Friday Five

I'm in serious denial that I have to finish three papers and give an oral presentation in Swahili by the end of next week. So why not procrastinate a little more by putting up a Friday Five . . .

1. So I'm going to Malawi this summer. I was able to work out my funding. And got the airfare down a little bit---to $2200. Still scary expensive, but I think I've pieced together enough grant money to make it work. I leave on May 28 for 10 weeks. Yikes!

I've decided not to make any huge decisions about whether anthropology is the right field for me until after this summer. Although some conversations with other anthropology students have reassured me that I am in the right field. But we'll see how the summer goes. If I'm absolutely miserable for the 10 weeks, then I need to reconsider. But maybe I'll have a great time and come back totally charged up for my project. I'm trying to keep an open mind.

2. While in Malawi, I think I need to pay a visit to Madonna's foundation. I'm very curious. I just watched the trailer for her "documentary" on Malawi, which screened at the Tribeca Film Festival this week. YouTube also had video of a Q&A session that she did after the screening. And my computer is lucky that I'm too tired to muster more than mild sarcasm at the moment. Because, of course, Madonna hit my pet peeve: international adoptions. Apparently the reason that adopting children from third world countries is so difficult is because the countries have too much bureaucracy. Not, you know, because we're talking about adopting a CHILD and perhaps we shouldn't just pass 'em out like candy.

3. Switching subjects: What do y'all think about the Miley Cyrus photo? My first reaction to the photo was, "Wow. What a beautiful photo!" I thought that it was nicely composed and elegant and expressive. Artistic. It reminded me of early 19th-century portraits. So I don't quite get all the fuss over it.

4. Did I mention that I have three papers due by the end of next week?! The papers are all on really interesting subjects, but I just can't seem to translate my interest into actual effort.

5. How is it that my alma mater can always track me down? I've had at least eight addresses---two of which weren't even in the United States---since graduation. And I've never once sent an address update to the university. But yet, I keep getting alumni donation requests and the alumni magazine. How do they keep finding me? Not that I'm hiding. But still.