curmugeon | Learning

Just read about the thought of bring back Latin to schools as a foreign language. Yes, I was one if those weird people who studied Latin. Latin was the foundation to my further studies in language. I took two years of Latin in high school. I also took two years of Spanish and one year of French. When I entered the military my language training and in particular the Latin helped me get assigned to Europe. I was sent to language school to study Polish, a Latin based language. Study of Latin also made me study history. In my second year if Latin we basically translated the diaries of Caesar's Gallic wars. The Romans were great recorders of history as where ever they went they brought scribes to record every event. I also took courses in literature including Shakespeare. My interests lead me to get a degree in geography. Most people do not understand what geography is about. A lot of misconceptions exist. Geography is the study of man and his impact on the land. I have worked as a professional cartographer (map maker). I also took a lot of coursework in civil engineering, climatology, planning, anthropology (both cultural and physical), psychology, art, and religion. In my past I kept putting off graduation as I kept taking more courses. I was able to do this by doing graphic arts and photography on the side and having generous GI benefits. Even my military career reflected my interests. Intelligence gathering included knowledge of language, geography and culture. My assignment to Berlin had me in the middle of the history of WWII. I spent two years of intense study of the rise and fall of Hitler and his deputies. I enjoy learning. Informally I have had my IQ tested (I once was invited to join Mensa) and they estimated it was somewhere above 120. I didn't take that much interest in that, I just enjoyed learning. So now you know a bit more about me.