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*pokes head in* I live!

Heh. Whoops. Didn't mean to disappear for that long. I find it so easy to fall out of the habit of updating daily, and then even when I have an interesting story to tell (getting to use Japanese at work, my family's many weird quirks, Yuletide recs, an essay about feedback, the saga of a giant icestorm and no electricity) it never seemed quite interesting enough to be a post, and so I go longer and longer without writing an entry, and it becomes harder and harder to find anything worth breaking the silence, and then it's been a whole month since I've posted anything of note. And meanwhile I angst about the fact that, for some strange reason, I'm getting so fewer emails lately. *rolls eyes at self*

So!

Anthropology 620.15 - Economic Anthropology. 5 hours.
An analysis of economic rationality in non-market and market societies; resource allocation, work organization, product disposition, exchange, money, trade, and development.

Meh. I'm not interested in the topic, but I needed to take some Cultural Anthropology class so I could graduate, and this is the only thing that was available this quarter. I've had the professor before though, and he's a lot of fun, so it's not all a waste.

Anthropology 801.03 - The Archaeology of Complex Societies. 5 hours.
Advanced theoretical and comparative study of the rise and fall of complex societies in antiquity in the Old and New Worlds.

This is a grad class I got into by asking the professor for permission. There are only six other people in the class. Six. People who, when asked to list their interests in the first class, responded with things like, "Mortuary remains in medieval period Poland, focusing specifically on dental analysis as a measure of population growth and change."

Oh my god. I am not smart enough for this class. I'm now living in fear of Thursdays.

English H590.01 - Honors Seminar: The Middle Ages. 5 hours.
The medieval period was one of England's richest periods of literary production. This seminar will give students the chance to become familiar with the medieval English cultural scene by sampling a variety of its literary texts, some read in their entirety and others in selections. In addition to Anglo-Saxon martial poetry (Beowulf, The Battle of Maldon) we will be focusing on material from Chaucer, Langland, Margery Kempe and Malory, along with Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a selection of Middle English lyrics, and two plays (The Second Shepherd’s Play and Everyman). A special feature of the course will be a study of the changing and conflicted figure of Sir Gawain, one of the most problematic of King Arthur’s knights. Course requirements include class participation, weekly reading responses, two short papers, and a final exam. Required texts: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, vol. 1A (Middle Ages), and Sir Gawain: Eleven Romances and Tales, edited by Thomas Hahn (TEAMS edition; available in print or online).

A fun class that actually fit into my schedule. The professor is this sweet, timid, little British man. I adore him.

Japanese 103.51 - First Year Japanese III. 3 hours.

Self-explanatory. I'm taking 3 hours rather than 5 because this is the class that killed me last quarter.

Edu Paes 169.01 - Aikido. 1 hour.
An introduction to a harmonizing martial art, designed to increase physical and mental centeredness; to improve grace, balance, awareness, and general movement abilities; to aid in self defense.

Shut up. It's only one hour. I can indulge my weird character obsessions if I want to!

Edu Paes 195.02 - Yoga 2. 1 hour.
Asanas (postures) at the intermediate level of Hatha yoga are introduced; continued development and practice of relaxation and meditative techniques; further exploration of yogic philosophy.

I dunno, I just needed to fill some time.

Also: Every Happy Family, for