GIORNO 128
DAY 128
Oggi finisco tutti gli esami finali (tranne quello di Computer Graphics, che sarà domani), e posterò il tema che ho scritto mettendo a confronto il libro "I martedì col professore" e il Trascendentalismo. Ripeto ancora una volta che consiglio questo libro a tutti: è semplice ma così profondo che sarà difficile non "divorarlo".
Oggi è anche l'ultimo periodo buco con Barbara -- nel secondo semestre non coinciderà. Ma non importa, perchè sono così contenta per il programma del prossimo semestre, che quasi quasi non vedo l'ora che inizi! Avrò le stesse materie, ma, al posto di disegno avrò cucina (!) e al posto di computer graphics avrò sollevamento pesi per ragazze -- non intendo diventare una palestrata, ma solo allenare i muscoli per farli diventare più tonici ed essere in forma!
Ricevo anche la busta da Aspect Foundation: contiene un certificato e tre carte prepagate da $100, $100 e $50. Orgogliosa di avercela fatta!!
Inizio a preparare i regali di Natale, da distribuire alle persone con cui ho legato di più. Domani, per esempio, dopo la scuola (che finirà alle undici), avremo un party con lo Student Council, e ognuno di noi ha pescato il nome di un membro a cui fare un regalo di Natale. Non vedo l'ora!
Ann e Gary escono per cena in un ristorante italiano (ottima scelta!), e, prima di andare, Ann ci prepara il chili.
Ottimo direi.
Today I finish all the final exams (except for Computer Graphics, which will be tomorrow), and I'll post the essay I wrote for the English class, comparing the book "Tuesdays with Morrie" and Transcendentalism. I repeat once again that I recommend this book to everyone, as it is simple but so deep that it will be difficult not to love it.
Today is also the last off-hour with Barbara - in the second semester it will not coincide. But no matter, because I'm so happy for the schedule of the next semester, that I almost can not wait to begin! I will have the same subjects, but, instead of drawing there will be cooking (!), and instead of computer graphics I will lift weights - I do not intend to become a body-builder, but I just want to train my muscles to make them more toned and be fit!
I also receive the envelope by Aspect Foundation: it contains a certificate and three prepaid cards of $100, $100 and $50. Proud to have made it through!!
I start preparing Christmas gifts to deliver to the people with whom I tied more. Tomorrow, for example, after school (which will end at eleven), we will have a party with the Student Council, and each one of us has a Secret Santa gift. I can not wait for it!
Ann and Gary go out for dinner to an Italian restaurant (great choice!), and, before going, Ann prepares us some chili.
I'd say it's all great.
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Dopo scuola, andiamo con Ann a lavare la macchina. Mi ricorda di quando ero bambina ed andare col papà all'autolavaggio era come un regalo per me...
After school, we go with Ann to wash the car. It reminds me when I was a child and going to the car wash with my dad was like a present for me... |
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Mami, i tuoi orecchini sono arrivati: sono bellissimi e sono qui con me!
Mom, your earrings arrived: they're wonderful and they're here with me! |
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| Sweet movie with Barbara: no lights in the house, it seemed like we were at the movie theatre! |
Ecco il tema -- Here's my essay
A STUDY OF CHARACTER IN MITCH ALBOM’S
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE
Transcendentalists were strong
believers in the power of the individual. They believed that society corrupted
the purity of the individual, and they were therefore convinced that people are
at their best when independent and self-reliant. After reading the book Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, I
find that many of the transcendentalists’ tenets are supported and reinforced
by the protagonist, who lived in the twentieth century and echoed many of their
opinions. Morrie Schwartz shared many transcendental ideas relating to
friendship, meeting life with full presence, beauty appreciation, and
nonconformity, exactly fitting concepts expressed by Ralpho Waldo Emerson in
his passages “Friendship” and “Success,” and Thoreau in his essay “Walden.”
When comparing Emerson and Schwartz and
their beliefs on friendship, I find them to be very similar. First of all, both
authors state that friendship does not require anything because it is a deep,
priceless feeling. In fact, Schwartz states, “Ted, we’ve had thirty-five years
of friendship. You don’t need speech of hearing to feel that” (71). He does not
have to talk to make his friend feel like he is loved, and his friend does not
need to be able to hear to appreciate Morrie’s company. The most important
thing is that, despite everything, they are still together. Regarding Emerson, he
states in his passage “Friendship,” “My friend gives me entertainment without
requiring any stipulation on my part.” In this particular quote, he is stating
how friends do not need to show anything to each other but just act as true
friends. It often happens that people expect certain behaviors or actions from
friends, but Emerson is just telling us that none of this is required. In both
cases, friendship is an inestimable bond that goes beyond everything else.
Schwartz not only cares about
friendship, but he extends his passion to all the bonds he has in his life. In
fact, he is convinced that his disease is not an excuse to affect other people
lives, as he states, “Do not stop your lives, otherwise this disease will have
ruined three of us instead of one” (93). He always invites others to live life
to its fullest, and when he says, “I believe in being fully present, that means
you should be with the person you’re with. When I’m talking to you now, Mitch, I
try to keep focused only on what is going on between us,” he just means that
the relationships we care about, have to be built and consolidated by an active
participation on both parts (135). Using nature, Thoreau encourages his readers
to accept and make the most of what we are, as he states in his essay “Walden.”
“Only that day dawns to which we are awake. There is more day to dawn. The sun
is but morning star.” He is asking us to be awake, and to fully appreciate and
experience life. Both Schwartz and Thoreau agree on the fact that we should
live our lives to the fullest, give our best to whatever we are doing, and
experience as many new things as we can.
We will live to the fullest if and
only if we will “appreciate beauty,” as Emerson states in his essay “Success.”
A life is successful when you fully appreciate what surrounds you, when you
recognize where beauty is and extol it. As Emerson says, we should always
appreciate beauty, and never take it for granted. Schwartz also talks about
appreciation, especially when it comes to nature, as he says, “I can’t go out.
I can’t run. I can’t be out there without fear of getting sick. But you know
what? I appreciate that window more than you do” (84). With this sentence,
Schwartz is also telling us that we will fully appreciate one thing when, for
any reason, we cannot have it anymore. Both authors invite the readers to be
aware of what is around us, and always be happy with the amazing things that
make our lives so special.
Overall, both Schwartz and
transcendentalists are convinced that no matter the reason
we should not blindly follow what society considers to be important, but we
should rather be independent and decide for what is best for us. As Schwartz
states, “The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves.
And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy
it” (142). One has to learn to be
active, observe what is around and decide for himself, without fear but with
courage and inclination to a better, purer life. A similar thought is expressed
by Thoreau, in his essay “Walden,” as he says, “If you have built castles in
the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.” He is
saying that we should not allow conformity to control our lives, but we should
dream big and build the foundation for it, feeling limitless.
Reading the book Tuesdays with Morrie gives everyone the chance to stop and reflect
about the meaning of life, what is important and what, instead, is just
superficial. Morrie Schwartz teaches his readers so much, that it is impossible
to forget him or his legacy. I learned a lot, but, given the fact that I
consider love to be the foundation of our lives, I will always keep this quote
with me, in my heart. “The most important thing in life is to learn how to give
out love, and to let it come in. Let it come in. We think we don’t deserve
love, we think if we let it in we’ll become too soft. But a wise man named
Levine said it right. He said, ‘Love is the only rational act’ “ (52).
