dispatches from lala land
Still in L.A. The city is kind of blowing my mind. I feel constantly overstimulated and it is a little much to process. At the same time it's really exciting and I am incredibly drawn to this place. i don't think I've ever had such mixed feelings about a city.
Friday-- flew into the city in the early a.m. The Pacific Northwest followed me, as it was raining when I arrived. I didn't see anything of the city as the plane approached except the sun's glare off the top of clouds. & then the plane began it's descent. we emerged from the cloud and there was the city-- all the way to the horizon. I gasped in awe. I knew it was big, but big is such an inadequate word. It was a breathtaking sight.
A 4th year grad picked me up and took me to campus. Every place feels like freeway driving here: the streets are 5 or six lanes wide in many places. Aggressive driving seems to be the rule of the day, and fast. I was simultaneously invigorated and wondered immediately how I could bring The Kids to a place like this in good conscience. Still, when I arrived at campus I found that USC was not as threatening or as fortified as I was warned it would be.
They are all so kind and generous here. There is a lovefest going on between the grad students and the staff. I still don't quite believe that a group of students could have such a pleasant experience. Of course they all work hard, but there is a level of support that seems to buoy them all up and keep them going.
Saturday-- day two of the Ethnic Studies conference. I got to hear a speech by Andrea smith, as well as some really smart papers presented by local grad students. I also met a few of the people that are in the incoming cohort. One who has been accepted at every top AmSt program in the nation, including Yale who I have not heard from. Another finishing her M.A. at UCLA and the third a reserved young man who is finishing his undergrad at Brown. I begin to panic and wonder if some terrible mistake has been made. Surely I don't have the academic pedigree to be in the company of this cohort. Fortunately I was able to track down M-, who graduated from my undergrad last year and is now studying here, to tell me that my worries were unfounded and I rock the house. Still, the prospective cohort is a little intimidating, but seem to be a genuinely nice group of people.
Saturday night and dinner with Sholanda! She took me to this little Indian restaurant that was perfect. Unlike the city that is large and loud and a little overwhelmingly sunny at times, this place was quiet and cozy. It was right on time. I feel like we fell right into step. There was no pleasedtomeetyou awkwardness ever. It was just all sogladtoseeyou from the start. We talked about everything and I wish we'd had the chance to talk some more. I've been reading her for almost two years, but I didn't realize until I met her in person how profoundly amazing she is. & I already thought she was pretty cool from the blog.
Later I hooked up with some grad students and saw Dave Chappelle's Block Party on the biggest movie screen ever. It was amazing. I laughed my ass off. Jill Scott and Erykah Badu sang a duet! The Fugees are together again and I saw it all in L.A. it is truly a magical place. The mall was overwhelming crazy. It was just such a damned big place. But it was so excellent to be in a place where I could see POC at every turn.
Sunday-- Laid back day and I can finally sleep in. Realize that I lost my cell phone, most likely at the movie theatre. It is not at the lost and found. I check the provider website and someone is using my phone. They don't, however, answer my calls. I cancel my service and file an insurance claim. I will have a phone waiting when I get home. Still, this is the worst of this trip, so not too bad.
Later we went to a mixer/oscar party. Good food and met some other cohort folk. all so nice and smart. One kid looks to be about 12 and is transferring from HisCon. Another woman from UCLA and we hit it off right away. When she heard about my phone she insisted that I use hers to call The Kids.
Today-- the visitation day is in full swing. I need to be on campus at 8, and will be there until sometime after dinner. Better get dressed. More later.
Friday-- flew into the city in the early a.m. The Pacific Northwest followed me, as it was raining when I arrived. I didn't see anything of the city as the plane approached except the sun's glare off the top of clouds. & then the plane began it's descent. we emerged from the cloud and there was the city-- all the way to the horizon. I gasped in awe. I knew it was big, but big is such an inadequate word. It was a breathtaking sight.
A 4th year grad picked me up and took me to campus. Every place feels like freeway driving here: the streets are 5 or six lanes wide in many places. Aggressive driving seems to be the rule of the day, and fast. I was simultaneously invigorated and wondered immediately how I could bring The Kids to a place like this in good conscience. Still, when I arrived at campus I found that USC was not as threatening or as fortified as I was warned it would be.
They are all so kind and generous here. There is a lovefest going on between the grad students and the staff. I still don't quite believe that a group of students could have such a pleasant experience. Of course they all work hard, but there is a level of support that seems to buoy them all up and keep them going.
Saturday-- day two of the Ethnic Studies conference. I got to hear a speech by Andrea smith, as well as some really smart papers presented by local grad students. I also met a few of the people that are in the incoming cohort. One who has been accepted at every top AmSt program in the nation, including Yale who I have not heard from. Another finishing her M.A. at UCLA and the third a reserved young man who is finishing his undergrad at Brown. I begin to panic and wonder if some terrible mistake has been made. Surely I don't have the academic pedigree to be in the company of this cohort. Fortunately I was able to track down M-, who graduated from my undergrad last year and is now studying here, to tell me that my worries were unfounded and I rock the house. Still, the prospective cohort is a little intimidating, but seem to be a genuinely nice group of people.
Saturday night and dinner with Sholanda! She took me to this little Indian restaurant that was perfect. Unlike the city that is large and loud and a little overwhelmingly sunny at times, this place was quiet and cozy. It was right on time. I feel like we fell right into step. There was no pleasedtomeetyou awkwardness ever. It was just all sogladtoseeyou from the start. We talked about everything and I wish we'd had the chance to talk some more. I've been reading her for almost two years, but I didn't realize until I met her in person how profoundly amazing she is. & I already thought she was pretty cool from the blog.
Later I hooked up with some grad students and saw Dave Chappelle's Block Party on the biggest movie screen ever. It was amazing. I laughed my ass off. Jill Scott and Erykah Badu sang a duet! The Fugees are together again and I saw it all in L.A. it is truly a magical place. The mall was overwhelming crazy. It was just such a damned big place. But it was so excellent to be in a place where I could see POC at every turn.
Sunday-- Laid back day and I can finally sleep in. Realize that I lost my cell phone, most likely at the movie theatre. It is not at the lost and found. I check the provider website and someone is using my phone. They don't, however, answer my calls. I cancel my service and file an insurance claim. I will have a phone waiting when I get home. Still, this is the worst of this trip, so not too bad.
Later we went to a mixer/oscar party. Good food and met some other cohort folk. all so nice and smart. One kid looks to be about 12 and is transferring from HisCon. Another woman from UCLA and we hit it off right away. When she heard about my phone she insisted that I use hers to call The Kids.
Today-- the visitation day is in full swing. I need to be on campus at 8, and will be there until sometime after dinner. Better get dressed. More later.