Back in Austin!!

Wheeeee...
I't's good to be back!

This week was so stressful that the only post I could manage was one on vomanx. Ending a job, finishing a paper, worrying about gnome's debate..

I've gotten quite good at working even when I don't want to work (a skill I lost during grad school), and I plan on keeping up this rediscovered work ethic for the remainder of my studies BUT there is a limit, and I pushed myself too far this week. Poor gnome beared the brunt of it.

Friday evening I was moping about the UTA campus, not quite sure why I was down.. I think I was anxious about going back to school and worried of returning but not making progress on my degree. I was saved when HB, a work friend, called. He and his friend were stuck at an autobody shop with a broken car and needed a ride. I picked them up at the adjacent Krispy Kreme and was treated to a donut and drink for my efforts.

It turned out that they were going out for HB's friend's "new job celebration" that evening and they invited me to come along. I tried to say no, but they insisted, so I joined them and two others at a Thai restaurant. While the celebration wasn't for me, hanging out with them totally made my evening.

Maybe it's cultural (my four dinnermates were Indian) or maybe it's just them, but I loved how relaxed they were with eachother. There was no sidestepping of sensitive topics, or observance of ridiculous social ettiquette. They were honest with one another, feeling free to make fun but never in a mean spirited way.

Experiencing the intense comraderie made me really question my desire for independence. I think I've always feared that if I'm dependent on someone of a group, then I must somehow lose part of my identity. This certainly wasn't true with them, including the married couple present.

One thing that especially struck me was the expressed difference between men and women. In the U.S., assigning roles by gender (i.e. men go to the office, women cook) is usually seen as offensive. HB and his friends (3 guys, 1 girl) have very traditional views of gender roles compared to what's "acceptable" by American standards. However, the guys had an obvious respect for women and their unique abilities, and they of course respected women that chose a less traditional path.

ha, I just noted the title of this blog entry and just how much I'm digressing. More on this later perhaps, but for now.. some Austin errands to run!