greek woman

A day in the life of a greek woman.  I don't know about anybody else, but being a female in a Greek family makes it really hard to get your point across.  Not that they do it on purpose, it's just years of being accustomed to having conversations, especially political conversations, strictly among men.  I can imagine how it might be difficult to fathom a young woman with not only insight, but also a passion for what they call politics, and what I call the well being of the world.  See the truth is, we can sit here and talk politics all day.  But the question that is rarely considered, in my opinion, is "what the F is politics?" Most people dismiss it as the bullshit of sly politicians, which it very much is.  Fundamentally, however, politics is a debate over man made borders, and power and control.  We have created all the conflict we complain about in this world.  All the troubles that exist politically were created with the words "this is mine."  The day a man claimed a piece of land was the day the war of what is who's and how to run it began.  Of course religion plays a fundamental role, but that's a talk for another day.  

I had a point.  Today I experienced a day in the life of a man because I listened.  All to frequently, I feel, women accept the stereotype of needing to be apathetic and domesticated...  I'm domesticated.  I definitely pride myself in being a "nikokira" or a "housewife."  In Greek it has a different connotation, meaning more "good host" than "worthless spoiled housewife."  In any case, when we have company, my name is called nonstop to be serving and clearing, and even if it weren't I would do it on my own, but that's besides the point.

Men, especially Greek men, and especially in front of their peers, wouldn't be caught dead taking orders from their women, at least not in public.  Asking a Greek man to clear his own plate is like asking him to give up his dignity.  So you can imagine how hard it might be to have them take your opinion seriously in the realm of politics, when your opinion even in the kitchen is not revered.  

Well FUCK THAT.  I'm sorry but I have never been one to be complacent.   Having a male reproductive organ (trying to be polite here) makes you neither smarter nor more clever than anyone of the opposite sex.  I spent most of my life struggling against this uneven keel.  Granted, I'm still young, but I've discovered there's something to be said for subtlety.  Whether or not you or I want it to be, or whether or not we agree with it, at least in MY life, in MY experience, it's a man's world.  And you have to be subtle when making your way in.  Truthfully, I feel like if you come in to fast too strong, you are quickly dismissed.  If you take some time to figure it out, or more importantly, figure yourself out (so you know who you are and what you stand for, and so you're always ready) and you slowly transition, there is a much better chance of you being heard than you might have by simply shouting your opinion out loud.  How I feel and what I stand for are a conversation for a different day,  But just know, I was subtle today,  I had an opinion today, and I was heard today.  For today that's enough for me.

oh college

A day in the life of a college student.  Man I love college, I really do.  Its one of the only times in life where you are constantly surrounded by thousands of people your age range who are all doing pretty much the same thing as you.  Obviously there are tons of little niches and cliques and such in college: the bros, the althletes, the frat daddys, the sorority girls, the theatre kids, and so on. But after four years in college, and especially as a sociology major, its crazy to see how truly cohesive the college culture is, particularly at a school like Delaware.   When I was a freshman I didn't really see it.  Actually, I saw it, but I didn't recognize it for what it was, which is almost complete conformity.  Almost to the point of uniformity.  I mean I remember walking around campus during the fall of my freshman year and seeing almost every single girl wearing a black northface and uggs, including myself.  But aside from the attire, nearly everyone is doing exactly the same thing, binge drinking.  I mean people around here will jump at ANY excuse to drink, whether it be as simple an excuse as a ray of sunshine in the sky (yes, any sunny day is a valid excuse to drink yourself silly on the porches of the main street restaurants),  to somethings as globally significant as the fall of a dark and ominous political figure.  You know who I'm talking about.  Thats right,  I'm talking about when Obama got Osama.  I would never have anticipated that commotion and flat out rioting that went on here on UD's campus on that Sunday night, after the President delivered his speech.  I was even more astounded when I saw videos of exactly the same thing going on on college campuses all over the nation.  Which brings me back to my point.  It's a college culture, and its awesome.  Don't get me wrong,  its ridiculous, and extremely irresponsible.  But I guess thats part of the intrigue.  I must admit, I happily partake in the college shananigans, and am often guilty of being the instigator. These last few weeks leave me torn, though.  I'm clinging to the last as of this carefree life, free of responsibility, judgement, and ridicule.  At the same time, though, I think I'm ready to move on.  I've had my regrettable moments.  Those morning-afters when that horrible pit in your stomach is from more than just 10 vodka clubs from the previous night.  If you're in college chances are you know what I'm talking about.  When you wake up, and your first thought is either "where the hell am I?" or "what the hell happened last night?" or both.  Not that you necessarily did anything bad, but its just the anxiety of not remembering.  Its the black out epidemic that is sweeping across college campuses nation wide.  Newly admitted college students, brace yourselves.

