group dynamics: February 2007 Archives

"A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty." – Albert Einstein

shared by Ruth, via email, thanks. :-)

Linus throws a good party! While my own contribution of cheese, salami, and crackers was standard, most folk brought homemade dishes of delectable variety: Camaroonian, Romanian, and South Asian were my favorites. (One cannot go wrong with spinach, mushrooms, or garam masala, IMO.)

There was a nice blend of folks I know and new people to meet. The introductions would go like this: Robert and Andre (computer science), me (social science), Deniz (no science). Joseph (engineering) is working on a solar energy solution to save the planet. Rajiv "dances to live." Nicole keeps department secrets. Sarah looks to California, while Lava looks west (check out these American Deaf Fastest Hands).

I had fun recounting my four-pronged attempts to communicate with a Deaf Turk who hosted me in Istanbul last summer (a gestural combination of American Sign Language and Turkish Sign Language, handwritten English and drawings, an English-Turkish translation program, and a different Turkish-English translation program). Hey ho Recep! You've been on my mind!

You may or may not be aware that Comm-Grads have an established reputation (Nov 14, 2005 Rally for our Pay!) for activism (April 22, 2005 A21 Walkout and Boycott) concerning campus labor issues.

One of our very own is President of GEO this year, Srinivas Lankala.

Many of us attended a bargaining session on March 13, 2005 that was downright rude. This is where we're headed again if we delay our show of strength.

Perry Irwin (our lighthearted GEO steward) and I are organizing two sign-making parties for one hour each on Wednesday morning (that's tomorrow) from 11:10-12:10 in the Graduate Lounge and again Thursday morning just prior to the rally (check with Perry for details on that one).

suggestions to date:

You know you're in trouble when they remember you. "Oh, she's back!" I was greeted with such an anticipatory grin. "As if getting poked is one of my favorite things," I replied. "Not." Hahaha.

Anemia is not fun. The first week, every time I tried to think of what it was I had, amnesia is what kept coming to mind. yeah, whatever.

I've noticed the painting on the wall previous times in the "lounge chair" where they tourniquet your arm, pump up your fist, and swipe however many tubes they need for whatever battery of tests they're gonna run on the precious lifeblood they draw from your veins. It's a van Gogh reproduction of Starry Night.

Maybe it's the angle, or the colors, or maybe it is just the context that always make me think it's Edvard Munch's The Scream. I guess they don't really look that much alike, but the rock outcropping somehow lends itself to the appearance of that poor screaming man.

I figure it's just their sense of humor, but maybe it just shows how deeply I feel about giving up parts of my flesh.