12.6.09 Final Reflection

Well the end of the semester is near, and for blogs the end is here. Hard to believe. These blogs have been a huge part of my first semester here. At first, I really hated them. They were a seemingly unimportant pain, a distraction to my Sunday and Wednesday nights (since I almost always waited last minute). However, my opinions have changed. As the semester progressed I really began to take our biweekly blogs more seriously, and have enjoyed them more as a result. Usually, I would blog as a way to complain about things in my life or in the world. That's no longer the case. Through blogs we have a way to express more than what we dislike. In reflections and our question assignments we can talk about ideas, dreams, the future, the past. I enjoy them, despite taking months. Nonetheless, I am happy. I realize I wasn't wasting my time. My ability to write informally has drastically improved, a style of writing that until now I was never able to employ in my schoolwork.

Much has changed in my life as I reflect on this first collegiate semester. I came into school with a clear idea of my future: major and graduate with a degree in International Relations, get my Master's somewhere and maybe my PhD, and land a great career like that. Now I have no idea, but I'm not too concerned. We're in college to explore our options, to get to know ourselves better. I've got time. I picked the majority of my second semester courses in areas that interest me and am looking forward to all of them. My work ethic, too, has changed. I've limited my procrastinating, a great step forward from earlier on in the semester and I like it that way and plan to keep it up. Grades have improved and so has my sleep schedule.

So I say goodbye, my bittersweet blog friend. We've had some interesting times together, typically late at night and weary-eyed, though no longer. I'm sure we'll be reunited, though I know not when. Until then, keep frustrating students. It will really pay off, believe it or not. It has for me.

the end...

I am sitting here, trying to do my homework, which has been a complete fail on my part. It is funny that when I started the semester I was able to do my homework easily and quickly. Now it takes me forever to even get started. All that said, I spent my last saturday night of this semester watching Friday Night Lights with some friends. It is safe to say it was probably a perfect ending. As I read most some of the last blogs everyone is very reflective of how things have changed since the beginning, so I feel like I should probably recap too! After the first day I was ready to go home, I wanted summer back! But now I have grown to love it, and love the people, it has been a great opportunity to see just how different everyone is...really really really different, but in a good way! I have learned to just go with the flow and manage school at the same time! Explorations has been a crazy experience. I feel like it is the season finale of a show and even though your happy for that break, you can't wait to see what happens next season! Thats what college is for me right now. I have nothing more to say really, words can't describe the people I have met and the experiences I have had. I hope everyone has a lovely break...SEE YOU NEXT SEMESTER!!

Final Reflection

Wow! I guess I am starting this off like everybody else, but I seriously can't believe that the semester has come to an end! It really does feel like we just got here but at the same time, I feel like I have learned so much.

It is actually pretty funny. For awhile I was slightly confused about what it was I was supposed to be learning, but then it hit me. This class was not really about the books and other things that we read. Like Allie Cat said in her reflection, this class is more about learning from other people. We were all able to come into a situation in which we could voice our opinions about so many different thing and also learn from what other people in the class had to say. It was so interesting to see that I have the exact same opinion as many other people in the class about so many different topics. It was also very interesting to hear about situations from the perspective of people who had completely different ideas about things.

Surprisingly enough, Explorations has actually been helpful in my other classes. I can't count the number of Goffman references I have made to people who have no idea what I am talking about. Even though I still have no idea what I am going to do with my life, I feel like this class has been valuable. I've learned that there are a lot of people out there who feel or felt the exact same way as I do. Hearing the guest speakers say over and over again that everything just manages to work out in the end was not exactly pleasant at the time, it is good to know that even incredibly successful people did not always have a plan. I guess overall, the most important thing I've learned is that there is not an exact science to figuring things out in life. They just sort of work out and hopefully, for all of us, in the end, things really will work out.

Final Reflection

This semester has gone by so incredibly fast. Yes, I realize that I began my final reflection with a cliche, but the truth is that our welcome week feels like it barely just ended, and now we are taking finals.

And now we have to reflect on all of this stuff. Sheesh. Well, here goes-

In the Explorations seminar, I found the readings to be secondary to interaction with my peers in learning our class objectives. I learned more about myself when I was talking with my classmates than I did from Goffman or Bellah. In these interactions with my friends, I had actual inspiration to analyze who I am, who I was, and what I believe. Learning the stories of my classmates and hearing their opinions made me think of my own. In turn, I would think of how I want to spend my future.

That's not to say I didn't learn anything from the course itself. The books were informative. Goffman gave a vocabulary to those known but unnamed aspects of social interaction. Augustine shed life on one man's logic in the 5th century. Heinlen presented an interesting view of the military's interaction with society. The only problem for me is that these were not flesh and blood examples. Although they actually happened, as in the cases of Goffman and Augustine, the stories of my classmates seemed more relevant to me as one in a similar situation to their own.

If I had the choice, I would choose Explorations again for my first semester UC seminar. Ultimately, as a class exploring identity, I learned the most from those around me. I have never had such an amazing mix of classmates, and I probably won't again.

And So Here's The End of the Semester

I can't believe how quickly the semester has gone by... before I know it, I'll be done with college! Okay, I'm not going to get ahead of myself. But looking back at this semester, I really feel as though no time has past between now and August 15th.

It's kind of like when you have a monumental birthday, when you turn 18 or something and you expect to feel extremely grown up and different, but you don't. That's kind of how I feel about this semester: I though I'd become completely different - more mature or something - but that hasn't happened. The only thing that has changed is that I feel closer to being older, closer to being my own adult and closer to what I could conceivably do with the rest of my life. Having said that, I bet my ideas will change at the end of next semester - that's just how I roll.

The best thing is that I went through this semester without having a stress attack which I am very happy for. That feels like a big thing, but I just realized I have a whole other semester to get through and then 3 more years. I won't get ahead of myself in that department.

What has been great about Explorations is that I have found it so applicable to all my other classes. I love it when you have moments where everything overlaps and just falls into place. I am glad I powered through Goffman and he seems to come up every other day in my life. Just yesterday (or possibly today) I was talking to Jena about changing identities. As an International Relations major, I love the idea of different identities and find it fascinating to see all these different walks of life. Starship Troopers, for me, was a great book for me to read at a time in my life where I seem to finally be able to "catagorize" myself in regards to how I see the world. I've always known I'm cynical, but I guess I never fully realized just how cynical my outlook on the human race is!

Especially with St Augustine and Antigone, Explorations sort of introduced a new style of thought to me. It's so much the contextual analysis of the work, but more has to do with the implications of what works say and how it can be applied to everything else around it. For example, when Antigone's want to bury her brother raised so many questions about what a burial actually means, and who it is for. Having read Antigone before, that is never something that we would have thought to discuss, glossing over it as an act of sisterly affection in order to ensure that her brother has the welcoming to the afterlife.

It has been a good semester - so far I have enjoyed all the newness of college and everything and am looking foreword to the next semester.

12.2.09 Which community would I join?

This is an incredibly difficult question to answer, but a fun and interesting one nonetheless (for real). What's difficult is that there are so many communities I would join! However, for the sake of this blog question I will choose only one of the incredible amount of communities that appeal to me: Middle-earth, in particular, the Shire.

To those of you that are sadly oblivious to exactly what Middle-earth is, the wondrous land is none other then the setting of Lord of the Rings. The Shire is where those famous hobbits, Frodo, Samwise, Merry, and Pippin reside, or at least did. But why would I like to join their company? Well there's plenty. For one, hobbits know how to have a good time. They have epic feasts with plenty of dancing and tomfoolery. Always a raucous occasion. Gandalf would also be in our company, blowing amazing dragon smoke figures.

I also love the setting itself. The area is similar to England/Scotland. With rolling hills of green velvety grass, the landscape is serene peaceful. Architecture, too, is a great plus. The circular doors of the hobbits' houses are unique and homely, as well as their cozy interiors. It simply is a majestic land.

On a different note, I think it would also be incredible to be a giant compare to the itsy hobbits. All in all, the Shire is a wonderful community that would be welcoming to an outsider giant liek myself. Though I could never realistically join it (well maybe under the influence of hallucinogens), it is always fun to dream.

LAST BLOG QUESTION!!!!!

I am finding it hard to believe that I have finally reached the last blog question, it means that the semester is basically over. I go home in 7 days for a lovely Christmas break and I am so incredibly excited. It is funny, that this blog question seems so simple, yet it is the hardest for me to answer. I entered this class thinking that I would figure out what I wanted to do - sadly I am leaving more confused than ever and its not because of this class. I have been exposed to so much during my first semester here at American that I have discovered so many opportunities that could lead to possible professional communities that I could join and because of that I have no idea what I want to do. Currently I belong to the community of I don't know and I'm okay with that. That is what college is about -discovering where you fit in this big world.
I am going to use this next semester to explore all possible options. It is funny when you are younger you know exactly what you want to do. There is no doubt in your mind when you say you want to be a singer or a firefighter. There is that determination and somewhere along that way that is lost and options are exposed to you, and the long hard process is revealed and life gets harder.
It is true what they say - you don't appreciate those naps in Pre-K until you no longer have the time to take them and you do not appreciate that enthusiasm until you are doubting the decisions you make. I do not know anyone else, but I would love to go back to Pre-K for a day. That was a great community!

