Welcome to Paper Central!

Ready for the home stretch to the end of the semester?  We are!

Every semester in the Anderson House, we set up our annual Paper Central for finals week.  This is a place where students can drop off their final papers or exams for their English classes.

Simply look for the box with your Professor's/Class name:

And leave your paper inside.  We will ensure that your paper gets to your professor for grading. 

This year, we have the boxes sorted by due date:  each color corresponds to one of the four days of finals in which papers will be due.  The papers that are due most recently are on the right, whereas the papers due during the final days are on the left.

Paper Central will be held in Leir II this semester.  If you have never been the Anderson House before, it is the first classroom on your left as you enter the front door of the building.  If you get lost, look for the signs to guide you!



 

We have left out office supplies for your convenience as well, just in case you need to make a last minute touch-up before handing in your final!

We know finals can be a hard time on everyone, so we hope we can alleviate the stress as best we can in small ways. Good luck with your papers and finals this semester.  We hope to see you at Paper Central!  And be sure to take a treat on your way out!

 

How to Be a Vegetarian at Thanksgiving (Without Being too Awkward)

I love Thanksgiving. I love getting together with family and friends and talking about what we are so grateful for, even if we don’t have that much. I love snuggling with my pup, drinking hot cocoa and watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (which is turning 40 this year: http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Charlie-Brown-Thanksgiving-Classic-turns-40-4981328.php). And the food. So.much.food. The leftovers? Yes please. There is one little problem, though: I’m a vegetarian. This is a minor complication when the main symbol of Thanksgiving is a huge turkey in the middle of the table. And you guessed right: At Thanksgiving this year, I will be the only vegetarian. However, this does not mean that I’m stuck with eating cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie until my teeth fall out. Here are some tips on having a very vegetarian Thanksgiving: 
 

-          Make sure the host knows your veggie status: If you are pescetarian or the extreme raw diet vegan, make sure that whomever is hosting the Thanksgiving feast knows. That way they can plan for it. Vice versa, if you are hosting Thanksgiving realize that some of your guests might have dietary restrictions. Contact them so you can make sure that the vegetarian stuffing is indeed made with organic, non-GMO, MSG free vegetable stock.

-          Don’t be THAT person asking these questions/making these comments:

o   “So like, what do you eat?” I think the better question is what don’t I eat.

o    “Are you sure you don’t want any turkey? Maybe just some white meat?” No.

o   “This is [insert name]; he/she’s a vegetarian.” I have other qualities besides my diet.

o   “Why are you a vegetarian?” Haven’t we gone over this already?

o   “Do you eat that weird tofurkey stuff?” Don’t hate because you can’t appreciate a good tofurkey sandwich.

o   “Are you sure you have enough to eat? Because I could just run out …” Trust me, in all my years of being a vegetarian, I have never gone hungry.

-          Be gracious: Always bring at least one dish from home so that you won’t go hungry and it takes the pressure off the host for providing vegetarian dishes. And because you made it, your family members should eat it and (at least pretend) love it! Spread the vegetarian love.

-          People don’t realize how much Thanksgiving food is actually already vegetarian:

o   All the desserts are vegetarian (let’s be honest, dessert is the most important anyway).

o   Cranberry Sauce

o   Green bean casserole (usually, but ask just in case)

o   Sauerkraut

o   Wine. 
 

Have a great Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble! 

Have a gaggle of hippie vegetarians coming over or you yourself are a veggie and need recipes?

http://www.buzzfeed.com/christinebyrne/vegetarian-dishes-for-thanksgiving 

Here’s a little more visual into what it’s like being a vegetarian at Thanksgiving: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicamisener/what-its-like-being-a-vegetarian-at-thanksgiving.

Thanks

This year as Thanksgiving approaches, I am in a very different and better place than I was last year. As prior blog posts will attest, I was overwhelmed and just looking for some bright occasion to look forward to. Thanksgiving and my grandmother's wedding was meant to be a sign of better things to come and the approach of the end of what I thought was going to be the most difficult semester of my college career.

As I now know, my second semester was just as bad as the first in many ways. My grandmother's new husband had an extremely debilitating stroke only a few short months into their marriage, my father was in hospital sedated and on a respirator for about a week mid-semester, my uncle was sentenced to a very long period in jail out in Colorado, both my parents lost their jobs, and my Aunt Glenda passed away after an eight-year struggle with cancer.

