Last night I had a dream that I was driving my car West on US 33, towards Columbus. As I was veering left on the ramp in order to stay on 33 W (you know, where it forks towards Lancaster and the speed limit picks back up to 65) I took a sharp left and drove off of the (now) bridge. I remember thinking, "Oh shit." Then there was suddenly water beneath me and the car, and the road was no longer behind/above me. I slowly made my descent and remember that the water below was relatively still, save for the ripples of the wind and I thought to myself, "It's okay, I am going to survive this." Maybe that was when I had the "Ah ha!" moment in realizing that it was all a dream because just as I the car was about to hit the water, I readied myself to jump out (naturally, my sunfire became a convertible making it so much easier to make my escape) and I woke up.
I am no dream interpreter. If I had to guess I would say that I dreamed about driving to Columbus because I have driven there three times in the last two weeks and maybe I am stressed so the car going off the bridge symbolizes that, or something. Makes sense.
If I was a dream interpreter maybe I would say that driving a car represents my life and my ability to move forward. The road will take me to my goals. Could the road represent my desire to become a professor? Unfortunately, in my dream, I drove off the road. The thing is, I drove off the road. In my dream, I chose to take that hard left. Perhaps that hard left represents my decision to stay in Athens for a little while, the decision to do the AmeriCorps gig. So I have chosen to deviate from my path for the time being, I'm still making progress. But in the dream the consequences were not violent. Even as the car careened off of the bridge/road, I had the mindset that everything would be okay. The water is calm. Supposedly water represents emotion and I would say that hits the nail - spot on. And I survive the fall. So I assume anyway, otherwise I don't believe I would have woken up as I had.
So, dreams have a funny way of telling us what our subconscious is thinking. While I am no dream interpreter, it is kind of interesting to ponder. Also, reassuring. If this is all shades of confusing to you, I am not going to apologize. Maybe you should call me and catch up, eh?
Oh right, one last thing. When I woke up from my dream, I was lying on my side and I opened my eyes and I saw something looking down on me. Whatever it was, looked translucent green and red and it gave me chills but I had already grappled with the fact that I had been dreaming a crazy dream just seconds before and I was too tired to be afraid. So, I rolled over, ignoring whatever it was (and it was probably nothing) glanced at the clock (it was 3:48am), groaned and fell asleep once again.
Needless to say, it was creepy to think about this morning.
Peace.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
"Imagine if the Tea Party Was Black" - Tim Wise
It has been a while since I have had the opportunity to sit down and write anything for me, from me lately mostly due to my thesis writing. Just as I have not had much time to write I have also found it difficult to keep up with the latest news but on the occasion I have caught glimpses of what the teabaggers and extremists in AZ have been up to and have been appalled. That being said, I read this blog recently and found it quite eye opening, especially after having read some of Patricia Hill Collins' work. So I am reposting this blog from Ephphatha Poetry in hopes that this reaches more people than just those who already 'get it.'
I hope that this encourages respectful and productive dialogue.Thursday, April 22, 2010
"Imagine if the Tea Party Was Black" - Tim Wise
Let’s play a game, shall we? The name of the game is called “Imagine.” The way it’s played is simple: we’ll envision recent happenings in the news, but then change them up a bit. Instead of envisioning white people as the main actors in the scenes we’ll conjure - the ones who are driving the action - we’ll envision black folks or other people of color instead. The object of the game is to imagine the public reaction to the events or incidents, if the main actors were of color, rather than white. Whoever gains the most insight into the workings of race in America, at the end of the game, wins.So let’s begin.
Imagine that hundreds of black protesters were to descend upon Washington DC and Northern Virginia, just a few miles from the Capitol and White House, armed with AK-47s, assorted handguns, and ammunition. And imagine that some of these protesters —the black protesters — spoke of the need for political revolution, and possibly even armed conflict in the event that laws they didn’t like were enforced by the government? Would these protester — these black protesters with guns — be seen as brave defenders of the Second Amendment, or would they be viewed by most whites as a danger to the republic? What if they were Arab-Americans? Because, after all, that’s what happened recently when white gun enthusiasts descended upon the nation’s capital, arms in hand, and verbally announced their readiness to make war on the country’s political leaders if the need arose.
Imagine that white members of Congress, while walking to work, were surrounded by thousands of angry black people, one of whom proceeded to spit on one of those congressmen for not voting the way the black demonstrators desired. Would the protesters be seen as merely patriotic Americans voicing their opinions, or as an angry, potentially violent, and even insurrectionary mob? After all, this is what white Tea Party protesters did recently in Washington.
Imagine that a rap artist were to say, in reference to a white president: “He’s a piece of shit and I told him to suck on my machine gun.” Because that’s what rocker Ted Nugent said recently about President Obama.
Imagine that a prominent mainstream black political commentator had long employed an overt bigot as Executive Director of his organization, and that this bigot regularly participated in black separatist conferences, and once assaulted a white person while calling them by a racial slur. When that prominent black commentator and his sister — who also works for the organization — defended the bigot as a good guy who was misunderstood and “going through a tough time in his life” would anyone accept their excuse-making? Would that commentator still have a place on a mainstream network? Because that’s what happened in the real world, when Pat Buchanan employed as Executive Director of his group, America’s Cause, a blatant racist who did all these things, or at least their white equivalents: attending white separatist conferences and attacking a black woman while calling her the n-word.
Imagine that a black radio host were to suggest that the only way to get promoted in the administration of a white president is by “hating black people,” or that a prominent white person had only endorsed a white presidential candidate as an act of racial bonding, or blamed a white president for a fight on a school bus in which a black kid was jumped by two white kids, or said that he wouldn’t want to kill all conservatives, but rather, would like to leave just enough—“living fossils” as he called them—“so we will never forget what these people stood for.” After all, these are things that Rush Limbaugh has said, about Barack Obama’s administration, Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama, a fight on a school bus in Belleville, Illinois in which two black kids beat up a white kid, and about liberals, generally.
Imagine that a black pastor, formerly a member of the U.S. military, were to declare, as part of his opposition to a white president’s policies, that he was ready to “suit up, get my gun, go to Washington, and do what they trained me to do.” This is, after all, what Pastor Stan Craig said recently at a Tea Party rally in Greenville, South Carolina.