Community Choice

Interestingly enough, the question of which community I would like to join has been one that has bothered me throughout my life. I've always been on the hunt for my place in the world, whether it be with religion, politics, subculture, or other areas of society.
One community that I have not changed my desire to join, however, is the music scene. I don't want to be in a band, or a producer, or a record executive, but something more humble. I would prefer to be part of a band's road crew, or work at a venue. I would have access to both the musicians and the fans, which would allow a personal relationship with the two greatest parts of the music scene: the talents and personalities of the artists, and the enthusiasm and creativity of their fans. For one who considers music to be a sort of personal religion, a therapy that has never failed me, membership in such a community would be extremely fulfilling.
Ultimately, before I can join any new community, I still need to find out exactly where I stand in the communities I am already a part of. Although I am certain of the overall substance of my identity, I still need to clarify its form. I know my family, my religion, my opinions, my dreams, etc., but I have yet to define them with certainty. Before I can be a roadie, a venue worker, or a member of any new community, I must figure this out.

my community!

I've been thinking along time about this question...I've had this page up for over an hour and have walked away from it trying to wrap my head around it. I think the reason I'm having such a hard time with it is because when you ask "What community do you want to be in," what I interpret is "What do I want to do and be great at?".

My first thought was that I wanted to be ballet dancer at the Opera Garnier in Paris. I love ballet but was stupid and stopped dancing seriously when I was pretty young so now I am left with the reciprocal of what I had 10 years ago: the passion but no skill. And in order to dance at the level of the dancers at the Opera de Paris, you need to have been dancing 24/7 from age 2.... bit late now.

So I'm a bit lacking in terms of having the ability to enter this prestigious community but that is the reason I want to be part of this community. Ballet in its modern form has been around since before the French Revolution and is just such a graceful dance form, even if it does kill your body. If the actual Ballet hasn’t entranced you, look at the Opera Garnier. It is the most beautiful hall with so much history. It’s where The Phantom of the Opera supposedly resided! How can you not fall in love with the history and grandeur of the place, even more so the city? It is beautiful: the City of Lights. And this is where I stopped: I’m supposed to be writing about the community I want to join. It morphs from Ballet all the way to Paris...

The other reason I found it so hard to pick a community is because it’s my nature to want to try everything. I don’t like to be tied down into any one thing. I like to know that I can still experience a wide range of things without having to necessarily fully commit myself. I’m a bit of a nomad…you can’t really help but feel like that after a trans-Atlantic move. I want to go everywhere and not just stay in one community no matter how happy I feel there.

But yes, that would be a great community for me. There is even a chance that I could embrace my more nomadic side and get to travel the world as a “famous ballet dancer”! What a dream! Of course it’s a bit of a short lived community life; but two of the presentations we had today featured communities in which death was an imminent - for lack of a better term - thing. Jonestown and the Retirement community both sort of have death looming over them. Nothing lasts forever: no community last forever. But this is what I have chosen for the short time I could spend in it...in a parallel universe where my dancing is magnifique!

What I am Thankful For

Thanksgiving may have been and gone but I still have things for which I am thankful:

I just registered!! It feels good - though I just have to meet with my advisor to confirm everything... I am thankful for getting into the classes I wanted.

I am thankful that we are so close to the end of the semester! It has been crazy and amazing and we're 1/8th of the way through our college careers!

I am thankful that I was able to spend a lovely long weekend with my family (even though I sprained my ankle and bruised my knee, and not just like badly...they REALLY hurt! and look gross)

I went upstate NY to a State Park and realized at the last minute that this particular park was open for the hunting season! Bye bye State Park! I am thankful we realized that in time.

I am thankful that I will going home in 3 weeks to England, spending Christmas there for the first time in 5 years!

I hope everyone else had a wonderful break and are energized for the final push! I can't believe we are so close to the finish line!

One last thing I am thankful for is that we do not live in a world like that of Starship Troopers. Though a great books, there are other ways that citizens can gain more weight and perspective in regards to their vote. Actually to be honest, the whole becoming a citizen thing does resonate in me because I can't vote in the US and when I can in 5ish years time when I get citizenship, I will take my vote so seriously because it wasn't just expected of me, it was granted to me after what will have been 10 years in the US. Similarly, I was very aware of the power I held when I got to vote in the European Palimentary elections. I had to vote basically absentee so I felt that my vote kept me an active citizen of the UK.

I am thankful to be an adult and have a say in important issues…sometimes…

"What is this, Middle School?"

Over the past few months, like the rest of us freshman, I've been settling into my study and work routine. I plop down in front of my computer, check my email and facebook, put on some music, and get to work. The routine has served me well, with satisfactory results.
One point of note in my routine is the type of music that I play to help me along in my studies. For some reason, a lot of the old, angry punk rock that I listened to in high school and middle school. Back then, I listened to that music from a sense of alienation and a lack of self-respect. Now, for some reason, I drown out the angry ( and often horribly sung and horribly written lyrics) and focus on the punishing guitars and fast drums like an army listens for the drums to set their pace.
If I look at my routine this way, it would seem that I look at schoolwork as a sort of a battle. With every assignment, I fight to earn my degree and keep my scholarship.
It would seem that my attitude towards my work is manifesting itself in my manner of completing it. While the facebook and email checking are daily events, my choice of music serves as a means of keeping up my morale.

11.29.09 Reflection

This past week was one dominated, quite understandably, by the prospect of Thanksgiving and the accompanying break. For me, things got off with . I was one of a select few Leonardians on the second floor who stayed over Tuesday night. It was definitely a little eerie having such a quiet floor. Nevertheless, I survived until morning when I had to rise early in order to arrive promptly in Chinatown to take a bus back to Philadelphia. I learned then that traveling the day before Thanksgiving is always a good idea. The bus ride to Philly took 5 hours due to incredible traffic, twice the normal length! The bus dropped me off at Market East train station where I usually take the regional line back to my town. Wednesday, however, my dad was in the city for business and decided to pick me up. The ride home by car is usually twenty minutes, Wednesday's was an hour.

Nevertheless, the wait only added to the eventual satisfaction that only coming home can bring. My dad and I picked up cheese steaks and we, joined by my mom, had a nice meal together heavy with conversation. Though I had been home already this year, coming back for a holiday and for an extended period time produces a much greater dynamic. I enjoyed the bustle that only a holiday can bring: the cooking, shopping, eating, and visiting of friends and family. After dinner, I was picked up by a few of my best friends. I left through the garage and the headlights which blinded me only made me recall old memories together. We united once more and attended a hockey game between our high school and its rival. The game is a tradition. College kids always come back for it, joined by the current high schoolers. It was a sweet reunion filled with hugs and stories, an appropriate welcome back after so much time spent apart. The rest of the weekend was spent with my closest friends and my family.

At home, I realized that I definitely do, after three months, have a part of myself at AU. At home, I really did miss seeing the faces I've come to know well and sleeping in the bed I've become so used to. Thanksgiving break was wonderful, but it was almost a tease. I felt like I'd never been gone but, like that, I was.

Reflection

I have to say, it was really nice to be home. To have my mom cook me food that actually tasted something and the be able to go sleep in my bed was amazing! It was weird, though. It is almost as though time stopped at home. When I got home, other than the fact that we got a dog that no one told me about (he's so cute, but his name is Nelson which is kind of a drawback), everything was the same. I found myself wondering when I would be going back to school and not thinking about my classes here, but thinking about my high school. It was a very strange situation. I fell back into my old routines with my little brothers and my sister.

I guess that is one of the things about family. No matter how annoying they may be, and no matter how many times I think that I never want to see them again, they are people who you can be completely comfortable with. I don't have to keep a front up around them or act like someone else. I can act however I want to and I can be completely sure that, even though they probably don't like me a lot of the time, my family loves me and will always be there for me. I guess that is what I learned during this break. No matter how many things change in my life, I can always go home and do the same old stuff.

