Wikipedia Trail: From Devata To Mandala

I found a classroom tweet by Professor Gi

1. Devata: 

A Devata is known in the Hindu religion as a deity or a god and they come in many sizes, regions and categories. There are Devatas for mountains, caves,  rivers, cardinal points and can even be found for seducing people.


Three Devatas. Source: Wikipedia 



2. Angkor Wat:
 Angkor Wat is found in Cambodia, which is located in the Southern Peninsula off of South East Asia. Before it turned into what is now called a Buddhist temple, it was constructed for Vishnu (a supreme god) as a Hindu temple. Angkor what is now known as the 'temple city' and was built in the 12th century

 A Photo Of Angkor Wat. Source: Wikipedia



3.  Mount Meru:
Meru is called many different things in among the Sanskrit and was built to represent symbolic meaning. I found this very interesting, because they explain how the Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Javanese legends view Meru.

Picture Of Where Koreans Place Mount Meru. Source: Wikipedia


4. Mandala: 
I decided to click on the Mandal link, because it sounds very similar to Mandela. It has both a religious and political meaning in Hinduism, which I would have to spend more time on, in order to fully comprehend. It is mentioned in the article that it can represent Mount Meru, which in turn represent the entire universe. Amazing how one link plays off of the next...is it not?

 The Mandala Painting. Source: Wikipedia

Time Strategies

Time Management

When tackling the heavy load of my work, classes, studying and managing everything else in my life, I realized how important it is to master the art of time management, yet I too often fall victim to these two words, until it is almost too late to get out of. I believe that I am quite organized, or at least that is how I start my year, but sometimes it is so difficult to follow my planned schedule, that I get overwhelmed and frustrated. It is at this point in time that I don't eve bother looking at my calendar.

I really enjoyed reading Peter Banerjea's post about time management. I often waste my time on less important tasks which means that I am unable to complete more important once to the best of my ability. Reading the article reminded me once again of how important it is to prioritize activities, taking it one step at a time. This will help me to improve my life and make it so much easier - helping to ease the pain of procrastination. I agree with Banerjea - starting is the most difficult part (for me) because I tend to overthink things, wanting it to be just perfect. Instead of just starting and jotting down the first thing that comes to mind (no matter what task I take on), I often find myself pondering.

Even though I have thought of  the "What will go wrong if I don't do this now?" question, reading it in this article, allowed me to view and understand it from a different perspective. Time does not stand still for anyone or anything. Not completing something in time will ultimately lead to consequences and reactions that can be avoided by simply DOING IT!

(Quote about time flies. Source: The Pinay Va)

Growth Mindset

Growth Mindset : 

 "Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs." -Pearl Strachan Hurd

Words are part of speech and everyday life, but the way we use it, is what is ultimately important. When parents tell their children that they are not smart enough or for example, that they need to get an A in the next exam to avoid being grounded, it can affect the child severely. The above quote by Pearl Hurd stuck with me, because once something is said, it can not be undone and it can create what author Carol Dweck call a 'fixed mindset'. I am quite familiar with this term, and as a child, I was never good at mathematics. I used to tell myself that I am dumb and that math kicked my butt. Never in a million years did I think of how these words could and would affect me. It controlled my mindset and I had to teach myself to think differently. 

I became familiar with the term in high school and during those years, I was the student (as Dweck mentioned in her article) who always compared myself to my peers, hoping that I was not the student with the lowest grade in the class. I had a fixed mindset and thought that I will always be like that. As I evolved throughout life and everything else I did, it became evident that I had to change my way of thinking in order to grow and it helped me tremendously. Throughout my years at OU, I was able to implement different ways of learning because of a growth mindset. Never giving up, always trying my best and believing in my abilities is what allowed me to prosper in life and accomplish my dreams and that is why the below image resonates with me.  I am now able to view setbacks as a learning curve and push harder to overcome these.

