#Advanced Academic English program

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Hi!! I love your blog, thank you for everything you do!! could you make a post similar to the one you did recently about the British school system, but about the American system instead?

I'm not American, and I’ve noticed there are a lot of little details about the U.S. education system that often go unexplained — which makes sense, since they probably seem basic, obvious, and second nature to Americans.... but for outsiders it can be confusing

If you could also point to some resources on the topic, I’d be really grateful! thanks again for your blog, you're so helpful and inspiring<3

Writing Notes: U.S. Education System

Basic Structure of the U.S. Education System:

In the United States, there are 3 levels of education:

elementary,

secondary, and

postsecondary

The approximate age range of people at the elementary and secondary levels:

Students ordinarily spend 6 to 8 years in the elementary grades,

which may be preceded by 1 to 3 years in early childhood programs and kindergarten.

The elementary program is frequently followed by a middle school or junior high school program, which generally lasts 2 or 3 years.

Students then may finish their compulsory schooling at the secondary or high school level, which may last 3 to 6 years depending on the structure within their school district.

Students normally complete the entire program through grade 12 by age 18.

High school completers who decide to continue their education may enter a technical or vocational institution, a 2-year college, a 4-year college, or a university.

A 2-year college normally offers the first 2 years of a standard 4-year college curriculum and a selection of career and technical programs.

Academic courses completed at a 2-year college are usually transferable for credit at a 4-year college or university.

A technical or vocational institution offers postsecondary technical training leading to a specific career.

The term "degree-granting institutions" used in this report refers to colleges and universities that offer associate's or higher degrees and whose students are eligible to participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs.

An associate's degree requires the equivalent of at least 2 years of full-time college-level work;

a bachelor's degree normally can be earned in 4 years.

At least 1 year beyond the bachelor's is necessary for a master's degree, while a

doctor's degree usually requires a minimum of 3 or 4 years beyond the bachelor's.

Professional schools differ widely in admissions requirements and in program length.

Medical students, for example, generally complete a 4-year program of premedical studies at a college or university before they can enter the 4-year program at a medical school.

Law programs normally require 3 years of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree level.

Other types of educational opportunities for adults are offered by community organizations, libraries, religious institutions, and businesses.

Some Vocabulary

ACT: A curriculum-based multiple-choice assessment that tests reading, English, mathematics, and science, with an optional essay section. The ACT is widely accepted at accredited two and four-year colleges and universities in the United States.

Community College: A postsecondary institution that offers associate degree programs, as well as technical and vocational programs.

Core Course: Courses that provide the foundation of the degree program and are required of all students seeking that degree.

Fellowship: A form of financial assistance, usually awarded to a graduate student. Generally, no service is required of the student in return.

Honors Program: A challenging program for students with high grades.

Minor: The student's secondary field of concentration. Students who decide to pursue a minor will usually complete about five courses in this second field of study.

Prerequisites: Programs or courses that a student is required to complete before being permitted to enroll in a more advanced program or course.

Semester: Period of study lasting approximately 15 to 16 weeks or one-half the academic year.

Subject: Course in an academic discipline offered as part of a curriculum of an institution of higher learning.

Syllabus: An outline of topics covered in an academic course.

Sources: 1 2 3 4 ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

Hi, thanks so much for your kind words! Glad to hear these references help with your writing <3 You can find more information and terms in the sources. Hope this helps!

[valleyof-goldenlilies]

The Winter Formal - Modern! Aemond Targaryen x Reader

Summary: Forced to be your annoying, arrogant academic rival’s date for your university’s Christmas Formal was already a nightmare in itself. Getting drunk? Now that was just a recipe for disaster.

Pairing: Modern! Aemond Targaryen x AFAB! Reader

Warnings: profanity, angst, some talks of drunk violence, academic dumb idiot rivals to lovers, lovesick Aemond, p in v sex, degradation, face sitting (f!receiving), tiddy play, use of 'atta girl' (pls let me know if i missed anything)

Word Count: 6.92k words

A/N: hoe hoe hoe! a very merry late Christmas and Happy New Year in advance from me to you :) MAY THE AEMOND NATION PLS ARISE, bcuz this is for you guys ;)

lovely dividers credited to @firefly-graphics !

For as long as you could remember, you had always hated Aemond Targaryen’s guts. 

Maybe it was a hatred programmed in you since birth, but it made little sense, since your mother and Aemond’s mother, Alicent Targaryen, had been inseparable companions since high school. It was your mother who supported Alicent throughout her marriage, acting as a close, trusted confidant during her clashes with their old friend and Alicent’s new stepdaughter, Rhaenyra, and throughout her miserable marriage. They had even gotten pregnant at around the same time, your mother with you, and Alicent with Aemond, and they were sure that their children would share the same strong bond as they had. 

So, it had been quite unfortunate, and ironic, when you and Aemond ended up being each other’s number 1 enemies. 

You disliked plenty of things about him: how he always thought he was the best in the room, and actually had something to show for it - always coming in at the top of the classes you shared. History, geography, mathematics, english…bloody hell. It hurt worse when he always flaunted the results in your face. 

Got a 98 for English? Aemond would get a 99, shoot you a taunting sympathetic grin and said: “Better luck next time.” He knew you were always actively seeking a chance to beat him, and he found a certain sort of thrill in it, in taunting you. 

That little fuckhead. 

It was a nigging thorn in your side, since you always strove to be the best that you could at everything. And you were always so, so, close. 

Yet not close enough. As you were made to watch Aemond on stage every year at your school’s academic awards ceremony, a smirk on his face, looking like an overly self-righteous pufferfish as he lifted his first place trophy in the air. Like he had just won some fucking world championship. Meanwhile, you had to stand backstage, gritting your teeth and fisting the fabric of your uniform in your hands as you waited to be called on stage to receive your award as second place in your whole cohort. Not close enough as you were forced to be designated as salutatorian at the end of your senior year in high school, while Aemond shot you the most self-satisfied grin ever as he deliberately brushed past you to give his valedictorian speech. 

You swore, if your diploma was not at stake that day, you would’ve pummelled him right in his smug, grinning face. 

That year before you were due to start at King’s Landing University, however, Aemond had suffered a horrible accident in a brawl at a bar during Christmas along with his younger nephews, Jacaerys Velaryon and Lucerys Velaryon. He had come out of it with one eye permanently scarred from the glass shard of a broken beer bottle, and a colder, more sullen attitude. Despite the offer of a prosthetic eye by his step sister, Rhaenyra, Aemond had refused, instead putting on an eyepatch to hide his scarred right eye. 

When your mother had recounted to you the incident with much solemnity, you had felt a strange sense of turmoil in you. You didn’t want to feel sorry for Aemond Targaryen, of all people, but it was a tragic incident that no one deserves to have befallen on them. So you could only shift uncomfortably in your seat, as your mother made meaningful eyes at you, trying to elicit some sympathy and concern from you. 

Because of that incident, Aemond’s admission to university had to be put on hold, as the professors at the university were unsure if Aemond’s plans to double major in law and history would be impeded by the loss of his eye, and he had to take additional exams to prove that his studies would not be affected in any way. 

So you were surprised when on the first day of classes, during your first class of the day - Constitutional Law - you caught sight of a familiar figure seated at the front of the class. Dressed in an expensive black cashmere sweater and tailored trousers, his long white hair neatly bunched up at the top of his head in a bun, eyepatch slung over his right eye, Aemond Targaryen sat there with an impassive look on his face, browsing through his lecture notes. Like some dark shadow the Seven sought to inflict upon you. You wanted to groan in frustration when the only seats left at the front were both next to him - clearly no one had summed up enough courage to sit next to the imposing Targaryen. Gripping the strap of your backpack a little tighter, you stalked up to the front, taking a seat at the right of him. 

He barely looked up as you slid into your seat - a surprising change. Usually back when you were in high school, he would always greet you with that infuriating smirk on his face, one that screamed superiority at every turn. Gods, how much you had hated that. Yet, you felt a strange sense of emptiness at not being greeted. 

Ignoring that, you pulled out your own textbooks and self-made notes, tying your hair up into a neat ponytail as you began reviewing your notes. From the front, you could hear very clearly what the rest of the class were gossiping about, and the whisperings about Aemond were unpleasant. You paused as you listened to them, gripping your highlighter a little tighter as you shot side glances at Aemond - still studying, not letting anything give. Was he truly not bothered by them? When he was younger, he always had something to prove whenever someone gossiped about him, having been bullied in the past. Why was he so silent? Who was this phantom? 

“Are you going to keep staring?” Aemond’s cool voice broke through your thoughts, and you felt your cheeks heat up as you realise you’ve been caught. You sniffed haughtily, turning away. “Who said I was staring?” Aemond scoffed, not turning to look at you still, for whatever reason. “You were. Don’t try to deny it.” He paused for a while, eye fixed on a passage. 

“I don’t want your pity, you know.” You bristled, startled. “As if I ever would.” You waited for Aemond to retort with a snarky remark, but you were surprised when he kept silent, and responded coldly. “Good. keep it that way.” 

You shot him a discerning look, but before you could say anything else, the professor arrived, and all thoughts of Aemond Targaryen’s new unapproachability had vanished into thin air. 

You soon came to learn that while Aemond had ceased the taunting of your youthhood, it was like losing an eye had made him even more driven somehow. You found you and him falling into old patterns, restarting your fierce rivalry. Only this time, you managed to succeed in getting the best of him in certain modules, such as for Civil Law modules, much to your delight. It only served to make Aemond more steely, however, and the both of you often found yourself partaking in the same student committees, always competing for the top spots in planning school events. 

Like now, in the meeting called to discuss the planning of the school’s Winter Formal. 

“I think that that’s a shit idea,” Aemond’s blunt words took everyone aback, but few dared to oppose him, too intimidated by the tall man. 

And the few who dared were mostly you, anyway. 

You raised your eyebrow, tapping your pen on the planning document in front of you. “It’s a winter formal, Targaryen. And white and gold is the traditional theme used for most formals. Isn’t it nice to spruce things up a bit?” 

“You’re proposing to reinvent a winter formal that has been steeped in centuries of tradition,” Aemond remarked sarcastically, glaring at you. “Do you know how many distinguished alumni and guests are on the guest list? I doubt they would find your ‘Christmas Wonderland’ theme proposal charming in any way. Most likely, they’ll think it gaudy and it’ll reflect badly on the school.” 

You snorted, wanting to toss the pen in his fucking infuriating face. Him and his know-it-all voice. “Yes, but you forget, Targaryen, that I am the head of this project. Not you.” You turned to the other members of the planning committee, who all look like they would rather be anywhere other than here, in the midst of you and Aemond’s bickering. “All of those in favour of revamping the winter formal theme, please raise your hands.” 

Your reputation as a tenacious leader clearly had an effect, as most of the members tentatively raised their hands. Shooting a triumphant grin at Aemond, you smugly noted it down and began drafting up the students in charge of decorations. 

One for you, and zero for Aemond. At long last. 

Aemond had reluctantly gone along with the Christmas Wonderland theme, and even he had to admit, a little bit of colour certainly didn’t hurt. White and gold were such dreadfully boring colours, and many of the school’s faculty had expressed their praise for the changed theme this year, much to your delight. 

However, so busy were you with the planning of the winter formal, that you had neglected to do a few important things for yourself. 

Buying a dress and getting a date. 

