i wanna & i'm gonna

gender studies grad student

[liberal-art-ist]

Foucalt and Sartre!

i’m sorry i let this question sit for so long in my inbox – it was mostly because it was making me nervous. but here it is, finally.

Foucault: A social criticism you have?this one’s easy – i can’t help but see everything through the lens of gender inequality, and bitch about Men all the time

Sartre: A freedom you wish you didn't have?i finished my liberal arts degree recently. on the one hand, i’m genuinely, deeply grateful that i’ve been able to have the kind of education that i agree with so much and that my lecturers were so committed to. but on the other, during all my 4 years, and even now, i am anxious whether i made the right choices. i’m scared that i’m not qualified in one specific discipline – i’m not feeling particularly guilty about it, as even 2 years ago i had no idea that if i had to choose now, i’d choose either history or anthropology –, that i don’t know the theories that shaped how we see the world now – while also really appreciating that my uni didn’t teach me to become a name-dropper, but to find stuff out for myself without needing to rely on dead people and their theories while solving it. but yeah, i’m really really anxious about my employability. it’s hard enough as it is for humanities majors – and i majored in a mix of humanities, so i feel even worse. i loved doing it – but i’m not sure i would do it again.

[mounak-s-deactivated20170517]

a lecturer of mine the other day said something that i can’t stop thinking about. as we were walking out of the room, he said, ‘remember, as you approach your assignments in these last few months, that writing is a gas. plan and act accordingly’. 

i had no idea what this meant, and when i asked him to explain he said something that absolutely blew my mind. 

he said, between solids, liquids and gases, a gas is the only state of matter that completely fills the vessel in which it is kept. out of these three, only a gas can entirely fill a given space - no matter it’s size or shape. 

so writing is gas, because (if you consider yourself a writer) no matter how long you’re given to write something, you will almost always find yourself writing or editing that piece of work, until the very last moment in which it is due. 

therefore, writing is a gas because fills up all the time that it is given. 

and writing is a gas because it takes up all the space it is allowed. 

[nealc25]

Studyblr photo challenge January 2017 - 18. survival kit Here are my essentials, they fit perfectly almost any bag: Passport/ ID doc -  I have it always with me, in case I’m asked for a document. Student ID Card - here in Germany you can get student discount practically everywhere, at cinema, theatre, museums, diners, even by the hairdresser Mensa Card - Even when I’m not at Uni I can eat for 1.50 euros and drink a Coffee for 80 cents at the many Student Cafeterias around Berlin. My Moleskine Agenda - there is my whole life in it. Not just my to dos, but any relevant thing/number/info.  House Key - love my cute elephant key ring. I got it for Christmas from a very special person.  My Wallet - “Money, it’s a gas, grab that cash with both hands and make a stash…” somebody would say Metro plan - To move around this BIG city (I get lost anyway)

My stationary - yes, like the most studyblrs I’m crazy about it. And when the bag is to small to carry all with me I just bring my fav fineliner. 

Mini notebook - I would feel lost without it. I need to write down any worthy thoughts / ideas in my head

Ball for foosball table - you can play it around the city. At my Uni and in many locals in Berlin you can play foosball. If you bring your own table tennis rackets you can play in park, with your own ball you can play baseball and volleyball in Tiergarten and so on. Cool, uh?

[liberal-art-ist]

I actually learned recently that we don’t have to have our ID on us!

I used to be very frustrated about this (as well as feeling quite vulnerable as a non-EU citizen in general), and thought I can just be stopped on the street anytime and would need to be able to identify myself. But, according to the Migrationsgesetz, it’s enough if the police escorts you to the place where you have your ID in easy reach. Easy (:

http://www.migrationsrecht.net/kommentar-aufenthaltsgesetz-aufenthg-gesetz-aufenthalt-erwerbstaetigkeit-aufenthaltserlaubnis-niederlassungserlaubnis-aufenthg/kommentierung-passpflicht.html

https://dejure.org/gesetze/AufenthG/48.html

[liberal-art-ist]

Hey there! I come from nealc25's blog and I wanted to ask you some stuff, if you don't mind. First is about language requirement for german universities: is it really a prerequisite for admission (my german is A1 at best)? And second, what's the application process like for international students and what was your personal experience like?

