Note to reader:
This post is a bit more wordy than my usually posts.
But I really hope you read and enjoy the whole thing.
Advice: If you just wanna lighten up, read the first half.
If you are interested in political science, read the latter half.
A few highlights of the day:
1) Done with this semester's exams. Today's Jazz exam was unforgettable.
Exam's at 9 and we all look very tired. We were all sitting in our seats, waiting for the exam to start.
My amazing professor did something remarkably fun.
He asked everybody to stand up, started playing a boogie-woogie tune, turned up the speakers and said to the class,
'Shake that butt and boogie-woogie! Dance! If you don't, I'll give u a C!'
Such a fun prof! Love his sense of humor.
And his assistant/colleague/student /whtever, Sebastian, was just as good.
He was announcing the examination regulations like this:
'I'm your North Korean dictator, listen to every word I'm about to say.
Don't flip over the examination paper unless you are told to do so, or else it'll explode.
Put your student card on the right hand corner.
If you put in on the left side, you will fail. If you move your card, you will also fail.
Oh wait! some students have seat numbers on the right?
Maybe we should call the AR. Or we break the rules and get the prof fired.
Put your belongings under your chair after you're in the examination hall. Now you have 2 seconds to do so.'
Something like that.
As we started the exam, our student cards are checked to make sure it's really us who are taking the exams.
The prof and Sebastian did the checking.
They kept exclaiming:
'You know, this is not the best picture of you.'
'Oh God, the university should invest in better cameras.'
'Where are your eyes?'
The best one: 'Busted! You are a fake!'
We were laughing so hard and kept giggling and chuckling even when the exam started.
I'm so glad I took this course, had such a great time!
Best course ever.
2) Lunch and nice long chat with another favourite prof of mine.
3) Meeting mentor for 1-on-1 lecture...he actually suggested another(!) meeting next week...
So, Lecture No. 2: Lateral Thinking and Learning to Talk Like A Politician
Lateral Thinking
I like the part on lateral thinking. Thinking out of the box and creativity are qualities I wanna have.
I know lateral thinking can change life, because it sets you free from your usual mindset.
And in a world where we face new problems of all kinds, we really need to come up with good and unconventional solutions.
I asked how I can train myself to think in a different mindset.
He said: challenge yourself & the way you think.
Easier said than done.
Talking Like A Politician
Apparently he thought I am a politician-wanna-be, which is just not true.
He gave a few examples of politicians/ public figures mastering 'the art of answering questions'.
Yes, I have to agree that answering harsh questions/ speaking decently and wisely is a part of etiquette.
And I do admire people who master the art of speaking.
Rule No. 1: Stay Ambiguous
So that people can't use what you say against you.
Earlier that day (see no. 2), I was talking to my prof about exactly that; also about honesty and the complexity of women & the way we think.
In general, I think honesty is the best policy. With one exception: when you are flirting.
It makes no difference if you are a man or a woman.
Let's admit it: Staying mysterious and unexpected is just the Rule No. 1 in Flirting 101.
So when my mentor was so seriously talking about 'the art of speaking in diplomatic levels to save a country',
I can't help thinking and smiled,
So, talking like a politician shares the same rule with Flirting 101: Stay mysterious, stay ambiguous.
Oh well, I can do that. (evil smile)
I can talk like a politician by just being a woman. How nice.
I'm so glad my mentor doesn't read minds nor did he spot the evil spark in my eyes while I was developing my little diplomacy-is-just-like-flirting theory.
Love,
N
(P.S. will announce and launch a mini life challenge later on)
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