That is all mostly aside from the point because what I really want to talk about this Thanksgiving season is Glenda, because she used to always host Thanksgiving every year. My extended family is that rare type of close, where I know my second cousins once removed better than some people know their aunts and uncles and direct cousins. So that being said, Thanksgiving was a large event with the "small" year, the year where some people went to the other side of their families' places, involving about thirty people coming over to the house and the "large" year having over fifty people coming to Glenda's for dinner.

Glenda's house was by no means large, so fitting everyone around the table was a feat. The long string of tables would be stacked end to end along the length of the house. Every chair and couch in her house would be lined around the table, and each chair was needed for someone to sit in. One time I remember my then 92 year-old great grandmother crawling under the table to get out and grab herself a drink because she did not want to try to squish past all the people to get around the end of the table.

Getting all the food coordinated was another accomplishment in and of itself. Weeks in advance, Glenda would start calling people to see if they were coming and ask what they would like to bring. She then also made food herself and helped to make sure we had enough plates and dishes to serve everyone.

Glenda was always calm, always collected at these huge dinners. It didn't matter that children were running between peoples legs or that someone spilled the boat of gravy on the couch; it even didn't matter that one year that her cat brushed its tail against a lit candle and she had to chase it around the house to douse it in water. She just always seemed content to have all her family crammed into her little house, talking and laughing and generally giving thanks for being able to get together with each other.

This year, her twin sister Wanda is hosting Thanksgiving. And I think it will be hard. When I think about how hard it will be for Wanda and for a lot of the family, it hurts. If last year was bad for me, I cannot think of how hard it was for family members more directly affected by some of the events:  Wanda, my mother, my grandmother. I do not wish a year like last year on the worst of my enemies, but in retrospect, it has taught me to appreciate the little things and to be able to see the light in the darkest of moments. It has taught me to give thanks. So while I know this Thanksgiving will in many ways sad, I am looking forward to it because I think it is a sign of the resiliency of my family and I know it is what Glenda would have wanted to see happen. She would have wanted us to bring the chaos together and to rejoice in each other's support and warmth.

A couple of weeks ago Lauren C. posted about writing her honors thesis. In her post she mentioned the importance of finding “a place to be productive”. After having moved to Clark earlier this year to begin my first year of college I have become extremely aware of the impact your environment can have on you and how important it is to find places that make you feel at ease

Before coming to college I had mentally prepared myself for the academic challenges that I would face. What I hadn’t realized was that one of the biggest challenges I would face was becoming comfortable with a new, unfamiliar environment. For the first few weeks that I was on campus I spent a lot of time trying to discover my favorite study spots, learn the names of all of the buildings, and find my way around campus. I am happy to say that after a few month of wandering around I have managed to find a number of wonderful places that are good for all sorts of different things, and I thought I would share some of my personal favorites with you:

The craft studio:

I had heard about the craft studio from a couple of people, but It was only last week that I stumbled upon it while wandering around the lower level of the university center(speaking of which, the grind is pretty cool when they have events there). They have supplies for doing all kinds of arts and crafts, and they have a wall of beautiful unfinished ceramics that are being made by students in the pottery class. It is quite magical.

The thrift store:

The thrift store is cheap, sells a bit of everything, and is run by lovely Clark students that volunteer there. On Friday it was damp and rainy out, and I was lucky enough to find an oversized forest-green sweater to snuggle up in (and it was only five dollars)

Room 402 (in the library):

The Study rooms in the library are all great places to study with friends, and 402 is my personal favorite. The view of campus from the room is nice, and there are swivel chairs and padded benches to sit on.

And, last but not least, I have to mention Anderson House, where I work. The house itself is an extremely charming shade of yellow, and there are always things going on inside. I just got my job as a work study student earlier this year, and everyone has been extremely welcoming, and helpful.

If I have learned anything from my first few months at college it is that getting to know a new place can be a difficult but rewarding experience. And even though I have found my way around campus and learned about a lot of great places along the way, I still try to make a point of exploring when I can, of taking new routes to class and seeing what I can discover.