Imagine a black radio talk show host gleefully predicting a revolution by people of color if the government continues to be dominated by the rich white men who have been “destroying” the country, or if said radio personality were to call Christians or Jews non-humans, or say that when it came to conservatives, the best solution would be to “hang ‘em high.” And what would happen to any congressional representative who praised that commentator for “speaking common sense” and likened his hate talk to “American values?” After all, those are among the things said by radio host and best-selling author Michael Savage, predicting white revolution in the face of multiculturalism, or said by Savage about Muslims and liberals, respectively. And it was Congressman Culbertson, from Texas, who praised Savage in that way, despite his hateful rhetoric.
Imagine a black political commentator suggesting that the only thing the guy who flew his plane into the Austin, Texas IRS building did wrong was not blowing up Fox News instead. This is, after all, what Anne Coulter said about Tim McVeigh, when she noted that his only mistake was not blowing up the New York Times.
Imagine that a popular black liberal website posted comments about the daughter of a white president, calling her “typical redneck trash,” or a “whore” whose mother entertains her by “making monkey sounds.” After all that’s comparable to what conservatives posted about Malia Obama on freerepublic.com last year, when they referred to her as “ghetto trash.”
Imagine that black protesters at a large political rally were walking around with signs calling for the lynching of their congressional enemies. Because that’s what white conservatives did last year, in reference to Democratic party leaders in Congress.
In other words, imagine that even one-third of the anger and vitriol currently being hurled at President Obama, by folks who are almost exclusively white, were being aimed, instead, at a white president, by people of color. How many whites viewing the anger, the hatred, the contempt for that white president would then wax eloquent about free speech, and the glories of democracy? And how many would be calling for further crackdowns on thuggish behavior, and investigations into the radical agendas of those same people of color?
To ask any of these questions is to answer them. Protest is only seen as fundamentally American when those who have long had the luxury of seeing themselves as prototypically American engage in it. When the dangerous and dark “other” does so, however, it isn’t viewed as normal or natural, let alone patriotic. Which is why Rush Limbaugh could say, this past week, that the Tea Parties are the first time since the Civil War that ordinary, common Americans stood up for their rights: a statement that erases the normalcy and “American-ness” of blacks in the civil rights struggle, not to mention women in the fight for suffrage and equality, working people in the fight for better working conditions, and LGBT folks as they struggle to be treated as full and equal human beings.
And this, my friends, is what white privilege is all about. The ability to threaten others, to engage in violent and incendiary rhetoric without consequence, to be viewed as patriotic and normal no matter what you do, and never to be feared and despised as people of color would be, if they tried to get away with half the shit we do, on a daily basis.
Game Over.
Tim Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and activists in the U.S. Wise has spoken in 48 states, on over 400 college campuses, and to community groups around the nation. Wise has provided anti-racism training to teachers nationwide, and has trained physicians and medical industry professionals on how to combat racial inequities in health care. His latest book is called Between Barack and a Hard Place. Wednesday, February 24, 2010
When I grow up... AKA Affirmation ROCKS
I feel like a great amount of weight has been lifted off of my shoulders.
I feel this way for a couple/few reasons really... and I'll just warn you now that this post will likely be long, convoluted and will be full of emotion and touchy-feely, squishy things.
So most of you know that earlier this year I was invited by my advisor (also my boss this quarter- I'm her TA) to guest lecture during a class session in her Human Geography course (my TA assignment). My initial reaction was fraught with anxiety and fear but after rationalizing the whole situation (as I tend to do) I realized that guest-lecturing would be an incredible opportunity and great practice for me. Naturally, I agreed. Risa gave me my choice of lectures and material stating that if she enjoyed my lecture enough she may want to incorporate it into her course next year. What an honor! At the same time- the pressure was on.
The following passages are long, you could probably skip all of it, read my Discussion section and still understand what has happened.
The Process:
I wanted this lecture to be good. I decided on the Cultural Geography section of the course and thought that tackling issues of identity would be a breeze. So a few weeks before I was scheduled to lecture I came up with a slideshow/outline to present to Risa. It was based mostly on my brief obsession with the Guido-culture/identity phenomenon that occurred alongside the reality tv show the Jersey Shore...
Risa rejected this idea, with good reason. I was unfocused and thinking about concepts that were too abstract for undergraduates to comprehend at their level (I'm heavy into theory). Even with my examples from pop culture it was too much for them to grasp. The truth of the matter was that in this first attempt I tried to cover too much in a short amount of time.
Fair enough, back to the drawing board.
A few days later I brought a new outline to Risa and she loved it. Not only had my ideas become more focused but the concepts I wished to address would be easy for the undergrads to understand. Score!
With only two weeks before my lecture, I had plenty of time to gather my thoughts and create notes and of course to practice. Or I could just push it all aside until it was time to give the presentation. Which do you suppose I did?
I like to think that I procrastinate for practical reasons. Typically, I put off doing things based on their importance and the time-line, taking into account other work that has to be done. Not that this lecture was not important because it most definitely was. It's just that I had other matters to attend to at the time.
So as the weeks became days I began to think about the lecture again and tried to think up good notes to use. Similarly, I realized after looking at my slides again, that I had a bit more work to do in order to beef up my presentation. Looking for good pictures and graphs is VERY important... and takes up a LOT of time. Before I knew it the majority of my time had been spent looking up demographic and statistical information and not enough time was spent practicing.
My stomach was one big knot every day that I worked on my lecture and every day that passed without me actually practicing.
I was going to bomb this. I just knew it. Risa would be disappointed in me, I would hate teaching and my plans to get my PhD would be blown out of the water (why get a PhD if you don't want to teach?).
That Fateful Day:
Tuesday, the 23rd of February 2010
The morning had been spent putting the finishing touches on my slides, having a meeting with my case worker (grad students get food stamps :-D ) and FINALLY practicing my lecture. I was a mess. Grant it, I made sure to get plenty of sleep and ate a filling breakfast but I was a giant ball of nerves. Shortly before class began I sat down in Risa's office and expressed this to her and she gave me some of the best wisdom a freshman lecturer could ever receive.
To paraphrase:
I have the best advisor in the world.
I mulled over these pearls of wisdom as she and I walked to class. We talked about whatever silly things we usually talk about as we walk together and my mind was no longer obsessed (well not entirely) on the task ahead of me.
Risa took me on a different (new to me!) route to class - the "secret" back entrance to Bentley Hall. Then we entered the classroom. My stomach knotted up again as I uploaded my ppt slideshow. When it came time to start Risa introduced me as her guest lecturer to the class and of course had to add the one thing I asked her not to say, "Marina asked me not to say this because she said she'd blush but I'm going to say it anyway. I want you folks to go easy on her, this is her first time lecturing so she needs your support!"
