Amsterdam beauty

My impromptu trip to Amsterdam with Rob and Jessica was a roaring success. I'm very grateful that I was invited .

Maiwoche in Osnabrück

Maiwoche is underway in Osnabrück. Germans sure do love their outdoor festivals with music and fair food!

"a Scottish lament written by a Jewish guy from the Bronx."

The haunting melody of the Ashokan Farewell is much more modern than you might think. Although the popular tune has been associated with 19th century fiddling, the piece belongs to the 20th century. American acoustic musician Jay Ungar, whose witty words regarding the tune form the title of this post, composed the Ashokan Farewell in 1982. Since the melody was first made famous by its use in Ken Burns' The Civil War documentary, the assumption of historical authenticity remains.

An excellent summary of the music's genesis and later fame is available on Jay and Molly Ungar's website: Ashokan Farewell FAQ

Will this ripe mango from Aldi's compare to the exotic sweetness I tasted in Bénin? Perhaps not, but eating this fruit will be a change of pace from the usual bananas, apples, and oranges.

Ottoshöhe

The trail leads to Ottoshöhe, a tower in the Teutoburg Forest near Melle. At the top, the view of the the surrounding villages is spectacular.

grad apps and ambiguity

I just completed my graduate school applications this afternoon. After researching multiple programs and fiddling with various essays for months, I now feel relieved to have the words out of my hands. My intensely edited rhetoric is now for someone else's eyes. I hope that my efforts lead to significant accomplishment (read: admission with fellowship) come spring.

Applying for graduate school was significantly less stressful than applying for college. Why? In my case, the main difficulty with applying for college was defining a course of study. As an accomplished high school musician as well as student, I felt torn. Since musicianship requires a specialized education in performance, theory or pedagogy for professional work, I strongly believed that I needed black-and-white clarity regarding my academic trajectory. What pressure for a 17-year old who loved learning in every subject! - and yes, even mathematics was nice when I had a clever teacher J Choosing one subject over another seemed to betray another love - as though majoring in music would nullify my love for literature, or vice versa.

As I grow older, I am more comfortable with ambiguity. My life choices ought to be interpreted in shades of grey. Yes, I majored in German, but I still play viola to this day. Similarly, I can focus on academic librarianship without sacrificing my love for teaching children.

Professor Hunter was right: moderation, moderation, moderation.