Reflection 11.29.2009

Thanksgiving was a much needed break!!!! No school, family, food, and fun. It was a great break. I actually stayed here for thanksgiving because my uncle lives in dc. I went over to his house for the weekend and enjoyed the time with my family. On Friday, my uncle rented a bus for the entire family to go see the monuments. It was very cool to see all the monuments back to back. I’ve been to most of them before, but it was fun to go with my grandparents who remembered most of the events that the monuments were depicting. It was interesting to hear them reflect and recall moments about their childhood and young adult years. For my little cousins we stopped by the White House, since that was the only building they knew about and cared to see. It was actually my first time to the White House, I have driven by it before, but it was my first time actually walking up to the front gate and actually getting a good view. It was actually perfect timing, because the White House Christmas tree was being delivered. It was pulled up to the front door by a house drawn carriage, it was so pretty, like a timeless picture. The man in the carriage was wearing a top hat, so it was very cool thing to see. It was a lovely time with my cousins and other family members. The Christmas Tree being delivered reminded me of how soon the semester is going to be over. It is amazing to think that I have already finished one half of my freshman year. I can’t believe it! It has gone by so fast, and I have had such a great time, but honestly I cannot wait to finish the semester and go home for a whole month!!!!

Will to Survive

Whether military preparedness is a key concern for the sake of a community's longevity depends greatly on what type of community is being expressed. A country, for instance, has the greatest military capability of any type of community. The sole purpose of a formidable national military is to help ensure the nation's survival. It would appear quite obvious, then, that in order to continue a nation's existence, a strong army, navy, and air force would prove essential. In many cases this is true, however, there are exceptions. Many wars wage today, and countless others have in the past. However, based on a country's values many nations are able to avoid war almost completely.

Countries such as New Zealand, Denmark, and Norway are able to avoid war. As a result they are able to focus funds and resources of non-military programs. Peaceful countries benefit from low unemployment rates, successful educational systems, and low crime rates. When times are sound in relations with nations abroad, times are typically sound internally as well. So where do values come into play? Wars, like those in the Middle East, are fought on the basis of many different values. Religion is the major value at stake in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Governmental values such as political ideologies and leanings are key factors in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Social inequalities and injustices are values that create animosity between conservative nations like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Pakistan with more liberal ones liek the United States.

But those peaceful nations are able to avoid conflicts like these. War can be eliminated when values are controlled, when a nation's beliefs remain internal and are unable to affect international relations. Military is the primary concern for Norway. The nation is successful in keeping her nose out of affairs that do not pertain to her well being. Unlike Israel, Norway's military is not a priority. Though survival is indefinitely the ultimate goal of Norway, she is an example that proves survival is possible through non-combatant means.

Blog Question: 11.26.2009

Sadly, I believe that Heinlein is completely correct in the claim that he makes. Everything is about survival; our culture obsesses over living longer, protecting our country, and saving our earth. Our media is filled with diet advertisements and "going green" promotions, the claim being that these things will help us survive. Political leaders obsess over safety regulations and protection plans "just in case"... so it is safe to say that we are all about survival. For that reason war and the preparation for war can never be eliminated. Those two things protect us from the worse. It helps us survive against terrorist and threats known and unknown. That is the sterotypical that I sort of believe in. Without being prepared for war, a country opens their self to being taken advantage of. I think that the necessity to survive requires a properly prepared military to be a high priority among the community, because with the military, common people would have to fight and they are just not equipped for that. If I had to protect myself, I would freak out. The military is a comfort and without it, I'm sure I would not be the only one freaking out.

The Necessity of Military

Ideally a community would never need a military. Everyone would live in peace at all times and war would be eliminated. This, of course, would be the way it was in a perfect world. If the world was perfect, every country would have no military. Unfortunately, it is not a perfect world and in order for a country to survive, it must have a military. As soon as one country has the ability to take over another through violence, every other country must make sure it has the ability to defend itself. Right now, a community can have everything. It can be full of individuals who support and love their country. It can have wealth and access to everything it needs it support its people, but that does not protect it from the actions of other countries.

Because of this, it is obvious that a military is a very important part of any country, but it is also seems as though Heinlein thinks that the military should be used. He holds the military in very high regard and although I believe that military is important it should not be the most important part of the country. It should be made to be good enough so the country can defend itself against potential threats but there should be more important aspects of the country. I think it is more important that the people of the country have good lives. If this means the military must be the most important part and most developed part of the country then it must be that way.

Response on Military

For any sort of community to survive, it needs a mechanism of defense against harm. Whether it is an army defending a country, or a police force defending a neighborhood, it would be difficult for a community to thrive if it had no way to prevent damage. A community may have a strong structure, it members completely united in purpose, and its powers to complete that purpose strong, but if it is unable to defend itself against any form of attack, it will quickly find itself destroyed.
Think of a person holding a weapon: a knight with a sword, a man with a gun, or even a jedi with a light saber. They are a united body (quite literally in this metaphor) with a single purpose, and a power to enforce that purpose. But if they don't have armor or bullet proof vests, they have little chance of survival in combat. A strongly-united community is much the same if they do not have a means of defense.
A country without a military would come to a similar fate. It has a government, a set of laws, a culture, and a people, but if there is no military, than another country can sweep in at any time they wish to destroy it.
That said, a military is not the only single thing that guarantees the survival of a community. It needs a strong structure and citizens dedicated to maintaining it. Without these, there would be no community to defend. If the citizens are unsatisfied with their community, there is no need to have a military to defend the community. It is interesting to note that many of the famous revolutions of history involve a dissolution and later reorganization of their country's military, including the French and Russian. Military and society are tied together- if one falls, so will the other.

Reflection 2.23.2009

Our lab this week, involved going to the National Museum of the American Indian. Honestly, it was a lot different than I expected. I expected this museum full of the same old artifacts and for it to be a relatively boring trip. While it was not my favorite trip thus far, it was far from boring. It was set up in such a way that it tied in the past and the present. I really enjoyed the modern take of tradition aspects of the Native American symbols such as a totem pole. The totem pole was built out of golf bags, which I thought was so good, I enjoyed that exhibit more than the traditional artifacts. As I was waiting for the time at the museum to finish, I went, along with other people from explorations, into one of the theaters that was playing a movie. It was about a boy, trying to understand the traditional ways that his parents wanted him to respect, while he struggled with the outside world. It was an interesting presentation, that I'm sure for some people is very realistic. The entire museum was different - in a good way. I just wonder what actual Native Americans think of the museum. Personally, I think it provides a good representation, but I'm technically an outsider looking in....what do they think?
This weekend I went to go see the newest movie in the Twilight series called New Moon. First as a girl, I just have to say that it was amazing! I love the movie, but its funny to see people in the theater screaming over the characters such as Edward, Bella, and Jacob. When an intense part comes the crowd is responding at the edge of their seat, waiting for the next twist in the plot. The audience in completely engaged in what is going in the movie. In a normal movie, people just sit back and watch, but people actually used energy to engage themselves in this movie. After this movie, I was thinking about, what makes something a trend. Why is something so popular? What makes Twilight so popular? Is it because Jacob and Edward are very attractive characters on screen or does it simply hold the classic fairytale perspective that people are always trying to live. Is it an ideal world? For me personally, a world full of vampires, is not ideal, but maybe it is for others. It is just interesting to see this world wide obsession, yet no one knows exactly - "why" it is so popular.
On another note, I'm so excited for Thanksgiving. I cannot wait for the turkey and family. I have missed home more than I thought. Sadly, I am not going home, but I am spending Thanksgiving at my uncle's house in DC with my mother's family. I cannot believe the semester is almost over!!! I hope everyone has a good break and a safe trip wherever they are going!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

11.22.09 Reflection

This past week has proved to be one of the most academically challenging ones for me so far at American. I assume professors are trying to get in as much possible before Thanksgiving and they're doing quite a fine job. However, the week has passed and now I am able to examine it.

I particularly enjoyed our Wednesday visit to the National Museum of the American Indian. It was definitely one of my favorite Wednesday labs. Native American history is a topic that really has remained absent in most of my schooling. Except in third grade and in passing during American History, we never learned much. As a result the museum was definitely an eye opener. One of the first things that shocked me about the place was its peculiar but inviting design. It reminded me of a modern pueblo. The crops grown outside the buildings as well as the tipis quickly inform casual the passerby what kind of building they approach. Another surprising tidbit I quickly learned was that despite it's opening in 2004, it is the first museum entirely dedicated to the American Indian.

The interior of the museum was something. After passing through the metal detectors, visitors feels tiny in the great chamber they find themselves in. Circular design definitely plays a great role outside and in. Circularity, I determined after exploring the museum, played a great role in Native American architecture and design. Also, angular shapes were somewhat scarce comparatively.

The content of the museum was informative, but because of the museum's modernity it was successfully able to hold the visitor's attention. Thousands of artifacts are on display in the museum, including arrowheads, jewelry and dolls. Each small exhibit contains descriptions of what is display with information like history and location. I found these greatly enjoyable. However, maybe my favorite part of our trip was in watching about twenty minutes of a film played in the museum's theater. Since we had some time to kill before lunch, a few of us meandered into the theater that was already playing a movie. It was a film of identity: the conflict between a modern American Indian's duty to his people and past and clash which arises in the present. Symbolism was evident in what we witnessed through a recurring crow and the vast expanses of desert. Even though we only caught a glimpse of the movie, it was enough to stir emotions, respect and pity were the greatest I felt. These were also the emotions I felt from the museum as a whole. The history of the American Indian is incredibly tragic, it is impossible not to pity, and it is impossible not to respect a people whose will to survive still lasts today.