Writing for Modern Media

This semester I find myself in an odd place academically. Last year as an overzealous sophomore, I completed the majority of my English major requirements. Signing up for my current classes felt a bit misdirected at first, but the flexibility I gave myself in course selection allowed me to flex some English muscles I didn’t know I had. One of my favorites this semester is Writing for Modern Media with Professor Vicki Stiefel, which teaches how to write articles that could be submitted to periodicals. It stresses the importance of adapting to the rapidly changing publishing industry (in my professor’s words: “the publishing industry is like a crazy person on speed running around with his head cut off”) by maintaining an internet platform. Daily posts to Twitter and Facebook aren’t my favorite, but each week we get to dig in to a new style of article writing. Peer review sessions conducted around a conference table and detailed written edits from Professor Stiefel have initiated a new level of consciousness for my writing, and the variety of assignments creates a fun and challenging academic environment. Sample an assignment I wrote for the class after the break.

Why English?

Since I have been a part of the English Department, we have had a document we call "Why English?". At first, it was a pamphlet that summarized the Major requirements and department events. It later became a little explanatory sheet about the department. Each year it is revised and changed, and even though I work on it, I have never felt that to me it really answered "Why English?" Why do we study English?

I never really considered this question until I became Junior Representative to the Chair. As Representative to the Chair, my main job is to represent students of Clark's English Department at the Majors and Minors Fair for undecided students and for accepted students which occur about four times a year. I just recently worked at the latest Majors and Minors Fair, now as Senior Representative, with Nicholas Porcella, the new Junior Representative and Chair Jay Elliott.

This Year's Majors and Minors Fair. Myself, Nick, and Professor Elliott

Being representative, I get asked this question a lot, especially by parents.

"Why study English?"

"What are you going to do with English?"

"What can you do with English?"

"How useful are your English classes?"

"Do you think it is wise to study English in this economy?"

The constant undertone is "Why English?" Don't we already know enough of English by college? Aren't there more effective degrees to have? What use is it to read books? How will this get my son or daughter a job? How will English get you a job? And respectfully and honestly, I try to answer the question for them and their child of "Why English?". Most of the time I answer that my English courses teach me the most and are the most applicable courses to the "real world". I can  say that although I am a management minor, I know my English skills are what have gotten me jobs, have gotten me internships, have gotten me noticed in courses outside the department, will carry me forward in my career. English classes have granted me the ability to communicate effectively, write efficiently and clearly, think critically and analytically. I have gained all of my most transferable skills by sitting in my English classes and learning the material they have for me. People believe that all you can do with English is teach, but it is a subject that lends itself to any profession you may want to have. Business? Certainly. Law? Undoubtedly! I cannot think of a better way to prepare yourself to work than to really learn how to synthesize information quickly, condense an idea to its most necessary components, and communicate it efficiently. (I have I said enough buzzwords yet? But seriously, I do honestly believe this.) I know that as I head towards a path of Student Affairs that I take with me a considerable talent and skill for writing and speaking that was developed by my time as a Clark English major.

While this answer is honest, it is probably not the most true reason for "Why English?", at least not for me. The real reason I chose English was my passion for it. English is art. Have you not been overwhelmed by the gorgeousness of a poem and its awe-inspiring imagery? Is there not a quote that speaks to your core being that you have lifted from the dog-eared pages of your favorite work? I believe that the written word is beautiful and should be accessible to all. I believe that by reading the stories of others, I can come to better understand difference and better understand sameness. I learn more about myself with every novel I pick up, every paper I write. There is something fundamental about the human condition that every piece of writing is attempting to tap into, something that is ineffable but that every writer strives to reach out and touch, to make an audience feel. By reading I feel closer to my true self, to humanity. I chose English because I feel that English matters, stories matter. The books people write will live on, be read for years to come because they matter. Why English? Because it matters. Because its beautiful. Because it is essential to my understanding of being human.

Chowder Fest is Coming

The Clark University English Department Chowder Fest is coming to Anderson House again this year.  This annual English Department event has been happening since at least 1999 and featuring guest speakers since 2002.  That year, Alex Abramovich, BA ', Irene Fogarty, MA '95, and Karina Holyoak Wood, MA '94, spoke to English Department majors, minors, and graduate students about the ways in which the English Department prepared them for their careers.