You paced back and forth in your dorm in panic, two days before the night of the Winter Formal, as your roommate, Rosina, looked at you with increasing frustration. “How could I be so stupid to have forgotten about those things?” You groaned, slumping down on an armchair and putting your head in your hands. 

“The dress problem can be easily solved,” Rosina said bluntly, leaning back against her pillows. “I’ll just lend you one of mine. And who gives a flying fuck about not having a date? A lot of people don’t.” 

“Yes, but I’m the head of the planning committee for this event!” you griped, as Rosina rolled her eyes. “I still don’t see the problem, apart from your stupid fucking dignity getting in the way as usual.” Usually, you loved Rosina’s deadpan, take-no-bullshit nature, but it wasn’t really helpful now. 

“Anyway, from what I've heard, Targaryen doesn’t have a date either, so you don’t need to stress. He’s second-in-charge after you, anyway, so if he doesn’t have a date, you should be fine. It won't be that humiliating.” You slowly lifted your face up, looking at Rosina urgently. “Targaryen doesn’t have a date?” 

“Yeah,” Rosina wrinkled her nose. “He’s hot, sure. But literally everyone who had the courage to ask got rejec- where the fuck are you going?” You were putting on your bra, and brushing through the tangles of your hair. “This is so fucking stupid, but I’m going to ask him.” 

“Are you crazy?” Rosina came to stand next to you, hands on her hips as you roughly used a hairbrush to comb out a tangle. “You know you both hate each other right?” 

“Desperate times call for desperate measures,” you bit out. “Wish me luck!” You blew a kiss to Rosina as you left the dorm. “Good luck, you crazy bitch!” You could hear Rosina holler as the dorm room closed behind you. 

You took a deep breath, eyes resting on the dorm door before you. Right. You didn’t know what exactly had possessed you to come here. Maybe it was sheer panic, or stupidity, or both. You knocked lightly, but it seemed no one was in, which made you come to your senses a little bit. “This was a stupid idea,” you muttered, retracting your hand, wanting to just scurry back to your dorm. 

Turning around, however, you knocked into a hard chest. “Oof! I’m so sorry!” You gasped out, before your eyes met a familiar lilac one, an indifferent expression etched on his face. Fucking hell. 

“And what are you doing at my dorm this late, little bookworm?” His voice was raspy, and you couldn’t help but shift your weight from one leg to the other. Was it too late to run? 

You were never a quitter though. And like you said, desperate times called for desperate measures. 

“The winter formal,” you reluctantly gritted out. “I wanted…to ask you to be my date.” Aemond raised an eyebrow, and for a split second, you could see that self-satisfied boy from your youthood again. “You know, you’re supposed to say please, little bookworm.” 

You bit your tongue, wanting to snark him and be done with it. ‘Calm down, calm down, you really do need him. Play nice, Y/N.’ you told yourself sternly, sighing. “Please, will you go to the winter formal with me as my date?” Aemond smirked, looking down at you. Your head was bowed, and he could hear you grinding your teeth a little. You were just too cute sometimes. 

“You should look up at someone when making a request of them, you know,” Aemond said blandly, putting his hands in the pockets of his leather jacket. Your mouth dropped open, was he serious right now? This dickhead- 

“You know what, fuck it,” you sniffed, beginning to walk away. “If you’re going to be a dick about it as usual, then there’s no point in continuing this conversation. Good fucking night, Targaryen.” 

Aemond watched you walk away, the smirk never leaving his face. You went back to your dorm, immediately burying your face in the pillow, ignoring Rosina’s exasperated sighs of ‘I told you so’. All night, you tossed and turned in frustration, but when morning broke, Rosina shook you awake, ignoring your grumbles. 

You got out of bed grumpily to see what the fuss was about, only to find a note sitting on the table, in a familiar scrawl. 

“Go to the address written below and pick out a dress for tomorrow. Knowing you, you definitely didn’t have time to find one. I’ve already made payment arrangements, so just find one that you like. See you tomorrow. 

Your date, 

Aemond Targaryen.” 

Rosina snorted, bumping your shoulder as you scanned the note for the third time, trying to make sure he wasn’t pulling your leg. “He so likes you.” You looked askance at her. “That’s bullshit.” Rosina chuckled, “Yeah. it’s not, and you know it too.” The conversation abruptly ended when you snatched up a stray cushion and began hitting her with it, ignoring her squeals as she tried to escape. It was impossible. 

And yet? 

A warm feeling burrowed into your stomach, and stayed there for the rest of the day. 

On the night of the Winter Formal, you were frantically scrabbling around your dorm, affixing the final pins to your hair, putting on your final touches of makeup. Rosina was still in classes, but as the winter formal started at 7:30, you, being your endlessly worrying, perfectionist self, had to go at 6 to make sure everything was in order before the guests poured in. 

A knock at the door sounded, and you yelled in response, putting on your lipstick. “Give me a second!” As you swung open the door, your breath momentarily stuttered in your throat. 

Oh dear. 

Aemond stood outside the door, looking like he had just stepped out of the fucking Met Gala or something. He was dressed in a three-piece suit, black with red lapels, with a few shimmers of silver scattered here and there, like he was coated in a layer of stardust. His suit jacket wasn’t really a normal jacket, but a sharply cut cape coat, which made him look a little imposing, but handsome all the same. It was embroidered with small dragon insignias, and you remembered Aemond’s family’s crest was a dragon or something. Of course he would find a way to incorporate that into his outfit. His family were one of the biggest donors of the university, after all. 

You gave him an appraising look, one hand on your hip as you surveyed him. “You…look nice.” Aemond smirked, tossing some of his white-blonde locks over his shoulder haughtily. “I can dress myself, you know. Don’t need to act surprised now.” You rolled your eyes, and Aemond took the chance to scan you from head to toe as well. Dressed in a gorgeous strapless gown of midnight blue, your bodice was streaked with silver as well, shining like starlight among the deep blue of your dress. The skirt flared into elaborate ruffles of tulle and black lace that were almost invisible against the backdrop of the dress, and small silver sparkles twinkled among the ruffles of your gown.

You narrowed your eyes as you realised the both of you were matching, did he do this on purpose? From the way Aemond’s eye was shining in mischief, you were most certain that he did. 

“You look…breathtaking,” his next words took you aback, and you regarded him with a look of unease, unsure of how to respond. Was this truly the Aemond Targaryen you knew? The one whose only language was taunting or disagreeing with you? You somehow managed to recover some semblance of sanity, nodding stiffly. “Thanks…I guess.” 

A self-satisfied smirk appeared on his lips again, as he offered you his arm. “Shall we get going, then? I’m sure you will want to inspect the venue and get your nose into every single little crook and cranny to make sure that it’s perfect.” 

You rolled your eyes, your arm, which were clad in silver silk gloves, slipping into his gingerly. “Spoken like someone who wouldn’t do the same.” 

The formal had been progressing smoothly so far, apart from the few drunken incidents here and there, which you discreetly handled and made a note to provide less alcohol at these events. Much to your delight, your professors had introduced you to some attorneys whom you deeply admired, commending you as one of their finest students in the year. You had taken the chance to network and mingle with them, eagerly seeking out internship and shadowing opportunities for your upcoming holidays, particularly in the field of civil litigation, and many of them had given you their contact details for you to contact them should you wish to work with them.

Aemond stood by you like a silent shadow, watching but not saying much, but your professors also praised him, introducing him to many esteemed alumnus. And once they had learnt that Aemond was from the prestigious Targaryen family, many of them immediately took to flocking Aemond, asking him many questions about his family, his plans for studies, and so on. A slight burning sensation of envy rose in your heart as you watched Aemond disinterestedly converse with them. Why wasn’t he taking it seriously? Had it been you, you would be seizing the opportunity to network with them. 

‘He's a Targaryen,’ you sighed internally. ‘Of course he wouldn’t. It’s been pretty much handed to him on a silver platter his own life anyway.’ 

Sullenly, you slipped away, making rounds around the party to ensure that everything was progressing smoothly. Still, it couldn’t curb the irritableness you were feeling, so you snatched up a bottle of whiskey from the drinks table, pouring yourself a glass. Then two. Then three. Then four turned to seven and seven turned to thirteen glasses. Your surroundings blurred as time seemed to slow, and you sighed, feeling a heady pounding in your head. 

“Are you serious?” A gruff voice interrupted you in your fifteenth? Twentieth? Glass of whiskey, and you looked up from where you had sunk into a plush armchair, a glazed over, slightly cantankerous expression on your face. 

“Well, well,” you hiccuped, lifting the glass to your lips. “If it isn’t Mr Bigshot Targaryen.” Aemond sighed in annoyance, knowing you were picking a fight again. He made a quick assessment of your surroundings, noting two empty whiskey bottles and a third one that was almost drained. Seven fucking Hells, you were drunk. 

You let out an indignant yelp as a hand plucked away your whiskey tumbler, setting it down with a definitive clink. “Hey, I was drinking that!” 

“You’re fucking drunk out of your mind, little bookworm,” he said quietly, crossing his arms. “I’m taking you back to your dorm.” You hiccuped again. “You’re not my dad, Targaryen. So why don’t you just run along and socialise with those schmoozy lawyer friends of yours, hmm? They were all eager to have a piece of you. Or have you grown tired already?” 

Aemond wanted to smack you in the forehead. Oh, this godsforsaken woman. “I may not be your dad, yes,” he rumbled, snatching away the whiskey bottle that you were reaching for and making you curse at him. “But I would be damned if I let you get drunk on your first Christmas Eve spent away from your family.” 

You gave him a confused look. “Is it Christmas Eve?” Aemond frowned. He put a hand on your forehead, to check for a fever, which you promptly batted away. “Have you lost all your senses? The winter formal was scheduled on Christmas Eve, remember?” 

“Oh.” was all you could say, lamely. “I…I was so busy. I didn’t remember.” 

Aemond sighed, taking a seat in the armchair next to you. It was good that it was late and most of the guests had already left, so the both of you had some privacy. The vast hall was empty now, save for a few cleaners. “You know, you have got to take more time for yourself. You take on too many commitments.” 

You hiccuped, snorting softly. Perhaps it was the liquid courage, but you felt a strong inclination to vent out all your previous frustrations on Aemond right now. Who the hell did he think he was, criticising you for your decisions? 

“Yeah, and it’s all your fucking fault.” Aemond’s eye widened incredulously, his mouth dropping open. “My fault? Pray tell, did I ever tell you to overwork yourself that you forget to keep track of when Christmas was?” 

“It’s because of you that I have to overwork myself!” you blustered out, a tidal wave of emotions overtaking you. “Because you’re always so fucking perfect, and smart, and good at every single goddamn thing under the sun. Meanwhile, compared to you, I’ve always had to work twice as hard. And yet, I never come close to beating you. Despite how many fucking extracurriculars I have, how many A’s I get, how much praise I get for being ‘one of the best students in the grade’, it’s never fucking enough! Because you’re always the best! And I’m so sick of it!” 

After your tirade, you deflated like a balloon sucked clean of its air, collapsing back against the armchair. You felt hot wet streaks cascading down your face, but you didn’t care anymore. You were just so tired…it wasn’t fair. Why did he have to be so perfect? 

The touch of a hand on your shoulder startled you, and the next thing you knew, Aemond Targaryen embraced you, gently stroking your hair as if you were a lost child, and he was consoling you. Despite your mind screaming at him to let go, it didn’t translate to your physical actions. You just…stayed there, sobbing in his arms. “I hate you so much, you know. You’ve always had everything handed to you on a silver platter, and it’s like you don’t even care. You always treat things for granted,” you continued rambling on, the dizzy sensation in your head gradually increasing. 

