Hello there, dear Blog. I know it's been a long time since I've spoken to you. I hope you'll forgive me.
On Monday I will take my first class as a physics graduate student at the University of Louisville. In the week I've been here for orientation, I have learned a couple things. First, that physics-y banter is pretty much the same in Kentucky as it is in Michigan. Thank goodness! :) Second, that I'm going to be learning a lot while I'm here. Not all of it will be physics-related.
My name is Jamie. I am a 22-year-old, straight, white, able-bodied, cisgendered woman. I've grown up pretty damn sheltered, and in medium-sized cities and towns. I'm now living in the 16th (I think) largest city in America. It's a totally different experience, in many ways. Most glaring to me are differences in class and racial makeup from the places I've grown up compared to this city. I'm apprehensive, because all my life I've been taught to fear the "underclass." I'm not sure how much of my fears are legitimate, as crime rates are shown to be higher in lower income neighborhoods, and how much of them I should discard as propaganda of the class war I've been witness to for the whole of my existence.
I'm also eager. I know that my time in this city is going to cause me to discover all sorts of things about myself I probably didn't want to know about. I'm going to have to peel off layers of privilege on a fairly regular basis. There will probably be times where I won't enjoy this process very much. But I am eager because I look forward to meeting the me who will come out of that process. I am also eager because in a big city there are more chances (yay statistics) for me to meet people who share my beliefs about forging a better society, and to meet those who might be open to hearing about those beliefs.
I feel awkward writing this post because I was brought up in that mode of thought which we call "colorblind," in the sense that I've been taught not to acknowledge race at all. In my new home, I'll no longer be able to hide behind that conceit. It's kinda scary, but I guess that's how this goes, right? Time to stretch my anti-racism ally and anti-classism wings!
Also physics rocks.
Number of the Day
33 minutes ago
1 comments:
Hello, Reformed Patriarchy-Whore! I just thought I would stop by and see if you had posted anything, and YOU HAD !! YAY YOU!!
I am just now realizing the importance of posting daily. Take my word for it: POST DAILY, even if it is just a photo off your phone with a caption.
Congrats on the Puppy and the Kitty. My Very Best Puppy Advice (and this is impossible for a student, but stay with me) THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND WITH YOUR DOG, THE BETTER YOUR DOG WILL BE.
Just spend as much time with your dog if you can, even if that means only eating out at patio restaurants. In Austin, you can also take your dog to the Home Depot and Half-price books. Take your dog for a run in the morning and make sure your dog has dog-focused breaks in the day where you Pay Attention to your dog and do things that are fun for the dog (whether or not you feel like it).
For my dog,( a cocker) this means PLAYING FETCH, the most boring thing ever invented.
I was surprised to read that Loiusville is the 16th largest, so I looked it up. YOU ARE NOT! AUSTIN is the 16th largest. YOU are in the 26th largest. Which is a MUCH better size! WHen I came to Austin, the population was 100,000. (I am THAT OLD) Traffic was MUCH BETTER!!! MUCH BETTER!! and Housing was AFFFORDABLE!!!
Enjoy it while you can! Keep Posting!
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