Reading Diary A: Narayan's Ramayana

One story that I really found interesting was Ahalya's story. A god named Brahma made a perfectly beautiful woman and she was named Ahalya. She was married to Sage Gautama because Brahma appreciated his pure heart and mind. However, a god named Indra infatuated over her. So he made himself look like her husband and slept with her. Gautama returned and found them. He cursed Indra and made his body be covered in female organs and he turned Ahalya into a stone. But she would turn human again when Rama passes. To me this story has a lot of elements to it. It has respect, lust, deception, betrayal and redemption. This short story is very complicated.

Ahalya Emerges From Stone Form 

Web source: Wikipedia

I was also fascinated by how distressed princess Sita became after seeing Rama. I mean I understand he must have been good looking, but her reaction seemed a little extreme. But on the other hand, I respect love. I like Rama's reaction much better. He kept himself together in public, but then began to think about the girl.

The last bit of this reading was heartbreaking to me. The drastic change in Kaikeyi from supporting and being happy for Rama becoming King to wanting him banished was shocking. The king completely shut down, which was shocking for a King. In modern society I feel like we don't take our promises seriously, so its interesting to watch a King being held to a promise.

I also have so much respect for how Rama handled his change of fate. This shows his character. He is a man truly deserving honor.

Reference:
The Ramayana by R. K. Narayan 
Ramayana Reading Guide

Famous Last Words from Week 1

Since this was our orientation week, we did not really do a lot of reading. What impacted me the most this week was the story telling assignment. I thoroughly enjoyed this. The writing style I used was incredibly far outside my comfort zone for writing. I also had to be creative and in my major I don't get to use a lot of creativity. It was nice to see that I was capable of being creative. I also really enjoyed reading the stories from the students in my group. I was impressed with their creativity.

My other classes are going well. It is exciting that the semester is finally getting going. This is the first time I have ever taken an online class so I am having to learn how to manage my time to make sure I accomplish everything I need to accomplish in this class and my other classes. So this week has really been an experiment for me. This is also the first time I have ever worked with a blog and I really have enjoyed it. I enjoy writing and have spent a significant amount of time in college writing, so getting to write in a blog is a new and exciting way to write.

I am excited to get into the readings this next week and the weeks to come. Mythology is a subject I really enjoy and I am taking another mythology class this semester. I am curious to see if any of the major themes in Greek Mythology can be seen in Mythology from India. In weeks to come I will be sure to let you know if I am able to find any connections. I am taking two other literature classes, so I will be exposed to multiple writing styles that I want to get to experiment with.

Oh and just a fun fact I learned this week. OU has a serious parking problem that they really need to work on fixing. I'm very grateful I have a good bike.

Downtown Parking Lot 

Web source: Wikimedia Commons

Tech Tip: Blogger Template

I have chosen a new design for my blog. I know this design is kind of simple but I love the birds in the corner. Birds have a very significant meaning in my life, so that is why I went with this design. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do!

Week 1 Curation

I'm a Letters Major and one of my minors is in Classical Culture. Often times students and my professors joke about how much we as a department hate technology. Essentially, we are stuck in the past. I haven't had to use technology very often during my time at OU. If I do have a research project I will usually print out my resources and organize the hard copies. I am most comfortable with this method. So online organization is a foreign concept to me. I do have organized folders on my computer for each class I take and I change it for every semester. That is about as far as my organization goes with computers.

Given that information, I am not the one to recommend strategies to others. But I am familiar with both Pinterest and Twitter. I have an account for both websites, however I use my Pinterest significantly more than my Twitter. I have never heard of Known before, but I am interested in using these resources for class.

My Pinterest Board

Web Source: Pinterest

Overall, I am great with keeping track of information in general. However, I haven't really had the chance to keep track of information online, so I am excited to give it a try. Just through my experience with Pinterest though, I can see how necessary it is to sort though and organize the information you need. There is so much out there and you have to be able to move the relevant information into a usable manner.

Growth Mindset: The Process of Learning

I have never heard of Carol Dweck before, nor the term "the growth mindset". I have thought about this concept before though. All my life I was raised to be the best and do whatever I could do be the best in education. It wasn't the journey that mattered, but the end result. At OU I currently have a 4.0 and will graduate this semester, so I found a way to master this principle. But last semester I took a class that challenged me more than any other class I have taken at OU. It was called Origins of Christianity with Dr. Kyle Harper. I knew this class would be hard, but I had to take it. At first I did what I always did, worried more about the grade than the content of the class. As time went on though something changed, and I cared more about the process of learning the material than the end result. Now I am taking another class by this professor, knowing getting the A will be hard. I want to learn. I'm taking this class just for the sake of knowledge itself. That class changed the way I am approaching this last semester of college. I care more about the process of learning than the end result.

