"I make no apologies for being egotistical..."
Apologies to Miles Franklin, from whom this quote was taken, and whose career was far more brilliant than mine has been this week. I will, however, make the arrogant presumption that there are people out there interested in my boring life and write a little update. By the way, if you do read this post, why not give my ego a boost and send me a comment to let me know someone actually does care.
Regarding what I said last week- My teeth are going well and my job hunting isn't going at all. I also feel as if the week has been thoroughly boring and am actually half looking forward to going back to (l)uni. Since my memory has not had any exercise these last three months I'm having trouble remembering what I did this week, so I'll begin with yesterday and work backwards.
Yesterday I went to church and farewelled my good friend Nicole who is leaving to take up a post-doctoral position in Sydney Childrens' hospital. She's a great and inspiring gal with a sincere faith despite hardship, a compassion for those that most people reject, and an ability to be both feminine and incredibly smart. We've become quite close and I've gained a lot from her friendship...Goodbye Nicole :-(
I also started reading a simple Japanese book. I try to do a bit of reading/writing/speaking and listening in my two non-native languages now and then to keep myself up to date. It really is amazing how quickly you forget things. It was very discouraging to have difficulty reading a children's book in Japanese, but also spurred me on to persevere since I know I need improvement. This week I also read part of the first Harry Potter book in French. This was much easier, and some of the translation choices were quite interesting. Some names have been changed: eg Hogwarts= Poudlard, Slytherin= Serpentard, Hufflepuff= Pouffsouffle, and the author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them is none other than “Norbert Dragonet”. Another strange thing I noticed was that they translated inches as centimetres...I mean its not like the English usually use inches either, but they're smart enough to work it out.
I also translated my website into French...which I am very proud of.
In English, I've started reading Thomas Moore's Utopia...more on that later.
I celebrated Chinese New Year on Saturday night,with a number of my good friends which I consider a great privilege. Dumplings appear to be the traditional food of the season (they're actually more like miniature meat pasties than European dumplings) and the other girls had a lot of fun at my expense when I was very inexpert at making them. I got to play with lots of cute little babies that got brought along. 
Wednesday and Thursday were taken up mainly with FOCUS stuff.
Enlighten me: Discrimination and Inequality...part 1
***WARNING*** this post contains quotes from the Communist Manifesto and the Bible
Introduction:
Given recent events in Australia working out a coherent and practical approach to questions of discrimination and inequality are more urgent than ever. Unfortunately, there are some serious obstacles to doing so, not least the fact that discrimination usually has a lot more to do with emotion, ignorance and plain evil self-centredness than it does with any intelligent moral/logical principles. It doesn't help either, that no one actually knows what discrimination means.
Leaving aside the twisted self-justification behind a lot of discrimination, even intelligent approaches to this issue will differ on the basis of worldview. Christianity, like any worldview, should lead to certain behaviours and attitudes, but can and has been twisted to justify any immoral behaviour people wanted. Hence some people associate Christianity with the firey-cross, right-wing ethics of psycho fanatics, and others think of Jesus as some cuddly hippy teddy bear. C.S. Lewis' tells us in Mere Christianity "...we are approaching [Christianity] in the hope of finding support from Christianity for the views of our own party. 
We are looking for an ally where we are offered either a Master or a Judge."
Since, as a Bible-believing Christian (...run for the hills!), and a woman with a disability specialising in the study of foreign cultures, this is an issue very close to my heart. I've been trying for a while to work things out. So here are some of my thoughts. I'm not claiming to represent all Christians or to be divinely inspired...but I'm trying to base what I have to say on an educated understanding of the Bible and "I think that I too have the Spirit of God." This post will be the first of several on this topic so keep reading my updates and please feel free to comment.
Some Basic Principles
There are some simple tricks that people use to twist the Bible to their own ends, and some simple misconceptions that confuse the well-intentioned.
Many common misconceptions of the Bible are the result of a failure to understand the basic principles of Bible interpretation. Two things that are particularly pertinent are the principles of "biblical theology" and interpretation in context. Biblical theology is quite complex, but one thing it means is that God revealed himself progressively to the world, just like we are taught concepts progressively at school. Some things are said and done earlier in the Bible are to prepare the way for things later in the Bible, and are thus fulfilled and made obsolete by later events and teachings. (eg. see Galatians 4:1-7, Hebrews 10:1-10) This becomes particularly important in issues of racism (Compare Deuterony 3:1-7 and Colossians 3:11) , ableism (Compare Leviticus 21:16-24 & Luke 14:21-4)and homophobia. South Africa's use of the Old Testament was a tragic example of poor Biblical theology
Interpreting the Bible in context means basically applying the same common sense to it that you would to any work of philosophy or literature. If you interpret Elizabeth's refusal of Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice without reference to the whole story you will think her mean , and if you don't interpret the whole story in its cultural context, you won't realise what a courageous woman Elizabeth Bennet actually was to refuse two proposals. In the same way it is important to interpret parts of hte Bible with reference to the whole, and to interpret the whole Bible with reference to the context in which it was written. How to translate the Bible from its original culture into ours is a topic of hot debate, but in reality, the Bible itself often gives you clues as to whether the particular command is meant to be transcultural, or what the transcultural principle behind the command might be. These issues often arise in the context of discussions regarding gender, sexuality and classism. For example, the argument that the rules concerning sexuality are outdated in our open liberal society can be easily debunked by a quick examination of the institution of pederasty.
