Famous Last Words Week 2

This week I was really “into” writing my storytelling assignment and was happy with how I was able to recreate the story of Mars and Venus with a modern twist. I enjoyed drawing parallel’s between the drama of the Greek Gods and Goddesses and the drama we experience today. It seemed quite easy to find similarities between the stories of Greek mythology and stories I hear in the news or pop culture. I liked being able to take the basic plot-line of the story but transplanting it into modern New York City.

            However, this week instead of focusing on my writing in the “Famous Last Words” post, I want to focus on a post I read from one of my fellow classmates. The blog post for storytelling week two by Paula was one of my favorites I have read. She choose the Cupid and Psyche unit for this week and her recreation of the story was amazing. The language between Venus and the how she speaks to the mortal in the story really captures how Venus holds herself above everyone else. She speaks down to Psyche and immediately casts her aside as insignificant because she is human. Paula really did a great job of capturing Venus’s character traits in the story. You get a sense of how jealous, vengeful, and prideful Venus is. Venus cannot stand the fact that Psyche has these gorgeous eyes and gets jealous. It is not just that Psyche should not have such gorgeous eyes, but Venus should. She wants them for herself. She then comes up with this brilliant plan to punish Psyche for trespassing on the blessed land by taking her sight away. Psyche said she wanted to see the blessed land so her punishment will be to never see again: the punishment fits the crime. But really, Venus just wants the eyes for their beauty. I think that Paula did an exceptional job conveying the character of Venus in a new story. She really captured what the storytelling blog post is all about. 

 

Psyche Before The Throne Of Venus;  photo by Henrietta Rae; source:ArtScroll

Reading Diary Week 3: Jewish Fairytales

This week I choose the unit Jewish Fairy Tales. I wanted to expand my knowledge this week and I had no prior knowledge of Jewish fairy tales before doing the reading this week. I really enjoyed the stories and they were easy to follow along with and interpret the meaning within each tale.

The Giant of the Flood: The story of the Giant, Og, and Noah serves to show the importance of loyalty and keeping your word. Moses killed Og after many years of being Noah’s faithful servant “for breaking his word to Father Noah.” Some details I found interesting were the inclusion of how Noah was very fond of the phoenix and therefore said it shall never die. As we know, the phoenix can be resurrected from its ashes and therefore does not die. I also enjoyed the part of the tale where Og sacrifices the animals and relates the amount of wine drunk to the actions of different animals.

The Beggar King: I enjoyed this story of King Hagag very much because of the strong message it sends about humility. In his wrongdoing by betraying the words of the Holy Bible, he is betrayed and forced to live like a beggar. When given the throne back, he kindly declines because he has seen the need of the beggars and wants to help. It is true selflessness and the purest form of humility. It reminds me of on of my favorite quotes from To Kill a Mockingbird: “You never really know a man until you understand things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” King Hagag was knocked of his “high-horse” by spending time truly being a beggar and then ruled kindly and justly because of his experiences.

The Quarrel of the Cat and Dog: The story of the cat and dog tells the story of how cats and dogs came to be enemies to this very day. The cat, pussie, and dog, doggie, set off on their own ways searching for food and the cat almost sets the dog up for failure by swearing that the two will never cross paths again. The dog believes his strength will be beneficial but the cat relies on his wit to flee to Father Adam’s house in search of food and shelter. The story makes the cat out to seem deceitful, and even though I am a cat-lover, I did not like the cat in this story.

The Water-Babe: This story tell of how Moses arrived to the King and was then tried for apparently being evil and trying to take the thrown. Of course he is just a baby and the Princess is telling him the wrongdoings are just playful acts, while others say they are acts of evil and betrayal against the King. Although the King loves Moses, he puts the baby on trail and tests him. I think we can all relate to this situation where we have our beliefs and stick to them until someone starts “putting ideas in our head” and makes us question everything.

From Shepherd- Boy to King: This story relied heavily on the idea of prophesies. The young shepherd strayed from safety and was put into dangerous situations where he had to escape a unicorn and a lion. The reason he was able to escape these creatures because of the aid of a deer that was sent to save him, for he was to be King someday. It is a fairytale that serves to explain the divine timing of God and his plans.