Growth Mindset and Failure 

Web source: Flickr

I am definitley more interested in learning more about the growth mindset this semester. I am excited to see the Growth Mindset Challenges that are already laid out, I can't wait to do them. I am really looking forward to this semester. I am taking four literature classes, so this is a very different semester for me. I am excited to take the time to learn through the literature about the different cultures I am reading about.

Storybook Favorites

I only looked through the storybooks from the Indian Epics Class. I was trying to find storybooks with unique titles. This to me was a way to sort through how creative the storybooks would be. I ended up really liking three of them. How I Met Your Mother , Animal Tales from India to Oklahoma and Rate My Rishi.

Introduction Page

How I Met Your Mother Storybook

Let's begin talking about How I Met Your Mother. First off, this is one of my favorite shows of all time, so I was immediately drawn to it. But the title did a good job of letting me know what the subject matter would be about. Since I know the plot of the TV show, I figured this storybook would be about fathers telling stories of how they met their wives. I am not very familiar with the stories though at all. The introduction did a great job of grabbing my attention, it was entertaining and gave short summaries of each story which I appreciated. I also like the quotes from Ted in How I Met Your Mother. The image in the introduction was great because it was a reference to How I Met Your Mother. Overall, I really liked this one because it was very unique.

Cover Page Photo 

Animal Tales from India to Oklahoma Storybook

The next storybook that I really liked was Animal Tales from India to Oklahoma. Any student who goes to OU can relate to this storybook, which is the main reason why I liked it. The introduction is so playful. Having a story narrated by a squirrel really made this storybook enjoyable to read. The introduction was very inviting and it made me want to continue reading the stories. The design was cute and I really enjoyed the pictures, however I did not understand the point of the tree and flowers in the corner. But overall, I really liked this storybook.

Durvasa Story

Rate My Rishi Storybook

The final storybook in my opinion is probably the most original. Rate My Rishi is a wonderful idea and I can not believe someone actually came up with it. I love how the introduction is laid out like a web page. I also like the idea of telling the stories in different perspectives, as if the Rishis are being rated. This is an approach I wouldn't have originally considered. The layout of each story was slightly off for me, I wasn't able to read everything, which was disappointing. The creativeness of this storybook is something I truly admire and want to be able to do in my own storybook. I want to be creative and have fun with the project.

Overview of Indian Epics

When I first signed up for this class I really did not know what to expect. I was under the impression that I knew absolutely nothing about this subject. However, I might not be as in the dark as I was expecting to be. I am a Letters Major and a Classical Culture Minor. I have taken a class on Greek Mythology and I am currently taking a class called Gods and Heroes in Epic. So I am familiar with the genre. Just in terms of what I have studied in college, I am most familiar with and most comfortable with the mythology of Ancient Greece and Rome. I am excited to see what role myth plays in other cultures.

During my first year at OU I took a class called Comparative Religions. I know in that class we discussed Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam in depth. That was over two years ago so I do not recall a lot of information from the class, but I am sure I will remember things as the semester goes on.

Ravana and His Court

Web Source: Indian Epics: Images and PDE Epics 

While browsing through the images on the Indian Epics Images site, this picture stood out to me. I am not sure if that is because I have seen this image before, or what exactly. But it did strike me. 

Although I am familiar with the genre and I am acquainted with the culture, this is a fairly new field for me. I am excited to see what I learn this semester. 

Introduction to Me

Hello fellow bloggers! My name is Hayley and I am a senior at OU. I am a Letters Major with a focus on Constitutional Studies. I also am minoring in Spanish and Classical Culture. I am a Pre-Law Student so I will be attending law school next fall. I am graduating in December.

Now that we have all the formalities out of the way let’s talk about some fun things. I am from the great state of Texas and the great state of California. In elementary school I was referred to as the “Valley Girl Hick”. Although now I claim “Sooner” as my official title, it is still nice to remember my past heritage.

I have a little sister and a little brother. We come from a family of doctors and nurses, so of course it is fitting that I am going to be an attorney, my sister is going to be an actress and my brother will do something with art.

I’m involved in a few organizations on campus. The ones that I am most involved in are Camp Crimson and Sooners Helping Sooners. I love how the organizations have really helped me get involved on campus through the years. Now that I am about to leave OU I really feel like I made an impact on campus.

