The good things

Ok so I'm sitting in NYC SMX east learning about search engines, Twitter and new technologies. Interesting to look at twitter etc as a marketer along side other marketers.

It is a whole new experience to to be with professionals at a confrence with people "in your area of expertise". It solidifies the fact that I am in the real world… not that uneven like that. Networking, learning about meaningless material interests.… It is just solidifying the fact that business is not for me.

The continuing need for me to have some sort of self fulfillment and for me to be in a new and different time in my life has been filling my mind and overtaking my thoughts. As I start to see people my age (22) doing things that they love, getting engaged, settling I thier new time of life, I start to get restless. Not even that these people are even in the right.

Right now I'm just blabbering but I feel that to be happy is a goal that can no be overlooked, as it is now. It is a necessity. If this profesional persona and marketing guru is not what will make me happy, then changes need to be made. The job dilema continues…

Shower time!

Not only is it raining here... but it I have a wedding shower tomorrow!

This of course brings about warm and fuzzy feelings! Who doesn't like to celebrate the beginning of a new life for a couple?

I am particuarly excited because I consider this to be my "first wedding." Not that I haven't been to a wedding before, but most of them were during my childhood and I didn't get the full experience. I didn't have a full appreciation. Now that my friends are starting to get engaged, it seems to mean more.

Yes... we are actually growing up... and the "rest of our lives" is happening now! What a wonderful thought!

Christine

A Return?

So it's true, I've been MIA for a while. I hope that you aren't too angry with me.

I've been a crazy person in the last few months... a lot of work, a little play. The usual.

Thinking a lot of this working thing. Is this really what I want to be my life's purpose? Sitting in a cubicle? Doing things that don't make a difference to anyone, that don't postively impact someone's life? Gosh darn it- I want to make a difference! I want to be a role model. I want people's life's to be better because of my help. And I know that I have it in me. (Ok that's my rave)

On another note-- Off to Lake George for the weekend with some friends from school (actually Steve's friends, but who's couting?). I've never been, but heard that it is beautiful.

I have been reading the Julie/Julia project: http://blogs.salon.com/0001399/2002/08/25.html which the movie was based off of. It is fabulous and I highly recommend it. Funny, quarky, intelligent... :)

Also, this article has been sitting on my desktop for a while, waiting for me to post it: Are working dads just zombie sherpas? A very interesting look into Male vs Female relations when it comes to work and home. Here is a short snip-it:

“The problem is, women complain more,” he said. “So it seems like they’re doing so much more.”

I was mad at first but then realized there was something to his statement.

"The poll found that 13 percent of dads were working a second job to make ends meet, compared to 3 percent of working moms. And dads and moms were working longer hours, 14 percent and 16 percent respectively.

But only 43 percent of dads admitted they felt stressed out about the situation, compared to 48 percent of women.

So why do you all think dads don’t bitch as much?

It may be that they like their jobs more. The survey also found that 80 percent of the working moms worked because they had to, compared to 63 percent of working dads.

Or maybe they just don’t want to make waves, and go to work each day with a big smile and return home each night with a big smile."

Just something to think about. Anyway. Hopefully I'll start posting more. I have a lot to say... might as well!

Have a Happy and Safe Labor Day weekend!

Permission Slip for Cupcakes?

Really???

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/BeautySecrets/story?id=7857306&page=1

Should Genius Kids Know Their IQs?

It's been a while since I have written, but i figured I would share this article because I think that it raises some good points. What exactly does it mean to "gifted" or above average how does it affect their performances, academically as well as socially?

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/Story?id=7808139&page=1

I think that self fulfilling prophecies should be co

nsidered. Additionally, I think that the article brings up the point of Gardner's Theories of Multiple Intellegence- which I support, despite it's controvercy. I beleive that people, and children excel in multiple areas and this area is not always academic. Also, academic "smarts" are not always the best kind to have. Interesting to think about.

Any thoughts?

What is culture?

This is an essay that I just wrote for my Cross Cultural Communications class. The question is simply- "What is culture?"

