Week 10 Reading Diary: Native American Marriage Tales

This week, I am reading from the unit on Native American Marriage Tales! I am really excited about these stories because they come from a myriad of different Native American tribes and cultures. What will the differences and similarities be? This is the focus of the comparative source material, Tales of the North American Indians by Stith Thompson.

Bear Woman and Deer Woman is a story from the Lassik tribe in California. I was really intrigued by the fact that all of the characters were animals, but the husband/father who was only mentioned was human. This story was especially violent. The two wives started out presenting as friends, but then the bear wife killed and burned the deer wife. Then, in retaliation, the deer children killed the bear children! Finally, the deer children also indirectly killed the bear wife by tricking her into falling into the river. So, what is the message of this story?

Splinter-Foot Girl is from the Arapaho tribe. Parts of this tribe now live in Oklahoma! In this story, a child is born from a warrior's wound. It mentions that the first wrap for the little girl was made from panther skin. That could be an interesting story perspective! Also, this story reminds me a bit of the classic "Three Men and a Baby" since this little girl is being so dutifully looked after by all the warriors. At the end, the girl is married to a bull. So, animal representations are not exclusive to one gender in these tales!

The Rolling Head is also from a tribe with Oklahoma ties -- the Cheyenne! The story begins when a husband goes away from his family to hunt. The woman's part of the story is quite reminiscent of the Bible's first sin story because the woman is tempted by a snake when she is unclothed. Suddenly, this story becomes much more scandalous though when it is revealed that the wife is having an affair with the snake. When the husband returns, he kills the snake and his wife, then feeds his wife to his children! This was also a theme in the Bear and the Deer Woman story. Eeek!! Later, like in the first story, the children returned the favor and had the father killed. So much violence!

A very famous photo of a Cheyenne chief taken in 1904
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Reading Plans

In the coming weeks, we get the chance to explore Native American stories! Here are a few of the units that I think look really interesting!

For week 9, I think I would like to read Native American Marriage Tales! I really like that these stories come from a myriad of different tribes so I can get a different perspective on a special tradition. Also, this unit seems to have several animal narrators. Hopefully, I can take inspiration from them for my own animal storytellers in my project!

In week 10, I would like to dive into The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I have always loved epic poems and I think it would be fascinating to read a different cultural interpretation of the class epic hero. On the same train of thought as week 9's unit, I am most excited for the stories about Hiawatha'sWooing and Wedding Feast.

Hiawatha and his future wife, Minehaha
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Week 8 Blog Ideas

The first blog that really caught my eye was Matty's blog! Matty's page featured her name in clear, bold writing at the top so it was always easy to remember who was writing and to keep that in mind as I read! Also, I love how she used a serene nature photo as a blog background. The photo looks mystical and mysterious-- the perfect aura for mythology and folklore!

The next blog that I really enjoyed looking at was Ashley's blog! As a lover of libraries, Ashley's library wall theme made my heart skip a beat! It's easy to imagine each of the volumes on her background holding the stories that she writes!

Finally, I was really inspired by Kaitlin's blog! Kaitlin's theme was so creative and personal. It felt warm and inviting and it is apparent that she put a lot of work into the flow of her blog! What I loved most though was her sidebar items. Kaitlin had a link to an OU feedback survey and one of her favorite stories easily accessible under her "about me" area. I would love to integrate some kind of media like that!

I really enjoyed the chance to take a moment and appreciate and learn from my fellow classmates' blogs!

Time Strategies

So far, I have been very happy with my schedule for this semester. Although I got sick at the beginning of the semester and had some subsequent issues with it, since getting well, the timing has been great with the rest of my obligations.

The rest of the semester is certain to be hectic as graduation approaches, but I have been using the Learning Challenge tips on time management and I am confident that they will help me stay on track going forward!

In the next few weeks, I am going to try to change my reading schedule for all of my classes slightly. Usually, I do my readings on Sunday and Monday. For the final part of the semester, I'd like to spread the readings out further and do some on Saturday as well.

Time Management sometimes includes productive
 procrastination -- even more delicious as coffee!
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Week 7 Review

My favorite thing from the announcements this week was from Monday, leap day! This postcard is from 1908 and depicts the tradition that women can propose to men on February 29th! Of course, now a woman could propose whenever and to whomever she wants!

Leap day is very special to me because it is my mother's birthday. This year, she celebrated her 13th birthday!

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This week on campus is Graduation Gear Up held in the Beaird Lounge of the Union.  Seniors can order their caps and gowns, stoles, announcements, and senior photos! It's also a great place to learn details about graduation ceremonies.