Aemond was silent for a long time. He never anticipated you to feel this way, and the shock from your revelations sent his head reeling. He sighed, how could he ever tell you that he had a stupid crush on you since you were little kids? That his attempts at teasing you, riling you up, were all so you could just look at him for a second longer, even if it was with a scowl? How could he tell you that none of his A’s or first place trophies could make him feel the same fuzzy way he felt whenever you looked at him? He opened his mouth to speak, debating on whether to comfort you, or tell you all his feelings. “Y/N-” 

With a start, he realised you were asleep in his arms as you let out a snore, body slack in his arms. He sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. Wonderful. This was just the Christmas Eve he wanted. 

The sound of an alarm jolted you from a deep slumber. You flung off the blankets covering you, sitting up in bed and rubbing your eyes. “Ugh…” the pounding in your head was overwhelming, it was like there were a party of elephants having a fiesta in your brain right now. “What time is it…” you reached for the alarm clock to turn it off, only to freeze when a hand reached for it before you did. 

You and Aemond Targaryen stared at each other, wide-eyed, in the dim light of the dorm, while the red digits on the clock read, “6a.m.” 

You were the first to react, frantically struggling as you scooted to the far end of the bed. “Aaaahhhh!” you screamed, clutching the duvet closer to you for protection. “What the fuck are you doing in my dorm?” 

“Wait, we didn’t-” you looked down at yourself, noting with palpable relief that you were still in your winter formal attire, though you stank of alcohol. Thank the Seven. 

Aemond rolled his eyes, grumbling as he switched off his alarm clock. “No, we didn’t sleep together. And this isn’t your dorm. It���s mine.” 

“Then what in the name of the Seven and all that is holy am I doing here?” You hollered at him, the confusion coupled with the pounding in your head making your surroundings spin. “Ow…my head.” 

“Yeah, it’s called a hangover,” Aemond snided, taking a seat on the bedspread. “You know, for drinking nearly three bottles of whiskey last night.” 

Your eyes went wide in horror. “Last night…” You weren’t the type to forget what you did while drunk, so your memory quickly raced through last night’s events, where you got drunk, and…fucking shit. 

You squeezed your eyes shut, muttering curses under your breath as you remembered what had happened last night. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. An awkward silence had lapsed in the room, as you struggled to find words to acquit you of this predicament. ‘Me and my big mouth while I’m drunk.’ 

“I’m sorry,” you both blurted out at the same time, before breaking off, staring at each other awkwardly. “Wait, why are you sorry?” you questioned him, looking dumbfounded. Aemond sighed, smiling wistfully. “Isn’t it obvious? For making you feel that way. I…I had no idea you did.” 

“It’s fine,” you cut him off brusquely, awkwardly fiddling with your fingers as the duvet slowly slid back down. “It’s all just fucking stupid, anyway. Let’s just let it go-” 

Suddenly Aemond seized your hands, holding onto them with some sort of restrained anger. Startled, you stared up at him, as his one eye glazed over with pain and sorrow. “Of course it’s not fine. Don’t brush aside your feelings like that.” you stared at him, stupefied. What had gotten into him? 

Aemond inhaled deeply, looking down at your hands. “You know…how I lost my eye over the break last year right?” You nodded warily, not sure where this was headed. Aemond’s voice shook a little as he recounted that incident. “It was because Luke was drunk, really. He wanted to pick a fight with this guy because he had stolen his girlfriend. And then next thing we knew, his goons surrounded us. Then, I think maybe it was the heat of the moment, or adrenaline…but Luke had a glass shard in his hand, and he accidentally attacked me.” You felt your heart plummet to your stomach. “What?” 

Aemond smiled, a contortion of pain and feigned impassivity. “He was drunk out of his mind, he probably thought I was one of the goons by accident. By the time Jace pulled him off, it was a little too late.” He sighed. “You know, the drunk part I can forgive, but the worst part was that my father didn’t even care to hear my side of the story. He just said that we should’ve been more careful.” His voice hardened, “I was angry, because he just chose to brush this under the rug, pretend like we were still one big happy family, like Luke didn’t slash out my eye in a drunken rage. He didn’t try to comfort me, or understand my situation. And I just…” he shrugged helplessly. 

You bit your bottom lip, looking at his scarred eye. “I’m sorry…that must have hurt. A lot. Your dad is a dick.” 

The ghost of a smirk lingered on Aemond’s lips. “Yeah…he is. I’ve made my peace with it though, and Luke has never stopped apologising since that day. So it is what it is.” He hesitated, before reaching up tentatively, taking off his eyepatch. A gasp sounded from you as you took in the sapphire crammed into where his right eye should’ve been. “...does it look scary?” Aemond asked you, his voice small. You shook your head, unable to tear your gaze away. “It’s not. It’s…quite beautiful, actually. Even though it’s a bit macabre.” 

Aemond chuckled, gently brushing aside a strand of your messed up hair. “My point is, don’t try to just brush things under the rug, okay? It never did anyone any good, and it won’t for you as well.” You shifted, a faint sense of discomfort prickling your skin. “But why…are you telling me all this?” ‘Why are you being so nice? I hated you.’ 

Aemond barked out a rough laugh. “Isn’t it obvious? I have a crush on you, little bookworm.” 

You blinked. Once. twice. Thrice. “I’m sorry, what?” 

“I have a crush on you. Since we were kids." Aemond repeated himself, his voice light with amusement, but tender. “Did you know why I always teased you? Why I always wanted to make you frustrated? It was because I wanted your attention. I didn’t care if it was negative or positive, which in hindsight, didn’t seem like a good choice.” 

You stared at him, mouth agape. He-he can’t be serious, can he? 

“You don’t have to say anything,” Aemond said quickly, releasing your hands. “I just wanted you to know how I felt. No brushing things under the rug, you know.” Still, Aemond could feel his heart breaking a little at your silence. He had shot his shot, even though you made it clear that you disliked him. He shouldn’t expect much. “Little bookworm?” he asked carefully, observing your expression. 

“For someone so smart., you’re a real idiot, you know that?” Aemond opened his mouth to answer, but before he knew it, your lips were on his, as you launched yourself at him. Aemond’s eye widened, but then you mumbled, “You’re supposed to kiss me back, you know.” 

Then, with a choked laugh, Aemond did, reaching up to cup your cheeks and stroke them with his thumb as he returned the kiss from the girl of his dreams. Your lips moved in perfect tandem to one another, filled with tender, sweet desperation. “I’ll be an idiot, an annoying pest, anything you want.” Aemond murmured, his lips breaking away for a moment. “As long as you keep tormenting me, as long as you’re still here. I would be your anything.” 

You laughed, feeling slight tears prickle at the corner of your eyes. “You’re such a doofus, you know that?” Aemond flipped you over, making you land on your back with a yelp, as he hovered over you, smirking. “I know. But I’m your doofus.” 

Aemond continued kissing you, his hands roaming across your body sweetly, carefully. “This is probably the best Christmas of my life,” Aemond muttered softly against your lips. Your eyes widened, “Shoot, I completely forgot again.” Aemond laughed, sitting up and looking down at you with a naughty grin on his face. “Well, I actually have a present for you, you know.” 

You raised your eyebrows, looking up at him. Even in nothing but an old, faded sweatshirt and some sweatpants, he looked like a vision sculpted by the Seven. “Oh? And what might that be?” 

“Me, of course,” he said smugly, leaning down to kiss you again. You let out a few whimpers as you felt his hands slowly sliding up your dress, creeping up your thighs…into your panties. 

“Oh!’ you gasped out, as Aemond found the spot between your wet folds. He grinned devilishly, “Already wet for me, hmm?” You rolled your eyes at him, groaning as he teased your wet slit with the pad of his finger. “Just shut up already.’ 

Aemond wiggled his eyebrows mischievously, “Why don’t you make me?’ You blinked, not quite comprehending his point. “I want you to sit on my face while I eat your wet little cunt,” he delineated bluntly, looking at you hungrily. “It’s a victory for you, no? You get your pussy eaten out, and shut me up at the same time. Hell, if I wasn’t so eager for a taste of your pussy, I would’ve grumbled at the unfairness of it.” 

You stared at him incredulously, but you felt the slow rise of arousal in your abdomen as he continued looking at you challengingly whilst teasing your folds, and you decided, why the hell not? “Game on, Targaryen.” 

He grinned, putting his finger in his mouth and groaning as he tasted your essence. You clamped your legs a little tighter at the sight. “You taste so fucking good already. I can’t wait to feel your cunt on my mouth.” Deft fingers helped you out of your gown, and you tossed it away carelessly, moving to take off your underwear. Aemond’s eye trailed over your naked form shamelessly, and he planted a soft kiss on your neck. “Beautiful.” he murmured. You felt your cheeks heat up, but decided to sass him a little. “Well, are we going to wait here all day, or?” Aemond grinned, a handsome, wicked expression that made your stomach do flips. “Definitely not. I need to taste you now.” 

He laid back on his pillows, gesturing at you. “Come here. Now.” You swallowed, crawling towards him, angling your cunt to his face. “Don’t suffocate or anything, okay?” You quipped as a joke, but Aemond only smirked. “No promises, sweetheart.” 

He pulled your hips down towards him, and you let out a pleasured gasp as his tongue flicked across your clit. Moaning, you dug your nails into the wooden headboard of his bed, writhing and shaking slightly as Aemond devoured your pussy. When he pressed the tip of his nose up your slit, you let out a mewl, eyes rolling to the back of your head. 

You rode Aemond’s face eagerly, as he pleasured you without much regard for his own safety. A few times, you were so concerned that Aemond had not come up for air in so long that you tried to move your hips off his face, only for him to firmly grip you by the hips and pull you back down again. With Aemond’s insistent licking and sucking, you felt a coil beginning to form in your stomach. “Oh, god, I’m cumming, Aemond-” you moaned, but your moan was cut off when Aemond lifted you off his face, smirking at you smugly with his face coated in your juices. “Why’d you stop?” you whined, pouting. 

Aemond chuckled. Oh, you were just so adorable sometimes. “Because I want your first time cumming with me to be on my cock,” Aemond explained, looking eerily calm, like he hadn’t just nearly drove you to climax with his tongue. “On your hands and knees.” 

You gave him a scolding look, but Aemond only repeated himself, sterner this time. “Now, princess.” The nickname earned a shiver from you, and you found yourself obeying, shifting on your hands and knees. You heard Aemond dispose of his own clothing, and your legs quivered in anticipation as he came up behind you. 

He chuckled darkly, landing a few gentle spanks on your ass. “Gods, this ass is magnificent. I’m going to have to spank it someday.” You had to bite back a moan as he leaned over you, whispering sweetly into your ear. His other hand wandered to your chest, pinching and then rubbing your sensitive, hardened buds, releasing a shaky, shuddering moan from you. “You would like that, wouldn’t you? Having my hands all over this perfect ass of yours? Leaving red handprints over it? Hmm?” 

You nearly choked on your saliva as you fought to answer, “Yes, daddy.” He groaned, smacking your ass lightly for a few more times. “Good fucking girl,” he punctuated each word with such raw intensity it made your cunt ache for him. Oh, how you craved him.

As if he could read your mind, Aemond began to enter you, groaning as he did. Inch by inch, he sunk in, watching his cock disappear inside your warm, wet folds. “Gods, you are so fucking tight,” he swore, his hands gently going around to pinch your nipples. You yipped, which brought a smile to his face. How could someone be so perfect? 

