Astayonix

Like Mandarin, I’m not taking this course at SLA. They’re not interested in becoming accredited, and they’re too expensive otherwise. I’m currently doing a Japanese refresher course at the Berlitz Language Center, but unlike the Mandarin course, I’m doing this online. I really didn’t want to fight rush-hour that would take me 1 hour out of my way every 2 days, so I jumped at the chance to take the class from the comfort of my home after work. My teacher is in Ohio, and my 2 other classmates are in Arizona and California. It’s pretty cool to think that all of these people who are interested in learning can come together from so far away and interact well. That’s not to say that the virtual format is not without its disadvantages (e.g. teacher and student not knowing when the other is done talking and interrupting each other, technical difficulty, etc.), but they outweigh wading in traffic. This is a group class, so I can’t move at my own pace, but I’m also learning some things that I’d never been taught in my previous Japanese calsses before. Things are becoming more fluid. No doubt, I’ll be back for more after this quarter is over in March :).

I love being a member of the Bravo! Seattle Opera community. Discounts on opera season tickets (next year I need to buy better seats sigh), discounted membership to the Columbia Tower Club (still terribly expesnive though), a private room with wine and coffee to enjoy at all performances, fun events geared at 20 – 30 somethings who enjoy opera, and really interesting people I would otherwise not have met. I am so glad I joined, and I’ll be submitting my renewal packet in a few weeks, so safe to say, I think it’s worth repeating! :)

I was really happen when my gym hosted belly-dance lessons with a local belly-dance teacher. It was a pretty short series with the club and the teacher at odds after the first 3 weeks, so it was pretty short, but I enjoyed myself! We learned some basic moves and did some scarf/veil work in addition to the basics, and I surprised and how much control and what a great ab workout it is! When the series ended, I bought some scarves and videos from a local Egyptian import store near Pike Place market, and I enjoyed doing them up until I found out I was pregnant, and now the sharp, jerky movements are off limits until the baby is born, but it really is a sexy art form, and I’ll probably be using it to get my body back once I have the baby in July.