You guessed it, I blushed.
Thanks Risa... and so I began.
I never expected to feel the relief that occurred as soon as I started to speak. It was as though flood gates had been opened and the pressure which had been building for weeks was finally relieved. I felt so at ease as I asked the students questions and engaged them in discussion over my topic. And just so you all know the purpose of my lecture was to get the students thinking about how different identity groups use spaces differently, the differing levels of mobility that certain groups experience and also how different spaces can construct identity.
The truth. I LOVED being in front of the students and trying to engage them in discussion. I had fun. The whole lecture went so smoothly and I felt great. I think maybe the students enjoyed it as well. Some were actually listening and quite a few participated.
Afterwards:
There was applause which I'm pretty sure was initiated by Risa. She came up to me and commented that I didn't look at all nervous and that I had actually surprised her with my teaching style. She didn't know what to expect because I've given formal presentations in the past reading directly from a script. This time I had no script and went solely on instinct and held knowledge. She told me I looked totally comfortable in front of the classroom and did a great job.
Did I mention I have the best advisor in the world?
A couple students stayed after class and talked about some of the ideas I presented in the lecture. They are the students who normally sit up front and stay after to talk a bit with Risa and I about material on a normal basis but it felt nice to know they were listening.
Thoughts on the not-too-distant future AKA Discussion:
I'm really glad I had the opportunity to try lecturing before I went on to get my PhD. By standing in front of those students and putting on a show I was able to realize that I REALLY DO enjoy teaching. The experience was totally worth all of the anxiety because I am now certain of the path I'm headed in for my future career.
I had already decided to stay in Athens another year because I want to pursue my PhD. Part of my rationale for staying in Athens is that I was a little late in deciding that I wanted to continue my education. By taking this year off from academia I would have time to think things through, gain some experience in the social service sector and decide whether or not I wanted to pursue work in that arena. Similarly, I realized that if I were to move elsewhere (i.e. Grand Rapids) to work as an adjunct faculty member at a community college for a period I would have to pick up and move again after a year in order to attend the college I choose. This seems like a lot of unnecessary moving.
By staying in Athens I have numerous job opportunities/possibilities, many of which are with Americorps. If I work with Americorps I will not only be able to work in the social service sector but I will also be able to pay off part of my student loans and remain on food stamps. If I don't get a job with Americorps (and the stars align and the Dean gives the okay) I may have an opportunity to work as an adjunct faculty member for the Women's and Gender Studies or Geography departments here at OU teaching some of the introductory courses (like Intro to Feminisms or Human Geography). Grant it, I have now only given one lecture but after being TA for Human Geog for a year, sitting in on every class and having slides, notes and example exams I'm pretty sure I could handle the task. ALSO I'll have more time to volunteer and I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to volunteer for Passionworks Studio, staying in Athens will give me the chance to do so. And, of course, it will be nice to be in Athens while Joe finishes his Master's degree- you know, we kind of like each other. PLUS I get to live with Melissa for another year and she is my favorite. :)
So, while I had already decided on staying in Athens, this lecture really drove home the fact that this path is the correct one for me. I feel more confident than ever with my decision to continue in academe. I realize that I will be facing great challenges in terms of completing my degree and gaining an academic appointment but I am certain that I am capable of meeting those challenges. I know that teaching, being a professor is what I'm called to do. And I'm feeling pretty sure that I want to continue within the discipline of Geography while pursuing Feminist, Mexican-American research. Of course, research interests are fluid and ever changing. At the very least, I'm sticking to my women's and gender studies interests.
Once this Master's thesis is written I plan to become more active in the community here in Athens. Although I decided to continue my education to become a professor, I haven't lost touch with my drive to help others and to become active in the social service sector. As I stated before, I hope to become involved with Passionworks Studio and perhaps My Sister's Place (local women's shelter) if I am able. Also, I intend to become more involved with the LGBTQ and Feminist activist circles. I gotta stick to my radical roots, y'know? :)
Closing Remarks:
I'm really thankful for having such a supportive and encouraging advisor as well as friends and family. If it weren't for these great people in my life I wouldn't be where I am or headed on the path that I'm walking. I'm really blessed. Thanks everyone!
I feel this way for a couple/few reasons really... and I'll just warn you now that this post will likely be long, convoluted and will be full of emotion and touchy-feely, squishy things.
So most of you know that earlier this year I was invited by my advisor (also my boss this quarter- I'm her TA) to guest lecture during a class session in her Human Geography course (my TA assignment). My initial reaction was fraught with anxiety and fear but after rationalizing the whole situation (as I tend to do) I realized that guest-lecturing would be an incredible opportunity and great practice for me. Naturally, I agreed. Risa gave me my choice of lectures and material stating that if she enjoyed my lecture enough she may want to incorporate it into her course next year. What an honor! At the same time- the pressure was on.
The following passages are long, you could probably skip all of it, read my Discussion section and still understand what has happened.
The Process:
I wanted this lecture to be good. I decided on the Cultural Geography section of the course and thought that tackling issues of identity would be a breeze. So a few weeks before I was scheduled to lecture I came up with a slideshow/outline to present to Risa. It was based mostly on my brief obsession with the Guido-culture/identity phenomenon that occurred alongside the reality tv show the Jersey Shore...
Risa rejected this idea, with good reason. I was unfocused and thinking about concepts that were too abstract for undergraduates to comprehend at their level (I'm heavy into theory). Even with my examples from pop culture it was too much for them to grasp. The truth of the matter was that in this first attempt I tried to cover too much in a short amount of time.
Fair enough, back to the drawing board.
A few days later I brought a new outline to Risa and she loved it. Not only had my ideas become more focused but the concepts I wished to address would be easy for the undergrads to understand. Score!
With only two weeks before my lecture, I had plenty of time to gather my thoughts and create notes and of course to practice. Or I could just push it all aside until it was time to give the presentation. Which do you suppose I did?
I like to think that I procrastinate for practical reasons. Typically, I put off doing things based on their importance and the time-line, taking into account other work that has to be done. Not that this lecture was not important because it most definitely was. It's just that I had other matters to attend to at the time.
So as the weeks became days I began to think about the lecture again and tried to think up good notes to use. Similarly, I realized after looking at my slides again, that I had a bit more work to do in order to beef up my presentation. Looking for good pictures and graphs is VERY important... and takes up a LOT of time. Before I knew it the majority of my time had been spent looking up demographic and statistical information and not enough time was spent practicing.
