What would you like to learn...but probably won't?

carnation · #1 12-01-2013, 03:02 PM

On the way back from the family Thanksgiving, several of us were discussing things we'd really like to learn to do but probably won't, for various reasons. Do you have any?

Mine:
1. Learn Mandarin Chinese
(it's a tonal and difficult language and I'd just screw up my Spanish)
2. Knit
(when I think of how long it took me to learn how to fix errors and make
short cuts in the needle arts I can do, I think, "Naaahh...")

I was going to add "make great pizzas" and "cook great seafood" but those are more do-able.

DubaiSis · #2 12-01-2013, 03:53 PM

I am a very good cook, if I do say so myself, but I cannot conquer a simple loaf of bread. I would like to learn how to do that, but probably won't. I've lost a LOT of weight on my current diet and I think the primary takeaway is carbs don't get to be part of my future, even when I'm done with the diet. So why bother with the yummy smell of a home baked loaf of bread?

DrPhil · #3 12-01-2013, 03:58 PM

I tried to think of something but cannot. Realistic (what is realistic for me) things that I really, truly, absolutely want to attain (versus something that would be cool but not an ultimate dream) I plan to accomplish them in all my years of living.

Sciencewoman · #4 12-01-2013, 04:46 PM

I would like to speak fluent French, play the piano like Jerry Lee Lewis, and write a best-selling novel (or multiple best-selling novels). These are long standing wishes, but aside from 7 futile years of piano lessons when I was a kid, I haven't done anything toward achieving them.

I'd also like to win the lottery, but I never buy tickets. So, that's probably not going to happen either!

HQWest · #5 12-01-2013, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

I am a very good cook, if I do say so myself, but I cannot conquer a simple loaf of bread. I would like to learn how to do that, but probably won't. I've lost a LOT of weight on my current diet and I think the primary takeaway is carbs don't get to be part of my future, even when I'm done with the diet. So why bother with the yummy smell of a home baked loaf of bread?

I can give you lessons sometime if you like

I used to do this all the time when I lived in Texas and had problems when I moved here. Turns out the water is too hard and has too high a chlorine content. I use filtered water and voila! it works again.

I would love to learn to play the piano. I can read music, but need someone willing to be patient with me.

Xidelt · #6 12-01-2013, 06:59 PM

I wish I could regain my French language skills from high school/college. I also wish I could dance incredibly well.

AOIILisa · #7 12-01-2013, 07:30 PM

1. Knit. My sister keeps trying to teach me but I can't do it!

2. Play electric guitar. And my first husband was a guitarist who went to the Berklee School of Music, but somehow I didn't learn more than the basics.

3. Speak French fluently. Je parle un peu, but I'm going to Paris in April so maybe that will motivate me to take a class.

aephi alum · #8 12-01-2013, 09:52 PM

Crochet: I'm with you, Jen - I knit pretty well but I can't crochet my way out of a wet paper bag open at both ends. I even bought some crochet hooks ... I use them to rescue dropped stitches in my knitting.

Drive stick: I have a strange attitude towards driving. I never use cruise control because I don't like giving up that much control over my car, but I can only drive automatic. I only know a couple of people who drive stick, and I'd hate to destroy a friend's car's transmission, so if I ever do decide to learn to drive stick I'll go to a driving school.

Speak fluent French: I took a couple of years of French back in high school, but if you don't use it, you lose it. I'd love to be able to go to Europe and not come across as one of "those" Americans who assume everyone all over the world speaks English.

DubaiSis · #9 12-02-2013, 12:00 AM

I taught myself how to drive a stick... forced to. My parents were out of town and the only car left behind was a stick. When I became too stir crazy I just figured it out. Probably best to be young and stupid when doing it this way

HQWest, when I decide to take on carbs again, I may try the filtered water approach. And thanks for the offer!

Kevin · #10 12-02-2013, 12:35 AM

I don't really do that.

I want to learn to play serious folk fiddle, I work on it til I'm good at it.

--still working on it!

clemsongirl · #11 12-02-2013, 12:57 AM

I'd love to learn Greek or Portuguese because I think they're both really interesting languages (Greek especially with the awesome alphabet), but neither one is offered at any schools near me and it's probably not going to happen.

I'd also love to be able to dance well and play piano well, because I know that my body can do them but since I hadn't been using those skills from a very young age I will probably never reach my true potential on them. Oh well.

AXOmom · #12 12-02-2013, 02:32 AM

^^^Furman offers modern Greek as a major, but I'm not sure if you would consider that close (it's about an hour isn't it?).

I had to take piano because my mom was a piano teacher. I hated every minute. I'll gladly trade the ten years of my life I wasted on piano lessons to anyone on here who wanted to take piano and didn't get the opportunity. Don't even get me started on the four years of violin.

My dad wanted to teach me to read Greek, but I was in 7th grade at the time, so his timing was way off.

I'd love to learn Spanish, but I know I'd never speak it well.

I'd also love to learn to be more artistic in any way, but yeah....not going to happen.

ASTalumna06 · #13 12-02-2013, 03:05 AM

Is it just me.. or does this thread kind of depress anyone else?

All of the things that I really want to learn, I find a way to learn. I may not do them well (e.g. I may never play a guitar riff like Jimi Hendrix or break the world record for hot dog eating), but that doesn't mean I'm going to shrug my shoulders and say, "Eh, it's not worth trying."

Chase your dreams, people!

DeltaBetaBaby · #14 12-02-2013, 05:41 AM

Hahaha, I bet learning a new language is the most common one out there, but the bottom line is that, without the opportunity for immersion, that's a monumental task.

honeychile · #15 12-02-2013, 02:48 PM

Need to bring a little Bob Dylan to this thread: "He who is not busy being born is busy dying."

There are so many things I'd like to accomplish before I die, but I'm not sure which are doable and which aren't.

I'd like to write The Great American Novel. I'd like to get rich doing so.

I'd like to learn how to speak German and Russian fluently.

I'd like to be on a financial footing where rescuing shelter dogs would be an option. I'd like to become a Bichon Mom again.

I'd like to be a docent at a museum, especially one that thrills me.

and especially

I'd like to move back to the DC/NoVA area. Tomorrow!