Anthropology

As the time to apply for college approaches, I have been thinking a great deal about what I would like to study.  I have always loved to travel to and been fascinated by different places throughout the world.  One of my favorite classes throughout high school has been Latin, all five years of it.  I enjoy different languages and cultures.  With all this in mind, I think I would like to study Anthropology... maybe Cultural Anthropology or Linguistic Anthropology.  I'm not really sure.  What I do know is that there are things that I would like to investigate further and find more answers to.

I have many questions as I think about a Civil society vs. a Globalist perspective or even a society based on Nationalism.  Is a civil society truly authentic or are it's values and traditions shaped by economics and environmental determinism. With the creation of social media and an internet that provides instant communication to any part of the world, wouldn't civil societies be greatly influenced by other outside cultures and lifestyles? 

Is a globalist view realistic with vast diversity throughout the different regions of the earth.  Should policies be determined with an international mindset or a local mindset? Who does a global economy benefit most, Western societies or Third World Countries?

Max Gluckman suggested that moral dilemmas were likely to be more complex in a less complex society.  He pointed out that within these societies each individual must simultaneously fill a number of various roles and consequently face the differing expectations of the other members within society.  He characterized simple societies by their multiplex ties.  He observed that within the different spheres of relations, for example: politics, family and religion, a person in a simple society would have ties to the SAME people in many of these different spheres.  On the other hand, a person in a more complex society will have fewer overlapping relationships amongst spheres. (anthropology.ua.edu/theory/the-manchester-school).   Does this continue to be true with such global influence and connection available throughout the world?

I'm not sure what the answers are yet, but I do know that I have lots of questions.

Diabetes is My Superpower

 On May 31, 2021 I fainted.  Thank God I did.  This caused my Mom to call the doctor's office.  They wanted me to come in immediately.  According to my symptoms, they were concerned about my heart and possibly diabetes.  When I was seen by the doctor, my EKG was perfect.  No heart issues.  They checked my blood glucose level and it was 459 (extremely high).  Along with other clear signs, they were pretty sure it was diabetes.  They sent me straight to the ER.

Apparently I had been living with diabetes for about 5 months.  Looking back the signs were pretty clear.  I was extremely thirsty.  I was always tired and groggy.  I had a hard time focusing and accomplishing tasks.  I lost 20 pounds without trying.  My body was fighting to maintain some kind of balance and it was taking it's toll on me.  

After a few days in the ICU and lots of pokes and prods, I was able to get my blood glucose level into a manageable range and the ketones out of my system.  The hospital stay wasn't fun but it was necessary not only to get my body back to a healthy place but also for me to learn everything I needed to do to take care of myself at home.  When I moved from the ICU into a regular room, there was LOTS of diabetic education happening.

This is certainly not something I would ever wish on anyone else, but I know it is manageable and that I will continue to live my life and thrive just like I always have (with a few adjustments of course).  Moments like this give you the opportunity to choose gratitude or bitterness.  I chose gratitude.

I am grateful that this happened the year before I went away to college on my own.  I am grateful that this didn't happen the week before when I was away at a leadership camp with my school.  I am grateful that the mission trip I was scheduled to attend was cancelled due to Covid-19; otherwise this would have happened while I was in Sierra Leone. I am grateful for the first class healthcare that we have in the USA.  I am grateful that this is a disease that I can deal with and still live a full life.  

South Africa

 I have been lucky enough to travel a lot throughout my 17 years.  I have now traveled to 33 different countries.  Some of my favorites have been Greece, Russia, Turkey and France.  Now I have a new #1.  South Africa was awesome.

The scenery is beautiful, the people are friendly and the wildlife was amazing.  The safari game drives were brilliant, inspiring and definitely humbling.  There is nothing like being feet away from a lion as it feeds on a buffalo that it has killed, being towered over by an elephant, or watching a herd of buffalo stampede to a watering hole.  Being so close to the wonders of nature is a reminder of how big and vast our world really is.

I don't know what my favorite memory of this trip will be; flying through Blyde River Canyon in a Cessna, the hot air balloon ride past the Drakensberg mountains, the game drives, the African penguins at Boulders Beach, Robbins Island or all the people I met.  There is so much to learn from other people and places.  

While I was enjoying my holiday, there was still a constant reminder that South Africa is a third world country.  There are amazing gated communities standing next to impoverished shanty towns.  There are homeless people, hungry people and communities in need of basic amenities.  The socioeconomic divide is vast.  While I can't solve the problems of every government worldwide, I can learn, I can expand my frame of reference and I WILL help in whatever ways are available to me.