Here's Bruce

When I grow up, I want a few things..... a house, a front yard, to work for the secret service and to have a golden retriever- germen sheapard mix. I currently have one of them- the mix. His name is Bruce. The thing is.... he is a stuffed animal, though a very fluffy cool looking one at that.

My girl friend got him for me for one of the aniversaries that do not count unless your in high school (in which case, every anniversary counts) (I beleive it was month 5).

To me Bruce reminds me of home, it reminds me of her, and he keeps me happy. I looked around my room and reall thought about it, there are two things prominantly displayed. A photo of my bestfriend, m girlfriend and me at graduation; and Bruce is proudly sitting on my bed.

I beleive if I was about 2 years younger, I would have been embarassed out of my mind to have a stuffed animal sitting on my bed. Espically because I was in a room with two other guys. Now I see him as a conversation piece and something to make me unique.

My roommate sees him often and has even handed to me more then once when he falls off my bed (often when accidently knock him off... the beds are a little small). He thinks it shows my sensitive side and says its cool that I already have my dog.

In short, Im glad Bruce is here.

You can't take the sky from me...

This is a bit of a difficult task for me, since I didn't really bring any pictures (or other meaningful items) to hang on my wall and/or put on my desk (I can always see them on the computer.) Perhaps I'm not the most sentimental of people, or maybe I'm just more interested in the fresh start of college than relieving old memories. I neglected to even bring any of my posters from home, although I had intended to. Since this left my walls bare, I patronized the poster sale to find some appropriate decoration. As I casually leafed through the posters, I came across one of Joss Whedon's "Serenity" and immediately realized I needed this poster.
The poster mainly depicts the character River Tam in a fighting stace with a battleax in one hand and a sword in the other. The background displays other characters and an explosion, but River is clearly the focus. This poster is linked to my identity in two main ways. Firstly, I had a poster of Firefly (the show that was the basis for "Serenity" and featured the same characters) in my room at home. I'm passionate about the show and most of Whedon's body of work. This is in large part due to Whedon's strong female characters, which is linked to the second reason I identify with the poster- River is clearly a powerful young woman. While I am certainty not secretly an assassin like River is (or even physically formidable at all), I am a very strong believed in feminism and female empowerment and I try to believe that even though I'm not physically powerful I can be strong in other ways. Trying to assert myself more and become a powerful young woman is one of my goals for college, and every time I look at the poster of River (and my other poster of Rosie the Riveter) I am reminded of this.
I asked my friend and roommate Anne her impressions of the poster and what it showed about her identity. Her main conclusion was that I am a fan of Joss Whedon (as is she) which was indeed the first of the reasons it was linked to my identity. The second reason is a bit more subtle and important mainly to me, so it is no surprise that it wasn't picked up on. I'm not really bothered by this, since the poster is meant more for my own inspiration than to convey a message to others.

"Bear" Necessities

So most of my other friends took the college transition as the perfect opportunity to not bring their beloved stuffed animals with them or at least think over the idea. However, for me there was no choice. Bear, so cleverly named, has been a huge part of my life since the day I was born when he was given to me by my grandmother. To me, his raggedy beaten up self represents home wherever I am since from a young age he has been a symbol of comfort and security through good and bad childhood times. Bear comfortably sits on my bed every morning after I get up and is therefore always visible to any guests of my room.
On one hand, having Bear here and so visible could portray an identity of vulnerability and childishness to someone who may not know me well. Contrastingly, aside from a multitude of pictures, I do not have many other objects that remind me of home and the security that comes along with the thought of home for me. Also, when people see my stuffed animal, it is clear to them that I made a conscious decision to bring him to school with me. This indicates what a big part of my life he has been and continues to be during this difficult transition in my life.
My classmate’s response to Bear was similar to how I viewed his presence in my room. They said that it showed that I missed home and wanted something in my room that was special to remind me of home. They said that it showed that I was a sensitive person, but not that I was immature, just in touch with my sensitivity and my periods of homesickness. I was interested in the fact that their initial reaction was not one of surprise or negativity, but of positive acceptance.

My Harry Potter Book From Home!

