May proved to be a great month filled with visitors for Rashawn & I! First Marquinta, Brandon, & Abby, then Ray's Mom & Grandma, then Connie, Wendy, & Trae. We were all over Germany...and toppped it off with Amsterdam (newly added to my list of top 5 cities). And of course, it wouldn't be a trip without great pics to prove it! Check 'em out! Hope you enjoy! Love ya, miss ya, & see ya soon!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Amsterdam
We just got back from Amsterdam. This place far surpasses Vegas as sin city. It is the wildest place I have ever been to. Weed and prostitution are legal. They have "Coffee Shops" which are really weed shops. They look like coffee shops with neon lights. They are pretty nice though. They also have these weed cakes. The prostitutions are entrepreneurs and rent out small rooms in the Red Light District and stand in glass windows and doors with lingerie and bikinis on until someone comes to purchase them for about $40 for 20 minutes. In addition to the prostitutes being on the main Red Light District strip, several of them are down these super small alleys were you cannot even stretch your arms out on each side. Thus, it is just people walking all through the alleys running into each other. This is why everyone is warned about pick pockets. Amsterdam also has live sex shows.
Everyone also rides bikes. Everyone! They have bike garages like we have for cars in the U.S. People ride with friends and significant others on the back of the bikes. Parents ride with children in wagons on the front of the bikes. And the bikers will run you over! I thought Germany was bad, but the Netherlands is off the hook! You better get out of the street! I saw this guy get run over by a biker and it was not a nice scene. The only downfall is that the food is not that good, but all of this other stuff makes up for it. There is so much diversity in regards to race and culture that it is just amazing. I bet there is someone in Amsterdam at any given time from most of the countries in the world. This is saying a lot considering there are roughly 194 independent countries in the world. We saw some of everything in Amsterdam. People are hilarious! There is so much more I could say, but I will leave the rest for your imagination or personal conversations. Taken together, we highly recommend Amsterdam.
In addition to the obvious attraction of the Red Light District, we also took a cruise boat tour through the canals. That was nice. We went to the Anne Frank Museum, which is the actual location where the Frank family stayed. We got to walk through the Annex and everything. It was really moving. We also went to the Dutch Resistance Museum, which chronicles how the Dutch resisted Nazi takeover during World War II. There were these three women in their late teens and early 20s who were just raw! They would kidnap key Nazi informants and “take out” individuals who worked for the Nazis. The ring leader, Hannie Schaft, got caught and ended being executed. Hannie Schaft is known as the "Girl with the Red Hair." There was a movie about her in the 1980s, entitled “The Girl with the Red Hair.”
Everyone also rides bikes. Everyone! They have bike garages like we have for cars in the U.S. People ride with friends and significant others on the back of the bikes. Parents ride with children in wagons on the front of the bikes. And the bikers will run you over! I thought Germany was bad, but the Netherlands is off the hook! You better get out of the street! I saw this guy get run over by a biker and it was not a nice scene. The only downfall is that the food is not that good, but all of this other stuff makes up for it. There is so much diversity in regards to race and culture that it is just amazing. I bet there is someone in Amsterdam at any given time from most of the countries in the world. This is saying a lot considering there are roughly 194 independent countries in the world. We saw some of everything in Amsterdam. People are hilarious! There is so much more I could say, but I will leave the rest for your imagination or personal conversations. Taken together, we highly recommend Amsterdam.
In addition to the obvious attraction of the Red Light District, we also took a cruise boat tour through the canals. That was nice. We went to the Anne Frank Museum, which is the actual location where the Frank family stayed. We got to walk through the Annex and everything. It was really moving. We also went to the Dutch Resistance Museum, which chronicles how the Dutch resisted Nazi takeover during World War II. There were these three women in their late teens and early 20s who were just raw! They would kidnap key Nazi informants and “take out” individuals who worked for the Nazis. The ring leader, Hannie Schaft, got caught and ended being executed. Hannie Schaft is known as the "Girl with the Red Hair." There was a movie about her in the 1980s, entitled “The Girl with the Red Hair.”
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
So the foolishness continues!