(Cat In a Tree. Source: Cheezburger)

Tech Tip: Canvas Mobile App

As I am constantly on the road and traveling, and on my phone, I decided to download the Canvas application for my iPhone. This will allow me to be up to date with assignments and due dates.
Finding and downloading the application on my phone was very easy and the tutorial video was informative. I synced the calendar with my phone and liked how you can set a timer for your notifications. I believe that this app will be helpful and I enjoyed going through all the different settings / folders on the Canvas app.  

Review, All Things Come To An End

(Source: Everything That Has a Beginning Has An Ending)

Reading through the week's announcement, this photo quite struck me, because often we as people wonder "why" "what if" and "if only". This is in relation to all things in life, whether it is someone passing away, relationships ending, etc. Another reason why this truck me, is because of a personal issue that my sister is currently going through and this immediately reminded me of her.

Reading Options

Ramayana Version 

After reading through the course materials, I came to a conclusion that it will be best for me to choose the Public Domain Ramayana version, which is an anthology. The reason I chose the PD version, is because of the ease of accessibility. Since all my classes are online, I do not have to go the library to get a hard copy of the R.K. version. 

Another aspect that drew me to this version is the fact that illustrations are available. Since I am a very visual person, I believe this will assist me in understanding the story line better. The more links, comments, notes and illustrations available, the better. Although I am more in favor of modern language, I think it will be interesting to experience the "old-fashioned" language - words that are more well known in the past. Videos, as a mean of learning really made me interested in this version because it can help me make important notes that I might have misread.

My first encounter with epic story lines was back 2013 when I attended Collin County Community College and I was required to take an English Comp class. I found it very confusing in the beginning and it frustrated me, but as the course progressed throughout the weeks, I was able to understand the significance behind epics. I have seen movies such as Braveheart, Forrest Gump, etc before but never in a million years did I think of it as epic movies (I just learned something new). The Quran was mentioned and studied during this class and Christianity was also discussed, which again, shed light and perspective on a lot of questions I had and it allowed me to look at it from a different perspective. Although I have never traveled to India, watched Indian films or have Indian heritage, I look forward to learning even more about their culture and beliefs. This will allow me to appreciate other cultures and have an open mind to their customs and ways of life. 

 

Source: (Kunti, Wayang purwa shadow puppet Wikipedia Commons)

The above image instantly drew me back to African art styles, which is why I chose this picture. After doing some research on this picture, I read that Wayang refers to a theatrical act with puppets or human dancers, which absolutely fascinated me because dancing is a huge part of African cultures, religions and ceremonies. 

Storybook Favorites

Storybook Favorites

1    Kurma and Karma

Growing up by the ocean, and being a seafood lover, the picture immediately caught my eye – and although the picture looks very grandiose, the design and story line blends well together. I chose this story, because it immediately caught my interest and attention and it reminded me of how every action has a reaction. Furthermore, the design elements are interesting and portrays contrasting colors. This is definitely something to consider for my project and this story is by far the most interesting. Who would have thought of using the Finding Nemo movie to narrate a story. Well done to this author.  

                                                   (Sea turtle. Source: Kurma and Karma)

2     Real Housewives of Ramayana

The real housewives of Atlanta are what pops up when I started reading this story. It is certainly not a show that I watch and have no knowledge about. The first few sentences in the introduction, reminds me of The Bachelor – The Women Tell All season finale and that intrigued me. I do not think that the image used in the introduction portrays the story well as it makes no real connection to the plot. However, I do think that it is very clever of the author to connect the story with a real-life television show – well done.

3    Campfire Animal Tales

I chose this for my third story because we have a farm, I love nature and hunting and it reminds me of my African roots. The image used for this story is kind of strange, because it does not remind me of camping and campfires. It looks more like a mountain hiker who is camping due to a long day of walking. The title, on the other hand depicted exactly what the story entails. The author chose a simple design which makes it easy to scan through, but I think it is too simplistic. 

Introduction To "Who Am I"?

Who Am I?

