So peaceful

This is an awesome photograph taken by the amazing Matt Cashore (you can see his photos at www.nd.edu). The Grotto looks so peaceful. Of course, it is also probably absolutely freezing, but I bet it was quiet when this picture was taken. Even with the students present, you probably would hear nothing but the occasional sound of crunching snow. I think Tom Dooley's words sum this photograph up best:

But just now . . . and just so many times, how I long for the Grotto. Away from the Grotto Dooley just prays. But at the Grotto, especially now when there must be snow everywhere and the lake is ice glass and that triangular fountain on the left is frozen solid and all the priests are bundled in their too-large too-long old black coats and the students wear snow boots . . . if I could go to the Grotto now then I think I could sing inside. I could be full of faith and poetry and loveliness and know more beauty, tenderness and compassion.

How true.

In another news, the semester is finally in full swing here. It's really great - I love all the classes that I'm taking. I'm getting a better foundation in linguistics and SLA theory, I'm learning all about the history of the Spanish language and how it has evolved since the preroman times, and I'm diving into a research project that explores how the brain processes individual words in both first and second languages. TAing has also been great. I've almost learned all my students' names! There's nothing better than presenting a new idea to them and having them actually understand it. So cool. Add to all that some awesome friends and fun times with the church group, and my semester is officially busy. Busy is good, so I'm just going to enjoy the ride.

Y'all take care (I've been informed that it's actually "y'all" and not "ya'll"... Ken Jennings even confirmed it when he wrote "y'all" in his blog. So now I know it must be true.)

Paz.