The first time that I remember analyzing the word “culture” was when I was sixteen years old. My sister-like family friend, Danielle, had recently married a Swiss man and was trying to convince my mom to let me visit her in Switzerland for three weeks. Alone. Her convincing statement was it would be the best way to become “cultured.”

Of course, I had been using the word “culture” for years, but I had never actually stopped to think about it’s meaning. What exactly did she mean by “culture?” Danielle’s meaning of culture seemed to mean worldly, knowledgeable, and advanced.

I have somewhat internalized this definition, along with others, to create my own definition of culture. To me, culture is a way of living, thinking, and identifying yourself. It means that you are knowledgeable, respectful, and accepting of ways of living, thinking of others. You are well read, travel domestically and internationally. Your identity- based on nationality, religion, or the like- embraces your way of living and balances it with your background and identifying groups.

I believe that to be cultured is something that you should strive for and that it makes you a better person. If you are accepting others and the ways of others, you can live a better life. Hopefully, when you have experiences outside of your norm, you can take something out of that experience and mold it into your own life (therefore becoming a part of your culture). When you are continually becoming “cultured,” you continue to mentally grow.

This definition began to develop after my life changing trip to Switzerland, with detours to Austria and Italy. Not only was I able to peek into the culture of the Swiss and Europeans as a whole, but I began to embrace my own culture. After visiting Italy I began to value and accept my Italian grandmother traits and beliefs. I began to connect with her, and my mother, by learning to cook cultural food. My eyes were open and I wanted to continue embracing all that I could.  It led to my second trip abroad, this time only to Italy. Connecting with the people and I share a background with was amazing. I found that learning a different way of life made me evaluate my own life’s goals and value. I want to value family, take life slow, bond over a meal, and have a passion for life. I was able to take Italian cultural beliefs, and intertwine them into my American life. Based on these experiences, and others, I believe that I am on my way to being “cultured.” 

Optimism

I was watching Micheal J Fox last night on his TV special-- Adventures with the incurable optimist. 

He actually had some very interesting things to say. I am a very optimistic person and enjoy being surrounded by positive people. I was very interesting in the people from Bhutan (in Asia). They live thier life to optimize hapiness. They actualy measure thier lives and success as a people through Gross national happiness, as we measure our success through gross national product. 

I wish that people had more of that outlook on life in the US. It seems that people are so career and product driven that they can not see the happiness in thier lives. I am sure that it is culturally driven- Bhutan take a very communal outlook on life, while western United states is mostly individualistic. I have actually heard converstation that this general out look on life is changing due to economic hardships. Banding together and supporting one another. I hope that this is true because communal living, I believe, creates acceptance and optimism. You are all in this together and will pull through together. 

On a slightly different note, I have been listening to a lot of classical music, since I have been studying for finals. Here is one of my favorites, which was brought to life for Fantasia 2000. Enjoy!

Finals

So I am sitting in the library waiting to start the excrutiating chore of studying (so it is natural that I would be writing a post). To be quite honest, I don't mind studying for finals. It is actually exhilerating to sit in the library for 8-12 hours and know that you and hundreds of other students have the same goal as you... to get an A. I think that I will actually miss that feeling once school has ended. 

Highly recommended movie: The Soloist. 

Of course it combines my love of classical music and abnormal psychology (paranoid schizophrenia). Jamie Foxx was supurb, as was Robert Downy Jr (if you liked JF in this you should also see Ray!!). I was hoping for a different ending, but I suppose that there is no "happy" ending for a movie like this. 

That being said.... I am going to start studing for "Learning Psychology." 

Christine

Papers and Salmon and Narcissism (?)

Again procrastinating my paper (due tomorrow). Good news is that one of my finals was cancelled  and is now a 2 page paper on the meaning of culture. Superb. 

Made some salmon for me and my boyfriend last night. Unfortunately, I didn't have much else, so I found a simple recipe on food network: Salt and Pepper Salmon from Tyler Florance (aka really simple salmon)

Not too bad. Really simple. Served it with some salad. :) I can't wait until I have the time and money to make REAL food. Just a few more months. 