Reflection

Wow! I can't believe how quickly Thanksgiving has come. I feel like I just got here a couple of weeks ago. It is very strange for me to be thinking about going home because I have not been home since I got here. I feel like when I go back home nothing is going to have changed. I feel like time should have stopped, but clearly this is not going to the case. It is going to be so strange to see that things have kept moving at home even though I am not there.

Well, anyway, I guess because it is approaching Thanksgiving it was somewhat appropriate that we visited the National Museum of the American Indian this week. I was actually pretty excited to go to the museum this week. I had heard from several people that it was a pretty cool museum and I had been interested in going to it for a while. When we first arrived, I found the design of the museum to be very interesting. It almost looked like something that belonged in a desert somewhere in the west and not in the middle of DC. The inside of the museum was pretty unique as well. I really enjoyed the section that displayed the artwork of Brian Jungen. I found it very interesting to see stereotypical Native American things made out of modern day things. Now that I have written that out, it seems slightly offensive. I know that there are plenty of Native Americans who are active members of society today, but for some reason, whenever someone says something about American Indians I automatically think of Pocahontas and Crazy Horse. I guess a lot of people have this conception as well because I noticed that much of the museum focused on modern day American Indians. I guess for Thanksgiving this year I should think about these modern day people and not just the people who lived years and years ago.

Bonus Question

In my opinion I believe that they values of the American Indian are expressed in the National Museum. While it may be a reformed view or even a censored representation of their values, their ideals and traditions are still represented within the museum. Everything about their culture is represented in a respectful nature and I'm sure in an approved setting. You walk around and the entire building is set up in such a way that their culture is continuously expressed and their values are shown through the displays and other exhibits. While clearly it is a reformed view, because of time and the fact that it is a "National" museum, so things are probably not as raw as some Native Americans may want it, there is a good representation given. Remembrance is a key part of the museums layout and how the artifacts are presented. When you walk in, it is clear that it is a place to remember and acknowledge a race of people. The artifacts are very spread out. It is not an overcrowded museum and everything is very, almost, sacred. The artifacts are in drawers or in cases and everything is very professional, even more so than other museums. I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but as soon as I walked in, I knew I walked into an place, that needed to be respected.

Reflection on the upcoming Thanksgiving break

As I finish up my homework for this week and read up on my assignments, I think of the coming week of rest and relaxation. And food. Lots and lots of food. Though I would much rather stay at home and meet up with friends I haven't seen in three months, I recently learned that I would be going on a little journey to the middle of nowhere for most of my vacation.
As soon as I get home, my family is heading up to my grandparents, who live in an economically-depressed former immigrant mining town in the Appalachian Mountains in Pennsylvania called Summit Hill. Almost every one in ten residents lives below the poverty line. Unlike my hometown of Bowie, where half of the population are minorities, Summit Hill is almost 100% white. While Bowie is largely culturally integrated, Summit Hill is still divided by ethnicity. The Irish, the Polish, the Welsh, the Italians, the Hungarians, and the Czechs still worship in their own churches, hang out in their own bars, and are buried in their own cemeteries.
In places like Summit Hill, the culture has not changed much since the 19th century. Although the ethnic groups do not fight as they did back then (my grandfather held a dislike for the Irish after an Irishman stole his wages in the 40s), one stills views the others are foreigners, even if they have been living in the country for over a century. If you are not even from Summit Hill, you are easily spotted from your lack of an accent, and viewed in much the same way as a Southerner would view a Yankee. They are highly traditional and highly religious people- Summit Hill, according to Ripley's Believe It or Not, is the only town with a block that has a church on each corner.
Somethings, however, did change with time. With the closing of the mines around the end of the century, job opportunities in the area are becoming increasingly scarce. There is a palpable dissatisfaction that one can feel in the air while walking or driving though the town. Visiting the town this summer, one could especially sense a feeling of bitterness after Obama's election in this extremely conservative town. For the first time in my life, I saw a Neo-Nazi flag displayed publicly on a resident's front porch. It was an extremely frightening experience for a Jewish girl who associates the town with the warmth and love of her grandparents.
Ultimately, I love going up to Summit Hill. I love seeing my grandparents, who I only get to see two or three times each year. I love to sit on their front porch and read as the townspeople walk slowly by. I love to walk through the surrounding forests and mountains. Every time I visit, I learn something new: about my father, about my family, and about the town that made them. When I return to Bowie (or in this case, AU) I always end up learning about myself in the contrasts.

Reflection 11.21.2009

With thanksgiving fast approaching and the smell of turkey in the air, it is time for another reflection which will tie into the bonus question too:

When we went to the Native American Museum, I enjoyed seeing that culture. It is a very serene with their dependance on the land and their togetherness with nature. As much as it is a culture that is very private and one that I obviously don't belong to, I can't help but want to belong to it...it's seems so idealistic and simple.

Some people and me watched movie that was called "1000 different paths" or something. It documented the different lives and journeys of different native americans, both in the "modern" world and in their own tribes, showing how they live. There was a story of healer, a medicine man, who tried to cure a little boy, but unfortunately, the boy died. There was a business women living in the hustle and bustle of the city but still kept true to her roots.

The film was clearly meant to show how we are all human, just making our way through life, whatever cultural background we come from. There is a sense of othering, but I felt it was more the audience that was made to feel like an outsider, than the thousands of journeys taken by native americans. It made me wish I could be part of that culture...and the film was saying "ha! You can't!!" at the same time that it was celebrating the unique lives of these people.

The other thing that very much hit me was a small walkway into one of the exhibitions, that projected people along side you on either side ... it took me a while to work out what was going out. When I finally decided to read the caption, it said "You never know when you could be walking along side a native american", showing that they aren't this "other" people, they are integrated with every other culture despite the contradictory separation. The native american museum, is one of two more distinct cultural museums in DC that are on the Mall. The other is the Holocaust museum. (The African-American museum in Anacostia is obviously other one but it's not on the mall, and it's small and relatively unknown). It is interesting that at the same time the museum tries to celebrate the culture, but at the same time can't help but set it apart.

I enjoyed the museum overall and was sad that the food was so expensive - but it definitely did give me a new appreciation for the culture

Question 11.18.2009

The quote presented about violence being the way to solve problems is something I believe to be true to a certain extent. Wars solve the problems even if it is not the most humanitarian approach. Let's be honest, when have peace treaties ever completely solved an issue. While they will put the issue at rest temporarily, they do not stop that problem from becoming a bigger issue. War's finish things because death resulting from wars are so finite. It is the end. The atomic bomb ended World War II, it left a lasting impact that Hiroshima is still trying to recover from today. That act of violence ended any further attacks because it let the world know that this problem had gone on long enough. There has not been another world war since clearly proving that that amount of violence works. It finished off those particular set of issues. Granted the world will never be perfect, but every issue solved helps. For instance, while the Emancipation Proclamation allowed slaves to be freed, it was not until the Civil War that slaves were actually freed. That proclamation was simply used as a political move to help the Union gain more power through the assistance of the British. More power lead to more violence leading o the solution of that problem. The real question to ask is why can human kind not solve anything without violence?

11.18.09 A New Alternative

Throughout the history of mankind and its civilizations, war has undoubtedly been the leading means to end disputes. It is impossible to deny the claim. War has existed as long as cultures have clashed. From tribes of cavemen to tribes of Native Americans, from the Greeks to the Goths, wars have always emerged. It is not a question of human nature, it is simply the way things have been. Man versus man has always been the way to determine who is the stronger power, to settle issues. In most cases diplomacy only really is effective after a war has been fought. I do, however, believe times finally may be changing.

I think that with the prevalence of nuclear weapons, warfare in general will gradually come to a halt, at least for the most part. Has it not already? Though conflicts do exist of course, we no longer fight wars with sheer force. World War II and Vietnam type strategies are no longer applicable with the rise of technology. Instead, warfare has changed completely so now that remote controlled weaponry and robots can now fight instead of humans. Of course, this certainly is still warfare and directly applies to the Heinlein's quote, however the trend is shifting towards more peaceful means. Nations now realize that one step out of line means potential nuclear war to end all life on the planet. This tense situation is reassuring. Nations will be hesitant to make drastic moves since extinction is always a possible consequence. As countries began to realize this, warfare decreased.

