It's All About the Hair

Early in the class I had proposed a documentary about African-American hair. I had planned on talking about the different styles and really getting into media messages of Black beauty and the truth behind the Black hair business, (for example, the fact that most of the distribution is owned by Koreans).

While the concept may seem unoriginal and overdone, it is an inescapable part of Black culture. Starting from a very young age, young girls learn how to sit still in a chair for what is usually a three hour process of chemicals, heat, and styling, and this is the minimum.

Deciding not to chemically relax your hair always stirs discussion. In a recent conversation about hair with a group a girls, one girl admitted to being addicted to relaxers, having received them since about age 5. I don't remember when I received my first relaxer, but I know approximately two years ago I said no more. I said no to $65 monthly appointments, countless dollars spent on hair grease, hair lotion, and hours spent curling and frying my hair.

This is not to say that I no longer desire to be glamorous or feminine. However, I have decided that my hair should not take up so much of time and money while I am in school. This also is not to say that I believe my personal revelation will wake the entire world to embracing all size afros, locs, and braids. Thus, when I feel like conforming to the irrational standard of beauty I throw on a fabulous wig and call it a day.

I don't torture myself anymore (well maybe for an occasional hair press just to see how long my hair is), and I can change my look as much as I want. I live the natural life.

Home for the Holidays

Ok, so after I created a short list of places I would like to go over the break in the last entry, but I inevitably remained in Athens. However, I am still dreaming of other places and taking steps to turn my dreams into reality.

Yes, they are called applications, the "all you can do is try" mantra manifested into pages of essay questions and reference letters.

-The first application cost me an approximate total of $25. I had to submit my entire life through the mail. I am talking birth certificate, transcripts, proof of study abroad, recommendations, doctor's form, and a NINE page application, and everything in multiples of three. Why go through all this trouble you ask? To teach and live in Japan.

-The next application is a little more standard (application, references, transcript), and would place me in Germany taking classes and working at a company in my field.

-I am also re-applying to a program I went out for last year with the IRTS Foundation, and that would place me in New York.

-I also found an internship program in Spain... I'll probably go for that too.

These applications are a stretch, and honestly I can only hope for an interview, but I have no choice. If I am going to fly solo, I might as well do it Japan and make some people jealous.

Hark! The Holidays Approach!

The holidays are approaching, and for me that equals travel time! The only problem is that I am low on funds, and am not quite sure where to go.

-The idea of a road trip has been tossed around, however, I have not yet found ideal company.

-New York is always an option, but I would need somewhere to stay as close the city as possible, preferably for next to nothing.

-I would love to go to California.

-I have friends in Texas and Alabama, but here again, my company could make for an uncofortable situation.

The bottom line is, staying in Athens is not on the list. Well, maybe for Christmas, but seeing as how both my brother and I are adults, I usually don't get what I want or even need, and I tend to get presents after Christmas because everyone is broke, it's pretty safe to say I wouldn't be missing out.

Study Abroad Fair

The Annual Study Abroad Fair, hosted by the Office of International Education presents a myriad of options, options, and more options! Instead of adulthood, they should call it decisionhood, because as a young adult, it seems, that is what life is all about- each decision of course determining your failure or success.

As a graduating senior, I am not elegible to participate in most of the programs. However, representives from the intern abroad organization AISEC and JET program were both available and excited to talk to me.

AISEC is an organization that helps students find internships anywhere in the world, some of them paying. I had heard of the organization prior to the fair, but I thought that it was pretty much just for business and international affairs majors. Fortunately for me, this is not the case. The process is actually more like Monster.com, where you submit an application and matching employers find you. The representative told me that this happens fairly quickly, approximate two to three months.

The JET program has been around for a while, and going back to a previous blog, you teach English! JET sends English speaking young people to Japan where they work alongside a Japanese English instructor and party it up in Tokoyo. Well, the partying was not in the brochure, but I can imagine.

Timing is Everything

Very much like breaking up with your boyfriend just when your crush falls head over heels with some girl who is totally unworthy, timing can really bite you in the butt.

My personal scenario is when Grady College creates a study abroad program to Cambodia, featuring a travel writing class, that will begin right AFTER I graduate! Now I must admit that I have not tapping my pencil on the table, exhausting the Google search to find out how I can get myself to Cambodia, but it sounds 10,000 times more interesting than the terribly expensive Oxford and Cannes programs.

Spurred by this missed opportunity, I have begun to look into programs that will get me into East Asia. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I have a friend over there now who is having the time of her life, and as graduation steadily approaches I become more and more anxiety ridden of getting stuck in my "career building," without traveling out of the States once again.

"Coming to America" Movie Review

The premise: An African prince, breaking with tradition, travels to America (Queens, NY to be exact) to find his wife.

Features: Eddie Murphy, James Earl Jones, and Arsenio Hall

The movie plays on the American perception of people from Africa. More entertaining, however, than the cultural wisecracks, are the characters themselves, (most which are played by either Eddie Murphy or Arsenio Hall). For example, after the prince Akeem (Murphy) and his travelling companion (Hall) buy American clothes, they go to the neighborhood barbershop so the Akeem can get a very American jerry curl. The owner and main barber is truthful, outspoken, and loud.

