(no subject)
k, i've realized i've become totally independent of palo alto. finally. i read the stuff about harassment and instead of being like "nooo!!! the end of an era! my childhood has been effaced!" i was like "yeah whatever there's a reason i left america i'll be back in berkeley in fall agitating for something anyway."
i'm taking a class on the politics of northern ireland that makes me realize that political stability at the expense of ideals is really, REALLY bullshit. some people love america for its stability and acceptance and crap, but the price of domestic "peace" is too high and the acceptance is a myth. to those people i say, i hope you rot in the juices of your own complacency.
on a lighter note (lighter than complacency juices) ireland has its problems, but it also has bono and sir bob geldoff. ireland is behind america in terms of dealing with homophobia, xenophobia and racism, but the people are largely conscious of their faults. they know what's going on in the world and they know to expect an increase in tension with the coming influx of eu and guest workers. what they know not to do is stare at their navels for hours on end wondering if they listen to the right music, use the right slang or drive the right car.
btw, i knew there was a reason i don't like other american students. one of them just laughed in my face when i tried to make smalltalk. fucking acculturate, you bitch. stop wearing north face gear.
but i digress. since coming here, i've spent christmas on my own; skipped thanksgiving; been hospitalized; paid medical, telecom and electricity bills; and kept an ancient 5-bedroom house in livable condition. my keychain has grown to the point where it weighs about a kilo. i'm not financially independent, but that will change in the next few years (hopefully). i don't feel the need to do anything in palo alto anymore besides visit. i might soon say the same thing for the entire country, who knows.
so, if anyone was still wondering, yeah, i like it here.
i'm taking a class on the politics of northern ireland that makes me realize that political stability at the expense of ideals is really, REALLY bullshit. some people love america for its stability and acceptance and crap, but the price of domestic "peace" is too high and the acceptance is a myth. to those people i say, i hope you rot in the juices of your own complacency.
on a lighter note (lighter than complacency juices) ireland has its problems, but it also has bono and sir bob geldoff. ireland is behind america in terms of dealing with homophobia, xenophobia and racism, but the people are largely conscious of their faults. they know what's going on in the world and they know to expect an increase in tension with the coming influx of eu and guest workers. what they know not to do is stare at their navels for hours on end wondering if they listen to the right music, use the right slang or drive the right car.
btw, i knew there was a reason i don't like other american students. one of them just laughed in my face when i tried to make smalltalk. fucking acculturate, you bitch. stop wearing north face gear.
but i digress. since coming here, i've spent christmas on my own; skipped thanksgiving; been hospitalized; paid medical, telecom and electricity bills; and kept an ancient 5-bedroom house in livable condition. my keychain has grown to the point where it weighs about a kilo. i'm not financially independent, but that will change in the next few years (hopefully). i don't feel the need to do anything in palo alto anymore besides visit. i might soon say the same thing for the entire country, who knows.
so, if anyone was still wondering, yeah, i like it here.