The Beginning?

So this is my first posting. I am totally new to this whole blog thing and not very techno-savvy. I have always considered myself to be much more of a pen-and-ink kind of girl. But times change.

About me. I am originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana (Carroll High School 1997, for those from the area). I attended Ball State University from 1997 to 2001 where I majored in Anthropology and Classics. After undergrad, I joined Peace Corps Nepal (N194) for a brief time, shortened by the amazing number and variety of diseases I contracted and the amount of weight lost. So after coming back to the US, I came to Rutgers University to begin my Ph.D. in anthropology.

I came to graduate school with one goal: study 'development' in Nepal. I love that country...it tried to kill me with intestinal diseases, but I love it. More specifically, I love myself there--more on that later. But due to the political situation and my changing research topic, I can not return for now. I was not terribly happy about it since during my latest trip, winter of 2004-5, I met some amazing people--you know who you are! So in the mean time, and to finish my degree, I've decided to study in Darjeeling and Delhi among Nepali speakers--also more on that later.

This blog has two purposes: first, to help me keep in contact with my friends and family while I am in 'the field'. I always feel like I lose touch with so many people when I leave. More importantly, I cannot share my experiences with them in a meaningful way. This is my attempt at meaning.

The second purpose is more related to my work. The whole 'field work' thing has always been such a mystery to me. I have been studying anthropology since 1997 (8 years) and I still am completely in the dark about what goes on. I hear stories from friends, graduate students, and texts. I see other graduate student's pictures. But I want more of the daily stories...the things no one thinks, or wants to tell. So this is my story. Feel free to add to the pieces. Anyone. Maybe I'll turn this into a book someday. Maybe not. Either way...welcome to my insanity.