salve tu, tu hoc legens!

est Cullius qui tibi iterum scribit.

pauci dies usque ad Academiam restant... parasne te? puto me paratum esse. per hoc tempus discendi, ridendi, loquendi, magnum erit gaudium nostrum. feliciter exspecto!

cur Latine scribo? una hora uniuscuiusque diei Academiae in colloquio Latino terenda est. ea est Latina Loquenda! noli autem timere; haec hora laeta et utilis erit. cum amicis et magistris dum loquemur, ludemus et ridebimus! nota bene, lingua Latina nulli est lingua materna; dum loquimur, omnes (sine dubio, et tu et ego) discimus.

quaeque schola ad rem quamdam pertinebit. de multis in colloquiis nostris loquemur. de affectu, de pretio, de merce, de natura, de caelo, de vestimento, de animali, de cibo, re vera, de omnibus! Latina Loquenda his rebus te instruet ut in Academicis et voluntate tuo Latine loqui possis.

satis bene; in campo Collegii Randolphi Maconensis mox aderimus. eo tempore de pluribus simul colloquemur. exspectare haud possum!

cura ut valeas.

p.s. - English translation below the cut!

​Salvete omnes!
This is your RA Joseph, back to update you on my elective and give you some advice as you pack.
First off, my elective. Unlike the full classes that your teachers will be leading, this is just a single lesson. Mine is about how classics is used in an online space known as the Manosphere. Manosphere authors have a very different take on Classics from what you have probably been exposed to in class, so we will discuss how we feel about their messages and how we might respond to them. My hope is that you will leave that lesson with a deeper awareness of the range of ideas people promote using ancient life and text. I also aim to prepare you to engage with people who got into Classics via the Manosphere rather than traditional educational pathways. If this sounds interesting to you, sign up when the time comes! (Sign-ups are at academy, so don’t worry about that yet)

As for my advice, my main recommendation is simple: be open and eager. I mentioned this in my first post, but I really do believe that it is the key to a successful academy, so it’s worth repeating. All the people who have the best time at GLA are the ones who come in ready to make friends, learn from their teachers, and embrace all the unique things that you can only do at GLA. My other recommendation, perhaps biased a bit by my position as an RA, is to ask for help if you ever need it. Three weeks away from home might be a new experience for many of you and could take a bit of adjustment. Luckily, though, you have an amazing staff of teachers whose primary goal is to make sure you have an amazing time at academy. Come to any of us, but particularly the RAs, with anything you need to help you settle in and thrive, and we will do our absolute best. Making some new friends always helps homesickness too, so put yourself out there! On the homesickness front, make sure your friends and family know where to find the mailing information for GLA and make sure you know the addresses of people you want to write to. And don’t forget stamps and envelopes!

Finally, some packing tips, which I am writing out for myself as much as I am for you. (I’m a very anxious packer):
A nicer outfit or two – GLA usually stays on the casual side of things, but we like to get a little fancy once or twice
Something to wear as a toga/stola – while (un)fortunately this will not be your daily attire, we’ll break out the Roman clothes on occasion
Quarters, laundry detergent, etc  – please. Nobody wants you going three weeks without doing laundry. I would expect a cycle of washing and drying to cost somewhere from $2-5, so do your math for how many quarters to bring. You will probably get two laundry opportunities, maybe three. And I recommend actual laundry detergent. Some machines don’t like the pods.
A watch (and perhaps an alarm clock) – because early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable.
A hat and/or sunscreen – we won’t be outdoors constantly, but it’s never a bad idea to be prepared
A water bottle – hydration is important
Small games and books – there will be free time in the evenings, which is a great time to hang out with your peers or take advantage of some alone time
​
See earlier blog posts and other information on the website for more information about packing, as my list here is far from complete. Hopefully this will be helpful, though.
I can’t wait to meet you all soon!
Best,
Joseph

Hi, all! 
Magister Benji again. I'd like to you to play the song below while you read the texts that follow:

Woodie Guthrie: "Pastures of Plenty"
It's a mighty hard row that my poor hands have hoed
My poor feet have traveled a hot dusty road
Out of your Dust Bowl and Westward we rolled
And your deserts were hot and your mountains were cold

I worked in your orchards of peaches and prunes
I slept on the ground in the light of the moon
On the edge of the city you'll see us and then
We come with the dust and we go with the wind