Ok, well I brought many things from home with me to school. However, the thing made sure I brought was the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. I brought this book because I read somewhere that I should bring something that comforts you to college. This book was the first major book I loved and continue to love. Whenever I was angry or upset, I would sit down with this book and read. It felt good to escape into a world different than my own. It still does. As for my identity, well I guess it can say that I love to read. It also says that I enjoy the unknown and fantasy. I also like to have a sense of adventure and meaning.
My friends have said that it means I like reading, fantasy, and adventure. I agree with them. It also says that I have a strong bond to my childhood and I don’t take myself seriously because I read a fun book. I missed these elements, but I actually like that the book makes them think that, so I endorse their comments! Besides, it makes me sound cool!
They did miss some elements that I added, but I am probably biased and dramatizing myself. But, a boy can dream can’t he? Well, according to Goffman, it is the front that I put on that interprets how people view the book in relationship to me. I think this book is symbolizing a backstage to my front at college, because it is showing a link to the real me, not the performance me. I also felt the need for it to show I have a meaning. But, do I really need that? I have a meaning. I am working hard now, doing the best I can, and trying to have fun along the way, for a better future for myself, and if I am lucky, at least one other person.

The Russian Thing from Home

There were so many things that I brought with me from home to make my dorm room feel a bit less foreign. There were so many thing that my mom said I should leave at home and did. And yet, even after I left most of my stuff at home, my third of the room is defiantly me. At home I have so many little figurines and momentos, but here I have limited myself to only three: my stone bear from Banff, Canada, my snow globe that Alejandro made me, and my Cheburashka matryoshka doll from Russia. (Here's what a matryoshka doll is)I get the most comments on Cheburashka. I think he says a lot about me. Cheburashka is a Soviet cartoon character as well as the mascot for the Russian Olympics in 1980 and for the upcoming Olympics to be held there in 2014. My Cheburashka is about 3 1/2" tall, made of Birch (just like traditional matryoshkas), and stares up at you with adorable bright blue eyes.

For me, Cheurashka represents three things: my last family vacation, Russia, and wonderment. First, I acquired Cheburashka during my trip to Russia this summer. This vacation was the last before I left home and it was a time for me to just spend with my parents. Spending time with my parents was (and still is) very important first because I am very close to my parents, and second because it was the first time in about a year and a half when we were able to spend time together just the three of us. Cheburashka also represents Russia for me. First, Cheburashka is a product of the Soviet Union. Second, he is made up of multiple layers, just like Russia. Russia is not simply understood; it is complicated and made up of multiple layers. Finally, Cheburashka represents wonderment to me. I remember that while I was in Russia, all I did was wonder and ponder the vast country that I was in. I also distinctly remember that my reaction to Cheburashka the first time I saw him was pure wonderment. I thought what is this thing and why is it absolutely everywhere? As to what identity Cheburashka preforms, I think that he is a mixture of old Soviet ideas, modern tourist keepsake, and a little part of my life. His identity as Soviet cartoon character is defined by the Soviet ideals such as equality and friendship. As a Modern tourist keepsake, he is defined by all the dolls, toys, and everything else he has been made into and sold to tourists. Finally, Cheburashka is a little part of my life as he is a reminder of my trip and of my parents.

When I asks someone else about what she thought Cheburashka said about me, she came up with things that I had never intended Cheburashka to represent. She said that Cheburashka showed that I like thing that fit together and make sense and that I have different personalities. Both of these things have nothing to do with the way I see Cheburashka. I do like things that fit together and make sense, but not to the extent that I do not like complicated situations, especially in politics and history. I enjoy the chance to problem solve and debate; they are two of my favorite things about school. Also, I do not have different personalities. I many act differently in distinct situations or with different people, but my personality is always the same. To put it simply, I react appropriately according to the situation. (The only time my personality has ever changed was after a snowboarding accident during sophomore year and a major concussion; so for two weeks I truly was not myself.) Cheburashka is the aforementioned things and I actually really never intended him to mean anything to anyone but me.

Finally, enjoy some Cheburashka for yourself!!

9/1/09

Things I did today..



Tried to find all blog groups



Searched for double talk on google - http://www.answers.com/topic/double-talk



found facebook privacy cause

(skimmed the entire thing)




10:34amAndrew
helloooo
10:34amJustin
great now i have to post this1
10:35amAndrew
hahaha

Internet Log 2- September 2

Blogspot.com used to create a log and to try to link blogs together.

Google - Goffman Presentation of the Self in Everyday Life.

Looked up facebook privacy setting and went on facebook.(part of the lecture!)