Time Travel

I think I've finally found a way to make time go faster:

Become so busy you can't keep track of what day it is, what time it is, or if you've eaten yet.

It's practically a science. I'm going to be rich!

Ha.

But in all seriousness, how is it already the middle of October?! I haven't even started my Halloween costume, and midterms are next week. 

Truthfully though, I love when my life is this busy. I have a sense of purpose and impending doom. It doesn't sound like it, but that's actually my perfect recipe for a productive self. I know it's cliche, but I really do work best under pressure and let me tell you, I'm feeling it.

My classes are really picking up. Like I said, midterms are next week and I'm definitely not ready for them. I know I always say that, but this time I really mean it. I've been super distracted lately but stupid things and now I think I can focus properly.

Work is work, though I'm finally getting a handle on all of my responsibilities. The paperwork has taken forever for me to get the hang of. But I'm getting there!

I also decided to pledge a sorority, so I'm crazy busy with all of that. I really love it though, and since this is something I've always wanted to do for myself, I'm getting immense satisfaction from the process. Plus I'm getting to meet so many amazing women!

I'm still studying for the GRE, and compiling graduate school applications. I'm terrified of asking my professors for letters of recommendation, since I'm not super close with any of them and I haven't done any undergraduate research yet. My backup plan is to complete a second major if I don't get into any graduate schools by this year's deadline. I'll admit, I'll be crushed if that happens, but having a plan be is always good, right?

Oh, and the best part about this week? My best friend is in town! She moved to Ohio after college (which was in Iowa), and though we talk almost every day, I miss her like crazy. She's basically my other half, and I'm pretty sure if I didn't have her I'd actually go crazy.

I hope everyone is having a great week/month/semester!

~Megan

Anthropology: A Primer

In response to a comment: I actually get asked this question a lot. What is anthropology? What do you do with a degree in anthropology? Well friends, pull up a blanket, get cozy, and here goes nothing.

Anthropology comes from Anthrop, Greek for man, and -ology, meaning the study of. 

The study of man.

There are four (and a half) different fields in anthropology.

The first is Physical/Biological Anthropology. This is the study of how humans evolved and how we vary as a species. The focus of this field is primarily bones, whether chimpanzee or human. Forensic Anthropology (think Bones) comes from this field. (This is likely what I want to do when I grow up).

The next is Linguistic Anthropology. This is more than just linguistics, or the study of language. When looking at language from an anthropological point of view, we study the social context of language moreso than the specific semantics or grammar of a given language. Basically, the how, when, and why languages have developed and evolved.

Third, we have Archaeology. Everyone knows this one, thanks to Indiana Jones. The process of finding artifacts and remains, studying them to determine how a population lived and died, and cataloging them to preserve their history. To be completely honest, this is my least favorite field. At the beginning of this semester, I had hopes of joining a dig in Ireland or somesuch, and now after 5 weeks of an intro-level course, I'm pretty convinced I'd hate it.

Finally, we have Cultural Anthropology. This is probably what most people think of when I say that I study anthropology. Here we have the study of people and cultures. This ranges from religious studies, to ethnography (a study of a particular population), to the understanding of how today's cultures interact with one another. I happen to have a  lot of credit hours devoted to this field, simply because I find the material interesting. However, it is a bit of a soft science (meaning it involves a good deal of conjecture and a good deal of bias on the part of the scientist), and at present I'm interested in absolutes.

The half-field I mentioned is Museum Studies, which involves learning how to curate collections for museums, preserve and catalog artifacts, authenticate artifacts, and create exhibits for the general public to enjoy. This is kind of my backup plan, should I end up also disliking physical anthropology.

As for the "what are you going to do with a degree in that? question.

There are a couple answers. First, I could work in a field that requires a bachelor's degree as minimum education. That would be better than what I was doing before, and I wouldn't complain. I would happily do secretarial work with my degree as long as I had a job.

Second, there's graduate school. I'm taking the GRE (Graduate Records Exam) next month, which basically determines which, if any, graduate school I can attend. Fingers crossed, because that's my plan A.

Anthropology is one of those things that, in order to work strictly in my field, requires a doctorate. I'd love a doctorate. It's been my dream since I was little to have a PhD. (I know, dream big right?) It is also one of those fields that can be creatively parlayed into other things, such as data analysis or corporate research. You know, if I ever wanted to do something like that. 

And now, you know.

~Megan

The Writer Who Didn't Write

Confession: While I fancy myself a writer, I'm finding it harder and harder to actually write anything.

