Michael Thomas Harbuck
English - Signorina Dotoressa Hawkins
Journal 2 : 26-09-2007

Sehr geehrte Frau Doktorin Hawkins, 

How I would really love to be able to write academically in German again...  I guess I 
will have to wait.  There have been some amazing discoveries at the Technical 
University in Munich, in whose teaching realm I lived and explored.  Sometime I will 
have to show  you the data and pictures of all of the fungi which I collected and 
listed, and attempted to taxonomize accordingly.  My last course where with I was able 
to write in German for a teacher was  at the Volkshochschule in Garmisch in 2006, 
where I attended Italian I and II.  I did well, and should really  try to finish my novel 
this weekend, as I have renewed it from the library four times.  It is not difficult, and I  
am well able to  comprehend the sentences,  however, I feel the need for a very 
intense period of vocabulary and grammar review.  It can never be read or 
re-ingrained enough.  
I try to read many types of materials for different subjects.  Writings from 
the marine institute in Venice, comics called Mr. No from a friend of mine, and Italian 
brochure advertisements for expensive one of a kind articles, of which a many are 
produced in Italy.  Last but not least, I had my pasta(chuta) for today.  Mmm..   The 
fall is my favorite time of year, with the changes in the plants and animals, and the 
melancholy of the cool day.  The song birds greeted me this morning, and I was 
fortunate to be able to have them come and play very close.  Out of all of the classical 
music, there is nothing to compare with the avian morning symphony.  Why there were 
so many in the one tree this morning I do not know.  But the group of  five or six fink 
like birds, being as diligently working as possible, seem to capture the attention of and 
mesmerize the red birds, who sat with bewildered notions on a nearby branch.  As I 
always try  to mimic and speak to the birds, I was not  surprised when a small one 
landed quite close, and then took a long wondering gander at what I was doing.  It 
must seem really strange that I am not able to  fly, and that I am not able to flight 
about the woods day in and out eating the  wondrous numbers of nutritious 
invertebrates.   I only I were able to do so.....  

On to school work.

Writing the half of the first essay on a notebook was a change for me, as I usually write 
at a computer.  It did seem to hamper thoughts, of make them more readily fluid, so I  
will say that I would do the same again.  My handwriting is not the best, this I know, in 
fact it often seems like I do not know which font I want to use, even within a single 
word.  It was much easier when I had a very nice calligraphy pen, and was able to use 
older characters, but this is not easily understood by most.  The extremely organized 
essay is not something that I  write at all, and I am thankful to have the opportunity to 
practice.  I like descriptions, and have tried to improve upon them.  There is an author 
by the name of Theodor Storm, whose descriptions are much better than the 
photographs they could represent.  It is a combination of attitude, view, and passion 
which vividly evokes images with words, and I hope someday someone would like to 
read my descriptions.  Tone and setting are literary, but the imagery is art, and 
specifically that which creates the lasting memory by etching the mind's eye with a hint 
of hopeful fantasy.  The essay was not a summary for me per se, but it was rather 
easy, once I had a good template, namely the  perfectly organized essay by the young 
man who was not required to rewrite.  I was inspired by the organization and 
crispness, but feel that there is so much more that can be added.  This addition, 
however, discredits to a certain limit the readability and credibility within the seriously 
academic peer range.  It is  however good practice, to reiterate.  

To be able to bring one's thought to paper is the purpose of the literary schooling.  Be 
this in the ultra organizes fashion, or somewhere below this structured level.  
Exercises in class are good, and make one think and do things one would not do  
outside of the classroom setting.  I know it is difficult to incorporate all aspects of 
writing and  thinking into one small course, and believe any exercise is beneficial.  A 
dimension is lost when one tunes out a possibility.  

It is 11:50 at night, and I am  supposed to be working, but told the boss I needed a 
hour to do my  assignment.... no problems., except that I should have done this 
earlier!  (and  write more, as I enjoy it so.)

Men and women are not really all that different.  The older one becomes, I believe the 
more the opposite sex seems to be the same.  We are, as humans,  the same except 
for differing ratios of hormones.  Many of the 'classical' differences are born from 
mistruths and fallacies, although some have a strength in the  natural role based lives 
of animals, and  are  strictly functional.   All humans base their lives on the same 
basic needs.  My view is that those who grossly exceed a natural life and deviate 
physically from the natural world, are the same who by the selfish outcome begin to 
misconstrue communications between the opposite sex, and distance themselves, 
rather than the difference being a tangible one.  I will compare something in my next 
essay which will bring forth a better understanding of this observation.

Michael Thomas Harbuck