Diaspora? What?

New Keywords tells us that “diaspora” literally means, “the scattering of seeds.” The text then goes on to describe certain cultures that have diasporic histories. Thinking about this word, I realize that I cannot personally identify with this term. Even through my ancestry, I can only use the Irish as an example for a “personal” diaspora when the potato famine caused many to leave Ireland.

The most prevalent example of a diasporic community is the Jewish people. Throughout their history, the Jews have been displaced from the land they have called home. I could retell any number of Biblical stories, or describe the horrors in Europe during World War II. As a German major, the discussion of WWII is prevalent in many classes. However, many people already know these histories, so I thought about how the word could be attributed to society today. Hundreds of thoughts and examples raced through my head, presently, there are still many cultures that are displaced by genocide or war.

However, I decided to actually relate the word diaspora to the class. Interestingly enough, if the class itself is used as an example of a society, it has no choice but to become diasporic. Every person will leave the class at the end of the session, and go off to take classes required by their perspective majors. The class will be scattered after it ends and though others may meet again in different classes, the whole will (most likely) never be together again. Since its inception, this class was doomed to a diasporic identity.

Since I’m on the waitlist for this class, oh and poor, I haven’t gotten the book. In class, I was thinking about how I’d write the narrative about going to the bookstore and (reluctantly) giving them my credit card. Then I realized, if I don’t get into the class, why would I spend my money on this book that I’ll never open otherwise?

So instead of going to the bookstore and getting the book, I went along with my day. I went to the other class (of course a GE) that I have to have in order to graduate, (damn advisors telling me a week before Spring classes ended!) and was thoroughly bored out of my mind listening to a lecture about food. I eat; I know about food, I even look at the labels when I’m buying stuff, yay. And after driving the 45 minutes home, I stopped at the Post Office to get a passport; no I’m not going anywhere specifically it’s just in case.

Then, finally, I started looking on Google Books to figure out whether or not it is in fact, in its entirety, online. Not all of it is there, but a good amount is (for all you other poor students out there…it seems like the majority of the book is online!). So, awesome, looks like I can get by with minimal spendage, and here’s hoping I officially get into this class! (People, start dropping please!)

(And this is the fourth time I've tried to publish this! This is why I've never blogged! haha)