Bagsy


Gehe ich damit um?

Obwohl mein Prüfungstermin diesen Monat nicht klappte, tauche ich immer noch ins Deutsche ein. Vor einigen guckte ich …

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Tschüss, 2022

Vor einigen Tagen habe ich von etwas Komischem geträumt. Ich saß an einem Tisch neben vielen anderen Menschen; ich …

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An Old Friend

Several months ago my Russian language partner sent me a photo of her dog dozing in his bed after he shredded it. …

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Vorbereitung

Es ist lange her, dass ich geschrieben habe. Aber ich habe eher einen Grund als eine Ausrede, so denke ich zumindest. Im …

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Sachsenhausen

It rained on only one day when I was in Germany. This was the day I traveled to Oranienburg, a suburb only about fifteen …

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Eastern Europe in Germany

It was only months ago that the war in Ukraine debilitated my psyche. For the first couple of weeks I, as someone who …

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Eine geistige Heimat

Yesterday I returned from Germany, the best trip of my life. Before the trip I did not hesitate to voice my fears about …

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On anti-intellectualism

A couple years ago my mom sent me a photo of medical test results. Our relationship was barely hanging by a thread at …

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Закрытая дверь

Мне очень трудно, написать это. я никогда не написала что-нибудь длинный по-русски. Это продолжается долгая время, …

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Eine gebuchte Reise

Heute schreibe ich meinen ersten Blogbeitrag auf Deutsch. Das wollte ich früher tun, na ja. Jetzt ist es die perfekte …

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Where do I stand?

I am distraught. Do I stand with the thousands who call Ukrainian Village home, my favorite neighborhood in my favorite …

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Go for the Opener

Last week I attended my first show since November. I spent much of December and January wondering if live music was …

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Vulnerability: Part Two

Vulnerability continues to simmer in my mind as I absorb LP3, Hippo Campus’s new album released only a week ago. I …

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Vulnerability

Surgery is one of the most vulnerable experiences for not only the patient but also the surgeon. Last Wednesday I rode …

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More

Although 2020 and 2021 felt together like one ongoing year in some ways, 2021 alone was a year of high highs and low …

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My new passport

Not sorry for today’s angsty post; writing helps. Every year my opinion on adoption becomes more nuanced in both a …

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Approved

Humans don’t like making permanent, life-altering decisions, even if they know what they want. Humans like having …

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Why I Speak German

People often ask why I am so interested in other cultures and, especially, learning other languages. It is no secret …

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On Photography

I recently finished Susan Sontag’s On Photography. Here, I include my favorite excerpts from these essays as well …

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Fall Photo Galore

I wanted to dump here all of the photos I’ve accumulated this fall, as it appears the season is coming to a close. …

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Bleachers Show 11/2021

About two weeks ago I attended my second show since pre-COVID times. I was delighted to see Bleachers for a third time, …

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Luck Versus Control

I recently finished reading Maria Konnikova’s The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, …

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Things I Saw in D.C.

I want to share some things I saw in D.C., even though the trip was two weeks ago. I was able to squeeze in some sights …

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My Russian passport appointment

On Sunday I returned from my trip from Washington D.C. I could discuss at length what I thought of the area, but there …

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Shame

I’ve been quiet here recently not only because I have not set aside time to write like I should but also because …

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Live Music and the Dionysian

Three weeks ago I went to a concert for the first time since December 2019. My identity depends on live music. No wonder …

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My 2021 Album of the Year

Two weeks ago I felt like a little kid on Christmas Eve, anticipating the greatest gift. I, cocooned in my bed, stayed …

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Thoughts on Between Past and Future

Science and culture: what’s happening? Science has polarized Americans for years but now more than ever. Even …

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Used bookstores in used cities

I love visiting different cities, especially new ones. Who doesn’t? My list is short yet includes gems such as …

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Catharsis

I’m currently sitting in O’Hare, waiting to board a flight back to Saint Louis after a week-long vacation. …

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I'm Busy

An intensifier such as “very,” “really,” or “extremely” often precedes …

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Why I'm still wearing a mask

Recently the CDC loosened its face mask guidelines, and my university now allows those who are fully vaccinated to work …

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Surrounded by Heads and Bodies

Over the weekend I finished reading the monster that is Infinite Jest (IJ). This book will circulate in my mind for far …

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A Neglected Question

Almost all of us are victims of surveillance capitalism. Yet sometimes digital privacy enthusiasts dance around a bigger …

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On Mother's Day

I wish Mother’s Day would disappear. Even the holiday’s founder, Anna Jarvis, felt this way. There is no …

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No side effects

I received my second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine a couple days ago. No side effects aside from waking up with a stuffy …

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Pragmatism or perish

Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza claimed that “the highest activity a human being can attain is learning for …

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Thoughts on The Sword in the Stone

Dan John is a person of many hats. He is a gem in the dumpster fire that is the current fitness industry. One of his …

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Tickets

Nothing else in the world matters when trying to snag tickets for a show guaranteed to sell out in minutes. It’s …

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On verbs of motion

Verb conjugations, adjective endings, and different alphabets frighten foreign language learners, particularly English …

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Introduction

In college I took photos for my university’s newspaper. In retrospect I did not fully appreciate how fascinating …

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