Up Close and (un)Conventional #1

Posted 30 March, 2014 by Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Uncategorized / 38 Comments

Up Close and (un)Conventional

Up Close and (un)Conventional #1

I admit up front that I got the idea for Up Close and (un)Conventional from Cuddlebuggery! They did a huge survey on their blog, about what bloggers and non-bloggers alike enjoy the most when they visit blogs. And one of the winners was posts that are more personal, talking about other stuff than books, and sharing other things from our life than books. As I aim to please *cough* I will try to have some more personal posts every now and then, but I really can’t promise it will be a regular feature. I have this thing where I have a little trouble being original, and I don’t want to write posts that are supposed to be personal, but end up talking about the exact same subject as some other blog is doing at at the same time.

So, today, I will share with you something about me that quite a few people already know, but not everybody. I am ‘old’ by blogging standards *grin* I’m in my early forties, I have been married for a long time – to the same guy – and I have four children between the ages of eight and a half and eighteen and a half – also with the same guy ๐Ÿ˜‰ Four years ago, I got so absolutely sick of my job as an accountant I just couldn’t take it anymore. I’m calling it my midlife crisis, actually, but I’m very happy about it right now. I discussed how fed-up I was with my husband, saying how I just couldn’t do the whole helping rich people to get richer anymore, and that I really wanted to study again.

When I was younger, my dream was to become a teacher. Not for small kids, rather for kids in senior high, who have a little bit of choice in the subjects they can choose. So, in September 2010, I started UNI, and at the end of this current semester, I will (hopefully) get my Bachelor’s degree in English language and literature and in General linguistics. In Switzerland, we need two majors to get our Bachelor’s degree, and I knew straight away I wanted to study English, it was a bit harder to find the second major. I tried philosophy for a year, and didn’t enjoy that at all. Then, I tried French as Foreign Language – and didn’t really enjoy that either. Last year, finally, I started with general linguistics, and I love it! It’s all about the language! Language acquisition, how some languages are similar in some ways and different in others, understanding what a native speaker of a language actually knows about their language and so on.

Some of my Up Close and (un)Conventional posts will definitely be about my studies, because I’m very passionate about it, and it’s actually a lot of fun to be a mature student. I have lots of new friends who are younger than me, and working together on projects is really interesting. We have different points of views on quite a few things, of course, but mostly, we are able to find something that seems important and agree on what angle to work on.

Bastions - (un)Conventnional Bookviews

My Uni is in a park in the middle of Geneva, and the building is old, but really beautiful! Famous linguist Ferdinand de Saussure was a professor there for several years, which is really exciting to the linguist in me ๐Ÿ™‚ This is the building, view from the street, the park is on the other side. Aren’t I lucky to have a historical building where I have all of my classes? And the fact that the park is right there is awesome when it’s nice and warm outside, because we take our breaks sitting in the grass with a cup of coffee.

Once I get my Bachelor’s degree, I also need a Master’s degree, plus a teaching diploma, so my days as a student aren’t exactly over yet, but after the summer, I can be a substitute teacher, and I really look forward to that.

Lexxie signature (un)Conventional Bookviews

 

 

Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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38 responses to “Up Close and (un)Conventional #1

  1. I love finding out more about the blogger behind the blog. I have my “About Me” feature on my blog for this and since last week I am trying to make it a regular feature.

    I think it’s great that you’re in your early forties and went back to school! And my opinion is that if your work is something you enjoy, your whole life is happier. Good luck with your studies! And your uni building looks great! It’s such an old building.
    I studied psychology in Leyden and our school building was an old hospital, lol.

    Lola recently posted: Sunday Post #67
    • I need to read your About Me feature, Lola ๐Ÿ™‚ I might not always write about personal stuff, though, I might write about a place I’ve traveled to, something I read about in the paper…

      Thanks for stoppoing by ๐Ÿ˜€

      • I put everything that isn’t normal posts like blog tours, cover reveals etc under my About Me feature. I did a discussion post last week about slow building romances that I also put under that heading.
        I think it’s interesting to see posts that are different than the normal typical posts on a blog :). So I am looking forward to read more of your Up Close and Unconventional posts!

