Saturday, November 22, 2008

A Hodge-Podgey Post...Yep...Another One

Woah...where did this week go?  I have about 50 blog posts swimming around in my head...but not enough time to write them all.  This post is going to be one of those hodge-podgey posts about everything....

First off...thanks to all of you for your comments on my last post.  It's nice to know that I have awesome friends (both real and cyber) who think there's something worth reading here.  You all gave me some good things to think about and a lot of support.  

You know...I started this blog because I just wanted to write more...sharpen the sword type of thing.  I already had a family blog where I would post pictures of the kids, and tell all about our adventures, etc.  so that our families would be able to see our kids grow up and know what they experienced.  After a while...I felt that I wanted to do more writing and have a place for my own thoughts.  So...that's what we got here.  A place for my thoughts and let's just be honest...thoughts are random and all over the spectrum...and so is my blog.  Wow...such a liberating thought.


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Yesterday was a critical day for my husband.  If you're new...here's the short story...he's working on his doctorate (DMA - Doctor of Musical Arts) in violin performance.  He's working on a degree that most people try to finish in 3 years...but he's been working to get it done in 2.  Toward the end of last year, they added an extra requirement for his degree - passing a foreign language proficiency exam.  Here's the trouble...my husband doesn't speak a foreign language (unless you consider British English foreign - I think I could make a case on that one).  It took 5 months before everyone finally got the story straight about what the requirement would entail.  So...he's had a little less then 4 months to study a new language on his own and learn to translate a passage from a book about German Music History into beautiful, flowing, educated-sounding English.  Yesterday was the test.  I can't tell you how many prayers I have offered and how slowly the day passed yesterday (especially those 2 hours when he was taking the test).  Now we can breathe a sigh of relief and wait until it's graded (could take up to 4 weeks).  

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I'm so excited for Thanksgiving.  I love Thanksgiving!  I love that my family will be coming to town to have Thanksgiving at my home.  Hopefully it won't rain too much! :)  But even if it does rain...it's going to be an awesome party!!!

12 comments:

RoeH said...

I hope he does well. He deserves it after all that hard work.

Amanda said...

A language proficiency test? For violin performance? You mean they want him to understand some kind of music theory that's already been translated anyway? Leave it to professors to make 'em do something like that. :) You didn't happen to mention how he felt the test went--and I hope there's not much stress waiting to hear on the results. It's always hard waiting for news like that.

I can't remember if I posted on your last post about blogging, but I wanted to add my two cents in relation to what you said today. I, for one, read blogs to know what's rattling around in other peoples' heads. I like to know what they're thinking and feeling about life in general. When the thoughts are similar to mine, I feel a connection with that person. When the thoughts are different, it gives me something interesting to think about. So, blog on!

Candice said...

Your poor husband. It is really difficult to learn a new language in 5 months in a non-immersion setting unless you are super brilliant. Oh, wait, your husband is brilliant...he married you. And he is from Rexburg. There is brilliancy in the water.

Anyway, I do not envy him. My prayers albeit belated (I believe in backprayers)are with him.

Dianna said...

Wow, that's crazy! At least he'll be able to understand all those long German words in Mahler symphonies.

Jillene said...

I hope he gets a good grade!!

I love Thanksgiving too. But I especially love Black Friday!!

Debbie said...

So any foreign language would do? It doesn't have to be German or Italian or something that might relate to the music? That is crazy.

LunaMoonbeam said...

A foreign language req...for a DMA...in VIOLIN. Wow - that's crazy!

Here's to hoping for a great grade! What language did he...master? ;-)

Leslie said...

Hey ya'll - after reading Amanda's comment wondering how he felt about it...I thought I'd just mention...he really felt very blessed and said he felt "pretty good" about it. We're both going to try to put it out of our minds while we "wait" for the grading to be done!

Kristina P. said...

I've never even heard of such a thing! I am sure he will do awesome.

Anonymous said...

I hope he passes!

Richelle said...

Hope he gets a good grade! :) We're sure excited for Thanksgiving, too. Hope you have a great time!

An Ordinary Mom said...

That's right, you post whatever and whenever you like :) !!

I am impressed that your husband is trying to plow through school so quickly. I hope he gets a good grade!

I, too, can't wait for Thanksgiving!