It will be held Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10am to 6pm.

Week 7 Famous Last Words

It is so nice to get the chance to look back and think about the week that has passed before beginning the new one!

This week in class, I got the chance to read from both the African stories unit and the European stories unit. All of my reading focused on fairytales and folktales. I found it so interesting to compare and contrast the themes and lessons within the different cultures' stories. I am excited to read more folktales from other areas to see if the theme and moral similarities continue!

I was sad to not be able to complete a storytelling post this week, but I am excited to start writing for my storybook this week, especially as I prepare to fly to Australia later this week! I have especially enjoyed doing more research on aboriginal culture so that I can better understand and appreciate the source stories for my own storytelling in the future. 

Luckily, this past week brought a lot of peace to my concerns about other classes. I finally got my honors research arranged! I will be helping a professor research for his upcoming book on the history of Rome! Since I studied abroad there, I am hoping that some of my first-hand cultural experience will be of help in the research process. Now, I am ready to go to graduation gear up this week to order my cap, gown, and honors hood!

It's such a busy and important semester, but I am excited about tying up all the loose ends  and enjoying the weeks left here at OU!

The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge -- I will see these in less than a week!
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Week 7 Tech Tip: Pinterest Board

I have been a huge fan of Pinterest for the past few years. However, I recently decided that I had not taken the time to really use it as a proper curation space. My boards had become a random amalgamation of things I pinned years ago and a few liked items from more recent days. So, I decided to make a completely new page essentially by recreating more fittingly categorized boards filled with things I actually could use and enjoy. The problem is, I had not made a new board in over 5 years!

After using the tech tip and spending many hours curating, I have brand new boards and a much happier Pinterest page! Here is one of my new boards!

Learning Challenges: Time Management

This week for a Learning Challenge, I looked for information about time management. I cannot believe that my final semester of undergrad is almost halfway complete. Earlier, I made a list of everything that has been weighing on my mind that needs to be done before the end of the semester. I have a bad habit of letting the big things make me feel so ill with stress that I have trouble focusing on the little things. Sometimes, that leads to procrastination! That's why I found this image on the Learning Challenges blog so hilarious. When I procrastinate, I like to do what I call "productive procrastination." So, instead of doing the paper that I'm nervous about, I might do my laundry, send important emails, or catch up on current events -- much like the person in the graphic below. While these are all good things to do, time management would say that they could wait until after that important paper is finished. So, this week, I'm going to try my best to challenge myself to get ahead in my courses and extra curricular activities so that I can have a stress free spring break! 

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Week 7 Growth Mindset: Inside the Mind of a Curious Child

This week for Growth Mindset, I read an article by Maanvi Singh called "What's Going On Inside the Brain of a Curious Child?"

The article was based around the growth mindset idea that, when a person is curious, they will also be engaged. That's why we so enjoy reading for fun or spending hours reading wikipedia articles but are hesitant to complete even a page of a forced article for an uninspiring course.

To test the theory that curiosity encouraged long-term learning, scientists took MRI scans of children who had rated trivia questions based on how curious they were as to the answer. They found that, on questions that they were curious about, the answers lit up the pleasure centers of the brain. Learning was enjoyable! The dopamine released in the brain then aids learning. The interesting twist was that students who were already curious also did better in learning non-interesting things. So, if educators and caretakers encourage curiosity, it follows that students will not only have a love of learning, but will also be more effective learners!

Growing up, I was lucky to have this sense of curiosity valued in my home environment. Every question was valuable!  Of course, not all children have this opportunity at home. I think it is essential that growth mindset and curiosity be instilled at an early age so that students have a strong desire to continue learning -- however they like -- beyond required school.  This article has certainly reminded me about how fun it is to be curious about not only my studies but also the little things around me!

The Curious Brain, as featured in the article
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Week 7 Reading Diary: Europa's Fairy Book

Earlier this week, I read selections from Lang's Fairy Book. I was excited to take a look at some European stories from Europa's Fairy Book by Joseph Jacobs after reading some excellent stories by my classmates on European folklore this week! Here are a few thoughts on my favorites from the section!