David Escaping the Lion, Source

The Magic Palace: I truly enjoyed this story and its message. The poor man did not want to borrow clothes or let his friends know about his horrible situation because he did not want their pity or charity. He wanted to “work among strangers so not to be beholden to anyone.” I think that this is such a strong character trait, especially in today’s world where we almost expect others to rush to our aid in time of need. An Arab man comes to him, proclaiming he will be his slave, and gives him a way to make money to feed his family by building a palace. I like to think the poor man is rewarded for his determination to provide for his family without expecting people to help him.

The Sleep of One Hundred Years: In each story, the character and actions of the people humble me. The selflessness of saving his food and water in case someone needed it more than him, shows just how un-selfish he was. I believe that it was for this reason that he was spared the misery of seeing Jerusalem destroyed and was able to sleep until better times.  Of course, when he awoke one hundred years later he realizes he does not fit into this new world and feels out of place. I think it also serves to show us that although we have tough times and we suffer and we hope for better, sometimes we need to be content with what we have and the situations we are in.

King for Three Days: Two of my favorite quotes I have encountered while reading for this class so far came from this passage as Godfrey asks for Rashi to bless his venture to kill the Jews and capture Jerusalem. "Blessings are not in the gift of man; they are bestowed by Heaven — on worthy objects," answered Rashi. He goes on to say “I seek not to peer into the future to assure my own safety." And I really love this message. I think that it is hard for us to focus on the present day and not worry about what the future holds. We constantly want to know what will happen in the future: if we will get married, get a job, live until we are 100 or die tragically tomorrow. I think that it is such a strong message that Rashi brings to us in this story: we do not need to find safety in the future but find safety in our faith and blessings of today.

TheHiggledy-Piggledy Palace: When I first read the title of the fairytale I was not sure what to expect. I thought maybe there would be more of a mystical/magical element to the fairytale. I am guessing the name of the fairytale comes from the “spooky” element of the King being plagued by the ghost as he tries to pursue Sarah.

Rabbi’s Bogey Man: This story was a fun fairytale and reminded me of Frankenstein. The storyline was very similar to fairytales or stories I would hear as kid growing up. The fairytale still has a message, though. The Rabi realized through the bogey-man’s disobedience and uprising that only God can create man. Man was meant to follow and worship God because he created them. The Rabi created the bogey-man and therefore he worshiped his creator, until he started to rebel.

The Fairy Frog: This was by far my favorite story of the unit. It was fun and light-hearted and had the fairy tale quality I enjoy. But there was also an important message to be taken from the tale. The frog, Adam, declares: “Because ye obeyed the wishes of the dying and did not question me, ye are now rewarded." The message that I took from the tale is that if you do not question God’s plan and you obey him, you will be rewarded with the ultimate gift: eternal life in Heaven.

Week 2 Essay: Analyzing Ovid 1 Unit

I am so happy that I started the semester with the Ovid 1 Unit but the only downfall is having the other units interest me just as much as this one did. I have always been interested in Greek mythology and decided it was a good place to start the semester. The first story of Deucalion and Pyrrha was not my favorite. I found myself getting somewhat confused and had to re-read certain parts of the story to make sure I was getting all of the details correct. The notes were definitely helpful. It was nice being able to read a little summary with hints to look for in the story. For example, in the story of Io I probably would not have picked up on the creation of the peacock. However, since the notes in the beginning mentioned it, I knew to look for the details in the story. I can honestly say that all of the other stories I enjoyed. The second half of the reading seemed to contain the more dramatic and exciting stories, in my opinion. The stories contained more symbolism and imagery that drew me into the stories. I feel like I knew more about the personality of the characters in the stories like Echo and Narcissus. I never knew the creation of the peacock, the echo or coral and found these as some of the most interesting things I learned. The only thing I would have maybe liked to have in the notes is the explanation of different symbols: whether physical or colors. My overall goal for the class is to expand my knowledge of the cultures of different people and lands through the use of myths and folktales. Although I knew many of these myths already, I gained new insights from the stories this time around. I think I would like to do another Greek mythology unit next, but also do want to break away from what I am already familiar with. I recommend this unit to anyone who wants to gain more knowledge about Greek mythology and fears it might be too complex for them to understand. The notes by the professor and the language of Tony Kline, the translator, were simple to read and easy to follow. Overall, I am very happy I started with this unit because it was nice to have content that was somewhat familiar to write about as I navigated how to write the blog posts and assignments. 

