It is a hot day here in Oregon, and puppy and I are migrating from sun to shade to indoors under the ceiling fan and back again. With a glass of lemonade + water and a book, it is a good way to spend the afternoon.
I just started reading The Valleys of the Assassins by Freya Stark and came across a couple of lines in the preface that struck me. I thought I'd share them here, in case they are useful to others.
"I came to the conclusion that some more ascetic reason than mere enjoyment should be found if one wishes to travel in peace: to do things for fun smacks of levity, immorality almost, in our utilitarian world. And though personally I think the world is wrong, and I know in my heart of hearts that it is a most excellent reason to do things merely because one likes the doing of them, I would advise all those who wish to see unwrinkled brows in passport offices to start out ready labelled as entomologists, anthropologists, or whatever other -ology they think suitable and propitious."
It makes sense to me that doing things purely because you enjoy them is a most excellent reason - travel or otherwise - but the gremlins in my head do not agree at all. I wonder if I can think of an -ology label that would appease them.
Ha, I knew that anthropology degree would prove useful in all kinds of unexpected ways! I can use the labels 'anthropologist' and 'ethnolinguist' and my monsters won't bat an eyelash. That's pretty cool! :)
Good luck in finding your own monsters-approved label!
Posted by: Josiane | 07/07/2010 at 06:21 PM
@Josiane: Ha! That is cool! Who knew it would be useful in such a surprising way. I am still thinking ..
Posted by: elizabeth -- | 07/14/2010 at 05:51 PM