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that was a fast week
Looking back on it, other than the one friends-locked post, I have been quiet here for nearly a week. My that slipped by quickly. During that time I have:
* Attended the local A&S night and determined that if I'm showing up the other folks don't (ok, it is just a coincidence, helped along by the fact that I've only made it twice thus far, and this was the first time it has happened since being switched to Tuesdays)
* Attended dance practice. Fun!
* Got my second experiment running. Yay!
* Learned where to take the gold capsules from the first experiment to get them mounted in epoxy in preparation for analysing them next week.
* Made three cylinders out of salt for future experiments and typed up my notes as to what is done to accomplish this, and why (we won't mention the part about how my boss, observing me do the first of them, nearly two weeks after he demonstrated the technique, suggested that rather than consult my notes I should simply think about what I'm doing and why and work it out for myself, causing me to feel, briefly, as though he was implying that I don't think--I got over it, and do see the sense in what he actually meant to say there).
* Attended two more Italian classes (which are mostly fun, but I found the one exercise very frustrating. She had us close our books and simply listen to the CD and then attempt to discuss in Italian what we heard. What *I* heard was the large amount of traffic noise recorded into the background of the conversation totally masking the words, but probably intended to add "colour" to the setting. Having grown up with the hearing problem, I can be a bit over-sensitive to times I don't hear things properly, and when the teacher suggested to me that I don't get frustrated, that we all go through difficult moments where we don't understand what we are hearing the first few times we listen to the recording in another language I actually crossed over the line into tears knowing that my problem in this case had more to do with my ability (or lack thereof) to hear/understand sounds that I don't *see* (I never listen to a radio that is talking, or books on tape--there is no point, words without being able to see the speaker aren't clear enough to understand without turning the volume up too loud for everyone else, even with my hearing aids in). It was a rather embarrassing moment. Fortunately for me, that was only one tiny portion of the day's lesson, and, once she gave me a transcript of the conversation to look at as I listened, I was able to make out every word over the noise of the traffic.
* Indulged in a rare spate of retail-therapy, stopping on my way home from the above mentioned lesson to purchase an immersion blender (I've been wanting something in the way of a food processor or blender, and this one turned out to be much more affordable than either of the above). To celebrate the new acquisition I made a blended bowl of soup out of some left over roasted pumpkin, potatoes, and garlic, to which I added red lentils, zucchini, and green onion. It was quite yummy!![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
clovis_t wouldn't try it. Not only is it full of vegetables, whcih he won't eat if he can avoid it, he doesn't care much for soups, and on the rare occasion he does eat soup he picks out the solid bits that he likes and leaves the broth. He didn't understand why I'd want to use the blender on a soup, rendering it even further from his definition of "food" than it had been.
* probably a bunch of other stuff, but it is way late and I've still got my yoga to do before I sleep, so I think I'll quit typing here...
* Attended the local A&S night and determined that if I'm showing up the other folks don't (ok, it is just a coincidence, helped along by the fact that I've only made it twice thus far, and this was the first time it has happened since being switched to Tuesdays)
* Attended dance practice. Fun!
* Got my second experiment running. Yay!
* Learned where to take the gold capsules from the first experiment to get them mounted in epoxy in preparation for analysing them next week.
* Made three cylinders out of salt for future experiments and typed up my notes as to what is done to accomplish this, and why (we won't mention the part about how my boss, observing me do the first of them, nearly two weeks after he demonstrated the technique, suggested that rather than consult my notes I should simply think about what I'm doing and why and work it out for myself, causing me to feel, briefly, as though he was implying that I don't think--I got over it, and do see the sense in what he actually meant to say there).
* Attended two more Italian classes (which are mostly fun, but I found the one exercise very frustrating. She had us close our books and simply listen to the CD and then attempt to discuss in Italian what we heard. What *I* heard was the large amount of traffic noise recorded into the background of the conversation totally masking the words, but probably intended to add "colour" to the setting. Having grown up with the hearing problem, I can be a bit over-sensitive to times I don't hear things properly, and when the teacher suggested to me that I don't get frustrated, that we all go through difficult moments where we don't understand what we are hearing the first few times we listen to the recording in another language I actually crossed over the line into tears knowing that my problem in this case had more to do with my ability (or lack thereof) to hear/understand sounds that I don't *see* (I never listen to a radio that is talking, or books on tape--there is no point, words without being able to see the speaker aren't clear enough to understand without turning the volume up too loud for everyone else, even with my hearing aids in). It was a rather embarrassing moment. Fortunately for me, that was only one tiny portion of the day's lesson, and, once she gave me a transcript of the conversation to look at as I listened, I was able to make out every word over the noise of the traffic.
