Introduction to an International Studies Major
Hi, I’m Cece! I’m currently in my last semester of the accelerated BA/MA program at the College of International and Area Studies, expecting to graduate in May (if my thesis doesn’t kill me first), so if any of you see me around campus looking dead inside, know that I probably am. As you might have guessed if you read my “favorite place” post, I’m a big fan of Mexico and Latin America in general; Latin American studies and energy policy are my two focus areas at CIS. I’m fluent in Spanish and currently am learning Jopará, which is a language spoken in Paraguay that is a combination of Spanish and the local indigenous language, Guaraní. I’m learning it because, as of last month, I have been invited to serve by the Peace Corps as Community Economic Development Promoter in Paraguay. I’m really excited to be offered the opportunity, as I’ve been obsessed with the Peace Corps’ mission since my freshman year here at OU.
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| My boyfriend, JP, and I, New Year's Eve of 2018. |
When I’m not talking about my degree or the Peace Corps, I enjoy reading, watching Netflix, and generally hanging out with my friends. I usually read historical fiction and contemporary fiction, but I saw The Shining last month with a friend, and decided that the movie itself hadn’t freaked me out enough, so now I’m reading the book. Pray for my soul. Like I mentioned in my “favorite places” post, I have a dog with my boyfriend. She’s a husky, and this month she’s turning a year old. She lives with my boyfriend for most of the year, but I regularly insist I Facetime with her (because I’m low-key worried she’s going to forget me), and I visit whenever I have the time and money to do so. She’s mischievous and incredibly destructive when she doesn’t get enough exercise (one night she chewed up my glasses, my contact lenses, my headphones, and several pairs of socks and underwear), but she’s very friendly and sociable, and loves to meet new people, especially kids. We call her our lobita, or “little wolf.”
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| Juno trying to guilt JP out of his ice cream. |
Well, I’m going to stop now before I end up writing my entire storybook project about my dog. I’m excited to read everyone’s introductions, and good luck to everyone this semester!
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| Is 2020 the year for a new OU mascot? I think we've got a solid candidate here. |
Hi Cece!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to meet you! I'm a mechanical engineering senior here at OU, and I'm also in my last semester! Like you, I'm ecstatic to finally graduate and begin the next chapter of my life and career. I also love dogs! My family has rescued eight strays that were left abandoned in the woods by our house, and they're the most precious things ever! I wish you the best for your last semester and all your future endeavors!
Hi Cece!
ReplyDeleteIt is so admirable that you will be service with the Peace Corps, and it sounds like you have ambitious and amazing goals set for yourself. I am sure you have seen but I think there is a Shining sequel coming out called Doctor Strange with Ewan McGregor. Also, your husky is beautiful, and her bright blue eyes are piercing! I look forward to reading your stories, and good luck!
Are you thinking about Peace Corps as your next step, Cece? The doctor who was director of health services at my undergrad school (Berkeley) was someone who had done Peace Corps back in the day, and he was a big advocate for the program. I am a fan! And that is so cute about Facetiming with your lovely little lobita. What a very modern dog! I like the OU ponies, but I think the ponies could use a canine friend. And hey: JUNO, that's goddess-power! Every sports team could use at least one goddess on their side! Go, Juno! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi, Laura! I already received an invitation to serve with the Corps and have accepted it, and right now I'm just waiting on medical and legal clearance. I actually got the email today saying that I had passed legal clearance, so we're halfway confirmed! I've always admired their mission, and I really hope I pass clearance so I can be a part of it. And my sister AND my best friend both live in Berkeley! I'm hoping to be able to go visit soon.
DeleteWhen we got Juno, my boyfriend was asking me for "wintry" names, and I just came up with some off the top of my head, and Juno, the city in Alaska, came up. It was only later that I realized that was also the name of the goddess I've always thought of more commonly as Hera. Juno, like her namesake, does tend to get jealous if my boyfriend or I pay too much attention to other dogs. She's really sociable and never really aggressive, but if either of us pay too much attention to other dogs, she kind of throws her weight around (literally) to get closer to us. Like Juno with Jupiter, she demands a lot of attention, but I like to think that JP and I aren't quite as unfaithful as Jupiter! Thanks for the comment!
