Introduction

Hello everyone!

My name is Jennifer and I am a fourth year student here at UBC. I am currently majoring in Sociology with a minor in Education. Truthfully, it has been some time since I last read literature. However, I believe this course will be a great opportunity for me to rekindle the joy of reading and think about the different meanings texts can have. I quite enjoy reading, but I can take a long time to process and retain all of the information that is presented. Nonetheless, I hope to get into the habit of constantly reading and discover a few new favourites along the way. In the coming weeks, I hope to build a solid routine that helps me succeed in the course.

The question Where is the “Romance World”? from our online lecture video this week, really got me thinking. Initially, I pondered about what it means to me and where it comes from in my life. That is, from all of the dramas and movies that portray some type of affection or form of love. However, realizing that there is no Romance World came to me as a surprise! Yet, trying to buy a train ticket to the Romance World does seem quite impossible, so it makes sense.

So far, I truly enjoy how this class is structured as it offers insights that ignite more conversations. I am eager to listen and discuss with other peers in the class. However, I will admit that I am a fairly big introvert and I tend to do better in smaller groups. With this, one of my goals for this class will be to challenge myself as much as possible, to speak up, and to share my perspectives whenever I can. As well, another goal of mine is to stay on top of all class work, of course. I look forward to sharing our feelings together and exploring the many ways that literature can be interpreted. After all, I think that is the beauty of discussions. To bounce ideas off of each other and be open to different point of views.

I recognize that everyone has varying levels of knowledge and experiences with romance studies. I think this will actually make our conversations that much more enriching! Personally, romance is a fairly new topic and I have never previously learned about it, particularly in an academic context. Hence, I am ready to soak in the wide range of knowledge this course has to offer and I am excited for what is to come. It is nice to meet you all!