I also believe that warfare will decrease as more and more women enter politics and the government. Until the only recent past, women had absolutely no say in how countries should be run. The male dominated governments only reflect half of their respective populations. With a more sexually balanced government, decision making will shift. Though maybe not scientifically proven, I think women provide a more humanistic and emotional approach which should limit rash decisions leading to war.

Is Violence the answer?

I am sure everybody has been told at one point or another that violence is not the answer. That is what almost everyone is taught at some point in their life. Despite what we are taught, no one ever seems to mention the effectiveness of violence. We all know that it is not good. We all know we are not supposed to use violence, but when it really comes down to it, violence does work. You can spend hours and hours trying to convince someone to do something verbally, but at any point they can change their mind and back out. When violence is involved, it usually only takes a few seconds to get a person to do what you want them to. This is probably one of the reasons that there are so many wars. Diplomats and leaders can talk to each others forever and there is still a strong possibility that they will not agree on anything. Instead, if violence is involved, things get done much more quickly.

I know this would be an appropriate time to rattle off a list of examples when violence has more efficiently than words alone, but unfortunately, I really cannot name any and it is clear that other people here have a much greater knowledge of these things than I do. For my part, all I can really say is that in an ideal world, violence would never, ever be the answer, but unfortunately, in the world we live violence works. It gets things done and changes things more quickly than anything else in the world. So it is a fact that violence has probably settled more issues in our history than anything else. Violence makes sure that one person gets there way and that the others do not. At the end of the day, it is not the right thing to do, but it is clearly very effective.

War and Peace - abridged

"Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedom"

I'm really sorry for being pessimistic, but I do agree with this quote. I don't know when or why, but sometime in my 18 years, I realized that humans are not a inherently nice race. Granted, there are individuals who are good and make huge contributions to society, but when it comes to International relations and cooperation on a systemic level, I lean towards a realist perspective. How can I not when my entire continent's history has been defined by fall of empire after fall of empire and war after war? I can't even name all the wars that Europe has seen since the fall of the Roman Empire...too many. There are several things I want to talk about here, both to support and oppose the quote.

Firstly, violence has been a very big part of the world's culture since the dawn of time. It is man's natural tendency to be aggressive and defend his territory. From this aspect, I agree with the quote: war is a natural part of our world, however unfortunate that may be, but i think it is effective, especially in terms of defense. Focusing on some good wars, like we were talking about in class today, World War II certainly concluded with the majority of the Western World agreeing that "it was worth it". And to think about the consequences had we not fought or won WWII are horrible to think about. Everyone would be horribly oppressed and discriminated against.

To counter this, it is necessary to look at how war has actually made problems too. Even just looking at World War I, poor facilitation after the war ultimately lead to WWII... that certainly shows a case when war is maybe not the most permanent and final acts to secure peace. So it may have settled a specific dispute, but that doesn't mean that new ones haven't arisen and caused even more problems. Definitely, as the world develops more and more, there are actually some influential factors in the world that are not violent in any way. Looking back, there has been Ghandi and the Dalai Lama, neither of whom believe in violence as being the answer. These figures have also been able to get such a huge following internationally, which speaks to the fact that they aren't just two people trying to make a difference: they are making a difference. So violence isn't always the only answer, there are other ways in which problems and disputes can be solved especially in today's society where violence is continually becoming the last option in the minds of the public purely because of the damage it can do.

Which leads into the last part of the quote. Sometimes peoples are forced to violence because of oppressive governments and the likes. The hope for a better tomorrow, without violence, such as preached by Ghandi is not completely unreasonable, especially as I already said that society is moving in a direction of wanting more peace. Furthermore, even in times of war, people lose their freedoms and most definitely their lives. 9/11: the patriot act... complete loss of freedom as the government monitored people's every move. Then soldiers were sent to Iraq to defend the nation, and they lost their lives. During times of violence and war, people are just as likely to pay dearly as they are during times Mr Dubois may think of as blissful ignorance and peace, when nations are potentially vulnerable to threats.

When push comes to shove, sometimes violence is, though the last resort, the best method to keep and gain peace, but that doesn't mean a passive attitude and "wishful thinking" are any less importance or power. I'm on the fence. I understand what Mr Dubois is saying, he just needs to be less condescending and prehaps less pessimistic about society.

Reflection 11.16.2009

The trip to Arlington Cemetery was one of the hardest “field trips” I have ever been on. I have been to over 13 funerals and I have never been so bothered. The entire day was just naturally depressing because it was Veteran’s Day and it was a dreary day. What really hit me though were the rows and rows of graves stretched out over the entire area. It was the most peaceful burial sites I have ever seen.
Looking at JFK’s grave does not raise any emotions. It is set up as more of a fancy memorial for a president. It is not until I ventured out into the yard and looked at some of the other graves that it hit me. Some of these people were my age. Many were the age of my sister and her friends. I looked at the year they died and it said 2006 meaning it was from the War in Iraq. For the first time the war became real to me. Those kids should be hanging out, getting married, and enjoying summers on a beach, but they are not… Because the war is fought over seas, it seemed surreal to me. I know people are dying, but until I saw those graves, I did not realize how “real” it all was. The hardest part was to see the grave of a fallen soldier from Iraq with flowers and notes reading, “I love you daddy”. I did not realize how big their sacrifice was until I saw the worst possible result.

11.15.09 Reflection

Visiting Arlington Cemetery on Wednesday was by far my favorite University College lab this first semester. I had never been to the cemetery before, nor had I ever been to a cemetery in commemoration at all. As a result I was surprisingly blown away by Veterans' Day at Arlington. The first thing that truly caught my eye was the sheer enormity of the cemetery itself. It seemed as if the pale gravestones actually expanded across the entirety of all visible land. An incredible sight. Arlington Cemetery's design is perfect. It is simple, tasteful, and respectful. Since so many graves are identical, the cemetery is able to successfully to identify it's inhabitants as equals, an interesting and important aspect. Gorgeous trees mark the landscape with winding paths carved throughout.

It was refreshing to witness so many people grateful for our nation's soldiers. We witnessed thousands of veterans, family members, friends, students, tourists, and those with no ties to those buried in the cemetery except respect. Tears were shed by some and smiles were worn by others but everyone had something in common: appreciation for those who sacrificed. To join the military is a heroic action that I feel appeals to many people at some in life. To understand that you are a smaller part of a greater mechanism is a frightening, but humbling realization. Those in the military know that for people to continue their small, but meaningful roles in life, action must always be taken to ensure freedom exists. That is where soldiers step in. Without a military of loyal, driven soldiers a nation's people would have a different role: slave. Only one day a year is dedicated to our soldiers, but our thoughts are always with them. For myself at least, I also nod or acknowledge those in uniform whenever I may see one, making sure to lock eyes. They nod or acknowledge me back.

I will most likely never be buried in Arlington. Chances are I will never fire a gun or ride in a tank. For that reason we must thank our soldiers. I don't want to have to fire a gun. Brave men and women step up for that position realizing what is at stake: the greatest sacrifice, their own lives. At Arlington Cemetery I realized a few things, learned some others and was entirely moved. It was an enlightening day and I will return. It will be interesting to compare a typical day at Arlington versus Veterans' Day.

Reflections: 15th November 2009

I LOVE living in DC!!! At Arlington Cemetery, I saw the presidential motorcade not once but TWICE! how cool and amazing! Arlington Cemetery is a place I have been to many times before, and it felt especially fitting that it was rainy and wet when we visited there on Veteran's Day. We are celebrating fallen soldiers from so many different wars. I happened to walk by a Vietnam section and that was bizarre because their dates made the majority of them only a little bit older than me. And there are SO many graves there! More than that, I think there were at least three people in our class who knew or had a relation buried there. That's quite astonishing really and goes to show the grandeur of the entire thing and just how many people war affects.

In today's society - as we were talking about in class - we honor those who have fallen. It's not necessarily for any religious reasons, it's more so that the lives lived by the deceased person was not in vein. They are celebrated and "go out with a final bang" ..if you're lucky enough, that can literally be the case with military salutes.

Switching gears, I went home this weekend at it was so strange to come back ..both going to NYC and coming back to DC... they are both my alternate realities, both are so normal and have their routines. When I go to NYC, DC doesn't exist and vis versa. it's very strange. I wonder if everyone feels that way when they go home, or for some people do the two converge...neither is probably better than the other and in fact I like my two separate lives: one where I am independent (ish) and the other where i can get looked after and sort of be a kid, but still with all the plus sides of being 18! I don't know, it was very wierd to get on the train Friday and again today, and basically coming full circle twice. I came and went home twice. DC is my home. NJ is my home. Home is where the heart is?

reflection 11/14

Wow, I know I have probably said this about fifteen times, but I cannot believe how quickly time is passing here! Anyway, this week, our visit to Arlington was a very interesting experience for me. When I heard that we were going to visit the cemetery, I had mixed feelings. I think that Arlington is a very interesting and unique place. I have visited several times because my grandmother was buried there when I was very young, but my hesitation about visiting did not come from this. Unfortunately, this trip was the first one that I have made to Arlington since my grandfather's funeral at Arlington last march. Needless to say, it was a slightly strange experience. This was the first time I saw his headstone up, and for some reason, something about that really hit me. It definitely made his death more concrete and was a pretty strange experience.

