On My Way

I feel like I'm getting somewhere. Finally.

I met with my assigned mentor today. She is my 20th century American prof. this semester. Literature on the working class.

I talked to her about my goals and interests. We had a good hour meeting. I thought it went well. We're both talkers, and both tend to get off subject, but she was impressed that I took such initiative and knew exactly what I wanted to do for my dissertation. She took copious notes, we exchanged interesting book and film titles. She even took me down to the department's little dvd library to find me a dvd, which I watched already, and was thoroughly interested and disturbed. (Research Kenneth Pinyan) She was very supportive of my strange and disturbing research interests, and didn't pass judgment on my obsession with the Hamilton series. In fact, she suggested I could extend my dissertation to include her.

She said she found my topics legitimately interesting, and I left her a copy of my first draft of the Wilde essay.

People seem far less pretentious here. They know the difference between true art and fluff, but they have an appreciation for both, because both contribute to our lives and culture. Therefore, both are worth study. I've met at least one other fellow student with an ereader. The Barnes and Noble version. She got flack for it, but, like me, she realized the benefits for her are worth it. (I've started using mine, and it's incredibly useful. I got one of the better models that allows me to download from more than just the sony bookstore, including pdfs, music, pictures, it has a touchpad and pen, so I can highlight and take notes, etc. I'm enjoying it. I still get books too, though.)

Anyway, I don't see people much. I'm too busy. I have friendly acquaintances, though I think a couple of people I've been out with have stopped inviting me to things. I can't say why, but I'm too busy to worry about it. But, in general, people here have impressed me with their openmindedness, and their general kindness.

K.Z.