Anthropology by Julia

I Voted

2008-11-05T19:27:00.003-06:00

Four years ago, I voted in my very first Presidential election. Going to the polls, casting my vote, getting my sticker...it was all very exhilarating in a way. I believe deep down that my vote does in fact count. And I voted four years ago for the man I thought was best for the job. Sadly, it was also because to me, he seemed to be the lesser of two evils. I hate when politics, as they so often do, come down to that. I love politics. I don't follow them as seriously as some do, but I have very strong opinions and find the whole process incredibly fascinating.

Four years ago, I helped our country enter into four additional years of being led by George W. Bush. Do I regret it now? Sometimes, yes. But I can't say that, given only the knowledge we had in 2004, I would change my vote. Like I said, at the time, he seemed to me to be the best choice.

Time changes a lot of things - knowledge, opinions, beliefs. George W. Bush did not turn out to be an exceptional choice for President. But would Kerry have been exceptional? I can't in all good conscience say that I think so. But those were the choices we had then. And I can't honestly say that, even knowing what we know now, I would change my vote given the chance.

Yesterday, I voted in my second Presidential election. Again, it was exhilarating. Again, I believed that my vote does count. And again, I voted for the man I thought was best for the job. But something was different. This year, I did not have to choose the lesser of two evils. I truly believe that both candidates were good choices, that both have the understanding of the terrible situation they would be inheriting and both would do everything in their power to fix it. I felt oddly blessed that we had such fantastic choices, and I honestly would have been happy with either one of them.

Yesterday, I helped our country enter into four years of being led by Barack Obama. There are lots of reasons I voted for Barack Obama, and I'm not going to list them all here. But one of those reasons is not because I dislike John McCain. And to me, that means a lot. That this time, politics played out as I (and I'm sure many others) wish they would. This was a fantastic race, and at the center were two fantastic men - each competent and charismatic and intelligent in their own way. This is the kind of election we should have every year; to be burdened with having to choose between two wonderful candidates.

Many years from now, my children and grandchildren will live in a world in which a black man had served as president. And they will never be able to fully understand the world I grew up in where a black president was a foreign idea. Nor will they ever be able to understand the world in which my parents grew up, or my grandparents for that matter, where the idea of a black president was laughable, impossible. I am extraordinarily grateful and proud that they will never understand such things.

Yesterday, I believe that I literally helped to change the world. Or, at the very least, my children's world. Barack Obama speaks of change, and many people who did not vote for him do not believe that he can deliver the kind of change to give this country what it needs, to better it. But I think of my nephew who is weeks away from joining this world, and I think of my own sons and daughters who are years from joining this world. And I see, standing before a nation who came together to create the largest voter turnout in years, a strong and articulate black man who came from meager beginnings deliver a speech in which he accepted the presidency of the most powerful nation in the world. And I see a country growing stronger every day because of its ability to overcome a horrifically prejudiced past; a country becoming a place where its future citizens will never know what it's like to be terrified, amused or even surprised that the president can be black.

Will Barack Obama change the economy for the better? I don't know. Will Barack Obama change the situation in the middle east for the better? I don't know. Will Barack Obama change policies and laws and other facets of the country he will soon lead for the better? I don't know.

Will Barack Obama change the United States of America for the better? Will Barack Obama change the world for the better?

He already has.

I challenge any skeptic to dispute Barack Obama's promise of change.

I Love...

2008-10-22T23:50:00.005-05:00

I love the World Series. Even though the Cardinals aren't in it this year, it is still exhilarating! The only time it wouldn't be would be a Series featuring the Red Sox and the Yankees, and that will mercifully never happen! Gotta love those leagues! Anyway, I wish baseball season would last year round!

I love The Waxing Soul. Don't know what it is? Ask me! I'm very excited about it, and can't wait to take the next step with it!

I love my new job. It's boring right now, because I haven't had my training yet, but I know it will only get better. Everyone in my clinic is extremely nice, and there are even two doctors, one of whom is Irish and the other English. And you can't be in a bad mood with those accents around!