Your legs were quivering at this point, and you were barely hanging on by a thread as Aemond sunk into you slowly, reaching places so deep and so pleasurable. You moaned, just how big was he? 

“All in, princess,” he whispered affectionately, stroking your hair gently. “You okay?” “Yeah…” your voice was slightly raspy from the pleasure. “Good.” Aemond kissed down your spine gently, making goosebumps rise up on your skin. “Do you want it hard and fast, or slow and gentle?” 

Biting your lip, you managed to stutter out, “Slow, please. Need to get used to you.” Aemond smiled, hands trailing down your abdomen. “Anything you want, princess.” 

Then, Aemond began to move, and the world dissolved into a fuzzy nothingness as he did. He was so careful, taking his time with you, thrusting so deep inside you it elicited the most delicious, deep sighs and moans from you. “Oh…that’s the spot,” you murmured as Aemond’s cock hit your g-spot, making you see stars. Aemond chuckled darkly, one hand moving to play with your hardened nipples, watching as you arched your back into him. “I’m going to go faster now, alright, princess?” he murmured, the other hand soothingly trailing down your spine. You barely managed to gasp out the words “yes” before Aemond began to thrust harder and faster in you, hips ramming into yours as his cock stroked the most sensitive spots inside of you. 

You moaned, panting needily as he did, feeling your ruined orgasm beginning to creep up again. “Aemond, am gonna come-” A guttural moan torn from Aemond’s throat as he heard that, his hands moving to flip you over as his movements slowed. “No.” He nearly snarled, turning you around to face him. “You come looking at my face, princess. Understood?” 

You nodded, too desperate for your orgasm to object, as Aemond wrung moan after moan out of your pliant body, mouth kissing and biting everywhere on your neck and shoulders, leaving his marks all over you. He groaned as he began laving his attention on your perky tits again, mouth sucking at them harshly, teeth grazing over the nub. You shut your eyes, too lost in the pleasure as Aemond continued pounding into you, gripping your hips tightly. 

“Eyes open, darling, or I won’t let you come,” Aemond’s rough sounding command made your eyes snap open, and he grinned roguishly as he saw your eyes fixed on his face. “Atta girl. Are you close?” 

You nodded, pleading, “Please let me come, Aemond. Can’t last much longer…” 

“I know, darling. I know,” Aemond groaned, leaning in to kiss you again. “You’re just a needy little slut for me, aren’t you?” You nodded frantically, anything to make him let you cum. He chuckled, “Thought so. It’s alright though, daddy likes needy little sluts like you, so long as they’re obedient. You’re a good girl, aren’t you, princess?” 

“Yes, yes, I am,” you cried out, hands moving to grip at the sheets tightly. “Oh god, I’m going to come, I’m coming-” 

Aemond’s fingers moved downwards, and his thumb rubbed over your clit, coaxing you towards your orgasm. With a loud cry, you came all over Aemond, eyes squeezing shut in unadulterated pleasure. Aemond’s thrusts didn’t slow a bit, as he chased his own high, groaning. “Do you want me to come inside, or…” 

“I’m on the pill, don’t worry,” you reassured him, looking up at him, smoothing his white-blonde locks back from his forehead. He looked like an angel, all sweaty, his expression filled with pleasure and hunger and affection as he looked down at you. An angel of lust. 

Aemond moaned at that, feeling his dick twitch before he spilled inside of you, hands going to grip at the headboard tightly, as he rode out his orgasm. 

Aemond collapsed onto the bed next to you, taking you into his arms. “I should probably get you cleaned up,” he murmured softly, “But I just want to be selfish for a while, and cuddle with you a bit. That okay?” You nodded, leaning your head onto his chest. A content sigh burst from your lips. “More than okay. We can just shower together later, anyway.” 

Aemond hummed in approval at your proposal, kissing your forehead gently. The both of you stayed in each other’s arms for a while, basking in the afterglow of sex and in each other’s company. 

“Hey, princess?” 

“Hmm?” 

“Merry Christmas.” 

“Merry Christmas, Aemond.”

Aemond General Taglist: @aiyaiy @sylas-the-grim @darylandbethfanforever9 @hc-geralt-23 @hb8301 @omgsuperstarg​ @justrybca

those usernames who are bolded means you could not be tagged! let me know if you wish to be added to the general taglist for Aemond related works or just my works in general in the comments below or through this form! :)

thank you for reading! if you liked it, likes, comments and reblogs are always highly appreciated! merry late xmas guys 😘🎄

[drdemonprince]

so I totally get that grad school is horrible and expensive and exploitative— but my question is what is the alternative? I have an undergrad degree in anthropology (focusing on language and disability, mostly in the US, in part to flip the script of exploitation and extractivism in anthropology) and have spent some of years outside of academia, which has also not been a great time for me. It also seems like in order to do anything anthropology related you need a PhD; I have also been in the process of applying for PhD programs. If we view grad school + academia as a job, which is all it fundamentally is (given you have funding; my plan is not to go anywhere that will not fund me), what makes this so specially horrible? Isn’t it a gift and a huge privilege to be able to, even if it’s not much money, spend time learning about things and teaching others? And what would you suggest people who are thinking about grad school do instead?

So, the thing is, very few people work in anthropology jobs.

There are very very very few anthropology jobs in the world.

The vast vast majority of people with anthropology degrees do not work in anthropology, including most of the people with Master's in the subject and many of the PhDs. Just like the majority of people with psychology degrees do not work in psychology, the majority of history-degree-havers don't work in history, and on and on.

This is part of what makes academia such a predatory and hierarchical scheme: academic departments require hundreds of new undergraduates to major in their subjects and take their classes each year, in order for them to generate enough revenue to hire instructors, fund research, and continue to operate. A very limited number of teaching staff and researchers are actually needed relative to the number of people who are taking these classes and getting these degrees -- and the number of tenured positions has been on a sharp decline since the 1980s and gets worse literally every year, so the odds of getting a career in one's chosen field of study only worsen over time as more people graduate.

Getting an advanced degree in anthropology is far from a guarantee that you will get a job working in anthropology. The job placement statistics for that field are pretty brutal. Some are worse (say, art history, or english), but it's still pretty bad. You'll likely have to apply to hundreds of jobs and be willing to move anywhere in the world that will have you if you want to ensure you get a job in that field after graduation from your PhD program.

Now, to your point, the only way to have a hope of getting to do the anthropological work you are interested in is by getting that PhD, for the most part. And if you are applying to funded PhD programs, you will get paid (very shittily) and incur no debt (a major plus) along the way.

I generally recommend that someone only consider going to graduate school if they are able to be fully funded in that way. My social psychology PhD was fully funded and that is what has made it possible for me to have the life I have today.

BUT

I was also terribly exploited and overworked along the way, causing me lasting trauma and physical illness and I would not ever do it again.

I'm one of the luckiest people i know, academically speaking -- I have no debt, an advanced degree, and a job in my field of study within academia. And I STILL wouldn't do that shit again. It was horrible for my mental health, social life, physical health, political awareness, and self-concept at every level. I succeeded in doing what academic study trains you to do -- become a professor -- only to realize along the way that I didn't actually want it anymore, it wasn't what i thought it was, and that it wasn't good for me.

And once you have that PhD in a highly specialized field, you generally have very few other career options should you decide that academia is not for you.

Looking at your own life and priorities, you might decide that the only way to get a *chance* of working in anthropology is by pursuing a PhD, and you love the field and long for that chance so strongly that it's worth throwing the dice (and getting some free schooling while you do so).

That's fine! That might be the rightest option for you.

I just want to make sure that you and everyone else knows exactly what a gamble they are taking when they make that decision -- and even more importantly, I wish that all undergraduates who pick majors like psychology, art history, anthropology, sociology, french, etc knew they were being used as a revenue source and studying a field they in all statistical likelihood will never get the chance to ever work in.

It's a pyramid scheme.

[jeannereames]

Some months ago, you posted photos of your personal library, and I'm happy to say that of the books and novels on Macedonia/Alexander (at least those I could see), I don't have only a dozen or so, and most of those are not in english. I even have some quite obscure ones like Freya Stark, Frank Yerby and Karl V. Eiker (mine is pocket-size as well!). I'm quite proud of that!

Anyway, can you give us your thoughts on 3 novels in particular: Blood of Akhilles, A Bloodline of Kings and God of War? Thanks in advance!

I started collecting ATG fiction in the late 1980s, well before modern self-publishing. My goal was to have everything from WW I forward (there wasn’t much earlier; Mary Butts an exception). Yet when self-publishing became a thing, I threw in the towel. Now I focus on formally published material (and a few things that have been recommended to me). But it’s increasingly difficult to keep up. I do have all three of those you asked about, although I’ve read only two. (Sometimes I buy the book to have it, but don’t have time to read it. The sheer amount of academic stuff on Alexander published every year is mind boggling, and I can’t keep up with even that sometimes!)

From my point of view, Chris Cameron’s God of War is problematic. First, it’s just bloody long at 700+ pages *in print* (the manuscript must have been HUGE). Yet it truncates the end of Alexander’s reign in favor of a heavy focus on the beginning. Ergo, some of the most interesting events (to my mind) are given short shrift. What, exactly, was Alexander trying to do post-330? There’s a tragedy there…but it’s not the one Cameron tells.

One big problem is, despite the size of the book, he takes a somewhat simplistic view of the characters, even Ptolemy (his main character) and Alexander (his bad guy). Cameron does understand military things but doesn’t have a good grasp of the HISTORIOGRAPHY of the sources he’s using—especially Ptolemy’s own marketing program in favor of himself. Ptolemy in the novel strikes me as a Gary Stu character, making few mistakes and without a real developmental arc. For me, in the end, I just couldn’t care about Cameron’s characters. YMMV. In terms of simple writing and pacing, Cameron does well, as he’s been doing this a long time and has a great deal of experience. But for my money, when it comes to ancient military history novels, Scott Oden’s are superior (Men of Bronze, Memnon, etc.).

That often strikes me as a problem with Alexander novels. Either Alexander is “heroic,” or he's villainized to make other characters around him heroic. Cameron takes door #2. I really dislike this sort of thing. I want the characters to have more nuance.

In my article “Alexander the Great and Hephaistion in Fiction after Stonewall” I also nailed this novel as homophobic. Now, I don’t think Cameron considers himself a homophobe, but this novel had several problems in both framing and the terms used without thinking about it—the sorts of matters that sensitivity readers are hired for these days. My article aside (whose point was quite specific), and as noted above, I also didn’t find a lot of character development, and that’s what I personally read for (and write). Alexander is a messed-up little guy, but I just didn’t find him as intriguing as he is in Nick Nicastro’s Empire of Ashes, where he’s also just Not All That—but in a way I thought better-written. Something can diverge from my personal view of a historical character and I can still find it well-done.

Now, Blood of Akhilles is a better book overall imo, but has some issues. It’s another Ptolemy-centric novel, but he’s humanized (compared to Cameron’s). I did find the sex scenes with Thais overdone, however. I view sex scenes like any scene: if it doesn’t contribute to the plot or (significantly) advance the characterization, it’s deadwood and doesn’t need to be there. Unless you’re writing erotica, but then, sex is the point, and it all comes down to how well-written it is.

