Identity
So i just paid of my credit card for my trip to Turkey, and I spent way less than I had originally thought/budgeted for! So that means I can go back this summer, right? I fell in love with Istanbul and ever since I have been home, most of my thoughts are about how I can get myself back there. Educationally I can easily justify it, financially that's a little different. Although I am mostly finding undergraduate programs, which would be fine as long as I could get graduate credit, but I don't want to take a bunch of random classes for the undergrad requirements. I just want to do my independent study through my program in Istanbul with the safety net of a school. Everyone should visit Turkey, it is such an amazing place. All of the history that is there, it still seems surreal that I was there. Something about being able to see something in person that you have studied for the past 8 years and only seen in books or photos online, is incredible. I felt at home there. It was great for people watching and seeing the variety of dress, religion, interactions with friends and strangers, daily habits. I left wanting to learn even more about the culture and its structure, along with everything that is Byzantine :)
So if anyone wants go, just give me 2 weeks heads up so I can notify work haha
Currently I am taking a class on African art look at colonial and post colonial art in Africa. My focus is Byzantine art, so this class is completely out of the box for me. I was quite hesitant about taking it for a variety of reasons, but I am finding myself really enjoying the readings and the class discussions. So this has been a pleasant surprise. Our second class we read articles relating to identity and ethnicity and what ethnicity does one associate with. Ever since then I have been asking people what they identify with, and finding the answers fascinating. For example I have a co-worker who is from Italy, he has been living in the U.S. for 15 years, his immediate response was Roman. I know he is proud of his Italian heritage, so I was expecting that as his answer. But he skipped that and went straight for the Romans. Or I have another co-worker who is non-white (which also stemmed into a great conversation about definitions and what he would like to be called, he is 45 and he would actually prefer to be called colored, and how he can view black as offensive but knows to not take it personal.This could be a whole other entry. So I am trying to find a term that I feel comfortable to use to describe it) either way he said he would consider himself southern, as he is from Louisiana. He said he doesn't consider himself African American, as he doesn't know where his ancestors came from, he has never been to Africa, therefore how can he claim that? It was a really interesting conversation. It has sparked some really good dialogue with my co-workers.
So my question to you. What ethnicity do you identify with? I am still trying to figure out for myself.
So if anyone wants go, just give me 2 weeks heads up so I can notify work haha
Currently I am taking a class on African art look at colonial and post colonial art in Africa. My focus is Byzantine art, so this class is completely out of the box for me. I was quite hesitant about taking it for a variety of reasons, but I am finding myself really enjoying the readings and the class discussions. So this has been a pleasant surprise. Our second class we read articles relating to identity and ethnicity and what ethnicity does one associate with. Ever since then I have been asking people what they identify with, and finding the answers fascinating. For example I have a co-worker who is from Italy, he has been living in the U.S. for 15 years, his immediate response was Roman. I know he is proud of his Italian heritage, so I was expecting that as his answer. But he skipped that and went straight for the Romans. Or I have another co-worker who is non-white (which also stemmed into a great conversation about definitions and what he would like to be called, he is 45 and he would actually prefer to be called colored, and how he can view black as offensive but knows to not take it personal.This could be a whole other entry. So I am trying to find a term that I feel comfortable to use to describe it) either way he said he would consider himself southern, as he is from Louisiana. He said he doesn't consider himself African American, as he doesn't know where his ancestors came from, he has never been to Africa, therefore how can he claim that? It was a really interesting conversation. It has sparked some really good dialogue with my co-workers.
So my question to you. What ethnicity do you identify with? I am still trying to figure out for myself.