Oh wow, that is so exciting: I will be thinking good thoughts for the rest of your clearance. And I am jealous of your excuse to get to go visit Berkeley. The last time I went was maybe two years ago for a friend of mine's birthday... and my favorite South Indian food place was still there, and they still had my favorite items on the menu. So, if you ever get a chance, I can recommend Udupi Palace!!! :-) Udupi Palace
DeleteI used to live just three blocks from there. LIFE WAS GOOD. :-)
Fun Juno trivia: that was the name of women's birthday celebrations in ancient Rome; men celebrated their "genius" and women celebrated their "juno" Genius and Juno
Hi Cece!
ReplyDeleteWhat a precious fur baby you have! I have always wanted a husky, I just feel bad owning one where the summers get so hot! Does she talk/sing a lot? That is always fun to watch on Youtube videos.
I am also in my last semester and eager to move forward, however I have 3 long years ahead of me in law school. The Peace Corps is such a commendable organization. How cool that you get to experience another culture and also provide direct help to those communities. Best of luck in your last semester and hope everything continues to move right along on your Peace Corps journey!
Hey Ashlynn!
DeleteJuno's a beauty, for sure. Luckily my boyfriend lives in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, so it doesn't get incredibly hot there. When it starts getting too warm, he takes her down to his parents house in the State of Mexico (near Mexico City, which is it's own state now), and it's usually pretty cool there. She loves it, because she gets to run around and get into trouble with their two dachshunds, Kayoko and Bartolo. Juno doesn't howl much at other dogs (weirdly, only at other huskies) but she does sing to us when she wants attention. I always howl back, and it makes her confused every time. I saw your fur babies on your intro page, and they're pretty cute too! Dogs really are a joy.
Hope your semester is going well!
Hey Cece,
ReplyDeleteYour husky is adorable!! I've always wanted a husky, but I live in a small apartment, and I thought it might by cruel to coop them up. I ended up adopting a small dog from a shelter, and I couldn't be happier! His name is Bucky, and he's a mix, but his body type is a dachshund.
Hope you have a good semester!
Hey Dani,
DeleteI love mutts, honestly. I grew up with a black lab mix named Sadie who was a total angel. I'm sure Bucky is a sweetheart, too! Is he named after the Captain America character? Thanks for stopping by my page, btw!
Have a great semester!
Hey Cece!
ReplyDeleteI think it's so awesome that you're going to the Peace Corps! I've always admired those that do. My fiance's brother spent two years in Peru with the Corps and I love hearing his stories and how it impacted his life. I hope it is an amazing experience for you.
Also, I LOVE your dog! I think huskies are so beautiful and yours is no exception. I hope you have a great last semester!
Hi Cece!
ReplyDeleteThat's so exciting to be on your last semester of your BA/MA program! Two degrees, wow. I am sure it has been a lot of work, and I have heard theses are no fun, so good luck finishing yours! I know one other OU student who went into the Peace Corps, and I think he was a little overwhelmed at first, but he grew to like it. How does the application process work? Is it competitive? Do you have to interview? Anyway, good luck with school and your future career!
Hello Cece,
ReplyDeleteI would like to start off by saying congratulations on getting to your last semester of BA/MA program at the College of International and Area Study. I love the picture of your cute dog. I think it would be a great OU mascot. It for sure would get everyone's attention. Good luck to you and your future and once again congrats on having two degrees.
Hi Cece!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing your BA/MA soon! That is so exciting and I am sure you are excited to wrap up this chapter of your life. Also, congrats on accepting the position with the Peace Corps! One of my good friends just accepted a position with the Peace Corps last week to work in the Philippines. I am not sure how long your position is, but I know he will be there for like 27 months. I cannot imagine being away from my family for so long in that capacity, but I respect those who are willing to step up in this way! Enjoy your last semester!