Finally, it is important to realise that you're particular point of view, no matter how dearly you hold it, is not the pinnacle of human enlightenment (shock!). You're only human so whatever you think is bound to be flawed somewhere. You need to take a leaf out of Descartes' book and question our most basic preconceptions.
What is Discrimination/Prejudice and Why is it Wrong?
Diversity, equality and freedom and are the three watchwords of our society. Infringing on these through prejudice and discrimination are considered mortal sins. In my circle, when issues of discrimination come up, the trio, "sexist, racist or homophobic" often emerges as a sort of checklist of what to avoid. Nobody really tells you why they're to be avoided...but my mind, raised as it has been in the liberal West, also recoils from prejudice and discrimination instinctively...they're bad, they just are.However, when I started to think about it, I realised that things are a lot more complicated than that, and a failure to account for this leaves the good guys open to attack. Will an intelligent and Christian approach have different fundamental principles and definitions?
Well, freedom, equality and a proper appreciation of diversity are so far from existing in our society that I should most certainly hope so! The world is diverse, always has been and always will be, and yet people are trying to genetically engineer, outlaw or segregate people who don't fit with the desires of the dominant people in society. And when differences cannot be reconciled, as often happens on the issue of morals, for example, the pitfalls within the quagmire of relativism are so great that noone has really been able to come up with a way in which all sides can coexist. As far as equality goes...1 billion people in the world live on less than $1 a day...enough said. And regarding freedom...well those people can't even choose to cross a border without risking their lives
I can't help but think that Marx was on the right track, when he said Modern Western society "... has resolved personal worth into exchange value, and in place of the numberless indefeasible chartered freedoms, has set up that single, unconscionable freedom -- Free Trade. In one word, for exploitation, veiled by religious and political illusions, it has substituted naked, shameless, direct, brutal exploitation." The "freedom" and "equality" that we cherish is nothing but a smokescreen. The free market does not equal freedom, a 'level playing field' does not equal equality. These are just ways of making capitalism work, there's no higher principle involved, and all it means is that those from former undreclasses who are genetically or financially well-endowed are able to move up. Today's rhetoric draws attention to their improvement, so that we can feel enlightened. Even the trio, "sexist, racist, homophobic" points to the forms of discrimination that Western capitalism can at least claim to have done away with. Those that are still foundational to our society like ageism, classism, ableism, 'locationism',nationalism these are all swept under the carpet, despite the suffering that they cause everyday. (Of course these forms of discrimination are also related to and brutally reinforce aspects of the supposedly abolished "sexist, racist, homophobic" trio.) I mean, how is it fair that some Sub-Saharan African lives in grinding poveryt while we have all the fun, how is it equality that people with disabilities spend their entire lives locked away in institutions? How is it diversity when women can be thrown out of pariliament for breastfeeding?
What about biblical principles then? They too place some value on freedom, equality and diversity. However, more basically, the principle is Love God (this includes obeying his rules) and Love your neighbour as yourself. I was surprised and struck as to the extent to which many forms of discrimination are so dramatically contrary to these principles....hmm I think a good place to stop. Tune in for hte next exciting episode...
Week's news (for those who care...)
My teeth (or more appropriately the holes in my gums where my teeth used to be) seem to be healing up nicely...although I am still nobly refusing to brush them ten times a day in the hope of curing my oral surgeon of whatever madness possessed him to think that possible. I will see the doctor again on Friday
I have discovered that holidays are like everything else in life- you don't know what you've got till their gone, and so I'm determined not to waste any more time, and to make the most of every day before I go back to (l)uni on 20th February. This goal I have pursued through the following means:
-exploring the wonderful world of internet chat until 3am in the morning
-watching movies and TV, alone and with friends, including SCRUBS, the West Wing and Air Force One (A big thank you to Susan Williams for making the final one not just bearable but funny)
-playing badminton for the first time in my life and failing miserably whilst improving my frisbee to the point where I actually scored a goal!
- visiting a friend in hospital and discovering that my childish snese of humour still finds a speech simulator that confuses "wanker" and "wonka" amusing
-swimming (of course!)
- catching up with old friends.
-trying to explain English grammar in English to people who have difficulty speaking English
I've realised that I need a new job and have been updating my resume. I hate doing my resume. Its so fiddly and boring, and I always feel quite insulted that a future employer can't be bothered reading more than two pages about me.
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Reflections on New years resolutions and news
The biggest news in this blog I think would have to be the fact that I AM ACTUALLY SHOWING SIGNS OF KEEPING A NEW YEARS RESOLUTION FOR MORE THAN A FEW DAYS! (I am referring of course to my new year's resolution to keep my blog up to date- I'm going to try and post once a week at least) There seem to be certain phenonomenon/events/actions in our world that form microcosms encapsulating so many concepts and dilemmas of the human race-I often look for such things as starters for poems. 
