the old-school guestbook archives
my amazon wish list... my favorite astrologer... my favorite artist... yerba mate revolution! erowid: a travel guide for interior journeys... no more war: MoveOn.org United for Peace and Justice True Majority seek the truth: Common Dreams Unamerican Activities The Nation people I adore, diaries I read: rev.raikes ariana cubiclegirl epiphany glitter333 laurakay wammo the music: the asylum street spankers backyard tire fire blue highway bill camplin wendy colonna freedom tribe joules graves guy forsyth band hamsa lila hanuman libby kirkpatrick leftover salmon pamela means medeski martin & wood the motet the nice outfit nickel creek open road rose polenzani railroad earth south austin jug band string cheese incident taarka tha musemeant the devil makes three tim o'brien band trolley wild sage keller williams yonder mountain string band |
cultural norms ~ July 14, 2003 - 7:23 p.m. I'm feeling in a bit of a better state. although I did wake up feeling feverish again this morning. I'm beginning to wonder if it's a psychological thing, because mondays seem to be harder than any other day. but today I decided that it's time to go back to the clinic. they took my blood pressure and my temp, and then told me to come back in the morning for the blood test. and so. soon enough, I should know if this is some tropical ickiness eating away at me. but my evening class put me in a much better mood. I enjoy my evening class, and the materials I have to work with are so good that it feels nearly effortless. my students read aloud, and speak up, and I enjoy them a lot. and they've given me a second class, which doubles my hours and makes my financial situation a lot easier. it means that I teach later on monday, wednesday and friday, but I think I can handle that. I'm still waiting to hear from the honour school, though-- and that's some pretty key information that I need. we'll see. I have to admit to a bit of fantasizing, though, regarding the possibility of going home. I didn't even realize, until I let myself think of it as an option, how many things and people I miss. truly, america is a fucked up country, but you don't really understand how much it's got going for it until you leave. like sexual freedom. like creative energy and inspiration. like widespread intellectualism. here, I can't even leave the house without considering if what I have on is too revealing-- even in terms of, are too much of my shoulders showing? it's true that mores are rapidly shifting here, but it's still a much different environment from where I come from. and it's strange for me, who's never given much of a damn about what people think, to have to consider such things on a daily basis. it's true that I could ignore local standards and do my own thing-- but I wouldn't feel right about it. for one thing, I'm a teacher, and I run into my students and their parents around town. I wouldn't want parents to think that their child's teacher is dressing or behaving inappropriately. for another, it just doesn't exhibit much cultural sensitivity. I live in a culture that is not my own. while people expect me to be different, I certainly don't want to offend people while I am a guest in their country. these are things I have to think about, here. it's an experience.
(((rings))) |