Except perhaps...I wrote the bulk of this blog four days ago, and was going to wait to publish until Wednesday. Yes, I realize it's Thursday night. Whoops (again).
Dominic and I went to a great party/get together tonight with an excellent group of anthropology students/professors, hosted by Gretchen and Martin Daly. It was an absolutely excellent end to the semester. We both really enjoyed ourselves.
In the spirit of reflection, I decided to focus this post on some of the things I have learned/observed this semester, or more generally, the past four months. A lot has happened in a short amount of time and I have learned A LOT, but I haven't really been able to sit down and process it all. So this is the beginning of trying to process all of what is in my head, and to share it in the hopes of helping further my own mental processing, and, perhaps, to help anyone else who might need help processing their recent thoughts/experiences too. It helps me, at least, to get a taste of other people's reflections.
13 Observations
1. This is number one (though the others do not come in any particular order) because it has, honestly, been a source of deep and interesting thought for me: I think this is a natural part of the progression of life. The number of people I can relate to and who, in turn, can relate to and understand my life, has decreased considerably. I'm quite certain that most of the people in my life who I know very well have no clue what my daily life is like or, really, what anthropology really is. I find that most cannot really understand the trials and tribulations (and the benefits) of going for broke in graduate school in anthro. And I find that I can relate a great deal more to people I know a great deal less. Such is life I suppose. Welcome to academia! No one you know understands you anymore. Except for other academics...
2. Other academics, at least other anthropologists, can be, curiously, socially awkward. I include myself in this (at least in the occasionally socially awkward part of this observation). Yet anthropologists are also some of the most interesting people you will ever talk to. I love them. Dominic has pointed this out as well- anthropologists are used to being observers and when you put a bunch of them in a room together it can make for some awkward interactions because no one is "the" observer anymore and everyone knows they are being observed. It can be strange and awkward, but it can also be really fantastic when everyone really starts talking and sharing- especially when you end up hearing great fieldwork stories or learning unique things about everyone. Anthropologists/academics are often (I think) introspective because we do so much work independently, yet they all have so many fascinating stories to tell!
3. I greatly prefer the graduate school schedule to any other. Sure there are late nights and some hefty chunks of hours reading or writing, but there isn't much better than attending class maybe 10 hours a week and the rest of your work hours are completely under your control. You can work from home or the library or the coffee shop. You can drink wine while you work. There is the feeling that you should always being doing something, but I will take it any day over the 9 to 5.
4. It's unfortunate, but credit cards are a grad student's best friend. There is no "extra" money for when you need to get your car fixed, or take your pet to the emergency room, or, I don't know, move across country. And some months there is a need for a little extra help when it comes to groceries or gas, especially when trying to get started in a new town (though a supportive family is a HUGE help!).
5. Of course, relying on credit cards is foolish (even when necessary). Soooo...silly simple ways to cut costs: refrain from buying separate face and body lotion, cut back on makeup purchases/wearing makeup, buy cheap shampoo and conditioner (or none at all...this sounds super cheap, but I've been using watered down shampoo and conditioner for two weeks...diluted conditioner works just as well and lasts a lot longer), don't bother getting haircuts, make more soups, stews, and chili, layer clothes with the shirts with holes and permanent stains on the bottom, if you absolutely feel the need to go on a shopping spree, take a five dollar bill to the Dollar Tree. Oh, and don't leave home. As soon as you walk out the door you are dooming yourself to spending money. Duh, I guess.
6. I really enjoy small accomplishments and they keep me going. Like finishing my stat homework and feeling confident that I got everything right (I attribute this to having an excellent stat professor). Or knowing where to go in our rather complicated library for the book I need without looking at the library cheat sheet. Or cleaning up the living room. Or entering all my sources into Endnote. I LOVE Endnote.
7. Designing your own research is FUN. It can be time consuming and there are often a lot of setbacks and redos, but the design process is fun.
8. One of the phrases I hate more than any other (which Dominic now knows, so I hear it ALL THE TIME), is "You aren't done with that yet?" or, another simple variation, "Are you done?" NO I'M NOT DONE. In fact, I WILL NEVER BE DONE.
9. I love the smell of Swallow Hall.
10. Sometimes people will do things that you don't understand. Actually, this will happen a lot. As someone being trained to observe and explain people, this is sometimes extremely difficult to get over. But sometimes you just gotta let it go.
11. Every once in a while, people can surprise you. I've been pleasantly surprised a lot the past four months.
12. Ripley is the best late night study/work buddy ever, and she always knows when it's time for a break.
13. Maybe Wednesday isn't the best day for a blog post...
It has been a whirlwind semester, but it has been great in a lot of ways too. I have met some really fantastic people, and I look forward to getting to know all of them better in the months (years...) to come.
Until next week!
It has been a whirlwind semester, but it has been great in a lot of ways too. I have met some really fantastic people, and I look forward to getting to know all of them better in the months (years...) to come.
Until next week!
These are FANTASTIC. I made these for the anthropology department potluck last week and I am so glad there were leftovers. Turtle bars. Can share the recipe if anyone is interested :D
A little eggnog is a good season opener...
Watching The Dark Knight Rises with our eggnog. The tree has actually been fully decorated now. I will post pictures later ;D
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