This morning I was running along the Rhine River, which is a beautiful location to take in the scenery in this area. As I am running, enjoying my day, and taking in the sites, I glance to my right and notice a person face down with a black g-string on. Upon further inspection, I realize it is a man. In fact, it is a homeless man because all of his belongings were scattered around his little area. He actually had quite a bit of stuff. I actually had to stop and stare for a second because it was rather comical. After returning to the Wohnung (apartment), I told everyone about what I saw. Of course, Cynthia did not believe me. Therefore, I had to take them to see the site. Right where I left him, there was the g-string. See the pics below. If you look closely, you will see that on the left side of the g-string there is a flower print of a rose.
However, this is not all. After leaving the Turkish Dönor for lunch, we go to the train station to do a little tourist shopping. It is a holiday in Germany so not much is open today. I was sitting on a bench working on a paper when a man walks by and waves. I respond with the standard head nod and hand wave. He then approaches me and asked if I am from The States. I stated that I live in Indiana. He said, “I have never met anyone from Indiana before.” He then proceeds to tell me that he has been living in Germany for 31 years after being in the US military. Why he left the military is still a mystery. I ask him standard sociological probing questions, which usually results in individuals telling me most of their life “story.” He tells me that he is originally from Texas but ended up having a child here in Germany. He tells me that America is not what it used to be. Then he says he think it is crack that changed America. This came a bit out of left field, but it will make sense soon. As he departs, we exchange names. He says, “You must be an 80s baby cause that is when Black women started naming their children all those nice, fancy names.” Lastly, he hands me a sheet of paper and says, “This is a letter about my life story. Read it if you have time.” How many people give you a paper with their life story on it? Weird. My grandma said, “I knew he wasn’t right when I saw his vampire teeth.” He did have teeth like a vampire. Heehee. I could say more but the letter is all the evidence I need on this one. And believe me, I could not make up stuff this good if I tried. Read Gregory´s ``Life Story`` below.
Students are Funny
Below is an email I received from one of my students here in Germany. Now there is a lot I could say, but I do not think my reaction is worth burning my candle on both ends. So I just decided not to respond. Enjoy the laugh.
"Unfortunately, I've to tell you that I can't take part in course on
Wednesday any longer. At the moment I'm not able to do the Readings
and to post my reflection statements weekly because I haven't enough
time. I'm so sorry about that. Lately, I've burned the candle at both
ends and I feel overload. For that reason I've to shorten my work
quota. I hope you're going to understand my decision."
"Unfortunately, I've to tell you that I can't take part in course on
Wednesday any longer. At the moment I'm not able to do the Readings
and to post my reflection statements weekly because I haven't enough
time. I'm so sorry about that. Lately, I've burned the candle at both
ends and I feel overload. For that reason I've to shorten my work
quota. I hope you're going to understand my decision."
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
"Sit Down! I said Sit Down:" Momma Jiree as Teacher
So this may be one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time. My mother and grandmother are here and it is so much fun having them around. Family is great! So Cynthia was telling us about her cousin Jackie substitute teaching 3rd and 6th graders. In short, the students are basically "running" over Jackie. She is basically "too nice" to the students. Of course, students will take advantage of nice teachers, particularly subs. Therefore, my mom decided to give Jackie some advice on how to deal with the students. See the video below.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Crazy Stuff: Weird Guy on Train
Ok… So I am really starting to think that crazy stuff follows me. Evidently, I am going to have to have to concur with Keon and Cynthia that I am a weird magnet. We were on the city train on our way back from Luisenpark, which is actually a huge Botanical Garden and Zoo with really beautiful flowers and weird-looking animals. See the pics below. As we approached a stop, we glazed to the other side of the tracks where another train going in the opposite direction was letting off some passengers. All of a sudden, this guy starts yelling and making weird gestures towards the train driver by pointing at his wrist where his watch is located. Then, as the train proceeds to take off, the guy leaps in the front of the train by throwing one leg and arm on the windshield. The train driver immediately stops the train. As this is occurring, everyone is staring in utter disbelief. And for those who have traveled to Germany, you know that Germans, unlike Americans, rarely make public scenes or reactions to public scenes. Thus, observing everyone’s faces was really funny.
However, this is not the end of the incident. After leaping onto the windshield like a fly, the guy then takes off running towards the back of the train. Everyone is looking to see where he is going. All of sudden, he makes himself known. He is on our train! The guy took off running from his side of the tracks to our side and jumped on our train just as we were riding off. Everyone on the train starts to tense up as he paces from the back to the front of the train. As he does this, he seems to be looking either at us or looking at a seat. But this was hard to tell because one of his eyes was really off. Thus, we did not know what he was looking at!
