In actuality, that is why I haven't posted in a while! No one really wants to hear about my classes, do they? I'll tell you anyway, since I do suppose that is why I am away: to STUDY abroad!
I have never taken much of an art history course before now. I can tell you that I really was not looking forward to it; but after 4 weeks of it, I am actually thoroughly enjoying myself! We are attempting to get through the last 150 years of art, which is considered modern and contemporary. We have been focused on realism, impressionism, neo-impressionism and post-impressionism, which include famous artists such as Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Rodin, Seurat and Van Gogh. All of my tutorial sessions are held at Australia's National Gallery in Canberra where I can get a first hand look at many different pieces. Unfortunately since the facility is so new, it doesn't have the rights to many of the "best" pieces and I was unfortunately thoroughly disappointed by their representation of Monet, who happens to be my favorite artist. This week I found out something very interesting about all of the artists of this period: although they did their work outside to get a first-hand look at the objects they were painting, they merely made sketches or initial roughly drafted paintings. I did not realize that these were the actual original pieces of work and they used them as a basis to paint their huge and most famous works which hang in famous European and American galleries. This is also the case with sculpting. Initial small sketches are made, then the molds are made, and the bronze or plaster pieces are made from the molds -- this is the reason for so many "originals" of the same sculpture!
Along with this art class came the experience of the Canberra bus system. I am now knowledgeable in public transportation so that I could avoid buying a bike or taking an expensive cab to and from the Gallery every Monday!
One of my other classes is my psychology class that pertains to vision and cognition that I am taking for my Neuroscience major back home. Unfortunately this class is shaping up to be quite boring. When I question myself for taking the hard major and not just doing psychology instead, I now know. It is hard for me to enjoy this class when so little technical science is used. My labs (which only occur every other week -- a lovely thing compared to F&M) consist of very superficial experiments on none other than myself and my lab partners. There is no frog dissection to do any muscle analysis or microscopic viewing of horseshoe crab eyes. In the event of this, I must be thankful and remember why I do love doing science at F&M! Is it weird that I also kind of miss chemistry?
I am also involved in two other courses for fun, both environmental/social studies. The two are very similar, both dealing with development and the environment and both dealing vastly with issues in the Asia Pacific and Australia. In my second year class we focus much more on development issues and in my first year class we focus a great deal on individual nations themselves and their economic/political and environmental positions in the world today. The classes are interesting, not only because they are based heavily on environmental policy (which actually might be sort of boring), but also because of the world perspective that I must take. We rarely talk about the US and any issues that occur in the western world. The focus is the pacific and larger problems that the world is encountering.
Here in Australia, the US is no longer the central concern. Learning in this environment and even just living in this environment should make any student or adult take a step back and view the big picture of the entire world as well as the US from a much different perspective. When discussing present-day issues, it is also interesting to realize that the US does not have all of the answers that it thinks it might. The US and the rest of the western world may not be able to be the superpower it wants to be, especially with the way China is developing. Although these things are heavy topics and scary at some times, it is a reality that we should all face and no longer be blind to. Now I am not saying that I don't love living in the US, but being across the world makes me realize that some things should be rethought. I hope this is something that everyone can eventually realize, and I would encourage everyone to get a head start in this realization by educating themselves on other countries and their policies, specifically those in the Pacific. An even better step in making these realizations is to go abroad and listen to the perspectives of others, however this is not the most realistic option for all!
In reality, my main message from all of this is GO STUDY OR TRAVEL ABROAD and get a little extra education that you all deserve. You will learn things and see things differently in ways you never imagined!
So now that everyone knows me for the nerd that I actually am, I hope you feel at least somewhat inspired! Aside from going to class and doing the little homework that I have I am still experiencing Canberra and it's nightlife! Seeing as I do not have class on Fridays, my weekends typically start, like most other Australians (whether they have class or not) on Thursday nights! Everyone goes out to have an awesome time, and the nights are quite enjoyable, if I do say so! I am also currently planning with two of my friends to do some traveling during our mid-semester break. Right now the plan is to spend time in Sydney, the Gold Coast, Cairns to see the Great Barrier Reef and on our way back to Canberra, Brisbane. When plans are finalized, everyone will be informed and then will benefit from the awesome pictures and experiences that are to be had!
I hope you enjoyed another lengthy read! There shall be another update soon, as this weekend is "Country Life Weekend on the Farm" somewhere west of Sydney. It should be fun-filled with horseback riding and maybe even home-cooked meals!
Until next time, Dream On!
From the Christmas in July party held at none other than Burgmann College (home)
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