The Roman Empire

This week I had a very humbling thought. With the state of our country and the tension world wide between other countries and the United States, I wondered how long the US will be around. I would like to think that the United states will be around forever, but who really knows how long this great country will last? I then thought about the Roman Empire and how it was the greatest empire of it's time and possibly the greatest empire of all time, and it too came to and end. Granted the Roman empire lasted for the better part of 1200 years but it to came to an end. But I thought of how the US has been around for only about 200 years and has already been involved in multiple wars. I can't help but wonder will this nation last for a long time like the roman empire, will it be recognizable in 1200 years, or will it come to an end long before that time?

Nathan Watts

It is finally over

Well, I took my last Latin test ever. That is if you don't count anatomy in medical school. Supposedly all the anatomical terms are derived from Latin. But I am ecstatic that Latin is over! Two long semester of studying and memorizing terms, conjugations, and declensions is finished. I did learn a lot, but going into the class I thought I would learn tons of Latin that I could directly relate to anatomy. Instead I spent most my term learning how to conjugate verbs and decline nouns and adjectives. I did learn how to do all that stuff and I do have a better understanding of Latin and the mindset of its originators. But what makes me happier than anything is that LATIN IS OVER!!!

Nathan Watts

learning a new language

I have always wondered why people come to the United States and never bother to learn English. I have always believed if you are going to live somewhere you should learn the language. While I still believe this I have a new appreciation for the difficulty associated with learning a brand new language. The past two semesters I have been attempting to learn Latin. Don't get me wrong I have learned a lot about Latin and a lot of Latin but we have only studied the grammar and translation of the language. I can't even imagine trying to learn all the grammar and how to speak a language! I have enough difficulty learning Latin without trying to learn how to speak it.

Nathan Watts

carpe diem

"carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero" This is one of my favorite phrases. I think s is a great motto and have always love the message it gives. I even knew the popular translation as "seize the day, put no trust in the future". It wasn't until this class that I understood the grammar behind this phrase. I now realize that carpe is the imperative form of carpere meaning to seize or to take. I also understand how diem is the accusative singular of a 3rd declension noun. I am planning to go to medical school and I am hopeful that this class will prove useful as I am memorizing medical terminology based entirely upon Latin roots. I have already begun to notice how many words familiar to me have their root in Latin.
~Nathan Watts