Juno and her sacred bird, the peacock: Source

Storytelling for Week 2: Caught on Video

Lindsay was one of the most beautiful, successful women in the public relations industry of New York City and worked in the Trump building. She wore fitted black suits and pointed-toe heels, and as she walked her perfect figure moved elegantly. With such a powerful woman, came an equally powerful man, whom she got to call her husband: Andrew. Andrew was the typical sleek Wall Street broker. His shiny dark hair never had a strand out of place, and he walked with purpose with a stern look on his face in his perfectly tailored suits He carried a brief case and took his coffee black. He was a no non-sense kind of man and everyone knew not to mess with him.

On the outside everything in their relationship seemed ideal. They lived in a gorgeous Victorian penthouse on the Upper East Side. The ate at five-star restaurants. On the weekends, they attend galas and black-tie events. In the summers, they vacation in the Hamptons. You could say they had it all. Or at least, Andrew thought they did. He also thought Lindsay had everything a woman could want.

Andrew and Lindsay on their wedding day, Carver Photography

Lindsay, however, had been sneaking off with Andrew's business partner, Derek. When she said she was "having brunch with the girls" or "attending yoga class" she was actually sneaking to his loft downtown and engaging in unspeakable behaviors. She was cheating on Andrew. She was having an affair. And with her husband's business partner, no less.

One day in the office, one of the brokers at the firm knocked on Andrew's office door and asked if he could come in for a minute. Andrew checked his clock and let out a sigh because it was nearing time for him to head home so he and Lindsay could get ready to attend a gala at the Met that night. He hesitantly obliged to hear what his co-worker had to say, figuring it was about making a deal of some sort.

"Hey I just wanted to give you a heads up that there has been some talk around the office. I did not want to be the one to say anything but I respect you and think you have a right to know what is going on," said the broker.

"What is this about?" asked Andrew.

"It seems that Lindsey and Derek have been... how do I put this... having adult relations. Basically, she has been cheating on you with him for about six months now. I hate to be the one to share this  news but after it going around the office I figured it was about time you knew," continued the broker.

Andrew could not even mutter a word. He opened his mouth and his lips hung limp. He could not even muster a thank you as his co-worker walked out of his office. Although, he did not know if thank you were even the words he was looking for. He was shocked. He was shocked and angry.

On cab ride home, Andrew thought of his options. He could stay in the marriage and avoid the publicity. They would have an "open marriage" or whatever the celebrities were calling it these days. He could walk in the door as soon as he got home and demand a divorce. But Andrew was a calculated man. And he decided he would get even. He was going to make a plan to destroy Lindsay just as she had destroyed him.

Andrew knew where Derek lived and knew that Derek had left the office early to go visit his parents in Connecticut for the weekend. And luckily, he knew the doorman of Derek's building from the times the two had watched football games together or relaxed with a drink in hand after a long day at work.

"Change of plans," Andrew said to the cab driver. "I need to go to 61st and 8th. But first, I need to make a stop at an electronic store on the way."

Andrew paid the cab driver and walked out onto the street in front of Derek's apartment building. The doorman recognized Andrew and gave him a nod and slight smile.

"As you know, Derek is out of town and he left his sport coat upstairs. I am meeting him tomorrow and he asked me to grab it out of his closet. Could you please let me in?" asked Andrew. He did not think it was going to work but remained hopeful.

The doorman pondered for a bit before he reluctantly led Andrew upstairs to Derek's loft. Once inside Andrew thanked the doorman and found the bedroom. From a plastic bag, he pulled a small video camera he had purchased at the electronic store before coming to the loft. Andrew set it up in the corner behind a picture frame, positioned perfectly to catch his wife and Derek in the act. After he was pleased with his work, Andrew left and returned home where he would pretend like everything was "just perfect" between him and his unfaithful wife.

