Life Beyond Scotland

I read a blog post today by Cathy Day, on the site The Millions.  Normally when I read blogs, I enjoy them; maybe they make me think a bit differently, maybe I send a note to the author (since I am most often reading the blogs of people I know), maybe I share them on Twitter.  But today, reading this post, entitled The Magic Building Where English Majors Work, I felt like Ms. Day had installed a secret camera trained on me for the past 15 years, and was documenting my life story in one blog post. Wow. And kind of creepy, all at once.

So, a blog about a blog about creative writing (or in my case, anthropology).  Yes, I was that idealistic student she references, who wanted to major in anthropology.  I think most of us have that idealistic side, except perhaps for people who go into college knowing they're going to be engineers. Although she ultimately supports the creativity and freedom of writing (anthropology), she does talk about the other side - a Practical Major which could Get You A Job.  I think I was the only anthropology major who took three Business courses in my last year of school (Accounting, awful. Economics, okay. Marketing...hey, isn't this pretty much anthropology?)  If my current self could give my 18-year-old self one piece of advice, it would be "Major in Computer Science. You can always write on the side."

Reading on in Ms. Day's blog, I identified with the "communications specialist" jobs that she encouraged her idealistic student to consider, even if it was with a "welding company."  The older I get, the better the welding company looks. Just after I graduated from college I chafed at a company where I had to write in a very prescribed manner (down to word choice - you couldn't say "usually," you had to say "typically"). But now, that requirement looks eminently doable and I can see interesting challenges everywhere, even writing about welding materials (this example is particularly resonant since I am now married to a welder, another change from my idealistic college days).

And of course I saw myself in the adjunct professor.  I have been there. The students do not know the difference.  They do not know that you get paid a flat per-course rate, which is at least bordering on (if not outright) abysmal. They still expect stellar teaching, lots of time put into comments, career advice and recommendations. Which you give, because you want them to succeed, even as you are applying far and wide to try to catch that elusive brass ring of a tenure-track job.    

So now here I am in Scotland. Working at my anthropology-related second post-doc, trying to balance everyday life (I go to work, kids go to school, go to kid (swimming, Rainbows) and adult (singing, yoga) activities, try to make friends, see people, do things, live life) with an adventurous life (which is probably what people in the States see more of, as I post the scenic parts of being here and traveling around, rather than the everyday life).  Thinking about Life Beyond Scotland, the adventure coming to an end, or at least moving somewhere Stateside. Maybe to a welding company. Watch this space.