summercomfort (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
summercomfort) wrote2002-09-12 07:08 pm
summercomfort) wrote2002-09-12 07:08 pm
End of Summer reflections (mush warning)
As this gloriusly long summer swiftly draws to a close (leaving next Friday!), I find myself contemplating what I have accomplished over the summer. Summer has always been a time of great aspirations and little accomplishments for me, often confounded with work and travel and hours squandered before the computer.
This year, I did travel, but it was fun and relaxing. 2 weeks of relaxing and shopping in Shanghai, and then a short trip to HangZhou XiHu, the lake that spawned many excellent sentimental poems from inspired (drunk) poets of ancient past. There was then the trip to rural Jiang Xi, where my parents had worked and lived for a decade. Little brick houses and holes in walls called windows, bare-foot elders and little children, roosters that crow at noon and dogs that stroll through the village. JinGangShan, with its revolutionary past (first successful stronghold of Mao and Zhu in 1927), its water falling, racing, tumbling down cliffs and past boulders, its vast bamboo forests a churning jade green.
I didn't work. Well, I didn't do library work. I did substitute teaching for my mom for 4 weeks, which was quite entertaining. I actually know most of her students in the other class now. Sure, it was vexing and tiring at times, but a lot cooler than library maintanence. Of course, I also helped my dad with some of the textbook stuff, but it was out of personal choice and not like he made me do it. (Which is a pretty nice feeling)
I read books. Yeah, I know that it's not a really big deal, but for once, I actually finished the books that I started (well, most of them, anyway.) Although I didn't read as many as I had originally intended to, I feel better that I've actually read books. (as opposed to fanfiction, or not reading at all). My one regret is that none of the books I read can be considered "classical", (the closest is Lolita, which I don't think really counts in my parents' POV) but they were all excellent nonetheless. (Except for Shelters in Stone, which I read for the story, and skipped the other 800 pages of descriptions)
I have not regretted my choice of college.
I leave behind a more functional Chinese School website. So no more hiding my face in shame whenever my dad mentions it.
I will finish the History of Art book. (muwahahaha!) It was painful, trying to slog through 40-60 pages a day, but I did it. (I know that sounds pathetic, but considering that I'm an extremely slow reader who takes about 40 min to read 10 picture-filled pages, yeah. It's like reading the USHist book.) Plus it's an interesting book. I can now say that Manet is cooler than I expected, Neoclassism is boring, and some of the Baroque is cooler than the Renaissance (still can't spell that word, though). Am quite sad that Renoir only got one paragraph, though. (While Sisley, of whom I researched in 11th grade Humanities, does not appear at all. ;_;) But anyway, now when someone says a painting is cool, I can do more than nod and smile: I can nod and smile and say, "I agree" ..... ^^;;; Yes. 3 more days to go. ::crosses fingers:: Shouldn't count my chickens before the dino eggs hatch... or however the saying goes.
I consorted with friends over the summer. (Sure, I've been hermetic, (is that a word?), but I did see some friends)
I converted my mom to the wonderfulness of LJ. (hee. mommy's so cute)
I did not draw as much as I'd have liked to.
I have not done anything online except for read Livejournal and check email (which consists largely of icky porn links. >_<).
I feel prepared for college materially. (rugs, sheets, sewing kit, clothes...)
I am definitely not ready for college intellectually. (First Fundamental Thm of Calculus... what's that? William Randolph Hearst... huh?)
I didn't watch as many movies as I'd hoped.
I got my driver's license.
I don't have car insurance. (and therefore can't drive without parents anyway)
... So, in conclusion, this summer, as all others, had its accomplishments and disappointments. However, I think it has been more satisfying and relaxing than previous ones. Huzzah! Even though there were things that I didn't do, this summer didn't feel as hurried as others, and I can contemplate college without a feeling of pressure. (Of course, that will happen next week.)
And now since I'll be off in a week, I'll spend a few more (brief) moments reminescing over high school.
9th grade: hah! confusion, determination, innocence. First email account and IM.
10th grade: Yikes. enlightenment, elation, anticipation. RuroKen and fanfiction.