Amidst all of these things, however, I can't concentrate on any one of them or anything else entirely because I can't stop thinking about my nephew. He will officially arrive on December 4th (unless he's early), and all I want to do is meet him. My life has suddenly become consumed by preparing for him; I want to go out and spend my whole paycheck on him already, I'm excited for baby showers coming up, I want to hear updates from Jess and John as soon as they have them. But more than anything in the world right now, I want to meet him. I want to see him on Christmas morning amid all the chaos of wrapping paper and cinnamon rolls and stocking stuffers, being the perfect, priceless gift we've all been waiting for in his mommy's arms. And I want to meet my sister as his mom. And my brother-in-law as his dad. And my mom as his grandma. And my grandparents as his great-grandparents. This list goes on and on...I can't wait for their family, and also ours, to be complete with him.
I look around and wonder how everyone can't be as excited as I am. Obviously, our families are, but I look at complete strangers and think, "Why aren't you thinking of Baby Anderson right now?! Is anything more important?! Who cares about the election or the weather or television or anything else less significant than the completion of a family?!" It doesn't make sense, I know, but my heart is bursting at the thought of him.
Jessica and John are feeling all of this ten-fold, I know. I'm so excited for them. They've been waiting their whole lives to meet their son, and it truly is God's work that they will in less than a month and a half. I'm so glad our families are so close and they have the support of everyone they hold dearest in their lives. They deserve only the best, those two. They deserve their son.

So, that's where my life and heart is right now. It's a pretty damn good place to be. :)

THE Call

2008-10-06T00:50:00.001-05:00

Okay! I can finally post this!

As you know, I have an older sister. Her name is Jessica, she's five years older than me and she is my very best friend. Five years ago, she married a wonderfully wonderful man named John. Three years ago, she and John made the decision to have a baby. And a year ago, they discovered it wasn't going to happen.

At least, not in the "traditional" way. They began adoption proceedings and six weeks ago, were finally placed on the infamous list and left to do nothing but wait. Adoption, as I'm sure most, if not all, of you know is a nail-biting, grueling, painful waiting game. And when you've been trying to have a baby for years prior to being put on the list, it's even more difficult to be patient. People can wait as little as two weeks or as long as two years; you never really know.

On Thursday, Jessica and John got THE call that they are going to be parents! A girl had chosen them three weeks ago, and finally decided to let the caseworker give them a call to make it official!

A perfectly healthy baby boy will be born the first week of December, just in time for Christmas, and he will be Jessica and John's son.

After three years of waiting, we have a timeline of when they will become parents and it's already only two months away! I am going to be an Aunt! I've never been more excited! I am going to spoil this little boy rotten! I can already tell you, with confidence, that he will have the most presents under the tree because already, two months before he's here, he's got every single one of us wrapped around his finger!

This little boy will be loved beyond comprehension because it has been a terribly long and painful road to get to him. But this feeling of incredible euphoria, knowing for the first time in three years that my sister is truly happy, knowing that my nephew is almost here, makes it all worth it.

So congratulate me! I'm almost an Aunt!

BOO!

2008-03-27T19:50:00.005-05:00

For those of you who don't know (which, I assume, is most of you) Monday, March 31st is a very important day. Not only is it Ewan McGregor's 37th birthday (I'm only slightly obsessed.), but it is the home opener for the St. Louis Cardinals! If Michael Buble sang the National Anthem, it'd be a dream day full of all of my boys!

In double-checking the Cards' schedule today, however, I've learned that the game starts at 3:15 PM. Why is this a problem? Because I have to work till 5 PM every Monday!

I'm very upset that I won't be able to see the first half of the game. I've been waiting for this day for a long time - I've lived through the Red Sox (*vomit*) winning the World Series for the second time in four seasons while at the same time, being only slightly interested in NCAA football (Sorry, Jessica. I know you're disappointed in me.), suffered through basketball and March Madness (Basketball has never interested me in the slightest.), watched three of my fab five, including my favorite player, be traded and leave, and suffered the humiliation of one of my boys (though he has since left the team) be mentioned in the Mitchell Report. I think I've earned my right to watch the '08 home opener in its entirety!

