So a few weeks ago, me and some other graduate students at the department who are RPG players (Role-Playing Games, like World of Warcraft or my personal favorite Guild Wars 2) started using the website HabitRPG to get into some good habits and get stuff done. And it works great! Personally, while I really do need to work on some good and some less good habits, the main thing for me is the "to-do list." Pretty much, if it's not on this list, it doesn't get done. I also get upset if I carry out a task that was totally list-worthy but didn't put it on there, and I admit to rewarding myself retroactively at times. But long story short--give it a try!
In other news: I don't know how the heck people are in academia and still maintain some sort of personal life or have a hobby. A hobby! I would really like to just go for a long walk every now and then. I try to walk to campus if I'm not too pressed for time, because it's pretty much a straight shot and it takes me just under an hour. The last couple of weeks I haven't walked a single day, mainly because I've had to get to campus ASAP or my backpack has been way too heavy to do the 3+ mile trek. Also, the weather in Philadelphia is not always super cooperative.
For my two weeks coming up I have several books to read, a presentation on DuBois, a statistical analysis to run for a research paper, 120 exams to grade, and am expected to work on two quite extensive papers. I know I have felt the same way around this time in the semester for the last three years, but I get slightly depressed when I think about having to do this for another four years. And add to that the constant economic insecurity of not knowing whether you're going to be able to make rent over the summer months when you don't get paid. Not sure why I decided to get into academia.
But I suppose I should get reading and stop complaining. Next weekend I get to enjoy Romeo & Juliet at the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater, so I'm definitely looking forward to that. Just need to make sure I have my s**t done so I can really enjoy it...
3/29/2014
3/18/2014
Oh, and also...
Maybe I should say something about what my research is on. I'm born and raised in Sweden, but have been living in the US for I don't even know how many years now... Anyways. My area of expertise is race and ethnicity, and I am particularly interested in racism and ideas of white normativity.
Over the last decade or so, racism has been on the rise in Sweden. As much as it pains me that this is the trend in my home country, it's interesting to me that this is happening in a country that is seen around the world as a benchmark of equality and democracy. I think Sweden is a bit confused too, seeing since policymakers have tried SO HARD to be politically correct and make decisions that they think are the right ones. But the efforts made to integrate new immigrants have obviously not worked, and have rather led to a wider gap between native-born and immigrant Swedes. I am also interested in how public media, especially Swedish television, has shaped opinions on immigrants and immigration through public discourse and how these opinions are internalized and spread.
So my research will consist of three parts: (1) archival research that plots immigration related policy from the 1950s paired with waves of immigration, (2) content analysis of public discourse on immigration, immigrants, and racism in Swedish media, with an emphasis on television, and (3) in-depth interviews that explore the experiences and perceptions of immigrants, immigration, and racism among both native-born and immigrant Swedes.
Given that I am still in my first year in the program, this might still change. But I feel like I've eased into this topic and will most likely only tweak it from here on out.
Over the last decade or so, racism has been on the rise in Sweden. As much as it pains me that this is the trend in my home country, it's interesting to me that this is happening in a country that is seen around the world as a benchmark of equality and democracy. I think Sweden is a bit confused too, seeing since policymakers have tried SO HARD to be politically correct and make decisions that they think are the right ones. But the efforts made to integrate new immigrants have obviously not worked, and have rather led to a wider gap between native-born and immigrant Swedes. I am also interested in how public media, especially Swedish television, has shaped opinions on immigrants and immigration through public discourse and how these opinions are internalized and spread.
So my research will consist of three parts: (1) archival research that plots immigration related policy from the 1950s paired with waves of immigration, (2) content analysis of public discourse on immigration, immigrants, and racism in Swedish media, with an emphasis on television, and (3) in-depth interviews that explore the experiences and perceptions of immigrants, immigration, and racism among both native-born and immigrant Swedes.
Given that I am still in my first year in the program, this might still change. But I feel like I've eased into this topic and will most likely only tweak it from here on out.
The Return of the Blog
So this blog has been on the back burner for a couple of years, and I suppose there hasn't been a huge need for me to announce to the world every little thing that I'm doing. I mean, that's what Facebook is for, right? So I haven't posted here in a long, long, long time.
But now I thought that I'd breathe some life into this old neglected and ignored web page, because I need to get writing. Just about anything, really. I'm halfway through my second semester in this sociology PhD program, and I'm loving it but holy crap it wears on you. And when you think about the fact that it's another 4-5 years before you're even close to getting your doctorate and that this, essentially, is what you will be doing for the rest of your life... Well, it gets a little overwhelming at times. And I figured I could find relief in this blog not only to vent and think about stuff, but also to take time to just WRITE. Even if it's not necessarily research related. Although a lot of stuff will be, hopefully. Hopefully.
But there will certainly be a lot of Doctor Who, The Walking Dead, Vikings, Sherlock, Shakespeare, music, books, art, shopping, family, friends, and other stuff that I like. Maybe some pictures of shenanigans with friends too, who knows.
So please, come on in and make yourself comfortable. And don't be a stranger.
But now I thought that I'd breathe some life into this old neglected and ignored web page, because I need to get writing. Just about anything, really. I'm halfway through my second semester in this sociology PhD program, and I'm loving it but holy crap it wears on you. And when you think about the fact that it's another 4-5 years before you're even close to getting your doctorate and that this, essentially, is what you will be doing for the rest of your life... Well, it gets a little overwhelming at times. And I figured I could find relief in this blog not only to vent and think about stuff, but also to take time to just WRITE. Even if it's not necessarily research related. Although a lot of stuff will be, hopefully. Hopefully.
But there will certainly be a lot of Doctor Who, The Walking Dead, Vikings, Sherlock, Shakespeare, music, books, art, shopping, family, friends, and other stuff that I like. Maybe some pictures of shenanigans with friends too, who knows.
So please, come on in and make yourself comfortable. And don't be a stranger.
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