Movie Review: An Education

When I rented the film An Education, I expected it to kind of be like a moderner day version of Pride and Prejudice from the 1960s. Although it ended up being nothing like my favorite classic, it definitely touched on several important issues throughout the movie. It served as a reminder that you are your most important thing. People will come and go but you always have to live with yourself, so it's important, especially as women, to be self-supporting and create our own successes.

The movie is about Jenny, a mature and intelligent 16-year-old schoolgirl, who falls in love with an older man, David. As they continue to see each other, Jenny becomes enthralled with his world full of art, music, gambling, traveling and culture. As a young woman who was focused and adamant on going to Oxford to study English, she begins to doubt the point of her education as she thinks of a prospective life with David full of fun and leisure.

Unfortunately, all that glitters ain't gold, and Jenny shortly discovers after dropping out of school upon accepting David's marriage proposal that David is in fact already legally married to another woman. Jenny's attraction to the (seemingly) glamorous life and belief that she could take the easy way out by marrying David instead of constantly challenging herself at Oxford quickly comes back to slap her on the behind. After persuading her schoolmaster to allow her to come back to school, Jenny bulldozes through another year with regained unyielding focus and ends up being accepted into Oxford after all.

After the truth about David unfolds, he vanishes from her life as quickly as he entered it, and after having questioned the whole purpose of getting a higher education, the importance is reinstated in Jenny with a higher reverence. A defeated-feeling and heartbroken Jenny says,
"I feel old, but not wise." While I understand why she feels like a fool for not being able to see through David's facade, I do believe that the experience ended up molding her in a positive way.

She is such a bright girl, and I think in a sense this traumatic experience was necessary for her to
come back with a new sense of determination, purpose and self-worth. She undoubtedly learned from her experience running with an adult crowd living on lies. It also goes to show that, even though one may be intellectually equal or superior to another who is older age wise, it's one's experiences and life lessons that are just as important in getting on in the world as unscathed as possible.

I actually really enjoyed this movie. It wasn't corny or unimaginable; it is realistic even by today's standards. Originally I pitied Jenny for losing her virginity to a man who was a liar and cheater, but then I realized that Jenny's biggest mistake was throwing away her previous desire to go to Oxford when she thought she could live an easy life off David. Luckily, Jenny's pride didn't get in the way of her seeking the help of her former English teacher to assist in persuading the schoolmaster to grant her permission to come back and finish high school. It was refreshing to see her own up to her mistake and bounce back from it. I also found it admirable that Jenny surprisingly handled everything with grace. Instead of giving up or sinking into depression, she truly acted as an adult and took responsibility for her actions.

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

(The photo on the left of Jenny in her school uniform is the life she feels bored with. The photo of Jenny and her older friend on the right is the glamorous, exciting life for which she wishes to trade in her school books.)

Scenes to be Seen

I truly believe that a vacation, even if it's a mini "staycation" and you don't travel very far, is important for one's health (and for me, my sanity). I can only be a homebody, workaholic for so long until my inner Columbus desires to get away and explore some unseen territory. Even living in New York City where it's said one may be able to live for many years and still not have visited all of its hidden hot spots, one can fall into a comfortable rhythm--walking the same way to and from work, going to the same three places for lunch break, eating at the same Thai restaurant in my neighborhood because I swear there's no place better. What can I say, I tend to be a creature of habit.

At the same time, what breaks up the monotony and makes me happiest is when I leave my bubble of comfort and check out a new place (museum, hiking trail, bar, restaurant, boutique, etc.) where I unexpectedly have a great time or when I go on a vacation with friends or family. I recently read a post by a fellow blogger in her 20s, Grace Boyle, that made me realize that I neither need to stay in Manhattan nor travel hundreds of miles to the Caribbean in order to find something fun, exciting or relaxing to do. As traveling can be a bit difficult when one has a full-time job and limited vacation days, Boyle had me pondering three other options to mix things up a bit: taking a weekend trip, picking 10 places in my residing state to plan to visit, and hosting visitors.

I found a site that lists many fun things you can do/see in NYC that may be helpful if I ever have any problems brainstorming things for my visitors and I to do. The neat thing is that regardless where you're living and how much you've done in or near that town or city, there is always more to be seen. That's what makes hosting a visitor fun for everyone--you both can experience new things together.