Is my love for my boys great enough to buy a subscription to MLB.tv so I can watch it in the office at work? Of course! Do I have the money? Not so much.

Bummer. Bummer x 10.

A happy birthday, indeed!

2008-03-21T15:13:00.004-05:00

Well, yesterday was my birthday! 22! I've heard it's a good age. Lots of people have asked me if I feel older, but I don't. Not yet, at least.

I went out to dinner with friends and then we went back to my apartment and it was a good time! I celebrated with old friends, good friends, new friends... ;-)

On Sunday, I'm going out with my family and I'm excited! I'm not gonna lie, I love my birthday! I just love being with and hearing from everyone who mean everything to me around that time. I wish my grandparents could've been here, but I got to talk to them and I'll see them soon!

Be sure to note that it is officially spring! My birthday falls on the vernal equinox, so I always remember the first day of spring! It's a great day all around, eh?!

Anyway, thanks to all who called with birthday wishes! I appreciate it!

My darling, you were wonderful tonight.

2008-03-07T01:42:00.001-06:00

Where can you get fantastic live music, charisma to spare, and conversations about soft core porn?

Why, at a Michael Buble concert, of course!

His concert was Tuesday night, and I'd just like to point out that he sold out the Ford Center. Yup, that's right! My little Michael is growing up!

The concert was fabulous, and he's just so entertaining! Because not only does he sound exactly like his CD when he's performing live, but he's charismatic and hysterical and you can tell that he truly loves to perform and be on stage. His presence is phenomenal! What more can you ask for from an artist, really?

My only regret is that I did not get to meet him again. Alas, next time perhaps!

I love him.

Finally!

2008-02-10T20:20:00.000-06:00

After years of being nominated, my Michael finally won his first Grammy tonight! He won for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance for his CD, Call Me Irresponsible, that came out last year!

*Sniff* I'm so proud! :-)

I got my sticker!

2008-02-05T23:52:00.000-06:00

I voted today! Did you?

There's something very exhilirating about voting. I love it. I've been looking forward to today for a very long time - since the last time I visited the polls at least! And what an exciting and incredibly important election to be involved in! It's pretty awesome.

Though all of results of Super Tuesday didn't turn out as I'd hoped, I have faith in the elections and caucuses to come! I'm now eagerly awaiting November!

Viva La Election '08!

A New Dawn...A New Day...A New Blog!

2008-01-31T00:47:00.000-06:00

Alright, let me explain.

As my new "About Me" section states, the reason I stopped posting on here is because I wasn't in Italy anymore. I didn't have anything else to post about the trip. But, I was recently tagged in a "game" and I was bored and I have people nagging at me to update anyway, so here you go...maybe now I'll actually update! (No promises!)

I was tagged by Liz.

The Rules: Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog. Share 5 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, or Share the 5 top places on your “want to see or want to see again” list, or Share 5 things you never pictured being in your future when you were 25 years old. Tag a minimum of 5, maximum of 10 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. The tagees have a choice of which they want to do.

1) I hate peanut butter. Loathe it. Most people consider this an atrocity. Other things I've been abhorred for hating: popcorn, twizzlers, rice (it DOES have a taste - a nasty taste, and soy sauce tastes nasty, too), any pizza toppings besides cheese, lettuce (I only eat spinach leaf salad), and any and all nuts.

2) The most amazing and breathtaking place I've ever been is Pompeii, Italy. I don't think I can possibly explain the impact it made on me in words. It was truly life-changing. The second most amazing place I've been is the Tower of London. (If you haven't already guessed, I'm quite the history nerd.)

3) I used to “fold” my bottom lip. I have a scar on my bottom lip because of it.

4) I pronounce the word “moment” differently than most because I used to think there was an ‘l’ in it. Now, I know there’s not an ‘l’ but I still pronounce it “molment.”

