The
Polyglot
TCU Department of Modern Languages & Phi Sigma Iota Welcome to this year’s edition of The Polyglot, the newsletter by and about the adventurous and devoted students of the Department of Modern Language Studies. Having taken on the role of Chair of the department in the Fall 2013, I am excited to introduce this newsletter, which highlights the commitment and involvement of our students. We thank the members of Phi Sigma Iota, International Foreign Language Honor Society, for taking responsibility for the content and production of The Polyglot. Readers will learn how the department students participated in numerous events and programs in order to live and experience other languages and cultures. As you read The Polyglot, you will see that we have creative students who are committed to the global mission of the university, and are ambassadors for TCU abroad and locally. The highlight of the year in the department was the TCU Language and Culture Fest, an extraordinary inter-disciplinary celebration of the languages and cultures taught at TCU. Produced in collaboration with the Department of Spanish and Hispanic Studies, the festival involved students, faculty, and individuals from across the campus and from the Dallas-Fort Worth Community. With the hard work and organizational skills of professors Jeff Todd and Komla Aggor, the festival was a great success. Lasting four days in September, the festival featured sessions on cultural traditions that included food, music, dance, traditional dress, and film. Other sessions focused on academic subjects such as the importance of language and cultural knowledge in business, employment, internships, and study abroad opportunities. Students and faculty also participated in a song and poetry slam, exhibits in the library, and a theatrical music and dance production depicting the continents of the world. The opening event of the festival featured a performance of professional Chinese musicians playing traditional instruments to complement the address by keynote speaker, Rob Schmitz, of the
Fall 2013 to Spring 2014
China bureau for Marketplace on National Public Radio. A huge success, the festival was an example of the energy, enthusiasm and hard work of the students, faculty, and staff involved in the study of foreign languages and cultures and drew the interest and participation of everyone on campus. In other department news, during the spring semester, we hosted the annual conference of the South Central Association for Language Learning Technology (SOCALLT). During the meeting, a large contingent of scholars and faculty from several institutions in the south central region of the United States participated in many sessions held on campus. Thanks go to Professors Marie Schein and Scott Williams for their work on organizing the conference. Some of this same energy is apparent in this year’s Polyglot, which features updates on the activities of five language clubs (Ensemble en français, Italian, Japanese, and German Clubs, and La Mesa Hispanica), and a story about a service-learning project of TCU Italian students working with local high school students preparing to travel to Italy through the Fort Worth Sister Cities organization. In addition, three inspiring stories recount our students’ study abroad experiences in Florence, Buenos Aires, and Japan. On the creative side, one student has written a beautiful poem in Spanish, and, lest we forget the value of the ancient origins of the languages we study and teach, Kevin Claunch’s piece on studying Latin and the importance of the legacy we leave, is an inspiration to all. Finally, in more news about the Department, there is a profile of our new professor, Dr. Kaori Furuya in Japanese. I hope you enjoy reading this edition of The Polyglot—I know our students will inspire you. Dr. Sharon L. Fairchild Chair, Department of Modern Language Studies
Table of Contents Introduction 1 Dr. Sharon Fairchild
Department News 3
Phi Sigma Iota Italian Club Ensemble en Franรงais German Club La Mesa Hispรกnica Japanese Club Take Your L2 to the Next Level Dr. Kendra Santamaria Welcome, New Faculty
Study Abroad 8
Florence, Italy, October 2013 Kelly Allen Living in Florence Rachel Jenkins Snapshots of a Summer Ava Lindstrom Multicultural France Dr. Marie Schein
Student News & Art
Fort Worth Sister Cities Ashley Madonna Photography Across Japan Christine Muir Language & Culture Fest Natalie Alberto Lessons from Antiquity Kevin Claunch Poetry Alejandra Rodriguez
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Editing, Design, and Layout Megan Doyle Faculty Adviser Dr. Robin Wright Proofreading Natalie Alberto
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Department News Phi Sigma Iota
Rebecca Royal, president
