![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Visiting parents
Oct. 8th, 2007 10:56 pmMy parents are here for the week to visit their granddaughter (and they talk to us from time to time too. :) I've gotten a lot more sleep than usual, mostly in the morning when I can sleep until noon. :) Unfortunately, they have taken over my office (their bedroom), and with entertaining them this weekend, I haven't had as much time to work this weekend, which has me stressed today. Besides my class planning, I'm trying to get my job applications out. I think I've finally finished the basic application documents (CV, teaching statement, research statement, and generic cover letter); now I just need to go through the list of schools, customize the letters a bit, assemble, and mail/email. Hope to do some of that tomorrow afternoon after class...huzzah!
Oh yes, and I saw Mikhail Gorbachev today.
Update: No one saw this last line and took the bait! :( Gorbachev came to the University of Dallas last Monday, and while his official lecture cost $50 to attend, he answered a few (pre-screened) questions for the assembled college that afternoon. I was a bit too far away to see much in the way of detail; he looked much like any older balding man in a suit. :) I was surprised by his deep voice. I was also surprised to learn that he apparently doesn't speak English; he spoke with a translator at the gathering, and the chair of my department, who as the University's (only?) Russian teacher was part of his entourage, says that he didn't hear him say a word of English all night. He must know some English, of course, (I know "nyet" and "sputnik"), but my American provincialism misled me. Then again, it could be that he is from an earlier era; English is increasingly dominant in the world today, so I wonder if there are any current world leaders who don't speak it. On the gripping hand, language skills are not a prerequisite for reaching high public office, so there are probably some leaders who *should* know English but just can't get the hang of it.
Oh yes, and I saw Mikhail Gorbachev today.
Update: No one saw this last line and took the bait! :( Gorbachev came to the University of Dallas last Monday, and while his official lecture cost $50 to attend, he answered a few (pre-screened) questions for the assembled college that afternoon. I was a bit too far away to see much in the way of detail; he looked much like any older balding man in a suit. :) I was surprised by his deep voice. I was also surprised to learn that he apparently doesn't speak English; he spoke with a translator at the gathering, and the chair of my department, who as the University's (only?) Russian teacher was part of his entourage, says that he didn't hear him say a word of English all night. He must know some English, of course, (I know "nyet" and "sputnik"), but my American provincialism misled me. Then again, it could be that he is from an earlier era; English is increasingly dominant in the world today, so I wonder if there are any current world leaders who don't speak it. On the gripping hand, language skills are not a prerequisite for reaching high public office, so there are probably some leaders who *should* know English but just can't get the hang of it.