Every year the English Department serves up hearty soups and clam chowder as part of an evening discussion with distinguished alumni who once studied literature in our department.

Last year's speakers were Lana Cohen, BA '08, pursuing her MBA at MIT Sloan School of Management;
Genie Giaimo, BA '06, MA '07, a doctoral candidate at Northeastern University's English Department; and Jeffrey Siegel, BA '81, of United Wealth Management Group.

Chowder Fest this year will be held 

Wednesday, November 6, at 5:30 p.m. 

and will feature


Susan Munroe, BA '05, co-founder of Rios to Rivers and freelance writer from New Hampshire. Susan is  now based in southern Utah and has a great passion for travel and a love for wild places.

Karina Holyoak Wood, MA '94, Director for Tobacco Free Rhode Island, is an organizer, advocate, and communicaions professional in diverse public policy issue areas including open government, urban planning, education reform, gun control, and arms control and disarmament.

Be sure to stop by and join us for great conversation, soup and chowder.

English Department Capstone Blog

Hey everybody!

This semester the students of the English Department Capstone class are writing a blog!

Check it out!

Bubbler vs. Water Fountain: The Epic Battle of Dialects

So as I was scrolling through Buzzfeed instead of actually doing homework, I came upon this article about this article: “22 Maps That Show How Americans Speak English Totally Differently From Each Other”. This NC State student, Joshua Katz, created a dialect-demographic map of the US. Now, once in a while, I have a hard time understanding people because of accents or different words, etc. But I don’t think I’ve ever thought about these many words and phrases. The different maps show the pronunciation distribution across the United States. So I thought to myself that the Northeast U.S. has a pretty large array of different accents and phrases. Here are some words/phrases from the maps and also some that I came up with: 

(Disclaimer: I am not a linguistics expert. I am not a statistician. I'm just opinionated.)

-          Wicked vs. mad: My Boston friends make fun of me for saying “mad” too much. They tell me I sound like I’m from New York. But I’m from CT …

-          Sprinkles vs. Jimmies: Jimmies. The little chocolatey (or multi-colored ones if we’re getting fancy) goodies that you put on ice cream. When I think of sprinkles, I think of when its kind of raining but not really, not ice cream.

-          Bubbler vs. water fountain: I’ve never heard someone call a water fountain a “bubbler” until I moved to Massachusetts. Also, because I’m in Mass., it’s a “bubblah”.

-          Grinder vs. sub: Subs are made in Groton, CT. A grinder is a delicious concoction of some ridiculous amount of meat and vegetables on delicious toasted bread. Yum. A lot more delicious than a boat.

-        Hair tie vs. scrunchie: Scrunchies? Talk about 1994. Hair ties are what grown-up ladies where when it’s a bad hair day or we’re at the gym. Or trying out one of those new fancy braid and ponytail and bun combinations we see on Pinterest. Sure, there are still a couple of scrunchies floating around my room somewhere, but unless I’m going to a ‘90s themed party anytime soon, they are currently my cats' chew toys.

-          Tag sale vs. Yard Sale vs. Garage Sale: My boss and I seem to disagree on this account. I say tag sales are the best thing known to man. She says that yard sales are the best thing. But what is the difference? No idea. And garage sales are just awkward. Why would I go into a stranger’s garage? Sounds like the beginning of a horror story to me.

-        Blizzard vs. Nor’easter: Blizzards are terrifying anxiety-inducing snowstorms that make people not want to go outside for days; if they’re not from the North. Blizzards, slizzards. Blizzards equal snow days, snow angels, and snuggling up and watching your favorite Christmas movies. Nor’easters, on the other hand, are the evil step-sisters of blizzards. Nor’easter can be rain then sleet then freezing rain (WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN?) and then snow then hail. Yum. The best combination. Driving is always so.much.fun. I always used to get happy at the thought of snow, but that was before I had a car.

-          Liquor Store vs. Package Store: I feel like New Englanders are split on this one. I never knew why it was called a package store, but according to Wiki Answers, all purchases of alcohol have to be in a sealed container placed inside a bag or box. This law was enacted after the end of Prohibition.

