Topic Brainstorm

1. Vasantasena, A Dancer (link): I have never hear of this story before but the word "dancer" in the title of this link caught my eye because it was something that I could relate to being a dancer for about 14 years. This story is like a love story with many ups and downs, and even plot twists. As I read the description of what this story was about, I came across the words "Shakespearean comedy." Therefore, I immediately thought of romantic comedies and how I can put a modern spin on this story. I could potentially retell this story along the lines of the plots of One Tree Hill or Gossip Girl. The thought of writing a love story is intriguing and since I enjoy watching romantic/romantic comedies, it would be cool to write a similar story of my own. 

2. Uloopi: The Naga Princess who Fell in Love with Arjuna (link): This story caught my eye because of the word "Naga" because Naga is actually the city where my dad grew up in and so when I saw that word, I was surprised and intrigued. This story seems like a romantic action-packed story with the love of Uloopi for Arjuna and the battle of Arjuna and Babhruvahana, his son. I have never heard or read this story before this class. I want to know why Uloopi befriends Arjuna's new family and almost takes care of them even when he does not love her anymore. As a woman, was she sad, mad, or angry at what happened? To retell this story, I do not think I would change it too much. I would stick to the same plot but tell it in my own words.

3. Gandhari: A Mother Blinded by Love (link): As I was reading the Reading Guide for this story, the genuine love and sacrifice of Gandhari to her husband and her first born son was intriguing and compelling. I want to know what Gandhari thought about having 100 sons - yes that was a blessing, but was she ever scared? I also want to know what was going on through her mind as she had to wait two years for her kids to be born. Was Gandhari anxious during the two year period and that what did she feel when she realizes her first born son "brays like a donkey?" Then Gandhari experiences a war and then the death of all her sons. Retelling this story could be difficult because it may be difficult or inappropriate to add some lighter scenes since it is such a real and serious story.

4. Project Idea: Love Stories (link): Love is something that we have all experienced whether it was a romantic kind of love or a family/best friend kind of love. I would like to learn and read more about the love stories and the different varieties they posses. I believe the retelling of love stories is so broad that putting one's own spin on it would be easy to do. From a comedic route (How I Met Your Mother) to something as unique as online dating sites, retelling love stories could be so much fun. I think I can learn something about love from reading these epics that could be put to use in my own life.

Vasantasena. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Feedback Thoughts

14 Signs Your Perfectionism Has Gotten Out Of Control (link): Wow, this article truly hits close to home. Just by skimming through the article, I could easily relate to 11 of the 14 signs that were mentioned. I have always been eager to please others, especially those older than me, and I have always put others before. Now, I believe this is not to say that pleasing and putting others before me is bad, but it is all about the balance. My dad always tells me and my sister, "Too much of something is bad just as too little of something is not good as well." I sometimes forget to consider my own thoughts and needs in the pursue of pleasing others. I feel like I have been a perfectionist since first grade when I was first exposed to the importance of grades. Therefore, being a perfectionist for the past 14 years has become tiring and unhealthy. College has slowly but surely taught me the reality of it being okay to not be involved in everything and that it is okay to not be a straight A student. It is almost like choosing your battles. Since I have been such a perfectionist for the majority of my life, the tendencies of a perfectionist still hits close to home. However, I think it is about choosing my battles and becoming a perfectionist in some instances and not having to be one in other situations. One of the signs from this article that stood out to me was "you are a big procrastinator." Not until this article did it hit me that procrastination relates to perfectionism. I put things off until the last minute because of the fear of being judged and not being good enough. Also, procrastinating also gives perfectionists an excuse if their writing, project, assignment, timeliness, etc. is not good enough. The phrase "I did not have enough time to do my best so please do not judge me so harshly." can be used by perfectionists and I know I have been guilty of that. Overall, I believe that realization, action, and balance are key to become a controlled perfectionists that can efficiently and gracefully handle feedback.

6 Bad Mental Habits That Sabotage Your Success (link): I liked this article because it is straight to the point. It discusses the bad mental habits and then gives a solution on how to fix it. The habit that struck me the most was the habit of "catastrophizing the future." I am guilty of thinking of the worst possible solutions to scenarios before those scenarios even happen. I admit to exploring the negative answers to the "What if?" questions just to psych myself out. As human beings, this is part of human nature. However, the reaction to psyching ourselves is up to us. We can either move forward or go backwards. Overall, this article pinpoints the small things that affect our success and that it is up to how we train our minds so that it becomes an ally and not an enemy.

So. Much. Feedback! Flickr

Week 2 Story: The Tale of the Cunning Crocodile and the Wise Monkey

This story is now on my Portfolio website!

Story: Once upon a time, living in the waters of the Ganges river was a crocodile couple. Among the fig-trees planted in the bank of the river lived a great, mighty, and smart Monkey. The Monkey was well-to-do and powerful that one day an urge came over the female crocodile to devour the Monkey and his precious heart. Therefore, the female crocodile begged and pleaded to her husband that he retrieve the Monkey's heart for her. The Crocodile finally gave in to his wife's request and devised a plan on how to lure the Monkey into the Ganges river so his wife can enjoy the Monkey's heart. As the Crocodile was attempting to brainstorm a plan, he noticed that the Monkey would come to the bank of the Ganges to enjoy some refreshing water. When the Crocodile noticed this, the light bulb went off inside his head.