Hello and welcome to the 2013/2014 edition of The Polyglot! My name is Rebecca Royal and I’m the current president of the TCU chapter of Phi Sigma Iota, one of the oldest chapters out of about 250 in the United States, Mexico, and France. Phi Sigma Iota, founded in 1922, is an international foreign language society dedicated to honoring academic achievement in fields related to foreign language, literature, and culture. We also hope to spread information on foreign languages and university programs in hopes of getting more people interested in the exciting and interesting variety of languages and cultures in the world. As a chapter, we host movie nights every semester to encourage students to expand their knowledge of foreign film and culture. This past fall, we also helped with TCU’s first ever Language and Culture Fest, a three-day event spotlighting cultural traditions taught at TCU and academic sessions on the importance of foreign language and knowledge of cultures. One of our premier projects every year is The Polyglot. Every spring Phi Sigma Iota, in conjunction with the Department of Modern Languages, publishes The Polyglot as a way to showcase students’ experiences in foreign language, literature, and culture. We are incredibly excited to be able to publish so many creative and fascinating articles, stories, pictures, and poems through a worldwide perspective. This issue of The Polyglot includes many wonderful
submissions from students with experiences in a variety of languages and countries. As this introduction wraps up, I would like to thank Megan Doyle, vice president of Phi Sigma Iota, for all of the time and hard work she put into making sure The Polyglot was pulled together this year. This project would not have been able to happen without her! I’d also like to thank Robin Wright, instructor of Italian at TCU and our adviser, and everyone who submitted their articles, stories, pictures, and poems to the magazine. And of course, thank you for picking up a copy of The Polyglot. I know you will enjoy and be inspired by all of the amazing things we have collected. Happy reading!
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Italian Club
Sarah Shipman, president
The goal of Italian Club is to celebrate all aspects of Italy, including the language, culture, and traditions. Activities on- and off-campus seek to expose students to the Italian language and culture. In the Fall 2013 semester, Italian Club hosted a film night to explore the tradition of La Befana, which is celebrated throughout Italy as part of the winter holiday season. And of course, Italian food is always served! Other past events include attending the opera in both Fort Worth and Dallas, touring the Kimbell Art Museum to view Italian artwork, and holding Italian conversation hours to practice the language over a nice cup of caffè. Additionally, the club has participated in community service activities. Members of Italian Club have volunteered to teach local culinary students basic Italian before their trip abroad. The club also sponsored three children in Child Protective Services this Christ-
mas through their adopt-a-child program in order to give them the clothes and gifts they need and deserve. Members can be spotted around campus wearing their 2013-2014 Italian Club t-shirts featuring Romulus and Remus—the symbol of Rome. Italian Club has many Italian Minor members, but any student with an interest in the language or culture is welcome to join.
Ensemble en Français The purpose of Ensemble en Français is to promote the French language and its significance in Francophone countries all over the world. Students can come together to learn more about French history and culture by participating in a variety of events throughout the semester. The organization offers everything, from cultural awareness programs to international guest speakers. Ensemble en Français members also enjoy fun events such as French cheese tastings, foreign film viewings, and Pétanque tournaments in the Commons. This year Ensemble en Français was a part of the first ever Language and Cultural Festival at TCU. The organization participated in career-focused panels and brought in guest speaker Justin Colvard, a TCU ’09 alumni who has travelled multiple times to French-speaking West Africa to volunteer for an NGO. Students who are interested in learning to speak the language can participate in group discussions to strengthen their communication skills. Ensemble members also have the op4
Serena Silvan, president
portunity to learn more about study abroad programs in Francophone countries from students who have completed these programs. Membership in the organization is not only open to French majors and minors, but also any student interested in learning more about French language and culture and its international prevalence.
