I'm debating what I should do to reward myself next Sunday for finishing my project (fingers crossed):
1. Spend all day shopping so that I can own more than 2 pairs of pants.
2. Sit on the grass all day and just be.
I am seriously clothing deficient, but grass is one of my favorite things in the world.  It has to be one or the other because I like a good 7 hour chunk of activity time. 

i find myself in an inverse relationship of intelligence and maturity.  As I increasingly educated, I listen to more lil jon music circa 2005 and gravitate towards the humor standards of 14 year old boys.  

In regards to the academic presentation I have to deliver tomorrow: See says I'm struggling because I'm not used to academic discourse.  I replied, "I'm not used to english"

exhaustion hit me like a pound of pop tarts, made out of lead.  looking forward to winter break where there might be -40 windchill, but at least I get to nap leisurely.

Finished the rough draft of my 25 page paper.  It doesn't need to be good, it just needs to be 'not bad' in the literal sort of way.  happy relieved sigh to have finished this stage.


* fyi of the day: phd students will spend half an hour discussing teletubbies and deciding which one best reflects the personality of each person.  

I get by with a little help from my friends.

I like my friends.  I like my new ones, I like my old ones, I like the ones that I rediscover.  I like the ones who understand why buying a bicycle is considered an overly large commitment.  I like the ones who do everything to make my life easy my first week in the country.  I like the ones who sit with me for 7 hours while we try to focus on our individual 25 page papers.  I like the ones who see me fall apart.  I like the ones who jump in rain puddles with me.  I like the ones who break out the NYC nightclub glow sticks during a camping trip.  I like the ones who write me 3 pages of advice when I have a problem.  I like the ones who discuss 3rd world country diseases. I like the ones who are represent the best of humanity.





I don’t think I would be where I am today, without my friends.  In the last few years I have been putting myself into ambitious situations that are over my head and my friends are the ones who keep me from drowning.  Cheers to friends.

Settling in... my room so far

Pants

I bought a pair of pants a few weeks ago.  Number of pants I now own: 2.  


Unfortunately, my friend pointed out they are made of very similar fabric.  It's just that one has a slim cropped look while the other is a normal straight leg.  So number of pants that people think I have: 1. 

The lightness of unbeing

            It’s been a month and a few days, but life continues to be surreal.   Of Guatemala and Minnesota, either reality really exists. Going to a public bathroom freaks me out a little.  Everything is motion activated: the toilet flush, the soap dispenser, the running water, and the air dryer or paper towel dispenser.   The faucet water runs lukewarm while the drinking fountain water is chilled.  The bathroom floors are glossy and clean. 

            In Guatemala, I had to pay to use the bathrooms, which I gingerly tried not to touch with any part of my body.  I always brought my own toilet paper, sometimes flushed with a bucket of water from the barrel, and used travel hand sanitizer in lieu of the absent soap.

            A few days ago, I went to a presentation where all the participants received a 20-page copy of the PowerPoint slides.  Although it facilitated our learning, I could only think of how wasteful it was, from both an economic and environmental point of view.  Printing, photocopying, was so expensive in abroad, I had to make judgment calls every time I considered doing it.  More than anything else, I am amazed at how casually people treat these little luxuries. I am still in awe that my income can easily afford cereal, yogurt, sitting in a coffee shop.