Student Exchange to France

Now that the school year is over I have taken a wonderful opportunity that has come my way and gone on a six week exchange trip to Nantes, France. Right now it is my fourth week here (sorry about not posting sooner internet has been finicky). Each day on exchange seems to drag by especially when i am not doing anything, but looking back on the four weeks I have been here it has passed by like lighting. I can tell that my French has drastically improved. I have come to appreciate and love French cuisine (i will miss the copious amount of bread when I return to the US) and I developed an appreciation of the French style of living and of their history. If you ever get an opportunity to go on an exchange trip take it but make sure to bring lots of things with you to keep busy as the days can drag by if you have nothing to do.

Sound Track for AP Euro.

So we only have one day left 'till the AP is everyone getting excited? Just in case you are not pumped here is a compiled list of songs to help you study.

Igor Stravinsky: A Russian composer who is acknowledged as one of the most influential conductors of the 20th century. Following are two of his more well know pieces

Johann Sebastian Bach: A German Composer in the first half of the 19th century during the Baroque period

Antonio Vivaldi:  (1678-1741) Italian Baroque composer, priest and violinist, most famous for the four seasons

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: influential composer of the Classical period

Ludwig van Beethoven: German Composer and a crucial figure in the transition from classical to romantic music. 

Franz Liszt : 19th century Hungarian compose, later became known for his pianist skills

Richard Wagner: German composer known for his operas, also was a strong anti-semite. 

1949-1989: this is more US History but it is a really good song by Billy Joel that goes over events from the time period

The Beetles: although this probably won't be on the AP it is good music and it is within the timer period

Enlightenment Thinkers - Rationalists

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted I had an AP Comp. Sci. exam this morning.

 I am going to be going over Important People in the Enlightenment movement, they are sorted by types of thought.

Rationalists

Rene Descartes (1596-1650) : Sought a basis for Logic and thought he found it in man's ability to think: "I think therefore i am", this statement cannot be denied without thinking; therefore it must be an absolute truth that man can think. Proof depends upon logic alone.

Baruch Spinoza (1632 - 1677): Developed a rational pantheism in which he equated God and nature. He denied free will and ended up with a impersonal mechanical universe with no personal God or Heaven for guidance or comfort. 

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibinz (1646-1716): Worked on symbolic logic and calculus and invented the calculation machine. He too, had a mechanical world and life view and though of God as a hypothecial abstraction rather than a person. 

Reformation Hipsters

These are people who tried to reform the Church before it was considered cool, thus they are the reformation Hipsters...Enjoy!

John Wycliffe: 

English theologian, philosopher, church reformer and promoter of the first complete translation of the Bible into English. He was one of the forerunners of the Protestant Reformation. In 1378 he began a systematic attack on the beliefs and practices of the Church. The Lollards, a heretic group, propagated his controversial views

Jan Hus:

The most important 15th-century religious reformer, whose work was transitional between the medevil and reformation periods and anticipated the Lutheran reformation by a full century. He was embroiled in the bitter controversy of the Western Schism for his entire career, and he was convicted of heresy at the Council of Constance and was burned at the stake.

Sparknotes European History Power pack

To give due credit here is the set where the study guide comes from
 http://www.amazon.com/SparkNotes-European-History-Power-Pack/dp/1411404882

It is actually really helpful. In addition to the 6-page study guide the power pack comes with tons of pre-made flashcards, a book with two practice exams and a into on how to take the test, a 5 days to a 5 study guide, and for emergencies only a 24 hour study guide.

if you find yourself a week before the test this may be the best way to review

Sparknotes study guide

Sparknotes has a awsome 6-page study guide for AP  Euro. alot of people though it was really helpful so here is a scanned copy (- no copyrigh infrigment intended this is for studying purposes only )

let me know if the pictures don't blow up well and i can can rescan - i might need to rescan the last one anyways

AP Euro.

So i am taking the AP Euro exam in 18 days so i am going to compile a list things i have found it useful to study on this blog, i will try to post one a day or more.

So to begin here is a video about the differences between Great Britain, the UK, and England. Enjoy!!