correspondence

I apologize for taking so long to write. It was such a pleasure visiting, I wish I'd had more time. Before I got completely wrapped up with academics and the magazine I work for I wanted to keep you updated on my life. Despite my best efforts to achieve a balanced schedule I've managed to take four classes that require an incredible amount of reading: one book per week for each class (that adds up to four books, approximately 300 pages each, plus supplementary readings). Yesterday I was reading from 9am to 2am, I've never had so much reading in my life! I feel like I'm cramming my brain full of Christmas baubles, bright new ideas that break easily to make room for new ones. All of my classes in some way relate to either a) historical theory or b) British history and imperialism. I'm thrilled to say the least, though I wish I was doing more African history. I met my potential thesis reader and ran some ideas by her and she liked them. I won't lie, I squealed in the privacy of my own room I was that happy. I'm vigorously working on the magazine, it's hard but rewarding work - I love it (having the title associate editor soon to be editor in chief helps). After trying for a year to learn guitar, with marginal rather pathetic success, I've decided to take up the fife. I never considered myself very musical, but from my art and dance experience I've learned the power of practice and perseverence. Hopefully it'll pay off; so far I can only play "Kookaburra" and I probably annoy my neighbors to no end.

Transitioning/adjusting to college life is going alright. I have my moments of "Where the hell am I and what am I doing?", it takes a little patience to adjust my psyche. The most heart-breaking part of this experience is realizing how quickly I'm forgetting what I learned in Kenya. Scripps is a very different life style, full of clothes, books, booze and everything in between. Priorities are different and its difficult to adjust to that. It's hard getting used to the hedonism, materialism and superficiality I see every day and that I'm slowly becoming a part of again. I try my best to look at this as a separate foreign culture which requires the same understanding and open-mindedness I had in Kenya. Taking things day by day is important, it's easy to get hysterical about very minor things...and major things like post-college plans. This evening I went to an info session about Teach For America and I'm seriously considering becoming part of the movement after I graduate. It's crazy to think about life after college, I don't really know what to do with myself.