So while full-out, week-long vacations where I pack a bursting suitcase and jet set off to another country are still my favorite kind of vacations, I would definitely like to start making more regular plans to do some local exploring as well. What I think is important to remind ourselves is that life is crazy. We often say that our schedules are hectic and that we're too busy to do this or that, but when does life ever truly slow down?--when we're in our seventies and are complacent with a house and grown children when we actually will be too tired to do extensive traveling/exploring? I admit that I'm often guilty of using the excuse that I'm too busy or tired to meet up with friends. From here on out I'd like to vow that whenever an opportunity arises that sounds interesting, I'm not going to turn it down with the thought that I'll do it next time around. While health and rest and yadda yadda is important for one's well-being, I'm going to take a leap and assert that doing things out of routine from time to time may actually make us feel more alive.

Let me tell you a story

Ever since moving to the city, it has been my goal to not only experience as many new things as possible, but to also step outside my comfort zone in order to continuously challenge myself. (And I'll be honest, anything I can do in the city for free is an opportunity I jump at.) Therefore, when a friend asked me if I wanted to attend the final presentation for a storytelling class that his roommate was a part of, I unhesitatingly said yes.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I arrived at the studio ten minutes early and there were only a handful of people there, but shortly all of the chairs in the room became occupied by friends, family members, classmates and instructors, and the "show" began. Each individual related one personal experience in his/her life. Some were funny, some were more serious, but all were surprisingly not too bad. It was interesting feeling like I kind of knew the story teller after a brief ten minutes. The way they allowed themselves to be vulnerable in front of approximately 30-40 people--more than half of which were most likely strangers to them--by sharing a personal or embarrassing moment, that obviously meant something to them in order to deem it storytelling worthy, felt intimate and inclusive as if they were speaking to me personally.

The stories covered a broad range of topics. One was about a man's struggle to find the line between his work and personal life, and he described an event where he allowed both to collide. Another was about a woman's strained relationship with her father and how it took him nearly dying for her to see how much she actually loves him. Another was a humorous story of a woman's parents embarrassing her at the reading of her first published children's book.

Finally, the story that touched me most was about a man's visit to the nursing home to visit his grandmother. That day the nursing home was holding an ice cream social, and as he looked around the room, he painstakingly saw the frail, lethargic residents with flaccid faces resembling zombies, making him feel quite uncomfortable. But then the ice cream was brought out and music was played, and everyone gained life. He saw the twinkle in their eyes which reminded him of the way a young child gets excited at the offer of a treat. After hearing some of the old ladies commenting about how they loved the music and how much they missed dancing, the man set aside his inhibitions and took turns dancing (or more like swaying gently back-and-forth) with all of the women. At the end of the day he felt so happy that he helped the women have some fun and stirred up the joyful memories of their youth. His final comments also stuck with me--that even though the body continues to grow, one's spirit remains a certain age forever.

I think the reason I enjoyed the storytelling final presentation so much is because, not only was I entertained for a solid hour, but some of the stories also triggered my own thoughts about a certain subject or how I would have handled a certain situation. As I mentioned before, there aren't many free things to do in the city, but it's often the random, unexpected things for which you have no expectations that oftentimes end up being most enjoyable.

Finally, the entire evening made me think about how life would be without TV, movies, video games, the Internet, or constant music blaring in our ears. It was a comforting feeling that despite being perpetually surrounded by stimulating new media, that I can still find enjoyment simply from a human being talking without any props or special effects...which leads to my next thought--If you had the opportunity to tell one story, what experience would you share?

(Photo from http://www.seomoz.org/blog/presentation-skills-for-seo)

Book Review: Shop Class as Soulcraft

I recently finished the book Shop Class as Soulcraft by Matthew Crawford. I'll be honest and admit that I originally didn't expect to enjoy this book, mostly because I'm not really a "let's get our hands dirty" kind of girl--I can hardly cook, I do laundry about once a month (and average about at least one ruined article of clothing per wash), and I grew up having my dad do any necessary house/car/misc. repairs. But while there were many parts of the book where it was a little hard to relate, I still understand Crawford's main points.