 

Here is the article: http://www.businessinsider.com/22-maps-that-show-the-deepest-linguistic-conflicts-in-america-2013-6?op=1

And here is the complete survey of 122 maps: http://spark.rstudio.com/jkatz/SurveyMaps/

 

 

Have you been working on your honors thesis?

 

As a senior History/English major, the to-do list on my calendar is filled with markings all pertaining to my largest project as an undergrad at Clark:  The Honors Thesis.

By the end of the year, hopefully I will have completed an 80-100 page paper about a topic that I thoroughly researched and later defended orally to a panel of judges.  Hopefully.

The honors thesis constantly looms over my head.  Even once I’ve completed the homework for my other classes and I’m hoping to relax for a bit, that nagging question of “Have you been working on your honors thesis?” always enters my head.

The great thing about the honors thesis though is that a lot of other seniors are working on one too.  Solidarity.  And professors are great about giving tips about just how to get this project done.  Some ideas?

·         Find your laundry room!  One senior made a comment about how she took up studying in her laundry room over the summer.  A quiet place where no one would interrupt her while she worked on it; a place to be productive.  Find your laundry room, literally or metaphorically.

·         Set small goals! Don’t work for more than 45 minutes in one sitting.  Set a timer for about half an hour and work on one thing only. Then take a five minute break before going back into it.

·         Keep track of your sources!  For smaller papers, it’s easy to go back into the document after you write and put in the annotations.  For larger papers, annotate as you go and try to keep all your sources organized.

·         Write often!  Write whenever you get a chance to, even if it is during a 10 minute period before class.  It could be something constructive, in the sense that you actually contribute information to your paper.  Or it could be a stress-relieving exercise like, “I hate this thesis, this was the worst decision of my life, what the hell was I thinking….”  Get in the habit of writing often. 

·         Write often…even when you are stuck! One professor mentioned that when she got stuck, she used to write a fake email to a friend explaining where she was stuck in her paper and why she was having trouble writing it…by the end of the email, she’d find that it gave her ideas on how to write and she was no longer stuck!

·         Be paranoid! Pretend that everyone is out to get you and destroy your thesis…therefore make copies and back up all your files constantly.  Save multiple copies and store them in safe locations.

As frightening as it seems though, everyone was quick to emphasize over and over again that writing a thesis can be done….it’s not impossible!  Generations of students have done it before, and it will continue to be done by others after you finish your paper as well.  As long as you stay on top of things (actively thinking, reading, writing about your topic), and don’t let it “sit on the shelf” for too long, things should eventually come together.  It can be done. 

….and make sure you have someone on standby that you can hyperventilate to when you get overwhelmed.

My Version of Feminism

The first semester of my freshman year here at Clark, my Spanish professor asked the class how many feminists were in the room. Out of a class of 17, maybe 3 people raised their hands. Everyone looked shy and uncomfortable. A few people (myself included) raised their hand about halfway, making the wishy-washy-kinda-sorta hand movement.

She then asked, “What if I told you that the word feminism means that women should be considered equal to men? It’s just about equality.”

When she then posed the question again, everyone in the room raised their hand.

Why are we so hesitant to use the word “feminist” these days? Why are there so many negative connotations to the word?

Feminism seems to be tied to sexuality, specifically homosexuality, which then brings out another set of prejudices. Having been called a “dyke” several times, simply for stating that I had a minor in women’s studies, as if my studies were linked to my sexuality, it’s no wonder that I’d shy away from the word.

If you choose to use the label “feminist,” you have to prepare yourself for a fight. You have to defend the title, and your position on any number of topics: sexuality, abortion, gay-marriage, economics, etc. To be a feminist means to constantly fight. And I love a fight as much as the next person! But some days, it would be nice to be able to get by without having to fight for a term that, if most people knew the correct definition for it, wouldn’t contest or fight over it either!

But at the same time, I think feminism takes on a pretty personal definition. So what is feminism to me?

To my friend Bridget, feminism is the jell insole she puts in the bottom of her high heeled shoes to help her get around campus on her busy days without her feet killing at the end of the day.

To me, feminism is realizing that if a woman wants to wear those high heeled shoes, she damn well may without being scrutinized for it. And if she chooses to wear a pair of black low rise converses at her high school graduation because she can’t walk in heels without looking like a baby giraffe…well that’s alright too!