First time mother, student, busy and tired

Second oldest sibling of 5 sisters

Lover of children, nature and travelling

Who needs laughter, love and family

Who fears all insects, snakes and mice

Who would love to travel to Italy.

Who am I, you may ask?

Let me introduce myself! My name is Vera Hanks, I am 27 years of age and from Namibia, Africa, which, as I have mentioned in a previous post, is situated off of the South West Coast. Namibia is bordered by Angola, Botswana and South Africa, but I have only traveled to Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa. Often when I converse with people in the United States, they think that I am either Swedish or German. Yet, when I inform them that I am from Africa, they are totally shocked. 

Now, let me tell you how I ended up in the USA... 

Lover of children, nature and travelling, but most important of all is CHILDREN! Growing up within a big family, having four sisters and one adopted brother, I have always had a love and passion to work with children. I am good with kids and believe that they are the most precious gift from our Heavenly Father. After completing High School, I decided to travel overseas to become a nanny and I left my familiar territory and family behind to set off on a new adventure at the age of eighteen years. I joined the agency known as Au Pair In America and they matched me with a family who resided in New Jersey. Being in an unfamiliar territory, all by myself, I had to learn and adjust to new customs, cultures and people. Culture shock is the only word that comes to mind - feeling like a chameleon on a smarty box (an expression used when you are overwhelmed with emotions). What are the odds; a family with 5 children is who I ended up with. My experiences made me who I am today and although I had some tough times (raising another family's children), it is my faith, family and determination what got me through. 

Two years later, as my nanny contract came to an end, I met my husband who is from Oklahoma. He took me to my fist ever football game at the University of Oklahoma and it was at that point in time that I knew where I wanted to earn my degree. Fast forwarding a few years later to today, happily married and a first time mother who just had a baby in December 2016. At this point in time, I am enrolled in online classes and with only six credit hours to go before earning a BA in Communication. I love to travel, read, spend time with family and friends and try out new things. I am always up for a challenge and believe that anything is possible if one tries hard enough! My friends describe me as fun, outgoing, hard working and determined and my hobbies include reading, watching movies and cooking. Some interesting facts about me is that I lived in 7 different towns over the past 5 years, I am multilingual, I think and quite often overthink things which sometimes bother me, I hate bad jokes and I have had 3 knee surgeries since I was 17. 

It is my dream to travel to Italy one day and explore all the different unique aspects of the culture that it has to offer, but for now, my focus is on my degree and my new born son. 

(Personal photo, Windhoek, Namibia, 2015)

Study Music YouTube

Week 1 Story: The boy Who Craved a Pie

Simple Simon met a pieman

Going to the fair;

Says Simple Simon to the pieman,

"Let me taste your ware."

Says the pieman to Simple Simon,

"Show me first your penny."

Says Simple Simon to the pieman,

"Indeed, I have not any."

Simple Simon went a-fishing

For to catch a whale:

All the water he had got

Was in his mother's pail! 

Once upon a time, there was a young, down to earth boy, who the residents of a small town knew as Peter. He loved to get out, experience new things and meet all the community members. 

Peter just could not wait for the next weekend, as the big annual parade started on Friday. This was an opportunity for him to meet people from both near and far, but his mother was apprehensive about letting him go, as he knew no stranger. Unfortunately there was simply no talking Peter out of attending. “But mother” Peter said “I must go the parade, this only comes around once a year”. His mother agreed, but told him that he must find a friend to accompany him, as she has prior commitments that would not allow her to go.

Peter knew that he had better start asking friends right away, as it might be difficult to find someone whose parents would agree to the trip. Peter decided he would first ask his very best friend- Nathan White, and quickly took off running down the block.

“Nathan, Nathan” Peter yelled while wildly beating on the door. After what seemed to be an eternity Nathan’s mother answered the door.

