New Toy

A new toy for the field.



and...
dissertation writing.

I used gift cards, birthday money, and some funds from a very friendly granting institution- my parents.  They think my work has real promise.  It is making the last round of edits on my big grants more bearable!

Starting Week 2

Tomorrow is the first full week of classes, and I'm already sick.  Probably picked up something on the plane back from Guate.  But the semester is looking good...no teaching, just being a student.  It's really quite civilized. 

To Do This Year:

• Field Statements (at least 2)
• Committee formation (By Oct/Nov)
• Read, Read, Read
• Hammer out the dissertation topic- truly flesh out what I want to (and can) do

Good Bye Summer

School starts tomorrow...summer I will miss you.
...but...
 I LOVE seeing the new students in Targ*t with their parents.  The girls are busy matching spatchulas to their bed spread while the boys just shrug and pick out anything that is school colors or has a mascot on it.  There was a kid who asked his mom why there were so many different kinds of hangers. 

FLAS

Foreign Language Area Studies fellowship provides for graduate students to study underrepresented foreign languages.  Yep I got me one!  And the bonus:

"The estimated subsistence allowance for an academic year 2010-2011 fellowship is $15,000 for a graduate student"


So I will make more money and have more time for my own studies!!!!

Getting Ready

Gearing up for:

• Teaching in July- a general anthropology class: 20 students I get to spend 3 hours a day with! (brushing up on physical anthropology- Olduvai gorge here I come)
• Summer trip to Guatemala with the family!
• Next academic year: committee formation, field statements, comps, etc. (I really hope that my DoE money comes through so I won't have to teach!!!!)
• More World Cup Action (this seems to be the only thing I am really getting accomplished)

Oldies but Goodies

Researching development and indigeneity (going to be able to use the research for two papers this semester!) and rereading some oldies...

Decol*nizing Methodologies (I think this is round 3)
The Anti-P*litics Machine
The S*cial Production of Indifference

Adding to it a new one that I am really excited about:
Cultural Expression and Grassr**ts Development

So many great lines...

Working on the MASSIVE amounts of work that accompany the last 20 days of the semester and watching Lonesome Dove.  It has been my favorite book/movie since I was little.  There are so many great lines in the story.  The best from this segment:
"My wife is in hell where I sent her.  She could make good biscuits but her behavior was terrible." -Po Campo
"Well it ain't much of a crime whacking a surly bartender" -Agustus McCrae

Really...

You went to complain about all the GTAs because we covered themes and terms in discussion and review sections that were not ultimately on the test.  And because you did we had to have individual meetings about it with our boss--who thankfully realized it was just a case of sour grapes.

And I've figured out that you are one of my students... AWESOME!

I can't wait for another 30 years of whining because YOU couldn't be bothered to study for the test because you were too busy playing beer pong.  Is this really what I have to look forward to?

¡Xokoq'a k'a!

...that's Kaqchikel for Good Night!  Our first test is tomorrow. So tonight I am switching between studying for it and reading Bourdieu and Tedlock.  It's been a nice balance between my old life and my new one. Thanks to West Coast folks for prepping me so well for PhDlandia. 

Also, had an interesting exchange with a MA student I teach with:
She was complaining about Foucault and she summed it up like this: "Everything is muddled.  Ohh power and knowledge.  Whatever, he died of AIDS..."
Simply Stunning! (She doesn't think she'll go on for the PhD!)

More Kaqchikel

Does it get easier?

I know that they don't just give PhDs to anybody, but a little breathing time would be nice!

Back to School

Demanding, though slightly less demanding schedule this semester. But I'll have to fill the extra time with making a committee and deciding what that dang dissertation will really be about.

But I'll worry about that tomorrow. Today I'll focus on whether CL is plotting against me...

Behind the 8 ball

Way behind the 8 ball...
Working on creating a syllabus on contemporary American Indians, might be an Anthro GTA position in it for me (if not, then it will be for a class assignment).

Also trying to finish all my grading and lesson planning.

On the verge of a breakdown...

This pretty much sums it up...

"The Newbies: ABD or the ink is still wet on their Ph.D. Trying to get their foot in the door. How can someone so young look so tired and hopeless?"

100%

I am happy to report that I got a 100 on my first exam as a PhD student... a map test of Mexico... so it is kinda cheating, but I'm taking it where I can get it!

Another test tomorrow (so naturally I'm creating a blog post) on the historical timeline of US/Mexican relations... again kinda cheating since I JUST taught this class (thanks to TH and AE).

TM's parents were here this weekend so I am kinda behind. Also to do:

• Read for Teaching Anthropology
• Create list of teaching tips for Teaching Anthropology
• Participate in Blackboard discussion for Teaching Spanish
• Create first reflective blog entry for Teaching Spanish
• Read for Teaching Spanish
• Take reading Quiz for Teacing Spanish
• Create a lesson plan for when I ACTUALLY teach Spanish

Might be time for a red ball:

Ready to Vomit

Mostly, because I am starting classes Thursday and I am beginning to work myself into a tizzy!

But also from some of the statements of my fellow TAs... "my favorite fact [about herself] was that I performed in a traveling production of [some play that escapes me] in Jerusalem"
Now I know that most of this is just nerves and the fact that almost all of them are FRESH out of their undergrad program, but still.

Also, this morning one of the boys (yes he is a boy) said, "This is gonna look so good on your vita." It was so innocent and endearing.

Tomorrow is mastering the bus and buying a couple books that are cheap enough to merit buying in the bookstore.