On a more political economy note, I will get my first taste of the department's team-building Phun! this week when they bus us somewhere secret, pair us up with people we don't choose, and have us try to accomplish something together. Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah! While I make fun of it, it's also true that it is a lot easier to work on a project when everyone feels a little love, yanno? As we all got to know each other, it was noticeable as the dynamics changed and V, my Punjabi friend, was pushing for us to eat lunch together more often. I swear, had it been left up to loner user's, we might have all eaten lunch on our own, foregoing such efforts. But V kept insisting -- so we do. Well, he and I do, as the others sometimes beg off for various reasons. For my own part, as things became a little easier -- we bonded with shared, symbolic jokes and good natured teasing -- I did my part and brought bagels in on a Friday morning. Seemed like a fun thing to do. But then you have to wonder: how much of this just greases the wheels for greater profit, eh? (Who cares; at the moment, we have to work together. Still, it's an interesting question. Such bonding would be important in any political economy, what's interesting is the way they try to force it with these 'games.')
Other political economy note is the added bonus of a much more racially diverse environment, less segregated than any I've been exposed to. The city is about 45% white, the rest people of color, and I don't experience the ridiculousness that I saw in Florida or upstate NY -- where cashiers get antsy when black people walk in the door. Things is, it's more unusual for whites to walk in the door of an upscale store. Also notice that, because it's a big gov't and military contract town, there's a solid black and Latino middle and upper-middle class in terms of income and status symbols likes homes, neighborhoods, and cars. Still plenty of poverty, but for the first time in my life, I've seen a city where people of color aren't segregated into impoverished and lower-income/working poor neighborhoods, where there's barely a black and Latino middle and upper middle income base.
Anyway, more at the blog if you're interested, though I haven't had much online access -- slow wireless at the hotel -- or much time since apartment hunting, getting to know the area, and shopping for groceries and sundries that we need take up time.
BL http://blog.pulpculture.org NSFW