German Club
Laura Ruiz-Roehrs, president
German club is dedicated to exploring and embracing interests in German language and culture. This is primarily a social and cultural organization, with events such as dining out at German restaurants, attending German festivals, and holding our very own on-campus film series. Our most popular German club events and outings are held during the fall semester due to German-influenced traditions during those months. Most years, our adventures begin with an all-day trip to one of Texas’ many Oktoberfests. Whether it is held in South Texas, where they like to call it Wurstfest or in our backyard at the Addison Oktoberfest, we enjoy many of these South German September traditions (yes, Oktoberfest is held in September). Such events promote German language and culture through polka music and dancing, wearing drindl and lederhosen, and, of course, the delicious German food. Later in the semester, many of our German club students take a break from studying for their finals by driving to the Arlington Christmas Market and volunteering. This has been an annual tradition of community volunteer work, since Arlington
La Mesa Hispánica
held its first Christkindlmarkt, or German Christmas Market, in 2011. Besides Oktoberfest and Christkindlmarkt, German club is devoted to on-campus events to further stimulate German language and culture. German club provides a great place to meet new friends and practice the language through films, dining, museum-going, and game nights. Help us grow with new ideas and new people by inviting your friends to join!
Caleigh Prewitt, president
The primary purpose of La Mesa Hispánica on TCU’s campus is to create fellowship and community among students studying Spanish. Our meetings and activities combine both linguistic and cultural education events that focus on community involvement and outreach. We hold events that allow students who are either Spanish majors/minors or are simply interested in Spanish language or Hispanic culture. Some of the social events we have held this year include Spanish scrabble board game night and Spanish movie night. We have also had the opportunity to participate in a number of educational events, such as the TCU Language and Culture Fest and Dr. David William Foster’s
lecture entitled “The State of Latin American Literary Studies Today.” We aim towards creating events that expose students to a wide variety of Hispanic cultures and provide students an outlet to practice speaking Spanish.
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Japanese Club
Adaria Spears, co-president
Japanese club is a recently created intercultural organization dedicated to the appreciation and education of Japanese culture. We hold events throughout the semester, with activities planned around what is going on in the area at the time. Past activities include a trip to the Japanese Cultural Festival held by the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens, learning how to make rice balls known as onigiri, helping out at the Chinese New Year Festival held by Kappa Lambda Delta Sorority and Asian Student Association, and screening of Japanese films such as Howl’s Moving Castle and Twilight Samurai. Currently, meetings for the club are held bi-weekly on Fridays from 2-5 in Scharbauer 4015. Meetings do not require members to be present the whole time, though it is recommended. Future plans include participating in Culture week by combining various Japanese Festivals into one, more film screenings, sushi and rice
ball making, a trip to Asian supermarket Super H-Mart, and anything else that members would like. The club is open to the members’ ideas, and we try to find many ways to further the appreciation and participation of Japanese culture.
Take Your L2 to the Next Level My students often ask me how to improve or maintain their current level of foreign language proficiency outside of the target language country. My response is to read in the second language (L2). Once you have at least two semesters of foreign language behind you, you have developed a basic vocabulary and a basic understanding of the grammar that underlies L2 sentence structure. To move beyond that level, you need to internalize more complex grammatical structures in a meaningful context and develop a more profound vocabulary. There is no better way to do that than to read for pleasure in your L2. While you focus on meaning, your brain will be absorbing the L2 in its purest native form. Children learn between 2,000 and 4,000 words per year in their native language, but the only way for adult L2 students to acquire this many new words each year is with L2 reading outside the classroom. Reading improves structural awareness and knowledge, writing skills, and aural/oral skills over time. Most importantly is that it is fun. When something is fun, you do it more often, and you will excel in your L2 the more you read. 6
Dr. Kindra Santamaria
Your goal when reading should be fluency (reading rapidly and automatically), so you want to pick L2 texts that are at or just above your current level, reading effortlessly so that you can focus on the content rather than look up every other word. I encourage you to begin with L2 journal articles; our library has a nice collection both online and in print. Pick a text that is rather short (about 300 words) to build up your confidence. Happy reading!