        Lola recently posted: Sunday Post #67
        • I agree, it is very nice to get to know our fellow bloggers better. But it also takes some time to come up with different kinds of posts. I know I’m going to be really busy with classes until the end of May now, because we have so many assignments to hand in, plus some in-class tests.
          But I will try to have my Up Close and (un)Conventional posts at least a couple of times each month ๐Ÿ˜€

  2. I think it’s wonderful that you’re going back to school to be able to start a profession you love! My mother was an accountant for years too, but when she got laid off (around 10 years ago), she decided to go to school to be a nurse rather than find another office job, and she has never been happier! So I don’t know first-hand how hard it is to go to school AND manage all of your other responsibilities, but I did see my mother do it, so I know it’s not an easy thing do. I think you’re very brave, and have nothing but respect for the kind of resolve and dedication it takes to make that kind of life-altering change ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for sharing, Lexxie.

    Jessica @ Rabid Reads recently posted: Review: The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole
    • I think it’s really awesome to be able to go back to school as well, Jessica. Luckily, my husband is all for it, and we can manage with one salary until I can start subbing. That makes me a very lucky woman!

      It is hard to do it all, but it’s so nice to be a student again, so I am very motivated. I have taken a year longer than the younger students have, though, because I don’t want to miss my kids every day of the week, and I do need some down-time for reading and blogging and having fun as well ๐Ÿ™‚

      Thanks so much for your nice comment ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Awesome post, Lexxie! My son is also into language and I get how fascinating that could be. He’s trying to get me into it, got me an app on my phone so I can learn Esperanto or something.

    That’s great though, this journey of yours, going to school and being all scholarly. I’m sure it’s so much fun being around like minded people. There’s just something about higher learning that appeals to me, it’s exciting holing up in libraries and writing reports and stuff. LOL I’m a dork!

    Anyway, thanks for opening up, Lexxie!

    • Esperanto is not a natural language, though, so those who learn it can’t got to a country and find people who has Esperanto as their native language, which is a little sad in many ways. I think the idea of Esperanto is truly awesome! The people who invented it wanted to have a universal language that is easy to learn, easy to pronounce and with straight-forward language. This actually gave me a great idea for one of my papers ๐Ÿ˜€ Thanks, Braine!

      Hey, I love the smell of our library, it’s an awesome place, maybe I’ll do one post that’s just about the library one day ๐Ÿ™‚

      Thanks for stopping by, Braine!

  4. Thank you for sharing this! I love reading personal posts, and I hope I can get the nerve to do my own soon.

    I am right there with you in age and accounting background, but minus the husband and kids ๐Ÿ™‚ It’s wonderful that you made the decision to start on a new career that is fulfilling to you, and it sounds like it’s already been rewarding to you. Plus, you have a beautiful setting for your classes!

    Stephanie @ Inspiring Insomnia recently posted: Stacking the Shelves # 58
    • Do it, Stephanie! It doesn’t have to be so personal you wouldn’t want to share it at all – but a little piece of you anyway.

      Are you still happy doing accounting? I know I was for quite a while, but suddenly, I just couldn’t stand it anymore.

      Thanks for stopping by, Stephanie ๐Ÿ™‚

  5. I love this post! You’re such an inspiration. I don’t mean the schooling part (even though that’s wonderful), just that you stopped what wasn’t working for you anymore and went after a dream you held all this time. I think you’d make a wonderful teacher. Being a teacher was a dream of mine too (math and art). I just started my way back with a para educator job and I love it so much! One day I might have to go back because whenever I get to work with math with a kid, I get so pumped even if the kid has his head down, in a few minutes he’s working his tail off (I’m kind of stern). I look forward to reading more, maybe get someone to take a picture of you drinking coffee in the park on a break from the coolest building because come on! That is the stuff of movies right there!

    What is your focus in linguistics?

    • Thank you Robyn! I am very lucky to actually be able to stop working and study full time with a family, and my husband has really been great during these years!

      I hope I’ll be a good teacher when I get to start, especially my oldest daughter keeps telling me what she thinks a good teacher should be able to do – and I agree with her on most counts. Patience is very important, of course, but mostly, she tells me that the most important thing is to be capable to explain the same thing in different ways. Which I think is key to being a good teacher ๐Ÿ™‚

      For the time being, I don’t have a specific focus yet, we are really learning about different theories in syntax, history of language and linguistics, semantics, pragmatics, phonetics and phonology. When I start my Master’s, I have to write a Master thesis, and I have so many ideas I really don’t know what I will do with it yet.

