machine gun mouth

I met with my academic advisor this morning about getting the school to count my future Arabic credits toward a second major in Foreign Languages.  The school seems less than thrilled about giving me credits toward a major if the credits aren't earned through our Foreign Languages department.  I am torn between understanding and frustration.  I get that they wouldn't really want to encourage people to accredit their specialisation outside the school, but I am still getting a complete major in International Affairs and taking more than full schedules every semester of school, so I'm not taking anything away from the school.   So, in any case, my advisor and I set up an appointment with the Associate Dean of Students to discuss the matter.  In regards to other aspects of my studies, my advisor was very encouraging about my general academic plan, which is great to hear, but I never know if I should take him seriously.  He can be excessively, deceptively positive about things, which is great for my morale, but sometimes I am confused about how reality-based his attitudes are.  However, as we were going over my four-year plan, I did get a very strong sense that the plans I've laid out are really, truly something I want to do.  I got an amazing feeling of resolve and calm.  I know that the plan I've laid out is ambitious and that it won't be easy.  I have to take 20 academic credits next semester, which won't be easy and probably won't be all that fun, but it must be done.  In the last few days, I've started to have a very serious sense of what it is that I want to do after I graduate. That is, I want to work with scientists, doctors, economists, sociologists and anthropologists to create self-sustaining communities like they did in Gaviotas, Columbia.  I hope that what I'm doing now will lead me into that.  

By the by, if you haven't heard of Gaviotas, please check it out.  They've done really amazing work in a very challenging environment.  It's very inspiring.   

Also, it turns out that even though I was apprehensive about wearing a rain coat (social suicide at home), it is not only totally acceptable here, but actually a rather pleasurable experience.  I stay dry, but I can be out in the rain!  Imagine that...  It's delightful.