It only took three days for Andrew to catch them. Lindsay had left for "yoga" and Andrew took this opportunity to follow her to Derek's apartment. After waiting for about thirty minutes, he stormed upstairs and knocked angrily on the door. When Derek opened the door his face turned white and he tried to compose himself quickly. Andrew threw open the door and immediately grabbed the camera from behind the frame, and before storming out thrust open the closet door to expose Lindsay standing there wrapped in the bedsheets.

The next day at the office, there was a TV set up with video of Lindsay and Derek that Andrew had captured on the camera. All of the workers found it quite hilarious that for the big talker that Derek was, he should not have been boasting. Derek was the new joke of the office and everyone snickered as he walked by.

Authors Note: I choose to retell the story of Mars and Venus from Ovid 1. When I first read the story, I could not help but think it was something I would see on a Bravo reality TV show. I therefore wanted to set the story in present day cosmopolitan city. I kept the language simple because the story is not one that needs scholastic prose. I tried to make the story one of juicy gossip, which is the feeling I got from reading the original Greek myth: it was the gossip of the Gods.

Bibliography: Ovid's Metamorphoses translated by Tony Kline. Published 1903. http://www.poetryintranslation.com/

Week 2 Reading Diary: Ovid 1

This week I read the Greek Myths: Ovid 1 unit which included stories from Greek mythology pertaining to Ovid's Metamorphoses unit. After reading the brief introduction provided I learned that the reason the epic poem is called Metamorphoses is because it involves myths of transformations.

Deucalion and Pyrrha: Zeus (Jupiter), being angry with the mortals on Earth, wants to destroy the Earth with a great flood, and there are only two survivors remain: Deucalion and Pyrrha. Deucalion and his wife reach out to Themis who advises them to throw the bones of their Mother over their shoulder. The stones turn into men and women. My favorite part of this myth is the ending. The last line reads: "So the toughness of our race, our ability to endure hard labour, and the proof we give of the source from which we are sprung." It alludes to the stones turning to humans and how man-kind came from the Earth and possesses the strength of the Earth.

Io: In this story I found I became very angry with Zeus and his infidelity with a servant to his own wife appalled me. He then tries to cover his own wrong-doings by turning Io into a heifer. I thought it was interesting how Zeus debates what to do when Juno, his wife, wants to keep the heifer as a gift and he must battle between Shame and Armor. He realizes to deny his wife a gift so simple as a hifier would bring on suspision. I also thought the part about Juno taking Argo's eyes and setting them into the feathers of her own bird to "fill the tail with star-like jewels" was amazing in relating it to the creation of the Peacock. Luckily Io is returned to her human form after Zeus convinces Juno she will not be of worry.

Phaethon and the Sun: This was one of my favorite stories I read in this half of the unit! Phaethon learns that his father is Apollo, god of the Sun, and he then searched to find him at his Palace. When arriving there Apollo promises him any wish to be granted to prove he is his father. I think this is interesting in the fact that he must PROVE his kinship. "So that you can banish doubt, ask for any favour, so that I can grant it to you." I find it somewhat ironic that the lesser mortal is asking for proof from the mighty God to claim him as his son. Today if someone found out they were related to royalty they would rejoice and not question for proof or validity in taking their title as royalty. I also found it hard to believe whether Apollo was warning his son Phaethon not to take the journey because of his "fatherly love" like he claims, or for his own selfish reason because he does not want anyone to take over his important role in bringing light to the Earth.

Phaethon's Ride: I felt so bad for Phaethon on his disastrous ride, even though his father did warn him of the hardships he would face. I think this story is important in showing the virtue of being humbled. Phaethon believes that now he knows he is the son of a God that he must be able to do Godly things. When he cannot control the horses and begins to set the Earth on fire, I believe he learns this important lesson in humility. The ending of the story with the Earth crying out to end her misery form the fires was very heartfelt and I could imagine the suffering as if it were a person crying out to be spared from such pain.

