Amazing Race Awkwardness

I am  HUGE fan of Amazing Race.  My husband and I have enjoyed watching almost every season together (I missed the first two or three seasons). While we watch, we build a travel bucket list of places we want to go, see, and/or experience some day. When the teams have to do individual challenges, we decide which one of us would be the best fit for each. It's really fun for us to imagine and dream. We've joked about applying to the show someday, and maybe someday we will...

The season that started last night is unique because about half of the teams are on a "blind date;" the people had never met before that day!  One of the teams had a really hard time clicking.  The guy is a doctor, and the girl is a tiny light blonde with a tinier voice, and she talks A LOT!  The doctor's nonverbal communication was hilarious; he clearly was not enjoying the company of his partner, who was completely playing out the stereotype of a young blonde woman. I actually laughed out loud while observing the doctor's obvious discomfort! I turned to my husband and one point and said, "I really wish she could take her voice down an octave or two." His response: so does he!

Eventually, the team seemed to find their groove and work well together.  They learned that she was much better with directions and was much smarter than she first appeared. This goes to show that you should never judge a person based on first impressions and that not all stereotypes are true.

Optimist by Surprise

Source: http://itoc.cfw.me/images/comics/72/15596f6f7e749faaf2233a7b427d88b01374105689.png

While walking through a parking lot yesterday, I overheard a couple of people while they where either loading or unloading some boxes from a large van.  One said to the other, "hey, long day, huh?"  The other responded in a grumbling voice, "Everyday day is a long day."

I found myself suddenly feeling a little sorry for the person who said that.  I looked around at the sunny sky; I looked down to see my jacket open and lack of scarf.  I realized it had been days since I had a reason to wear my sunglasses, but there they were on my face. Although I had been going for about 11 hours strong without much of a break nor a stop at home, I could agree with that woman's sentiment.  I don't consider myself a complete optimist, but at that moment I was.  I, too, was experiencing a "long day," but I wasn't letting it affect my mood or outlook.  I was looking at the positive. Sometimes, it really is all about perspective.

Merging cultures

We've talked a lot about cultures so far this quarter.  I hope I have stressed that there are many different cultures as well as more than one for everyone. Today's Snow Week dress-up day frustrates me a little bit because it is trying to categorize the student body into one of two cultures, the Athletes and Mathletes. When I was in high school, I would have  had a hard time believing that I could be a part of both; my years on the middle school volleyball team did not make me an athlete by any definition of the word. Today, though, I see myself as both. I honestly believe we are all nerds about something; we all have that one or two things we completely "geek out" over.  For me, I could "geek out" over books, especially Harry Potter ones. I could "geek out" over some specific musicians, certain movies, food, Las Vegas, Disney stuff, wordplay, Speech Team, 90s Trivia...the list goes on and on. I also consider myself an athlete now after quite a few competitive races from 3.1 miles to 4.5 miles to 6.2 miles to 13.1 miles.   The longer distances took training, modified diets, etc.  I definitely see myself as an athlete in that sense, too, due to those experiences.  How about you?  What cultures could you "geek out" over?  What makes you an athlete? Do you think you are or could be both?

Perception of Snape (Spoiler Alert)

As most of you know, I am a pretty big fan of the Harry Potter books and movies.  I would say I am a borderline fanatic at times.  With that in mind, I had my mind slightly blown earlier this week by this amazing YouTube video!  You see, the character Severus Snape is painted out to be a bad guy through most of the books/movies, but as you read/watch, there are little hints that maybe he isn't the character you first perceived him to be. Someone went to a lot of work to really highlight the amazing, layered character that is truly is; the point was to make sure you as a reader/viewer have an accurate perception of who Snape really was.  This video takes all of the hints and flashbacks presented to viewers in the Harry Potter movies and puts them in chronological order so you end up really understanding who Snape was rather than just jumping to conclusions based on the context of the original order of the clips.

It's a longer video, but oh-so-worth-it!

Lunch and Culture

My husband shared a really interesting link with me this morning.  It gives a snapshot of lunches worldwide. I have to admit, some of these lunches look DELICIOUS, but for others, they may look a little "different" or "strange."  That would be a really good example of judging another culture, or at least its food, just because it is different from one's own culture.  It also gives a glimpse at how proteins and carbs vary from one location and culture to the next. I feel the like pictures also show how the USA may not be offering as much in the area of fruits and veggies and fresher, less processed protein options.  Lots of "food" for thought, no? :)

What School Lunches Look Like Worldwide

The Crucible

In Enriched English 11 right now, students are watching The Crucible. For those not familiar, this movie is based on a play by Arthur Miller. The play takes place in a Puritan village in 1692.  Obviously, the use of our language, English, was a little different  over 300 years ago. Because of that, some students are struggling a little with the dialogue in the movie.  This is a great example of Semantic noise!

#likeagirl

I first saw this (extended) commercial late last summer or early last fall, and I have to admit that I loved it.  I remember sharing it on Facebook and even Facebook Messaging it to a few of my nearest and dearest ladies.  I think it says A LOT about gender in American culture.  I've never been a girly-girl.  I grew up in a neighborhood of mostly boys where climbing the tree fastest or hitting the all farthest earned a kid a lot of street cred, literally.  I was much like Scout Finch where I took being called a girl an insult. Looking back, I think it's kind of sad that American culture has deemed gender as an element of strength and talent, especially athletic talent.  I have to admit that now, as an adult, when I am running a competitive race, and I pass a male running (especially if I am pushing my son in our B.O.B. stroller), I smirk on the outside and cheer on the inside.  Why is being passed by a girl a bad thing? And passing a man a good thing?  I think our culture needs to really reevaluate this idea, don't you? Every change has to start somewhere.