Slippery Slopes

Jul 16, 2004 15:55

Yesterday afternoon, I escaped from the perimeter and dropped pamphlets in Str'ml'nd about the wide range of recycling opportunities in this county, after the small group I was with received directions from the S. Waste coordinator. I felt libera(l)ted, and began to imagine that I was on a Left Wing-themed Monopoly board, filled with door-to-door campaigning, hiking, recycling, mass transit (instead of the railroads), public school funding, and property taxes.

As I was about to stand up and read my question last night, "Clarence" announced from the podium, "Sorry, Deepa and Stephan, but we've run out of time for you..." I'll survive, but just to satisfy my curiosity, I went ahead and interrogated the Rep. Chairman after the debate; he squirmed out of directly addressing the State Park privatization issue. After we talked, he handed me his card. "Give me a call sometime, if you'd like more information or want to volunteer." Somehow, I don't see that happening, unless as some sort of operative for another group.

It was much harder to talk to the Dem. State Chairman, who was surrounded by a Rainbow tribe of young Democrats, who represented all the races and ethnicities of this campus. In contrast, the Republican only managed to attract a handful of giddy, blonde admirers, besides my R.A.

After major and lunch today, I finally experienced another side of the program: the hammocks. For most of my life, I have been suspicious of these, imagining them as cleverly-designed hippy traps. But since the regular crowd of hammock people were off frolicking or strumming guitars, the group of friendly acquaintances that I was walking with decided to take over the beech tree where they're slung. Half of the afternoon disappeared, until I realized that I had to go to Russian singing/dancing practice.

I continue to make contact with locals. At lunch today, "E.T." from the A-M, who used to be my neighbor, interviewed me about my experience. I tried to be ambiguous, talking about a "Process of growth", "Establishing friendships", and how much I liked Rear Window. About ten minutes later, as I crossed the street, "Mumphy" rolled by in the back of a City Public Works truck and yelled, "Stephan, Wud up cus'?"

I have also met several people who were in the Creative Writing class, when "St'ff'rd" read her essay about me. They all seem inquisitive, but still sympathetic to my cause and ways. Evidently, the assignment about meeting a person was only supposed to be a page long, but she was moved to write more.

Tonight, another Showcase, featuring the stylings of "David", who has been tight-lipped about what his musical combo is doing. "David, everybody has to go anyway. You're not boosting attendance by being secretive", I said, but he hasn't budged yet.
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