(no subject)

Something that happened lately that irritated me:

Seminar, last week, seminar member (white guy who's auditing) comes in, sits down, looks at me, and leans forward to say, "Excuse me, do you speak Cantonese?"

Followed by my withering look and, "I'm half-Japanese."

*sighs*

Yes. Because we all look the same. Japanese and Korean are relatively similar, but generally speaking, Japanese and Chinese? NOT SO MUCH. Also, yeah, sure, assume the Asian girl must be multi-lingual, let's go with that. No assumption, at least I don't think, that English wasn't my native language, considering that we're a month into the semester and I try and speak at least once a class. There are only a couple of words I pronounce like a non-native speaker because I grew up hearing them that way. ("Sixth" is the main one; I pronounce that one like my mother says it, "sik-th", instead of the way most native (American, at least) speakers pronounce it.) All my other pronunciation quirks are regional, I think.

Humans. Argh.

so. it was a good thing I did that.

I went in today to meet with my Classics advisor, who is very nice, and talk about grad school. As expected, the languages is going to be the biggest problem, and she suggested doing 4+1 (the accelerated master's program -- you apply your junior year and start taking graduate classes your senior year, so that you get out in five years with a bachelor's and a master's) at Tulane in order to get those extra years of study in on Latin and Greek. However, since the graduate requirements for the classics program at Tulane also require those languages, this complicates things. Fortunately I actually know the classics professor who handles the graduate work in the department, so it won't be quite as terrifying going in to talk with him as it might be otherwise. (On the other hand, he knows what my work is like, as this is the second time I've had him -- he's my Classical Epic professor this semester. But at least I am not a mysterious cipher and he knows that I actually have a brain?)

She has also recommended cozying up to one of the major Roman history professors here, as apparently he knows EVERYONE IN CLASSICS EVER and if I want to get into grad school in Roman history, I need to have a recommendation from him. Unfortunately he is not teaching next semester. But! I should also get him to advise my honors thesis, which should apparently be in whatever I want to go to grad school for. (Read: Roman history. Religious practices in the army while abroad, maybe? *jots down vague idea* Since I'm doubling in MEMS, maybe something in the Late Antique period would be good.) I've never taken a class with him, but I met him. Once. He seemed very nice.

Also, the two archaeological digs at Roman sites in Britain that I've been considering for the summer? SHE KNOWS PEOPLE AT BOTH OF THEM. (Funny: one of them is named Michael Shanks. Daniel Jackson is a Roman archaeologist at Stanford, y'all!) Also both of them are apparently recommended and a good idea, which is good! (Binchester and Vinovium. In the event that I do go to Britain this summer, is there any chance I could crash at someone's place for a couple of days to do the tourist-y thing post actual academic work? I cook! I bake! We can discuss the mysterious differences between American and British baked goods that share the same names! Sometimes I am entertaining?)

Rome 2.05

( thoughts on Rome 2.06, light on spoilers )