Winter is Coming...

So, its been a while. With my Fall school semester ending this past week, I finally found time to update this blog. I won't start classes again until February, so I get to relax a bit..

I registered for my Spring semester classes:

• Cross-Cultural Communication
• Persuasive Comm Campaigns
• Africa & Global Economic System

I wish I could take a forth class but I think with my full-time work schedule that three is about as much as I can handle. I wanted to fit in a class on the EU and NATO... oh well.

Basically, to bring you guys up to speed with the career stuff, I am applying to three different things: Teach for China, the JET Program, and the State Department Internship.

I actually have an interview for Teach for China in a week but I am not so sure about it. I'd have to pay for my flight and it would be a two year commitment. The JET Program would be better becuase I'd be getting paid and have my travel covered. Plus, I could leave after a year if its not right for me. Obviously though, Teach for China would be better for my Mandarin skill :P

Out in left field is the State Department Internship. I am applying to the Chinese Embassy and the Ethiopian Embassy. From what I understand, it is incredibly competitive to get in. Also, I'd get no pay whatsoever. So I better start saving now to pay for my flight and food. It would only be 10 weeks though...

Anyhow, I will be making more postings soon. Maybe even a current event topic or two. We shall see.

No news...

9/8 has passed. No QEP news this week.

In other news, my fall semester starts tomorrow. Fun right? At least I have one paper done...

Alright, I am going to watch True Blood before bed. Good night, everyone!

The making of the "Rape of Nanking"

I just read an interesting book for my upcoming course in Japanese History (Seminar on the Asia-Pacific war). I won't go into details about the content, as I know it can be a touchy subject, but I wold recommend it to anyone with an interest in historic memory. In the The making of the "Rape of Nanking," Yoshiba argues that memories of history often change and are used differently depending on the circumstances of the time. It is another reason why history is IMPORTANT. We use History as a tool. This tool can be used to motivate a nation, heal wounds, create aggression, stir national pride, etc. So understanding history is understanding how pretext changes the present.