Even though I am not working on Saturday, I could not sleep in. The Annual Anthropology Association annual meeting was commencing at downtown San Francisco, and it's just too great an opportunity to miss. When I was in school, academia has always been a serious career choice for me. I am a wonderful student, I love anthropology, and I see my professors as mentors and heroes. But I decided not to go back to school immediately because I want to experience life without school for once.
Looking back, that dream of one day being an educator, maybe college professor seems so distant, yet endearing. And that emotion became the force that pulled me out of bed, got me on the bus, and journeyed to the AAA meeting. What an impressive sight! The hotel lobby was full of anthropologists! Every conference room has presentations and panels going on one after the other. I chose a couple to go to, ones about food, of course :) And I am glad that I still understand the concepts and theories. Later that day, Ming joined me, and we attended a couple of presentations about education and diversity.
The experience of going to an AAA meeting was certainly great, but it doesn't answer any of my doubts and questions about my future. Do I want to go back to school? Is anthropology the best tool in solving social conflicts? Is there a line between academia and activism? If I can answer them right now, I wouldn't be a 24 year old fresh grad, would I? So after leaving the conference, I did what I always wanted to do as a kid: not go home :) Remember as a child, once you get to leave the house, for a day trip, run errands, anything, you just don't want to go back? Because it's boring back home! Now finally we are adults, and we can have it our way. We went to the movies! We took a walk in a park, and we went shopping.
Let's take things easy.
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| Powerpoints, presentations, panels, all reminds me of school |
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