My stomach was one big knot every day that I worked on my lecture and every day that passed without me actually practicing.
I was going to bomb this. I just knew it. Risa would be disappointed in me, I would hate teaching and my plans to get my PhD would be blown out of the water (why get a PhD if you don't want to teach?).
That Fateful Day:
Tuesday, the 23rd of February 2010
The morning had been spent putting the finishing touches on my slides, having a meeting with my case worker (grad students get food stamps :-D ) and FINALLY practicing my lecture. I was a mess. Grant it, I made sure to get plenty of sleep and ate a filling breakfast but I was a giant ball of nerves. Shortly before class began I sat down in Risa's office and expressed this to her and she gave me some of the best wisdom a freshman lecturer could ever receive.
To paraphrase:
You have good reason to be nervous, you're being thrown into this earlier than most people. Even before I started teaching as a PhD grad student I had experience holding discussion groups of 25 or more students at the Master's level. But don't worry Marina. Speaking in front of undergrads is way easier than speaking in front of professionals or your peers. There's nothing to be afraid of, you know more about this subject than they do so they can't challenge any of your ideas. Plus, you're a great public speaker! And if it makes you feel any better you can think of it this way; it's the day after the exam, there will be fewer people in class and most of them will be busy texting and wont pay any attention any way.
I have the best advisor in the world.
I mulled over these pearls of wisdom as she and I walked to class. We talked about whatever silly things we usually talk about as we walk together and my mind was no longer obsessed (well not entirely) on the task ahead of me.
Risa took me on a different (new to me!) route to class - the "secret" back entrance to Bentley Hall. Then we entered the classroom. My stomach knotted up again as I uploaded my ppt slideshow. When it came time to start Risa introduced me as her guest lecturer to the class and of course had to add the one thing I asked her not to say, "Marina asked me not to say this because she said she'd blush but I'm going to say it anyway. I want you folks to go easy on her, this is her first time lecturing so she needs your support!"
You guessed it, I blushed.
Thanks Risa... and so I began.
I never expected to feel the relief that occurred as soon as I started to speak. It was as though flood gates had been opened and the pressure which had been building for weeks was finally relieved. I felt so at ease as I asked the students questions and engaged them in discussion over my topic. And just so you all know the purpose of my lecture was to get the students thinking about how different identity groups use spaces differently, the differing levels of mobility that certain groups experience and also how different spaces can construct identity.
The truth. I LOVED being in front of the students and trying to engage them in discussion. I had fun. The whole lecture went so smoothly and I felt great. I think maybe the students enjoyed it as well. Some were actually listening and quite a few participated.
Afterwards:
There was applause which I'm pretty sure was initiated by Risa. She came up to me and commented that I didn't look at all nervous and that I had actually surprised her with my teaching style. She didn't know what to expect because I've given formal presentations in the past reading directly from a script. This time I had no script and went solely on instinct and held knowledge. She told me I looked totally comfortable in front of the classroom and did a great job.
Did I mention I have the best advisor in the world?
A couple students stayed after class and talked about some of the ideas I presented in the lecture. They are the students who normally sit up front and stay after to talk a bit with Risa and I about material on a normal basis but it felt nice to know they were listening.
Thoughts on the not-too-distant future AKA Discussion:
I'm really glad I had the opportunity to try lecturing before I went on to get my PhD. By standing in front of those students and putting on a show I was able to realize that I REALLY DO enjoy teaching. The experience was totally worth all of the anxiety because I am now certain of the path I'm headed in for my future career.
I had already decided to stay in Athens another year because I want to pursue my PhD. Part of my rationale for staying in Athens is that I was a little late in deciding that I wanted to continue my education. By taking this year off from academia I would have time to think things through, gain some experience in the social service sector and decide whether or not I wanted to pursue work in that arena. Similarly, I realized that if I were to move elsewhere (i.e. Grand Rapids) to work as an adjunct faculty member at a community college for a period I would have to pick up and move again after a year in order to attend the college I choose. This seems like a lot of unnecessary moving.
By staying in Athens I have numerous job opportunities/possibilities, many of which are with Americorps. If I work with Americorps I will not only be able to work in the social service sector but I will also be able to pay off part of my student loans and remain on food stamps. If I don't get a job with Americorps (and the stars align and the Dean gives the okay) I may have an opportunity to work as an adjunct faculty member for the Women's and Gender Studies or Geography departments here at OU teaching some of the introductory courses (like Intro to Feminisms or Human Geography). Grant it, I have now only given one lecture but after being TA for Human Geog for a year, sitting in on every class and having slides, notes and example exams I'm pretty sure I could handle the task. ALSO I'll have more time to volunteer and I REALLY REALLY REALLY want to volunteer for Passionworks Studio, staying in Athens will give me the chance to do so. And, of course, it will be nice to be in Athens while Joe finishes his Master's degree- you know, we kind of like each other. PLUS I get to live with Melissa for another year and she is my favorite. :)
So, while I had already decided on staying in Athens, this lecture really drove home the fact that this path is the correct one for me. I feel more confident than ever with my decision to continue in academe. I realize that I will be facing great challenges in terms of completing my degree and gaining an academic appointment but I am certain that I am capable of meeting those challenges. I know that teaching, being a professor is what I'm called to do. And I'm feeling pretty sure that I want to continue within the discipline of Geography while pursuing Feminist, Mexican-American research. Of course, research interests are fluid and ever changing. At the very least, I'm sticking to my women's and gender studies interests.
Once this Master's thesis is written I plan to become more active in the community here in Athens. Although I decided to continue my education to become a professor, I haven't lost touch with my drive to help others and to become active in the social service sector. As I stated before, I hope to become involved with Passionworks Studio and perhaps My Sister's Place (local women's shelter) if I am able. Also, I intend to become more involved with the LGBTQ and Feminist activist circles. I gotta stick to my radical roots, y'know? :)
Closing Remarks:
I'm really thankful for having such a supportive and encouraging advisor as well as friends and family. If it weren't for these great people in my life I wouldn't be where I am or headed on the path that I'm walking. I'm really blessed. Thanks everyone!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Something completely different...
The evening began as a call to arms.
Rather, a call for open arms.
There was a time that I felt threatened by most other women. Girls. I was a girl then. I never would have dreamed that these rivals would someday turn out to be my greatest blessings.
But that's a different story entirely.
I am reminded this evening, by my dear friends, how important it is to have a network of strong women in my life. For support, encouragement, acceptance, love... you know, that stuff that as humans we all need. This reminder has prompted me to write tonight.
