Friday was really fun as I went out to dinner at the Aesgard with a friend in Central Square, then to a small party nearby. I spent the rest of my weekend planning my schedule because on Monday I had to register (*TEAR!*) for the last 5 classes I will ever take at Wellesley. I considered everything from which courses had the most interesting material to me, to which were appropriate to my major, to which were appropriate to what I wanted to study in grad school, and finally to just which had the best professors. Here’s what I decided on:
1. Crossing the Borderlands (A Women and Gender Studies seminar on Chicano literature and theory).
2. Advanced Shakespeare (This class seems considerably interesting because we focus on acting in performance and will be viewing life performances throughout the semester).
3. Spain and the Avant Garde (A Spanish seminar with a Professor that I hear will challenge me more than any in the department will- good to prepare me for writing in Spanish in grad school).
I will have to still think about my other two classes…sigh. On a lighter (actually, definitely deeper) note, I later on that day traveled to Harvard Square with a friend to hear *drumroll please* authoress Joan Didion speak. Didion is my favorite author of all time and I couldn’t believe that I had the chance to hear her reading of her new book, get a signed copy, and even ask her a question during the Q & A period. I asked her why she named her daughter Quintana Roo, as there is a state in Mexico with the same name. It’s wonderful that she didn’t dismiss her fans the way some writers do, and I’m grateful that I can continue to see her in the same image I’ve always had of her.
My friend Julie captured this great shot of author Joan Didion at her book reading
On Tuesday, Slam Poet Carlos Andrés Gómez came to campus and read many of his moving poems. Carlos spoke about racism, misogyny, U.S. public school systems, and third-world travels in his pieces- all things I’ve explored myself- but his style brought a new light to them some how that rekindled a passion for studying them.
Slam poet Carlos Andrés Gómez
MEZCLA behind the scenes at the Carlos Andrés Gómez performance, selling handmade crafts from Peru
Now, I am waiting until Friday when I submit my last assignment for my half-semester long writing course, to have 4 instead of 5 classes to go before the end of fall semester. It is so exciting to get closer and closer to graduation day.
I’ve decided to use the gymnasium more- for swimming and tennis playing primarily- and went tonight to exercise with friends. Let’s see if I can keep my promise to do this twice a week!
Until next time,
Jacqueline.