The Ignorance of My Generation

My girlfriend did not just call Lucy's husband "Richie", did she?

God dammit.



Edit: my other housemate, Katie, told me his name was "Mickey" -- what is wrong with my generation?

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An open letter to various professors of mine.

Dear Professors,
I know that this is college and that we as students are supposed to slave away in the library so that one day we can be scholars as well... but you do realize that your class is not the only class we have, right? You realize that in my week not only do I go to class, but I teach children as a part time job, because unlike a vast majority of my fellow peers mommy & daddy cannot afford to pay my tuition. Yes, indeed... it is I who next week will be writing a fat check (for someone who is only 20) of $1000 to the university, as well as pay for groceries, transportation back home (800+ miles away), my bills (electric, heating, cable/internet).
I'm not attacking you guys personally. I have actually really enjoyed all of my classes this year (for once). I was captivated by the topics; I learned a lot; I even enjoyed your lectures (though some were boring, unorganized, and off-topic).
My problem lies in these "research" papers that you all seem to want from me at the end of the semester. These 13+ pages all conveniently due on the same day. You have stressed over and over again the importance of getting a head start on research ... "Don't wait until the finals study break to start researching!!!" I have truly tried to start my research early. I have gone to the library various times (I believe I have 30 or so books out in my name for the 3 research papers and 4 analysis papers I have due). I don't mind writing papers, I prefer it over an exam. As far as topics, I have definitely had some really rubbish topics, but this year they are all amazing! I'm writing on:
* HIV+ lesbians - their representation in medical reports (really the lack of it)
* The different perspectives that anthropologists have taken in studying homosexuality throughout the last 100 years
* Folklore of the Karen of Burma in my city
* Analyzing a film that examines labor movements for illegal immigrants
* Analyzing another film which I haven't had time to watch yet
* Analyzing yet another film that I haven't had time to watch yet
* An ethnic grocery store mini-ethnography paper
All of these topics are really interesting to me as a student, but even more so as a scholar. I don't consider myself a party girl. Most weekends I am confined to my room, the local coffee shop, or the library. I'm not lazy, I'm just feeling really overworked. Between going to work and doing the massive amounts of reading each night for your class I truly have no time to do the extensive research that you require for your papers. If you'd like us to devote a large amount of our time to the research process of our papers, can I suggest that the class work load be a bit smaller? Or create papers that allows us to use the materials we used in class, rather than finding all outside materials. I love you guys, but you're making my life miserable right now.

Sincerely,
NorthboundToLoop

Read:

The Middle of Everywhere: The World's Refugees Come to Our Town by Mary Pipher

I had to read this book for my Migrating Memories anthropology class. The book was fairly good; 3.5/5 stars. Usually the books that I read for my classes are dense and boring, but this one wasn't too bad. Pipher is a psychologist and cultural broker for the refugees of Lincoln, Nebraska. She writes this book not as a academic resource, but to be read by everyone.
My opinion of the book is slightly biased since a) I work as a tutor at a local elementary school in the ELL classes. Many of my students are refugees because our city is a resettlement city. b) I'm interested in refugee law and policy and am considering taking that route once law school comes my way.
The book is equal parts refugee stories of personal loss and acculturation experience, exposé on the ugliness that often occurs in our society, life lessons that Pipher has taken from her experiences and wants us to have. The first 9 chapters are extremely interesting in that they detail her experiences in working with refugees of all ages. Naturally the stories range from hilarious to heartbreaking. There were quite a few times I found myself thinking, "wow... I never realized how 'such and such' is culturally ingrained" or "what. the. fuck?" The stories of loss, death, rape, and violence are pretty hard to get through sometimes. After reading about one particular woman I was filled with such deep sadness that I had to put the book down for a bit and just think about how lucky I am and if it were me, would I still be living today.
Unfortunately, chapters 10 -12 are extremely preachy. Perhaps coming from a family of immigrants myself (meaning... that my mom is an immigrant from the Philippines, not that my great great great great grandwhoever's came over on the Nina) I found myself feeling like she was talking down to me... as if I didn't already realize that American life is paradoxical. Sometimes I found her generalizing Americans and our culture or to be a little old-fashioned in her views of the internet and its function. She essentially said that the internet is not a community. To a certain extent I completely understand where she's coming from: you cannot substitute real people and relationships with interweb friends and family. People need personal contact. However, I don't think Pipher quite realizes the sort of ... comfort (?) that can come from an internet community. When I was initially going through my "OMG I think I might be a bisexual!!!" identity crises way back when MSN messenger and dial-up internet ruled my 8th/9th grade life, it was not my friends and family (mind you I come for a small rural town in Indiana) that I went to for consolation, help, advice, etc. It was the INTERNET! In a Sex and Gender course I took last year we read a book of personal stories of various transpeople in various stages of transition. So many of them said that the internet was one of the most helpful things in finding people to talk with, information, and feeling like a human again.
I was also extremely annoyed by her constant quoting of other authors and scholars. I love quotes, but seriously I felt like ever moral lesson started with: "So and So said that ....."
Would I recommend this book? Meh. I would probably guess that there are better written books about refugee tales. However, if time is on your hands I definitely think the first 9 chapters are worth a read... especially any of the personal life stories.