After an evening filled with laughter an acceptance I came home feeling good. Over the last few days I have been feeling so much lighter and at ease. I'm truly thankful to the women, and men, in my life who have helped to make this so. Holiday drama aside, I've been doing quite a bit of thinking lately. As my thesis progresses and my graduation date draws near many have posed the same question to me: What will you do when you have your Master's degree?
For the longest time I had a laundry list of possibilities but never gave deep consideration to any of them. What can I say, I'm indecisive. Also, I always have felt that when the time came I would know in my heart of hearts that __________ was what I wanted to do. It just hasn't been that time yet.
Call me sentimental.
Now, I'm not saying I've simply sat back and have left everything up to fate. I still believe in my own ability to have a say in what my fate shall be. I've been perusing the internet in search of jobs in social justice work in the U.S. and internationally, as a professor at a community college, positions with the UN and elsewhere... yet nothing has really struck me.
Earlier I came across this quote by Rumi and decided to share it via our favorite social networking site:
Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love.
As I experienced the bonding and support shared by my cohorts this evening I remembered.
I remembered that feeling I had when I came home from Nicaragua. That desire to do something good in the world. The experience I had while volunteering was glorious and it made me see the importance of participating in social action.
When I returned home I found a letter in my inbox. It was a general cross-posting to a Feminist Geography listserve that I belong to- it was a solicitation (if you will) for a relatively new PhD program in Pennsylvania. The focus of this particular program is Globalization, Sustainability and Social Justice. Hm.. you have my interest.
After reading up on the description of the program I was still intrigued and looked through the list of Faculty.
As I read through the interests of one professor: ...feminist and critical race studies, social action research, community organizing by the poor, social change and the role of academics play... My heart kind of did something. I'd liken it to a tug.
Maybe this is the peanut butter talking... I want to go on for my PhD.
It sounds crazy, I know.
This program may not be the one for me but it has me thinking. I need to look into this further. Maybe I'm too late in the game or maybe this is the right time. Either way, I'm going to pursue this for now because it feels right.
I'm hoping to have another meeting with my advisor in the next week and ojala que she will have good advice for me. Risa has been so helpful and encouraging this last year. I think that if she hadn't been around I wouldn't have had as great of an experience with this academic process as I have had so far.
I'm not going to lie, this has me scared. Excited. But ultimately scared. As E put it, "The possibility of dreams can be terrifying." She's more spot on than I care to admit.
I end this evening with arms outstretched.
It's been a blessed day (and night).
Rather, a call for open arms.
There was a time that I felt threatened by most other women. Girls. I was a girl then. I never would have dreamed that these rivals would someday turn out to be my greatest blessings.
But that's a different story entirely.
I am reminded this evening, by my dear friends, how important it is to have a network of strong women in my life. For support, encouragement, acceptance, love... you know, that stuff that as humans we all need. This reminder has prompted me to write tonight.
After an evening filled with laughter an acceptance I came home feeling good. Over the last few days I have been feeling so much lighter and at ease. I'm truly thankful to the women, and men, in my life who have helped to make this so. Holiday drama aside, I've been doing quite a bit of thinking lately. As my thesis progresses and my graduation date draws near many have posed the same question to me: What will you do when you have your Master's degree?
For the longest time I had a laundry list of possibilities but never gave deep consideration to any of them. What can I say, I'm indecisive. Also, I always have felt that when the time came I would know in my heart of hearts that __________ was what I wanted to do. It just hasn't been that time yet.
Call me sentimental.
Now, I'm not saying I've simply sat back and have left everything up to fate. I still believe in my own ability to have a say in what my fate shall be. I've been perusing the internet in search of jobs in social justice work in the U.S. and internationally, as a professor at a community college, positions with the UN and elsewhere... yet nothing has really struck me.
Earlier I came across this quote by Rumi and decided to share it via our favorite social networking site:
Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love.
As I experienced the bonding and support shared by my cohorts this evening I remembered.I remembered that feeling I had when I came home from Nicaragua. That desire to do something good in the world. The experience I had while volunteering was glorious and it made me see the importance of participating in social action.
When I returned home I found a letter in my inbox. It was a general cross-posting to a Feminist Geography listserve that I belong to- it was a solicitation (if you will) for a relatively new PhD program in Pennsylvania. The focus of this particular program is Globalization, Sustainability and Social Justice. Hm.. you have my interest.
After reading up on the description of the program I was still intrigued and looked through the list of Faculty.
As I read through the interests of one professor: ...feminist and critical race studies, social action research, community organizing by the poor, social change and the role of academics play... My heart kind of did something. I'd liken it to a tug.
Maybe this is the peanut butter talking... I want to go on for my PhD.
It sounds crazy, I know.
This program may not be the one for me but it has me thinking. I need to look into this further. Maybe I'm too late in the game or maybe this is the right time. Either way, I'm going to pursue this for now because it feels right.
I'm hoping to have another meeting with my advisor in the next week and ojala que she will have good advice for me. Risa has been so helpful and encouraging this last year. I think that if she hadn't been around I wouldn't have had as great of an experience with this academic process as I have had so far.
I'm not going to lie, this has me scared. Excited. But ultimately scared. As E put it, "The possibility of dreams can be terrifying." She's more spot on than I care to admit.
I end this evening with arms outstretched.
It's been a blessed day (and night).
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Entre Fey, Politico y Amor
Monday: Managua- Fernando Cardenal
Sunday, July 5th, had been spent traveling back to Ciudad Sandino and resting. Once Monday arrived we were to be back at the grindstone, however we started off the day rather differently. We began the morning with a special treat, a trip to Managua to see Father Fernando Cardenal speak about his experience with promoting the literacy campaign in the 80s.
Father Cardenal is among the most recognized names in Nicaragua. Not only for his work on the literacy campaign but for his work with the FSLN. He was the one FSLN member elected to represent the Nicaraguan people in denouncing Somoza as a dictator, torturer and murderer to the U.S. Congress.
He worked diligently to get the literacy campaign in the mountains off the ground. Although this occurred after the Revolution, there was still a great amount of fear in his heart because anti-revolutionaries were fervently against this campaign and were willing to demonstrate this. The first casuality was a young woman who counterrevolutionaries had stopped as she made her way up the mountain to begin literacy classes. Her only crime was wanting to teach people to read and write. Yet people were willing to kill over politics, to see the FSLN fail. They threatened to kill anyone who attempted to go up the mountain.