He then proceeds to march to the back of the bus and sits in between a woman and man who are clearly together. And he just stares at them! This makes them extremely uncomfortable so they just get off at the next stop. We don’t even think this was there stop. The guy then proceeds to do the same thing to some women at the very back of the train. At the next stop, they immediately get off. This was not their stop either! He then marches his way back up towards the front of the train and just walks by staring at us and everyone else. All of us were very uncomfortable. Cynthia got a little scared so we switched seats so that she could sit on the inside. My mom, being the “bout it” person that she is, has a glass bottle in hand ready to strike when he reaches that “level.” My grandma and I just laughed because we are silly. As we approached the Paradeplatz, which is one of the main train stops in Mannheim, roughly everyone on the train got off. As the train rode off, the guy was just standing in the door way looking at us and the sky.
We would have taken a picture of him, but we didn’t know how he would react to that and I am under the impression that you do not mess with people like him. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that my brief recollection of this memorable event has painted a video in your mind.
Now, this incident was funny to me because I tend to think most things that individuals do are funny. But there is a larger health issue which should be addressed (Sorry for my sociological epithet, but I believe this is an important issue and I should take time to briefly say something). Mental illness is a serious issue. If you know someone who you think is effected by mental illness, it is not a time to poke fun. Rather, you should aim to get them some assistance to keep them safe, as well as the individuals around them safe.
However, this is not the end of the incident. After leaping onto the windshield like a fly, the guy then takes off running towards the back of the train. Everyone is looking to see where he is going. All of sudden, he makes himself known. He is on our train! The guy took off running from his side of the tracks to our side and jumped on our train just as we were riding off. Everyone on the train starts to tense up as he paces from the back to the front of the train. As he does this, he seems to be looking either at us or looking at a seat. But this was hard to tell because one of his eyes was really off. Thus, we did not know what he was looking at!
He then proceeds to march to the back of the bus and sits in between a woman and man who are clearly together. And he just stares at them! This makes them extremely uncomfortable so they just get off at the next stop. We don’t even think this was there stop. The guy then proceeds to do the same thing to some women at the very back of the train. At the next stop, they immediately get off. This was not their stop either! He then marches his way back up towards the front of the train and just walks by staring at us and everyone else. All of us were very uncomfortable. Cynthia got a little scared so we switched seats so that she could sit on the inside. My mom, being the “bout it” person that she is, has a glass bottle in hand ready to strike when he reaches that “level.” My grandma and I just laughed because we are silly. As we approached the Paradeplatz, which is one of the main train stops in Mannheim, roughly everyone on the train got off. As the train rode off, the guy was just standing in the door way looking at us and the sky.
We would have taken a picture of him, but we didn’t know how he would react to that and I am under the impression that you do not mess with people like him. Nevertheless, I am hopeful that my brief recollection of this memorable event has painted a video in your mind.
Now, this incident was funny to me because I tend to think most things that individuals do are funny. But there is a larger health issue which should be addressed (Sorry for my sociological epithet, but I believe this is an important issue and I should take time to briefly say something). Mental illness is a serious issue. If you know someone who you think is effected by mental illness, it is not a time to poke fun. Rather, you should aim to get them some assistance to keep them safe, as well as the individuals around them safe.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Concentration Camp Tour
On April 27 we toured a Nazi Concentration Camp in Sandhofen, which is about 15 minutes from Mannheim. VISUM sponsored this tour. Christi Smith and Steffi Horn translated very well for us during the tour. Steffi is a student in my course and is highly involved in organizations which aim to provide sociohistorical accounts of the Holocaust by touring Europe ensuring that historical sites are well preserved and individual legacies live on. Currently, the Concentration Camp is an elementary school with the museum of the camp in the basement of the school. The museum is very well representative of the camp. This particular camp housed about 2,000 boys and men from Poland. Interestingly, this camp was owned and operated by the Germany company Daimler-Benz, which is more commonly known to us as Mercedes-Benz. As most individuals know, this conglomerate is one of the most lucrative auto companies owning Mercedes, Maybach, Chrysler, Smart, and holdings in many truck, bus, and diesel companies. This was quite shocking to me. More interesting is that Daimler-Benz was founding in 1926. Think about how much this company benefited from the slave labor of Jews during the 1930s and 1940s. Another interesting fact is that the first car was driven around the Mannheim city center. This car was a Benz. The owner drove the car around while his son ran beside the car putting more gasoline into the automobile. Collectively, the historical consequences of slave labor during tragic genocides such as the Holocaust (which murdered an estimated 5.7 million Jews) and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (which murdered over 20 million Africans) not only have marginalized effects but also privileged effects. In this context, one of the most lucrative auto companies is still reaping the benefits of its participation in the Holocaust. We must never, ever forget and always educate those around us including the generations to come about these human atrocities which have institutional and social consequences rooted in racial prejudice and discrimination.