5) When I was younger, my left thumbnail got ripped off, and grew back flat. For years, the way I told left from right was by feeling my thumbnails because left was flat and right was rounded.

I'm supposed to tag other people now, but everyone I would think to tag has already been tagged by someone else. So, there you are. At least I played!

Check back! I think I may start keeping this thing updated again!

2007-07-08T19:07:00.000-05:00

I know, I know, I know! I haven't blogged in forever, and after I promised I would! I'm sorry. With coming home came work and other distractions. And I wanted enough time to let the re-entry shock settle down and to gather my thoughts so I could express them adequately. And, yes, I will be posting more pictures soon! And when I say soon, I really honestly mean soon! :)

This summer has been a very important one for me. I've had a lot of new and wonderful experiences and also a lot of time to realize that since the day I boarded that plane in Dallas, my life will never be quite the same. In Italy, I never had a revelation moment like, "Wow, this sure is a life changing experience." I was just doing what I was there to do. And I loved it, and I became comfortable with it. It became a routine…living in Italy! How crazy that sounds now, to call it routine. It was, in fact, very out of character for me.

Going to Italy, I threw myself into a situation where I couldn't escape and knew absolutely no one. I put myself out there, socially and personally. I took a risk for the sake of my own peace of mind and in doing so, I have solidified my future and made incredible friends. That's not to say I don't already have incredible friends – on the contrary actually. But the people I met in Italy love history and Archaeology and Anthropology and classics enough to make it an obsession…to love it like I do. They are, when it comes to a desire to make that a career goal, my soul mates. Imagine if I'd let my insecurities stop me from going. Imagine if I'd spent that month in Oklahoma. I'd have never found things that haven't been seen for thousands of years. I wouldn't have gone to Rome and Pompeii and fantastically beautiful Orvieto. I'd have never met a truly diverse group of immensely wonderful people.

I've evolved a lot in my years since high school, but never enough to truly be happy with myself. This experience has given me a level of confidence I've only ever dreamed about. I feel really good about myself. I am so ridiculously proud of myself. I feel different – forever changed into the type of person I always wanted to be. It's an amazing feeling, really, to have confidence in myself, but also in my abilities and in my future.

It makes me wonder, what have I missed through the years because of my complacency and fear of change? I hope it wasn't anything or anyone too spectacular, but it very well may have been. I suppose I'll never know, so it's nothing to dwell on. This whole new outlook has given me every reason in the world to not dwell on things that can't be changed or just don't even matter. And it's given me a greater appreciation for myself, and for the people I love.

I realize now, that I am solely responsible for my own happiness. So, from now on, I'll be proudly putting myself out there because after everything is said and done, the most important person you have to face with your decisions is yourself. And after everything I've accomplished this summer, I'd really hate to let myself down.

Pompeii Pictures

2007-06-09T16:06:00.000-05:00

I actually took 167 pictures at Pompeii, but these are some highlights.

Me in an oven.

Me in front of the Forum.

Amphitheatre.

A plaster cast of a body found at Pompeii. The position I think is so sad. It looks like he's praying.

A kitchen.

The Temple of Apollo.

There were beautiful frescos all over the Villa of Mysteries.

I experimented with some black and white photography. These are some of my favorites.

You can still see the ruts in the road from chariot wheels.

This last one is my favorite. It was taken from a simple house, and you can see Mount Vesuvius through the hole in the wall.

Ciao, Orvieto.

2007-06-08T13:15:00.000-05:00

Well, folks, tonight is my last night in Orvieto. I've had fun and learned a lot, but truth be told, I'm ready to go to London (!!) and I'm really ready to go home.

I'm sorry to say I don't have any pictures again tonight. I wasn't able to bring my laptop up here again. But, keep checking because as soon as I can (even if it's after I get home), I will post a ton of pictures for you to admire and enjoy!