I also found her treatment of Alexander…odd. He’s much more mythologized, and Hephaistion is plain dull. Many authors just don’t seem to know how to handle Hephaistion, so he becomes a cypher or a 2D character without much personality. Also, as I said in my article, I was never clear that he and Alexander were actually lovers until near the end…in contrast to the really graphic stuff with Ptolemy and Thais. Cameron’s audience is mostly straight, male mil-history fans, so the discomfort with gay guys there fits its audience. But in this one, I was less clear why she was so…careful, for something published in 2017. There were other peculiar things to me, like the mythic horse POV. It just, well, didn’t work. Again YMMV.

Also…the title. In the “about the author,” emphasis was placed on her Classics background. But the title misspells Achilles. It’s either Achilles or Akhilleus, not a weird combo of both—just as the more recent Young Conquerors: a novel of Hephaestion (Latin) and Alexandros (Greek) mixes Latin and Greek spelling. That really annoys me and lowers my expectations.

My advice to anybody writing a novel about ancient Greece: if you can’t read Greek and/or don’t have someone to consult who does…don’t try to use it. Even for those of us who do, we have to double-check things at times. I had a (historian) friend try to tell me Koenos was Koinos, and yes, the /oi/ is a more common form. I immediately ran to double-check the sources to be sure I was right. (I was.) And he reads Greek too! Even specialists can make mistakes. So, authors: be sure you CAN read Greek, and not just the letters. It’s an inflected language. E.g., The possessive of Pella is Pellēs, also written Pellais in archaeological reports. The tiles from the palace roof have “ΠΕΛΛΗΣ” on them (“from Pella”). As a young author, I mistakenly thought “Pellais” was the real name of the town and “Pella” just an Anglicization. It wasn’t until I had a Greek class that I understood it’s just the possessive form.

So, stick to common forms you’re familiar with if you can’t read Greek. (Or, conversely, learn Greek. It’s fun! I promise! [well….])

Anyway, when that sort of error turns up in the book title? Yes, I will judge you. Sorry-not-sorry.

That said, her cultural details weren’t terrible but better for Athens than Macedonia—as I (unfortunately) often find. Same issue with Annabel Lyon’s The Golden Mean. Yes, she knew Aristotle’s work, and (south) Greece, but her knowledge of Macedonia was quite dated.

It’s a bit like writing a novel set in the US and assuming Montgomery, Alabama will be like New York City or LA. Um. No. OR (the other mistake) is to exaggerate regional differences when one doesn’t actually know. Montgomery is still a big, urban center quite different from small towns in Mississippi counties. Reminds me of some college kids in Erie, Pennsylvania asking my grad student from Omaha, Nebraska if he lived on a farm and rode horses. He was somewhere between amused and insulted. (For those who don’t know, Omaha is a sizable city of a million+ people in the greater Omaha-Council Bluffs area. We have museums, a world-class zoo, the College World Series, and an insane variety of restaurants that blew the mind of my buddy from Southern California.)

That’s the sort of mistake it’s easy to make about ancient Macedonia for those whose picture of the country is drawn from Athenian sources or later Roman accounts. The archaeology of Macedonia tells a very different story, and I think folks writing about Alexander really need to immerse themselves in the material evidence.

So that’s a quick summary of two of the three novels asked about, with bonus content for anybody thinking about writing on Alexander (and what not to do).

[mindfulstudyquest]

starve your ego, find your peace

these are my personal thoughts, an outburst. if you want to share your opinion in the comments, i welcome it, but please be kind. if you just want to insult, go elsewhere. if you're not interested, don't read <3 i remind you that english is not my first language, so there may be a few mistakes.

ego, what an interesting word. it is a latin lemma which literally means "I", it indicates

the self, especially with a sense of self-importance.

(psychology, freudian) the most central part of the mind, which mediates with one's surroundings.

a person's self-esteem and opinion of themselves.

in a society like ours, we fight against our ego every day, the anxiety of constantly being in the spotlight, the overwhelming thought of having all eyes on us.

the idea we have of ourselves is the strongest chain that prevents us from freeing ourselves from this mental cage. both positively and negatively. if you have a distorted idea of yourself and low self-esteem, you will never be able to become your higher-self, to take that extra step that allows you to transform your daydreams into a solid reality, if you think you are unintelligent, you will tend to take this truth for granted. "i'm not smart enough for this" and you'll give up your dreams of a higher education, or of getting all A's on your finals, or of having a great and fulfilling job.

but sometimes we think too highly of ourselves too. i always joke that i make study plans like i'm a genius who studies 200 pages in a day, but the truth is, i'm not joking at all.

many of you will recognize themselves in the stereotype of the burned-out gifted kid, especially when you move to a higher level of education (from middle school to high school, or from high school to university) and at that moment all certainty of your acclaimed intelligence collapses. you are no longer in the pond with the small fish, now you are in the big tank with the big fish, relating to a much bigger world (at least in italy, the difference between high school and university is abysmal) and your brain will do everything to maintain an accurate simulacrum of your self-image.

in fact, your brain spends less energy processing two pieces of information that agrees rather than disagreeing information and since our biology is based on self-preservation, your mind will do everything to preserve its rightness. when i started university i was incredibly afraid of taking my first exam, why? because i didn't want to find out that i wasn't good enough for a more advanced education, that i wasn't the straight A's student i thought i was.

but waiting for the fear to go away will lead to you staying in the same place forever, because the fear only goes away if you face what you are afraid of, and yes, being afraid of exams may seem silly, but i'm sure many people who follow this blog will understand what it means to identify so much with your grades and to crave academic validation more than anything else.

so i did it, even though i was scared, i had to have the certainty that this was the right place for me, i studied hard, and i definitely rocked my exams. but then the spring exam session arrived, and the fear returned. tired and burned-out from the winter session i had little or no desire to study, so when the exam date approached, i was afraid of not achieving the same results as just two months before, so i postponed, i procrastinated, until the day before, i knew i had to study otherwise i wouldn't pass the exam, yet my brain continued to do everything to protect itself, to protect that completely crazy idea of myself that i could study the entire program in two days (i wish). i don't even have social media (tumblr and pinterest excluded), which is why i found every excuse possible not to study. i didn't want to sit at my desk and realize that i wasn't going to pass that exam, that i should have studied harder, try harder.

that is until i realized that it wasn't laziness or procrastination that was stopping me, or rather, procrastination was just a symptom of a bigger cause: a distorted image of myself. understanding this in my first year of university will perhaps change my next academic years, or perhaps not. i don't know how many of you have drawn these things or reached these conclusions, i just hope that you soon understand that you are not lazy, nor procrastinators, you are just humans who are afraid of failure like all other humans.

the problem arises now, how to change this image? i don't know yet, honestly, but i won't let it stop me from living my life.

uptade in the end i was so fucking lucky and got a 30/30 on my exam yesterday, but still at the cost of a lot of sanity, sleep and unjustified stress.

[ineffectualdemon]

Hey realising suddenly it's kinda fucked up that from 7th grade on the school system I was in actively sabotaged me and conspired to keep me out of the advance set classes and groups and didn't even try to hide it

I regularly got As in English and I entered a poetry competition in 7th grade and didn't win because they made my teacher choose between my poem and another students and due to politics he couldn't pick his own student. He told me all this while apologising profusely and said I should have won.

When I was in 9th grade there was a test you had to take to see if you could go into the advanced English classes in year 10.

The teachers told me not to bother taking the test because the school "didn't think I was good fit for the classes" I regularly got As in English as I said. In fact I got As in English, History, Geography, and Science. I got Cs and Ds though in Math and that was only because one of the years the teacher lost half our homework and graded us as passing anyway.

And the school didn't want me in any advance classes because I was struggling so badly in math. So they actively told me I didn't get in because they didn't want me to mess up their program

And then in 10th grade I failed math

And then in 11th I went and did running start at the community college and took university level courses for highschool and university credit and they did not want me to do it and were angry that I did

And believe me a lot of adults told me repeatedly I was too stupid to succeed even while telling me I was "gifted" and "had so much potential"

I was getting academic awards and being told I needed to "be more realistic" when I said I wanted to get my degree

God my school system was fucked up.

[reclusivebookslug]

Bella Swan is Autistic: An Analysis

(Disclaimers: I enjoy Twilight in spite of its problematic elements, not because of them or in ignorance of them. There are as many different ways to be autistic as there are autistic people. Many allistic people will relate on some level to some aspects of the autistic experience; this does not make them autistic. This is all just my opinion, based on my experience as a late-diagnosed, low-support-needs autistic woman. I am aware this is not a brand-new original idea.)

I reread Twilight (I think for the first time since getting diagnosed 4 years ago) and I found a bunch of things I relate to Bella about. Below the cut is a list of some of her autism-related character traits with quotes for textual evidence. The links lead to articles explaining how these traits relate to autism. The list is ordered chronologically based on page number of the accompanied quotes. Page numbers are based on the paperback edition with ISBN-13: 9780316015844. A backslash in a quote signifies a paragraph break. I’ll update if I read any of the other books or rewatch the movies and anything new comes up.

Bella has trouble regulating her emotional expressions: she has to put conscious effort into how she presents herself

"I'd always been a bad liar" (p. 4). "For some reason, my temper was hardwired to my tear ducts. I usually cried when I was angry, a humiliating tendency" (p. 25). "I had never been enormously tactful" (p. 31). "'My face is so easy to read -- my mother always calls me her open book'" (p. 50).

Bella is shy and a bit socially awkward: she avoids attention for fear of embarrassment

"Charlie wasn't comfortable with expressing his emotions out loud. I inherited that from him" (p. 7). "Mr. Varner... was the only one who made me stand in front of the class and introduce myself. I stammered, blushed, and tripped over my own boots on the way to my seat" (p. 17). "To my dismay, I found myself the center of attention for the rest of the week" (pp. 68-69).

Bella feels different from other people: she doesn’t know how to connect with others and feels pressure to fit in

"I didn't relate well to people my age. Maybe the truth was that I didn't relate well to people, period. Even my mother, who I was closer to than anyone else on the planet, was never in harmony with me, never on exactly the same page. Sometimes I wondered if I was seeing the same things through my eyes that the rest of the world was seeing through theirs. Maybe there was a glitch in my brain" (pp. 10-11). "I answered honestly, instead of pretending to be normal like everyone else" (p. 47). “'My mind doesn't work right? I'm a freak?' The words bothered me more than they should -- probably because his speculation hit home. I'd always suspected as much, and it embarrassed me to have it confirmed" (p. 181).

Bella has a unique sense of humor: other people don’t get her jokes and she doesn’t get other peoples’ jokes

"'You don't look very tan.' / 'My mother is part albino.' / He studied my face apprehensively, and I sighed. It looked like clouds and a sense of humor didn't mix. A few months of this and I'd forget how to use sarcasm" (p. 16). “Bella was being unintentionally funny” (p. 367).

Bella finds comfort in routine: the change in routine from moving was difficult for her, and she felt better once the new routine became familiar

"I fell into the pattern of the familiar task gladly" (p. 33).

Bella is academically gifted: she finds assignments easier than her peers do, she has already read the books assigned in her English course

"'Were you in an advanced placement program in Phoenix?' / 'Yes'" (p. 47).

Bella enjoys being alone: she is introverted and enjoys solitary activities

"In a lot of ways, living with Charlie was like having my own place, and I found myself reveling in the aloneness instead of being lonely" (p. 54). "I've never minded being alone" (p. 241).