The Death of Phaethon: One of my favorite parts of this story was how the death of Phaethon was related to a shooting star in the sky. "But Phaethon, flames ravaging his glowing hair, is hurled headlong, leaving a long trail in the air, as sometimes a star does in the clear sky, appearing to fall although it does not fall." The metamorphoses part of the story comes when his sisters, the Heliads, are turned into trees. My favorite metamorphoses was the one of  Cycnus into a swan. He was stricken with grief at Phaethon's death and his sisters being turned to trees, and was so angry that he became a swan and stayed in water. " He looked for standing water, and open lakes hating fire, choosing to live in floods rather than flames." I loved how he hated everything that the fire stood for so he turned to live his life in the water; the only thing that fire cannot touch.

Callisto: I really enjoyed this story, even if it was another of Zeus's infidelities that brought it about. The woman becomes pregnant with a son. Juno, threatened that Zeus's rape with be exposed, turns Callisto into a bear. Callisto had born a son Arcas, who years later, finds her while he is hunting. As any hunter would do, he aims to kill the bear. Before he can stick his spear into the bear, his own mother, Zeus intervenes and turns them both to constellations in the sky. I loved how, in the end, the son and mother end up together in the heavens and become the Great and Little Bear.

Semele: This is one of the stories I had heard before and enjoyed reading it again. Juno, at this point in the many rapes Zeus has caused, begins to become very angry and rightfully so. She also begins to question her authority and power. I think that she is so threatened by the infidelities of Zeus, and if she feels she no longer has his love, then she must declare that she is still the all-powerful wife of Zeus. "If I am rightly to be called most powerful Juno, if it is right for me to hold the jewelled sceptre in my hand, if I am queen, and sister and wife of Jove, sister at least, then it is her [Semele] I must destroy." She is no longer the only lover of Zeus so she must put herself above all the women he has raped by dominating with her powers. As she is dying, the unborn son, Bacchus, is torn from the mother’s womb and sewn into his father’s thigh. 

Echo: I think every girl can relate to Echo's experience when she sees Narcissus. She has been cursed with only the ability to repeat the last words she hears. When she tries to show her affection toward Narcissus she can only repeat his words and runs away in embarrassment. I think every girl has had that moment when talking to a boy she is mesmerized by and can not find the words to say. I think it was clever to have the story take place in the forest so as Echo fades to just a voice she is literally the "Echo in the forest."

Narcissus: I think the story of Narcissus is one that everybody can take away a strong message from. I believe one of the messages is that we cannot have what we long for in vain. Narcissus wants nothing more that to have the image of himself reflected in the water because of its beauty. My favorite quote reads, "nothing of you is in it [shadow of reflected form]" I think this is another valuable lesson that aims to express that we are not our looks. Nothing of what makes us who we are is contained in our looks that are reflected to the world. In the end Narcissus is turned into a flower with "white petals surrounding a yellow heart". One thing I would like to look up or search more into is if these colors are symbols for something.

Pyramus and Thisbe: I remember this story when reading A Midsummer Night's Dream and was happy to get the chance to read the actual story. Of course it very much resembles Romeo and Juliette, but I did like this version. The line, "the more they kept the fire hidden, the more it burned," made me think of the saying "we want what we can't have." It is a forbidden love that makes the two lovers want it even more. The symbolism was strong in this story. The wall was a physical representation of the separation between the two. The color of the mulberries from white to red also provided a strong color symbolism which I thought added to the story.

Mars and Venus: This story was short but I really enjoyed it and how it can relate to modern day "drama." Venus's husband, Vulcan, creates a trap to imprison the two together during one of their cheating acts. The story says how the Gods laughed at the two bound together in their shame and that "for a long time it was the best-known story in all the heavens." It reminds me of reality TV where husbands or wives try to expose their cheating spouses and it becomes the talk of the town.

Perseus and Andromeda: I have heard this story before and the story of Medusa, but I was intrigued by the part where as Perseus was flying with Medusa's head that the blood dropped down to Earth and became snakes. When Perseus asks to rest and Atlas fears the prophecy of death and denies his request, Perseus turns him to stone and makes him into Mt Atlas. I think it teaches us that when we are too concerned about our own well-being to help someone in need, we will be punished. Perseus almost comes off somewhat cocky and boastful when explaining his feats and how he would not be denied Andromeda's hand in marriage should she be saved from the stone she is bound to.

