Reading Notes W2: About the House Girl (Karok) Part B

Reading Notes W2: About the House Girl, Part B

About the House Girl (Karok)

• It is a story of love, romance, innocence and living happily ever after.
• The character of Patafir, a young man, tall and strong, who lives with his father and mother with no knowledge about woman.
• The character of Ifapi, a young woman, who lives with her father with shyness and hid herself and do not engage with men when they come to their house
• Both character Patafir and Ifapi, both reflect the characters of pure, virgin but willing and ready to experience love, romance and making love.
• Patafir was fascinated and continued to think about Ifapi that he ignored two young beautiful women downhill.
• Ifapi, on the other hand acts that she is sick all the time (probably a way for her to deflect her shyness from men)
• But Patafir, did not believe that Ifapi was sick and took her from her aunt to marry her.
• Ifapi did not argue, nor asked Patafir why is he taking her away from her aunt without her permission.
• Common tradition in many cultures that women are not asked or given permission to choose their husband.
• Women’s father typically decides and pick their future son-in-law because it is their tradition and culture.
• It is also tradition in many culture that future son-in-law offers gift to the women's parents as a way of payment or bribe to marry their daughter.
• Like Patafir did, he came to see Ifapi’s father to greet him and to offer the boxes of treasure he has collected as bride payment for Ifapi.
• Without Ifapi’s knowledge, Ifapi’s father was hoping that the flute player (Patafir) was the chosen one to marry Ifapi.
• It seems like, that it in an intention of Ifapi to keep herself apart from Patafir by disguise of sickness.
• So, Patafir will more curious to know her and then marry her.
• Patafir even gave her a pet name “About the House Girl”, because he never forgot the first time he saw her.

Reading Notes W2: The Creation (Maidu) Part A

Reading Notes W2: The Creation (Maidu) Part A

The Creation (Maidu)

• This is how the Native American Maidu tells the story of the Creation of the World
• Maidu legend beliefs that in the beginning there was no sun, no moon, no stars, and everywhere there was only water.
• Then Earthmaker appears, their Creator of Maidu mythology that came from above.
• Earthmaker wondered there is no land and pondered to create the land.
• Earthmaker even thought about fear of hunger.
• This is interesting how the Maidu myths correlate the relationship between nature and fear of hunger.
• Earthmaker saw a small land like a bird’s nest and think that it would be good if it were a little bigger and asked “what way can I make it a little bigger?”. He stretched it out to where the day breaks, he stretched it out to the South; he stretched it out to the place where the sun goes down; he stretched it out to the North Country; he stretched it out to the rim of the world; he stretched it out.
• The story relates how people find ways to solve problems to maximize their means of livelihood.
• Then Earthmaker started to created creatures, two by two and made them only in pairs. He told off all the lands and when he had counted them, he gave to the lands the creatures he had made. He said “this place will have this creature. Each one of you will have a place to be. These creatures will keep growing and growing while many winters come and many mornings dawn”
• Earthmaker also said “when they are done growing, they will be born. They will have young, both female and male and when these are grown, they will also have young and have many creatures”
• This mythical story is similar to the Bible, the creation of Adam and Eve by God to rule the world and Bible story of Noah’ Ark where God send a message to Noah to build a huge Ark to housed his families and two of all living creatures, both male and female and survived the 40 days of rain and flood. In which, then they will go on living and having children and different animals.
• The Earthmaker also said “every country will have a name, so everyone will know where are you going”.
• Then the Earthmaker also said “you will be one who speaks another language”.
• The story reflects to the different tribes and native language spoken and the different countries around the world and their languages spoken.
• Coyote divined and said “the earth is going to shift. Since it is flat and thin, it will be an unstable world. After the world has all been created, I shall tug on this rope from time to time, making the earth shift.

This is good example that even though the story contains supernatural elements, Maidu legend tells a true to life stories and idea that explains animals or humans do not have satisfaction and will ask for more. Characters of good and evil coincide every situation and circumstances

Technology, Week 1

To be honest, I do not know a lot about Tech Stuff such as blogging, bookmarking or even setting up a DVD to a television. So, when I found out that this class is going to use “Blogger”. I felt so “dumb” and no clue of what to do. I do not know where to begin and my anxiety level went through the roof. I asked myself, why are we not using “Canvas” as our way to communicate and answer our assignment. I “fear technology”. Any technology that has complicated instruction makes me discombobulated and perplex.

So, I took a lot of deep breaths, as I go through the reading and instructions. I felt more at ease as I go through the instruction on how to even start ‘Blogging”. My anxiety level went down from 10 to 5. I realized I cannot escape and accept that technology is now an important and integral part of our lives. We cannot go to places such as grocery stores, coffee shops, work, or school that does not have technology. You cannot go through your day without using some sort of technology. Instead of giving myself a “heart attack”. I would embrace technology as an essential part of my life, especially in this information age.