This scare tactic certainly had an affect on Father Cardenal. He thought they would have the same affect on the people. However, when he took a helicopter to where the classes were held, he was met by 39 young women who chanted, "Not by bullets or by hits will they take us from the literacy crusade." Their strength, courage and valor was felt by Nicaraguans everywhere. This slogan and another, "Our bunch will not be completely libereated until everyone can read." were repeated throughout the mountainsides and the literacy campaign continued.
The counterrevolutionaries managed to kill seven brigade members, threatening to masacre everyone if they continued their lessons. However, they soon realized that their threats were useless. Over 40,000 people were teaching in the cities and more than 60,000 young people were teaching in the rural mountains. The effects of this literacy campaign were profound in not only its original intent but also in the leadership skills that young people realized in themselves.
Father Cardenal's story is touching and I wish I had time to share what he told us of his first days in Jesuit school but I do not. He has written a book, "Priesthood in the Revolution" which I would highly recommend checking out sometime. What he shared with us in this morning was more effective than anything that I have done in Nicaragua thus far. His conviction to devote his life to the liberation of the poor and for justice permeates his life and this includes his politics. While being a fervent supporter of the FSLN in the past, he also recognizes the corruption of Daniel Ortega that has taken place in the last two decades. Father Cardenal has resigned from the FSLN and has also publicly denounced Daniel Ortega, as he denounced the Somoza regime so long ago.
He left us with a few words of wisdom, which he has suggested for uniting the people of Nicaragua, and really, any place that is divided by politics.
"Dialogue and Love are necessary. Dialogue borne from love is the only thing that brings divided communities together."
"If I commit myself to love, love will bring the liberation of others. Faith brings me to love, love brings me to work for the well being and liberation of all citizens. Liberation will always involve politics."
Thinking on these things, I realize that I am headed on the right path. The world is full of suffering yet it is also full of glorious wonders. I come from a privileged life and am capable of traveling the world to experience other cultures. However I am also capable of doing so much more for others, as I am realizing during my time here in Nicaragua. I am more certain now than ever before that I am to help make the world a better place for others. While I have the ability to join NGOs in their works, I am also educated in the politics of development organizations and so I would like to think that I am more able to be critical of an organization that I wish to be a part of some day.
The world is full of suffering but I am full of love. I'm not sure where life will take me next but I am certain that when I finish my Master's Degree I will be working with an organization of some sort to help in bettering society, whether it's in Appalachia, Central America or elsewhere.
Sunday, July 5th, had been spent traveling back to Ciudad Sandino and resting. Once Monday arrived we were to be back at the grindstone, however we started off the day rather differently. We began the morning with a special treat, a trip to Managua to see Father Fernando Cardenal speak about his experience with promoting the literacy campaign in the 80s.
Father Cardenal is among the most recognized names in Nicaragua. Not only for his work on the literacy campaign but for his work with the FSLN. He was the one FSLN member elected to represent the Nicaraguan people in denouncing Somoza as a dictator, torturer and murderer to the U.S. Congress.
He worked diligently to get the literacy campaign in the mountains off the ground. Although this occurred after the Revolution, there was still a great amount of fear in his heart because anti-revolutionaries were fervently against this campaign and were willing to demonstrate this. The first casuality was a young woman who counterrevolutionaries had stopped as she made her way up the mountain to begin literacy classes. Her only crime was wanting to teach people to read and write. Yet people were willing to kill over politics, to see the FSLN fail. They threatened to kill anyone who attempted to go up the mountain.
This scare tactic certainly had an affect on Father Cardenal. He thought they would have the same affect on the people. However, when he took a helicopter to where the classes were held, he was met by 39 young women who chanted, "Not by bullets or by hits will they take us from the literacy crusade." Their strength, courage and valor was felt by Nicaraguans everywhere. This slogan and another, "Our bunch will not be completely libereated until everyone can read." were repeated throughout the mountainsides and the literacy campaign continued.
The counterrevolutionaries managed to kill seven brigade members, threatening to masacre everyone if they continued their lessons. However, they soon realized that their threats were useless. Over 40,000 people were teaching in the cities and more than 60,000 young people were teaching in the rural mountains. The effects of this literacy campaign were profound in not only its original intent but also in the leadership skills that young people realized in themselves.
Father Cardenal's story is touching and I wish I had time to share what he told us of his first days in Jesuit school but I do not. He has written a book, "Priesthood in the Revolution" which I would highly recommend checking out sometime. What he shared with us in this morning was more effective than anything that I have done in Nicaragua thus far. His conviction to devote his life to the liberation of the poor and for justice permeates his life and this includes his politics. While being a fervent supporter of the FSLN in the past, he also recognizes the corruption of Daniel Ortega that has taken place in the last two decades. Father Cardenal has resigned from the FSLN and has also publicly denounced Daniel Ortega, as he denounced the Somoza regime so long ago.
He left us with a few words of wisdom, which he has suggested for uniting the people of Nicaragua, and really, any place that is divided by politics.
"Dialogue and Love are necessary. Dialogue borne from love is the only thing that brings divided communities together."
"If I commit myself to love, love will bring the liberation of others. Faith brings me to love, love brings me to work for the well being and liberation of all citizens. Liberation will always involve politics."
Thinking on these things, I realize that I am headed on the right path. The world is full of suffering yet it is also full of glorious wonders. I come from a privileged life and am capable of traveling the world to experience other cultures. However I am also capable of doing so much more for others, as I am realizing during my time here in Nicaragua. I am more certain now than ever before that I am to help make the world a better place for others. While I have the ability to join NGOs in their works, I am also educated in the politics of development organizations and so I would like to think that I am more able to be critical of an organization that I wish to be a part of some day.
The world is full of suffering but I am full of love. I'm not sure where life will take me next but I am certain that when I finish my Master's Degree I will be working with an organization of some sort to help in bettering society, whether it's in Appalachia, Central America or elsewhere.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Vacation Time in Nicaragua!
For a Saturday night, Fourth of July, the evening was quiet. The waves crashed gently against the rocks along the shore and a dog could be heard barking off in the distance. The only light was that cast by the nearly full moon reflecting on the lake's surface. The group had been laying on the dock naming the clouds as they formed, coming down the leeward side of Volcan Maderas, "That one looks like a poodle," said one. "Look over there! A swan!" said another. Although the trade winds cast these imagined creatures across Lago Colibolca, the temporality of the shape cumulus clouds was of no great import to this tranquil group.