Welcome, New Faculty Dr. Kaori Furuya
interview by Katherine A. Rodriguez
Kaori Furuya was born in the Yamanashi Prefecture, just south of Tokyo, and has lived as an American citizen in New York, Michigan, and now in Texas. Originally Furuya-sensee desired to be an English teacher in Japan, but one pivotal visit to the US drove her to studying linguistics in the US. Her role as a Japanese teacher to English speakers began in New York. She previously taught in four different universities during her stay in New York City: Baruch College, followed by New School University, Fashion Institute, and lastly Japan Society. She moved to TCU for two specific reasons. The first: a ravenous desire to travel; she wished to know what the South part of the United States was like compared to the North. The second: she had never taught at a private Christian university
and felt compelled to surround herself with a smaller and more connected student body. Furuya-sensee has an intense love for people and teaching; she compares her role as a professor to that of a farmer planting seeds, who steadily watches her field grow. Furuya-sensee also loves playing tennis and fishing.
Dr. Gwen (Guangyan) Chen Dr. Gwen Chen is TCU’s newest adjunct professor of Chinese. She currently teaches Chinese language, culture, and literature, and she has high hopes for the future of the Chinese department here. From the beginning, she felt a connection with her students. “I liked to talk with the students, be with the students, and soon I would feel happy with my students’ achievements. I would feel a sense of achievement as they spoke to me in Chinese.” Dr. Chen feels a certain devotion to her students that drives her love of teaching and inspires her hopes for the TCU community. “I would love to see Chinese culture more familiar and visible here.” She expressed interest in Phi Sigma Iota, and hopes to plan events around Chinese culture and education. She cannot wait to see the program grow here at TCU.
interview by Megan Doyle
Gwen Chen grew up in a small town in mideastern China, near Shanghai. Her mother and her sister were both teachers, and Dr. Chen went to Normal University near her hometown to pursue the same dream. She completed her doctorate at Ohio State University, one of the few American universities that offer a PhD in Chinese pedagogy. In addition to teaching, her hobbies include reading and jogging through her community.
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Study Abroad Florence, Italy, October 2013 I always hear people say that their one regret from college is not taking a semester to study abroad, so I have known for a long time it was something I was determined to do. I had been to Europe once before on a two-week trip in high school, but being abroad for an entire semester is a completely different experience. I am currently in Florence, Italy: I pass the Duomo every day to get to class, my apartment is across the street from the museum housing Michelangelo’s David, and I have the opportunity to spend my weekends in whatever city, or country, I choose. It’s one thing to visit a new place during a short vacation, but it’s something else to have to learn how to work within the framework of another culture and become part of their society. I’ve found that I learn something new every day: about Florence, about the world, and about myself. For anyone thinking about taking a semester to study abroad, I would tell them not to hesitate any longer. To make this experience happen, I had to take a class during “Maymester” and an online course over the summer. When I return to TCU in the spring, I will be enrolled in six classes instead of five. It is a lot to juggle, but I can’t imagine giving up this semester in Florence just to avoid summer courses or to maintain a normal 15-credit-hour schedule. When I was homesick for Colorado in summer or when I really wanted to go to the pool instead of writing a paper, all I had to do was think about the space these classes provided in my schedule—space that I was able to fill with an Italian cooking class (which is by far my favorite class this semester). My life would be so different right now if I was in Fort Worth: not worse by any means, just different. In the short time I’ve been here, I can already see noticeable changes in myself: not only in the way I view the world, but also in how I participate within it. One of the best things about studying abroad— and what has impacted me the most—is the ability to travel anywhere I choose. Florence has been a perfect location from which I can reach several cities and countries for short weekend trips. My favorite adventures have been to the smaller places that no one ever really 8
Kelly Allen
talks about: Lucca, Siena, and San Gimignano just to name a few. It’s easy to get caught up in visiting the main tourist destinations: studying abroad makes them so easy to see that it would be crazy to skip them. However, if I could only offer one piece of advice to other students, it would be to remember to explore the places that are off the well-beaten path. I recently spent a few days in Füssen, Germany, a small town south of Munich that I didn’t even know existed until a couple of weeks ago. One of the best days of my fall break was spent visiting the two castles here and riding the Tegelberg gondola to the top of a mountain for breathtaking views. The big cities are definitely worth a visit, but it would be a shame to miss out on places like Füssen, places that overflow with both character and culture.