Therefore, on the next day, as the wise Monkey was enjoying the fresh water of the Ganges, the Crocodile drew near to him and said, "Monkey, why do you keep on eating these old and disgusting fruits when there are fresh and juicy mangoes and labujas waiting for you to be eaten just on the other side of the Ganges river?"

The Monkey responded, "The Ganges is far too dangerous for me to cross it. I cannot possibly swim across this river. How should I ever be able to get to the other side?"

A huge smile was seen on the Crocodile's face as he said, "Well, I can take you there!"

Intrigued by the Crocodile's kindness, the monkey climbed onto the Crocodile's back. However, halfway through the journey to cross the Ganges, the cunning Crocodile threw the Monkey off his back and drown him in the cold waters of the Ganges. 

The Monkey was horrified at what the Crocodile was doing to him and cried out, "Why are you doing this to me?"

With a devious laugh, the Crocodile responded, "You fool! You thought I was going to bring you the other side of the Ganges? Nonsense! I brought you to the depths of the Ganges so my dear wife can finally devour your precious heart."

The Monkey remained calm as he listened to the Crocodile's plan. Then the Monkey thinking on his feet said to the Crocodile, "Well if your wife wants my heart, we must swim back to the bank of the river. Something as precious and valuable as my heart is safely kept among the figs in the fig-trees."

The Crocodile was a bit confused at what the Monkey said. However, he was extremely desperate to fulfill his wife's desire that without thinking he said, I will take you back to the fig-trees if you promise me your heart. In return for your heart, I will not kill you." 

The Monkey nodded his head in agreement and the Crocodile brought him back to the fig-trees. The Monkey leaped off the Crocodile's scaly back and climbed to safety at the top of a fig-tree.

As the Monkey settled into branches of the fig tree, he chuckled and said to the Crocodile, "Oh how stupid you are! You actually believed that I kept my heart up here? Your stupid eagerness will never be a match for my wisdom!"

As the Monkey laughed, the Crocodile left feeling stupid and betrayed. The Monkey was wise and clever, and outwitted the cunning and devious Crocodile. As the Crocodile went home, empty-handed, the wife was desperate for a heart to eat that the Crocodile sacrificed himself and allowed his wife to eat his own precious heart. 

(608 Words)

Author's Note: The original story is about a female crocodile who conceives a longing for the mighty Monkey's heart that she ask her husband to get it for her. As the wife's request, he lures the Monkey into the water by telling him that there are yummy and delicious fruits on the other side of the river and that the he would take him there. Halfway through the river, the Crocodile begins to drown the Monkey, but the Monkey asks him what he is doing and the Crocodile spills his plans. The Monkey tricks the Crocodile by saying that his heart is actually in the fig-trees and that he he will get his heart for the Crocodile's wife if he brings him to the fig-trees. When the Monkey is in the fig-tree and away from harm, he tells the Crocodile that he is stupid and that he ended up tricking him. The Crocodile swims away ashamed and embarrassed. 

Bibliography: "The Monkey and The Crocodile" from Eastern Stories and Legends by Marie L. Shedlock. Web Source 

The Cunning Crocodile and the Wise Monkey. Source: Flickr

Reading Notes: The Crocodile and the Monkey's Heart

This story is about two witty animals; one is a crocodile and the other is a monkey. The store is about a female crocodile who wants to eat the heart of a strong monkey, who was a man named Bodhisatta but came back to life as a monkey. The female crocodile wanted to consume the heart of the monkey to the extent that her husband wanted to do anything to please her and giver her what she wants. However, since the monkey lived on dry land and not in the water with the crocodiles, the male crocodile had to create a plan to draw the monkey in so his wife could devour his heart. Therefore, the crocodile attempted to trick the monkey by tempting him with delicious and mouthwatering fruits that where on the other side of the river. The crocodile lured the monkey into his plan and got the monkey into deep blue waters. However, the monkey quickly realizes the crocodile's plan and reverses the scheming trick onto the crocodile. The monkey does this by saying that his heart is actually hanging on a fig-tree and trick the crocodile into bringing him to the fig-tree. In the end, the monkey out smarts the crocodile and is safe from harm as he sits on the fig-tree.


Bibliography: Marie L. Shedlock; The Crocodile and the Monkey's Heart; Link

Crocodile. Source: Max Pixel

Reading Options

Narayan's Ramayana: This option from Weeks 3-4 caught my eye because of it is written by one single author, the fact that I can read a hardcopy of the story, and that there is a Reading Guide provided. For me personally, the fact that it is written by one author with one writing style helps me not have to worry about keeping up with different authors and their personal styles of writing. In addition, I would prefer to read the hardcopy of a book more often then an electronic copy just so my eyes will not have to stare at a screen for long periods of time. Lastly, having a Reading Guide will help me keep on task with my reading.

Nina Paley's Sita Sings the Blues: This option from Week 5 caught my eye because it was a free animated movie from YouTube! I think this is extremely cool, unique, and entertaining. Learning about this Indian Epic would be engaging and I think that is exciting. I watched a couple minutes of the video already and I was already intrigued.

Epified TV's Mahabharata: Karmic Revolution: This reading option sounded interesting because it is free on YouTube and it is spread out over three weeks. I already spend an unhealthy amount of hours watching YouTube videos so why not put my time to use and watch these videos?! The time frame was also interesting because it is spread out over three weeks, which could be good or bad depending on time and how our style of completing works look like.

Sita Sings the Blues. Nina Paley. Source: Wikimedia Commons