Perseus and Medusa: Right from the start I enjoyed this story because of the vivid imagery used when describing killing the sea monster to free Andromeda from the stone. After defeating the monster, the celebration begins to celebrate the marriage of Perseus and Andromeda where he begins to tell the story of how he killed Medusa using his metal shield as a reflection to not look directly into her eye. I think the most interesting thing about the story was the explanation of how coral was formed. The nymphs took Medusa's head to the living plants and watched them turn rigid like stone. " Even now corals have the same nature, hardening at a touch of air, and what was alive, under the water, above water is turned to stone."

Famous Last Words Week 1

I think this is a great idea to do a little recap of the week and what we have learned, experienced, and pondered. I normally try to write in my own journal about different personal thoughts and experiences, but rarely do I take the time to reflect on my schoolwork. I think the weekly "Famous Last Words" posts will be valuable at the end of the semester to look back and see all the interesting things I have learned and really appreciate everything I have accomplished in the course.

The storybook favorites assignment got me excited for all the the things I will learn in the course. I LOVE how we are able to choose our own topics to explore. I am very interested in Greek mythology and am glad I can choose to read more about this topic.

Athena, Greek Goddess of Wisdom and War, 

Source

This week I learned how to Google image search using the "labeled for re-use" filter. This is very helpful for this class when we have to use images in our blog posts, and it will be helpful in my other classes for projects. I have also never used a Google blog (Blogger) and usually use Wordpress. However, I am finding this blog is very simple to use and I do not spend more time trying to figure out the technological features that actually writing the content.

My other classes are mostly particular to my HES major and include Exercise Physiology, Exercise Testing and Prescription and my Senior Capstone. I am also enrolled in an Internship in HES class where I receive course credit for working at my job at Physical Therapy Central. It is nice that I can get credit for my internship where I gain so much knowledge specific to the field I want to pursue: physical therapy. My last class is a Women and Gender Studies online class, which resembles this course. We do not have a blog but we write discussion posts about readings and respond to our classmates' posts, which is similar to our responses in this course.

It is helpful in online classes that I can work ahead in order to balance my schedule. As I mentioned, I work part-time at an outpatient physical therapist clinic and am in the process of applying to physical therapy school. The applications are lengthy and take up much of my "free-time." I greatly appreciate the format of this course in being able to work ahead and complete assignments around my busy schedule. I look forward to the rest of the course!

Week 1 Storybook Favorites

 I was amazed at all the options to choose from for the storybooks and I had a hard time narrowing it down to just 3.

One of the storybooks that caught my attention was titled Monkeys in Brazil. The introduction describes how the storybook covers the different regions of Brazil and the exotic animals that live there. It also mentions how Monkeys play a large role in Brazilian folk tales. I studied abroad in Brazil and spent months there learning about the history, culture, and people who call Brazil their home. I was immediately interested in this storybook because it contains even more interesting information about the rainforests of Brazil and its inhabitants than I was able to learn on my trip. Almost every meal we would have cute little monkeys creeping in trees waiting for us to be done with our food. I also have a love for animals so the tales that this storybook encompasses made it seem like I would really enjoy reading them.

Another storybook that caught my eye was  Greek Gods Galore.  In being a member of a sorority, you constantly hear different stereotypes projected onto you. I was interested to see how the author of this storybook would tackle this subject in an interesting way that was not offensive or praising. I have also always loved Greek mythology and especially the Gods and Goddesses. They stood for so many different things with different strengths and each had such a unique story. I always wanted to know more. I decided this storybook would be interesting and after reading the introduction and seeing how the author was relating the campus and Greek life to the Trojan war and fidelity I knew the stories would include very interesting content. I ended up reading the stories and my instinct was correct in assuming the spin on the Trojan war using fraternities was witty and I enjoyed the comparison.