A fun fact about me that everyone knows is that I am a big Kenny Chesney fan. I might have been misleading when I said I am a big fan, I truly mean his number one fan. I saw him twice this summer in two different states within two days because why not? I also enjoy other artist and music. I love collecting autographs and meeting artist, so the next musician on my list is David Cook, who I will be meeting in November.

Kenny Chesney

Source: Wikipedia

I have a pet bird. He is named after Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind. My bird is precious but has an extremely broken beak. No one thought he would live after his accident, but he is now almost 6 years old. He also knows how to whistle the song “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” He hits his head against the cage to make the clapping noise, I promise he does not have brain damage… I think.

But that is a pretty quick summary of who I am. I’m a very busy and active person. Between applying to law school, activities, class, and other commitments I am now beginning to plan a wedding! Which I am incredibly excited about.  Thanks for taking the time to read this!

                                    Personal Photo from my Engagement from August 2015

Week 1 Storytelling: The Advice that Stood the Test of Time

There was once a school with two boys, one named Michael and one named Leroy.  Michael was popular and kept up with all the trends, he was never alone and he had many friends. Leroy was uncool and he went straight home to help his mom after school.

One day Michael had a birthday party and everyone in the school was excited, except poor Leroy who wasn’t invited. Leroy sat with his mother and cried until his eyes were completely dried. His mother said to him, “Do not bother about this silly party my dear everything will be alright. Plus you don’t want to be out late because it is a school night. As I always say, early to bed, and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

Years passed and Leroy never thought twice, he always held on to his mom's advice. In school he always got enough rest to get through each day and knew he would never go astray. After a few years he began to feel content and that his time had been very well spent. The other kids would have big celebrations all through the night, but Leroy knew that although he wasn’t invited he would be alright.

The day came for Michael and Leroy to acknowledge that their time in high school was done and it was time to move on to college. Michael wasn’t ready to leave, and he did nothing but grieve. But Leroy had a plan for his life and future ahead, so he of course had nothing to dread.

                                                                Graduates of Brunswick High in 2007
                                                                                      Wikimedia Commons

Leroy and Michael went their separate ways, just like all kids do in those days. They say goodbye to the life they knew, and look ahead to begin life anew. Michael tried to go to college, but he stayed out too late at parties to ever gain the proper knowledge. Leroy however stayed dedicated, knowing one day he would be truly educated. And each morning he would arise and say his mom’s old advice to start his day, “Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”One day when Michael was 35 he was down on his luck and needed a job to pass the time, at this point in his life he didn’t even have a dime. He went to the largest company in the city and hoped he could get a job because he was witty. He knew he didn’t have a particular trade, but hoped he could maybe clean the floors to get paid. He walked down a beautiful oak hall on his way to talk to the boss of it all. He knocked on the door and a man said, “Please do come in” Michael did everything he could to muster a grin.

But when he walked in he felt anything but joy, because he was standing in front of Mr. Leroy. Michael was at a loss; the boy who was ignored in school would now be his boss. Leroy could see the surprise in his eyes, so he pointed at a plaque that stated “Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” Then Mr. Leroy turned to Michael and said “Please do not dread, for the job I have in mind for you is very simple for you to do. But take the time to memorize this phrase, and maybe some day you will do something worthy of my praise.”

Author's Note:For this story I used the nursery rhyme "Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise."I wasn't exactly sure how I wanted to use this rhyme to make a story, but to me this is solid advice. It contains an important lesson for people of all ages. Getting enough sleep and being responsible are important characteristics for being successful. With this story I tried to present this lesson in a way that could be understandable. The title was inspired by the fact that I see this rhyme as advice. For Leroy in the story, holding true to this advice that his mom gave him did stand the test of time. 

Bibliography: 
The Nursery Rhyme Book, edited by Andrew Land and illustrated by L. Leslie Brooke (1897) Web source: The Project Gutenberg EBook of the Nursery Rhyme Book by Unknown 

My Favorite Places

Although it sounds cliché, my favorite place in the entire world is the University of Oklahoma. Coming from a broken situation, this is the first place I have really been able to call my own. To me, OU is the most magical place on earth and it recently became more magical because I got proposed to there a few days ago.

                                                                               Night Seed Sower
                                                                   Web source:Wikimedia Commons

Another favorite place of mine is Lake Hefner. I have recently begun biking and this is my favorite place to take my bike. I am originally from California, so the lake reminds me of a life I used to know in California.

                                                                                   Sailing Lake Hefner
                                                                       Web source: Wikimedia Commons

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