      Thanks for stopping by, Robyn, and for giving me a great idea for another personal post ๐Ÿ™‚

  6. In all honesty I am very young *cough* seventeen *cough* but I do find it incredibly awesome that your in Swizterland because I actually lived their for about three years. I lived in Neuchatel and went to three different schools during my time there including one that was in Lausanne! And i had to take a bus for an hour to and from school EVERYDAY for an entire year but it was awesome and i have awesome memories of that place! Geneva was actually one of my favourite places in Swizterland and i have fond memories of that place too!
    Great to hear you went back to school to do what you want to do! I know your going to be an awesome teacher!
    Lily@Lilysbookblog

    lily recently posted: Mini Reviews: DNF edition
    • Both Neuchatel and Lausanne are nice places, but I agree, Geneva is even better ๐Ÿ™‚ Don’t worry about age – I don’t! And I think that’s one of the really interesting things about blogging – we all have a common hobby and our passion for books really goes over the boundaries of both age and where we are in the world.

      Thanks for stopping by, Lily ๐Ÿ™‚

    • That sucks, Lyn! What are you teaching, and at what level? There is still need for more teachers here, especially because a lot were able to retire early and still get their full pension payments, so suddenly, a lot more teachers stopped teaching the same year.

      I hope you’ll be able to find a job in a nice school-district very soon ๐Ÿ™‚

    • I think having two majors is really good in many ways, because it gives us more diversity – especially if we want to teach, we can teach two subjects and it might be easier to find a job. But in other ways, I had a lot of trouble finding my second major. I had no idea there were so many different departments in our Humanities faculty!
      And yes, I have a great husband ๐Ÿ˜€ and he knows it ๐Ÿ˜‰
      Thanks for stopping by, Goldie.

  7. This is a great post, Lexxie! I’m glad you shared it. ๐Ÿ™‚ You know I was first drawn to your blog because you were studying English Lit – something we had in common. And then, as I spent more and more time here, I discovered we have SO MUCH in common! I love that you said you’ve been married a long time…to the same guy. And all of your kids are with that same guy! ๐Ÿ˜‰ We just celebrated a LONG time too – the same number you’ll be celebrating soon. Anyway, you’ve made me want to post more personal things on my blog…and I think I just came up with a title! *ha* **BIG HUGS** my friend!

    • Thank you Brandee! I know, finding out just how much we have in common is really great! I look forward to seeing some more personal posts, too, and I look forward to seeing the title as well, Brandee.

      *BIG HUGS*

  8. I love this post Lex! I’m 34 going on 35 next month. I have a 5 year old daughter (she has Autism), and have been married for 6 1/2 years. We had our daughter on our 1 year wedding anniversary. I loved college and miss it so much! If I could, I would go to school for the rest of my life. My bachelor’s degree is in Liberal studies with a minor in behavioral science, and my Master’s degree is in Education (multiple subjects). When I graduated with my master’s degree, I was 6 months pregnant. It was tough getting my master’s, going through morning sickness, and being a newlywed. I love the picture of your university. It’s very beautiful! I can’t believe you need two majors in Switzerland to get your Bachelor’s Degree! That’s tough! I think it’s commendable that you are going after what you want, and following your dreams! I have trouble with being unique on my blog too. Life gets busy, and blogging is time consuming.

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape recently posted: Blog Tour: Dazed by Kim Karr
  9. That’s so cute that your daughter is born on your 1st wedding anniverary! It must have been really hard to graduate when being 6 months pregnant! Kudos to you for managing that, Lindy.
    Is your daughter in school already? (I have no idea what age kids start school in the US, here they start at 4).

    I feel like I am going a little crazy these days with classes and papers due, but at the same time, I agree with you! If I win the lottery, I might just stay in Uni, get various degrees and just continue to learn stuff.

    Thanks for stopping by, Lindy ๐Ÿ˜€

  10. AH I love it ๐Ÿ˜€ I’m 31 and working at the same job I got when I was 19. I have days when I think I’m done. Today was actually one of them. You are so lucky that you have a great hubby to have your back through that! I’m sure it’s made you much happier overall. I’m so proud of you for taking that leap and going back to school to do something that you love. Jaclyn @ JC’s Book Haven.

    Jaclyn Canada recently posted: Sunday Cover Scramble [60]
  11. haha! YAY for being part of the older crew of bloggers! Sorry for being so slow to pop by this post but in my defence, I’ve had it bookmarked since it went up. I love the idea for these Lexxie, and I look forward to many more. Oh and I also went back to uni when I was a bit older…and to be honest, if I could get paid to study I would have never left! PS- I have a B.A. in Linguistics ๐Ÿ˜€ I saw you mentioned Linguistics in there! Oh and I’ve also been with the same guy for ages – must mean we’re tough cookies hehe Thanks for sharing such a lovely post ^^

    Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows Reviews recently posted: Review: The Assassin's Blade

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