11th grade: Hmm... worry, joy, procrastination. slipping grades and drawing.
12th grade: sigh. fear, desperation, relaxation. College apps and Senioritus.
Wow, that was a quick 4 years... Wonder what college will be like.
This year, I did travel, but it was fun and relaxing. 2 weeks of relaxing and shopping in Shanghai, and then a short trip to HangZhou XiHu, the lake that spawned many excellent sentimental poems from inspired (drunk) poets of ancient past. There was then the trip to rural Jiang Xi, where my parents had worked and lived for a decade. Little brick houses and holes in walls called windows, bare-foot elders and little children, roosters that crow at noon and dogs that stroll through the village. JinGangShan, with its revolutionary past (first successful stronghold of Mao and Zhu in 1927), its water falling, racing, tumbling down cliffs and past boulders, its vast bamboo forests a churning jade green.
I didn't work. Well, I didn't do library work. I did substitute teaching for my mom for 4 weeks, which was quite entertaining. I actually know most of her students in the other class now. Sure, it was vexing and tiring at times, but a lot cooler than library maintanence. Of course, I also helped my dad with some of the textbook stuff, but it was out of personal choice and not like he made me do it. (Which is a pretty nice feeling)
I read books. Yeah, I know that it's not a really big deal, but for once, I actually finished the books that I started (well, most of them, anyway.) Although I didn't read as many as I had originally intended to, I feel better that I've actually read books. (as opposed to fanfiction, or not reading at all). My one regret is that none of the books I read can be considered "classical", (the closest is Lolita, which I don't think really counts in my parents' POV) but they were all excellent nonetheless. (Except for Shelters in Stone, which I read for the story, and skipped the other 800 pages of descriptions)
I have not regretted my choice of college.
I leave behind a more functional Chinese School website. So no more hiding my face in shame whenever my dad mentions it.
I will finish the History of Art book. (muwahahaha!) It was painful, trying to slog through 40-60 pages a day, but I did it. (I know that sounds pathetic, but considering that I'm an extremely slow reader who takes about 40 min to read 10 picture-filled pages, yeah. It's like reading the USHist book.) Plus it's an interesting book. I can now say that Manet is cooler than I expected, Neoclassism is boring, and some of the Baroque is cooler than the Renaissance (still can't spell that word, though). Am quite sad that Renoir only got one paragraph, though. (While Sisley, of whom I researched in 11th grade Humanities, does not appear at all. ;_;) But anyway, now when someone says a painting is cool, I can do more than nod and smile: I can nod and smile and say, "I agree" ..... ^^;;; Yes. 3 more days to go. ::crosses fingers:: Shouldn't count my chickens before the dino eggs hatch... or however the saying goes.
I consorted with friends over the summer. (Sure, I've been hermetic, (is that a word?), but I did see some friends)
I converted my mom to the wonderfulness of LJ. (hee. mommy's so cute)
I did not draw as much as I'd have liked to.
I have not done anything online except for read Livejournal and check email (which consists largely of icky porn links. >_<).
I feel prepared for college materially. (rugs, sheets, sewing kit, clothes...)
I am definitely not ready for college intellectually. (First Fundamental Thm of Calculus... what's that? William Randolph Hearst... huh?)
I didn't watch as many movies as I'd hoped.
I got my driver's license.
I don't have car insurance. (and therefore can't drive without parents anyway)
... So, in conclusion, this summer, as all others, had its accomplishments and disappointments. However, I think it has been more satisfying and relaxing than previous ones. Huzzah! Even though there were things that I didn't do, this summer didn't feel as hurried as others, and I can contemplate college without a feeling of pressure. (Of course, that will happen next week.)
And now since I'll be off in a week, I'll spend a few more (brief) moments reminescing over high school.
9th grade: hah! confusion, determination, innocence. First email account and IM.
10th grade: Yikes. enlightenment, elation, anticipation. RuroKen and fanfiction.
11th grade: Hmm... worry, joy, procrastination. slipping grades and drawing.
12th grade: sigh. fear, desperation, relaxation. College apps and Senioritus.
Wow, that was a quick 4 years... Wonder what college will be like.