Hi there,
Welcome to Nina’s Nonsense Newsletter #1.
The objective of these newsletters is to share things that are going on in my life with friends and family in a more intimate setting than social media. I got the idea from this article by Mike Isaac in the New York Times.
We’ll see how long this newsletter thing lasts before I inevitably give up on it.
I’ve settled on the name “Nina’s Nonsense,“ but I’m still workshopping. If you have any ideas for me, please let me know !
Here are two important things that have happened in my life these past months:
1. I started learning piano again
During my first semester of college, I had far too much free time. I didn’t feel great about it, and I felt like I was wasting too much time doing nothing. I realized that my time could be filled with piano, so I began exploring my options and now receive lessons from an amazing professor. (And it’s for 1 credit hour!)
I am currently learning three pieces:
Mozart - Fantasia in D minor
Chopin - Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64 No. 2
Debussy - The Girl with the Flaxen Hair
Here is a playlist of the pieces. I included multiple versions of each song because there are so many interpretations of these pieces (especially the Mozart and Chopin).
I’ve always loved the Waltz in C-sharp minor and The Girl with the Flaxen Hair, so I’m very excited to be able to play them.
2. I’m 19!
Nineteen is a good number. Odd AND prime. A++. Thank you to everyone for the kind birthday wishes and gifts <3
Articles!
Here are some articles I think are worth reading:
When Deportation is a Death Sentence by Sarah Stillman (The New Yorker) - A heartbreaking story. Sarah Stillman won a National Magazine Award for this article recently, and it’s clear why. It’s long but definitely worth your time.
Meet the Flintstone House, a Home So Odd It Was Declared a ‘Public Nuisance’ by Matt Stevens (The New York Times) - The title already sets the stage. This was a humorous and unique little story that had me giggling. Interesting photos too.
Japan’s Working Mothers: Record Responsibilities, Little Help From Dads by Motoko Rich (The New York Times) - This article follows a day in the life of Yoshiko Nishimasa and explores the rise of women entering the work force in Japan. But without cultural changes being made in the division of home and child duties, there is only so much one woman can do in a day.
Footprints in the snow lead to an emotional rescue by Ty Gagne - This is a great story that I read a while ago. I shared it with some friends then, but it’s worth sharing again.
Movies
I was finally able to watch Roma. A beautiful, wonderful movie. I really enjoyed Brian Tallerico’s review of it on RogerEbert.com. He really hit at what made Roma such a great watch.
When [Roma] ended, I thought more than ever about how [Roger Ebert] would have written about it. I think that’s because [Roma] so completely embodies what [Ebert] considered the role of great cinema as an empathy machine. We should be thankful there are films like “Roma” keeping that machine humming.
Next on my movie watchlist:
Free Solo - My mother was able to watch this in theaters and loved it. Free Solo recently won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and is now available on Hulu.
Memories of Murder - A famous 2003 Korean movie that has been on my watchlist for a long, long time. It’s available on Amazon Prime.
Incedies - A 2010 film recommended to me by my mother and directed by Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, Sicario). Available on Netflix.
Books
The last book I finished was Michelle Obama’s Becoming. Michelle Obama is such an amazing role model and constant inspiration. Her book did not disappoint. I found myself excited to wake up in the mornings, for it meant I would be able to delve further into the book. I recommend Becoming to everyone, especially women and women of color.
One of my favorite lines from the book:
Everyone on Earth, they'd tell us, was carrying around an unseen history, and that alone deserved some tolerance.
Music
Recently, I’ve been listening to Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 55 No. 1. It’s a such a beautiful, melancholy piece, and Rubinstein’s performance of it is one of my favorites. Josh Turner Guitar arranged the nocturne for solo guitar, and it’s equally as beautiful.
Fun fact: The nocturne may sound familiar. Evil Morty’s Theme was based off it.
I think that’s it for this round of nonsense. Please let me know what you think. Did you read any of the articles/listen to any of the links? What’d you think? Did you enjoy Roma or Becoming as much as I did? My inbox is open for responses !
Thanks for reading.
Best wishes,
Nina Han
3/23/2019