Made in 1988, the movie is true to its time. Big hair, acid wash jeans, and a hot tub all add to pulling the viewer in and making them laugh. The movie has many highlights that make it a comedic classic.

Even though the storyline is simple, it does not flatline or become predictable at any time given that Akeem's persuit of the perfect woman is under the false persona of an exchange student, working in a fast food restaurant. The challenges he faces are cleverly written and thoughtfully filmed.

For example, in the scene where Akeem is trying to meet a suitable wife in the bars and clubs of New York he encounters every psychotic, emotionally draining woman imaginable. He and his companion are sitting at a table in the club, and the women change, each saying something that is completely unconventional. (One woman admits to worshiping the devil.) The scene illustrates how awckward and scary dating can be in a large city, regardless of where you are from, without saying "all New York women are crazy" throughout the scene.

What I enjoy about this movie the most, is that it is more of a commentary about American life in New York in the 80's, than an ignorant display of stereotypes.

"Somebodies" Review

The pilot episode did not leave me laughing or wanting more. In fact, most of the time my face was curled up in disdain, or looking at my Sociology reading because I saw the show when it originally aired.

The premise of the show: A not-so-young Black male in college who is trying to figure out life with his friends and family.

The show consists of Scottie (the not-so-young college student), his four friends, his ex-girlfriend (Diva), and his aunt and uncles.

Essentially, the show is supposed to be a comedy. However, I believe it goes too far along cultural lines (for example, if you have never been to a predominantly Black Baptist church) to be understood by some, and simply offensive and obnoxious to those that get what the joke is supposed to be. Additionally, the show tries to tackle serious racial issues and structural inequality, but they are presented with very little segue or forewarning, so that all of a sudden you are listening to enlightened social commentary, which is an abrupt end to anything clever or comical.

Aside from an inconsistent flow of comedy, the main character is NOT a comedic actor, or a great actor at all. His reactions to every scenario was terribly anti-climatic, (he would barely have a comment). Nor did I believe him or his friends were college students. They looked at least thirty. The only highlight in the pilot episode was meeting the aunt and uncle who own the restaurant. They actually had personalities, and were true to life.

The second episode was no more impressive than the first. Scottie branches out to get his own place, and gets quite a surprise when his "girl next door" neighbors move out and turn into "loud poor people." There were some funny moments, mainly coming from the animated male neighbor.

Overall: the show is slow pace, and I understand why it was cancelled.

The Apex

The Apex is a small museum in Atlanta, GA highlighting the past history, inventions, and achievements of African-Americans.

Located on Auburn Street, this museum has a main room that has a time-line of the African people from thousands of years B.C. -up to slavery, as well as a replica of the Yates and Milton Drug Store, one of the first Black owned businesses in Atlanta.

Past the drug store replica is a hallway that highlights African-American inventions: the traffic light, improvements on the airplane, and the golf tee among many others.

Off the hallway are two rooms. One showcases African-Americans from Georgia that have accomplished great things, and the other is a movie room. The movie room is decorated as a dedication to the history of Auburn Street, "one of the richest Negro streets in the world," in the 50's.

My friend and I watched a short film about Auburn Street, after which our visit came to an end.

I enjoy going to places like this. It is difficult because it stirs up a lot of emotions- pride, frustration, anger, sadness, determination- all within minutes of each other, but it is important that I go.

I go because I know better than to wait on any textbook or television show, (which tend to exclude most things that are not of the White Anglo-Saxon tradition or tell history from that perspective) to tell me what it means to be an "African-American."

Unfortunately, certain sentiments are left on the side of the road in the name of change.

The Apex was in need of updating and was practically empty the day my friend and I went.

Just Go Teach English!

How do you visit foreign countries all expenses paid, for a year or two at a time? Just go teach English. The new popular post-graduate option for a lot of students seems to be programs that fly Americans to countries in Asia to teach English.

Of course the programs all vary, but I have a friend who is in South Korea teaching English by day and partying it up by night, traveling to Indonesia and other Asian islands, with insurance, and she did not know a lick of Korean before she left. I get misty-eyed just thinking about it.

We do not communicate too often because of the time difference, but I am always a little jealous after we do.

I was also talking to a Japanese exchange student in my class. I told her that I would love to go to Japan, and that I might try teaching English to get over there, immediately she mentioned the JET program. Going since 1987, JET is probably one of the most established English teaching exchange programs out there that has definitely grown in participation.

If you are wondering, 'is she an Education major?' The answer is no. Although, I have thought about teaching at some point as a way to give back to society. (However, fighting to make a difference in a system that has been broken since the 60's, except for the wealthy of course, simply does not appeal to me too much.)

I like to think that teaching English abroad could still contribute to American society in that I would be like an ambassador of sorts...

In any event, I will definitely be looking into it further.