Okay, sure I write plenty of papers and things for my courses, but that doesn't count to me as actual writing. I mean the creative, stay up until 4 am because you can't get the dialogue onto the page fast enough, falling in love with your characters kind of writing.

I'm proud to say that last night I finally got something down on a page.

Granted, I have no idea if this story has a plot, what the plot is, why the characters are doing what they're doing and if I even like them. But it's at least writing.

Maybe this is like riding a bike for the first time in years. Yes, you can still do it. No, it isn't glamorous and you'll probably fall off, pull a muscle, or steer into something. The point is  you got back on the bicycle and you're trying.

Now I just need to resist the urge to flat out delete my work. I told a friend once that I didn't have any of my old writing because I got frustrated and deleted it all - he yelled at me for a good five minutes. He even offered to set up an email address for me to send everything to if I feel like hitting the delete button, just in case I wanted to look at it again in the future. In writing, it's important to be able to examine past work, and sometimes you find plots and characters that are worth revisiting now that you're a little older, wiser, and have a different perspective.

Besides, how can I really call myself any kind of writer if I never actually write anything except term papers and blog entries? Time to stretch my imagination a little. 

~Megan

GREat

I just registered for the GRE.

To say that I'm terrified is probably an understatement. The score I receive on that one test determines if I go to graduate school, and which school I go to. Basically, the rest of my college career hinges on the score from this one standardized test.

Sure, I can retake it, but I would really like to do well the first time around. Your first score doesn't disappear, and given my perfectionism, it'll bother me if I have two scores.

Not to mention its an expensive test. Yikes.

Anyways, my life is pretty much going to look like this for the next month:

Stay tuned.

~Megan

Woosh

That's the sound of all my time flying right past me.

Between my job (which I am still loving) and this mountain of homework, I haven't really had time for much of a social life lately. Not that I'm complaining (much).

It just makes me all the more grateful for the people I do get to share my time with and the things we get to do. Sitting out on the plaza or grabbing lunch with Tony, making plans for late dinner with Elsa, getting to know all of my co-mentors, and spending more time with Elyssa are all valuable ways for me to spend my time.

While I don't have much else to say, I do want to thank everyone that's keeping me sane this semester. It's going to be rough, but worth it.

~Megan

Well, Hello Stranger

The stranger is me.

I was reminded recently that I do, in fact have a blog here, and that it's annoying that I don't update it.

Sorry!

I started the fall semester a week or so ago, and before that...I have no excuses.

But I started the fall semester! 18 credits, my heaviest course load yet. I'm taking almost all Anthropology courses and one math class. Unfortunately, they do make you take math, and they don't just let it slide since you're so close to graduation. Darn.

I'm also in full mentoring swing in the Student Success Center on campus. I'm assigned to mostly returning adult students, and so far I've met some really cool people! I'm super excited to be working with this demographic, because I feel like I understand where they're coming from (says the 24 year old college senior).

My co-mentors are really awesome people as well. I'm feeling really lucky to be part of such a high achieving group, never mind having such a great leadership position. 

I have a feeling that fall is going to fly by so fast. I mean, I don't want it to, but I'm anticipating that I'll be kept really busy with all of this new responsibility.

I do get to go to a leadership retreat at a camp this weekend though! I've never gone to a day camp before, so it's a new experience for me in more ways than one. I'm really looking forward to it, even if I do have to stock up on bug spray.

That's my life in a nutshell recently, but I'll do my level best to update this blog more often and with more interesting stories.

~Megan

Farm Fresh

Today was pretty much the best.

Andrew and I went to a farmer's market nearby. Being August, just about everything is in season and crazy delicious and fresh. Fresh, as in corn that was picked this morning. 

I really can't wait to get cooking with some of the stuff I got:

•   Four sweet onions. These things are huge. Man it's gonna be good.
• Fresh green bell peppers. 
• Six ears of corn picked this morning.
• 18 fresh eggs (9 of which I will be bartering for some tahini in the very near future).
• A thyme plant, which hopefully will become part of a nice little herb garden outside my door.
• Red potatoes, which were mashed with pureed edamame to go with dinner.
• Pork chops (for the husband, naturally), locally raised.

Because we were on a roll, we stopped by the Public Market to get some salmon for myself for dinner, courtesy of the St. Paul Fish Market. This place has seriously every kind of fish, including Blue Marlin. It's all flown in daily and the quality is probably the best in the city.

The evening was then rounded out with a giant dinner with friends, a few glasses of wine, and Dr Who (which coincidentally blew my mind).

And to think, it's only Saturday!

~Megan