For my HDFS class (Human Development and Family Studies) we had to listen to a radio show featuring Jean Twenge. It talked about "Generation Me" and how the end of Generation X and all of Generation Y are all narcissists. I personally think that it is very insulting.

Mostly I am insulted that Twenge seems to be blaming this Me generation for the "problems" that it is having. However, it is the parents and society that has shaped these children. These children, unfortunately, are the result of over-parenting and over-praise. Of course there is nothing wrong with praise, but only when it is deserved. 

I'll try not to rant too much because I have a lot to say on the subject. 

Any thoughts on the interview?

Christine

Two Weeks (and counting)

Well, I survived Spring Weekend. Actually,  I only went out on Saturday night. I ended up being a bum on Thursday and Friday night. Saturday was fun though, we went to the Bar for a little then went to see the comotion at X-lot (which is a parking lot that was filled with about 30,000 people). The usual. We ended up staying there for about 30 minutes and then we left. Better things to do. 

I went with my boyfriend, two of my best girl friends, and thier boyfriends. It was actually interesting. The girls all stood around and were talking about babies and weddings. I guess we are all ready for school to be over and to get on with our lives. It is nice to have friends that have the same goals and values. 

Anyway. I actually had to go home yesterday to give my parents my graduation tickets!! Two weeks from yesterday! I can't wait! 

And now the only things standing in my way are finals and a Term Paper, due on thursday. I should really get started on that. :/

Til next time

Christine

spring weekend

At Uconn there is a weenend which trumps all weekends. It is called spring weekend. Where tens of thousands of college students and thier friends gather for a weekend of drunken fun. It starts tonight. 

I'm am not sure if I am excited about it this year. I feel that I have grown out of it alittle. There are only so many of those that you can go to before they start melding together in your mind. Each year kids stand around drinking massive amounts of beer and fall down. Do I really need to see it again?

That being said, I will definately go. I can't miss my last opportunity for a party. But I think this year I will just be an observer. 

It is actually very interesting to watch the interactions of the freshmen and thier green friends. It truly is an unique experience, even though it is mostly inappropirate. Oh well. Hopefully I will have some good stories to post. Off to make some memories (after my classes, that is). 

The Next Step

I'm sitting here in my room, procrastinating, and thinking about what my Management professor said to my class the other day... "I know that you are all seniors, and I sympathize. But your grades do not reflect my sympathies." Well that is unfortunate. 

Not that I am doing poorly, but the motivation to continue with the last leg of my college career is non-existent. I have had my eye set on the prize for so long. The prize of course being freedom, and the ability to start the part of my life that actually means something. Family. Love. A Life.

College, for me, has been fighting against the stereotype. Everyone (not just kids, but also adults) thinks of college as an excuse to get drunk and go wild. But why do we need to subject ourselves to that and fall into that path of self destruction (by way of alcohol poisoning)? At least, that is the way that I always thought about it. I never wanted to be like that. Don't get me wrong, I have gone to the bars and experienced nickle night. But to me, it seems like that is everyone's goal. Everyone's plans stop the moment after graduation. 

For me, college has been a time to learn and expand my line of thought. But it has also enabled many things which I feel are directly connected. Because of my education, I will be able to get a job with a reasonable salary, save for a wedding and a house (the whole white picket fence thing), and eventually be able to stay home with my children. 

You may think "Whoa! This girl is just graduating from college, why is she thinking that far in advance?" I swear, I'm not crazy. I just feel that those have always been my priorities. Having a large and happy family. And when I think of that "prize" I feel more calmed and more fulfilled. And believe it or not, it is what is getting me through these next three weeks until graduation. 

Priorities. 

And, on that note, I will go work on a presentation that is due tomorrow for that Management class. 

And it begins...

Hello all.

I first have to say that I have no clue who is going to read this, but I hope that you like it and find it insightful. 

I suppose that I should tell you some basics, so that you know where I'm coming from. 

I live in Connecticut, have two wonderful parents and a dog (no siblings), a wonderful boyfriend, and (thankfully) a job lined up for June... after my graduation from the University of Connecticut. I am majoring in Marketing with minors in Psychology and Communiction. I find people and thier decisions facinating. 

That being said... please enjoy.