The last storybook I decided to focus on that really grabbed my attention was  Greek Godesses on Trail. The name caught my attention because I enjoy the topic of Greek mythology; especially Greek Gods and Godesses, but the introduction page had me wanting to read all the stories right then. The introduction was written as if Hermes, the God of language and writing. It was such a unique idea to have it written this way and the language and voice in which the storybook is written drew me in from the beginning. The four Goddesses are put on trail for their wrongdoings in actual Greek mythology stories and I think this was very creative of the author. This was my top favorite storybook I looked at.

Week 1 Introduction Post

Hi my name is Emily Groff, and I am a senior and graduating in December. I am a Health and Exercise Science major and hope to attend Physical Therapy school starting in the summer. As a health and exercise science major I have a wide base of knowledge in nutrition and exercise and like to lead a healthy lifestyle. I enjoy running and cycling and have participated in half marathons. Running allows me to release stress and is my calming time to myself where I forget about all the to-do lists and obligations I have waiting for me after my run. I feel accomplished I also enjoy doing yoga for the same reason; it calms me. I hope to complete a triathlon next. I enjoy cooking and always cook for my friends and family. One day I hope to be able to take some culinary classes and expand my cooking capabilities.

This summer I had to take classes as prerequisites for physical therapy school and I also worked as a physical therapy technician during the week to gain experience in the field as I begin to apply to physical therapy schools. Over Fourth of July weekend I did get to take a break from work and school to visit my closest friend in Denver, Colorado. We spent each day hiking and then each night exploring delicious places to eat in the city. Some of my favorite hikes were in Winter Park, Colorado and Boulder, Colorado for the amazing views at the top of the mountains. 

My friend Nicole and I hiking in Boulder Colorado

The Waterspring Trail in Winter Park, Colorado, photo by Emily Groff

One of my favorite past times besides running is reading. My favorite book is a tie between The Giver by Louis Lowry and The Pact by Jodi Picoult. I first read The Giver in middle school and have reread it many times since then. I love the themes and messages of the utopia vs dystopia society. The Pact is a story that switches back and forth between characters and times to tell a love story between teenagers. The way the book is written is the reason it is one of my favorite books. I also enjoy watching movies and some of my favorites include action movies like Law Abiding Citizen and Man on Fire.

Week 1: Un-textbook Picks

Week 2: I choose to start off my reading with Greek Myths: Ovid III because the story of Venus really fascinates me. I have always been interested in Greek Mythology and the elaborate stories of war, love, and wonder. There are so many options included in this unit that sparked my interest.

Week 3: Although I love Greek mythology, this week I wanted to branch out and do a biblical story focusing specifically on the Bible Women unit. I think many times the women in biblical stories are not as commonly known and I would like to explore into more detail the significance these women had on biblical stories.

Week 4: I have chosen the unit Ancient Egypt for this week simply because I have always been intrigued by Egpyt and especially ancient Egypt. I went to the Metropolitan museum in New York and spent hours looking at the ancient artifacts such as jewelry and tools from this time and area. I know that any of these stories would spark my already-growing  interest in ancient Egypt.

Week 5: I decided to stay in the Middle East section and choose the unit Arabian Nights. After reading the description, I was hooked knowing the "Alladin and the Lamp" story was included in this unit. Growing up my brother's favorite movie was Alladin and we watched it on repeat so I have grown to have a deep appreciation for the story reminding me of my childhood.

Week 6: I have chosen to focus on Chinese Fairy Tales for this week because I always think fairy tales are so magical and as a kid you love to imagine all the possibilities in the world. I think it would be interesting to see the fairy tales that Chinese children grow up listening to and fantasizing about compared to the fairy tales I grew up hearing.

Week 7: For this week I have chosen the Brer Rabbit unit from the African Traditions section. I grew up hearing the Brer rabbit stories but never actually knew it originated from Africa. I think I will enjoy reading the stories again and seeing how I remember them as a kid and if my perspective has changed now.

Week 9: I have chosen to read the unit Marriage Tales for this week. The description includes the story of a Zuni Cinderella: Turkey Girl. As a girl, of course I loved the story of Cinderella growing up so I am interested to see how this story of Turkey Girl compares to the version of Cinderella that I know.

Week 10: This week I want to do the unit Eskimo Stories because I really do not know much about Eskimo culture. I think it would be interesting to learn more about Eskimo stories.

