lucky

i need to volunteer sometime soon. i feel myself getting a skewed worldview, one in which i obsess over mundane little issues and think that they are serious problems. i have absolutely nothing to complain about. some of the most depressing neighborhoods in baltimore are just a bus ride away— i need to remind myself of how incredibly lucky and fortunate i am.

i am listening to a mix of my current favorite musician right now, jens lekman, and just realized that only a few months ago, i had never heard of the man. now i am a devoted fan, eagerly anticipating his concert in late october. this reminds me of how truly mind-blowing it is that life can change so incredibly quickly at my age. a few months ago, i had seen and known so much less of the country; i had no connection to massachusetts at all; i knew virtually nothing about south africa; i had never dealt with death on a personal level; my friendships, relationships, and values were so different.

i’ve really been working on balance in my life, specifically remembering to have fun and try new things. as my reading assignments increase and my stress level continues to rise, i must remind myself that none of these concerns really matter in the long run. i chose to be here and to work hard in my academics; in the grand scheme of things, another measly reading is nothing to complain about when so many in this city are trying to survive without food, shelter, and medical care. i am unbelievably lucky to have these experiences— even ones that seem unpleasant at the time.

i declared my major this week: anthropology and sociology. i’m not sure if i completely fit my own image of what an anthro major should be, but i hope that i will by senior year. my anthropology of religion class is proving to be a serious challenge, but one that i really enjoy. my local/global connections course, the second part of the international scholars program, is also really cool. the maryland state folklorist came into class the other day and discussed how she uses folklore to transmit and preserve urban culture. her presentation and our readings about folklore have made me seriously consider applying anthropology to my interest in arts administration; at this point, i think i’d like to work for a non-profit that aims to preserve urban culture through the arts.

i’ve also noticed quite a few themes running through my goucher education thus far. they seem to surface in every class and are finally tying together well. among them, ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, economic determinism, marxism, postcolonialism, globalization, nationalism, hegemony, subaltern knowledge, hybridity.

here are a few photos of some things i’ve found beautiful lately.

back to school

i am back at school. it is hard to believe that it is already september, but in some ways, i feel like i never left this place. obviously, a lot has changed on campus- we got a soft-serve machine in the dining hall and and a huge two-year construction has taken over the middle of campus- and many classmates have transferred, dropped out or gone abroad. yet i feel like i have always been here.

i arrived on the 17th to help with orientation. it was amazing to see the first-year students come in with such a variety of confidence, as i'm sure my class did as well. some were shy and doubtful; others couldn't be more outgoing. there are some awesome people in the class of 2011 and i'm glad i got to know them through our activities. it is also hard for me to fathom how scared i was a year ago- when it came to move-in day, i felt completely unready to go to college. i returned this year after an awesome summer with my goucher friends, with a year of solid academics and possibly too many activities under my belt. i felt like an expert on my school after only a few months.

classes began on wednesday and i am pretty excited. i feel like a slacker for only taking 16 credits, but between my courseload, work schedule, and plethora of activities and clubs, i'm sure i will be busy all the time. i am most likely going to major in anthropology and sociology and minor in art and art history. i will spend three weeks studying social policy and hiv/aids in south africa in january, and i aim to study in copenhagen in the spring of 2009. i plan on busying myself this year with the newspaper, community service, yoga club, suicide awareness and prevention, and my four jobs. it shall be a good year!