As I think about how my life will be different once I return to the states, I am struck by the realization of how little exploring I do when I am at home. In both Texas and Colorado I tend to stick to the places that are familiar to me, organizing my routes around what I know and avoiding what I don’t. By contrast, this semester abroad has been all about new experiences and new places; I would be insane to spend my free time sitting in my apartment perusing facebook or watching television when I have a whole city outside practical-
Living in Florence
ly begging me to wander through it. Studying abroad forces you to try new things and to push your boundaries, a concept that I often forget about when I am in the US. I hope that when I find myself back at home in Colorado, and eventually at TCU for school, I will not lose the spirit of adventure that I have acquired here. If anything, I hope that it only continues to grow: that I can cultivate this new seed of curiosity throughout the rest of my life.
Rachel Jenkins
My study abroad experience in Florence, Italy truly opened my eyes to the depth and endearing nature of the Italian culture. Once I overcame the initial culture shock, I was inundated with an unending list of things to see and to learn. Living in Florence was like living in a history book. Famed works of art and sacred churches existed just down the street from my apartment. My Italian professor challenged us to explore life through the Italian language and immerse ourselves as fully as possible into the culture. In all my classes I learned about the regional diversity of Italy, and I observed this first-hand in my visits to other cities. I also gained superior insight from talking with locals who shared their perspective on what it’s like to truly be Italian. I have always loved the idea of Italian
life; but now I love Florence like it is my own home. In a way, it is. I lived, learned, and grew there. After some time I was able to overcome the tourist scene and truly live at a local level. My experiences there fostered my communication and analytical skills in a way that no TCU class ever could. It was certainly an enlightening period in my life, and one that I wish had never ended. The positive is that I can now live my life as an American with a much broader perspective. Living in Florence taught me to take things slowly and to truly enjoy the moment, whether I’m eating a long meal with my friends or strolling alongside the Arno in the middle of the afternoon. I learned to mindfully observe everything around me, because that’s how the best memories are made. 9
Snapshots of a Summer
Ava Lindstrom
I had the fortunate opportunity to study abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina for five weeks of my 2013 summer. My time spent abroad, practicing my Spanish, bestowed invaluable memories and countless photo opportunities. These four photos are just the highlights of a cultural experience I will never forget. Top, left: In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, immigrants who came to Buenos Aires typically found housing on the outskirts of the city called los arrabales. A common set-up included small apartments for each family around a block, making a large courtyard space that all families shared. Today, tourists visit this courtyard in the neighborhood of La Boca, but the shop owners call this place home, and hang their clothes out to dry just as immigrant families once did. Bottom, left: The people of Argentina love to discuss their politics and celebrate their political history. Our study abroad group was fortunate enough to be in the country during the nation’s independence day, May 25. Thousands of people poured into the streets and the Plaza de Mayo in front of the Casa Rosada to celebrate the nation’s independence and wave flags and banners for the political movements they support. Bottom, right: No picture can really give due justice to what my study abroad trip meant to me. Additionally, no photograph can sufficiently capture this moment at Iguazú falls. Though my breath was taken away by the sheer majesty of this view, I could barely whisper to myself, “This is it. This is life. I am alive, and this moment is wonderful.” I have never felt 10
more fortunate in my life for the opportunities I have been given. This is what Study Abroad is all about. Top, right: Transit is an enormous part of daily life in Buenos Aires. The city stretches on for miles, and to get from point A to point B you may have to use the Subte (subway system, short for subterráneo), a bus, a train, and then walk a few more blocks until you’ve made it. It was certainly common for me to realize that I had no idea where I was. It felt highly ironic that DONDESTÁS? (translation: where are you?) was painted along a crosswalk; it was symbolic of the time I spent wandering through the city.