Week 1 Storytelling: The Fat Man of Bombay

"THERE was a fat man of Bombay,
Who was smoking one sunshiny day,"

Fat man of Bombay, wikipedia

On a sunny day in the city of Bombay a man sat reading his favorite book and enjoying the green grass, running water, and birds chirping. His favorite spot underneath the big willow tree provided just enough shade for him to relax and enjoy the day with a smoke from his pipe. The man was rather large and his plump belly hung over the waistband of his stained green pants. He brought his favorite pipe his father had given him to smoke. His perfectly round belly made the perfect rest for his pipe as he began to close his eyes and drift into his dreams. 

 

"When a bird, called a snipe,
Flew away with his pipe,"

Snipe Bird, Natural History Wikipedia

As his eyes were fluttering closed a bird with a very long slender bill started eyeing the man by the tree. The bird was brown with speckled feathers. Not an extraordinary bird in any way. The bird was a snipe and rather small, but little did the fat man of Bombay know, the small bird was going to make a big change in his day. The bird circled in the sky as the fat man began to drift and snatched the pipe right off of the fat man’s belly. He flew off with the pipe in his bill. The fat man could have sworn as the bird flew away there was a small evil grin spread across the snipe’s face. 

  
 " Which vexed the fat man of Bombay."

As the man struggled to reach down and grab pebbles from the ground, the bird began to fly away out of sight. With as much force as he could the fat man began throwing pebbles at the bird and cursing at the bird who stole his most prized procession. When all hope was lost in getting the pipe back, the man waddled home in a gloomy and angry mood. The cursing continued under his breath all the way back to his house.  He could not get over the idea that this small little bird took his pipe right from his own belly. The fat man of Bombay had lost his favorite item that day.

Authors Note: The idea for this story came from the tale out of the The Nursery Rhyme Book edited by Andrew Lang. The original rhyme reads "THERE was a fat man of Bombay, Who was smoking one sunshiny day, When a bird, called a snipe, Flew away with his pipe, Which vexed the fat man of Bombay." The original rhyme was utilized in the story as the larger bolded sections. The story was elaborated on by describing the bird and the pipe and how angry the man was. Rather than changing the plot of the rhyme, I simply went into greater descriptive detail about the appearance and setting of the scene. 

Bibliography: 

 

Book: The Nursery Rhyme Book

Title: The Nursery Rhyme Book
Author: Unknown
Editor: Andrew Lang

Date: 1897 (ebook 2008) 

Web Source: Gutenberg Project Files

 

Week 1 Favorite Places: Brazil and Colorado

It is hard to say where my favorite place is but two places I have fell in love with while traveling have been Rio de Janiero, Brazil and Winter Park, Colorado. Both places I am drawn to for very different reasons and I think this is why I could not choose between just one.

Last summer I had the privilege to study abroad in Brazil. Exploring the people, culture, places and everything the country encompasses was an experience I will never forget. Rio de Janiero in particular was one of the most amazing cities I have ever seen for its diversity. It is the stark contrast of the beach and mountains, rich and poor, skyscrapers and nature that make the city beautiful. My favorite scene is from Impanema beach looking up into Rochina, the largest favela in south America. Some people view the favelas as a disgrace to the city’s beauty because they are slums, but I think they just add to Rio’s beauty. Samba music blares out of the clubs at night, people practice martial arts on the beach, and there is always a fun energy in the city. You constantly feel happy and energized while in Rio because there is always something going on whether dancing in the streets, concerts on the beach, or samba dancing the night away. Just because the sun goes down does not mean the people of Rio say the day is done. 

Rio de Janiero at night, wikipedia

            Winter Park, Colorado is beautiful and one of my favorite places for a very different reason. There is no loud music blaring or people dancing in the streets, but that is the reason I love it. The mountains, lakes, and trees make the scene a picture of calmness. I start my days on the porch with a cup of coffee and then head out for a run or all-day hike in the mountains surrounding the town. Packing a lunch and picnicking on top of the mountain while I look out into the beautiful nature below me brings me a sense of peace and allows time for reflection. 

Winter Park, Colorado. Photo by Chris Favero