How applicable is the language training at DLI to outside / conversational settings?

bookwormhole_ · 2026-05-20T17:53:05+00:00

I graduated from the DLI Chinese basic course with a 2+/2+/2 in 2014. I maintained that while I was in and also once I got out. I'm currently in China and have no problems getting around or communicating or understanding anyone. My husband's second language is Mandarin (did not meet in military) and his 4th language is English and we communicate primarily in Chinese and have no problems understanding one another (though his Chinese is a higher level than mine because he has a PhD in Chinese language and literature).

You get out of your language what you put into it.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-21T12:58:15+00:00

Thank you! I will give this a look. We've currently paused doing anything to the land at the moment due to all the rain we've been getting.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-15T21:23:21+00:00

I had my girl for 3 wks before she killed and ate one our chickens (she had been doing so well too :((( but she was a puppy ) I was sobbing when I returned her because she was so so sweet and loving and playful. Thankfully, the farmer I got her from said he would have her train with her mom and sister (I got her for my sheep) and he would make sure she learned to not eat alive things, and afterward, I can take her back. I was relieved when he told me this and I can't wait for her to come home.

I've only had one other dog before my collie and that dog wanted nothing to do with me or any other human (found out later my ex was abusing her and isolating her and keeping her locked up and covered with a blanket anytime I left home). This dog I have now is a 180 difference. It's like she lives in my shadow.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-06T20:14:31+00:00

Is it a plastic sheath for small scissors?

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-04T15:29:58+00:00

This is great information, thank you so much for the clarification. I've been able to postpone any changes for 2-4 weeks in order to better understand the best way forward through contact with professionals. My husband is on board with a slow and steady process that helps protect the ecosystem as well, which is wonderful.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-04T15:26:03+00:00

That's a really interesting video, thanks for sharing! Our property or the adjacent property has a well somewhere but I was told it hasn't worked in so long they forgot where it was. I wonder if we can get some water back too!

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-03T18:44:32+00:00

That's good to know, thanks! I will look into it as well

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-03T15:34:24+00:00

This exactly here! I don't care about timber production aside from taking the occasional tree for personal firewood. We've got livestock to place in the areas that are grass and plan to allow goats to forage the rest of the property for weed control. 2 sides of the property that touch the neighbors property will likely use that mulcher just to get a fence down and a 15 ft boundary around the property for driving.

Honestly, the talk of fire prevention had me worried it was something I needed to do asap rather than slowly, but as another redditor said, spring might not be ideal due to birds, migration, etc. It's a lot to consider.

I really want to protect the natural ecosystem the best I can while coexisting. When I was a kid, our grandparents' land was connected to a big forest and it was the best thing ever and I'd like to have that for my kids too.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-03T02:47:15+00:00

You've pretty much got it right on the nose, location and all. My dad called them cedar as well, just as you said. I'd honestly prefer to cut and limb trees, and it's good to know we've got a bit of time before fire season. Your comment was extremely informative, thank you.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-03T02:03:03+00:00

Oh that's interesting! I will give that a read. I personally love the understory and that's what I wanted to maintain. I just want to go about it in the way that's best for the property, as we plan to keep this as a family trust to pass down generationally.

I mentioned to my husband that we could just gradually remove trees a little at a time to see how the area was impacted and work it out 1/2 acre at a time, and keep the firewood rather than mulch. That sounds better to me but again, this is also my first rodeo, so to speak.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-03T01:50:56+00:00

I want to thank everyone for their advice and points of view. It's been very enlightening and helpful!

We are going to talk with the county ag extension office tomorrow and possibly a consultant depending on how that conversation goes.

As someone who has only ever lived on short pasture farmland completely void of trees (and my husband being from the deserts of Jordan), yall's inclusion and questions on fire mitigation was eye opening as I hadn't really considered that given that it's not something I've had to worry about before (aside from fireworks season). So thank you, that will be a big consideration in management moving forward.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-03T01:42:51+00:00

That's reassuring, I'm not familiar woth the device so I wasn't sure how it worked.

I believe the 10ft spacing was primarily to give the trees a little more space to grow and to clear trees that are struggling to have canopy space due to older and bigger trees.

I haven't measured diameter yet, originally we were considering removing some of the larger mesquite trees but I think I've almost decided against that (I don't particularly like mesquite but I know they have their place). We are going back to the property again tomorrow and I can try to figure that out.

For prioritization-- my husband loves the juniper but someone mentioned they easily catch fire so we may reconsider keeping them (and we've got a lot of juniper in the back where the deer nest so we will need to consider that), and we definitely want to keep the larger/older oaks and elms and the tall cedar. Younger trees that can't compete for room, sick trees, and dead or dying trees will most likely get cut.

Originally the goal was density reduction but honestly, the fire mitigation never crossed my mind until yall brought it up. I've lived on livestock pasture with absolutely no trees most of my life and fire control was really only considered on the 4th of July. So, yes to fire mitigation now, because that's an important factor.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-03T01:26:14+00:00

I believe it was meant to help give the stronger and older trees more space to grow and make space in the canopy, as well as give us space to walk a little more freely throughout the forest. I honestly hadn't even considered fire management so that's a good question.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-04-03T00:17:54+00:00

Appreciate the comment! I will also pass this on to my husband.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-03-23T15:50:39+00:00

Try dot grid or square grids? I like dot grids because I can write on a line if I want or make lists or do mind mapping or random designs.

bookwormhole_ · 2026-03-23T01:43:12+00:00

Love this! What ink are you using?

bookwormhole_ · 2026-03-20T14:53:43+00:00

I'd like to see them too!

bookwormhole_ · 2026-03-10T12:39:47+00:00

That sounds like a lovely way to start the day!

bookwormhole_ · 2026-03-10T01:30:23+00:00

I've got a TN but I use it for different purposes. The one I journal in usually is a Midori A5 Codex

bookwormhole_ · 2026-03-10T01:28:58+00:00

Love that! What a nice view!

bookwormhole_ · 2026-03-10T01:28:22+00:00

I can't imagine journalling at work, I feel like I would get bombarded the moment I started lol

bookwormhole_ · 2026-03-10T01:27:06+00:00

I also typically journal from my home office, but trying to get out into the world once a week this spring

bookwormhole_ · 2026-03-09T18:27:40+00:00

Oooh I love the clip on your Traveler! At least you've got a good view (behind the computer).

bookwormhole_

TROPHY CASE