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Multicultural France In June 2013, ten students of French and anthropology participated in a new study abroad program, Multicultural France: Citizenship, Identity, and Nationalism, and traveled to Montpellier, France to study migration and immigration to France through historical, political, social, and anthropological perspectives. This program was co-directed by Dr. David Sandell (anthropology) and myself (French). This program—based on homestay and Service-Learning—offered them complete linguistic and cultural immersion, an ideal learning environment to practice the language and develop solid cultural competence. The program began before our departure. For one week at the end of May, the students explored readings and documentaries about the topic. We then traveled to Paris, France, where students visited the Institute of the Arab World and the Center for the History of Immigration in France. We then traveled to the Languedoc region in the South, where we would spend a month in Montpellier so that students could experience an intersection of migratory life and French culture through daily Service-Learning opportunities and homestays there. Montpellier, a university city on the Mediterranean, has thousands of residents with diverse North African and European origins. Our partner institution, the Institut Méditerranéen de Langues et Services, a member of the International Partnership for Service-Learning and Leadership, provided French language instruction and connections with organizations that serve the population we wanted to meet. To further their understanding of everyday life for migrants in need and longtime 12
Dr. Marie Schein
immigrants, students served and learned in after-school programs designed for those who needed to work with tutors. They worked with injured children receiving treatments at a rehabilitation facility, coordinated cross-cultural activities for children and their parents at a neighborhood center, and assisted refugee families and the homeless at a local food pantry
Our group spent the last two days of the program in Béziers, a smaller city that has become a new home for thousands of immigrants and refugees. There, we met the directors of the Refugee Center, the newcomers programs at two middle schools, and the activities center at the heart of the most diverse neighborhood in the city. We were invited to meet several Roma families, refugees from Romania who have migrated to the region to find a better life and listen to their moving stories of survival. It was a fitting culmination to an eye-opening program that solidified career plans for several of our students.
Students also had the opportunity to participate in additional field trips. They explored three places: Saint Guilhem Le Désert, a medieval village that was founded in 806 CE and became an obligatory stop for pilgrims on the St. James Way to Santiago de Compostella; Arles, one of the most famous and picturesque Roman towns in Provence where Van Gogh and Cézanne painted many of their most celebrated works; and Carcassonne whose fortified old city is listed as a UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. TCU 360 featured an article about the trip in the Fall 2013 issue titled A French Connection.
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Student News & Art Fort Worth Sister Cities From March 8 to March 16, the Fort Worth Sister Cities program is sending several youth ambassadors to Reggio Emilia, Florence, and Verona to experience the unique culture and make relationships with Italian citizens. But, before they could pack their bags and board their flights, the high school students wanted to ensure they could understand the city they would be exploring. That’s where TCU Italian students came in. On February 9th and February 23rd TCU Italian students volunteered their time to tutor high school students who were interested in obtaining as much of the language as possible before they ventured to Italy. “It was fun to share what we’ve been learning about the Italian language and culture—they’re going to have such a great time on their trip!” said Alexandra Harrington, a freshman strategic communication major. Eager students gathered around as TCU volunteers led large group discussions about basic conversational Italian skills. The group asked each other questions such as Come ti chiami?, Come stai?, Di dove sei?, and Quanti anni hai?. After the group started warming up to each other and exchanging introductory information, two high school students presented their reports on Italian culture. These two students focused on Italian music, art, and the topics’ influences on society. To conclude the session, the large ensemble of high school students was broken up into small groups, each lead by a TCU student. These discussions included topics of grammar, vocabulary, popular sayings, and cultural aspects. “It was so refreshing experiencing the teaching side of Italian. Watching the high schoolers form the basic phrases that I learned two years ago reminds me of where I have come from, and how much my education at TCU has developed my language skills. Overall, I believe that the opportunity to impact novice Italian speakers has been a milestone to my college career,” said Philip Antinone, a sophomore music education major and Italian minor. 14
Ashley Madonna
The Fort Worth Sister Cities organization began its mission of creating meaningful, international relationships in 1985. These relationships focus on people-to-people exchanges and encourage cultural and economic connections between the citizens of each city. The first sister city of the group was Reggio Emilia, Italy. Since then, seven other cities have been included in the program: Trier, Germany; Nagaoka, Japan; Bandung, Indonesia; Budapest, Hungary; Toluca, Mexico; Mbabane, Swaziland; and Guiyang, China. All of these relationships are recognized as formal agreements by the US Department of State. Planned activities for the youth ambassadors include meeting with the mayor of Verona, exploring the sites of Florence, and shopping at local stores with the student’s host families. Hopefully, the group walks away with successful relationships they can look back on, leaving a legacy of friendship.
