Brightwood Lights

Pop Quiz:
1. Name a term commonly used for the event held to memorialize a recently deceased person.
2. Describe the biological relationship between two people who are “cousins.”
3. What are half-sisters (or half-brothers)?

If you’re anything like me, chances are your answers are along the lines of:
1. Funeral (or maybe wake or memorial service)
2. People whose parents are siblings
3. People who share only one biological parent.

However, if you are like my classmates, your answers may be along the lines of:
1. Homecoming celebration
2. Anyone who is related to me and about my age or anyone with whom I am very, very close
3. I don’t even know when someone would use that term. . . (and then, upon hearing the answer given above): No, I would just call them my sister (or brother). Half sister is just plain offensive.

You see, the majority of the students at my community college are black.* This includes immigrants from Africa or the Caribbean, descendants of these immigrants, and descendants of slaves. I literally can think of four students I see regularly who are not black: one Chinese girl, one British guy of Southeast Asian descent, “the other white girl” (Jamie), and me. And for the record, yes, Jamie and I have been confused for one another. . . even when I was nine months more pregnant and four inches taller. (Note: I remain four inches taller.)

Prior to this year, I spent five years living in a neighborhood in which I was a minority. Sharing walls and driveways and sidewalks with my neighbors inevitably forced me into their lives, and them into mine. I began to grasp- for the first time ever- how wide the gap is between the white and black worlds. It took first-hand experience for me to recognize just how little I understood about black culture- or, for that matter, how diverse “black culture” is. Attending a community college where I again am a minority has reinforced and solidified some of what I experienced in DC, and taking a Human Growth & Development class at this school has helped frame these differences in more formal, academic terms.

Though focusing on our differences too much can be divisive and harmful, I believe it is important to acknowledge and learn from people whose worldview, experiences, and backgrounds are different from our own. Enrolling in community college has taught me much more than I anticipated, and I’m grateful for this part of my education, too.

*I deliberately use the term “black” rather than “African American” because of the diversity of heritage of the student body. In fact, one of my professors (who is descended of slaves) says she prefers “black” because she does not consider herself African at all.
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I promise more kid updates (and pictures) soon!

I’ll be honest: The majority of the traffic to this website comes when we have a new baby. Not shockingly, interest rises when a new child arrives and quickly drops off again after that. But since producing children solely for the purpose of maintaining blog readership is neither wise nor advisable, we are most grateful for YOU. You, who are reading these words, are our faithful readers. You read the mundane, the funny, and the only-interesting-to-grandmothers posts. (It is likely, in fact, that you ARE the grandmothers). Which, in turn, means you probably are close enough to us to already know what’s going on in our lives without us needing to publish it on the internet.

But in case you happen to read here but don’t communicate with us much otherwise, you may not know that I have been taking classes at a community college this year. Specifically, I took a psychology class entitled Human Growth & Development (as if I don’t spend enough time growing and developing humans around here) and Survey of Chemistry I, an overview of inorganic chemistry, in the fall. I am taking Survey of Chemistry II this semester, which is an overview of organic and biochemistry.

All I can say is that community college has been An Experience.

There have been moments in which I have been overwhelmed by the sheer absurdity and ineptitude I have encountered. My favorite example of this was the requirement that I present IN PERSON my original U.S. passport to verify the fact that I am a U.S. citizen. This was an enrollment requirement. A faxed or emailed copy of the passport would not be sufficient. Nor would any other proof of citizenship. Despite promising that I would not try to go on any study abroad experiences or otherwise cross an international border in connection with this community college, the passport requirement could not be waived. Thank goodness I already had a valid one, or I may have had to use some connections at the State Department to avoid being rejected from community college!

Other amusing anecdotes include being told in late August that I am not exempt from vaccines on the basis of pregnancy. Despite the fact that my medical form, filled out by a physician, listed my due date as 12/11/2010 and despite the fact that I visibly looked pregnant, this particular administration employee was not satisfied that I was, in fact, not able to receive these shots. This all stemmed from the fact that she was not familiar with the terminology “EDC” (Estimated Date of Confinement, which is what due dates are called in physician short-hand). I would need further proof that I am pregnant or else would need to get the necessary immunizations. (I was able to talk her down from that one.) Another favorite is being encouraged to remember the formula for the relationship between mass, volume, and density with the handy dandy phrase “Men equals Venereal Disease” (M=VD). What a great mnemonic device to whip out at quiz time or to share with friends and family at dinnertime conversation!

However, despite these (and other) “I cannot believe this!” moments, overall, I have been pleasantly surprised by how positive this experience has been. My chemistry lecture professor is amazing. She is my age and recently earned her PhD in organic chemistry. Her enthusiasm for the subject has me actually really liking the much-maligned “orgo.” I have always claimed that I am “not a science person,” but I suddenly find myself wondering whether my ibuprofen is made up of a racemic mixture or if it contains only active enantiomers. I can read sentences like “Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones or compounds that yield these upon hydrolysis” and, miraculously, understand what that means. I have learned more in the past eight months than I did in all of my high school science classes combined, and I am grateful for this opportunity. It has been rewarding and redeeming to know that, with the help of a great instructor, a good textbook, Google, and a supportive husband, even I can grasp these concepts.

Whether I go on to use this knowledge in the future or not, I will never regret taking these courses. Looks like it’s time to admit that I AM a nerd, after all, because I think learning- even about chemistry- is fun!

March’s insanely mild weather allowed us to get outdoors quite a bit. Maria took her first trips to anywhere besides Peachtree City.

Early in the month, we did a family “hiking” day at Fort Yargo State Park. It was really fun and refreshing, and about the level of “hiking” we can manage at this point in our family life. Which essentially consisted of about 2.5 hours of walking, playing, picnicking, and walking some more.

Simona was mostly interested in going UP. . .

. . . while Andreas was interested in what was DOWN on the ground. (Pine straw was especially fascinating.)

After that, we headed to nearby Athens, home of the University of Georgia, to stroll around the town and even eat at a restaurant- a rare and risky experience for our little family! Fortunately, everyone (mostly) behaved themselves.

Maria also traveled out of state for the first time in March. . . more on that to come!