Time for more newsy nothing-really's:
1. We had our last Human Rights and Sexual Politics class today. I must say, while I've really enjoyed all of my classes, this has been my favourite, so I was very sad that it's over. So it goes. Anyway, we've been discussing painful, distressing, thought provoking things all semester (HIV, trafficking, paedophilia, sex work), so Professor Stemple used the last class to look at pleasure, the positive side of sexual politics. One of our readings was a short piece written by a man in prison, who was hugged one day, after not being touched for literally years, and how much that hug meant to him. It reminded me of this conversation I had with ME a few weeks ago, which concluded with my realisation that when you leave your family and close friends behind and move to the opposite side of the world where you know nobody, you're not on sufficiently good terms to hug people, with the result that I have not been hugged in about 3 months. Americans think that they're super huggy, but they pale in comparison to South Africans. And the French Revolution mainly just do cheek kisses. I've remedied the situation, don't worry. I now have friends who are sufficiently close that they happily provide hugs on demand. It's just that it was something I didn't consider at all when I left, and that I wasn't prepared for. I say this because a few of you are about to jet off into the big blue unknown, and you should be aware of it. Make a plan! You'd be surprised by how much you miss contact!
2. Daylight saving briefly had the effect of allowing me to wake up to bright sunshine early in the morning, but that's no longer the case, the sun generally hasn't risen when I get up for yoga or a run. On top of that, it starts to get dark at 4:30 now. So its basically always dark. I miss the Southern Hemisphere.
3. One week until Thanksgiving in D.C.! Excitement abounds! I will actually be attending four Thanksgiving celebrations: Friendsgiving this Friday, Gratitude on Saturday with the Womyn of Colour Society (I know the right people); Thanksgiving lunch for the LLMs on Monday and finally actual thanksgiving next Thursday at Tom and Kristin. So excited! BRING ON THE PUMPKIN PIE! I still remember last year's Thanksgiving hosted at our house by Scott. It was such fun, and has left me with very high expectations for an American Thanksgiving.
4. Paper topics:
- How the constructions of masculinity in South Africa affect men's and women's health, particularly in relation to practising safe sex.
- Strategies for the elimination of prison rape in the U.S.;
- Abortion in Kenya
(All light and fluffy, I know)
5. Plans for the next couple of days: tonight I'm going to see the Mockingjay with R and her sister. SUPER excited! Going to the movies still makes me super duper happy like a young child. I will get popcorn and bounce around like a sugar-crazed 5 year old. Yes, yes I shall. Tomorrow, I'm heading to ME to study for critical race theory, before heading to Friendsgiving dinner. I also have to make a sweet potato casserole / choc chip cookies. This weekend I'm powering through my papers - prison rape on Saturday with AG, and then abortion on Sunday with the whole group (it's a group project). Hopefully next time I write a blog, I'll be a lot less stressed out about school!
6. Unhealthy addictions that I've developed: coffee (at least 3 cups per day); Egyptian licorice tea (cinnamon-y heaven, and I suppose not that unhealthy); choc chip cookies (not good!); ice cream (fortunately this isn't too strong right now because it's finally feeling pretty wintery).
7. Books I'm reading: Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut; The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon; Fury by Salman Rushdie; and Heart of Darkness. All excellent. Not sure how I have the time to read four books at once, and still manage to do my reading for class. Reading for pleasure may have to take a back seat for the next couple of weeks. I do love to wake up early and read next to the window while the sun comes up. It's the quietest time of day over here.
8. I'm feeling a bit bleak that I won't be home for Christmas. This is the first Christmas in 27 Christmases that I won't be at home with family. My mum keeps telling me how sad they all are, and I keep wanting to say 'Yes, but at least you all have EACH OTHER!' What can I say, I love my silver linings. I, on the other hand, am on the other side of the damn world. Luckily for me, John is swooping in and rescuing me from a lonely night of pulling crackers on my own. I'll be spending Christmas with him and his family in North Carolina, another exciting adventure! Thank goodness for John! Cross fingers that I see some snow, folks!
Anyway, that's all the rambling I have for now. Sending you all big hugs and strength to make it through the last month or so of the year. YOU CAN DO IT! YES YOU CAN! DON'T ARGUE WITH ME. I will be thinking of all of you as you wind up, and some of you get ready to flee the city on big adventures. Also, a big shout out to my biggest little brother as he continues to suffer through his Matric finals. You're a legend, brother bear. You got this! Love to the other little brother as he writes his Grade 9 finals, and to the little sister - not sure what she's doing right now, but I hope it goes smoothly.
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