Wilderness Survival; Wednesday, Second Period [02/21].

[sword_chocobro]

"Building off of last week's focus on pulling sustenance from our surroundings..." Gladio started, once everyone had gathered in the Danger Shop for this week's sim, which appeared to be a bit different than the usual set-up, focused around a large lake and the pine forest that clustered and spread from one side of it, while the train on the other was a bit more rocky and scattered with scrub and bushes. And, yes, he did also throw the giant Catoblepas in the middle of it, too, as much for flavor and to make things a little more interesting as it was for just nostalgia. Earth really was a truly beautiful place, but it had nothing on the sheer enormity of the wildlife that could be found all around Eos: as big and beautiful as they were deadly and dangerous.

Although this Catoblepas was definitely just for show, and hopefully not too much of a distraction as they went into today's topic.

"...we're taking it a little easier today, since I'm sure everyone's brains are already beginning to shift toward the break next week, but we can still learn a valuable skill. It's a specific skill, one that'll only be much good if you're stuck in the wilderness near a water source, but knowing how to fish can be a relaxing pastime or a good way to get protein and nutrients you need when necessary. Now, obviously, there's your standard pole fishing, which is how most people do it recreationally, but you're not always going to have a fishing rod on hand, so we're also going to go through some other, more rugged methods: net fishing, setting up fish traps, and catching fish by spear or even by hand.

"Now," he said, before he got into the details, "if you're a little squeamish at the idea of harming another living creature, that's fair." He definitely didn't have those qualms, but he knew people who did. "But, the thing to remember is that this is about survival. When it comes right down to the wire, you might not be able to afford getting soft in the face of life or death. And if this class is a little rough for you, I've got some bad news about the lesson planned for when we get back from break. If you want to duck out, I'll respect that, but just keep in mind that at least the animals here in the danger shop aren't real, and you could still pick up some valuable skills that I hope you won't ever have to use, but you might be glad to have in your wheelhouse one day all the same.

"So let's get started, ask any questions you may have as we go along, and then we'll get into some fishing."

Conversational Japanese; Wednesday, Fourth Period [02/21].

[id_kill_him]

Class would be meeting that day in the computer lab! Very exciting, no? Well, Yukari was clearly pretty stoked about it, because she was mostly just hoping for a good way to come out of a major video game fugue state over the past week to scrounge up a lesson plan for this week, only to come up with the perfect solution.

"Video games!" she started happily. "Are a big part of Japanese culture, and also, no matter what anyone else may tell you, are an excellent source of learning information! Now, a lot of educational games can be pretty lame, but they can also be very helpful! Which is why today, we are going to experience the world of learning through video games as I introduce you all to a good way to learn vocabulary and even some of the Katakana writing style in an RPG form! Now, I know this is conversational Japanese, so knowing Katakana is not part of the lesson plan, but it could still be helpful and useful, especially since Katakana is the style used when dealing with a lot of foreign words! And, clearly, the best part about video games is that they help you forget about the real world, so that makes an RPG even better by putting you in a different world entirely...while learning!"

Totally legit and helpful lesson plan! Definitely not an excuse to just play video games all period!

"So I'll just show you how to get the game started up and running and then you all can just have fun and start picking up all sorts of helpful things!"

Music, Wednesday

[unusual_sith]

“Now, we’re hitting the medieval era beyond all the droning church stuff, and that’s where your historical record actually starts getting interesting,” Atton said. (He was wearing a Panopticon t-shirt for the occasion.) “While the monks were humming in tune inside their churches, outside, secular music was deeply popular. Musicians would travel from town to town, playing drums, flutes, harps and early string instruments that looked a little like boxy versions of the violins you have today.”

He leaned back against the wall. “Oh, and bagpipes,” he added. “We’re not giving you bagpipes.” That way lay insanity. “Though, to be fair, the secular and the divine didn’t always sit so far apart. The whole ‘traveling musician’ thing might have started with a bunch of young, bored priestly types, traveling around singing snarky takes on the Bible, which is an attitude I can respect.” It was something like that, anyway. “Most famously, they left behind the Carmina Burana, a collection of pretty bawdy poems and songs about religion.” He tapped the speaker to play a segment. “Now the Carmina Burana’s been set to fancy music by modern composers, so you might know the name. Remember the background next time you hear that dramatic orchestral stuff, though: this sounds awe-inspiring, but actually it’s just some medieval religious nerd complaining about fate.”

Again, he could respect that.

“These Goliards were followed by the troubadours and Minnesängers, wandering musicians who sang songs about being a very good, very heroic knight fighting battles and falling in love with princesses they never slept with.” He shrugged. “Everyone’s got a kink.”

Lana gave him an amused look. "A lot of the older Earth legends that we know were preserved through music. Chanted poetry and songs about heroes and gods, some of which eventually got written down.

"Actually, written tunes in the current Western notation style also started at about this time - the system of actually writing down notes in a way that anyone could understand began with the church wanting to standardize tunes and reuse them. So from this point forward, we have a much better idea of what music actually sounded like. Or what it was 'supposed' to, anyway. Though much transmission of music still happened person-to-person rather than via writing." Paper was expensive and fragile.

"Don't worry," she assured the class, "we won't make you try to pass a tune along like that. Although it could be interesting." Musical telephone! "Or dance, even though dance music was very popular." Between that and the bagpipes, all the fun things were out. "We have created a few of the older instruments, though, if you want to try your hand at them."

“Hell, we could probably let you make your own if we wanted to,” Atton said, amused. “Make a big wooden box, attach some strings to it...” He shrugged. “Anyway, have some troubadour music to lead us out. Then you get to mess around.”