Czech it Out!
On April 18-20 Cynthia and I traveled to Prague, Czech Republic with VISUM, which is an international student organization at the University of Mannheim. VISUM is great! They are always hosting a wide array of events for international students including Brewery tours, Pub Crawls, and tours of businesses and museums around Germany. With VISUM, we also toured BASF, which is the largest chemical manufacturer in products made and geographical space. BASF is located in Ludwigshafen, which is just on the other side of the Rhine River. You can see Ludwigshafen in some of the pics from my office window.
Overall, our trip to Prague was superb and very cost efficient! The entire trip only cost $85 Euros per person and this price included the bus, hostel, breakfast at the hostel, tour of the city, a brewery tour, and a dinner at a traditional Czech restaurant. You can see pics of Prague here. The area speaks for itself. Prague is a very nice city. Despite it being a focal point of World War II and the Cold War, Prague remained relatively intact so you can still see the historical features from the Roman Empire.
We went on a three hour tour of Prague, which was in English. Our tour guide was very well adept with Czech culture. He was older and could not only provide historical references but personal references. His insights were invaluable. To see the place where the Czechs announced their move to a republic and then right down the street one of the first Jewish ghettos were Jews were discriminated and persecuted because of their religious and ethnic background was truly astonishing. We then walked up to the Czech castle where we could see all of Prague. We also toured the Museum of Communism, which was very eye-opening regarding the interworkings of communism and how it gained the support of individuals through propaganda tactics.
The brewery tour and traditional Czech dinner were also fun. Although the Czech Republic is known around the world for its beer, Cynthia and I were not at all impressed with the Czech Budweiser. Europeans say there are not many links between American Budweiser and Czech Budweiser, but I do not believe it. In fact, the Czech Budweiser tasted very similar to the American Budweiser, which is to say not good! However, we had some great beer at the Czech restaurant and in the hostel so that made up for it. The Czech beer reputation is restored.
This was the first time Cynthia and I stayed in the hostel so we really did not know what to expect and did not want the movie Hostel to influence our expectations and experiences. We stayed in a room with four bunk beds. Cynthia was on the top and I was on the bottom and we had six other international students in the room with us. Everyone was basically from another country including France, Italy, Sweden, Norway, and Germany. It was really neat so we hung out with them most of the trip. Room 127 in the house! Or should I say, in the hostel! I also went to two very hip, trendy clubs. The first club was on the 6th floor of a building. You could see all of Prague from the club. The music was techno and the crowd was a bit older. Everyone was really trying to dance, which was pretty funny. I think this guy was getting married because his friends were just a little too old to be jumping around like that on a regular basis. Although if they are anything like the older people in LA, they may do that every weekend. The second club was advertised as the largest club in Europe and I may have to concur. It was five stories with a club and lounge on each side of the floor with its own decor, music, theme, and drink menu. It was a lot of fun because you had ten separate spaces the size of a regular club to enjoy.
On the way to the club, we had an incident. We took a taxi van and we had been warned that the taxi drivers try to get over on tourist. We asked him how much it was cost and he told us 300 Crowns (100 Czech dollars equal about 4 Euros). I was sitting up front and as we traveled to the club the meter was increasing every second! By the time we arrived to the club, the price was 900 Crowns! So the tourists books say to challenge the taxi drivers and waiters and waitresses when they over charge. So we told the guy he said it would cost 300 Crowns. He began getting very upset. We told him we would only pay 500 Crowns. Needless to say, an altercation ensues and he pulls out a screw driver on us. Cynthia thought I was ring leader of this incident, but I was just sitting back watching the French, Swedish, and Italian guys handle it. It was pretty funny to me. We only ended up paying 500. Heeehee.
