My daughter is preparing to attend my alma mater, BYU, this fall. I thoroughly enjoyed college, which probably explains why I am a professor, and all of this preparation has made me jealous.
She is enrolled in the Freshman Academy (which the BYU website describes as "groups of students who take several classes together, live near each other, and work with faculty and peer mentors to become outstanding scholars, citizens, and disciples of Jesus Christ"), and her group recently received a summer reading assignment for significant portions of the Qur’an. Next week, we are having lunch with one of my law school colleagues, Asifa Quraishi, who teaches Islamic Law, so that we can discuss the readings. (Thanks, Asifa!)
At the end of August, we will drive to BYU, and my daughter will enroll in a one-week course as part of the Late Summer Honors Program. She is taking a class called "Waka Waka! Becoming a Japanese Poet, No Japanese Required." From the course description: "Waka, literally meaning Japanese poem, is a 31-syllable poetic form from which all Japanese poetry developed. Waka were first composed, before the advent of writing in Japan to celebrate victories in religion, battle, and love! We will study poetics as well as compose our own poetry based upon Japanese models while mastering the basics including structure, diction, and content."
Once the semester begins, she will be taking a class in ancient civilizations from Egyptologist Wilfred Griggs, whom I remember from my time at BYU because he was in charge of an important Egyptian exhibition that came to campus. She also has a class devoted entirely to Mozart.
Last week, she was discovered by her new roommate, and they have been emailing. My daughter wants to plan decorations for their room. By the way, she is living in the same dorm complex where I lived when I was a student, which makes me feel old, but all the more nostalgic.
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1. Posted by Francis Pileggi on July 31, 2006 @ 10:20 | Permalink
Congratulations to you and your daughter. It sounds like she will be receiving a wonderful education.
2. Posted by Jeff Lipshaw on July 31, 2006 @ 10:59 | Permalink
Congratulations, Gordon. My son is entering his second year at my alma mater, Michigan. Word of advice: those historic spots on campus where you did this or this or this or that? They don't care.
3. Posted by KipEsquire on July 31, 2006 @ 12:20 | Permalink
"Waka Waka! Becoming a Japanese Poet, No Japanese Required."
I had no idea that Fozzy Bear was a Mormon (or Japanese, for that matter).
;-)
4. Posted by Gordon Smith on July 31, 2006 @ 13:59 | Permalink
Thanks, Francis.
Jeff, I have noticed that already, and we haven't even gotten to the best stories!
Kip, We have been having great fun with the words waka waka. Reminds me how one of my roommates taught me to count to 10 in Japanese and we would pretend to argue. He would say something in Japanese, then I would scream "1-2-3!" Then he would say something else, and I would respond, "4-5-6!"
I can't imagine why my daughter is bored with my college stories ...
5. Posted by PK on August 1, 2006 @ 7:44 | Permalink
It's a great school! Congratulations...
6. Posted by Ben on August 2, 2006 @ 12:49 | Permalink
She's signed up for "The Pen and the Sword" isn't she. That's an excellent excellent class. I preach it to all and sundry. Consequently, my freshman brother, two kids from his home ward, my sophomore brother, and a kid from my Book of Mormon class are all signed up.
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