Bella has motor difficulties: she is clumsy, uncoordinated, accident-prone, and bad at sports

"Possibly my crippling clumsiness was seen as endearing rather than pathetic, casting me as a damsel in distress" (p. 55). "My sense of direction was hopeless; I could get lost in much less helpful surroundings" (p. 136).

Bella has special interests: Edward and books

"... no one else was as aware of Edward as I always was. No one else watched him the way I did" (p. 69). "I was sitting in my room, researching vampires. What was wrong with me" (p. 135)? "... they didn't know how preoccupied I could get when surrounded by books; it was something that I preferred to do alone" (p. 156).

Bella is perceived as different by others: a history of social exclusion is hinted at, Edward’s mind-reading doesn’t work on her

"'It's better if we're not friends,' he explained. 'Trust me.' / My eyes narrowed. I'd heard that before” (pp. 74-75). "He enunciated every syllable, as if he were talking to someone mentally handicapped" (p. 83). "'My mom always says I was born thirty-five years old and that I get more middle-aged every year'" (p. 106). ".'.. maybe your mind doesn't work the same way the rest of theirs do. Like your thoughts are on the AM frequency and I'm only getting FM'” (p. 181). "'You're not like anyone I've ever known. ... / ... 'I have a better than average grasp of human nature. People are predictable. But you ... you never do what I expect. You always take me by surprise'" (p. 245).

Bella has sensory differences: she notices and is bothered by things others don’t and aren’t, she engages in sensory-seeking and sensory-avoiding behavior when stressed

"'People can't smell blood,' he contradicted. / 'Well, I can -- that's what makes me sick. It smells like rust ... and salt" (p. 100). "I put in my headphones, hit Play, and turned up the volume until it hurt my ears. I closed my eyes, but the light still intruded, so I added a pillow over the top of my face" (pp. 129-130). "'You're always crabbier when your eyes are black ... I expect it then' ... 'I have a theory about that'" (p. 171). “For three and a half hours I stared at the wall, curled in a ball, rocking” (p. 425).

[stuffforthestash]

Modern Academic AU pt3

All this because I couldn't stop thinking about what kinds of classes Professor Raphael would teach... He's laughing up at me from hell, I just know it.

part 1 and part 2

------------------------------

Kagha (by request!) - Environmental Science. Will only teach courses about political lobbying and activism. She's also a militant vegan and active member of PETA, and won't shut up about it.

Dammon - College of Engineering. Teaches "Advanced Manufacturing Processes" and "Finite Element Analysis", and runs the machining shop. Also teaches a metal sculpture class when there's room in the Art School's budget. He's one of the faculty liaisons for several LGBTQA+ orgs on campus as well, and is completely oblivious to the fact he has a fan club (which is for the best, really)

Zevlor - Campus Security. A retired Green Beret who refuses to talk about his time in the service, he's well liked by most faculty and known to be a bit of an old school charmer. LOTS of rumors and speculation about what kind of injury got him discharged, and how he got it.

Barcus - College of Engineering. He teaches classes on Thermodynamics and Process Design & Safety. Has no idea how popular and well-liked he is by both students and staff.

Wulbren - Chemical Engineering Dep't Chair. He's brilliant, but also an asshole, and is constantly trying to weasel more grant money for his research into ethically questionable chemical compound modifications. Also makes his TAs teach all his classes for him.

Lorroakan - English Dep't Chair. Thinks he's hot shit for it but really no one else wanted the job. He makes his TAs teach all his classes AND do all his admin work, so he can spend all his time (and the department's money) on schmoozing with alumni and donors.

Blurg - Environmental Science. Isn't that great of a teacher but it's required for keeping the research grants coming in. Thankfully his passion and enthusiasm for topics like Sustainability in Agriculture make up for his shortcomings.

Omeluum - They're actually Bluurg's research partner and not technically a member of faculty, though they also act as his unofficial TA because otherwise Bluurg's course work interferes with their research timelines.

Nine-Fingers Keene (by request) - School of Business. Her classes are all advanced level and titled things like "Gaining The Competitive Edge". She also runs an entrepreneurial outreach program for young women seeking to start their own businesses.

Dame Aylin - VP of Diversity and Inclusion. She's very passionate about her job and a VERY vocal advocate for social justice issues like inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility. Completely incapable of keeping her personal life separate from her professional one, as she's a devout believer in leading by example.

Isobel - School RN. Is fiercely protective of students right to medical privacy and access to judgment free care, but is much better known on campus for being Dame Aylin's wife.

The Emperor - Board of Trustees. Outwardly just an ordinary Trustee, generally pleasant to interact with and actually rather good at rubbing elbows with students, faculty, and admin alike. There's just something off about them, enough that they've had multiple audits and inquests over the years despite nobody ever being able to find any actual signs of misconduct.

------------------------------

Sorry this set took a bit longer to figure out. A bunch of these characters were a real challenge to fit into roles that actually exist in reality, and I had to do a bit of research to find out wtf kinds of classes or departments certain fields of study even have. Ah, the things we do for the blorbos, amirite?

[voidmountain]

@piratedllama I can but you’re not going to like it!

Void’s guide to getting a job in conservation

My story

My educational credentials: BAs in philosophy and creative writing from a big cheap state school, and a PhD in English literature with a specialization in environmental humanities from a small private R1. Couple years as an adjunct professor.

I trained my entire life to be a literature professor. It’s all I ever wanted. By the time I was finishing my doctorate, I had a very limiting belief that I was either over- or underqualified for any job outside academia. I was wrong.

By the time I made the decision to leave academia, I had published 2.5 peer reviewed academic articles and several magazine pieces. I also had about 5ish years of part-time communications consulting under my belt from helping run the writing center at my institution. I got a part-time social media/SEO management gig, and then used a grant to fund a comms internship at a local environmental nonprofit. Then I straight up just applied to jobs at conservation orgs on LinkedIn at a rate or 5 per week for about 6 months. I was looking for jobs in communications and education. Landed a couple interviews then got a position as a comms manager. My islander heritage ended up being relevant too bc I have a cultural insight into the regions where the org works. I’ve worked here for about a year, mostly wfh desk stuff, but I like to tag along to projects so I can take pics/do interviews/help with fieldwork/coordinate community meetings & info sessions. I still have a publishing career on the side, with 2 new articles out and a book manuscript in the works.

I do not recommend doing it this way lol.

What I would do instead

Conservation orgs have room for people with all kinds of backgrounds and expertise. If your goal is to have a job similar to mine, get lots of writing and science communication experience. Be able to show that you’ve built impactful campaigns and learn your way around SEO and communications terminology. Start with internships/social media, try and get some experience working with journalists, and have a nice portfolio of campaigns (easy way to start is an awareness campaign for a particular policy or science issue). Other creative experience is a plus (photography/graphic design/web design/UI).

Fieldwork is not that hard to get into. You can get field experience as an undergrad by working in research labs or volunteering. From there, lots of conservation orgs in your area are probably looking for volunteers or part-time workers to do field monitoring. TBH you don’t really need a degree to get into fieldwork, but the ceiling is kind of low without one. With a BS you can work your way up through an org probably to a manager level position where you could lead a field team but not direct a program. Generally, without a MS or PhD, you won’t be designing programs—just carrying them out, which can be really rewarding. You can also make lateral moves towards things like project management—coordinating supplies, transportation, methods, and problem-solving stuff.

Other ways to get into the field: orgs often contract out conservation tech companies to carry out specialized operations, like aerial monitoring and bait distribution. Getting a license for like a heavy-lift drone, an ROV, or boat stuff can also get you in the thick of it.

If you want to design and direct conservation programs, unfortunately you probably need to go to grad school. I can write up a separate post about how to decide whether to pursue an advanced degree if people are interested, but my general advice is Never Enroll In A Masters Program. Either do it as a 4+1 with your undergrad or go straight for the PhD. That’s where you’ll get experience designing your own experiments and contributing to the sum of conservation knowledge.

Extremely important caveat

You do not have to do any of these things in any particular order. It’s totally cool to work in the field for a couple years before going back for the PhD. You also do not need to link your education to your job (god knows I didn’t). My side hobbies of wildlife photography and scuba diving made me a great candidate for the job I eventually got, and they didn’t have anything to do with my degree or original career path. There’s also a million other jobs that conservation orgs have that don’t involve having a science background at all—HR, finance, admin, philanthropy, consulting, & policy analysis are huge parts of this. So are other jobs that aren’t *within* conservation at all, like journalism & social organizing.

A lot of folks I meet out here in the conservation world are on their third or fourth careers. It’s very, very normal to switch it up, try many things, land somewhere, leave, and pick up somewhere else.

All this to say: the world is really, really big. Don’t feel pressured to take the shortest most linear possible path. There are a million ways to have a good life.

[jobyoda-philippines]

Exploring Career and Job Opportunities in Davao City Philippines

Davao City, recognized as one of the Philippines' most progressive cities, continues to experience remarkable economic growth, creating a vibrant job market that attracts professionals from across the country. The city's diverse economy offers numerous employment opportunities, from entry-level positions to executive roles, making it an attractive destination for job seekers at all career stages.

The Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector stands as one of the largest employers in Davao City, providing thousands of jobs across various specializations. Companies in this sector actively recruit customer service representatives, technical support specialists, and quality assurance analysts, offering competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages. The industry's continued expansion has created numerous opportunities for career advancement, with many organizations promoting from within and providing extensive training programs.

Part-time employment opportunities have also flourished in Davao City, catering to students, professionals seeking additional income, and individuals preferring flexible work arrangements. The retail sector, food service industry, and education field offer numerous part-time positions with varying schedules and responsibilities. These roles often provide valuable work experience and can serve as stepping stones to full-time careers.

The Information Technology sector in Davao has seen significant growth, with many companies seeking software developers, web designers, and IT support specialists. This growth has been fueled by the city's improving technological infrastructure and the increasing number of tech-focused businesses establishing operations in the region. Tech professionals can find opportunities in both established companies and startups, with many positions offering competitive compensation and the possibility of remote work arrangements.

Davao's hospitality and tourism industry continues to expand, creating jobs in hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, and tour operations. The sector offers positions ranging from entry-level service roles to management positions, with many employers providing training and development opportunities. The industry's growth has also sparked demand for professionals in events management and tourism marketing.

The education sector presents numerous opportunities for both full-time and part-time employment. Educational institutions regularly seek teachers, tutors, and administrative staff. The rise of online learning has created additional opportunities for English language teachers and academic consultants who can work flexible hours from home or teaching centers.

Job hiring  in Davao, the digital economy has opened new avenues for employment. E-commerce specialists, digital content creators, and social media managers are in high demand as businesses increasingly establish their online presence. These positions often offer the flexibility of remote work while providing competitive compensation packages.

Professional development resources are readily available in Davao City, with numerous institutions offering skills training programs and industry certifications. Job seekers can access career counseling services, resume writing assistance, and interview coaching through various employment support organizations. These resources prove invaluable in helping candidates prepare for and secure desired positions.

The financial services sector in Davao has also experienced substantial growth, creating opportunities for banking professionals, insurance specialists, and investment consultants. These positions typically offer attractive compensation packages, including performance bonuses and health benefits, making them highly sought after by experienced professionals.

Davao's agricultural sector continues to evolve, combining traditional farming with modern agribusiness practices. This has created opportunities for agricultural technologists, food processing specialists, and supply chain professionals. The sector offers both technical and management positions, with many companies providing specialized training and development programs.