Despite this, I think Arlington is a very interesting place to visit. Of course the attractions like the tomb of the unknown soldier and JFK's burial site are always cool to see, but for me, the most moving part of the entire experience is looking out at all the headstones. Looking out across the headstones, especially in the areas where they are all aligned and homogeneous is crazy. It is hard to think that so many people have died after taking some part protecting and serving our country. It was also upsetting to see the headstones from some of the more recent burials. While making the trek to my grandfather's grave, I walked through some other headstone and I noticed some of the dates on them. Some of them had birth dates from 1987 or 1986. Seeing these headstones was one of the most upsetting experience of the entire visit. It was very disturbing for me to think about the fact that people who are only a few years older than me have lost their lives in such a brave and honorable way. I am very glad that there is a day to honor these people because I think that it is definitely deserved.

Veterans Day

Having come back from Arlington National Cemetery on this Veteran's Day, I've come to realize just how genuine some fronts can be. We walked out of the Cemetery Metro stop with the cold rain beating down on our heads. On a day where families from around the country come to pay respect to their fallen loved ones, you would think the weather would give the visitors to the cemetery a break today- but that's how things work. As we began to walk through the cemetery, it was easy to note that there was an unusually small amount of people visiting today for such a holiday that is intimately connected to the site. Of course the rain acted as a deterrent, but it was still a bit depressing to see such a small turnout on a day when the country comes together to mourn our collective war dead. I was also shocked to find few genuine tourists, visitors who came because one "had to" when visiting DC, just like visitors to Paris "have to" see the Eiffel Tower.
The visitors that did come, however, were not just there to gawk at fancy tombstones. Many wore the traditional poppy on their jackets, and some wore the jackets and caps of their or their fallen relative's unit. The most genuine displays of honor and grief came from those there to visit their actual relatives. They never seemed to cry, but just stared, as if their gaze could resurrect their loved one. They were not there to perform an act of patriotism as some of the other visitors were, but genuinely sought to honor their loved ones. Viewing such honest acts of grief makes one appreciate human resilience to complete what for some are simply acts of maintaining front, but for others are acts of honor or love.

11.8.09 Reflection

Time has been flying along here at American. It is incredibly difficult to believe that we have been here almost three months. It is also hard to believe that the end of the semester is approaching and it is now time to pick classes for the second semester.

The scheduling of second semester classes has been looming for awhile now, and, surprise surprise, until last week I have not given it too much thought. My goal, however, is to have a schedule very different from my first semester. Like pretty much all other freshmen, it was rather difficult to have a very personalized schedule. My goal is pick classes that truly interest me, which I suppose is the goal of any student. But this is a big deal. I wasn't entirely happy with my courses this semester, to say the least, and I really want this second semester to be great. Unfortunately, I will most likely take math. I plan on dropping French and with the conclusion of UC: Explorations I will have much more room to test the waters of different classes. I plan on taking a phys ed class because I have become a bit too lethargic. I also want to explore some anthropology, psychology, sociology, and creative arts classes. Basically, I want to diversify as much as possible. I want this semester to be as successful as it can be, and I think through taking a great variety of interesting classes this can be accomplished.

Also, I had a rather uneventful weekend. I did a fair amount of work and hung out with some friends, but nothing too out of the ordinary. It's nice to have a very relaxing weekend every so often.

Reflection

I do not really have anything to reflect on this week/weekend. I’m just doing my work, revising my ethnography and enjoying the weekend. After Wednesday’s lab, I decided that I am a visual learner. I read Antigone for the first time this year, and while I understood it – it helped a lot to see some scenes acted out. There is something about seeing normal people speaking the words that helps everything click together better. I did comprehend everything I read, but with the writing style of Antigone causes me to have to re read lines in order to capture the full impact of what is being said. I really enjoyed Wednesday lab – it was enjoyable to get a taste of the acting department, though I can pretty much guarantee that I will never take an acting class or participate in anything acting wise. I thought it was interesting to bring Explorations into this acting environment. While watching my classmates, I really saw how some people were very comfortable and others were a little apprehensive about the possibility of participating. Thankfully, we only have to recite a few chorus lines as a group!

Reflection

Wow! I can't believe we have all been in college for almost three months! It is crazy. I feel like I just got here. It is crazy to think about all of the stuff I have learned without even thinking about it. Now, down to the business of this reflection. For some reason, this week, the lab stuck in my mind. I did find the performances very interesting, but they were not necessarily what stuck with me. Instead for some reason I have been thinking about acting. I have never been comfortable with acting. I tense up and feel incredibly nervous. I don't know why this happens to me when I try to act, but it always does. Looking around the room, it was clear that some people felt the same way as me. I could see the look of fear and disgust in their eyes that was probably present in my eyes as well. But, surprisingly enough, as a I looked around I also saw another look. A look of happiness and enjoyment. This got me to thinking, what is it that makes some people comfortable with acting and others hate it?

This may be a stretch but maybe all of this has something to do with identity. We all act most of the time. This type of everyday acting comes as easily to me as it does to everybody else, but why is it that when I am told to act so everybody can observe, I just cannot do it? I think this may be a result of me not wanting my everyday acting to be caught. Maybe people who are natural actors and have no qualms about going on stage are the types of people who are readily able to admit that acting occurs all the time and we should embrace it, not hide it. I do not know if this will make any sense to anybody else, but maybe someone else out there can figure out what I am trying to say.

Reflecting Time

Hmm let's see... what shall I reflect on this week?

It's so strange that we really like no have time left this semester, very wierd, though I am ready for some of my classes to finish and am excited to pick new ones. One huge difference between college and high school is that in college, the weeks go by super fast, whereas in high school they dragged on and on and on... even though looking back I can't believe it's been over a year since I submitted my first application.. And all these tour groups going round make it feel even wierder.

Last night, I went to the concert in the Tavern and it was awesome! The Rocket Summer is band I used to love so it very nostalgic to see them live, playing some of the songs I used to listen to when I was maybe 15. And I found a new band to like: Forever the Sickest Kids. In fact, the idea concert was the kind of music I used to be obsessed with back in the day! I would have killed to go to concerts like that when I was younger, but a) I didn't have much money and b) a lot of the concerts always ended up being 18 and over which was upsetting because there is no way I could have passed off as 18 ...and I still probably couldn't haha.

Anyway life is good and I got to see the Rocket Summer, Hanson, Matt and Kim play for free...thanks AU!!!

11.5.09 Remember Remember the fifth of November...

Wahoo! Guy Fawkes Day!
Anyways, I mostly do agree that in analyzing how a society deals with wealth and poverty directly correlates with a nation's health, and from there, happiness. Though there are many conflicting reports about the happiest nations in the world, the majority of nations which that are wealthy consistently find themselves higher on the happiness scale. There are, of course, exceptions. For example CNN describes Costa Rica as the happiest nation in the world, followed by Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guatemala and Vietnam. This came as a great shock to me, but most other sources I used found contradictory results.

When nations are wealthy, standard of living typically is high. Remember, I said I mostly agree with the original statement. There are always exceptions. A nation's education system, employment rate, law enforcement effectiveness, and social equalities are examples of important factors which greatly contribute to a nation's standard of living. Typically, these can be achieved with a strong financial backing. When nations have the ability to better these areas, progress can be made, in turn leading to inevitable happiness. Northern European countries often find themselves at the top of the happiness indexes due some of the aforementioned factors. Despite having the world's highest taxes in many areas, Denmark is usually listed as the happiest country. Why? Because these taxes go back to benefit the people. When a country gets it's priorities straight, the people benefit and the country is healthier.

November 3, 2009

I would just like to start this blog by saying the YANKEES WON!!! It was an amazing game…
I do not think it is appropriate to judge a society based on wealth and poverty. Sadly, it is the most important feature. Wealth and poverty are such shallow features of the bigger picture. While it does hold a lot of ground, judging an area strictly based on that causes people to over look other positive things that community may have to offer. Situations get tricky when referring to money. It is the cornerstone of our networking and how we build the world around us. Immediately we look at that aspect. Without wealth, it is hard for social arrangements to run and with a lot of poverty, those arrangements begin to look inefficient and for lack of a better word bad. In terms of a community, that communities imagine is based on their wealth and poverty. For example, Africa, yes while this example is used a lot it is very applicable. That country has a large poverty population and because of that, the country is represented in such a way where that aspect becomes the focus. America is one of the “wealthier” nations in the country and because of that it is seen as a land of opportunities.

