Nov
19
2008

Mind Full of Trees, Mouth Full of Bees

Most times I’m unleashed into a public environment I find that what I think and what I say are often completely different, and not intentionally so! If I want to be offensive, I damned well can do that consciously without needing to trip over myself. So I find myself in the tragically ridiculous positions of feeling remorse for the offensive things I say which aren’t deliberate, but unable to express the difference between those and the offensive things I say which I do mean. This, because it’s important that people know when I’m being genuinely offensive and when I’m just talking kak.

Regardless, my theme for the month has been all about figuring out how to express myself more accurately. This isn’t a new thing by any means of historical breakthrough, and philosophers have been ruminating on the problem for centuries. Put simply, language as we know it is incredibly restrictive. The more one’s vocabulary improves the more one realises its confinements. As much as I want to express an idea or emotional reaction to something in verbal or written form, it’ll always be restricted by the syntax of English and of my own language ability. It’s annoying, and there should damned well be a better way by now!

But enough about my vocal frustrations! Back in the normal world I’m still waiting on my MA application to come back (last time I checked it’d been upgraded to “RECEIVED” status), while I’m increasingly warming to the idea of full time study, my potential research interests have narrowed to two: Conflict Resolution in Central African Crises (probably use Congo as a case study) or Piracy in the Gulf of Aden. Both are incredibly interesting to me and are rich Strategic Studies picking grounds. While international institutions focus on Chinese Information Warfare, the ability (or lack thereof) of the Israelis to bomb Iran and other such topics, I can shneak into the pages of academic fame by the backdoor, as it were.

I think all of the above could also be greatly inspired by my current book: Heart of Darkness. It’s proving pretty damned good so far, but so far Hemingway still takes the top spot.

For my international friends, some pictures of Wits, my intended academic home for 2009:

The Wits Lawns

The Wits Lawns

Senate House - My school would be on the 2nd floor to the right

Senate House - My department would be on the 2nd floor to the right

Also, my favourite song of the month – Woman King by Iron and Wine:

Written by admin in: Africa |

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