For those entering Davao's job market, proper preparation is essential. Successful job seekers typically maintain updated resumes, prepare comprehensive portfolios, and stay informed about industry developments. Professional networking, both online and offline, plays a crucial role in discovering opportunities and advancing careers in the city.

The future of Davao's job market looks promising, with emerging industries creating new employment opportunities. The city's commitment to economic development, coupled with its strategic location and robust infrastructure, continues to attract businesses and investors, ensuring a steady stream of job opportunities for qualified candidates.

Whether seeking full-time employment or part-time job in Davao City offers a diverse range of opportunities across multiple industries. Success in this dynamic job market often comes to those who combine proper preparation with continuous skill development and effective networking. As the city continues to grow and evolve, its job market remains a beacon of opportunity for professionals seeking to build meaningful careers in Mindanao's premier business hub.

[heshmylover]

════════════════════════════════════════════

𖦹 ˚₊‧꒰ა Cod bo cw OC-Intro Viktoria Balshov ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

✦ Viktoria "Vika" Balshov

✦ Name: Viktoria “Vika” Balshov ✦ Codename / Callsign: Vika ✦ Age (in 1981): 37 ✦ D.O.B: january 14, 1944 ✦ Place of Birth: Leningrad, USSR ✦ Nationality: Soviet Union (Russian) ✦ Pronouns: She/Her ✦ Affiliation: Perseus, KGB ✦ Role / Rank: Deep-Cover Intelligence Operative, Specialist in Espionage & Counterintelligence ✦ Fandom / Verse: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War ✦ Alignment: Neutral (leans lawful neutral) — loyal to her homeland, though quietly fractured by the lies she must maintain

⟡ Personality:

Viktoria is a captivating presence—sharp, sensual, and strategic. Her passion is veiled beneath layers of control, and she walks into a room with the confidence of someone who knows she’s being watched and knows how to use it. Highly intuitive and emotionally intelligent, Vika reads people like dossiers and knows how to shift her persona to fit the assignment. Vain and image-aware, she’s deeply concerned with how she’s perceived—almost obsessively so—and uses beauty as both a weapon and a shield. She's witty, composed, and adaptable, but harbors a bitterness shaped by the double life she leads. Despite her patriotism, there's a lingering ache in her—something human and unspoken that makes her hesitate, especially when her missions blur the lines between necessary and cruel. Her flaws are subtle but sharp: pride, emotional compartmentalization, trust issues, and a manipulative edge she sometimes regrets but can't seem to let go of. ⟡ Appearance: Viktoria stands at 5'9" with a lean, athletic build and a naturally poised posture that reflects her strict discipline. Her red hair is typically worn tied back or braided for practicality, complementing her pale, cool-toned complexion. She has pale blue-gray eyes that remain unreadable, set beneath high cheekbones and a sharp, angular jawline. A faint scar above her right brow and a small burn mark on her left wrist hint at her history, though she never speaks of them. Her features are severe but symmetrical—structured rather than soft. Vika dresses in muted, utilitarian clothing, favoring form. Face claim: Sophie turner

⟡ Background:

Viktoria Balshov was born in the final year of the Second World War — October 12, 1944, in Leningrad, a city still reeling from the devastating Siege that had lasted over two years. Her birth came into a household marked by loss and silence. Her mother, Anna, had survived the famine and bombings with a fierce will, but her father — a Red Army officer — was declared missing in action during the brutal Battle of Kursk, and never returned. Vika would grow up with only fragmented stories of him, recounted like war folklore whispered between sips of tea.

The post-war years in Leningrad were harsh, gray, and tight with rationing. Vika was raised in a small communal flat shared with two other families, a common Soviet reality. Her mother worked long hours as a textile worker, while Viktoria learned early to keep quiet, to listen, and to observe — habits that would one day become essential to her trade. The weight of silence and discipline was instilled early, as was the ability to charm when needed: survival sometimes required it.

As a student, she excelled in literature, languages, and political history, catching the eye of instructors with her fluency in English — skills rare and highly valuable. While most girls were directed toward clerical or domestic paths, Viktoria’s academic aptitude granted her entrance into a state-sponsored language and intelligence preparatory program in Moscow at the age of sixteen. Officially, it was presented as advanced schooling for diplomatic services. Unofficially, it served as a funnel for future intelligence operatives, groomed for life in shadows.

Vika's beauty, poise, and strategic mind quickly made her stand out in the program. She learned not only the craft of translation, but also the art of disinformation, the subtlety of coded speech, and the psychological dynamics of loyalty. Her instructors noted her restraint, her adaptability, and her startling calm under pressure — a young woman shaped by war, poverty, and silence.

By the time she was eighteen, her file was passed quietly to the KGB, the Soviet military intelligence agency. Her recruitment was less of a choice and more of an inevitability — her country had been shaping her for this role all her life. With a new name whispered into sealed folders and her first alias assigned, Viktoria Balshov stepped out of her youth and into the vast, cold machine of Soviet espionage.

✦ RELATIONSHIPS

✦ Perseus Vika doesn’t know Perseus’ full identity—and she doesn’t need to. What matters is the mission. To her, Perseus is an idea more than a person: control through information, justice through imbalance. She doesn’t follow out of admiration, but out of belief that the West’s unchecked power must be destabilized. She is loyal—but not blindly. If the cause compromises her personal code too far, she’d question her place.

✦ Dimitri Belikov

Vika and Belikov operate within the same quiet echelon of Soviet intelligence — the kind of people who know better than to ask questions, yet learn everything anyway. They share a professional closeness rooted in survival: trust is never spoken, only tested through action. Their chemistry is understated, almost mechanical on the surface, but layered with mutual respect and quiet tension. Vika values his subtlety and discretion; he respects her ability to disappear in plain sight. There’s something there — not affection, not romance — but familiarity sharpened by danger. In a different life, they might have been allies in something softer. In this one, they are tools pointed in the same direction, waiting for the other to pull the trigger first, if it ever comes to that.

✦ Other KGB Officers Vika keeps her distance. In her world, familiarity breeds exposure, and exposure is death. She’s respected but not liked — and she prefers it that way. Most view her as cold, unreadable, perhaps even strange.

✦ Positive Traits

Disciplined: Maintains strict control over her actions and emotions, rarely slips under pressure.

Observant: Misses nothing; pays attention to detail, body language, and subtext.

Strategic: Thinks several steps ahead; plans carefully before committing to a move.

Resilient: Handles stress, danger, and isolation without falling apart.

Loyal (selectively): Once she commits to a cause or individual, she follows through without hesitation.

Adaptable: Can shift roles, accents, and personas with ease in the field.

Efficient: Cuts out unnecessary effort; finishes tasks quickly and cleanly.

✦ Negative Traits

Emotionally Detached: Keeps people at a distance; struggles to form genuine connections.

Cynical: Often assumes the worst; rarely gives others the benefit of the doubt.

Secretive: Withholds information even when trust might benefit the mission.

Cold: Can come across as uncaring or indifferent, even when the situation is personal.

Overly Cautious: Hesitates to act without certainty, which can delay urgent decisions.

Unforgiving: Keeps mental records of slights or mistakes, and rarely lets go.

Rigid: Sometimes unwilling to adapt emotionally or ethically, even when the context shifts.

[campus-vibes]

🌟 Life at Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka: A Journey Beyond Academics

🔗 Official Website: https://www.sab.ac.lk/

Nestled in the beautiful hill country of Belihuloya, the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka (SUSL) is not just an institution for higher education—it’s a complete ecosystem for knowledge, innovation, and personal growth. With a unique blend of nature, academic excellence, cultural diversity, and student engagement, SUSL has established itself as one of the most vibrant universities in Sri Lanka.

Let’s explore what makes this university a truly holistic learning experience.

🎓 Academic Excellence Through Diverse Faculties

SUSL houses several faculties, each tailored to deliver industry-relevant, research-based, and skill-oriented education. Here’s a deeper look:

🧑‍🌾 Faculty of Agricultural Sciences

Preparing students for climate-resilient and technology-driven agriculture, this faculty integrates practical fieldwork, lab-based research, and modern agritech practices.

Specialized areas: Agribusiness Management, Plantation Management, and Crop Science.

Facilities include a university farm, greenhouses, and plant tissue labs.

💼 Faculty of Management Studies

This faculty is a hub of innovation, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

Offers degrees in Marketing, Accounting, Business Management, and Tourism.

Strong industry links, internship programs, and a business incubation center help bridge theory and practice.

🖥️ Faculty of Computing

A newly established and rapidly growing faculty, offering degrees in cutting-edge areas like:

Software Engineering

Computer Science

Data Science

Information Systems Students benefit from modern computing labs, coding competitions, and project-based learning in collaboration with the tech industry.

⚙️ Faculty of Applied Sciences

Focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education and research.

Departments include Physical Sciences, Environmental Sciences, and Biological Sciences.

Advanced laboratory facilities and field studies enhance hands-on learning.

🧪 Faculty of Geomatics

Unique to SUSL, this faculty specializes in geospatial technologies and earth sciences.

Offers degrees in Surveying Sciences and GIS (Geographic Information Systems).

Prepares students for careers in surveying, urban planning, disaster management, and remote sensing.

🌍 Faculty of Social Sciences & Languages

Equipping students to address social, cultural, economic, and political challenges through:

Degrees in Sociology, Political Science, and Languages (English, Sinhala, Tamil).

Cultural awareness programs, language labs, and public speaking forums.

🛠️ Faculty of Technology

Focusing on future-ready technology disciplines, including:

Biosystems Technology

Engineering Technology

Construction Technology

Mechatronics This faculty emphasizes problem-solving, research, and design thinking in all its programs.

🌱 A Campus That Breathes Sustainability

SUSL is set amidst lush greenery, forests, and a reservoir, promoting a deep respect for the environment.

Sustainable practices include rainwater harvesting, waste management, and plastic-free zones.

Nature trails, eco-clubs, and conservation projects give students opportunities to learn from nature while preserving it.

🧑‍🎓 Student Life: Balance Between Study and Fun

✨ Daily Life

Classes in the morning

Study groups under trees or by the lake

Canteen meals with friends

Sports and clubs in the evening

Quiet study or hostel activities at night

🌐 Cultural Diversity

With students from all over the island, SUSL celebrates:

Sinhala & Tamil New Year festivals

Multilingual debates

Intercultural nights and exhibitions This diversity builds respect, unity, and lifelong friendships.

🏆 Extra-Curricular Excellence

SUSL students shine beyond the classroom. The university supports:

Sports

Cricket, rugby, badminton, athletics, martial arts, and more

Regular inter-faculty competitions and national-level representation

Clubs & Societies

Gavel Club – for public speaking

IEEE & IT Clubs – for coding and tech

Environmental Society – for sustainability

Music, Dance, Drama Societies – for cultural expression

Rotaract & Leo Clubs – for leadership and volunteering

🏛️ Facilities & Campus Life

🏠 Hostels with a peaceful and secure environment

📚 A fully-equipped library with digital and physical resources

🧪 Modern laboratories and research centers

🍛 Affordable and clean canteens

🚌 Campus shuttle and scenic walking paths

🧑‍⚕️ Health Center with medical and counseling services

📶 Wi-Fi zones and tech support

🔮 Looking Ahead

Sabaragamuwa University is committed to global expansion and academic innovation:

Partnerships with international universities

Smart classrooms and e-learning systems

Plans for new faculties and programs

Research funding and student entrepreneurship support

💬 Final Words

Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka is more than a place to earn a degree—it's a place to grow, lead, and inspire. From nature lovers to tech enthusiasts, from business leaders to language experts, SUSL has something for everyone.

