Week 4

 

    This week was much better than last week. I got a total of eight lessons despite the huge anatomy exam that's been looming over my head. The technique I used for keeping Duolingo in the corner of my eye worked very well. Having a tab open of the occupation you need to work on makes it so much easier. It reduces the will power needed to open it every time you need to work on your new hobby. I expect that next week I will do even better on my lesson goals because I will be past the exam.

    In the Hasselkus reading, the concept of places being containers of experiences was explored. I think the best example of that happening to me in my life was the new apartment I moved into when I moved to Pocatello. At first it was just a concrete box for me to sleep in, but then I got married! After that, my new bride moved in and gradually she started to cover the walls with art. The shelves became overflowing with all of our books. The fridge was filled with good food, instead of the bachelor chow I was living on. We bought a TV together with our meager funds, and got a fantastic deal on a set of couches. My concrete box became full of brand new memories of us making it our own place. 

    As for my Spanish occupation, I suppose that you could say that the Duolingo site is a type of virtual location that has become a place for me. On the Duolingo program I've made fond memories of learning Spanish as well as a bit of French, Hawaiian, Welsh, Esperanto, and other beautiful languages. I've been able to experience the musical sounds of so many different tongues that I can hardly stop myself from starting a whole new course as soon as it catches my eye. One aspect of place is the people that make it special. I've gotten two of my brothers into the Spanish program as well and we frequently share our experiences with the new thing's we've learned. We've all gotten past basic sentences now, and can share some of the frustrations that we have with verb subject object order that is different than our native tongue. 




Comments

  1. Hailey FletcherSeptember 28, 2021 at 6:55 PM

    Hi, Allen! I really enjoyed reading your blog this week, and am super impressed with your commitment to your new occupation with so much studying going on! I have definitely struggled to engage in my new occupation because of the anatomy test, so that it awesome! I think it is super cool that not only are you becoming involved with a new occupation, but that you are also involving others around you in your learning. In your new occupation, would you say that you are still currently experiencing it being more of a space rather than a place because it is such a new experience? That is how I have felt with my new occupation, so I wonder if it has been the same for others since we do not have many special memories attached to it yet. Great job on your new occupation!

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    Replies
    1. datuputiSeptember 28, 2021 at 9:00 PM

      Hey Hailey! Thanks for the comment! I would say that right now my occupation is still in the early process of becoming a place. I am super motivated to learn Spanish, but my taste in languages is usually the more exotic the better. Because of that, learning Spanish feels a bit mundane when compared to something like Hawaiian which I've played around with for a while. But sharing the occupation with my brothers has certainly helped in the placeifying process because now it can become a place for bonding memories.

      Delete
  2. Devin MeldrumSeptember 28, 2021 at 6:59 PM

    Hey Allen,

    I can definitely relate to the amazing experience of beginning to share a space with another person. It's fun to read how your space unfolded into a 'place' as your wife and you made the apartment a home. The way you describe it made me think of a seed sprouting and blooming. If your relationship is anything like mine, it kind of feels like it was always there inside waiting to grow through the coming together with the other person.

    That's also really cool to hear that you got your brother's into Spanish as well. Do you think you guys will ever try going on a Spanish speaking vacation or anything like that?

    Do they also have jobs in which being bilingual could help them out?

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    Replies
    1. datuputiSeptember 28, 2021 at 9:07 PM

      Hey Devin!
      It is a fantastic feeling to have a place of your own. Especially with the world's greatest roommate. You're right about the blooming relationship, a year ago, I don't think I could've comprehended just how special being with her was going to be.

      Man, I would love to go on a Spanish vacation with them. I should see if they'll commit to a Caribbean cruise in a few years.

      Yep, my brother Donovan Is a PT, so he definitely has a good use for Spanish. Cameron was harder to convince. I think he just believed he wasn't smart enough to try, but now he's on a fifty day streak with Spanish! I think he may get some use out of it. He works at a factory so there's a lot of Hispanic people there.

      Delete

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