Hmmmmmmmmm.
I guess I am going to start this off by noting I always thought I would never blog. So here I am, with one... possibly of many... future 'weblogs'. I mean to use this as a place to carefully rant, to share personal updates with my lovelies that are so far away, and also to discuss current issues with regards to my academic life and current affairs. For now, I will begin with an overview of recent events... this is not so much to provide a recent historical record, but more so meant as a holiday letter sent home.
But- first--
I am going to note- for every post-- a few sensory extras you should consider...
- Soundtrack: http://www.myspace.com/oldmanluedecke
- Food of choice: cookie dough ice cream, followed by tea (due to the chill)
- A little texture: some woollies on the toes.
Dear Friends and Family,
I left a slow and endearing summer for the "big" or not so big life of a masters student of Toronto. The summer was hard, but there were many beautiful pieces in the mosaic. I had an amazing
summer job working for Fredericton Arts and Learning, and Gallery Connexion. I am in awe of these organizations, what they do for the city, and the amazingly positive and healthy working environment that has been created. The job also took me out of the historical, theatrical and tourist sphere I had latched onto since my early years. Thus I was brought into a new artistic and culturally significant community in Fredericton. Living in town made life easier, as did my dear friend keri who lent me a room in her castle.
The summer was also full of weddings and love love love for my family and friends. I was a first time bridesmaid/mc for Stephanie, a friend from high school who will always be by my side, she had a beautiful wedding that happened far too quickly. A highlight of her wedding, would have been when her sister realized during the ceremony that she forgot the ring... leaving me to RUN and fetch it while everyone waited patiently.
My "famous" cousin Andrew got married, I feel that I have missed a lot of family events over the last few years, and to be able to dance with uncles, aunts and cousins was truly marvelous.
PLUS my mother got married, to her partner Tom... in the most beautiful of simple and sweet ceremonies, with a delicious reception. This meant my older brother returning, and siblings reunited in a cigar toast-- to the horror of my Nanny.
Stephy's Wedding
Andrew's Wedding
can you guess what they are looking at?
Me Mudder's
doing a little pre-wedding henna
The summer ended, and I decided to give the moving business (not simply moving myself, but trucking it to Toronto via the Chapple line) a shot, you can image, luckily, it only lasted for a couple of days and ended with all of my things... (in storage and not in a house..) in Toronto.
So, I find myself in Toronto... planning on a masters in documentary media from Ryerson.. a masters in FINE ART?!
Clearly I am lost, and not totally sure what I am doing and why I am doing it. No sort of planning has prepared me for the culture shock of this city. Soulless individuals riding the metro, cement from ear to ear, a lack of understanding of orientation to the landmass. I became lost, and while that has changed slightly, it still lingers.
Luckily I had Miss Isabel Gertler (and her family), an anthro gal pal from Mount A, and my roomie gregory. Isa mon belle, is leaving soon for her own marvelous adventure, and I find myself fearing a life in this city without her. Gregory and I definitely took a chance on living together, as we knew of each other, but didn't know each other, and it has probably been the best roommate choice I've ever made. We are both crazy enough, and intelligent (I think I can add this)... with a little tea selection, strange voices, sheesha, kitchen dance parties and cbc - the home life is wonderful!
Our kitchen tile is great, and really adds much to the documentation of all our kitchen parties, with old pals reunited. I discovered a little Jamaica in Toronto, with past friends who I traveled to the JA with way back in 03, my dear dilly-o- adele, came to visit from montreal (fingers crossed for her entering u of t). PLUS I've had the opportunity of engaging with gregory's good ol' pals from freddy b.
But, life isn't all kitchen dance parties. Academia has it's hold tightly, and with a new understanding of how incredibly fortunate I have been with my supervision and guidance from amazing Mount A profs, I find myself looking for the same support and critique for of work.
I've also either had amazing luck, or selling my soul to spend a year in Yemen has paid off in a big way. The MFA at Ryerson is horrible for supporting it's students via TA/RA positions, thus many students have to search out alternatives. While searching through positions I came across Dr Hehmeyer (Ingrid) and her work in Yemen:
http://www.ryerson.ca/history/news/articles/hehmeyer-study.html
As you can imagine, finding a professor who does field work in Yemen is pretty amazing. So I threw out an email, explaining that I didn't have the credentials for the current position she was looking for, but that I had lived in Yemen for a year and have a little arabic. THAT email has led to, an original, "maybe" me going to Yemen, with her team as a documentary student... to not being able to go, due to security but having a research position in January with her, toooooooo... finally me actually going, as she found a way to get me onto the team, and supported by her grant. Thus, with my honorary archeology degree from Dec 15-Jan 10th I will be documenting this experience in the mountains of al-Janib , Yemen. Ingrid also has amazing connections, which, inshaAllah- will mean some sort of secure venue for the work that comes from this trip to Yemen.
Of course I am, in part, thrilled to be going, however... sad to miss another east coast christmas. I miss my plaid shirt, bearded boys, my family, the clean crisp snow... and the comfort of being home. It has also brought up other issues, preparing to go back to where I left my heart, somewhat broken up... perhaps I can fetch it and bring it home?
BUT also... the academic side of things being that I now feel a validation of the time I spent studying in Yemen, and of my scholarly choices. I still intend to focus on the sensory experience, and write a thesis (with a new media element) for Ryerson on the food experience from the market to the table of Muslim immigrant women, however am now adding contemporary water culture and field work in Yemen to the list.
Back to my programme, I originally was distraught at what I perceived to be a fall from deconstructing and understanding society and culture upon entering the documentary programme. Clearly I was judging others on a first impression basis, that isn't valid in many ways. However, it scared me all the same, I was still stuck in not what I saw as a 'valid' form of scholarship, but rather, a form that I have come to realize I absolutely love taking part in... this could mean a Phd future, going back into anthropology?
With a short film... almost done (done for the class, but not for personal expectations) and two papers left:
One, in which I wish to re-engage with the healing of narrative by looking at the classic,
Nanook of the North- in which the 'southern white man' gazes and represents the Inuit, through
historical representation of the Inuit via the NFB, into present day. Currently there is
higher degree of engagement of the Inuit in not only representing themselves, but also taking
part in what Jean Rouch hoped for, a critical study of "us" by the "other"- this leads me into
specially looking at "Qallunaat Why White People are Funny."
The other, is a literature review for my future thesis... where I will be engaging in the theory,
fieldwork, and laying out a design for my final thesis.
This, all comes with... trying to figure out what kind of mic system I need to rent for Yemen
(after an agonizing week of figuring out what camera I should borrow),
luggage I need to purchase, hospital visits, baskets of laundry... and and and... wait... is it
that time of year?
ahaha I am not so sure as I feel highly detached....
and yet, growingly content in my future activities.
Another Christmas and New Years Eve in Yemen. ahumdolila.
I miss you all just bunches, and send positive vibes and holiday cheer your way!
xx
one love
l