Wealth and Health

I think the health of a community can be measured pretty well by the wealth of it. If there is a lot of poverty, not only do you instinctually view the community as a "worse" community, but there is some quantitative reasoning behind that too. Firstly, wealth within a community yields a good economy and standard of living is automatically higher because there is more competition in the market and more availability of higher priced items. It naturally follows that then the house prices are higher, so the people living there tend to have a better income and aren't going to become robbers or steal anything.

In poorer neighbourhoods, there is much more want of things that tend to be lacking in a community, leading to more theft and an overall lower standard of living.

I despise that this is the reality of it, but it's true. Wealthier communities are healthier, moreover they are safer.

The question that stems from this question, is to do with how you interpret healthiness within a community. Is it literal health (obviously no), healthy relationships formed between members of the community? If it is this, then no, there is absolutely no indication of this type of health in relation to wealth. People can be bad or good, and that has no correlation to how much money they have: there are bad eggs in every the socioeconomic class.

If people have good relationships with each other, like neighbourhood watch programs, that's definitely a way in which the society is healthy.

Does healthy mean safety? That's how I interpreted it, indirectly. As I explained, having a good economy and wealth drives up the standard of living which allows people to live well.

I think that healthy as taken to mean safe makes a little more sense than my "healthy relationships speculation" just because you can have a very tightly nit neighbourhood that still is unsafe, just because of its surrounding area or people who infiltrate their little world.

As cyncial as all this sounds, you still got to remember, and I think Miranda at the least agrees with this too: it's supposed to be something we can draw knowledge from and apply it to our lives in order to make it better. Whether that eliminates looking at the health of a community or not is not the point; it's that we realize what we value in society to better know ourselves....

Poverty and community

According to Webster's dictionary, a community is, at its most basic, a "a unified body of individuals". As defined, every member of a community is tied to each other in some way or another. What that tie is exactly depends on the type of community examined. Communities are made to serve some sort of purpose, either for themselves or the rest of society.
In order to examine the health of a community, one must analyze it on these facts. The way members of a community treat their fellow community members and how they treat those outside of their community is the main criteria for how well a community is serving its purpose.
If the community examined is residential in nature and large in size, such as a city, region, or country, then one of the criteria for "assaying the health of a society" is how it "deals with the problem of wealth and poverty" (Bellah et al, 285). This, however, would not be the best, or the only, basis to judge such a community. There are questions of how they deal with outsiders, how to punish those who have offended the community rules, and how they deal with the health of their members, among others. Poverty and wealth may be an important part of any residential litmus test, but it does not paint a complete picture.

11.1.09 Reflection

It was a fairly exciting past weekend. The holiday atmosphere, despite it only being for Halloween, created a great flurry of activity and hype. Until entering college I never really realized that Halloween was such a big deal. I also never realized how important costumes are, and that it is common to have have not only one, but multiple. Being males, my roommate and I quite naturally waited last minute to prepare our costumes. We left Friday afternoon for Friendship Heights in order to salvage whatever costumes were available at a Halloween superstore. We arrived and found the store packed. The line was about thirty yards long and moved slow. No costumes really appealed to us, maybe because the length of the line remained in our minds or because there really was a limited selection, so we left with a new idea in mind.

We had reason to suspect there was a TJ Maxx in the area which was undoubtedly true. Brad and I purchased a set of bed sheets, complete with pillow case, sheet, and bed cover. They would be the foundation of our costumes. We returned to AU and began our craftsmanship. Brad cut two eye holes in the sheet: ghost! I drew some musical notes on mine, cut two arm holes and a hole for my head. Voila! Sheet music. Both were rather successful in terms of their reception. We did, however, miss trick or treating at the embassies because of tardiness.

I ended up enjoying a weekend of free burritos, wild costumes, and god times with friends. It was my favorite weekend at AU so far and I hope the trend continues. The festive air definitely seemed to heighten everyone's moods resulting many great times. It was a much needed excellent weekend that will without a doubt result in a successful school week.

Halloween weekend...

The conversation in class on Friday was a little disappointing. I understand that providing constructive criticism about the university is important but there was a line that was crossed. We all had our dream schools; however we all ended up here. Yes, there are improvements that this university can make, but the Ivy Leagues of American also have faults. Honestly, we all are going to come out with a great education and I think that from now on we should embrace American in a more positive light.
On a happier note, this weekend was Halloween!!! Visiting the embassies was a lot of fun. I enjoyed walking around and seeing them. On Friday night, I was sick, so I decided to stay in and I watched The silence of the lambs. Talk about identity issues…the serial killer in the movie killed women and then dressed up as one. He suffered from not knowing who he was. I guess the question at the end of the movie was if being a serial killer was a front or if it was who he really was. As I was watching, I thought it was funny, that the idea of identity popped in my head during what was a non-school related activity. It is true that identity, fronts, and performances are everywhere. I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!!!!

Honesty and fronts

At a recent party, my sister's boyfriend was complimented on his "cool Seth Rogen costume". The fact is that he wasn't dressed up at all.
Although cases of mistaken intent happen around Halloween, when everyone is meant to be someone that they are not, during the rest of the year, such situations could be a bit more awkward. If one is trying to be honest in your demeanor, misinterpretation could lead to an erosion of your identity. Your true self is no longer a viable front, but what others see in it. You are no longer yourself, but, well, a costume.
Such misinterpretations often arise from interactions between individuals from two different cultures or personalities. What may be offensive to some may be humorous to others, what is appropriate to one may be repulsive to another.
While this Halloween and its craziness is all just a memory now, the awkward cases of mistaken identity that come with it will continue to occur, not just on next Halloween.

Sir Anthony Hopkins, serial killer!?

So last night me and a bunch of people were watching The Silence of the Lambs. It was the first time I had seen it and a really enjoyed it, I thought it was so interesting with just the psychology of it (despite the fact that I refused to look at some of the gorier bits).

At the end of the movie, I kept thinking about how strange it must be to portray a character like that...like you would have to be in such a different mind set as an actor while playing Dr Hector.

And the scariest thing to me was that being in such a mind set - and not being able to get out of it - was a major reason that Heath Ledger died.

No, I'm not one of those peoples obsessed with celebrity deaths, but there obviously needs to be a disclaimer on being an actor "Caution: May cause death if taken too seriously" or something. So I guess my question is: when you have put on the "front" of being a psycho serial killer, how easy is it to come back from that?

Anyway so that was what I got out of that movie - very interesting movie.

And Halloween!! everyone is dressing up in ways they would never normally think about dressing - what would Goffman think of that!!!

Happy Halloween to one and all!

p.s. depending on when your last final is there is only 42 days left of this semester!! and that's including holidays and weekends!! ahhhh

Reflection 10/31

I have spent a little while thinking about what I want to write my reflection about this week. At first I thought I would talk about Halloween and all the strange identities that are wrapped up in it, but honestly I do not feel like discussing the difference in identity between girls who wear skanky Dorothy costumes and those who wear a slutty flapper getup. I also could not really come up with a topic from class that I have been dying to discuss, but for some reason, my mind keeps returning to out college search discussion.

I know I was pretty adamant about my opinion in class, but it still has been something that has been bothering me. I do not understand why everyone was being so negative. American is clearly not Harvard. I am not going to lie and say that I wouldn’t think it was awesome to go to an Ivy League or school that is right below them, but let’s be serious. There was absolutely no way that I would ever have gotten into any of these schools and if for some crazy reason (i.e., my mother worked in the admissions office of Princeton) I did get in, I would probably be incredibly unhappy. I would like to get a good education and do something with my life, which is why I am at American University. I also would like to not be stuck in my room with piles and piles of books and skin that rarely sees the light of day, which, other than the fact that I could never have gotten in, is why I am not at Harvard or another one of those schools. Everyone seems to look at American as a safety school. I looked at American as a school that I would be happy at. It was a school I could reasonably get into in an area I liked. I am not going to say that I have always been one hundred percent sure of my decision. I did spend a lot of time worrying that this was not the school I was meant to be at, but now that I am here I realize there is not just one school. If someone puts the effort into being happy, he or she will be happy. If they don’t, they won’t be. So I think that everyone should stop complaining and start to make an attempt at being happy. By the way, Happy Halloween!

Jay Z started out as an individual

Honestly, I do not really understand the quote from the book. Bellah states that this new form of individualism is not working successfully, but he also says it did not work way back when. If I understand it correctly, he is saying that there is no perfect situation when it comes to being an individual, which is true. Today everyone is following a trend and trying to be like someone else, back in the day people hated and oppressed groups so much, that it crushed any individualism that was there. Ideally there would be a Utopia where everyone can be unique person, but because that does not exist, everyone is pushing to become this special person, when actually they are coping what they saw on the tv. It is a struggle and realistically it will probably never be achieved.
In do today’s society everyone is trying to be like the big singers and rappers. For example Jay – Z who I saw in concert yesterday, is a huge entertainment figure. There were many people dressed like him or donning the Yankee Cap. Everyone is trying to achieve his look and he started out being an individual. It was an amazing show and I want to see him again, but I thought that concert was the perfect example or modern individualism and how it is not working. It really does not exist. In no way do I think I am an individual. I have a unique make up of common characteristics. Honestly, I really think in the future it will just continue to get worse...but who knows.

