Let There Be Internet!

Hey y'all. It's nice to be back online after some time without the internet. It is amazing how much I have come to rely on it for so many things. But it was also oh-so-lovely to not check my emails for a few days. 

All Moved In

Since I've last written a lot has happened! I'm all moved in to my new apartment/townhouse thanks to my wonderful parents who were here over the weekend. It is awesome! I love the area where I'm living and my roommates, Kat and T.J., are amazing. Two of the nicest people ever! :-) Here are some pictures of my room. Most of the furniture is from Target (Michelle, I bet you recognize it!). Also, the big quilt on the wall was a gift made by the talented Sam Lesser. :-)

Desk/Bookcase area

Dresser- Thanks Dad for putting it together!

Desk/dresser/beautiful colorful quilt!

Bed, complete with WS blanket and Senegalese quilt! (walls with Senegalese artwork)

Knitting corner (and fun art) :-)

So, I basically love my room. I don't have pictures of the rest of the house yet, well, because there isn't much there. We're grad students on a budget. Our living room currently has three $5 chairs from Kroger, and two air mattresses to sit on (that my parents slept on when they stayed). And the kitchen doesn't have a table or chairs yet. We're getting there, though! haha

Bridddddddddging it up!

We started Project Bri(DDD)ge yesterday (if you forget, I'll remind you of the acronym. This time I have it memorized: Building Relationships In Durham through Duke Divinity Graduate Education). A mouthful, but an AWESOME program. I really like it so far. We have learned a lot about Durham's history (including the tobacco industry, and plantations) while learning about organizations that are trying to combat injustices in Durham today. It's only been two days, and I've already met some amazing people and learned so much about this place I will be calling "home" for three years. 

Minor Khuram Moment

For those of you who don't know Khuram, well you're missing out on knowing a great professor and person. But you also don't know that he is very into Civil Rights Education and talking about race and class divides in different contexts. I have been thinking a lot about what Khuram has taught me over the past couple of days, because there are still issues of racism and segregation apparent in Durham. These are some of the issues we have been talking about as a group, and snip-its about the master narrative and ideas of white privilege are popping up everywhere. Just wanted to let you know, Khuram, that what you taught has sunk in and it's hitting me BAM in the face this week (and probably will for a while). 

Stagville Connections

Today as a group we went to the Stagville Plantation in Durham. This was once the largest plantation in North Carolina, and its history had me making a lot of connections to places I have been and things I have seen. 

First connection: Senegal. Most of the enslaved people at Stagville were descended from people from West Africa. Not long ago there was an archeological excavation done there, and a cowrie shell was found on the property. Cowrie shells used to be used as currency in West Africa and still have a sort of spiritual significance. When I had my fortune told in Senegal by a griot, he gave me a cowrie shell, and told me to keep it with me until I found my path. Then I am supposed to bury it. Here is my shell (no, not buried yet, but maybe soon) : 

One of these was found at Stagville showing connections to West Africa, so of course I couldn't stop thinking about Senegal and Goree Island. 

Second connection: The March. This May I went to Germany and Poland on a Holocaust remembrance trip, called The March: Bearing Witness to Hope. While on the trip we talked about parallels between the Holocaust and slavery, and today it was even more apparent as we walked through the enslaved peoples' living quarters. The similarities were striking. Things like this resound more strongly for me when I see and experience them, and standing outside the living quarters today brought me right back to the concentration camp barracks. My brain has been going a mile a minute today! 

The People

The people in the Bridge group and my small group are just wonderful. The leaders and inspirational and wonderful role models, and I am already forming close friendships with my peers in the group (I even found another knitter! and a quilter!) Everyone so far has been so welcoming and friendly, so I couldn't ask for anything more during my first week in a new city. Yay! :-) 

Jukeboxing

I have been loving this song lately, many thanks to Jenna and Ryan for getting my into Regina Spektor. And apparently this song "The Call" was also from Narnia's Prince Caspian. Fancy that. The video is just the lyrics, so enjoy :-) 

I'll update again soon with the rest of the fun week of Bridge! 

Also, I'm going to start speaking with a southern accent. Just thought I'd let y'all know. ;-) 

 

Peace, Love, and Smiles, 

Christa