* Indulged in a rare spate of retail-therapy, stopping on my way home from the above mentioned lesson to purchase an immersion blender (I've been wanting something in the way of a food processor or blender, and this one turned out to be much more affordable than either of the above). To celebrate the new acquisition I made a blended bowl of soup out of some left over roasted pumpkin, potatoes, and garlic, to which I added red lentils, zucchini, and green onion. It was quite yummy!
clovis_t wouldn't try it. Not only is it full of vegetables, whcih he won't eat if he can avoid it, he doesn't care much for soups, and on the rare occasion he does eat soup he picks out the solid bits that he likes and leaves the broth. He didn't understand why I'd want to use the blender on a soup, rendering it even further from his definition of "food" than it had been.* probably a bunch of other stuff, but it is way late and I've still got my yoga to do before I sleep, so I think I'll quit typing here...
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Interesting about the notes vs. think it through approach. I can understand feeling weird about that comment, at the same time that I'm intrigued that that was his approach. I wonder if it's partly a learning style difference. Sometimes people get weirded out when I take notes of something they're saying... but writing it down is essential to how I internalize information, more so even than reviewing what I wrote.
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I agree with the writing part. Often I don't even look at the notes again, simply writing it down is enough. I did run into problems with the first draft of notes for how to make the salt cylinders though--I'd done a couple of quick sketches, but didn't include enough informaiton in my drawings to distinguish amongst the many bits and pieces of metal in the drawer, as I was trying to get everything down as fast as he was working. This week, when I did the work myself he kept getting called away to talk to people, which gave me time to do more detailed sketches which scale bars and verbal descriptions of the parts needed, so that I will be able to get the correct ones next time. Having done so, I doubt I'll ever need to look at that page again...
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I suffer from fairly bad tinnitus and although they say it's not hereditary, I disagree as my Dad has had it all his life too. Perhaps we're just both more prone to damaging our ears through some genetic problem. It gets worse when I'm tired and can keep me awake. Add in the fact that I had an abscess in one ear that exploded when I was a little kid (high pain threshold meant I didn't complain, not once) that damaged the inner workings, and you have an odd situation.
It's odd because I actually have terrific hearing and almost perfect pitch especially when mimicking sounds. This probably due to a nurture situation from living in a number of different, non-english speaking, countries up until I was 7yo + learning classical music from age 4. Spent my entire childhood mimicking. But throw me into a party situation or anywhere where there's background noise and I end up lip reading and hope to god my guesses are correct! Dinner parties aren't much better. I cross my fingers every time I go to a restaurant, hoping the floor is heavily carpeted and the ceiling is low! It helps to cut out background noise enormously as I'm sure you're aware of.
Shopping centres are the bain of my existence. Hard high surfaces, music being played over the PA and voices bouncing off everything. I'm literally exhausted when I finally leave them even if it's only been a 30 minute immersion. Sydney was driving me crazy from the lack of peace and quiet.
Paradoxically, when there's no background buzz, small sounds that don't seem to bother other people, can drive me nuts. I use earplugs every morning to block out the sounds of dawn. I wake easily and I'd be permanently sleep deprived if I didn't use them. Reckon my hearing would've been super duper if not for the other issues.
Enough of me. Just wanted you to know you're not alone. Anybody who puts background noises into a language learning tape is an idiot in my opinion. You were perfectly right, hearing issue or no, to be upset. How on earth could the traffic noises have ever helped anyone learn the nuances of language? An example of wasted effort, time and money with no forethought being put into the making of the tape or by the teacher using it.
Interesting story in the Perth newspaper the other day. It related the tale of a gentleman who was accosted by police in his own home after a neighbour had complained about excessive noise. Somehow they ended up tackling him and spraying him with something obnoxious because they believed he was resisting arrest. Turned out he was just trying to write them a message. It would've said 'I'm Deaf'. He probably didn't even realise the volume was turned on let alone it's level.
"Not all disabilities are obvious." Your teacher could well do to remember that. It's certainly a major topic covered during my recent basic Training and Assessment Certificate. I believe it's a good move that all trainers of adults in Australia - whether for vocational or recreational purposes - are being increasingly encouraged to do the TAS cert to cover such basic issues as these.
Rant mode off!
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