School and Book Club

I'm in school right now. Yes, I signed up for two classes this semester: Statistics and African Dance. Which one am I wanting to drop right now? African Dance. Although I LOVE it... I've never felt more awkward. Marc says it's my weekly fill of convulsions... which is kind of what it's like, but better... add drums and I'm in heaven.

I know I'm the oldest person in the class, and somehow my lanky white/asian hybrid body doesn't really do the music and the dancing justice. I'm pretty sure that to look REALLY good, an admired African dance dancer has to be well-endowed in the butt and the bust. I'm sadly devoid in both arenas. My arms are pretty gawky too. However, I did do this for 2 years in college. Yanvalou, the non-competitive drum and dance troupe. I felt that this background could lend to some skills. Alas, the first week and last week I've felt very humbled. Ouch. It's hard stuff! And very cardio! Aside from last week though I've kept on par with my younger, but more lazy classmates, and actually done alright. And the whole time I loved it.

Why, then, do I want to drop this course? The prof is kind of intense (borders obsessed) and wants our beginner's class to write these long, involved journal entries, blah, blah, blah, and last semester she only gave like 3 girls A's. Now, I don't care about my grade since I'm non-matriculating... but really? Journal entries? Writing reports on events? I'm just doing this for fun. We'll see if I stick with it. The other pain is that it's Monday night 6:00 to 8:30 and it just makes Mondays sooooooooooo long. After the first work day of the week I'm ready to be HOME with the hubby! Hmph.

The other class I'm taking is stats... Intermediate stats that I'm actually remembering, unlike my previous 3 stats courses in grad school where I read, learned, regurgitated for tests, and forgot. AND we're using SPSS as statistical software which is HELLO!! a million times easier than SAS, which I used at Yale. I'm amazed at how awesome it is to use. I actually WANT to do my homework because it's just a few clicks of the mouse and voila the stats are output!

On Saturday I went to book club. It was my first time although I read some of the books for last year, I just never got a chance to attend a meeting. But this time I made it! So happy. We read The Five Love Languages. First of all, I couldn't believe that I read this book. Usually not my type. But I loved it! Kind of simplistic, but I think could be useful to any relationship, old, new, in trouble, heavenly. The advice therein is to learn to speak the language of love that your spouse speaks, so that they can feel love more fully. To keep it simple, the author describes five different love languages (which one are you?):

Words of Affirmation
Physical Touch
Acts of Service
Gift Giving
Quality Time

Of course, probably all people enjoy all languages, and some people will likely not fit into just one category or any categories or be 'bilingual' but... I mean, for the basics, it's pretty smart. Marc and I discussed and he thinks he's primarily Acts of Service and then Quality Time. Me, being high-maintenance, am probably all of the above, at least that's what Marc says... and I agree! But if I had to rank them it would be Quality Time, Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch, and a tie for Acts of Service and Gift Giving. Yeah. I'm pretty much all of them. :) Marc's got his work cut out for him. But I think I'm worth it! And I love him back for it!

It was actually really helpful to me because my epiphany this weekend upon finishing the book was this: When Marc used to ask me to or always felt so happy after I would wash dishes, go grocery shopping, do laundry, etc. I felt like he was imposing gender-roles and embracing this chauvinist stereotype into our marriage. Bleh! Alarm! Alarm! The last thing I anticipated marrying was a male pig! But no... he just likes service! Even if it's helping him study med school flash cards or helping him get ready to go out with the missionaries on a busy night or whatnot. Service is the language of love that speaks to him most. Whew! Thank goodness, no male pig! Note of clarification: Marc still does most or at least a completely equal share of all household tasks. Another thank goodness!!!! I love love!