Statistically, women are less likely to participate in conversations where men are present. They are also likely to preface their statements in class with, “This may sound like a stupid question, but…” or “I’m sorry, but…”

To me, feminism is making a community where women’s voices are heard equally. To me, feminism is about not apologizing for having a question or for making my voice heard.

In the CNN news coverage on the Steubenville Rape trial, they declared that the tragedy in the courtroom was the ruination of the two very promising futures of the star football players.

To me, feminism is about seeing the tragedy in a 16 year old girl being gang raped, filmed and photographed, then having it circulated over the internet, and being called a slut for it.

A lot of people think feminism is an exclusive ideology, only one for women to participate in, where women are promoted over men.

To me, feminism includes many different viewpoints, in many different contexts, with an underlying principle of equality. It’s about realizing that I don’t agree with all women all the time. And I don’t hate men, nor believe in superiority of one sex over another.

I don't feel like the stereotypical demonized version of a feminist: Idon’t want to burn my bra on the front law;  I don’t feel like cutting my hair short and getting neck tattoos;  I don’t feel like a slut “who’s asking for it.” I know how to cook; I’m pretty good at crocheting and sewing. I get offended when I'm told I'm being emotional, as if emotion were the opposite of reason and exclusive to women.  I like dressing up nice and going out with my friends.

And if I wanted to cut my hair short, burn my bra, and get a neck tattoo, then that's okay too: It doesn't make me any more or less of a feminist.

To me, feminism is my mother: a woman who is a secretary, used to own a motorcycle, yells at the TV during a Bruins game, is the best cook/cross-stitcher I know.  My mother, who let her daughter wear her black converses at her high school graduation instead of forcing her to wear high heels like all the other mothers.

First Week Of Spring (I hope I'm not jinxing it!)

Does anyone else smell Spring in the air yet? Or feel it in the sunshine on their skin and the wind blowing through their hair? Maybe I am a little early stating this, but I think Spring has finally made its way to snowy snowy Worcester. The Birds are chirping the students are out and about and I am ready to welcome the warmth back into my life and hide my winter boots in the back of my closet.

I already hapilly deposited my big winter coat on my bed and switched into a much more stylish and appropriate leather jacket. (ok maybe stylish is my own personal opinion...) My hot coffee has also been replaced with an iced latte. Spring is HERE!

But as I am a senior, spring brings another feeling into the forefront my my mind. Or lots of other feelings. Yes I have written blogs about this before, but come one, I have two monts left at Clark. What else would I be thinking about but that? Realizing that I am getting to the point where I can count the days left easily is  terrifying. And sad. Time to push forward with the job and appartment hunt I think. If only I had no homework.

But lets move on from that thougt before I get too panicked. Lets see.... What could distract me from the pounding in my heart and shortened breathing that signal a panick attack? With Spring brightening my moom I think I can continue on my Clarkie love list. Ahh yes, thats better. A much more pleasant thought.  I think I stopped at number 12. So here we go...

13. I love the random art that students will put around campus. Like that red door next to the library? What's that about? I never get them, but I think they are great.
14. I love when professor bring dogs to class. (Have you seen professor Elliotts puppy?)
15. I love that one tree near the holocaust building that blooms such pretty petals. Which reminds me I am grateful that when they redid Wright they took out the smelly trees. Seriously when they bloomed that whole area smelled like ... things I should probably not say here.
16. One of the things I will miss most after leaving Clark is the English department Spring Fling.
17. The Masquerade. Its a great dance. And an excuse to dress up like a spy this year, who does not like that?
18. <-------THIS.
19. Those random psych department research projects that make students do random things around the AC. Always hilarious.
20. The Clark Quiddich team. I have never gone to a game and really want to. The practices are so much fun to watch. They brighten my day.


Ok I suppose that's enough for now.
Enjoy this lovely Spring Day!

Clarkie Love

So it is officially Spring Semester of 2013. And for me LAST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE EVER!  (or at least undergraduate) Cue the panic.  Cue the excitement. Cue the blind race to the finish. It seems like I haven’t had a minute to sit down or shut my eyes since early January. 

