November 26, 2020

This year is like no other year I have ever experienced, and I think it is fitting to dedicate my November entry to looking back on the year that passed and for sum up all the things, people, and events for which I am thankful.

January: The year was off to a good start. I had gotten my first official teaching gig (post-graduation) at UCR, focusing on Ancient Households and Communities. I enjoyed it, as it allowed me to incorporate things I had learned since I started my degree in Egyptology back in 2005 while also looking at China, Mesopotamia, Vikings, Pompeii, and other cool areas and cultures.

February: I had a memorable little getaway to NY, where I meet up with my aunt and uncle and finally meet my (at the time) newest cousin Carlo (see picture). It was also an opportunity to meet up with my fantastic lawyer Jill, without whom I would not have my green card today. NY also gave me a terrible cold, and upon returning to Riverside, I needed time to recover, only to continually have to reassure people that it was not Corona!

March: Covid-19 was raging on! Nobody could have predicted just how encompassing this was about to get. With a government that does not care about the well-being of the population, the number of people who got infected and died started to skyrocket. Schools had to make changes, and last minute I had to turn my final exam into an online quiz. As they say, adapt or die!

April: My second job interview with what I thought was a promising opportunity – only never to have them reply to me again – not even to inform me that I am no longer to be considered. This was very astonishing to me – but onwards – I guess it wasn’t the right thing for me anyway. Instead, I went out hiking a lot and saw a great many rattlesnakes. I knew exactly where they would be, and I would look for them, although I got a little too close on a few occasions, eventually resulting in me having nightmares about rattlesnakes. Ay…

May: On the first day of May the swimming pool in my association opened up (with many restrictions and a roster). This came as a god-send as I needed some other activity than hiking, and between May 1st and the end of October, I only missed one day in the pool. I also signed up for my first psychology course, which I took while teaching an anthro theory course. I learned so much from this course, which has benefitted me greatly in my life. I was even able to embed things from the course into the anthropological medical courses I was about to teach for the summer.

June: My teaching experience in May had been rather dreadful, and I welcomed summer classes with a different sense of preparedness based on my mistakes from the spring quarter! The first summer course I taught was probably the best teaching experience I have ever had. A great group of diverse students: a mix of anthropology and engineering students! Great dynamic, great topics, technology and course logistics were good to go – we had some great discussions.

July: Not much to report – a friend was going through a rough time and I was moral support. I am grateful for friends! I had hoped I would have been able to go back to Denmark this summer, and be there for my grandmother’s birthday, but that didn’t happen considering the circumstance. It suddenly hit me that I had not been home for 2 years. Ay!

August: Wrapping up my second summer course on medical anthropology, building on the first course, although not nearly as great a student group this time. My birthday was a great sushi feast and a beautiful birthday cake. I also submitted the final draft to the press for an edited volume I have been working on for a while. It was a wonderful feeling to get it off my plate (at least until we get it back with red lines!!!)…

September: Post-teaching - embracing the break before getting ready for fall quarter teaching archaeology of western Mesoamerica. Time to catch up on things, applying for jobs, among other things.

October: Classes began – new student group – new topic – new energy. I am wrapping up my current project with Night Fire Films on Acheulean stone tools. I have learned so much from researching for this project. Both on stone tools, on Luristan Bronze objects, Cycladic figurines, Irish High Crosses, and so much more! Grateful for my NFF friends! AND, my first trip outside of Riverside/Inland Empire since February!!! – two trips to LA – one to the Danish bakery and one to meet up with NFF! Wonderful times!

November: Kicked off by a nerve-wracking election! Luckily the outcome was the right one – in the end! Post-election jitters took a few days to get over! THEN, something unexpected – a trip outside of Riverside! – like a real trip – like a vacation almost! I drove an older woman up to Oakland so she could spend some time with her family. I stayed with them for a few days and saw Oakland and Berkeley before driving down to Solvang through Paso Robles. Lots of new and wonderful experiences. I spend a few days in Solvang, embracing “a little taste of home!” before driving through LA and then finally back to Riverside!

December: I expect December to be a month of joy. I get to look at my ever-growing and unique Christmas ornament collection, as well as my Star Wars nativity scene, which this year was completed by the latest Hallmark ornament: Baby Yoda in a crib! (it was as if the Hallmark gods knew that it was the last item I needed to complete the scene!). I love Christmas!

I hope 2021 allows us to put Covid-19 behind us and that the economy can get back on track and bring new positive opportunities for us all. I am also grateful to all the people who follow me on my journey and who are immensely supportive all the time. You all know who you are.