Normita's blog

She said it on her show 30 rock and after a year of grad school, I get it. Grad students and academics kinda suck... the world of academia is designed to create drones within very specific fields which only few people understand. It is made to make people interested in writing and reading rather than DOING. There is a huge amount of narcissim in grad school- grad students and teachers alike are ALL about their own research and little else. Grad students make lousy friends- they are too disconnected from the real world... grad students have continuous lame conversations about theory and other bullshit in front of non academics which is super annoying...academic writing is super dry and uninspiring...

so why do I keep on going?
because unfuckenforutnately I need that damn degree to prove that I know something.  And fortunately there are glimmers of hope, those true academic activists, professors and students that apply what they know to the real world and don't keep it reserved to obscure journals that no one but their colleagues read and argue and refute...

In order for academic to truly succeed it needs to be engaged and shared with the real world!
GAH!

After two quarters of grad school, I feel like I can now reflect a little on my experiencias en grad school-
 1. First of all, figuring out what to write for my thesis is difficult, with my background in art, my experience in community work, I am interested in a cajillion different things. I started off wanting to do border art. Then I decided that ultimately, I needed to write a thesis around more practical matters- taking into account future job opportunities. I decided to ground my work on policy and law around immigration- I considered immigration raids, but after research and discussion with other grad students/professors, didn't think there was a viable argument in that arena. Now I have finally decided on doing my work around the latest anti-housing city ordinances and their racial implications- perhaps a continuity of previous laws designed to racially segregate.
 
2.  We need more people of color represented in higher education- while we need more people of color in undergrad, the number of people of color at the graduate level is ridiculously low. It really frustrates me that sitting in a class on immigration- there is one or two people of color to represent. while academia continues to break from eurocentric ideologies, we still need more of the voices of us that have actual real experiences in this spaces that academia studies. Our viewpoint and knowledge is invaluable and necessary for academia to advance in its understanding

3. Academia has too much theory and not enough application. I completely understand and believe that theoretical framing is important in understanding movements, actions, etc, but this theory cannot just remain that. Academia is wary of activism and vice versa. These two fields need to be in constant communication in order to bring about positive change, activism informs academia and vice versa, imagine the collaborations possible if this were to happen?

4. after these past two quarters, a phd, seems too long. For me, it means putting my life on hold for far too long- personally, and financially... perhaps though, I just haven't found something I am passionate enough to study for 5-6 years, and as far as community and social justice work, well, i would rather do more of it than theorize around it.

5. There is a lot of amazing work being done at this point in academia. I have read tons of great articles and books int the last two quarters

6. in academia, as in all other aspects of life, there are many egos involved.

7. I am glad to be right here

What's your favorite winter activity?

waiting for spring to hurry up, get its act together and show up already!!

Fortunately, I am spoiled and live in mostly awesome weather here in San Diego! Today for example, it is about a breezy sunshiney 75. I am wearing a t-shirt and capris and I feel fantastic, yesterday was the same and the day before too. It does get cold, but I know its nothing compared to the east coast. But really, I prefer it to be 85 than anything below 70. I like to drink hot chocolate and stay inside warm, does that count as a winter activity?

What are you proud for accomplishing in 2008? Anything you wanted to accomplish that didn't quite happen?

I am proud of many things this past year, but specially for developing my "super-hero serum." Just a few drops of this serum will send you into super hero status, you gain super hero powers unique to you and also don a fancy outfit, usually involving brightly colored spandex, and an emblem on your chest... I am finalizing the patent, this should be out in stores early 2009. My outfit has a rubber ducky on the chest, with a lower case n for Normita. My outfit is turquoise with orange lightning bolts on the cape... yeah crazy color combination but it goes well for me! I can fly, I can jump from building to building and I am bullet proof-yes! :)

but really, besides that, my greater accomplishments this year were getting accepted into grad school, finishing my first quarter- alive and with good grades, chairing fiesta del sol 2008 with my co-chair Lorena, doing community work with JOB, running my best half marathon time ever, and of course quitting my job in September :) Personally spending time with family, friends as much as I could given grad school, was awesome- Whoo hoo! :)

Can't wait for 2009!!

yes, even during finals week, when I should be working on paper #2 of 3- I can still say it- I am living the life, living it up!!! :) rolling in a pimped, blinged out whip, living in a mansion in the hollywood hills, sipping cristal with hip hop artists,  wining and dining hot men... okay only ONE hot man... but no... wait... what... no... no... I am not living THAT life ;)

but I AM LIVING this life:

- reading like a mad woman about immigration, human rights and general awesomeness
-  frolicking outside in sunshiney warm breezy san diego (even in december biatches!)
-awesome friends outside and inside school
-community organizing with amazing people that fuel my passion for justice
- going where i want to go in my life
- awesome family
- and yes a little bit of bling-bling and dancing ;)

I am stationed at a coffee shop (my second home now) and just ran into a former co-worker and as they asked me what I was up to, it sounded pretty awesome, woot woot!!

back to finals!!!!

las gotas resbalan por la ventana
las luces de la cuidad brillan y oscurian con las gotas
mi taza de chocolate me calienta los dedos

me acomodo en el sillon con mi cobija
pienso en que siempre hay que hacer tiempo para la vida (todo lo que pasa entre los espacios de tus deberes) las amistades, la familiy, los amores, la naturaleza, no te van a  esperar hasta que tengas un dia de descansa o cuando terminas la tarea o el trabajo

una dia en el parque con el sacate verde, hace desaparecer los problemas

pienso que cuando encuentres el verdadero amor, te sentiras entero/a

pienso que para mi: las emociones: la alegria, energia, tristeza, y pelea, para la justicia social es mas fuerte y increible que cualquier droga que jamas tomes. me mantiene viva y desesperada a la misma vez.

que el arte y la creatividad en sus miles formas son necesarias para el alma.

una nocha con la lluvia...

