2022 Making and Learning
Jan. 10th, 2023 11:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
forestofgloryI always try to spend time making things and learning things, as that makes me happy. So I wanted to reflect on what I made and learned in 2022.
In 2022 I struggled to sew because of my tendonitis. But I did finish several things despite that. I made three shirts, two pairs of shorts and a dress – all for the kid. I also finished a complicated quilt top, and made some drawstring bags to use as reusable gift wrap.
In terms of cooking tendonitis is once again a dominant presence as I’ve been working on finding ways to cook that don’t hurt my wrist. I’ve tried several gadgets ment to help with cooking with hand pain. My favorite is the curved blade which lets me do some chopping with my non-dominant hand. I've also been trying more shortcuts. Pre chopped frozen onions are very handy!
My biggest learning project continues to be teaching myself Classical Chinese, which I enjoy but am very slow at. In 2022 I studied lessons 4-13 in A New Practical Primer of Literary Chinese by Paul Router and Lessons 1-7 in An Introduction to Literary Chinese by Michael A. Fuller. I finished the intro section in Router and didn't feel ready for the next section. So I decided to do the intro section of another book. I got through many fewer lessons than if I was taking a class but hopefully going at my own pace means I'll be able to solidify my knowledge before moving on.
I've also been reading non fiction. I'm still deeply interested in Chinese history with a focus on material culture. I'm also in an urban planning book club, which is very fun.
In 2022 I organized some group reading about Chinese history. Here on DW I hosted a read along for The Social Life of Inkstones. It was fun to read everyone's thoughts on the book.
I have also organized a monthly paper reading club in one of my discord servers. We read a paper once a month and talk about it. We all struggle a little to make time for it, but we've had good conversations. Plus it has helped me read more papers, not just hoard them on my hard drive.
I don't have any specific goals for learning and making this year. Just hoping for more focus and less pain.
In 2022 I struggled to sew because of my tendonitis. But I did finish several things despite that. I made three shirts, two pairs of shorts and a dress – all for the kid. I also finished a complicated quilt top, and made some drawstring bags to use as reusable gift wrap.
In terms of cooking tendonitis is once again a dominant presence as I’ve been working on finding ways to cook that don’t hurt my wrist. I’ve tried several gadgets ment to help with cooking with hand pain. My favorite is the curved blade which lets me do some chopping with my non-dominant hand. I've also been trying more shortcuts. Pre chopped frozen onions are very handy!
My biggest learning project continues to be teaching myself Classical Chinese, which I enjoy but am very slow at. In 2022 I studied lessons 4-13 in A New Practical Primer of Literary Chinese by Paul Router and Lessons 1-7 in An Introduction to Literary Chinese by Michael A. Fuller. I finished the intro section in Router and didn't feel ready for the next section. So I decided to do the intro section of another book. I got through many fewer lessons than if I was taking a class but hopefully going at my own pace means I'll be able to solidify my knowledge before moving on.
I've also been reading non fiction. I'm still deeply interested in Chinese history with a focus on material culture. I'm also in an urban planning book club, which is very fun.
In 2022 I organized some group reading about Chinese history. Here on DW I hosted a read along for The Social Life of Inkstones. It was fun to read everyone's thoughts on the book.
I have also organized a monthly paper reading club in one of my discord servers. We read a paper once a month and talk about it. We all struggle a little to make time for it, but we've had good conversations. Plus it has helped me read more papers, not just hoard them on my hard drive.
I don't have any specific goals for learning and making this year. Just hoping for more focus and less pain.