Photography Across Japan
Christine Muir
Top, right: The Walk of a Thousand Torii Gates. The proper name for the shrine is Fushimi-Inari, but thousands of Torii Gates await visitors to pass under and through them on their journey up the mountain in Kyoto. The goal is spiritual clarity and paying respects to the spirits that inhabit the area. The walk is a spiritual one, and not many people talk on their way up or down; visitors respect the spirits that inhabit the area that silent reverence. Bottom, left: Bad Fortune Tree. All those bad fortunes tied to a tree so they would be rooted or knotted down and not follow the victim of the fortune. A cool cultural practice, but unlucky for many visitors. Bottom, right: Buddha. The temple had hundreds of little Buddha statues. I kept wondering what they stood for, but they seem so at peace and content with their guardianship.
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Language and Culture Fest This year the Departments of Modern Language Studies and Spanish and Hispanic Studies held the first annual TCU Language and Culture Fest. The event spanned three days from September 24th to the 26th. As both a member of Phi Sigma Iota and a current Modern Language studies student, I attended as many events as I could. I was lucky enough to make it to the first big event, “Taste of the World.” As the name suggests authentic food from all over the world was set out for students to try. I made sure to try everything available. The yakisoba from Japan and empanadas from Mexico were my favorites, but the pasta from Italy was just as good. I tried some food from the India booth, but I’m afraid
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Natalie Alberto
I didn’t taste much. I have always been weak against spicy food. My friend who attended the event with me assured me that the Indian food was top notch. The next event I attended was the keynote address by China Bureau Chief of American Public Media’s Marketplace, Rob Schmitz. He talked about how taking a foreign language out of requirement shaped his life and led him to the job he has today. He also talked about his time in China as a college student and currently in his professional career. It was inspiring to hear his words. I hope to be able to do the same with my minor in Japanese. Before the address we were treated to traditional Chinese music by
Photos courtesy of Dr. Jeffrey Todd
the Dallas HuaYun Traditional Chinese Music Band. I have heard Chinese music before, but hearing it live is completely different. It was some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard. Due to time constraints I was only able to attend one more event. I was able to go to the last one on the schedule, the showing of the film Kinshasa Kids. The film follows a group of musical kids as they try to earn money to live a better life. The story occasionally drifts away from the kids to show how adults are faring in Kinshasa. Although it is not a documentary, the film uses events that the director saw and experienced while trying to make a documentary
in Kinshasa. It was a powerful film that helped expose me to another culture in our world. I wish I was able to attend the other events, like the salsa dance lessons or the World Influences on Jazz concert, but that is the life of a college student. The fest was a ton of fun to go to, and I hope that it becomes a permanent fixture at TCU.
