2005-03-06 - 1:20 p.m.
What I'm listening to: Sweet Dreams-Eurythmics
5 page deadline tomorrow and I just woke up! Ahhhh! But not really stressing about it because I'm have a pretty clear idea about what I wish to write about, and this is more of an essay proposal, so I'm not expecting it to be polished.
Party at prof's place last night. Was a blast. The last one was just before xmas, and that was the beginning. It was for the students in their grad seminars, so we were all still getting to know each other. This time around, everybody knows each other a bit better, so it went very very well. Other profs from the department showed up, and the ones you least expected to, danced! This of course is mostly due to the overly-intoxicated coaxing of one student from the other University.
Overall a nice blend of stuffy academics and party animals, occasionally mixed into the same person. Multiple personalities is definetely the way to go. Nice and non-commital, in the sense of trying to acheieve a coherent 'core' self, which I don't believe actually exists. See Erving Goffman on this point.
I wore traditional clothes, for the first time with this group. I'm running out of Western formal wear, so I had to call in the cavalry, so to speak. Went over surprisingly well, with many compliments and I was comfortable overall, physically as well as socially.
I think I've let a few racist mishaps over the past few years cloud my judgement when it comes to identity and difference. While we are no doubt persecuted people, it's nice to be in an envirnoment where people respect difference, at least on the surface anyway (there's the cynic coming through). But then again, I'm not really looking for transparency from most of these people-only from close friends, and I know who they are so peripheral opinions are secondary.
I brought a mixed cd of disco and 80s, as part of the music pot luck. Was flattered when my disc got everyone to dance, especially when the Milli Vanilli kicked in. Was complimented by the hosts on my musical choice and taste (or lack therof) as they danced to it, and that was a nice gesture on their part indeed.
As my tentative supervisor said, sagely, 'enjoy the process'. So one can be an intellectual and not stuffy, and have fun while learning.
Let the process continue....