Yet something amazing is happening. I am enjoying every moment of this semester. The trees are greener, the snow is whiter, the campus is more gorgeous, every minute is a prize. So I though this blog instead of ranting about how much I have to do or how scared I am, I will talk about all the amazing things at Clark that I will miss. 

1.       Those few sunny and warm-ish days in between the freezing cold ones when the whole campus comes alive and students are milling outside.

2.       Spree day. It’s amazing that this year’s was a hard won victory for the students and we get one more year of this beloved tradition. As a senior I was not ready to give it up.

3.       The Freud. That statue has become as dear as a close friend now. Not seeing him every day is a strange thought.

4.       The AC. Yes most of the time I’m there it’s for work I don’t want to be doing and I hate being there, yet it’s an amazing place. Everyone working together creates an atmosphere of camaraderie.

5.       The English Department. No I am not just saying that because this is the English Department blog. Seriously this place rocks. Visit it sometime. It’s a home away from home.  

6.       Jazzmans. Those caramel lattes.

7.       The Dorms. Don’t laugh. At the threat of possibly being homeless next year the safety of the dorms is amazing. Free water and heat and electricity. Why does that not happen in the real world? I am going to live in a box…(moment of panic again)

8.       Free Laundry.  Free WiFi. Free anything.

9.       The JC. I love that building. It’s so majestic and history filled. I love walking in there.

10.   Gala. It brings tears to my eyes. Every year.

11.   The little center.  It’s a dive, but such a well loved one.

12.   The cougar. RAWR

 

To be continued….

I unfortunately have to go to class so my list it half finished. I could go on and on. And will do so. Mostly it calms my panicky state of mind.  Feel free to add your own items to this list. What will you miss?

Reverse Culture Shock: From the Middle East to American College Life

After spending a semester abroad in Jordan, the time finally came for me to reenter into the American college lifestyle.  While I was abroad, I couldn’t help but notice how similar the two countries were.  Some of the similarities even took me by complete surprise and left me feeling pretty ridiculous, as though I had stereotypes of the Middle East which were oddly unfounded:  Of course there’s rain!  It just snowed last week!  The entire country isn’t a desert!  And even if it were, the desert is pretty damn cold!

However, oddly enough, now that I’m home, I’m noticing the differences between our cultures more than ever.  And I guess this is what people often refer to as Reverse Culture Shock.  Not that these differences can be categorized into “bad-versus-good.”  Some things are just different.

And now it’s time to readjust!  So to make light of an awkward situation, here are a few odd experiences in the clash between Jordanian and American college lifestyles:

1.        It’s okay to flush toilet paper!  In Jordan, people do not flush their toilet paper.  There’s a little wastebasket next to the toilets in which you throw it out after use.  Otherwise the toilet will clog.  And it will clog. No matter how little the amount you used, it will clog; and you will be embarrassed as hell.  Now that I can flush paper again, I have to actively remind myself to put it in the toilet bowl.

2.       It’s okay for a man to say “good morning” to you on the street! In Jordan, harassment is pretty consistent.  Sometimes it starts with something as simple as a man coming over and saying “Good morning.”  Yesterday, a student on campus held the door open for me on the way back to my dorm and said “good morning”….my first response was to blow right by him with my head high while thinking “what the hell does he want?”  Oops.

3.       It’s not okay to use the car horn as much as you want to.  In Jordan, there are many different ways of using a car horn.  If the light turns green, beep the horn to let everyone know.  Beep if you plan on overtaking the other car.  Beep if the road is narrow or you are coming around a sharp curve. Beeping is used to make people constantly aware of where you are in relation to their car…horns are always going off.  People living in Worcester might think they live in a noisy city…they don’t.

4.        Make sure you leave a tip…and stay in line!  There is no such thing as leaving a tip at the end of service in a restaurant in Jordan.  Because taxes are so high, people simply don’t leave gratuity. Also, the concept of “standing in a line” doesn’t exist.  You kind of just mosey your way on up to the counter, regardless of whether or not there were people in front of you.  That idea of forming a line and waiting for your turn accordingly doesn’t exist in most places.

Like I said earlier, these differences aren’t necessarily bad or good things. Not progressive versus backwards.  It’s just a different way of doing things.  And it helps if you have a sense of humor to get through it.