Forgetting Time

dearmeiguo:

“Other societies are perhaps no better than our own; even if we are inclined to believe they are, we have no method at our disposal for proving it. However, by getting to know them better, we are enabled to detach ourselves from our own society. Not that our own society is peculiarly or absolutely bad. But it is the only one from which we have a duty to free ourselves: we are, by definition, free in relation to the others.”

—

Claude Levi-Strauss in “A Little Glass of Rum,” which is quickly becoming my favorite chapter of Tristes Tropiques 

From my other blog:

First, let me apologise for being so ridiculously late with this blog post. I wish I had more to write about than Part 2 of “A Storm of Swords”, but alas! Life got in the way!

I managed to also get about a quarter of the way into “A Feast for Crows”, but by that time it was already mid-April and my viva (for those of you not dwelling in the UK, or unfamiliar with PhD conventions: a viva is the meeting with your examiners where you have to defend your thesis) was looming dark ahead. Naturally, I did not get a lot of (pleasure) reading done… But that’s behind me now and I’m looking forward to finishing “A Feast for Crows” in May.

To be honest, it has now been over a month since I finished “Blood and Gold” and I find it difficult to remember my criticisms, which, to be fair, were far and in-between anyways. “A Storm of Swords” (both parts) is by far my favourite instalment of the series so far (although of course I haven’t read “A Dance with Dragons” yet). The drama and heartache (Red Wedding!) and wit blended together perfectly. I still find it crushing how close some characters - particularly the Stark children - sometimes come to each other but never meet. Not knowing if the others are still alive, generally assuming that they aren’t. It makes you appreciate modern technology if nothing else. And being an anthropologist by trade (cultures and societies, not bones or Indiana Jones), I am increasingly tempted to do some ethnographic research on the world that George R.R. Martin created… Or maybe I should check first if someone else has already done it… Well, it’ll be a project for when I am finished with my thesis corrections.

This reflection also increasingly brings to light how my life, my reading experience, and the story are intertwined. At least in terms of the story this is, of course, rather coincidentally. However, I am a firm believer that we always highlight those bits and pieces in a story that are relevant to us at the time of reading. Making for a new reading experience every single time.

For me, the impending doom that was the viva (I’m kidding, it was actually a rather positive experience) probably took away some of the joy and definitely ‘fuzzied’ my memory. At the same time, being an avid traveler and often away from home and my family for prolonged periods of time. The story very much highlighted to me the importance of means of communication that you can trust. Even if it is snail mail. It is a way to know that there are still people out there caring about you. That you are not alone among strangers.

(Source: abookamonth)

My viva (thesis defence) was last week and it still really hasn’t sunk in yet. I doubt it will anytime soon… I have been given three months for minor corrections, but I passed and thus officially hold a PhD in Social Anthropology. My friends and family actually keep calling me Dr… but it feels more like they’re making fun rather than being serious. I think the first step in the realisation process will be finishing the corrections and resubmitting my thesis, followed by the second step: actually graduating. But that won’t happen until the end of November. It is rather strange to think that after almost 8 years of full-time higher education are done. There is no going back. I finally have to enter the real world. It’s a bit frightening, but also exciting. I don’t yet know what the future holds once I’m done with my corrections, but whatever it is, I’m looking forward to it.

In the words of Hanson (from the song Musical Ride):

It might just change your life

It might just blow your mind

Just a little reminder to grab (with both hands!) whatever possibility presents itself to you, no matter how strange or out of the way it may appear. You never know where it may lead you :)

soscotland:

Yep, that’s St Andrews for you…