Almost done...
Published at home, but written in Boston.
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I know it's hard to believe, but I am actually writing this. Not typing, writing. Like, with a pen and everything. This is by way of me sitting in the food court of Boston Logan Airport Terminal B without a laptop but with four hours to spare before my flight. I guess I could use this time/this entry to do a summing up of my time in the States, but I think it would be more effective to do so once I'm home and have had a proper chance to look back. Plus, I woke up at 6:30 this morning and have done nothing but pack, stagger with bags and sit on my behind today, so I'm not in the most reflective of moods. Have got a cup of tea though.
Instead, I guess I should update you some more about what I've been up to. If I remember correctly, last time I updated I finished with what happened last time I left Boston. Well, since then I've sat doing nothing in Newark, gone drinking/playing pool in Newark, though about going to DC, gone to DC, come back, gone drinking some more in Newark and come to Boston. DC was as DC was before: bright, shiny and full of interesting things. This time round found me at the American Indian Museum* and the Natural History Museum, with a tour of some inspiring (and less inspiring) memorials in between. The Indian museum was fascinating, although slightly uncomfortable at times. The museum's purpose is not to look at native cultures from the outside, but to present the beliefs and lifestyles of a section of the world's population. The contrast in approach was something I hadn't appreciated before, and the pretty callous way that Indian culture has been presented before was very obvious and a little disturbing. For example, the tour guide told us how one visitor, herself a Native American, had a grandfather whose skull was one of the exhibits at the Natural History Museum. The thought that someone's remains could be presented (without their consent, obviously) along with rocks and dinosaurs and butterflies pinned to card makes me slightly uncomfortable, if nothing else.
Newark was not quite as Newark was before, mainly due to the extra 14, 000 inhabitants (pesky undergrads) but it was a close enough approximation. I'm not going to talk too much about Newark because if I do that I'm going to upset myself and that would be highly embarrassing in front of a Starbucks. I will just say that I am extremely grateful to Mark and Kenny (and Trogdor) for kindly giving me room and board, and that there are a number of people who will be greatly missed. Hopefully they're coming to see me next year though. Come on folks, it's only fair that you should have to sit for hours at the airport too.
Last step on the way home was Boston. I have to say, I do like Boston. A lot. It has a great vibe and friendly people with the most fantastic accents. I've only really had two days here but I managed to pack a fair amount in, including a walk around the town with a bloke in a tri-cornered hat, a special preview of the new Gael Garcia Bernal movie and sharks. I also got to see MIT, which was interesting. I've heard Imperial called the British version of MIT, and I can definitely see the connection, although I would say MIT is more what Imperial would like to be when it grows up, when it has real money and doesn't have to share a room with the Science Museum. Also found out that if you feel close to a heart attack then cough: it's like giving yourself chest compressions. So that's good to know.
*Yes, I know the name doesn't appear very PC, but someone from the Canadian First Nations would not be too impressed at being referred to as a Native American.
________________
I know it's hard to believe, but I am actually writing this. Not typing, writing. Like, with a pen and everything. This is by way of me sitting in the food court of Boston Logan Airport Terminal B without a laptop but with four hours to spare before my flight. I guess I could use this time/this entry to do a summing up of my time in the States, but I think it would be more effective to do so once I'm home and have had a proper chance to look back. Plus, I woke up at 6:30 this morning and have done nothing but pack, stagger with bags and sit on my behind today, so I'm not in the most reflective of moods. Have got a cup of tea though.
Instead, I guess I should update you some more about what I've been up to. If I remember correctly, last time I updated I finished with what happened last time I left Boston. Well, since then I've sat doing nothing in Newark, gone drinking/playing pool in Newark, though about going to DC, gone to DC, come back, gone drinking some more in Newark and come to Boston. DC was as DC was before: bright, shiny and full of interesting things. This time round found me at the American Indian Museum* and the Natural History Museum, with a tour of some inspiring (and less inspiring) memorials in between. The Indian museum was fascinating, although slightly uncomfortable at times. The museum's purpose is not to look at native cultures from the outside, but to present the beliefs and lifestyles of a section of the world's population. The contrast in approach was something I hadn't appreciated before, and the pretty callous way that Indian culture has been presented before was very obvious and a little disturbing. For example, the tour guide told us how one visitor, herself a Native American, had a grandfather whose skull was one of the exhibits at the Natural History Museum. The thought that someone's remains could be presented (without their consent, obviously) along with rocks and dinosaurs and butterflies pinned to card makes me slightly uncomfortable, if nothing else.
Newark was not quite as Newark was before, mainly due to the extra 14, 000 inhabitants (pesky undergrads) but it was a close enough approximation. I'm not going to talk too much about Newark because if I do that I'm going to upset myself and that would be highly embarrassing in front of a Starbucks. I will just say that I am extremely grateful to Mark and Kenny (and Trogdor) for kindly giving me room and board, and that there are a number of people who will be greatly missed. Hopefully they're coming to see me next year though. Come on folks, it's only fair that you should have to sit for hours at the airport too.
Last step on the way home was Boston. I have to say, I do like Boston. A lot. It has a great vibe and friendly people with the most fantastic accents. I've only really had two days here but I managed to pack a fair amount in, including a walk around the town with a bloke in a tri-cornered hat, a special preview of the new Gael Garcia Bernal movie and sharks. I also got to see MIT, which was interesting. I've heard Imperial called the British version of MIT, and I can definitely see the connection, although I would say MIT is more what Imperial would like to be when it grows up, when it has real money and doesn't have to share a room with the Science Museum. Also found out that if you feel close to a heart attack then cough: it's like giving yourself chest compressions. So that's good to know.
*Yes, I know the name doesn't appear very PC, but someone from the Canadian First Nations would not be too impressed at being referred to as a Native American.
posted by Kate @ 5:07 pm
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