My experience with this has been very limited. I study in a small city in the southwest of Germany, and education laws and regulations are made at the federal state (Bundesland) level (and universities, even some departments also have some autonomy), therefore my Baden-Württemberg advice may be totally irrelevant for Berlin studies. 

Because I’m doing a program taught exclusively in English, I did not have to have any prior knowledge of German – I did have to take classes till I reached B1 level though. I don’t know what you mean by “international”, but as far as applying goes, there were no differences for me in the application process. You gotta submit your translated school records, sometimes a letter of motivation, yada yada. In general though, if you’re an EU-citizen, it seems pretty chill for me. If you aren’t, you need to apply for visas and health insurance and those things, but that goes easy when you already have your confirmation of acceptance/enrolment. My personal experience was that it was unnecessarily complicated… But that seems to be the general case for German bureaucracy.

Good luck!

[phdstudents]

when i’m told i should incorporate quantitative research

[liberal-art-ist]

Western Philosopher Ask Game-- put Philosophers in my inbox!

Plato: What would be your ideal ______? (choose whatever)

Aristotle: Your strongest virtue?

Epicurus: An aspect of your life that brings you great happiness? Great pain?

Aquinas: Do you believe in any deity or deities?

Hobbes: Last promise/contract you made with someone?

Descartes: Something you doubt often?

Spinoza: Something you feel that you lack?

Locke: Something you are very grateful to have learned?

Leibniz: What are you most optimistic about?

Hume: Talk about a time when your passion overcame your reason.

Smith: Who is someone that you often sympathize with?

Kant: One thing that you think should be required of every person that possesses the ability to carry out said thing?

Rousseau: A time when you personally experienced discrimination?

Hegel: A contradiction that irks you when it is committed?

Schopenhauer: What are you most pessimistic about?

Mill: The last time you tried to stop/prevent someone from suffering?

Kierkegaard: Your biggest fear regarding the future?

Marx: Your political ideology?

Nietzsche: What do you dislike most about humanity today?

Husserl: An experience you really learned from?

Russell: When was the last time you asked someone to prove something to you?

Wittgenstein: What is a belief/idea that you used to hold but now reject? Why do you reject it now?

Heidegger: What do you commonly presuppose about people when you meet them?

Ryle: How is your current relationship with your body?

Sartre: A freedom you wish you didn't have?

Foucault: A social criticism you have?

Chomsky: If you could learn another language, what would it be and why?

Rawls: Something that you feel is unfair?

[liberal-art-ist]

can anyone recommend a good Russian–English online dictionary?

[liberal-art-ist]

My silent solitary exile in Prague is wonderful

I was reading Heidegger in July, and being here on my own in a city I don’t know with no desire to make friends, I really get all that stuff about attunements and Dasein Just spent three hours watching the clouds, the changing colours of the sky as the sun sets behind our house. We don’t get any direct sun after 3pm, but in the evening there comes a moment when the windows of the building opposite reflect the setting sun onto the balcony. At 8pm the crickets start chirping

[liberal-art-ist]

help me

[liberal-art-ist]

Hi! How are you? I found your blog some time ago but never noticed you grew up in Hungary, so now I'm super happy about that because I love your tumblr and I'm from Pécs, Hungary. So, I just wanted to say hi and ask how you're doing? have a nice day!

Thank you, you too! (:

[liberal-art-ist]

I just found your blog and after reading "Ask me anything, or just say hello." I felt the incredible urge to say it. So, hello, how are you? Have an awesome day.

So kind, thank you! (:Hope you’re having a good day, too.

[liberal-art-ist]

Back from my unintended hiatus. What a spring & summer this has been!

Last time I wrote, I was still in Warsaw and it was still cold. I stayed there till mid-June – I loved it so, so much. Warsaw is a great city, and I’m longing to return soon. So much history, so much culture, so much fun! I’ve met lovely people and apart from half a handful of Erasmus friends, made mostly indigenous, Polish friends. I knew the door code to a friend’s place – I didn’t have to ring and I could just let myself in. I fell in love. 

It was a very intense time. From all the people I’ve met, I got the impression I was the only Erasmus student taking studying seriously; and so I spent most of my time either in the library, or socialising (and there was a lot of that, too!). Hence the lack of posts – too busy enjoying myself.