First, here's a little background on Crawford. He has a Ph.D. in political philosophy from the University of Chicago, served as a postdoctoral fellow on its Committee on Social Thought, and is currently a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia. He also happens to be very passionate about motorcycles. In fact, he owns and operates Shockoe Moto, an independent motorcycle repair shop in Richmond, VA. So basically, this guy is the real deal.

In Shop Class as Soulcraft, Crawford describes some of his jobs after getting a higher education. To his disappointment, he found that most of the work he did stuck in a cubicle did not actually require him to challenge himself mentally. To make a long story short, he ended up opening up a motorcycle repair shop, and he enjoyed it much more than simply doing chug and plug autopilot kind of work in which he never got to see physical results. When he was describing the kind of work he previously did and how unsatisfactory it was for him, it really got me thinking about my own level of content with my own job. In describing the intricate and oftentimes frustrating process of learning as you go and figuring things out through trial and error while repairing motorcycles, it made me gain an appreciation for the work of mechanics that makes my life so much easier. It's a shame that blue collered jobs are looked down upon and viewed as "lesser than" in today's society, although their work is so important. It made me realize the backwardness of someone having a college education receiving more value than a tradesman who may actually produce more viable work.

Society today is pushing for everyone to have a higher education, and while I think that there are many great institutions out there, I don't think college is for everyone. Also, depending on the field, more knowledge may be acquired while getting actual hands-on experience in the work place than in a classroom. I really respected Crawford's decision to break from the conformity of society to do what he really feels passionate about. I don't think many people today with a Ph.D. would turn away from a white collar job to open up his/her own motorcycle repair shop. From Crawford's experience it made me realize that for some, in order to find true happiness it may require rejecting a life course mapped out by others as obligatory and inevitable. To some it may seem crazy and stupid, but it's your life, and you should do what you need to do in order to be content. As Crawford would say, "Live well."

Lastly, Crawford asserts that in order to be a better worker and to challenge yourself, you must learn to accept failure. You can never know too much; there is always something else to be learned. I think that is something we all forget from time to time as we become comfortable in our jobs and fall into a monotonous routine. We should continuously challenge ourselves even if the outcome isn't what we had hoped it to be, and in doing so, we will become improved individuals who will take that experience and apply it to the next, thus doing what it takes to "live well."

So ask yourself, are you content? With your career? With your life? Are you doing what you want to do or are you simply following the path that society has already shown its approval towards?

I Spy: The Look for Less!

I absolutely love finding articles of clothing that look very similar to designer duds for a fraction of the price. No one should have to have a ton of money to look good and dress in style. Here's my fav find of the week:

Chanel - Black and White Fantasy Tweed Jacket (on the left)- "discounted" price on Rue La La $2,199.00

Express - Metallic Sweater Jacket (on the right) - $69.90

Loooooves it. I love Chanel's classic style, and this Express sweater jacket screams Chanel. I actually tried it on myself at Express and it's well made. There's a lot of detail on it, which makes the $69.90 price tag seem like a steal. I may have to buy it... :)

While I'm Chanel loving, I'd also like to show these amazing boots of theirs I also saw on Rue La La for $699. They are already sold out, which doesn't surprise me considering how cute they are!

On My Radar

I've been keeping my eyes keenly attuned to the trends this Fall. And I like what I've been seeing. Here are some things that I think are hot right now:

• Sheer tops - If done right, a black sheer top revealing a black bra underneath can be really sexy. Wearing a bright colored bra would be crossing the thin line into trashy territory though, so be sure to keep it as classy as possible. This top on the left from Urban Outfitters is my ideal pick.
  
  
• Nails with a little flair - You don't want anything too tacky, but it's acceptable to do a little experimenting with nail color. On InStyle.com, they suggested white nails with a grey shimmer color on the index finger.



• Fur - I'm sure Peta is just thrilled about this, but fur is really in this season. I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but I have to admit that there are some styles I like, one being the fur vest on the right from Express(as long as it's faux fur, right?). This may also be a style that is a little tricky for some to pull off. The problem with furry fur is that it may make you look like you're larger than you actually are, and obviously no girl wants that.
  
