School has started and, true to how the world should be, it's suddenly much cooler. Knowing Utah, it's not likely to stay that way, but I've been enjoying it while it lasts.
The hard drive on our laptop is kaput. Lovely. This also explains why I feel so disconnected from the world (no computer, no TV. You mean if I want to know what's going on, I have to go to the library?!)
I have a Dane AND a Fin(n -anyone know the proper spelling for a Finnish person?) in my new class. Huzzah!
My attempts to take German 2010 (attempts that were foiled by my department last year) have been foiled once again. Surprise! I have to teach during German twice a week. Thank goodness for auditing. Alas, the total price for books for the lone class = 226.00. And there are no used books to be found since it's a new edition. Down with the publishing industry!
Did I tell you all I now have chickens? Pictures proving their ugliness will be coming as soon as my computer is back in order. I can't wait.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
see vs. meet
The other day I was talking to a friend about her 2 week old baby (we'll call her Bertha) and she asked me "when are you going to come meet Bertha?" There was something very strange to me in that question. Can you guess what it is?
Keep thinking...
I was surprised by her asking me to come meet her baby (did you guess right?). I was expecting her to ask me when I was going to come see her baby, which is what I was accustomed to hearing, not meet.
When I hear the verb meet, I think of becoming acquainted with someone. To me, that implies equal acquainting between people. A baby, in my opinion, although she may have the beginnings of her own personality, is not yet cognizant enough to become acquainted with anyone.
In my curiosity, I asked my mom what she would say (without telling her about meet), and she used the verb see. When I used a sentence in this way with meet, she looked at me funny...which leads me to wonder if this is a trend among 20-30ish women (and men?). But is it regional? I have no idea. I've heard many of my friends use meet, but then again, most of those with babies live in Utah right now.
I was also thinking that this might say something about the general feeling towards babies these days...please bear in mind that I have no babies and don't recall what it was like for mothers 30 years ago, but I think younger women are more likely to feel like their baby is a real, unique person right when she's born than women of the previous generation. I think babies used to just be, well, babies, whereas now they're this miracle of a human that I (well, not I, but you know what I mean) produced in this very baby-centered culture.
Have you heard men or women (or both) use meet? What would your mom say? What have you heard/what would you say?
Keep thinking...
I was surprised by her asking me to come meet her baby (did you guess right?). I was expecting her to ask me when I was going to come see her baby, which is what I was accustomed to hearing, not meet.
When I hear the verb meet, I think of becoming acquainted with someone. To me, that implies equal acquainting between people. A baby, in my opinion, although she may have the beginnings of her own personality, is not yet cognizant enough to become acquainted with anyone.
In my curiosity, I asked my mom what she would say (without telling her about meet), and she used the verb see. When I used a sentence in this way with meet, she looked at me funny...which leads me to wonder if this is a trend among 20-30ish women (and men?). But is it regional? I have no idea. I've heard many of my friends use meet, but then again, most of those with babies live in Utah right now.
I was also thinking that this might say something about the general feeling towards babies these days...please bear in mind that I have no babies and don't recall what it was like for mothers 30 years ago, but I think younger women are more likely to feel like their baby is a real, unique person right when she's born than women of the previous generation. I think babies used to just be, well, babies, whereas now they're this miracle of a human that I (well, not I, but you know what I mean) produced in this very baby-centered culture.
Have you heard men or women (or both) use meet? What would your mom say? What have you heard/what would you say?
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