teenagers

A day in the life of a teenage girl.  I was a teenager once.  Oh, the awkward middle school years.  Back Street Boys, spin the bottle, 7 minutes in heaven, and all kinds of excuses to socialize and explore the world.  I think when I was a teenager I was a "mikro-megalo," which is what the greeks call someone who thinks they are older or more mature than they are.  I always thought I knew exactly how things should be. Not that I was a know-it-all, but I was definitely naive.  Not to mention the raging hormones.  Now, looking back, I have to admit that even though I was always trying to make the right decisions, I didn't. Then it occurs to me that I am in exactly the same position now as I was then.  I'm definitely still super hormonal, and I always try to be fair and honest and do the right thing, but my vision is still limited.  I have to acknowledge my own ignorance, and remember that I will never know everything.  I didn't then, I don't now, and I never will.  I'm going to make mistakes.  Things will never be perfect.  But as long as I remember that nothing is the end of the world, and I learn from those mistakes, then every mistake is a constructive building block.  Was it Plato who said that the wisest thing is to admit you aren't wise?  I think its true that wisdom comes with age.  And not only that, but I don't really think that there is ever really a "right" way to do anything.  I'm sure there is at least one wrong way, but I really think there are many right ways.  On my journey forward in my life I try to remind myself of that, and remember that what's right for one person is not always right for someone else, and that I need to figure out what's right for me.  But how do I figure out what's right for me?  There is only one way.  I need to be completely honest with myself.  It sounds so easy, but how often do you ask yourself why you do something, or why you make a decision one way or the other?  I mean really thought about it.  I think that asking yourself that question on a consistent basis is key to figuring out who you are, what you stand for, what is important to you, and how to achieve those things.  I'm sure one day my future self will look back on my 22 year old self and think how silly I was.  Like those letters you write in the 8th grade that your teacher sends to you when you graduate high school.  When I was in high school I used to keep a journal.  Sometimes I like to go back and read it, to remind myself of the experiences that have lead me to be who I am today.  I haven't written in forever, and I guess I've gotten so caught up in laziness and college recreation that I forgot how much I like writing.  I think I'll start writing more, maybe it'll help me figure out who I am tomorrow...

gypsy woman

A day in the life of a gypsy woman.  My sister told me I looked like a gypsy woman this morning while we waited for our breakfast at the bagel store.  Maybe I am a gypsy.  I certainly look like one, as I struggle to recover from last nights adventures. One thing I definitely am is hung over.  I can't help but think about the fact that this is one of the last Saturday nights I'll spend here in college with my friends and roommates.  Graduation is just around the corner, and its bringing lots of questions with it.  The nights conversations have changed from mindless babbles about parties and classwork to real questions about everyone's plans after graduation.  Well, there's obviously still plenty of mindless babble...and just mindlessness in general.  I saw a kid "chug" a beer out of a children's Super Soaker toy last night, I mean the college culture of binge drinking knows no bounds.  But anyway the point is that these questions are just hanging around in the air over all of our heads, with very few answers in sight.  How does a twenty two year old decided what to do for the rest of their lives?  Or who they want to be?  How does anyone really?  I've asked people young and old, if they could go back and do anything in the world, what would it be, and no one seems to know.  My guess is it changes.  Today I am a gypsy woman, but tomorrow who knows?