two events of the weekend

Saturday: My birthday party
Sunday: Rain's Coming World Tour 2007

busy ant

Very busy. Spent two days in the Department Seminar last week; spent forever dealing with the BBA course, grading, getting prepared for class, familiarizing myself with the APA style, looking for material for final exams. Was working on a translation that was overdue. Now having two completely new course syllabi to get done; one for the MA (English) program and the other for MA (Translation) program.

But of course I had time to take my niece and nephews to the zoo. See more pictures here.

Share twenty things others should know about you

There is no such thing, but if you must. 

1. My name is Jiranthara, which means a land that lasts forever. 

2. I was born (eight weeks early) and raised in Thailand. 

3. My mom can calm you down whatever problem you have. 

4. My dad has a great sense of humour. 

5. I have only one younger sister, who is married with three children. 

6. She is taking good care of everyone in the family when I am away. 

7. My niece is gorgeous. 

8. My nephews are cute. 

9. If one can have more than one best friend, mine are Pom and Noy. 

10. We share our moments of madness and manage to keep each other sane. 

11. I've had three full-time jobs as a writer/translator, an international banking officer, and a lecturer. 

12. I started my PhD in January 2003. 

13. When I finish it, I'm going to teach again. 

14. I'm not doing a PhD for promotion at work; I just wanted to be away from work for a while, i.e. to be doing a different kind of work (to make it not sound as bad). 

15. I hope to submit my thesis in April (fingers crossed). 

16. A fortune teller, no two fortune tellers, told me I am getting married when I finish my PhD (with whom?) 

17. I think I've been learning a lot about myself over these past three years away from home (even more than about linguistics or time conceptualsation). 

18. I am spiritual but impatient. 

19. I care about other people, but not about what they think of me. 

20. I start knowing people, thinking they are good (some people prove me wrong, but they can't change me).