I know I haven't written much about my work in the field, but that's because I don't want to post about my finds and such until I can show you pictures! I will say I had an amazing time in the field, though. A hot, sweaty, greasy, miserably amazing time! This trip has not turned me off of Archaeology. In fact, it's made me want to pursue it more than ever. Good thing, too, as I'd hate to have wasted these past three years in college working toward something I ended up hating.

I'm sure Austin knows of a good internet cafe in London, so I'll try to post there, too. Keep checking! I'll be back!

Oh, the places you'll go...

2007-06-04T12:20:00.000-05:00

Bad news: no pictures today. I wasn't able to bring my laptop today, so all I can do is post. But that's pretty exciting, huh?!

I went to the Vatican, Sorrento, Pompeii, and Capri this weekend. The Vatican was awesome, and I'm not even Catholic! Haha! I completely forgot that School of Athens was in the Vatican museum, and when it showed up in front of me, well, I was very excited! The Sistine Chapel is absolutely amazing. Michaelangelo was nothing short of a genius. Then in St. Peter's Basilica, that statement was reaffirmed when I saw the Pieta. St. Peter's was beautiful, though I didn't get to climb to the top of the dome. I would've liked to, but we just didn't have the time.

It's official. My favorite place I've ever been (previously the Tower of London) is now Pompeii. I don't think I can do it justice in the short of amount of time I have to post on here. The city is beautiful, sad, funny, and awe-inspiring all at the same time. I took a ton of pictures there, and I will post a few soon. We got there early (and it was free admission because it was a holiday), right after it opened, so for a long time, there was hardly anyone there. My friend Lauren and I walked around together and got lost in the streets of the neighborhoods. It was quiet, and gave me time to reflect on the people who lived there. Seeing some of the bodies, and the positions they were in, made me want to cry. Everything happened so quickly there, and they never had a chance. It's a pretty crazy feeling to walk in the city that was lost in less than ten minutes. And the temples and structures there...again, this is why I think ancient civilizations are so amazing. They built all of these incredible things with absolutely no technology. I know this sounds cheesy, but Pompeii really changed me. It affected me as an Archaeologist, but even more as a person.

Well, our beach weekend was ruined by something that the locals say is very rare this time of the year...rain, rain, and more rain. We didn't even get to swim in the pool at our hotel in Sorrento! It was such a bummer! The weekend, though, was worth it for me because of Pompeii, but I know a lot of people were really disappointed.

I'm just going to go ahead and tell everyone to never, ever go to Naples (Napoli) if you can avoid it. That city is filthy and creepy beyond words. We may be young American girls, but thank goodness we're not young, stupid American girls. I'm pretty sure we narrowly escaped a potentially bad and dangerous situation because of our logic and awareness. But that's a long story for a time when I have more minutes on the internet.

I felt really sick today so I only had a half a day the field. I'm feeling a lot better now, and I think I just needed some rest after our insane weekend.

I'll be back soon to post more stories and pictures!

Roma!!!

2007-05-30T10:19:00.000-05:00

So, picture this:
Eating pizza in an Italian café across the street from the Coliseum, sitting on the balcony with a perfect view, a cool breeze makes for perfect weather, surrounded by good friends, and suddenly, over the speakers…Michael Buble!!!
This was my Sunday lunch experience in Rome!

(At the café with the Coliseum in the background!)

Beautiful Roma! Absolutely spectacular! The Coliseum, Roman Forum, Palatine, Capitoline Museum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo…completely and totally awesome! I can’t even begin to describe my experience at the Coliseum. We waited in line for tickets and I looked around thinking, “How many people walked right here for the last time? How many people took their last breath here?” It was pretty surreal. I’m always amazed by things like the Coliseum…huge, amazingly elaborate structures, created at a time with no technology for such things. It sends me into some sort of meditative state. It reminds me why I love history.

(In the Coliseum with the girls - me, Colleen, Caitlin, Lauren.)

Did you know I have my own Basilica? Oh yeah, it’s called Basilica Julia. It’s in the Roman Forum. Or rather, its remains are in the Roman Forum. Julia was Augustus’s daughter who was eventually banished from Rome because of her promiscuity. Hehehe!