Their giggles carried in the otherwise silent night and she smiled as she approached. She had been in the dining area, conversing with a Nicaraguan artisan/nomad who was rather keen on philosophy. Feeling a high from the great dialogue she has shared with this youth she asks, "So are you all still up for a swim?" Indeed, all but one of the group are ready to go for a late night swim.
She folds her clothes neatly and sets them on the dock then dives into the ebony hued water, sending ripples of silver across the surface. As she swims out towards the abyss following the trail of moonlight and feeling at home in the water, she reflects on the beauty that surrounds her and the blessings in her life as well as on the recent events which attribute to these.
Rewind: Friday- La Isla Ometepe
The day began, unofficially, as the five JHC volunteers awoke to the sound of howler monkeys calling out to one another at four in the morning. The volume and intensity of their howls suggested that the monkeys were no more than a hundred meters or so away... but then I am no good at guessing distances, let's say they were pretty damn close.
I digress.
Much later, the group officially woke up, they were to meet with Martha, a volunteer for Project Bonafide, sometime after breakfast for a tour of their farm. A wicked thunderstorm blew out the electricity and subsequently the water the night before and so there would be no showers this morning. This is no problem as the ground is thick with mud and the trek from Finca Magdalena to Bonafide's land would be messy.
Martha and Kat soon arrived at our hostel to lead us to their plot of land. After a jaunt through the mud laden forest and cattle fields we soon arrived to their corner of the island and they began giving us a tour of their farm. Project Bonafide is somewhat of an experiment in permaculture on this island with their primary concern being food security. This group of volunteers is trying to figure out which varieties of agriculture (including subsistence, medicinal and commercial) can exist sustainably in this microclimate while maximizing the uses of these materials. They showed us everything from mangoes to bamboo and fixed us a delicious lunch prepared with food from their crops. They are truly ambitious in that they want to teach the locals how to cook with these foods and how to use the building materials they are growing. Project Bonafide hopes to one day have a community kitchen in town where they can teach children how to cook and eat healthy foods. Although they seem to have much work to do before they can accomplish this as one of the hardest things one can do is to try and change someone's eating habits. Currently they have a system set up where community members can trade items such as beans and rice for plants from their nursery. This group has taken on a lot. It seems idealistic at the start, however, with what they've done so far it would be interesting to see what they are able to do for the people of this land.
Saturday- Hacienda Merida
Following our tour Friday, we hopped a bus to Merida where we were to spend two more evenings.
I had been to Hacienda Merida on my last visit to La Isla Ometepe and had an enjoyable time. There was no doubt in my mind that this would be any different.
We woke up to have breakfast and discussed possible plans for the day. Some wanted to go hiking, all wanted to go kayaking and some wanted to go swimming. The day seemed to promise sunshine and mild weather, unlike the last couple of days which had been overcast and rainy, so I made up my mind to stay behind while the others went for a hike to see petroglyphs.
Following breakfast I headed out to the dock with my book. There was a man standing knee deep in the water fishing while his partner sat on the dock watching him. I settled myself onto the concrete and began to read. There were virtually no sounds other than the lapping of the water against the shore. Occasionally birds cried out in the distance and a dog mustered the energy to bark. After some time the couple left the area of the dock and I was the only one on the lake. Between chapters I would set my book down and watch the clouds as the tradewinds pushed them out into the distance then as I began to sweat I would jump into the lake to cool off. This would be one of the few times that I'd have any time alone and I savored every moment.
The group returned from their hike late in the afternoon. I had just finished my lunch and it was after 2:30pm. They were hungry and sweaty but we were all still determined to go kayaking after everyone had eaten.
Our destination was the swamps of el Rio Isidrio. The five of us skimmed the water in our kayaks, watching the Islanders as they played on the shore. Egrets and other waterfowl lined the reeds and watched us as we made our way towards the mouth of the river. We kayaked in near silence, hoping to see birds that we had never before encountered. Indeed, there were King Fishers, Eagles, Toucans, Sandpipers and unidentifiable birds galore! It was awe inspiring.
Nothing, however, can top our exit from the river.
It was growing late in the evening and the sun was quickly setting. As the sun set over the Volcan Concepcion, the moon was rising over Volcan Maderas. What a blessing! To our right was the sun and to our left the moon. The hues of the evening were warm and the sounds of the insects and birds ushered in the night as the sun disappeared behind the volcano. We did not need our headlamps for the moon was so bright it lit our way back to the hostel, shining directly over the dock where we were to port our kayaks.
We made it back in time for dinner. This was to be our last evening on the island, Fourth of July, and after making the most of our day, we certainly made the most of our night. The others went out to the dock to talk and swim while I stayed behind in the dining area, comparing the writings of Kahlil Gibran to the Bible with a Nicaraguan traveling artisan. I felt so blessed to be able to have this conversation with this young man. His thoughts on living a life of love and respect very much mirrored my own and were apropos after all that had happened in Nicaragua thus far.
Life is good.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
One year down...
Because it's so much easier to procrastinate and write ten pages on something like my feelings and what I'm doing with my life rather than fifteen pages on Nicaragua, I'm going to post another update. :)
The last blog was obviously very psyche-centric. This one is much more visceral but equally narcissistic. Come on. It is my blog after all.
So for those of you who are just now tuning in or even those of you who have a vague idea of what's happening in my life right now, this post will hopefully shed some light on these things.
This first year in graduate school has been intense. I am thankful to say, however, that I am blessed to have been placed in a department full of supportive and helpful colleagues and professors. Also, the classes that I've taken have been particularly useful for helping me shape my theoretical and methodological approach to my thesis topic.
My advisor, especially, has been wonderful in providing me with the right amount of guidance, constructive criticism and push to keep me on track this year. My friend, the other day, made a comment about the relationship I have with my advisor, "That's just not normal." "What?" "You're not supposed to have so much fun with your advisor." He was referring to a conversation she and I were having in the office which consisted of about 60% laughter, 30% down-to-business talk and maybe 20% fashion comments. Usually, when I go to Risa's office to discuss my thesis or other matters, her own colleagues comment that we have way too much fun, based on the amount of laughter that they hear. Needless to say, whenever I leave her office I feel great, even when she tells me I need to rewrite an entire grant proposal 24 hours before it's due. It makes me sad to think that other people are not so fortunate to have this kind of relationship with their advisor. I'm really blessed.