Individualism

Bellah and the other authors of "Habits of the Heart" assert that true individualism is neither "individually nor socially viable", and that the only alternative would be a return to "intolerable discrimination and oppression". In the book, such a loss of individualism is seen as something to dread and mourn.
Although as an American I value individualism highly amongst my ideals, I find complete individualism unattractive. Complete individuality would harm one's ability to interact with others in your society. If one did not share a common tie with others on the planet, one would be unable to relate to those around them. You would be unable to properly communicate with the rest of humanity, thus losing your status as a member of humanity itself. As social creatures, we crave contact and connections with others like us.
A return to a "intolerable discrimination and oppression" not only sounds undesirable, but it sounds like an unlikely remedy. The "individualism" of the past seems more like conformity: while one was encouraged to make decisions for yourself, you were punished or outcast if you chose to disagree.
Though such methods of maintaining conformity still exist today in our laws, cultures, and religions, such restrictions are much looser than they are today. Though I do sometimes find myself feeling nostalgia for an unrealistic golden past, I know deep down that I have more freedom to be myself today.

The Importance of Individualism

I am sure we have all watched a movie or read at book based in the past and though, "Wow, I would love to in [plug in the appropriate time period]." I know that I am guilty of watching Pride and Prejudice and thinking about how great it would be to morph into Elizabeth Bennet. I would get to live in a world full of romance and excitement! Life just seems to be better back then. Families stayed together and got along. People were friendly and got along with each other. All of this seem idyllic for a while. That is, until I realize that I would be forced to be a submissive woman without rights who would be subjected to hours of meaningless small talk and spend my life creating pointless artwork and children. The range of what was socially acceptable would be very limited. Things would not be perfect and idyllic, instead I would be living in a time of suppression that would be unlivable due to my experiences of living in a time period in which almost everything is geared towards making every individual feel unique and original.

I do not think that individualism is a problem in our society. I actually believe that is a very necessary part of life. Although living in a place in which individual needs do not matter and in which everyone works for the common good may be successful, I do not see a way for individuals to thrive in this type of environment. Instead I think that individual expression is important, because once a person has the ability to do whatever they want to do, within reasonable limits, they have the opportunity to make him or herself happy. I think a major problem that many people have today is that they do not take the initiative to make their lives better. Instead of looking on the bright side, people would rather sit around and nitpick about every last detail of their lives that is not perfect. Happiness is about attitude and if a person really wants to be happy, all he or she really needs to do it look at the positive things in their life and try to change the things that are negative. Many people have worked very hard to give us the freedoms that we now have, so instead of complaining, we should utilize our resources and make ourselves happy.

Live, Love, Laugh !!!

To quote Miley Cyrus "Life is What You Make It"

Personally - I think this is a little more upbeat than what the authors of Habits of the Heart think of life which brings the phrase "Caught between a rock and a hard place"... not exactly the way I want to live my life. I normally have a pretty pessimistic look on life, but there is a line between realizing that life won't be this utopian place where everything you want to happen does, and just essentially giving up because the present is crap and so is the past.

Okay well what about the future?! Nowhere is this quote to they say anything about the future. Only focusing on the past and, to an extent, the present isn't really the best way to live. Things may look bleak right now, but you can make them better, you just have to try.

It's like what we were saying about colleges in class today - for the most part we would have been happy anywhere as long as we had put effort into making ourselves happy. And it's true, it doesn't matter about what anyone else is doing - it's all on you and you have to accept that and do your best.

You learn from the past and grow: you tunnel through the rock!!!

The authors of this book need a little bit of optimism...you can't live such a cynical life.

I know society today isn't as amazing as it could be - but that doesn't mean we should give up all together and not hope that we can make the future better. We make our destinies "Life is what you make it" so make it as good as it can possibly be!

10.25.09 Reflection

I have been recalling my past in order to understand what it is I want to do with my future. I realize now, sad as it is, that I knew myself better when I was younger than I do now. Then, I had dreams of becoming a baseball player, an astronaut, an archaeologist, an countless others. Today, I really don't know what it is I want to do with my life, except that it does not have to do with the passions I once had as a child. That was until yesterday.

Yesterday was the first time I've ever been to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. It was mind blowing. For the first time in many years, former passions stormed back into my mind. Which passions, you ask? Of archaeology. To be an archaeologist was my most revered potential career while growing up. I loved the subject. I remember in fourth grade I constructed a miniature archaeological dig for the science fair. I hid "ancient artifacts" inside a hardened dirt/clay mix and had other elementary school kids come try their hand at their own dig. It was a hit.

I don't know what happened to that passion. Perhaps it was lost in the midst of a million other career ideas swimming in my mind. Maybe it was lost because I never had any classes remotely close to the topic in my schooling. I don't know. What matters, however, is that for the first time in a while I feel like I have an idea of what I could look like in the future. I can see myself as an archaeologist, or at least a similar profession.

I'm dropping out of SIS at the end of the semester. Instead, I'll be undeclared. I look forward to the change as a way to explore my rekindled passion, as well as other things which interest me. Walking through the Smithsonian, I felt at home. I was mesmerized by the bones, the exhibits of Darwin, of animals, of civilizations. I need to pursue these interests.

Reflection

Last week when we were informed that the President of American University was coming to speak to us, I expected to sit through a very boring presentation about the mission statement of American University. However, when President Neil Kerwin did come to our class on Explorations it was just the opposite. I enjoyed listening to him speak so much. He was extremely personable and did not lecture us on American University. While he did talk about the University's future he spoke with us in a connecting way. He talked about his life and how he came from a small town. He is not at all what I expected. I expected a guy with a privileged life, who was basically destined for the job from birth. It was nice to hear about his college experience and to know that he worked hard toward his goal. He also spoke about his plans to improve American. He only spent a short time speaking about this, because he had to speak to Alumni, sadly we did not get to ask him as many questions as we would of wanted. I think he should come back! It was interesting to learn after he left that the school does not have a lot of Alumni support. Its something that I did not know and I did not think that a school could possibly survive off of basically tuition alone.
This weekend was Parents Weekend also. My parents did come up, however we only did one campus activity. My dad dragged me to the Gospel Choir performance and it was so good. Honestly I had no idea that they were any good and it was nice to see a different side of American University. It was a very enjoyable weekend!

rain rain go away!

This weather is not too fun -- anywho. I very much enjoyed President Kerwin coming to talk to us. It really seems as though he cares about the fate of this school, and that is how you want a President to feel....and I previously had no idea about how much he had to improve the school's perception. Yes, his words may be diliberate, but I found him to seem genuine and personable.

I guess what the question is - when you put on a front, or are striving to uphold a certain status, is that still part of you?

And yes, of course it is. It's just a different side of you. With all these adults on campus, I'm having to be a little more careful with my manners and such - and that isn't changing who I am, it's just making sure I'm putting my best foot forward ... I'm doing my own part to uphold the expectations of attending University.

Very important side note....something NEEDS to be done about the heat in the building - I die daily 24/7 like I am right now... and the muggy weather outside...give me a break!

Anyway, all these parents on campus throw me off, with their inability to navigate TDR and the clogging of the shuttle ... perhaps if my own parents were here it wouldn't seem so annoying...I would just be another undergrad who's parents are visiting (and taking me out to yummy meals!)

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful parents weekend despite the weather

Parents Weekend- a front??? (I know this sounds cheesy, just bear with me)

As I sat down with my friends at TDR last night, I noticed something unusual- The food there was not bland. The pasta and risotto served was actually pretty good. I thought it was one of those days where the TDR cooks do a good job, but then I noticed a few new diners in the cafeteria with us- parents.
Parent's weekend, this weekend, seems like a week of leisure activities for students to spend time with their families, some of whom they have not seen in months. But if one looks at the schedule of events planned for this weekend for our visiting families, it seems like a repeat of the events planned for parents during orientation. The University seems to want to further reassure Eagle parents in their kid's choice of school. As my friend Annie said, "No, really, you made a good choice, just keep paying the bills".
Such an attempt to console our parents takes on further importance when one considers the scandals of previous heads of the University. The school wants to let our parents know that their kid's school has improved from previous years, and that they do not have to worry about further scandal. Possibly, they may want to encourage future endowments.
This years parent's weekend is an excellent example of a group front. Whether or not the school rises to make this front the truth, we will soon see.