まじめに勉強

月曜日に中間試験が迫っているため、この週末は友人からの誘いも断り、うちにこもって勉強です。

中学生の時からそうだったと記憶しているのですが、やらなくてはいけないことがあると現実逃避として他のことがしたくなる。片付けとか。

デスク周りはすでにおととい片付けた。今日はバスルームの床掃除。

またなぜか今日にかぎって、コンピューターのバックアップを取ることになり、夫に教えてもらって写真、メール、ドキュメント、インターネットのお気に入りを全て外付けHDにコピー。

そんな横道にそれつつも、今日はけっこう真面目に勉強しました。

中間試験の範囲はチャプター１、２、３、４、７、８。今日はチャプター２から４までを終了。１はすでにやってあるので、明日は７と８をやる予定。

毎週クラスで学んだ時はけっこうばっちりと思っても、数週間たってみると、単純なでも重要な決まり事を忘れていたりして、そんな自分に驚きます。

昨日の夜は夫とInside Jobを見ました。2008年の金融危機に関するドキュメンタリー。

いろいろなところで聞きかじってなんとなく理解していたサブプライムローンから始まった金融危機について、包括的に学べた感じ。

ドキュメンタリーとしては秀逸。でも内容はかなりショッキングで、えぐい。お金と自分の身を守るためには他人（自分よりお金のない大多数の人達）を顧みない人間の身勝手さと執念が嫌でも見えてくる。

そして一番嫌だったのは、結局その一部の人達は罰せられることなく今でも国の重要なポストにつき、システムを動かし続け、権力とお金を持ち続けていること！！

この映画を撮ったディレクターにとても興味がわきます。これだけ広範囲にわたって流れを理解した上で、それについて語れる人をピックアップしてインタビューし、編集したことを考えるとひたすらすごい。

今日の夜は勉強の合間に息抜きに、ウディ・アレンのScoopを見る。彼の作品の中でスカーレット・ヨハンセンが出演した２番目の作品ではなかったか。

わたしはスカーレット・ヨハンセン演じるイギリス訪問中のアメリカ人女性という設定と中途半端なコメディー風演技はけっこう好きだったのですが、夫にはいまいち不評であった。

でも多分、オーストラリア人のヒュー・ジャックマン演じるイギリスのやんごとなき大金持ちのお坊っちゃまがいまいちだったのかも？

しかしウディ・アレンのあの見ていていらいらする演技と動きと喋りには本当に感心します。そして昔はあんまりよく聞き取れなかった彼の早口の喋りが今ではだいぶ聞き取れるようになってきたので、ああ、少しは英語力のびたかもと思って嬉しい。

でもウディ・アレンみたいな喋り方の人なんて、身近にいませんが。いたら笑ってしまうかもしれん。

house

My husband is back now.

The house seems more relaxed.

I mean it. It wasn’t me. The house was uptight when he was away.

I have a few books to read that makes me happy.

I picked up a Miranda July book at the library yesterday and have read a half by now.

I have a Margaret Atwood book (I think this is her latest fiction) that I borrwed from a friend.

There is one more book that I should pick up at the library.

And I should read the textbook too.

Weekend begins.

jan reading

“What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” by Haruki Murakami

I got a Japanese copy of this book in Tokyo in Dec just because he is my favorite novelist and I hadn’t read this book yet. Even though I was not a runner by any means I enjoyed the book quiet a bit. I think it was because he shared what he could not do instead of what he could do in the book. Talking about what he could not do honestly and openly was moving and inspiring to me. (He of course talked about what he achieved too)

I got an English copy (translation of the Japanese version) here and started to read. I don’t think the style of writing did the best job in the translation. The roundabout style of writing was fine in Japanese but seemed a little irritating in English. However, I still enjoyed the message and found it inspiring.

I talked about the book and how inspiring it was to me to a friend who regularly runs. She listened to me and asked when I would join her to run with. Oops. After all, I got a pair of runners and started to run with her. It’s amazing what a book can do as well as your buddy.

“Juliet, Naked” by Nick Hornby

I got this book at the Vancouver air port on the way to Japan in Dec. I read it a bit during the flight but neglected since then. The other day, I picked it up and started to read again. As soon as the middle aged rock singer used-to-be started to come into the story with his 6-year old son I got drawn into it and fascinated by the story. My husband was away on the weekend so I read and read and read. I was with them whoever in the book and felt Ah! or Oh! or Ouch! or Yay! with them. Fun, silly and a bit of bitterness. I just loved it so much!

I am so happy that I can actually enjoy reading in English now. My aim is to read at least two books a month. I’ve already put ones for Feb on hold at the library. Cannot wait to getting into this whole enormous new world!!

jan 23, gray

I slightly feel the ‘shopper’s blues’ lately since there seems nothing that I would like to really get in town. I went for shopping with my girl friend yesterday and I tried some clothes on. It was as if I was convincing myself to find something to buy instead of happily finding something to buy. I could see on my girl friend’s face that they would not be a good buy anyway and I managed to pull out myself from the stores without making any silly move. I should be happy that I did not spend any money on something useless but I still feel a bit sad that my shopping wasn’t successful. Women are funny. (It may be a silly generalization but at least that how I felt yesterday)

I explained the difference between the certificate in office administration and business administration to my husband today.

Reading is going well. I am just about starting the last chapter of the Murakami’s book about running. I read that book while commuting on the bus. At home, I enjoy the story created by Nick Hornby. I just like his style of writing so much. When I finish these two, I will move on to Miranda July.

I feel like I’ve got more to write about but my mind is kinda slow today. I can blame the gray weather.