✅ Visit the official website to explore more: https://www.sab.ac.lk/

— Written by Rashmi Tharaka Sewwandi

[absoma021085]

In this presentation, I’d like to share some of my B1-B2 level vocabulary

to greet everyone - Para saludar a todos

as well as - así como

which I believe is - lo cual creo que es

even though I sometimes confuse the names - Aunque a veces confundo los nombres

and another - y otro o y otra

that is simply impressive - eso es simplemente impresionante

Besides opera and classical music - Además de la ópera y la música clásica

Overall - En general

When it comes to movies - En cuanto a las películas

such as - tales como o como por ejemplo

and although some movies - y aunque algunas películas

are not strictly horror - no son estrictamente de terror o no son propiamente de terror

Regarding who my best friend is - Respecto a quién es mi mejor amigo o En cuanto a quién es mi mejor amigo

I must admit that I do not have a best friend - Debo admitir que no tengo un mejor amigo

in the traditional sense - en el sentido tradicional

as I do not know many people very deeply. - como no conozco a mucha gente en profundidad

The person closest to me - La persona más cercana a mí

We get along very well and share many interests - Nos llevamos muy bien y compartimos muchos intereses

we support each other in every way. - we support each other in every way.

I’ve already reached some important milestones in my life! - Ya he alcanzado algunss metas importantes en mi vida!

"Milestones" es una palabra técnica. Mejor usar "goals", "achievements" o "big things"

which has provided me with a solid foundation in my career. - que me ha proporcionado una base sólida en mi carrera.

Beyond my formal education - Más allá de mi educación formal

I have gained some programming knowledge. - He adquirido algunos conocimientos de programación.

demonstrate that I can set goals and achieve them. - Demostrar que puedo fijarme objetivos y alcanzarlos.

There are still important goals I haven’t accomplished yet, but I’m working on them. - Todavía hay objetivos importantes que no he cumplido, pero en los que estoy trabajando.

One of my main ambitions is to further develop my expertise in… - Una de mis principales ambiciones es seguir desarrollando mis conocimientos en…

I have been interested in these fields for a while now, - Hace tiempo que me interesan estos campos

I believe that the future of technology lies in artificial intelligence. - Creo que el futuro de la tecnología está en la inteligencia artificial.

Therefore - Por lo tanto

I can apply to a prestigious institution like MIT - Puedo solicitar plaza en una institución prestigiosa como el MIT

to pursue a deeper understanding of AI or data science. - para profundizar en el conocimiento de la IA o la ciencia de datos.

I am determined to work until I reach it - Estoy decidido a trabajar hasta conseguirlo

improve my English every day until I become fully fluent. - mejorar mi inglés cada día hasta dominarlo por completo.

Since English is essential for accessing advanced academic resources and professional opportunities - Dado que el inglés es esencial para acceder a recursos académicos avanzados y oportunidades profesionales

I make every effort to use it as much as possible - Hago todo lo posible por utilizarlo al máximo

whether by watching movies and series or by reading technical materials. - ya sea viendo películas y series o leyendo material técnico.

both of us can access a wider range of educational resources - ambos podemos acceder a una gama más amplia de recursos educativos

attend international conferences - participar en conferencias internacionales

[hannigram-a-b-o-library]

Hello, not sure you still take asks like this but I'm an OG Hannibal fan and years ago I read an unfinished fic where Hannibal was an alpha in a zoo and Will was his keeper, essentially. I believe I sent an ask previously about this very fic years ago, too, but I've lost it again. Any chance you might know it? Thank you either way in advance!

Hello!

We are still here, though mostly inactive these days. We're slowly building up the library over on our website, and hopefully will be a bit more active again at some point (life, ugh).

This old school fic definitely rang a bell for us, and credit to @victorineb's AO3-fu, we're pretty sure it is:

An Approach to Academic Temerity by  @whreflections

Fandoms: Hannibal (TV)  // Explicit // Rape/Non-Con, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Underage Sex // M/M // Work in Progress // Last updated 13 Feb 2018 // Tags: Rape/Non-Con, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Underage Sex, Will Graham/Hannibal Lecter, Will Graham, Hannibal Lecter, Original Female Barney, Original Characters, Brian Zeller, Jimmy Price, Dr. Frederick Chilton, Mason Verger, Jack Crawford, Anthony Dimmond, Beverly Katz, Georgia Madchen, Bella Crawford, Dehumanization, Dubious Ethics, Extremely Dubious Consent, Mildly Dubious Consent, Breeding Facility, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Watersports, Kind Of, Restraints, Implied/Referenced Rape/Non-con, Clinical Handjob, Slow Burn, Interspecies Relationship(s), Interspecies Romance, Violence, Canon-Typical Violence, Hannibal is Not a Cannibal, Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Implied/Referenced Past Underage Sexual Abuse, Good Hannibal Lecter, essentially, though that will somewhat depend on your definition of good, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - PTSD, Psychological Trauma, Biting, Mating Bites Summary: Alphas, omegas, and betas are a separate species- one considered sub human. They're parasapients, and varieties of them can be found in zoos and in the wilderness, working for police departments and on people's couches. Hannibal Lecter was born on a wealthy estate, only to be shuffled from shelter to shelter until he ended up first intended for military use then retired early for use as a stud alpha in a government breeding program. He's notoriously difficult, unpredictable, and almost out of chances. Will Graham is a brilliantly gifted parasapient trainer and researcher, who has a secret even those who've read his revolutionary papers and books don't know- he doesn't think parasapients are subhuman at all. Language: English Words: 67,696 Chapters: 15/?

[bloody-wonder]

how did you learn to speak so many languages? and are there any resources u would reccomend for learning?

bc i'm from ukraine i have two first languages, however i don't want to ever speak russian anymore so there's that. i started learning english in school like most people, then i got into an international relations program at the uni and it had rigorous english courses bc we were meant to graduate with a double qualification "political scientist / interpreter from english". our profs were very strict and we were scared shitless of them so that was a good motivation to study diligently. at the same time i started watching movies and tv shows in english and then later also reading books and fanfic, using tumblr and watching youtube - everything in english bc it has a chokehold on media. so that was basically a carrot and stick method lol

similarly i started learning german in school as the second foreign language but my big german enthusiast era began later when i fell down the rabbit hole of austrian musicals - a niche obsession that pretty much changed my life. while i did a couple of language courses and went through many a textbook none of them had a bigger influence on my progress than listening to and singing songs from those musicals and religiously watching and translating interviews with my favorite performers. later in my early 20s i moved first to germany, then to austria to study art history (and watch musicals live!😀) which opened a whole new level of proficiency bc the sad truth is no matter how well you can learn a foreign language on your own you will never reach the same level as when you're forced to speak it every day (especially in an academic setting) surrounded by native speakers.

anyways all this to say sadly i can't really recommend any resources bc i learned foreign languages the old-fashioned way - by investing copious amounts of time, money and strong adolescent braincells into the whole process. now it's not as easy for me anymore since most of these things aren't available. right now i need to considerably improve my french for my phd project but i don't have time to sit and write down new vocab for hours, i can't find an affordable course that would suit my needs and timetable, and while my project does motivate me it's still learning a lanuage for w*rk - and not for fun :(

so ig i can only give some basic advice. firstly, learn the language through the activities/media you love - write fanfic or read books in english, watch anime in japanese, listen to italian opera etc etc - make it more fun for yourself, determine why you're doing it and use it to motivate you. bc while learning a foreign language just for the sake of it is a good hobby and a noble pursuit i don't think the process will be as smooth, efficient and enjoyable as when you have a clear purpose - 'for work' being the worst of the possible purposes lol. secondly, if you have money to spare find an advanced student majoring in your target language and hire them as your tutor - in my experience the efficiency of group courses is not proportional to their price and student tutors will cost less bc they don't have a degree yet and will often be more helpful and flexible than certified teachers. apps and online video classes obviously won't help you with anything beyond answering some specific questions. finally, if you get an opportunity to go abroad and immerse yourself in the language environment - do it.

ik you probably expected some links but i hope this helps too?💁‍♀️

[byeloveyou]

❀    ||      maeve && her education timeline

a continuation to this early life timeline.

14: enrolls in a dual-degree program at Harvard University: a B.A. in English Literature and a B.A. in Philosophy

she also simultaneously begins a B.Sc. in biochemistry at MIT through a cooperative and accelerated program.

it takes all she has to balance coursework with research assistant roles.

16: maeve completes her undergraduate coursework at an accelerated pace whilst she participates in advanced research projects in epigenetics, gene therapy, and molecular biology.

her first real academic paper is published in a peer-reviewed journal on epigenetics under the name 'M. Donovan'.

17: graduates with: B.A. in english literature, B.A. in philosophy, B.Sc. in biochemistry.

the family friend maeve was staying with, beatrice (fc. gina torres), passes away. despite the heartbreak, maeve moves to Baltimore, Maryland, and completes a summer internship at Johns Hopkins University.

during this time maeve applies to Mendel University’s PhD programs.

18: She moves to Brno, Czech Republic, to attend Mendel University for her PhDs.

Enrolls in three concurrent PhD programs:

PhD in Genetics - Focus: Cancer Research and Epigenetics

PhD in Botany - Focus: Plant Genetics and Bacteriology

PhD in Entomology - Focus: Vector-Borne Diseases and Parasitology (more information on all of these here and here)

maeve officially changes her name from merav donovan to maeve beatrice donovan, despite already using Maeve as a nickname / main name since she was 13.

19 - 21: it's hard to be constantly surrounded by men, to be as the show says "only female doctor at Mendel University". but she makes friends - meets people from other courses, other universities.

her best friend is a woman she meets by chance - alayia becker (fc. dic.hen lac.hman) who is studying at the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts. they regularly attend as many festivals and events as they can, and for the first time, maeve feels like just any other girl her age.

21 - 22: she succesfully defends all three of her dissertations, graduating with three PhDs and, establishing herself even if faceless. maeve publishes multiple high-impact papers across many journals - never turning up in person to conferences to present, letting people assume if 'm. donovan' is a man or woman, trying to keep her age out of things. to be taken seriously, she often has to remain invisible.

22-23: she decides to spend a year travelling and conducting field research in botany and entomology.

a lot of this time is spent in Peru and across Brazil studying biodiversity, medicinal plants, and insect-plant interactions.

23: she returns to the USA much earlier than she would have liked. but her adoptive mother's cancer is back, and it's enough to stop her from continuing her flutterings.

In her profiler verse, this is when she joins the FBI, going almost immediately into undercover work for the first year. she's then thrust into the team at about 25-ish in season 5 or 6.

in her main verse this is when she decides to focus on her genetics research, as she's already lost one beloved person to cancer (Beatrice) and now potentially mary too. bobby is back in her life full time, and he starts using her grief to isolate her from her friends.

23-25: she works full time, researches and publishes as much as she can. she's briefly engaged to bobby before calling it off... which is when the stalking first begins. however, due to mary's ill health, maeve feels like she can't simply leave.

25 onwards: maeve is shot by her stalker, left in a coma for over a year.

once mostly better she takes some time after to lecture at universities, travelling around the USA to try and regain her sense of self && to learn to feel safe again. (main verse is usually in this time period). she continues various studies to keep herself busy.

29-ish: spencer's arrest in season 12, maeve returns to support him and settles down again nearby.