I have survived the first month post-graduation!
Some days have been more difficult than others, as I find myself sitting at home with my dog watching old movies and making photo albums to take with me to Mali. The days that I wait anxiously for my gmail account to show a new message from friends actually doing things are bad day; the worst are the days of South Bend permacloud that I feel like doing nothing except turning on the classic sports channel and watch reruns of amazing football games.
I have to be honest-- I've been sleeping in way past the time anyone should be allowed to sleep in multiple days in a row. If catching up on sleep is possible, I must be close to being back to the normal average number of hours of sleep a night. Or maybe it's just that I realize I won't be getting a lot of sleep in the heat of the Sahel, so I'm storing it up.
Not much of interest going on. Packing is almost complete. This Saturday will be Paige's Afternoon Tea with the girls. Sunday is theatre in Canada and Monday I'm gone for my cross country road trip with Matt. Yee haw! I think that this is the longest we'll have been together in approximately 5 years. Maybe that's a lie. But regardless, it will be quite an adventure.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
The Conspiracy
Let me make this clear:
My favorite color is blue. Usually a teal or dark turquoise color; never navy or royal or sky blue.
I like green, too. The gross color greens that no one else wants-- pea green or grey-green or the annoying bright green that isn't quite lime yet.
Yes, unless it is pig pink (which is the ONLY exception), I do not enjoy the color pink.
Well, it seems as though the only version available of every single item I need for Mali comes in pink. Magenta, hot pink or cotton candy... and I don't have a choice because I'm not going to special order or wait a week just so that I can get a blue camera case.
Does it really matter and do I really care? Of course not. I think that's the point. I don't care, I shouldn't care and here I am writing a blog about the conspiracy that I have only pink scissors with a matching pink iPod skin. The possibility of choosing has made me (allowed me) to expect to get exactly what I want (a teal cover for my portable speakers). Is it bad to have such choices? Obviously not. But the fact that I could even THINK about possibly not purchasing something because of such a superfluous detail seems (is) ridiculous. Rose or lilac, it's still going to do the same thing.
My favorite color is blue. Usually a teal or dark turquoise color; never navy or royal or sky blue.
I like green, too. The gross color greens that no one else wants-- pea green or grey-green or the annoying bright green that isn't quite lime yet.
Yes, unless it is pig pink (which is the ONLY exception), I do not enjoy the color pink.
Well, it seems as though the only version available of every single item I need for Mali comes in pink. Magenta, hot pink or cotton candy... and I don't have a choice because I'm not going to special order or wait a week just so that I can get a blue camera case.
Does it really matter and do I really care? Of course not. I think that's the point. I don't care, I shouldn't care and here I am writing a blog about the conspiracy that I have only pink scissors with a matching pink iPod skin. The possibility of choosing has made me (allowed me) to expect to get exactly what I want (a teal cover for my portable speakers). Is it bad to have such choices? Obviously not. But the fact that I could even THINK about possibly not purchasing something because of such a superfluous detail seems (is) ridiculous. Rose or lilac, it's still going to do the same thing.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Counting Down
It seems that a month away should be more than 35 short days.
But that's the count down until I'm in Mali. It's time to get packing... or ordering from online considering the severe lack of appropriate shopping places within a decent drive (and considering current gas prices that have me wanting to ride my bike that 77 miles). When I get back from Mali, maybe that bike ride won't be so bad...
I've been going through all of my old documents, memories, and class notes that I've always kept in my desk (until my parents hijacked the desk and put the papers in a plastic tub). Refreshing and exhausting at the same time. It's a mixture of emotions and thoughts and doodles and notes and poetry and trying to be poetic. Some of the most challenging messages are those from Uganda and those developing my beliefs about development theory. I have my notes from the very first time I met with Development Ethicist, Denis Goulet, at his office in Flanner Hall. I had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. I'm still not sure that I do.
After returning from Uganda, I was pretty sure that I didn't want to return there (or to Africa in general) for a long time. Anyway, my program in Development Studies, I thought, had taught me that my place in development was on the American side of things-- where I believe that I have more influence and at least more power to make a difference considering my background. So much needs to be changed in America before development abroad (and domestic!) can occur. And is it really my place to be directing or trying to decide what development should look like? Probably not. And yet, I'm headed to Mali with the Peace Corps to do Small Enterprise Development. Let's just say that I'm trying to figure some things out and balance the desire to make the difference here and the desire to make relationships and a difference. I'm not sure that the balance exists, but I'm going to try this out!
Although I don't want to do development, per se, I want to do something related to the "positive outcomes" of "development" work. There are four critical thinkers currently pushing (or have pushed) the envelope to the brink; these people make me truly happy because I know that challengers are out there who can't be satisfied with the current situation of development thought and the harmful status quo:
- Herman Daly, who champions sustainable development that includes thoughts about the environment
- Amartya Sen, of the International Development Ethics Association, author of Development as Freedom
- Joseph Stiglitz, author of Fair Trade for All and Making Globalization Work
- the late Denis Goulet (did anyone question this!?), author of The Cruel Choice and The Uncertain Promise, among other fantastic articles on development ethics
On we go. Perhaps it's dangerous for me to be reanalyzing my development theory before landing in a completely different environment with a project and goals and AH! responsibility! I'll be back, with new authors/people to add to my list of favorites (hopefully some Malians, some women, some youth...) Now, back to packing.
But that's the count down until I'm in Mali. It's time to get packing... or ordering from online considering the severe lack of appropriate shopping places within a decent drive (and considering current gas prices that have me wanting to ride my bike that 77 miles). When I get back from Mali, maybe that bike ride won't be so bad...
I've been going through all of my old documents, memories, and class notes that I've always kept in my desk (until my parents hijacked the desk and put the papers in a plastic tub). Refreshing and exhausting at the same time. It's a mixture of emotions and thoughts and doodles and notes and poetry and trying to be poetic. Some of the most challenging messages are those from Uganda and those developing my beliefs about development theory. I have my notes from the very first time I met with Development Ethicist, Denis Goulet, at his office in Flanner Hall. I had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. I'm still not sure that I do.
After returning from Uganda, I was pretty sure that I didn't want to return there (or to Africa in general) for a long time. Anyway, my program in Development Studies, I thought, had taught me that my place in development was on the American side of things-- where I believe that I have more influence and at least more power to make a difference considering my background. So much needs to be changed in America before development abroad (and domestic!) can occur. And is it really my place to be directing or trying to decide what development should look like? Probably not. And yet, I'm headed to Mali with the Peace Corps to do Small Enterprise Development. Let's just say that I'm trying to figure some things out and balance the desire to make the difference here and the desire to make relationships and a difference. I'm not sure that the balance exists, but I'm going to try this out!
Although I don't want to do development, per se, I want to do something related to the "positive outcomes" of "development" work. There are four critical thinkers currently pushing (or have pushed) the envelope to the brink; these people make me truly happy because I know that challengers are out there who can't be satisfied with the current situation of development thought and the harmful status quo:
- Herman Daly, who champions sustainable development that includes thoughts about the environment
- Amartya Sen, of the International Development Ethics Association, author of Development as Freedom
- Joseph Stiglitz, author of Fair Trade for All and Making Globalization Work
- the late Denis Goulet (did anyone question this!?), author of The Cruel Choice and The Uncertain Promise, among other fantastic articles on development ethics
On we go. Perhaps it's dangerous for me to be reanalyzing my development theory before landing in a completely different environment with a project and goals and AH! responsibility! I'll be back, with new authors/people to add to my list of favorites (hopefully some Malians, some women, some youth...) Now, back to packing.
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