It’s an incredibly beautiful day outside (especially for a
Monday!), so I decided to take my computer outside to sit on the benches
between my residence hall (Akin Hall), and the Manor House and soak up some sunshine while I write
this. There are butter-yellow daffodils and green grass, and a light breeze,
and the tree across the walkway has recently exploded into bright white blooms
of soft flowers, and I can hear the bustle of people heading to and fro behind
me on their way to class or to the library. I’m even drinking a soy chai that I
picked up at the Dovecote (an on-campus coffee shop) on my way back from class,
and it’s delicious. It was my reward to myself for having the courage to do
something I usually hate doing – giving an oral presentation. I had to talk for fifteen minutes about the research I’ve been doing for
my Exploration and Discovery class. As I told you in my earlier posts, my
research is on ancient Mesopotamian astronomy.
My roommate just walked by and plucked a ladybug off my
hair. Thanks, Sully.
Anyway, my research, as I was saying, is about Mesopotamian
astronomy and how it related to the formation of the first cities, especially with their economic system of redistribution. This is my
second independent research project that I’ve done – the first was on a YouTube
subculture for my anthropology class last term. It’s been a great opportunity
to have help from my professors in pursuing whatever I want to learn more about. And my
presentation actually went really well. I need to remember that no matter how
nervous I get to speak in front of a crowd (albeit a crowd of 10 or 11 – my class
is really small), it always works out fine and is a lot easier than I think it’s
going to be.
I finished reading Pale
Fire last week, but we’re still talking about it. I would highly, highly
recommend it. Seriously. Go read it. Or come here, take a class with Lyell
Asher, and read it with him. That’s even better.
Just stuck my ear buds in, and now I’m listening to Astronaut by Amanda Palmer.
I had a good first
weekend back from break. On Saturday, my friend Dida and I went to a theatre
workshop held on-campus by a woman visiting from New York. She’s a director and
has had a lot of experience doing theatre in East Africa – particularly in Rwanda
(post-genocide) and Uganda. Dida knew her already because they worked in Rwanda where Dida is originally from. I was just at the workshop to write an article about it
for the Pioneer Log, but I ended up staying the whole time and participating in
the acting activities. I got to meet a few community members and talk about
crossing personal and cultural boundaries. We even created a little
song-and-dance routine! After that, I was picked up by my friends from BuildOn,
Katherine and Allie, and we went downtown to ask for donations from stores for
a dress drive we’re holding to raise money for the construction of a school in
Haiti. We didn’t get any dresses, but we did go food-carting! I had an asada
burrito and some horchata, and they had dessert crepes: pear and chocolate for
Allie, and peanut butter, honey, and cinnamon for Katherine. Delicious, and not
too expensive!
Well, I’m actually getting a little too warm in this
sunshine, so I’m going to wrap this entry up and head back inside. Any
questions? Email me at jessicakostka@lclark.edu.
Jess