Because I haven’t been able to escape or ignore conversations about sexual violence for the last two years [more like forever] in a broad societal sense, and right here at Michigan State University, I made a list of what I can remember from my own personal experiences in an attempt to lessen the pressure and burden of being a woman I feel like I carry every single day.
In addition to 5 very specific events that happened directly to me, I wasn’t able to tally, due to sheer volume, the number of times I’ve been so nervous walking by groups…
Well. Where to begin on how to process what’s been happening in the U.S. since I arrived in China? I was just barely able to read about the violence that claimed the life of Christina Grimmie before I was inundated with the Orlando reports.
I’ve been sitting in my apartment putting off grading because I just feel so unsettled. It could be due to the fact I’m actually on the other side of the planet, but I think it’s more than that. …
Even though I last touched Chinese soil a mere 11 months ago, how quickly I forgot what daily life entails!
The pics above highlight two of those items. The first, on the left, is that no matter how many times I pumped myself up both silently and verbally (my husband can attest to the latter), I forgot how humid it actually is here. Please note that it was 100% humidity at 7:08am. But not to worry — it didn’t stay like that all day. By 3:31pm it was 96F with only 35% humidity.
How did I get here?
Like, actually for real. How am I sitting in an apartment in Chengdu, China right now?
The short answer is that I’m teaching an IAH course as part of a Michigan State University study abroad program. [IAH=undergrad general education humanities course]
The long answer is, well, much longer. I’ve always privately considered myself to be an opportunist, but without the negative connotation that comes along with that word. If you’ll indulge me in a bit of word play (or funguage if you’re speaking *Kumonka), a better phrase might be experience entrepreneur.
The guiding principle for…
So I’m here. And I mean that in both the physical I’m-now-in-China sense, as well as the I’m-writing-digitally sense.
Awhile back our College was encouraged by our Dean (cc:Christopher Long) to write more. His suggestion was that writing is a useful way to share our ideas, sure, but what’s more, posting our writing before we’re unequivocally positive it’s perfect for global consumption opens the door to a collaboration that we, in academia, should welcome. Why not post questions we’re wrestling with and see if we can crowdsource an answer? …
Kate Sonka
Sweatpants connoisseur, travel aficionado, & cat enthusiast.
