Tidbits

I have been consumed with childcare for the past two and a half months and generally cooped up in the house. It has been particularly hard to get all of the e-mail announcements about exciting lectures, symposia, and conferences and not be able to go since I cannot yet leave my child with someone else for more than a couple of hours (attending those events would require at least two hours of driving already). However, I am excited about presenting at a conference this coming October; it came as a surprise because I did not apply for it. I am substituting for someone else who had to pull out early, but I am not ashamed! In fact, I jumped at the opportunity when I was asked, in part because of the venue (Northern California in the fall will be beautiful). But the other reasons are even better: I will be presenting with good people; the subject matter ("ethnic studies") was broad enough for me to slip right in with my own work that I will not have to tweak; I now have something to look forward to that is related to my dissertation; and I will be able to bring my partner and child so that we can have a little family vacation. This also seems like a good way to ease back into academic mode, or rather to learn how to balance my personal and professional worlds, now that my personal life has become more demanding. Aside from the inconveniences of traveling, I cannot think of a downside to this venture.

I have also been able to sneak in reading while the baby eats and sleeps. At first I could only read fiction in my favorite subgenres, and I consumed a couple of stacks of such novels during his first month and a half of life. But lately I have had enough brain power left for more challenging reading. I am currently perusing this edited collection of Filipino American critique; like a gourmande, I am taking it in slowly, word for word, and enjoying each demonstration of intellectual prowess in my field of specialty. I had only read a couple of essays in it before, when I supposedly had more time for academic reading, but it really is a gem. Kudos to the editors who were able to draw the work of such a distinguished group of Filipino Americanists. I am happy to say that there are many more whose work I would also have included if I had my way, but I hope that this collection is only the start.