I still have my anxiety moments every time, I see “New Announcement” from the professors, but I would try to open my mind and take some deep breaths again, as I can go through our assignments and blogging. I know I will make mistakes and errors, but I know I can develop from those mistakes. I will try to navigate and keep browsing on all the assignment and projects in order for me to go through with this semester successfully.

Growth Mindset, Week 1

Where do you see yourself on the fixed-mindset/growth-mindset spectrum?

My philosophy in life and I always say to myself, if I do not try to do what other people can do, how would I know if I can accomplish it or make it. So, I think I am in the spectrum of growth mindset. Everything we do in life is a learning process. I like what Carol Dweck said “Not Yet”, it gives a person a chance to challenge themselves and process to develop. Carol Dweck said “if you give a failing grade a child, they would think they are nothing, a failure and nowhere to go and no future to look forward to”. Meaning of effort and difficulty is pointless because you already put the mindset as a failure.

Does your mindset differ based on the situation (work, home, sports, school, etc.?

Probably not, because everything we do in life, whether school, work, and home, we find different challenges every day. We try to solve a problem and we failed, we try another solution. I know sometimes we feel “dumb” and we feel that we need to give up. But at the end of the day, it is us that can better ourselves. It is us can that make great improvement through process and development.

You've been in school for at least twelve years now. What have you learned about yourself as a learner? I have learned a lot especially in nursing school, that it is sometimes it is hard to see that you are not an “A” student because you feel that you are not studying hard enough to get that “A” grade. So, I have learned to never give up and learn from our own failure and mistake.

What are your biggest challenges as you set about learning new things? Before, it is hard for me to accept failure and mistakes. We strive for perfection and to successful even though we know we need to learn new things and develop from it.

Do you think you'll be interested in learning more about the growth mindset this semester?

Yes, it would very productive because it would help me to accept that if I have fail on something, I know that it is not a failure but it is a process to develop and to better myself

Do you have any personal learning goals for this semester?

My ultimate goal for this semester is to be good on “blogging”. This is the first time I blog, and I know I made mistake but I am willing to learn from it and develop the skill on how to blog.

Any class that you are really excited about? I am excited about this class and learn about California Literature

Class you are worried about? Music, because I do not know how to play any instrument but I am willing to learn if they give me the time to develop from it.

Introduction, Week 1

My Name is Ginalyn Cecilio. I worked full time in a hospital as a Registered Nurse. I loved the work, enjoyed the interaction and seeing my patients get better. Two years ago, I realized I want to move forward on my career from bedside nursing to leadership. In order for me to accomplish this career goal, I would have to have a Bachelor Science Degree in Nursing. Last year, I had the opportunity to enrolled in a RN-BSN program and taking this class will accomplish and fulfill the requirement for me to graduate in Bachelor Science Degree in Nursing.

What do I consider to be my biggest accomplishment? I considered greatest achievement in life is having my two beautiful grown children and my loving husband of 26 years. They are my “rock” and support system. I do not think I can go through nursing school without their loving support. I remembered the sacrificed they gave, in order for me to finished nursing school. Many of you can relate that having two small children, working full time and going to school all at the same time was not a walk-in a park. They gave me all the help to go through with it and with great pride.

My husband and I enjoyed traveling, going out for dinner and love to watch movies. We just saw “Den of Thieves”, “Jumanji” and last month “Star Wars”. We tried to make time for each other, since we are family that has busy lives. We make sure we have “date night” and “dinner date” with the four of us to catch up with everyone’s school and work. We do not let a day go by without calling and saying “hi” to each other.

I forgot to mentioned I also have two adorable dogs named Hanna and Dexter. We had them since 2011 Hanna is a Pit bull terrier and she is about 6 years and Dexter is Chocolate Pit bull and he is about 5 years old. Hanna likes to play with her ball and Dexter likes to cuddle and play on the grass all day long. They are friendly, loyal, very smart and highly protective.

Lastly, families and friends describe me as funny, loud, sociable, caring and determined. I look forward to know all of you and have some fun about our California Literature.

My Favorite Place is where my husband and I spend our 25^th wedding anniversary- Paris. The city of light and Romance that many would agree is one of the most amazing places you will ever visit. The food, wine, Eiffel Tower and different museums that can take your breath away. We strolled the avenues of Champs-Élysées where the Arc de Triomphe is located. We tour The Louvre, where the famous painting by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci, “Mona Lisa”- most valuable painting in the world. Fell in love with the beauty of different monuments, nightlife and diversity. We sat on cafe's and enjoyed delicious pastries and espresso.