Australian Weather

I have my first interview today.

The woman I spoke with sounds like some of my allies. I think it'll be a good time. We had that awkward first interaction where we performed for each other. Not that we weren't authentic. But you have to straighten out your back and prove that you're not a tool doing an ethnography on a victimized and disappearing people because you saw a report on TV. And she had to appear professional, which she managed to do through chuckles and smalking (smiling while talking; listen for it). I think it's because she laughed at some of my jokes and outraged remarks. Wow. It sorta sounds like I'm describing the call for a first date. With an activist, of course.

I've definitely thought about that. Dating a random activist, not this woman. Well, I guess I've thought of both now. Anyway, I think it would be intense. You can sorta tell you're an activist when people become overwhelmed with your presence. And not necessarily in a good way. You just become...a lot. It's hard to recognize the difference and adjust because it feels like you're compromising what you believe in. I've found it helps to pull back and listen since that's the part usually missing from the equation. Listening without preparing what to say next.

However, I think it might be harder not to date an activist, especially in the areas I'm really passionate about. It's one thing to disobey Sheryl Crow and use more than one toliet paper square. It's quite another to contribute to the violent language and theory of gender and racial opression. Not sure if I could handle that.

*Stares back up at subject title*

Whoops.

I guess this entry was supposed to be about the weather from my subject title. Like the smile that fades away after I tell people I'm an EC for Pierson (meaning L-Dub housing), several people have caught on to the fact that it's winter in Australia. I act like I'll miss the summer for about a minute or two and then move along. I've never been one to fret about the weather except for when it hits the extremes. I guess that's why my favorite (if you asked me) seasons are Spring (birthday and Easter!) and Fall (um...colorful leaves!). But, as you might have guessed, winter here isn't snow or even cold rain. Every day it's either Spring or Fall. It's quite wonderful. Apart from the leaves, each day could range from late Feburary to early June or late August to late Novemeber. Today, I stepped outside to find a bit chilly late November air in the breeze. Yesterday, it was definitely a mid-May. I've found weather.com doesn't really do this place justice, so I just layer up and hope for the best. While I can't say I don't miss the occasional heat wave after a year of New Haven chill, I still think the nine month variety is pretty great.

Hopefully, it'll warm up for that interview. More on that later.