It's the Fourth of July!

     Hip hip hooray! To celebrate the country's birthday, today was run a little bit differently than usual. Elective classes took place in the morning followed by an afternoon full of competitions with the Japanese Academy and a movie. Each of us was able to choose two elective classes ranging on a variety of topics including a study of the Iliad in context of the Bronze Age, a discussion about monsters and their reflection on the society which created them, and even a debate concerning the benevolent dictatorship versus corrupt Senate in regard to the Roman's success in government. These classes enabled us to both expand our existing knowledge about the ancient world while exposing us to new topics we found interesting. They also provided a space in which to grow in our ability to clearly articulate different viewpoints in academic environments.
     Following classes, we joined with the students of the Japanese Academy to participate in a series of fun competitions cleverly dubbed the "Silk Road Games." These consisted of a trivia contest, musical chairs, an impromptu art competition, and ended in a water balloon toss/fight! It was a lot of fun and a great way to build the community among the two academies here on campus. The contest also offered Latin academy students a way to branch off from their provinces and meet new people in GLA, as the groups competing in the games were randomly assigned.
     The day ended with a screening of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, a Japanese anime movie following the story of a young princess named Nausicaa. One of Magister Gallagher's favorite movies, though not an academic film, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind was an instant hit here at GLA! Tomorrow, we are looking forward to another activity promoted by Magister Gallagher: Bellum Mercatum!