Some thoughts on nature

This past summer, which ended far too soon, my boyfriend and I escaped to Newfoundland. Afer a year of being urban bound, it felt so great to play in rivers, the ocean, in cabins without electricity of running water, and on sree slopes. Honestly, I never expected to feel so exhilarated by fresh air, caribou trails, or having to swat black flies over trail lunches. It seems that for the past few years I've been kidding myself that at heart I'm a city girl. 

One day in particular stands out. Close to the end of our week, Alban's mom and her partner (or dude if you join our anti-pc turn) came hiking with us. The chosen trail started in a larger harbour where dories and 60 foot fishing boots were docked, and ended on a small protected beach overflowing with drift wood. After rumaging around for interesting stumps and wind twisted trunks, I followed Alban up a rather steep grassy slope that rose up from one side of the beach. I have to admit, I've seen a lot of ocean views all over the east coast, but this one immediately joined my list of favourites. It had absolutely no sign of people; cabins, power lines, wharves, and boats were all absent.

Being new to critical theories of space, I started musing on various arguments from, amongst others, Leo Marx about individual connections to nature compared to concrete, and the emotive and societal stress caused by the latter in particular. Being on vacation, I stopped the self-imposed hisotriographic and theoretic grilling, and thought more personally about the attraction of nature and how it differed from the hedonistic delights and diverse stimuli cities offer. At first it was pretty easy to think how a lack of structural formations and their imposed order eases the soul (since all I had to do was reverse Marx). Western cities have done a remarkable job imbuing structural formations with cultural values of efficiency, order, and productivity. Once away from buildings, freeways, and express bus lanes, all reminders of of what needs to be done and how well we are doing are absent, rendering nature an escape in many senses. 

But more importantly, without structures of any kind or the social meanings they create, nature can be whatever we want it to be. Whatever ambitions, ideals, or beliefs an individual holds most dear can be fulfilled by an untouched landscape. Whether Bobby revers economic development, artistic inspiration, or environmental conservation, the sight of active water, idle driftwood, and mounds of dirt offers the tools necessary to support the imaginings of all his ambitions. Nature, it seems, then becomes addictive for an individual. Taking it one step further, if is can satisfy our wildest visions and their ideals, direct personal relationships surely would follow. Leading individuals to develop emotive and deeply personal relationships to bucolic landscapes, likely very specific ones. 

Year One

My post today is actually a facebook letter I wrote my 18 year old cousin the week before she started her first year of university. I have to be honest, for some reason I really like this letter. Maybe it's the nostalgia is inspires, maybe its because it lets me believe I've learned something in grad school besides how to gut three books per day. So here it is, my views on year one. 

Hey Kiddo,

To be 18 again, your pictures always look so fun.

I just thought I'd check in and see how you are since its almost labour day, which means you are starting university soon. Scared? Nervous? Excited? I was definitely all three, if not more, when mom and dad dropped me off in Halifax. Let the emotions come, ride them out, you'll be better for it since you can't deny them forever. You'll cry and be home sick sometime in the first few months, question if this is really what you want. It's completely normal, go for a run, you'll get over it. 

Don't freak out when you get syllabi and hear expectations the first day, never lie awake worrying about how much has to be done between now and whenever. You will get it done because it has to be done, just take it one thing at a time. You will fall behind in readings, everyone will tell you not to, but you will. Pretty soon you'll get the hang of it. 

The first wave of marks might not be glorious, don't worry because they mean very little in the end. Sometimes, a C helps to make you a stronger person and student. I'll be the first to admit they put a fire under your ass and also suggest this might not be the right area for you.

People will tell you to enjoy these days because you will never have it so good again. I am not going to support that idea because it's the worst attitude to have about growing up. Instead I am going to tell you to enjoy every stage and experience you are going to have in the next 4-5 years, then to have the same attitude about what comes after.  That said, what's coming certainly is unique and you stand yo learn as much about life, people and yourself as you do about french, biology, and history. But never lament or regret the passing of time, you will only become pessimistic . On that note, never be afraid to try or learn something new. Meet a vegan friend? Give it a try! I gave it up after learning that bailey's and ice cream is immoral... You find the history of jazz interesting? Go for it. You get the picture. 

The first week is wild so good luck and have fun.

Bandwagon here I come!

So it took a while, but after mulling it over for too long I have finally caved. My blog is intended to serve a couple of purposes, but mostly to force me out of the comfort zone offered by solitary coffee shop writing. While tonight I am not going to post anything interesting, stay tuned.

Maureen