(Me with my Basilica remnants!)

The Capitoline was awesome! We got to see the famous bronze statue of Romulus and Remus, which was exciting!

(Romulus and Remus.)

I made my wish at the Trevi Fountain, then proceeded to enjoy some gelato while sitting in front of it in all its glory!

(Making a wish at the Trevi Fountain!)

The Spanish Steps were crowded. Cool, but crowded, so we didn’t spend much time there.

(Spanish Steps.)

The Piazza del Popolo was fascinating to me because the Egyptian obelisk that Augustus stole was prominently displayed in the center. I’m glad I got to see it, because I love Egyptian history, but at the same time, it made me mad because I’m a firm believer that structures and structural artifacts should be left where they are found…and don’t even get me started on the fact that he placed a cross at the top of it. Completely and utterly disrespectful to ancient Egyptian culture, but I suppose if you’re going to steal something, you don’t have much respect for the people you’re stealing from anyway. Sorry, tangent…but the obelisk was really cool!

(Piazza del Popolo.)

We’re going back to Rome on Friday to tour the Vatican and such things as St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel! I’m beyond excited!
Speaking of this weekend, we’re headed on Saturday to Pompeii, somewhere I’ve wanted to go for a very long time! Then it’s off to Capri for a beach weekend! Ah, Italy, where will your adventures end?!

I've had some great experiences in the field this week! I will post about them asap after I upload pictures onto my computer!

My first find!!!

2007-05-22T11:21:00.000-05:00

Ciao!

I would like to inform you all that I made my very first Archaeological discovery today!

I know it's blurry...sorry. But it's a piece of pottery, possibly Etruscan! It's most likely the rim of a vase! AHH!!! How exciting! Never thought a broken piece of clay could be so exciting, huh?! Yeah it is!!

Obviously, we worked in the field today! Not our field, though. There's an Italian guy, Claudio, who's helping us with our site, and basically we were loaned to him for a couple of days to help clean up his site. Oh well, it was fun because there were things like this everywhere, and it was so exciting to find them!

We started out pulling weeds, but then a girl named Caty and I got to work in a trench! It had already been dug, and basically, we were just clearing out all the loose dirt, but when we were done, Sylvia (our field manager) said we did an amazing job and showed it to the whole group and made them clap for us! It was pretty awesome!

I'm trying to post mo0re pictures but blogger is being dumb. And, all the instructions are in Italian, so I can't figure it out. I'm going to have to work on that when I have more time, because I have about three minutes left right now.

Anyway, very exciting day! I got hot and sweaty and dirty and slathered on sunscreen and got even more dirty and I couldn't be happier. I love it here.

Here at last!

2007-05-21T09:50:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone!
I'm currently in Orvieto in an internet café so I thought I'd write a little bit about my trip thus far! I can't write much right now, though, because people are waiting on me...
Flights and meeting my group went smoothly, even though I was paranoid the whole time that something would go wrong. I met a girl at the airport. Her name is Katelynn (Not sure of exact spelling, but you get the idea!). She's really nice and came on the trip last year so she's showing me around a bit. I've also gotten to know my roomate, Haley (Ditto on the spelling.) and she seems cool, too. She spends a lot of time with her boyfriend, though. Katelynn's roomate, Lauren, is a lot of fun, too. And, she's an Anthropology major at OU and she loves Ewan McGregor! I'm pretty sure we were destined to meet! Haha!
That's all for now, cause I feel bad for making people wait, and there's not much else to talk about. We didn't go to the field today, so nothing too terribly exciting has happened. I'll be back soon, though, and hopefully with pictures!
Love you all!

Almost there!

2007-05-17T11:38:00.000-05:00

In three days, I will be in beautiful Italia, ready and willing to dig in the dirt! I made this blog so whenever I get a chance to stop off at an internet cafe, I can update family and friends in mass!

I hope you'll check back every once in a while and read about my adventures! I know I will love sharing them!