2007年7月29日日曜日

Islam!

Oh...I looked, and it looks like I did this one. @_@ I'm confused...

Um, anyway, thanks for having me in class!

UN/Politics

If I were working for the UN I would like to work in the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The main reason for this is because I've often thought that if I don't work with words and books somehow--writing, hopefully, but I also enjoy editing--I'd like to go into some sort of law enforcement. My language skills aren't enough to work as any sort of translator, and I have little interest in law or politics.

Well, actually, I'd be perfectly happy as a tour guide, cafeteria worker, or janitor, too. Oooh! Or even better, I could work in the LIBRARAY! THAT'S a job I could really enjoy! Yes, I think I'll move that to the top of my list, instead of the D & C office. It would be fun to be a spy or something like that, though...

2007年7月8日日曜日

1. How do you choose a child's given name in your family?

The son of the son has been given the name 'Joseph' for the last few generations. I'm not positive--off the top of my head--when it started, but I know that my cousin, his father, my Pop, and Pop's father have all been named Joseph (Anthony and Thomas alternating) McMahon. Otherwise, we're just named by whatever the parents like the sound of. My Mommy was going to name me Jennifer (Ugh!), but when she saw me, she decided I looked like an Alison.

Of all of us in my family, I am the only one who really cares about the meanings behind names. My full name is Alison Mary Dowling. Alison means 'truthful,' and Mary means 'bitter(s)'. If you put them together, the meaning is approximately 'blunt.' I defnitely think that that name suits me. However...Honestly, I'm just as comfortable with the name I use online, Azamiko. Both Azamiko and Alison feel like my names.

Oh, and since I was raised more by the McMahon's than the Dowlings, I've considered adding or changing my name to include the former.

I don't really plan on having kids, but if I do, I will plan their names carefully. I've already decided that if I ever get a girl--through birth or adoption--her name will be Byrne. That is my Nanny's maiden name, Annie Mamie Byrne. She's called 'Mamie.' Funnily enough, my great-aunt is named Jessie Owen, but is called 'Violet.' I don't know why exactly...

One thing that kind of irritates me is that my cousin Kate (Katherine) has the same middle name as me, Mary. We were only born a year apart, and even in the same hospital! How boring!

Another strange thing is that my Mom's boyfriend's oldest son has the same first and middle names as my brother--even though one is mostly Irish and the other is mostly Italian. Plus, the other Matt is the same age as I.

3. Does your given name or your family name mean anything?

Oh...I already explained this above. I'm not too clear on 'Dowling,' but McMahon means 'son of man.' (And yes, I realize that it's not my actual name, but we've always been more McMahons, not Dowlings.)

7. How do you know if names are boy's names, girls' names, or both?

I guess. It's pretty much impossible to tell in English, though there are a few name endings like 'ette.' I can't think of anyone who has a name that uses one...

Islam?

1. How do you greet people in yourlife? Is it different for different people? Why?

I don't often think about how I greet people, but when I do now...My greetings vary GREATLY, depending on the person. I have quite a few male friends who I will greet with a hit or kick. My old friend Alex sometimes got it worse, too. If I saw him walking in the halls, I would sometimes chuck my textbook at him.

More generally, I'll say 'Hi' or 'Good Morning!' very cheerfully. I might say 'I'm home,' instead of 'Hi' sometimes. I'll also say 'Yo,' 'Oi,' or 'Howdy.' Or perhaps 'Guten Tag' or something even stranger. I like greeting people in different ways, though I'm honestly pretty casual with everyone. I believe in earning respect, I think. Before that, politeness is all equal.

2. Do you touch people when you talk to them? Why? Or Why not?

I'll pat or poke people in teasing, but no, I don't generally touch them. If I touch a person, or even their clothes, then I have to wash my hands. It doesn't have to be right away (anymore) but before eating, definitely.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/05/wmuslims05.xml

In that article about 'radical Muslims,' there is no mention of the Muslims who aren't radical.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F00E4D6173FF93BA15757C0A9649C8B63

This is a newspaper article that has to do with cross-culture studies, published on April of 2002, in the New York Times. It is a review of a book dealing with the issues of an Indian woman living in America.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=9A03E7D61130F936A25750C0A96E958260&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fV%2fVolunteers

This article is about volunteers with a group called Cross Cultural Solutions who go on trips to help in various places. They pay for the trip, and work during it, too.

2007年7月1日日曜日

Paint Shop Pie Chart!


I did it based off of characters I like in manga, but I tried to make it seem like I was talking about a real person...It's really not something I think about...Other than to say 'oh that's cool!' Things like this are the reason I sometimes think of the culture I grew up in-technically-as being as foreign as one from around the world.

2007年6月11日月曜日

Because it's there...and I don't have newpapers...

1. How is your daily life affected by Buddhism? What do you do and why do you do it?

My life...is probably more affected by Buddhism than one would expect, considering I've grown up primarily Catholic. Well, that comes out oddly. I was raised Catholic until about the end of 4th grade, when I transferred to public school for good. I've always been interested in different stories, particularly when they concerned the supernatural, so moving on to religions wasn't much of a stretch. And I've liked Buddhism more than many of the others. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I know any Buddhists at home, but my way of thinking often reflects what I've learned from various religions, particularly Buddhism. I take what I want from each of them.

1. How do you greet people in your life? Is it different for different people? Why?

Some people might think that I SHOULD change how I greet people a bit more. I'm very polite, but at the same time, I have never felt that anyone should have my respect simply because they are older than I. I tend to say 'sir' and 'ma'am,' for anyone older than I, but that's honestly more for my own comfort. (Plus, it's easier than remembering names.)

2. Do you touch people when you talk to them? Why? Or Why not?

I used to kind of freak out when people touched me, but I've gotten much better over the years. I don't hang on people--it still makes me uncomfortable--and I don't generally do a lot of touching, unless I'm goofing around with a friend. I hug my family, but I'm not really one for prolonged contact. It all just kind of creeps me out... If I bump into someone, I do, strangely enough, pat them when I apologize. I don't really know why, it's instinctive. And I like giving piggy-back rides and wrestling. As I said, I've gotten better