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Lessons from Antiquity Consiliorum relinquere ac virtutum nostrarum effigiem debemus. “We ought to leave behind a likeness of our counsel and virtue” (Pro Archia 30). These words, penned by Marcus Tullius Cicero, the great Roman statesman and orator, derive from an ancient language spoken in an ancient time. Still, they continue to be circulated through millennia. They persist outside the ephemeral existence of individual human lives, capable of inspiring us even now over 2,000 years after they were written. This continued ability to influence us is powerful, because it promotes self-examination and encourages a strong understanding for how we can affect the people around us. Cicero’s words naturally beg the question: how does leaving a likeness of our counsel and virtue manifest in the material world? Perhaps Cicero meant for us to leave an imprint of our intelligence and character on our peers or to leave legacies of our values. Did he mean that we can be immortalized by the memory of our good deeds, our courage, our sense of justice, our wit, our loyalty? Social workers, military soldiers, health care providers, biomedical scientists, law enforcement officers, and many others work physical, mental, and spiritual transformations that percolate through the lives of those with whom they interact. Thus, leaving an impression of our character comes in many forms. No matter our profession, we make this
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Kevin Claunch
impression by the use of our advice, our service, and our talents for the betterment of society. Such action is nobility in its modern form, and it is the mark of a responsible citizen in the global community. Our legacy is important, because it enriches the collective memory of our communities, educates others in a set of humanistic principles endemic to civilization, and compels others to live lives of value. Monuments and masonry crumble, are forgotten, and eventually become weathered reminders of some faded glory; the memory of our courage, our integrity, our service, however, is indestructible. Because Cicero can still influence us and teach us these values through his writing centuries after his life, we understand that we too are capable of leaving an enduring legacy in the world. As a result, studying Latin enables us to commune with the wisdom of men like Cicero in a direct and engaging way. To read Cicero’s words as he wrote them over 2,000 years ago is to participate in his legacy in a way that cannot be achieved by reading translations. Interacting with the raw text expands our understanding of the author’s message and inculcates in us particularly human insights that transcend time. It is a form of mentorship that will motivate readers to create consequential change in society. In this way, the study of Latin heightens our awareness of the
importance of the human condition. In addition to this philosophical outcome, the practice itself of studying Latin fosters the ability to conceptualize broad topics by analyzing details. Studying Latin requires a meticulous, controlled dedication to understanding how language works on a rudimentary level, and applying this knowledge in translating great works of literature necessitates the translator’s ability to organize grammar and syntax to discern meaning both on the literal level and a philosophical level. This exercise promotes the important practice of formulating alternate ideas and seeking innovative solutions, the mechanism of change and invention. Thus, the study of Latin and ancient language cannot be discounted. The corpus of literature from antiquity can still teach us about what it means to be human and can still provoke curiosity about human existence and how we can respond to the lives and needs of others.
Poetry
Alejandra Rodriguez
Qué fácil decirte Adiós No sé lo que siento, ni lo que quiero sentir. Solo siento que no siento no saber que decir No te mereces que sienta nada que valga sentir, y más si tu no sientes todo lo que yo sentí. Pero si tu sientes lo que siento, y por tanto, lo sientes. Entonces yo sentiría todo lo que no siento. Pero como no lo sientes, yo nada voy a sentir, salvo el haber sentido que podía confiar en tí.
A Uno Que No Debería Leerlo Príncipe eres, lo sabes bien. Te salen niñas por doquier. Hasta yo, inocente, rendida caí a tus pies. Tu cuerpo es, amado Adonis, cura de mi gran malestar; tus ojos, cristalinos, la pérdida de mi santidad. Narciso, déjame ser tu agua y visitame a diario. Reflejado, en mis ojos, solo tú calmas mi calvario. Ay Aquiles ¿Soy pues tu Troya, o, tu guardado talón? Nada soy, sino tragedia de tí condenada a expiarse por la carencia, o falta del amor que no me entregaste. Mas si tus labios, en mi piel, pudieran tornarte piedra. tu cuerpo, y corazón serían a mí a quien quisieran Por tanto, cuan Penelope, hasta entonces fiel te espero, hilando y deshilando hasta el retorno de Odiseo.
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