Hey Cece!
ReplyDeleteI just popped over to your introduction after reading one of your stories! Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! I'm graduating this semester too and I am very excited about it. I think that it is absolutely amazing that you're joining the Peace Corps and going to Paraguay! It sounds like a very interesting and culturally rich area. I hope I get to go someday! Learning new languages is really fun and I wish you luck with learning Jopara! Congrats again!
Hey CeCe!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on almost being done with your BA/MA! I will also be graduating in May and I am so excited! That is awesome that you are learning Jopara! I have never heard of it before. Oh and congrats on the Peace Corps, it is awesome that you will get to be a part of something that you have had interest in for some time now. I think that your dog is so cute and seems to have quite the personality. My son is six and while we do not have a pet yet, he insists that when we move into a house we get a "wolf dog." I am not sure how I feel about all the hair yet, but we will see! Anyways, congrats again and good luck!
Hey CeCe! I love your post and your doggo is so cute! I am too also graduating in may and I could not be happier! I too love Netflix and could watch it all day if I didn't pay attention! Learning a new language can be so hard! I give you props for trying and hope you the best of luck with it! I hope I get to read more of your post!
ReplyDeleteHey CeCe!
ReplyDeleteWow, how cool that you are so close to being done with your BA/MA! I still have another year to go, but it is rewarding to see people around me graduating and accomplishing their goals. I love to see all dogs, so thank you for sharing! I wish you luck on this next chapter of your life!
Best wishes,
Mikayla
Hola Cece! Es un placer conocerte! Yo soy de Venezuela así que el español es mi lengua materna, pero voy a escribir en inglés para que todos puedan entender. I love that you are so interested in Latino culture and that you are learning Jopará. I wish all Latin American countries (and any country with indigenous people, for that matter) were as dedicated to cultivating and maintaining indigenous languages and cultures as Paraguay is. I am planning on some day learning Pemón, which is a Venezuelan indigenous language, so wish me luck! Congratulations on the Peace Corps offer! The world needs more people willing to do those kids of jobs, so thank you for being one of them! Your dog is beautiful and I completely understand wanting to skype her, I do the same with my dog back home. Thank you for sharing about your life with us, it was great to meet you. Saludos!
ReplyDeleteHi Cece!
ReplyDeleteI'm also a Spanish speaker thanks to my parents being Mexican/Mexican-American. Your dog is super cute. I'm a big dog person and I have three myself (only one with me *sad face emoji*), I hope and believe that your thesis will rock! Also congratulations on the graduation festivities that will be occurring soon in May for all your hard work. I hope to read some of your stories this term since a masters candidate should add a different take and style to this course.
Kind regards and buenas noches!
Hi Cece!
ReplyDeleteSo first off, I wanted to say that your dog is absolutely adorable and I want a husky more than any other dog in the world. I actually have dog sat for a friend of mine a few times, and he has two incredible huskies named Luna and Baloo. Also wanted to stretch out a congratulations for your incredible academic achievements that you will be receiving here shortly! Cant wait to read some of your stories throughout the semester!
Hey cece! Congrats on your final semester! I hope that your thesis is going well and that you are safe during these times! Its amazing that you wrote this early in the semester and now here we are so close! Your dog is absolutely adorable! The name is awesome too! Huskies are awesome dogs and friendly! They do have a lot of energy though! I have a great dane who is later in years now and she was so energetic at first but now shes a big cuddly lap dog! Have a great rest of the semester!
ReplyDeleteHey Cece! I just read your Week 13 story, and I am absolutely obsessed with it. SO GOOD! I just finished reading your introduction and I think I speak for everyone when I say OMG JUNO IS THE CUTEST LITTLE PUPPERONI! I hope you’re coping okay with all the wildness going on with COVID-19. It’s definitely been a shift for everyone and I know a bunch of my other classmates (and me), are struggling big time with the adjustment. Good luck with your semester!
ReplyDelete