Thanks to Risa and my litter-mate, Melissa (mi otra!), I was able to complete the thesis proposal process and received IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval for my research. My thesis proposal was successfully defended in the last week of May. The purpose of my research is to explore the ways in which women have participated in community-driven development and how this involvement has affected gender relations, with specifice regard to the Jubilee House Community in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua. If you aren't quite sure what that means and are itching to know more I can send you a copy of my thesis proposal and we can talk about it on the phone. Otherwise, I don't think I care to go into too much detail here.
Thanks to the help and cooperation of the Jubilee House Community I have arranged to volunteer in community-based development initiatives in Ciudad Sandino this summer. While in Ciudad Sandino I will be doing participant observations on a daily basis and I hope to conduct semi-structured interviews with members of the JHC, male and female, in order to answer my research questions. I'll be spending a total of six weeks in Nicaragua, starting June 21 until August 3 of this year. No worries! I won't be so transient like before, I'll be stationary in Ciudad Sandino for the majority of the time I spend in Nica. I found it necessary to apply for a few grants in order to conduct my field research; so far I've been declined by one organization and I haven't heard back from others. I'm paying my expenses out-of-pocket (until I hear back from a funder) and trusting that the Universe will take care of me (as it always does) when I return to Athens because I will once again be in a precarious financial situation.
I'm really excited to go abroad again. Although, it really hasn't sunk in that I'll be leaving the U.S. in a week. I still have so much to do to prepare. It also excites me to think that I'll actually be applying what I've learned in school to real life! Who'da thunk?!
Hmmm... what else?
When I return from Nicaragua in August I'll spend the rest of my summer here in Athens, hopefully working at a local restaurant to make ends meet. Then I only have one academic year left to finish working on my Master's Thesis. I'll certainly take more classes because I need a couple of credits to finish up my Women and Gender Studies Certificate.
I'm not sure what my graduate assistant appointment will be next year, they change every quarter, hopefully I'll be doing something fun.
For the first two quarters here at OU I worked with a team as a teaching assistant for an environmental geography course. That was pretty neat because I was able to help coordinate and lead fieldtrips for students so they could better understand the connections between geography and the environment. I also helped to coordinate a geography mini-conference that was held on campus in the fall. This last quarter I was a teaching assistant for a human geography course which was pretty nifty because I made up map quizzes and exams for the students and it wasn't very demanding. It really opened up my time slots to work more on my thesis proposal (which consumed my spring quarter).
It's pretty crazy to think that a year from now I will have defended my thesis and will be graduating with my degree in Geography. More to be excited about! Beyond that? That's neither here nor there. We'll see what life brings me, eh?
Well, I guess that's enough procrastination for now. If you have any questions, if I left something out, or what have you, feel free to ask!
Peace
The last blog was obviously very psyche-centric. This one is much more visceral but equally narcissistic. Come on. It is my blog after all.
So for those of you who are just now tuning in or even those of you who have a vague idea of what's happening in my life right now, this post will hopefully shed some light on these things.
This first year in graduate school has been intense. I am thankful to say, however, that I am blessed to have been placed in a department full of supportive and helpful colleagues and professors. Also, the classes that I've taken have been particularly useful for helping me shape my theoretical and methodological approach to my thesis topic.
My advisor, especially, has been wonderful in providing me with the right amount of guidance, constructive criticism and push to keep me on track this year. My friend, the other day, made a comment about the relationship I have with my advisor, "That's just not normal." "What?" "You're not supposed to have so much fun with your advisor." He was referring to a conversation she and I were having in the office which consisted of about 60% laughter, 30% down-to-business talk and maybe 20% fashion comments. Usually, when I go to Risa's office to discuss my thesis or other matters, her own colleagues comment that we have way too much fun, based on the amount of laughter that they hear. Needless to say, whenever I leave her office I feel great, even when she tells me I need to rewrite an entire grant proposal 24 hours before it's due. It makes me sad to think that other people are not so fortunate to have this kind of relationship with their advisor. I'm really blessed.
Thanks to Risa and my litter-mate, Melissa (mi otra!), I was able to complete the thesis proposal process and received IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval for my research. My thesis proposal was successfully defended in the last week of May. The purpose of my research is to explore the ways in which women have participated in community-driven development and how this involvement has affected gender relations, with specifice regard to the Jubilee House Community in Ciudad Sandino, Nicaragua. If you aren't quite sure what that means and are itching to know more I can send you a copy of my thesis proposal and we can talk about it on the phone. Otherwise, I don't think I care to go into too much detail here.
Thanks to the help and cooperation of the Jubilee House Community I have arranged to volunteer in community-based development initiatives in Ciudad Sandino this summer. While in Ciudad Sandino I will be doing participant observations on a daily basis and I hope to conduct semi-structured interviews with members of the JHC, male and female, in order to answer my research questions. I'll be spending a total of six weeks in Nicaragua, starting June 21 until August 3 of this year. No worries! I won't be so transient like before, I'll be stationary in Ciudad Sandino for the majority of the time I spend in Nica. I found it necessary to apply for a few grants in order to conduct my field research; so far I've been declined by one organization and I haven't heard back from others. I'm paying my expenses out-of-pocket (until I hear back from a funder) and trusting that the Universe will take care of me (as it always does) when I return to Athens because I will once again be in a precarious financial situation.
I'm really excited to go abroad again. Although, it really hasn't sunk in that I'll be leaving the U.S. in a week. I still have so much to do to prepare. It also excites me to think that I'll actually be applying what I've learned in school to real life! Who'da thunk?!
Hmmm... what else?
When I return from Nicaragua in August I'll spend the rest of my summer here in Athens, hopefully working at a local restaurant to make ends meet. Then I only have one academic year left to finish working on my Master's Thesis. I'll certainly take more classes because I need a couple of credits to finish up my Women and Gender Studies Certificate.
I'm not sure what my graduate assistant appointment will be next year, they change every quarter, hopefully I'll be doing something fun.
For the first two quarters here at OU I worked with a team as a teaching assistant for an environmental geography course. That was pretty neat because I was able to help coordinate and lead fieldtrips for students so they could better understand the connections between geography and the environment. I also helped to coordinate a geography mini-conference that was held on campus in the fall. This last quarter I was a teaching assistant for a human geography course which was pretty nifty because I made up map quizzes and exams for the students and it wasn't very demanding. It really opened up my time slots to work more on my thesis proposal (which consumed my spring quarter).
It's pretty crazy to think that a year from now I will have defended my thesis and will be graduating with my degree in Geography. More to be excited about! Beyond that? That's neither here nor there. We'll see what life brings me, eh?
Well, I guess that's enough procrastination for now. If you have any questions, if I left something out, or what have you, feel free to ask!
Peace
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