Take for example my poem "the human condition" in an earlier post, which was inspired by watching ants and considering how similar they were to our society, I'm not the only one who thinks so. Proverbs 30 is an excellent example of how a good poet can use snapshots of particular phenomenon in the natural world to open up worlds of truth.
Such things don't have to be in nature. Shakespeare recognised the inadequacy of the natural world for understanding humanity in his famous Sonnet 18. New Years Resolutions are an example of a people-made phenomenon that raises so many interesting questions. 
For some strange reason people in our part of the world put an imaginary pinpoint in their calendar, at which time is divided, and upon arriving at which all travellers must sing "Auld Lang Syne" as a right of passage. But what is time and how do we measure it? Does it flow slowly, naturally and purposefully like a river or is it pushed along kicking and screaming? Does it race along excitedly? Do we float on top of the water or are we buried underneath the slowly accumulating sedimentation? Are we completely separate from the river altogether, sitting on the banks urging it to stop?
New year's resolutions seem to encapsulate the conflict and mix of all these sensations that we feel at this time of year. On the one hand we feel a sense of loss and tragedy. All the missed opportunities of the year, all the things that we enjoyed but can never have again, the memory of so many mistakes. In a new year's resolution, and in that famous song, we try to cherish those memories and be happy in them, whilst also putting our mistakes behind us. We try to combine that urge to hold onto what we once had, and the urge to start again with a clean slate. And we make these resolutions with trepidation. What is the source of our fear? It is not so much to outside world as ourselves. New years resolutions to lose weight/give up smoking etc don't fail based on the falling of a meteorite or a freak hailstorm, they fail because our resolution fails. We know this, and so we don't trust ourselves. Yet we continue to make resolutions. Why? Well sometimes they work, we all want a better life, a better world and a better self, and occasionally people can achieve that....but can we?
Here is the paradox of humanity...those who climb to great heights also fall from them.
New Years Resolutions
Generally, my new years resolutions are to carpe diem and make the most of my life ...but I also have a few specific ones...
1. Keep blog up to date
2. Keep up to date with emails and contacts with distant friends
3. lose weight
4. KEEP NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS
Wisdom Teeth
My oral surgeon has bravely come out and admitted his sadistic tendencies! Having just been told with a relish that my bones, muscles, tendons, fat and skin had all been cut in the process of extracting all four of my wisdom teeth, and that I should keep brushing 10 times a day despite the pain, I felt that sense of victory brought by that little voice inside saying "I told you so."!
Of course, I really have a great deal to be thankful for. My recovery ahs been smooth and the pain limited. Those around me also have cause for gratitude, since I find talking painful and they can finally removed the earplugs that peopl who have known me for more than six months soon take to wearing. So I have decided to begin fulfilling my new years' resolution of keeping my blog up to date. Apart from the facts re: wisdom teeth extraction I have also been musing about pain (surprisingly) and healthcare
I've discovered that there are three kinds of teeth: incisors, canines and molars. On each side of the top and bottom jaw there are 2 molars. In the late teens or early twenties, "third molars" emerge. THese are known as 'wisdom teeth'. If they do not emerge properly, they are described as 'impacted'. Sometimes this can be because they are growing horizontally or at an angle, which causes them to press on other teeth and gums. It can also be because they remain encased in the bones or gums. My dentist recommended me for an x-ray after a routine check-up and then sent me to an oral surgeon to ha ve it examined. ALthough he couldn't tell from the x-ray, as soon as he looked in my mouth he informed me that all four were impacted and would have to be removed.
As with most people, the reason for this was simply that my teeth are too big and my jaw too small. My jaw must be tiny teeny...coz I've already had 4 teeth extracted for overcrowding...bringing my grand total to 8! The theories that i've heard as to why there is so much overcrowding around: that Caucasions have smaller jaws, and that our diet these days is soft and easy on the teeth so that they are not worn down, nor are our jaws stretched.
Impacted wisdom teeth can easily become infected because they are difficult to clean, can cause misalignment of other teeth (and no one wants to ahve gone through the pain of braces for nothing!) and can damage the neighbouring teeth.
Ok well...gotta go...sorry if this post is a bit boring....
LOL
I also started reading a simple Japanese book. I try to do a bit of reading/writing/speaking and listening in my two non-native languages now and then to keep myself up to date. It really is amazing how quickly you forget things. It was very discouraging to have difficulty reading a children's book in Japanese, but also spurred me on to persevere since I know I need improvement. This week I also read part of the first Harry Potter book in French. This was much easier, and some of the translation choices were quite interesting. Some names have been changed: eg Hogwarts= Poudlard, Slytherin= Serpentard, Hufflepuff= Pouffsouffle, and the author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them is none other than “Norbert Dragonet”. Another strange thing I noticed was that they translated inches as centimetres...I mean its not like the English usually use inches either, but they're smart enough to work it out.
