Well, that was the end of my hard-core studying. I have already started incorporating a number of breaks into my weekly study schedule. I try to studying between classes at like 1-3pm, then I generally study a few hours at night. However, like last night, I often just pass the night playing around.
I called Yumiko, one of my English students from Japan last night. She is in a two month Business English program in Vancouver right now. It sounds like the program is pretty tough for her because 1) she doesn't have a business background and 2) she needs more confidence with her English. It was really funny talking to her, though. It is wacky to just switch back and forth between English and Japanese whenever you want. It is kinda nice to be able to express yourself in one language or the other and know that the other person (aite) will always understand. Okay, I have no point here...
I have been thinking about how silly my life is. I have always had this thing about being different, boldly going where nobody has gone before, wearing purple shoes when everyone else wears black. This desire to be different started long ago. I don't think I knew why (for attention) or what it meant (that I'm liberal?) when I was in high school, but I just wanted to be a little different than the rest.
However, I have noticed at various stages that this is a rather hopeless pursuit. No matter how original one thinks he is, the fact is that many have gone before. One example being my travel to Nepal. To some people, that might sound rather adventuresome. Going where few have gone before. However, when you get there, you realize that there are many people there and many HAVE gone before. It loses the excitement (though I enjoyed Nepal immensely. On a semi-related note, I have been thinking about how hard all of the seniors in accounting are studying for the CPA exam. We sit in the same room every day 11-1pm and 3-5pm. However, every spring semester, there have been similar groups of accy students in the same rooms at the same times studying the same things. I just never realized it until I was there myself (is this profound or just stupid?).
Anyway, this kind of thought often leads to questioning about my core values/beliefs. I am really some kind of hippie at heart. I still believe in saving the earth, listening to folk music, and eating vegetarian. Am I behind my time? Should there be new causes for the 90s? Is history doomed to just go in cycles without getting anywhere?
So I read this bit about a German group called the Wandervogel. It was a club that existed around the turn of the century. They wanted to get away from the oppression of modern industrial society and escape back to nature. They loved folk music and camping trips. They swore by abstention from meat, alcohol and cigarettes. They were basically early hippies (does that have "Y"?). Kinda sad. Some of us are trying really hard to do/make something, yet its really all been done before.
So I shall get away from my life for a bit this weekend. Heading up to Chicago for a little mountain biking with my brother and friends. We may do a little dancing and then head to the auto show on Sunday. I will then flunk my exam on Monday and drop out of all accounting courses. Good day.