The aforementioned, however, is not the funniest part of the trip. The bus driver made the trip. He gets his own profile on the site (see below). First, he showed up an hour late so we were out in the cold at 1am to leave and his slow tail showed up late. Then, his GPS did not work in the Czech Republic, and wouldn’t you know he didn’t have a map. What kind of bus driver does not have a map?! It was supposed to take us 7 hours to get there, but it took us 11. Then, when we got to Prague, the only maps we had were the Lonely Planet maps so he proceeds to drive on the tourist walking routes. Of course the bus could not fit down the small tourist roads so he had traffic backed up for a kilometer as we proceeded to turn around in circles! Foolishness! As stated above, we went with an international student group so it was people from all over the world talking about him in several languages. One Australian student said that I could understand stated, “You bloody dumb a*$, stupid a*$, bus driver! You can’t drive!” The French, Italians, Germans, Americans, Canadians, Swedish, and Finnish were all cursing him out in their native language. It was hilarious!
Below you see the bus driver in the breakfast. Everyone was like why is he eating breakfast he doesn't deserve breakfast. On the two pics with the bus, you see the bus driver asking another bus driver for directions on how to get us back to Mannheim from Karlsbad (a bath house city in Czech Republic). The last pic is my fav. Look how far traffic is backed up down that little road. Foolishness!
Overall, our trip to Prague was superb and very cost efficient! The entire trip only cost $85 Euros per person and this price included the bus, hostel, breakfast at the hostel, tour of the city, a brewery tour, and a dinner at a traditional Czech restaurant. You can see pics of Prague here. The area speaks for itself. Prague is a very nice city. Despite it being a focal point of World War II and the Cold War, Prague remained relatively intact so you can still see the historical features from the Roman Empire.
We went on a three hour tour of Prague, which was in English. Our tour guide was very well adept with Czech culture. He was older and could not only provide historical references but personal references. His insights were invaluable. To see the place where the Czechs announced their move to a republic and then right down the street one of the first Jewish ghettos were Jews were discriminated and persecuted because of their religious and ethnic background was truly astonishing. We then walked up to the Czech castle where we could see all of Prague. We also toured the Museum of Communism, which was very eye-opening regarding the interworkings of communism and how it gained the support of individuals through propaganda tactics.
The brewery tour and traditional Czech dinner were also fun. Although the Czech Republic is known around the world for its beer, Cynthia and I were not at all impressed with the Czech Budweiser. Europeans say there are not many links between American Budweiser and Czech Budweiser, but I do not believe it. In fact, the Czech Budweiser tasted very similar to the American Budweiser, which is to say not good! However, we had some great beer at the Czech restaurant and in the hostel so that made up for it. The Czech beer reputation is restored.
This was the first time Cynthia and I stayed in the hostel so we really did not know what to expect and did not want the movie Hostel to influence our expectations and experiences. We stayed in a room with four bunk beds. Cynthia was on the top and I was on the bottom and we had six other international students in the room with us. Everyone was basically from another country including France, Italy, Sweden, Norway, and Germany. It was really neat so we hung out with them most of the trip. Room 127 in the house! Or should I say, in the hostel! I also went to two very hip, trendy clubs. The first club was on the 6th floor of a building. You could see all of Prague from the club. The music was techno and the crowd was a bit older. Everyone was really trying to dance, which was pretty funny. I think this guy was getting married because his friends were just a little too old to be jumping around like that on a regular basis. Although if they are anything like the older people in LA, they may do that every weekend. The second club was advertised as the largest club in Europe and I may have to concur. It was five stories with a club and lounge on each side of the floor with its own decor, music, theme, and drink menu. It was a lot of fun because you had ten separate spaces the size of a regular club to enjoy.
On the way to the club, we had an incident. We took a taxi van and we had been warned that the taxi drivers try to get over on tourist. We asked him how much it was cost and he told us 300 Crowns (100 Czech dollars equal about 4 Euros). I was sitting up front and as we traveled to the club the meter was increasing every second! By the time we arrived to the club, the price was 900 Crowns! So the tourists books say to challenge the taxi drivers and waiters and waitresses when they over charge. So we told the guy he said it would cost 300 Crowns. He began getting very upset. We told him we would only pay 500 Crowns. Needless to say, an altercation ensues and he pulls out a screw driver on us. Cynthia thought I was ring leader of this incident, but I was just sitting back watching the French, Swedish, and Italian guys handle it. It was pretty funny to me. We only ended up paying 500. Heeehee.
