You know the drill :-)

1. What made you decide to major in Anthropology? (that's the right major, right??)

Because archaeology was in the anthropology department. I actually didn't really understand what anthropology was until I took my first archaeology class. I'd always adored archaeology and kinda wanted to be a paleontologist at one point, and learn hiroglyphics. I remember when I was in fifth grade I started this string game craze (Cat's Cradle and all those great things you can do with a loop of string) throughout my class, and eventually through a lot of my grade (EVERYone wanted me to teach them how to do Jacob's Ladder)--and I generally had two loops around my wrist at all times in case someone else wanted to play/learn, too. Towards the end of the year my class had a science fair for our grade to come see, and the teacher let the class and other teachers vote on the best project, and the top three got a prize. She did have the prizes assigned, but then when she saw the results decided to let us pick our own. I ended up with first, and one of the options was a book of string games--of course I already had my own and knew most of the things in it, so I chose one of the other prizes...a "dig your own dinosaur skeleton!" kit. I remember spending DAYS working so carefully on the clay with the little brushes and picks and a glass of water until I found the skeleton. I adored it. The idea kind of slipped near the back of my mind when I became more involved in pointe and drama, and didn't really surface completely again until I talked to somebody I knew who told me we had a pretty great archaeology program. I found the Intro to Archaeology class at Western, fell in love with the material, the class, the teacher--I became a double major that semester, and the rest is history. I also love cultural anthro now, and I find the idea of doing fieldwork in modern settings fascinating. I'd love to do the American equivalent of what Anne Allison does, if I end up not doing classical archaeo in Greece like I'd like to. She does fieldwork in modern-day big city Japan and writes ethnographies on it. One of her most known is Night Work about hostess clubs and Japan's night life. She actually worked as a hostess there for a while, and her stories (one of my teachers was friends with her from Yale and brought her into our Ethnography class) are fascinating. I read a couple of pieces from another book she wrote about her children going through some of the Japanese schools and the cultire of being a mother in Japan...just amazing...and I'm going to read Night Work once I'm done with classes and have time to really sit down and read again. In short: because of archaeology, and from there I fell in love with multiple fields within the scope of anthro.

2. You switched from majoring in theater, if I am correct. Why?

Damn...long story questions ;-) Lots of reasons, actually. As most people who have known me know (and all of you should by now), I've been dealing with depression for a very long time. In high school theatre was the way I escaped it, but during college it became part of what dragged me even further down. Between double majoring in two intense fields and a lot of other things (which maybe I'll write about more privately after answering these), my depression grew to unbearable amounts, and I became fairly suicidal, actually. I never did anything overt, but little things that weren't likely to end up in me dead--but...that's beside the point. Anyway...my junior year of college it grew to the point where I couldn't drag myself out of bed for Theatre History (I think one of two theatre classes I was taking that semester, but the other was actually kind of fun...yay Directing I...lol) on TR mornings. I realised that this couldn't go on--especially since I'd used my two absences already and my grade would drop if I missed anymore--and I was not going to waste the money my parents were using to help send me to college. I vented majorly to my best friend at the time, and it was determined I was going home ASAP to get help...the next day, which was a Monday. I called my mom the next morning telling her I was coming home on the first train I could, and I just kind of lost it and started sobbing on the phone. I told her I couldn't handle it anymore, and I asked her to find me a doctor that could help me. We really lucked out and I had an appointment two days later with a wonderful woman who put me on an SSRI. I was back in classes the following Monday (emailing my teachers from home was the hardest thing to do EVER) after that, and things straightened out a little bit--to the point where I decided that the thing that had once helped me was now making me worse, and I was stretching myself too thin (which I've done every semester since then, but...I can't seem to help it) between two fields I loved. The thing I loved became something I dreaded, and I had to get away for a while. I stayed mildly involved (taking Directing II the following semester), but only minimally for a while, and focused on archaeology and my anthro classes instead. It really helped clear my head, and while I've regained my love for theatre (I will never be able to stay away...it's something that's had me since I was very young), I wanted to graduate in a reasonable amount of time and I wanted to not take Scenic Design and Lighting/Sound Design, so I stayed a minor.

3. Is it worth it to be a waitress? I'm looking for a new job that is not retail, but food services might be ok :).

Personally, I love it. It actually helps my depression, and cash-in-pocket rather than paycheck-to-paycheck is awesome. I lucked out, though. Most places will only hire people who have at least a year serving experience. I found a place that was DESPERATE for servers, and they hired me on. From there I've been able to find the jobs I have. A good way to get in (I actually had a long chat about this with silvrstrfx once) if you don't have previous experience is either hostessing or SAing/bussing (Server Assisstant), and you can still make pretty good money.

4. What was your favorite part of Fanafas?

SO MANY! I adored being at Lissa's house soooooo late that one night with most of you guys--the night the bindi picture was taken, actually...aside from the me not being able to breathe AT ALL because of Lissa's cats. I remember my throat became the size of a needle, suddenly. Back at the motel with Alley and Kevin was hysterical, too, though. Jeremy and Kevin got soooooo drunk playing Quarters...rofl...and Alley and Kevin's room WAS really creepy. I went back with her to get something from it and experienced the creepiness for myself...lol I think my least favourite part was getting fried at the pool. I was peeling for WEEKS after that fiasco, and my back was hot enough to fry an egg on for days afterward.

5. Are you really coming to IL in June for Lissa's graduation party?

If I can get it off of work. If I'm hired in at this new place, then the point may be moot and I may have quit by then, because that next week is finals, and then I'll be starting orientation and training the weekend of the 23rd, probably. So very possibly. If Dan can come, we can probably bring my car. If he can't come, I can probably take the train in.