The Republic Formed the Basis of the Government that the Government that our Government is Loosely Modeled After Was Kind of Based On

What's making it difficult to keep a journal is that my life isn't all that interesting; furthermore, as a result of all the crap I do (and work) that make it so damn uninteresting, I'm far too exhausted to expand upon my fleeting muses. I feel that chronicles of my life don't make for a great read, but removing them leaves me with little else to say. I mentioned before there's so much going on in my head that I'd like to put down on paper (or text), but that's not happening for me. I think what I need is for some particular event to hit that nerve... and I suppose statistically, that'll happen... eventually.

Today's music class was a pretty good time. Dan Visconti, the winner of an under-30 composer competition entered by more than 300 composers from 35 countries for a commission to write a piece for the Kronos Quartet (see the soundtrack to Requiem for a Dream among like 40 other recordings) to debut at Dartmouth (phew!) was our guest and there was some awesome conversation. He talked about composition using some pieces he's written as starting blocks, and the discussion took off from there. He also spent a good deal of time talking about the piece he wrote for Kronos. It was really awesome to get that insight, and I'm totally looking forward to the concert on Saturday. I'm going with Kayla (we finally agreed on a show to see together), so it should be a pretty sweet time. Then I have to write a review. Not such a sweet time.

So at the end of class, we got our first papers back, and I got my first taste of how different professors have different ideas about writing. I'll admit it wasn't the best essay ever, but my writing prof from last term would have definitely liked it more than this one. It's a lesson I was hoping I wouldn't have to learn... but I guess it's all part of the experience.

All of the above I wrote while sitting in my gov class. Let me tell you... not such a good time. It's 2 hours long, about 95 degrees in the room, and we talk about Plato's Republic pretty much the entire time. It's definitely an exercise in focusing, but still, I think I'll get a lot out of it. And, you know, it's kind of important for my major.

So I'm pretty much an idiot. For some reason, I thought the government FSP (in London) was in the spring, and so my plan was to go junior spring and then stay there for the summer and intern. But... the trip is in the fall. So now the plan is to go to London junior fall, be at Dartmouth for the winter and spring, and intern in the summer. Or maybe intern in the spring, and be here for the summer. Or maybe to the gov program in D.C., since that's in the spring. Or maybe I won't study abroad at all and take Japanese 1, 2, and 3 my junior year (instead of my senior) and intern at, say, the US Embassy in Japan my junior summer. They're all possibilities. And while I'm on the subject, I'm a little stressed out because I have to get my application in for the French language study abroad (LSA+) next winter by Feb 1st... it's a rather involved application, and there are only 20 spots on the trip, so I'm a little nervous about that because I really want to go.

So I started physical therapy yesterday, and let me tell you what a disaster that was. Because of the bus schedule and the fact that I went to the wrong town, the whole thing took me just short of 4 hours for a 50 minute session. But I've got it figured out now and I'm looking forward to being able to bike again without my knee swelling up like woah.

I got a new job, too, at Eastman's Pharmacy. (So for all you people at Aliton's, we're enemies now). It's actually owned my Mrs. Knight's son and daughter-in-law. Small world, huh? Anyway, yeah I need to raise about $5000 for the Bike & Build trip, so I'm pretty much working a lot. (I'm keeping my job for Hop Productions, too) As a side note, having grown up in the 'ville, it's kind of a nice experience being able to walk to work in 5 minutes.

I finally finished the defensive driving course online so I can be a Big Brother. I'm psyched to meet my little bro and get started with that. I'm gonna need to find some stuff for us to do, but with all the snow, it shouldn't be that difficult.

Al Sharpton was on campus today. Did I go see him? No.

I think I'm gonna be a substitute when I'm home sophomore spring. I've always wanted to teach, and that pays pretty well and might also be a nice job to have on a resume. Or I might do that part time and try to get an internship in a government office nearby, but I'll probably have only taken 3 gov courses by then, so that might not work out too well. That's a year off though, and so much can change in a year. I just thought I'd share, so all of you juniors and younger in HS can get psyched to have me as a sub next year. But I'm telling you now, I won't take any of your shit.
Yo.

While I'm talking about things in the future that have a good chance of not happening, I think I'm going to go in the Peace Corps after I graduate. The thing is, I don't feel like I'm on the same track as most people here at Dartmouth. Every time people talk about their plans, it's always Dartmouth, then grad/med/law school. I definitely want to go to grad school, but I feel that something's missing between my time here and grad school, or whatever I do after. I think that the Peace Corps could fill that void. And I just think... what an amazing experience. To see some new part of the world, work on my French, probably, or learn a new language, be responsible for something amazing... to help people. Not to mention the help with grad school programs when I'm out, the better federal employment opportunities, the people I'll meet... so, yeah. It's a serious thought. But if a lot can happen in one year, infinitely more can happen in 3. So right now it's just that- a thought.

OK so I think that should be enough for now. I'm going to eat some pop tarts and then think about doing some work before rehearsal. Good times.