The aforementioned, however, is not the funniest part of the trip. The bus driver made the trip. He gets his own profile on the site (see below). First, he showed up an hour late so we were out in the cold at 1am to leave and his slow tail showed up late. Then, his GPS did not work in the Czech Republic, and wouldn’t you know he didn’t have a map. What kind of bus driver does not have a map?! It was supposed to take us 7 hours to get there, but it took us 11. Then, when we got to Prague, the only maps we had were the Lonely Planet maps so he proceeds to drive on the tourist walking routes. Of course the bus could not fit down the small tourist roads so he had traffic backed up for a kilometer as we proceeded to turn around in circles! Foolishness! As stated above, we went with an international student group so it was people from all over the world talking about him in several languages. One Australian student said that I could understand stated, “You bloody dumb a*$, stupid a*$, bus driver! You can’t drive!” The French, Italians, Germans, Americans, Canadians, Swedish, and Finnish were all cursing him out in their native language. It was hilarious!
Below you see the bus driver in the breakfast. Everyone was like why is he eating breakfast he doesn't deserve breakfast. On the two pics with the bus, you see the bus driver asking another bus driver for directions on how to get us back to Mannheim from Karlsbad (a bath house city in Czech Republic). The last pic is my fav. Look how far traffic is backed up down that little road. Foolishness!
Oh, did you ask us what have we been up for the past month?
So we got scolded by Evie Perry for not posting any new blogs in a while. It is good to know we are not boring you guys with the adventures of the International Rays. I actually have to do some work while I am here so I have been grinding on two Revise and Resubmit papers for Men & Masculinities and the International Journal of Sociology of the Family and two other papers which I submitted to the DuBois Review and Gender & Society. Now, I have to direct my attention to my MZES presentation for the Social Science Colloquium on May 20. And of course this is in the midst of our beloved visitors. Life is hectic and chaotic, but dog gone it, it is great!
While I have been grinding away in my office, Cynthia has been spending time with Silke Becker, who is a hebamme (midwife). Midwifery is very common in Germany and Silke is not just any midwife but one of the best! Her midwife practice just won the best newspaper advertisement of the year for all of Germany! Congrats Silke! So for all of you nurse and health care professionals, Cynthia has been working with one of the best. Cynthia has spent time at the University Klinikum (University Hospital) and Silke’s, and her colleague Barbara’s, Midwifery Surgery (Office) in Mannheim.
During this time, we have also welcomed Christi Smith, who is one of my colleagues from IU. Christi is a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer at the University of Mannheim as well. She is teaching Historical Research Methods. Not only is Christi a very clever and smart scholar, she also speaks seven languages (e.g. German)! Now, we are patiently awaiting the arrival of Brandon and Marquinta Harvey and Abigail Sewell. I call Brandon and Marquinta QB. Get it Queens Bridge…. well… anyway, this was my ode to Nas. Marquinta is my best childhood female friend since like the 7th or 8th grade. Brandon and I stayed together for a month while I was teaching at the University of Michigan and he was doing an internship on urban planning. Abigail Sewell is one of my colleagues from IU. Her brain is the envy of all who interact with her because she processes information like a PC.
Peace out!
While I have been grinding away in my office, Cynthia has been spending time with Silke Becker, who is a hebamme (midwife). Midwifery is very common in Germany and Silke is not just any midwife but one of the best! Her midwife practice just won the best newspaper advertisement of the year for all of Germany! Congrats Silke! So for all of you nurse and health care professionals, Cynthia has been working with one of the best. Cynthia has spent time at the University Klinikum (University Hospital) and Silke’s, and her colleague Barbara’s, Midwifery Surgery (Office) in Mannheim.
During this time, we have also welcomed Christi Smith, who is one of my colleagues from IU. Christi is a Visiting Scholar and Lecturer at the University of Mannheim as well. She is teaching Historical Research Methods. Not only is Christi a very clever and smart scholar, she also speaks seven languages (e.g. German)! Now, we are patiently awaiting the arrival of Brandon and Marquinta Harvey and Abigail Sewell. I call Brandon and Marquinta QB. Get it Queens Bridge…. well… anyway, this was my ode to Nas. Marquinta is my best childhood female friend since like the 7th or 8th grade. Brandon and I stayed together for a month while I was teaching at the University of Michigan and he was doing an internship on urban planning. Abigail Sewell is one of my colleagues from IU. Her brain is the envy of all who interact with her because she processes information like a PC.
Peace out!
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