What gifts, big or small, are you hoping to find under your tree this year?
Sponsored by Best Buy.

my response is going to be cheesy but I don't care! :)

My family has never been big on giving big gifts and I am so glad for it! I think it started when we were too broke to get lavish gifts but this practice has continued to this day, I don't demonstrate my love via how much a gift costs- of course the symbolism of the gifts is special, so we get each other small things, I love my moms saying, "aunque te den un chicle, lo que cuenta es que estan pensando en ti" but nothing makes me happier than spending time with all of the familia at my aunts' house or at home...enjoying delicious food, my large family and love. Its the best!

I can see it now--- my momma and poppa, brothers, little sis, my sister in law, and of course the all star of the family (well the other one besides me) mi albondiga peluda- my little nephew...que apodo no? im sure his mom appreciates the name :) and not to mention my aunts (4), uncles (3)...cousins (cant remember the number) oh why do I even try to count the numbers? the tons of family at my aunts enjoying posole and tamales (I cheat and eat around the meat, (im vegeterian)--- and then having the little kids fidget until midnight for gift opening, oh how I remember the painful arduous agony of waiting until midnight...always seemed sooo far away... oh yeah,  we are mexican so instead of this crazy "white people" (totally kidding!) business of opening presents on christmas morning, we open them at midnight on Christmas Eve--- so anyway, the best is seeing the little ones open presents :) sooo cute!!!!

We then continue to drink, and be merry until late, way late!!! we watch movies, play guitar hero with the cousins and chase small children all over the hallways... we then go home and open our own gifts until the early wee hours of the morning, maybe eat some more and THEN pass out :) last year was awesome with my little meatball opening the tricycle grandma and grandpa got him... and then him demanding that his dad build it right then and there, it was hysterical watching my brother frustrated with all of the pieces of the triciclo and my little nephew grabbing the pieces and "helping" (i.e. messing up and making things more confusing) his dad....

I also can't forget the constant laughing and capping on each other for any reason.. my brothers and  are soo silly (not me of course) ruthless in a loving way... I froze a moment of this last christmas when my parents are both in mid laugh from my brothers being ridiculous (mainly refusing to take a "normal" picture and making stupid faces or pretending to be in deep love with each other...).

My family, como dice la leah, "es que somos mucho Rodriguez." Part of the reason I rarely put the brakes on my insanity and ramblings and hyperness is these people. so if you are looking for anyone to blame for my madness, go take it up with my parents... my dad will tell you good luck with me and tell you he understands the pain that you are dealing with, as he has dealt with me for 25 years :) They always egg me on (well usually, my dad does have a limit to how much normita he can deal with at times-pobresito)

Wow, i just summarized Christmas, I haven't even started on New Years...bueno in conclusion, while gifts are part of the fun on christmas night, the family, food, and tears streaming down my face from laughter are what I'm expecting under the tree this year...

oh and if Santa claus has it in his limited budget this year, a 2008 Shelby 500 Super Snake in this black and red would be nice :) hah! :)

I have the tendency to hibernate like a momma bear as soon as it gets slightly cold here in Southern California (meaning its below the average perfect 75 degrees). And I KNOW that it never gets super cold here compared to the rest of the country, but damn it, I'm a pansy and I can't take it. I get ice cold hands, feet,ears,face and I just shut down. Thoughts of working out, being a running monster or functioning go right out the window and all I want to do is cook, and be wrapped in blankets. I usually disappear and minimally function until next spring... this year I intend to bypass hibernation and keep on Normita full force mode!!!! So if you see me slacking or napping- grab me by the hair or the coat and throw me outside into the cold and tell me to go work out, also remind me that I am not Martha Stewart and don't need to cook the food equivalent necessary to feed a small army.

entre la arena y las olas del mar, se siente la perfeccion de la madre tierra
en los rayos de luz de la luna y del sol,  siento su corazon
y tambien cuando la lluvia me moja el pelo.

en las cimas de montañas, cuando el aire nuevo de la madrugada me rosa la cara, ella me tienta
cuando los arboles murmurean
con arena entre mis dedos
con cada respirar profundo se siente la perfeccion de ella.

-NR

Me tienes adicta a tu piel, a tu calor, a tus besos
cuando te veo a los ojos, me encuentro entre realidad y sueño
te traigo en la mente, te recuerdo en los labios
cuando te acaricie la neblina del mar, ven y buscame a la luz de la luna
te espero.

-NR