Journals (It's all about me π₯πΉπβοΈπππ±)
01/02/2018
I am just happy to report that after a short drought, I now have another A in my grad studies. I worked hard last semester studying the sublime and how it is used in Victorian literature. The sublime was not a topic in my class, but I think it should have been. I am so excited about next semester, and I look forward to pushing those boundaries again (my way of saying that I'm not happy with the usual course of study because I need to get out of the box).
I am thinking about taking two courses, and if I do that, I will be set for my research piece next fall. I want to analyze travel journals and road stories because they are so vital to the human experience. For example, I recently visited with a man that had journeyed to America via several foreign countries, and then lived around the North American continent. That kind of story would be interesting to analyze against a working-class personβs experience of living and traveling in different states. How do they compare linguistically and structurally? What is important about the narrative itself? What about the use of confessional and memoir? Uprooting yourself and moving into a strange culture, or traveling for work, is an experience that creates wisdom and versatility (more organic and useful than simply vacationing). Does the white-collar experience somehow mirror the blue-collar experience? What difference does the level of education make? If these experiences and insights from moving and traveling are shared across economic, racial, ethnic, and educational levels, can they be used to create dialogue and understanding?
I am also excited about the goals I am setting for myself this year. I plan on purchasing a nice travel trailer. I donβt want a cheap one; I want an Airstream. I can use my Airstream to work on my research, and I can also use it to teach in areas where housing is unaffordable or unattainable. Unaffordable and unattainable could be a problem in Houston if we have another big flood. I donβt even think we really need another big flood because we are already experiencing some housing shortages and spiking rents.
One of my previous classmates writes a blog and in his New Yearβs post he focused on not making resolutions. I think he is on the right track, but goals are a bit different. A resolution admits to some weakness. By acknowledging your weakness to others in the traditional New Yearβs kind of way, you give it additional power over your daily life. I already critique myself enough, so Iβm going to pass on resolution and set goals instead. I think kicking the resolution is a smart idea.
Jason Walker's blog address:
jwalkergs.wordpress.com
Happy 2018 Everyone!
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