The weekend after I finished my exams in Warsaw, and with two essays still to write, I returned to Germany. My college has a block-system instead of a semester-system, one block being 2 months, and one semester two blocks; before going abroad I did one block, and had to do another after coming back so I wouldn’t be way too far behind with credits. This was exhausting; and coming back, adjusting back to the old life of my small, always-perfect Black Forest university town after the chaos of Warsaw was really challenging. Didn’t go that well. Hence the lack of posts – too busy pitying myself.

And after two months in Germany, I am now in Prague, doing an internship for another two months.  The work itself is not bad; but what I enjoy most about being here is that when I finish at 4-5-ish, I am done for the day – and have zero academic guilt about not studying, reading, or writing. I mostly read in those hours, or just sit on my balcony listening to music, watching the clouds. Because of my semester schedule mess this year I had no semester break, and practically had one 10 month long semester, and all of them were so busy and intense – and now I really enjoy just chilling in my own. I haven’t even made any friends yet. I have so much time… I didn’t get a travel pass yet either, and walk everywhere. Prague is so… beautiful. It’s lovely being here. 

And in 6 weeks’ time I’ll be going back to Germany to begin the last year of my BA degree! 

[liberal-art-ist]

suggestion:

when speaking of eastern european countries, “cheap” should be a non-PC term

[liberal-art-ist]

Hi! Your multilingual background intrigues me a lot. I know you speak Russian and a bit of Polish, what about Hungarian and German? ( I suppose you can German since you've been studying there but you could also be studying in English, so it appears to me a legitimate question) 🌻

Hello dear,

I’m sorry for not getting back to you for so long – I wasn’t dealing with stress particularly well and also got temporarily locked out of my account. So here we go!

Thank you for your question.

At the moment I would say that my first, or closest, language is English: I study in English and talk with almost all my friends and family in English. All my mental processes happen in English – except for counting, which I still do in Hungarian.

Hungarian is my second best language: I spent the bigger chunk of my childhood in Budapest, including primary and secondary school. But nobody in my family speaks it well, and I have lost practically all my friends from that time – so apart from keeping up with the news I don’t really get to practice it, and it’s a bit rusty now when it comes to talking about smart stuff.

I left Russia when I was 7, and ever since then I only speak it with my mother (and the occasional news and books). I would say I understand pretty much everything, but can’t converse at all apart from very practical household stuff (the kind one discusses with their mother).

Theoretically I’m at C level in German – but I don’t speak it at all… which is the SHAME OF MY LIFE. I live in Germany, all my friends are German, and I’ve got a good grip on the grammar… And somehow I still can’t get myself to start talking. I understand almost everything though, and I’m hoping that after my semester abroad I can finally muster the strength to just start. And I do love it – I was reading DeLillo’s

White Noise

recently (where the main character is a scholar of Hitler Studies), and as I was dozing off, I remember telling myself in that half-asleep semi-conscious state,

Yeah man, German is

the

perfect language

… 

As for Polish, I’m a total beginner. I understand a lot because of Russian (and the grammar is not difficult either), and I do the basic stuff at the shops and cafes. I really like it though, and will continue it when I’m back in Germany – I’m currently considering doing East European Studies for my MA, and I hope I can come back to Warsaw ASAP for an internship or something. Such a fascinating city…!

I find the concept of mother tongues very limiting, one-dimensional, and simply dated. I wouldn’t be able to call any of the above my “mother tongue,” and so I resort to “first” and “closest”.

Also, I’m not “into” languages for their own sake, and I would not learn them simply because I “find them beautiful”. To me, they are purely the means of access to cultures and histories and people.

What about you? I’d love to hear about you relation to languages!Have a great weekend, Alb. Visiting your blog is always such a pleasure – I hope you are doing well.

Hugs,

Anna

[liberal-art-ist]

My past days in the library – on the roof garden when it’s warm, inside when it’s late and dark.

[jackelizabeth]

[meta-theory-deactivated20230425]

So in the end, when one is doing philosophy, one gets to the point where one would like just to emit an inarticulate sound.

literally same Wittgenstein (via prooftheory)