“Hello Peter, is everything okay dear?” Nathan’s mother asked. “Yes, everything is just great Mrs. White. I wanted to know if Nathan was here and if he could attend the parade with me this weekend? “Well Simon, is your mother going to accompany you to the parade as well?” she asked. Peter replied “No, actually she has something already planned Mrs. White but she did give me permission to go if I had a friend to go along with”. Mrs. White told Peter that she would discuss it with Nathan’s father and Nathan would let Simon know the following day at school. “Great, thank you Mrs. White!” Peter shouted as he took off running to head home.

The next day at school Nathan could not wait to see his friend. Finally, after the 1^st period bell rang, Nathan darted down the hallway to find Peter and tell him the good news. “Peter! Peter!” Nathan shouted as he approached Peter’s locker. “My mother and father said that I could go with you to the parade on Saturday”. “That’s great, it is going to be so much fun, we will pick you up at 9 am Saturday. I can not wait” Peter replied. And off the boys went to finish their school day.

Finally, here is was, Saturday morning, Peter woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed at 7:30am. He quickly took a shower, had some breakfast, and urged his mother to quickly get ready to pick up Nathan. Peter and his mother were soon headed down the road to gather the friend and head to the parade. When they arrived at Nathan’s house, he was anxiously waiting on the porch. He hopped in the car and off they went.

“Now you boys behave yourself, have fun and I will be back in a few hours to pick you up” Peter’s mother said, as the boys were already out of the car and making their way to the entrance.

While waiting in line to watch the parade, Peter noticed a peculiar man, with the most delicious looking tarts that he had ever seen. “Excuse me Sir” Peter said “I can not help but to notice that beautiful tarts you are holding”. “Why thank you” the man replied. “I would give anything to taste it” Peter told the man. “Well that might be possible” the man said, “but it is going to cost you, they will be auctioning off the tarts after the judging”.

“We do not have any money, Sir” Peter told the man. The man replied and said in a rude voice“Well son, it sounds like you are out of luck then, as this tart was not cheap to make”.

Peter and Nathan then decided on a plan to come up with the money needed to buy a slice of pie, but unfortunately they struck no luck. Nathan grabbed the tarts and off he dart with the cops soon behind to end the crime. 

                                                 

                                                       (Boy Running Away With Pie)

Author's Note: The original rhyme is about a boy who went to a fair and wanted to buy a pie, but had no money. After looking more into the rhyme, I concluded that the boy tried to catch a fish to sell and get money to buy a pie, but the pie man left him on the side of the road. I decided to modify the rhyme, by changing the scene and adding another character, while adding a twist of burglary in the end where the cops ran after Peter and Nathan to retrieve the stolen items. 

Bibliography: Based on the nursery rhyme "Simple Simon" in The Nursery Rhyme Book edited by Andrew Lang.

Catalina Island & Walvis Bay..... My Favorite Places

Walvis Bay, Namibia. I grew up in a town with a population of approximately 100,000 people. It is situated off of the South West Coast of Namibia (Africa). I lived with my grandmother and four siblings. It is always so much fun to go back home for the holidays...As they say "there is no place like home". Walvis Bay is a huge tourist attraction for many people around the world and is well known as the town where the desert and ocean meet, creating an environment that is abundant in nutrients and food for many wildlife.

                                       

                                         
                                                  (Photo of  a White Pelican and Greater Flamingo:
                                                                   Wikipedia Commons)


Santa Catalina Island, California. There are no words to describe how beautiful this island is! A 1hour boat ride away with the Catalina Express, with daily departures from San Pedro, my husband and I went to go visit a place unfamiliar to both of us. Scuba diving, fresh seafood, you name it. We went there for our honeymoon back in 2014 and it is definitely one of my favorite vacation spots. I find the history quite interesting, and the wildlife and its natural settings are something that one absolutely needs to explore. We rented a golf cart and toured the entire island, while stopping at local restaurants to try out authentic cuisine dishes and beverages. This place is a MUST on one's bucket list.

                               (Image Information: Photo of Catalina Island; photo from June 2014)