• Lace - Sexy. Enough said.
  
• Over-the-Knee Boots - If done right, you won't look like a hooker. I wouldn't suggest wearing 4" over-the-knee boots with a tight, scandalous skirt or dress because chances are you will be cat-called. I think the boots with no heel or about 2" heels could dress up a pair of jeans and cute top.
  
• Grey and Olive - These two colors are very popular this season. Olive is also one of those colors that happens to look good on almost everyone.


• Sequins - Skirts, shirts, tank tops, sweaters and scarves, sequins are appearing on all articles of clothing this Fall. I like it because it can dress up something that would ordinarily look a little bland. Here is a skirt from J.Crew that I really like. I would be able to wear it to work or for a night out in the city.

• Plaid - Yup, it's still in! I'm surprised about this too. Can't say I'm too disappointed though. It's comfy and it makes me feel like I can fit in the hipster crowd ;)
  

Fall Fall Fall, such a wonderful time of the year. I'm so excited to start layering up!

"Food" -?

I recently read a story about a little experiment a woman, Sally Davies, conducted which involved buying a McDonald's Happy Meal and photographing it weekly. The spin is, although Davies kept the happy meal out on her kitchen table for over 180 days, the burger and fries look indistinguishable on day 180 than from the first day she bought it! In fact, Davies noted, "The only change that I can see is that it has become hard as a rock."

Now if that doesn't gross you out I'm not sure what will, especially if you're ingesting that junk. What's even more concerning is the fact that it was a Happy Meal, a meal most beloved by children all over the world. Hey, I'm even guilty of begging mom and dad for them when I was a little squirt. McDonald's targets youth with the "great tasting" Happy Meal and seals the deal with the offer of a free toy (offered for a limited time, of course). In fact, that's a great marketing ploy. I'm sure half of the kids want Happy Meals simply because of the toy, and McDonald's always has collector toys, making the kids want to go back again and again in order to collect every toy in the series.

Since I personally don't eat fast food (I'm a vegetarian--limited options at a burger joint), I decided to talk to someone who actually does--my own brother--in order to try to grasp why people enjoy it so much. And clearly many people do considering the recent blast of articles I've been reading on growing obesity rates in America.

Me: So what fast food joints do you usually hit up?
Garrett: McDonald's, Taco Bell, Wendy's and Burger King

Me: How often do you eat fast food?
Garrett: I would say around three times a week. But I've been really busy at work, so lately it's been more like four.
Me: Do you usually go for lunch or dinner? Probably lunch right, just to grab a quick lunch before getting back to work?
Garrett: Um...yeah. Sometimes both.
Me: (scratches head) Uh...well that would mean you have fast food more often than three or four times a week, but whatever, let's continue.
Garrett: I know it's unhealthy, so I try to eat it in moderation.
Me: But you eat it at least three times a week, how is that being moderate? You know I'm writing this conversation down, right? You sound like an idiot because you're contradicting everything you're saying. Just sayin'.
Garrett: Oh. Oops.

Me: Okay, so why do you like fast food?
Garrett: It's pretty cheap, it's convenient and fast.
Me: What do you usually order?
Garrett: A double cheeseburger. And a Coke. Fountain Coke's are better than cans of Coke because they're more carbonated. And fries with everything.
Me: Do you actually like the taste?
Garrett: It tastes good when I feel like it.
Me: Well you have it at least three times a week, so you obviously frequently feel like it...
Have you noticed a difference with your body after eating so much fast food?
Garrett: Yeah. Since I haven't had much time to work out because of my work schedule, I've started to notice a little chub around my mid-section.

I'm not saying one should never eat from McDonald's or another fast food chain, I simply want to suggest to others that they should really eat it in moderation. And by moderation, I do not mean my brothers idea of moderation which is three times a week. If you'd like some more convincing, just check out the pictures from Davies' Happy Meal Project, and maybe seeing the unnaturalness of "food" not actually decomposing will be enough to get you to cut down on the Big Macs (or just look at the picture of this cute little chubster who is probably going to spend his adolescence being picked on due to his unhealthy love for Micky D's.)