|
|
Amanda's Journal |
|
| [ view photo album ] |
|
|
05/17/2009 10:25:08 PM
|
Hi,
I'm procrastinating, of course. I am a couple sentences into a reflection essay for one of my May Term courses, GNDR 300 Sexuality and Immigration. I'm trying to take a basic understanding of the definition of "queer" according queer theory as a description of how social norms are constructed and apply it to a few topics in immigration policy and practice. You can probably guess that based on my writing here that it's been slow going.
Actually I have been looking up old episodes of Star Trek. Yep, I admit it, I'm a trekkie. That's cool now, though, right? With the new movie out and all? Haha.
May Term is half way through and as always I love my classes. The immigration class is pretty tough, but I am learning a lot! I am also in SPAN 300 Latin American Heroes y Heroinas, in which we're reading El General en su Laberinto by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Malinche by Laura Esquivel. We've finished the Garcia Marquez novela. He never fails to squeeze at my chest when I finish a book of his. I am excited to read Malinche. I love the indigenous mythology surrounding her as one of the great (though also the most hated) iconic women of Mexico.
I spent all day trying to write and packing instead. I at least made progress there. To think, in one week and two days I will be in Mexico. I will leave you with a book recommendation, one I just finished: The Mixquiahuala Letters by Ana Castillo. By far the best book I have read in a while. I just turned it back in to the public library - you can find it there right on the shelf!
Amanda
comments (9)
|
|
|
|
03/18/2009 9:02:14 PM
|
Hi there,
Saw Sarah posted about the classes she's taking in the Fall, thought that was cool - here's my amazing list to start off Senior Year:
- PHIL 390 Thesis Research
- HIST 340? Latin American History Part I
- SPAN 320 Spanish Literature and Culture I
- ENVI 300F Outdoor Leadership
- ART ??? Fundamentals of Pottery
I am thoroughly stoked for next fall. I will work hard in thesis and history, I love Spanish, Outdoor Leadership will fill my weekends with fun camping trips and useful knowledge like CPR and how to build a shelter in the wilderness, and I've always wanted to take pottery. I have taken incredibly difficult course loads until now - it will be nice to have a chance to focus on writing my thesis. Next time I will write about the study abroad I am doing this summer, and I will get those pictures up from The Vagina Monologues!
Peace,
Amanda
comments (8)
|
|
|
|
03/11/2009 10:22:16 AM
|
Hello readers,
This week has been a relief after Spring Break - immediately upon returning, I began work on a household goods drive for the IRC community here in Salt Lake, on the Sudan Community Empowerment Project coming up in April, and on the Free Speech Project. Our next discussion topic will be ethnocentrism, next Tuesday 8/17 (St. Patty's!) at 8pm in the Shaw Center. I feel useful again, and with the Truman interview over and done with I can focus on my work again.
The interview was anti-climactic in many ways. After all kinds of preparation, including reading and reflecting and practice interviews with a large group of supportive faculty, I spent just 20 minutes talking with the panel about things that I had not prepared for. We skipped over almost everything that I felt I could talk passionately about. I'm afraid I rambled. But I am glad for the experience - I met some other incredible students and got to hit the gavel in courtroom in Denver, and I know now what I want to do and what I stand for. I would recommend the process to anyone willing to put some time and tears into their dreams for the future.
Still searching for that footage of The Vagina Monologues. More soon. Peace and love,
Amanda
comments (3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
