Sunday, January 18, 2009

Wow. New to me.


According to wikipedia.org

Livia Drusilla, after 14 AD called Julia Augusta (Classical Latin: LIVIA•DRVSILLA, IVLIA•AVGVSTA[1]) (58 BC-29 AD) was the wife of Augustus and one of the most powerful women in the Roman Empire, being Augustus' faithful advisor. She was also mother to Drusus and Tiberius, grandmother to Germanicus and Claudius, great-grandmother to Caligula and Agrippina the Younger and great-great-grandmother to Nero. She was deified by Claudius who acknowledged her title of Augusta.

While reporting various unsavoury hearsay, the ancient sources generally portray Livia (Julia Augusta) as a woman of proud and queenly attributes, faithful to her imperial husband, for whom she was a worthy consort, forever poised and dignified. With consummate skill she acted out the roles of consort, mother, widow and dowager. Dio records two of her utterances: "Once, when some naked men met her and were to be put to death in consequence, she saved their lives by saying that to a chaste woman such men are in no way different from statues. When someone asked her how she had obtained such a commanding influence over Augustus, she answered that it was by being scrupulously chaste herself, doing gladly whatever pleased him, not meddling with any of his affairs, and, in particular, by pretending neither to hear or nor to notice the favourites of his passion."[23]

With time, however, and widowhood, a haughtiness and an overt craving for power and the outward trappings of status came increasingly to the fore. Livia had always been a principal beneficiary of the climate of adulation that Augustus had done so much to create, and which Tiberius despised ("a strong contempt for honours", Tacitus, Annals 4.37). In 24, typically, whenever she attended the theatre, a seat among the Vestals was reserved for her (Annals 4.16), and this may have been intended more as an honour for the Vestals than for her (cf. Ovid, Tristia, 4.2.13f, Epist.Ex Ponto 4.13.29f).

Livia played a vital role in the formation of her children Tiberius and Drusus. Attention focuses on her part in the divorce of her first husband, father of Tiberius, in 39/38 BC. It would be interesting to know her role in this, as well as in Tiberius’ divorce of Vipsania Agrippina in 12 BC at Augustus' insistence: whether it was merely neutral or passive, or whether she actively colluded in Caesar’s wishes. The first divorce left Tiberius a fosterchild at the house of Octavian; the second left Tiberius with a lasting emotional scar, since he had been forced to abandon the woman he loved for dynastic considerations. Ancient testimonies are lacking, but it may well be that Tiberius’ deep-seated antipathy towards Livia is rooted in these two events.

The concept of one

I should post here more often...
So much happens and I never write it in here. So many feelings are mixed up these days...I've been doing some great things and accomplishments with my life, these days.
I changed some habits. With my current living condition (living in an apt where I am not friends with the people I live with) has made me want to stay out of the house. As much as this sounds awful - I made SO many new friends - not to mention the fact that I've been talking to people that I completely had lost touch with.
Starbucks became my "office" and the J-school my second home.
Leaving the J-school to me will be the worst part about leaving IU.
Honestly, I never felt any close to IU. Girls here were so annoying and boys...Oh God. Stay awaaayy from the American boys
Not only because they do not have any idea on what a good kiss is (I am not the only one with this opinion. I swear!) but because there is a huge lack of charm and knowledge on the art of flirting. Also, because sorority girls would irritate me to the extent.

However, I am surprised. The coolest girls I met this semester were from sororities. I completely fell in love with the girls I worked with on my J-school campaign. They were all so kind and positive (and the few ones to show concern on my broken foot and on other tough times this semester)
So - about that - I got it completely wrong.

The boys - I don't know. And I honestly am not interested in knowing.

The J-school.
Oh God. A piece of my heart is there, in Ernie Pyle hall. Nerdie - I know. But the enthusiasm of all professors I had there really made me excited on how to practice good journalism and what it means to be professionaly passionate.
My PR professors are amazing people. My campaigns professor is inspiring. I guess everyone has a professor that motivates them to be a better student - and he is definitely will be that for me.

My friends, right now, are great people.
Breaking my foot taught me that in the end of the day the only person you can ALWAYS count with is yourself. I was so pissed off how almost everyone disappeared and some - like my roomates - never even asked if I was ok as I struggled to open the refrigerator.
However, I am glad that the few people that were there were more than awesome - and I so fortunate to have these few amazing friends.

So far, I also noticed how the whole family thing can vanish at times. And that family is the one you make for yourself.

And best of all - I've been doing pre-tty well on my personal battle of figuring out my culture. Again, I figured you have to make your own culture. Expecting that people with similar backgrounds will value the same things you do is like asking to be disappointed.
I always think of where I came from - and my grandpa. Thinking of my grandpa really puts my feet back on the ground. All this "nhem-nhem-nhem" I've heard this year - really upset me. So hey - you know what?
I'll stick to my Brazilian roots - even though (even my mom, on her way to her "soccer mom" ways) not everyone chooses to do so.

I am a firm believer of the concept of being multicultural and still sticking to what you've - ethnocentrically - learned was right. I am a Brazilian, I do put olive oil in everything (and talk as loud as hell!) and love my J-school.

In the end of the day - The best role model you can follow is yourself.

Love--

Ana Livia