"The Ugly American"

This past week I attended my first peer adviser meeting for the 2009-2010 school year. My peer adviser group works with the Study Abroad office to help students who are interested in studying abroad. (I did a Maymester abroad in the summer of '08 in Ghana.)

During our meeting, and in other sessions hosted by the study abroad advisers, we discussed "The Ugly American" moments and how to help other students prevent them. To explain, Americans, essentially, have a bad reputation abroad- we are loud, arrogant, unintelligent, spoiled, and obnoxious. Behaving in any such manner that reflects these stereotypes makes you, "The Ugly American."

Thus, we talked about how important it is to be truthful with other students about studying abroad, without scaring them away. For example, not every place in Ghana we went had a modern toilet. However, that did not mean that I was living in the bush, or that Ghanaians are uncivilized, only that I packed a travel roll of Charmin and did not drink much on long travel days.

Now, the fact that many Americans may be turning up their nose at this very moment probably means that they would have been "The Ugly American-" loudly exclaiming how grossed out they are, or demanding someone find them a real toilet. When the truth of the matter is that most people have had to relieve themselves without a pristine white toilet at some point or another, for whatever reason, (Ahem, drunk football fans).

I have to say, however, that students studying abroad tend to be looked at with a little less disdain. Yes, we are in the pursuit of knowledge, but we are also supposedly rich and gullible. For example, "The Ugly American" on my trip paid $50 for a $15 wood carving.

Really the bottom line is, have patience and do not be quick to judge. At least that is what I tell people about studying abroad. I honestly feel that that is the only way to experience a different culture and get all of the good out of it.

GA vs. NY Part II

The largest part of any culture, I believe, is the language. The way people communicate with one another is key to understanding what their life is like.

In Georgia people communicate, but in an artificially polite kind of way. Growing up in the South you are taught "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all," as a matter of respect. Thus, you learn how to read between the lines, read facial expressions, and every other mode of silence that lets you know what the other person is really thinking.

In addition to politeness, most people in Georgia speak English. I have a few notions why:

1) Millions of foreigners are not looking at their map and saying Atlanta, GA is paved with gold. Or, I want to start my life over in Macon, GA.

2) Oftentimes non-English speakers do not exactly receive the 'Southern hospitality' they deserve.

On the other hand, when I was in New York City, I could not walk down the street without hearing at least two other foreign languages, and seldom did I even recognize what they were. New York is truly a melting pot, and that is the norm. There are immigrants, tourists, students, and business people from all over the world going about their daily lives. Thus, when New Yorkers communicate they speak their mind. New Yorkers are too busy, and a miscommunication could be too costly for them to get along any other way.

I understood. I thought it was refreshing. Personally, I haven't ever been the type to pretend that I like everyone. It is not possible, so why fake it? Of course I mind my manners, but down here, it's what people don't say that will kill you.

GA vs. NY

This past summer I traveled outside of the Southeast, solo, for the first time in my life. My destination- New York City. As a native Southerner, I have heard the classic tales of rude New Yorkers and confusing subways. On the other side, I have been told about the people who have gone 'up North' and never looked back.

The ways of life are certainly different. Yes, there is a faster pace. No, New Yorkers are not smiling 'how do.' Yes, people will tell you how it is. However, none of these facts can be taken for face value. The truth is that every country, every region, and every community operates in a way that will protect and ensure the survival of the people in that area.

One of the definitions for culture as listed by Merriam-Webster is:
"the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life) shared by people in a place or time..."

Thus, when I am introduced to new things I simply "judge not, lest ye be judged," (which of course, does not mean that you are not entitled to a preference), just that the general statement of the "mean New Yorker," for example, is not entirely valid.

Imagine: You are riding the subway, and after several delays, (making you already late to work), the MTA conductor comes over the loud speaker and says that the train is going out of service and you have to catch another line, (completely out of your way to work). Would you honestly be inclined to help the next stranger you see who looks lost or is struggling with their bag? I also dare say that you would not even notice said person in your desperate attempt to get to work. Such is life in New York.

Imagine: You smile and say hello to a seemingly normal person on the street, and they proceed to expose themselves to you. (Granted this was not my personal experience, but there was a man who kept exposing himself on the subway while I was in New York this summer.) After such an encounter, or hearing about such an encounter, I am sure you would think twice before talking to strangers ever again.

In conclusion, I learned a lot while living in New York City. I began to fit in, as I would emerge out of the hot, muggy ground a tad bit grumpy. I understood the way of life.

Just the same, I appreciated the smiling faces that welcomed me when I returned. I missed the beautiful weather and landscape that is not consumed with people, trash, and everything else.

Neither culture is particularly better than the other, they are just different.

Welcome

As a Sociology and Telecommunication Arts double major at the University of Georgia, I am very interested in different cultures. I would like to travel the United States and the world. I believe that every group of people has something to offer, and that it is a great wonder- all the beliefs and different ways of life that make up humanity. Join me in my exploration of different communities, cities, and cultures. For the documentation of today's ways of life ensures future survival.