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October 30, 2007

Beware the Ides of December...

Well, I've got a viva date: December 14 (ok, so not quite the "Ides", but close enough). I've been really depressed thumbing back through my thesis after not looking at it for a few weeks. I'm finding typos left and right (well, I've found 4 already - but some are ridiculous). You read the dumb thing who knows how many times, and then as soon as you turn it in you find more mistakes. C'est la vie. At least I'll have 10 days to recover before Christmas if it all goes sour; or 10 days to fix all the typos and get it bound and turned in if it goes really well. Most likely something in the middle and I'll spend Christmas day trying to improve this or that argument or find this or that resource. Can't wait....

Posted by j and b at 10:58 AM | Comments (1)

October 22, 2007

Libraries and A French Tale

For all you bibliophiles out there this is for you - something a friend sent me the other day. You might need something to catch the drool...

Also, Josh and I have been reading Marc Mailloux's book, God Still Loves the French. I'm enjoying it on so many levels. He studied at the seminary where I lived eleven years ago and all his references to the town of Aix-en-Provence enliven my own memories of that delicious place. His stories of cultural faux-pas on his own side in France and on the part of his wife in the States are hilarious. (His wife once called a doctor in South Carolina, where they were raising support for the mission field, and told the secretary she needed an urgent rendezvous with the doctor...)
But more than that I love the simple, straight forward narrative that tells the story of God's faithfulness to this one man and his family. Through various trials, sufferings and lots of hard work, they endeavoured to take the Gospel to France, and God was with them every step of the way. It's easy to see reading his story - why can't I see with the same clarity looking at my own?
Anyway, if you're interested in things francais and want to read a good story get your hands on this book.

Posted by j and b at 01:58 PM | Comments (3)

October 16, 2007

This is only a test...

I remember not long ago thinking on how much I hated tests and exams, and how I really wanted to get out of the whole "test-taking" idea in education - so much is bogus there. But now I'm writing up my first test for my (not so) little Hebrew class and realize that tests are no fun even from the other side of the teacher's desk. Tedious. Factor in that the class has a vocabulary of about 20 words, and none of them are verbs... My consolation is that at the end of the test, if they do well, they will all know how to say very important sentences:
"The powerful mares and the righteous princesses are wise."
"The good priests and the holy kings are heavy."
"The sword is powerful and the woman is not evil."

Posted by j and b at 06:24 PM | Comments (1)

October 12, 2007

The Deed is Done

A couple weeks later than we had anticipated Josh has finally submitted his thesis. Because I work in the Registry office I was right there when he walked in with three bound copies. What a moment. He also chose that moment to show me the dedication which I had never seen before. Nothing like choking back tears while the phone is ringing.
Now we wait until the viva (oral defense) ... my hubby is nervous. It's out of his hands now - no revising allowed! But he's keeping his mind off it by doing the indices for his supervisor's new book. Doesn't that sound thrilling?
We're headed to The Vine Leaf to celebrate - never been there before and it's supposed to be really nice.

Posted by j and b at 06:15 PM | Comments (8)

October 07, 2007

Dunhill

So it's that time of year when celebrities and professionals pair up to play some golf. I haven't personally seen any celebs but a friend got her photo taken with Hugh Grant (she wasn't impressed) and they say Samuel L Jackson and Bill Murray are enjoying the night life.
The night before the last day of play they put on a fireworks display over the water at the West Sands. Josh and I walked out to the Old Course with the droves of students, St Andrews residents and golf visitors. I had never seen the Old Course at night and it has a very eerie feel. All you can see is the top of the grassy slopes - anything could be lurking in the darkness beneath. And you know the Sea is beyond it but all you see is darkness. Remember Agatha Christie's Murder on the Links? I can well imagine.
The fireworks were fantastic - the best I've ever seen. Standing on the course, listening to Highland Cathedral blasting through the speakers, watching the show - it made me feel quite loyal to Scotland. Unfortunately next up on the soundtrack was StarWars...not so much.
In other news, Josh is grieving along with all the other Cubs fans around the world. There's always next year...it's only been a century.

Posted by j and b at 08:54 PM | Comments (2)

October 03, 2007

Starting school

I remember always feeling a bit nervous on the first day of a new school year - especially at a new school. "What if the other kids don't like me? What if my clothes are out of style? etc." I now have the same feelings as we start our new term here at St. Andrews and I start my first attempt at teaching. It's just one course (Hebrew), with 4 lectures a week and 2 tutorials (seminars). I knew I was nervous when I started writing letters backwards on the white-board. That really does a lot for establishing a solid rapport. "How was class? Great, though our teacher can't write the alphabet...."
But after two days of class I think things are going well - no casualties yet, and I think it's a really bright group (which helps). And I'm really enjoying doing it. As the semester goes on we'll see what happens, but at least I feel like I don't have to cry when mom drops me off at school.

Posted by j and b at 02:22 PM | Comments (1)