The Cinder-Maid:
I came into this sincerely hoping that it would be the base story for Cinderella! It starts out promisingly with the king declaring a ball to be held for all women of noble birth. But was Cinderella noble? Luckily, the story clarifies that her father was noble. In this version, however, her father is alive and condones the awful treatment by the stepmother and stepsisters! How awful! Also, instead of a fairy godmother, a little bird led her to discover her beautiful items for the ball while she was near her mother's grave. Wow, this is eerie and sad! Her shoe gets stuck, not in haste, but by the prince's design. In the search for the girl whom the shoe fit, the prince found that it fit the step sisters' feet -- because they cut off their toes!!! Luckily, the father FINALLY owned up to Cinderella being his daughter. The prince said that since she was of noble birth, they could be married even despite her current lifestyle. This is a much stranger happily ever after than I am used to!

A servant of the prince pouring honey so that Cinderella's shoe will get stuck
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The Language of Animals:
I had no idea that this story would have so many references that would later become Snow White! Jack went to school for several years and learned how to interpret the language of different animals. This angered his father and his father ordered that Jack be killed by a robber. Are all fathers in this book just terrible? Did the author have an issue with his own father? Like in Snow White, the robber warns Jack and brings back an animal heart to the father instead of Jack's heart -- whew! Then, in a twist reminiscent of Joseph from the Bible, Jack gains great power and later forgives his parents who do not recognize him.

Week 7 Reading Diary, Continued: Lang's Fairy Books

Today I am finishing up African Stories from Lang's Fairy Books! These stories are from The Violet Fairy Book, The Lilac Fairy Book, and The Orange Fairy Book by Andrew Lang.

Hassebu:
This begins as another mother and son. Hassebu does not learn any kind of work, but reads his father's one remaining medicine book. One day, he goes along with wood cutters and finds honey. The workers agree to share the profits with him, but they betray him. Oh no! His mother thought Hassebu was dead. His betrayers even brought her food every day. Luckily, the boy survived on the honey he gathered and explored the hole. Thanks for a scorpion, he finds a wiggle hole out. The boy came to a palace and slept until being gently awoken by a snake king. Is the snake a symbol for good in this mythology? The snake is afraid that the boy will later do him harm. This seems to be a theme.Sadly, it ends badly for the snake and without justice for the mean workers! How could that be different?

The Heart of a Monkey:
Sharks near the town, oh no! I am already wary of where this story will go.  However, there are now also moneys, so I am content. The monkey is kind and shares fruit with one of the sharks, but I am suspicious that the shark intends to eat more than fruit! The shark convinces the monkey to come see the ocean and acts like he knows where they are going. uh oh! Apparently the shark king needs a monkey heart. Luckily, the monkey is cunning...although still in the middle of the ocean! After getting back, the monkey says he is not a Washerman's Donkey. That reminds me of the washerman in the Ramayana! Also, Scheherazade with the story in a story!

Makoma:
An incredibly skilled child challenges the strong men in town to jump into crocodile infested waters. When no one else did, he jumped in himself! In herculean montage speed, he kills the crocodiles and turns into a grown man. This is crazy! Everyone must have been shocked! Then, he goes on to challenge every great thing he meets, hit them with his hammer, and shrinks them to keep in his satchel. But why? Ultimately, he lets them all free after being declared a hero, but his ability is challenged by a swamp monster once. What if he hadn't freed all of them before this? Or what if he had a tool different than a hammer?

The clever monkey on the shark
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Week 7 Reading Diary: Lang's Fairy Book

This week, I am reading African stories originally from The Crimson Fairy Book by Andrew Lang. I am excited for these because they come from a myriad of African traditions!

Motitakita:
An ill woman gets better once her husband brings her sweet water. However, he is spiteful of her requests even though she was near death! So, when he asks for water, he is equally demanding. The woman meets a monster in the lake and promises her child in exchange for her own life and the water. Luckily, the child is a magician and can outsmart them both! Wait, what??

The baby asks some magic bones what to do. Is this a common thing? The bones advise that he make all the local babies look like him so the ogre will be confused -- smart! The original baby then transforms into a mouse so the waiting ogre can't take him. But the mother persists in her deal making! In the end, the ogre mistakes the father for the baby and the father is eaten. Serves him right for being mean about the water?

Jackal and Spring:
The animals have an interesting don't work/don't benefit political arrangement so they need a guard to make sure that the jackal doesn't drink from the well. In the end, only the tortoise can guard it -- not the rabbit or hare. Is this tied to the tortoise and hare story that is more familiar?

Adventures of a Jackal:
There is so much in this story! Mainly, I wondered what the hedgehog was thinking throughout this whole crazy adventure. Plus, why did the jackal make bad shoes for the panther? Was the hedgehog afraid that the panther would do something mean to him too?

The mother meeting the monster
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