California, Arizona, I harvest your crops
Well its North up to Oregon to gather your hops
Dig the beets from your ground, cut the grapes from your vine
To set on your table your light sparkling wine

Green pastures of plenty from dry desert ground
From the Grand Coulee Dam where the waters run down
Every state in the Union us migrants have been
We'll work in this fight and we'll fight till we win

It's always we rambled, that river and I
All along your green valley, I will work till I die
My land I'll defend with my life if it be
Cause my pastures of plenty must always be free
//

Nemesianus: Eclogues 1.1ll
While, Tityrus, you are weaving a basket with river rushes, and while the country-side is free from the harsh-toned grasshoppers,⁠ strike up, if you've got any song set to the slender reed-pipe. Pan has taught your lips to blow the reeds and a kind Apollo has given you the grace of verse. Strike up, while the kids crop the willows and the cows the grass, while the dew and the mildness of the morning sun urge you to let your flocks into the green meadow-land.
//

Vergil: Georgics 1.1ll
What makes the crops joyous, beneath what star, Maecenas, it is well to turn the soil, and wed vines to elms, what tending the cattle need, what care the herd in breeding, what skill the thrifty bees – hence shall I begin my song.
//

A large percentage of you come from NoVA. I'm no Virginian (a proud product of the Pittsburgh suburbs), but all my memories in your state instead lie in the Blue Ridge. These mountains cradled me during my university time, likewise their surrounding countryside. If in any way I can pay back the peace and perspective which this corner of the world has brought me, I will; I figured three weeks with you, exploring folk traditions, pastoral poetry, and shepherd songs, is at the least a step in the right direction. I find this a chance to honor your heritage as Virginians, pay homage to the agricultural communities we rely on, and explore some of the best Greek and Latin poetry extant (seldom read by students your age, but now is a better time than ever). From a farming manual of ca. 8th. c. BCE to contemporary ecopoetry, we will examine works from pastoral lyric traditions and the elements therein intertwined: loneliness, masculinity, animal rights, pride, humor, violence, and many more. 

And along with each text, I'll introduce a song from the American folk tradition. We can compare and contrast ancient and contemporary perspectives, becoming better shepherds our own land and cultural heritage while doing so. Above you have a song from Woodie Guthrie and excerpts from two famous Roman pastoralists. See how they invoke their natural world, see how they cherish it—how they're frustrated by it, how they command it. Just a brief taste of what we will explore together in the classroom: a safe space where every voice is cherished, particularly those with backgrounds unlike ours, and where lived experience and self reflection—not Latin ability or literature knowledge base—will bring us together and push us forward to really exciting places. You will soon be masters of this canon, and I cannot wait to learn alongside of you. 

I wish you all the best from Austria, and I'll see you soon! Mag. Benji. 

And, if anyone from last year is reading (I miss you!!!), we will be translating all of Tibullus 1.1 this year. You inspired me last year! Current students, this is my favorite poem of all time (maybe behind Vergil's tenth Eclogue--which we will also be reading!!!) :) 

And and, I invite you to enjoy one of my favorite songs of all time. You are all leaving for the country in coming to GLA: a land without phones, without pressure to perform. This. is. a. blessing. Make the most of it. 

I teach Latin in Philadelphia, but I used to be in your very shoes- scouring through the seemingly endless pages of the Latin Academy information packet.

If I may get deep for a second, Latin Academy is such a special time. As a student, nothing compared to being surrounded by other Latin nerds and being able to make “obscure” jokes about stabbing salads and calling it Caesar. But it was also intimidating. I was one of the best Latin students at my own school, but I was suddenly not the only obvious choice for the teacher’s favorite.

As Academy went on though- I learned it wasn’t about being the best. It was about trying new things- like acting, memorizing poetry, and (scariest of all) making small talk in Latin. It was about making grammatical mistakes (while talking to teachers) and asking questions (which others already knew the answer to), but it was okay- even encouraged. Best of all, it was about forming friendships. Each new friend had a vastly different set of talents. While I was daunted at first, I then was able to learn so much from them about music, origami, and exactly how far south "nova" stretches. But we all shared a love of Latin, and I still have friends from Academy today!

No matter how you estimate yourself compared to your peers, if you go all in, commit to learning, and lean into community, then you've won. You are all passionate about Latin. You've already been accepted to Latin Academy. We’re just here to love learning. Can't wait to see the unique love you bring to the Academy.
-MM