homo Sovieticus
Homo Sovieticus. March 20, 2011
In the winter of 2008 I took a class with Bill Nickell called Everyday Soviet Life. Bill Nickell, is pretty awesome, first of all. He is pretty much the Tolstoy scholar of the west coast [cool]. While taking the class, I learned about the concept of Homo Sovieticus – the hard working, cultured, athletic, healthy, man OR woman. I, being such a good little commie, feel very strongly about fitting this archetype. I think it's important to be a well-rounded human even if you are a specialist, to treat the body well, to appreciate other cultures, the arts, and to work hard and honestly.
In the nicest way possible, I will say that Filipino culture is so incredibly far from this idea of Homo Sovieticus. Ok, keep in mind, I have lived in Santa Cruz off and on for the last 4 years – one of the chillest places in the United States. Provincial Filipino life TRUMPS Santa Cruz 100X in the kicking it MAD HARD category. People here kick it, THE HARDEST.
People will spend HOURS, possibly 5 or 6, daily, just talking/eating/sitting on the porch. I often wonder if people have jobs. They do, or at least they say they do, but so many times when I ask why they are not at work it's because it's a weekend, holiday, or they work at night. Anyways, coming from the U.S. where the 8-5 is pretty standard, it's totally crazy to just sit around with people, and listen to them talk about everything. Imagining Santa Cruz right now feels like imagining New York, or LA.
I am here in the Zambales province with Lily (the NCIP worker that I work with) and her family. I asked her daughter Emeline Joy, who lives in Manila whether she likes it better here or in Manila. She says she likes it better here because she just relaxes here, there's not as much pollution, and it's less noisy.
We just ate a good lunch with veggies, grilled eggplant, boiled fish, rice, and soda. And now we are sitting and talking, again. I can't really understand anything. And I am FREAKING OUT because I have so much I could/should be doing, and I feel like my muscles are fading away already. But, since I'm here, I might as well enjoy it, and just kick it, the hardest I can.
In the winter of 2008 I took a class with Bill Nickell called Everyday Soviet Life. Bill Nickell, is pretty awesome, first of all. He is pretty much the Tolstoy scholar of the west coast [cool]. While taking the class, I learned about the concept of Homo Sovieticus – the hard working, cultured, athletic, healthy, man OR woman. I, being such a good little commie, feel very strongly about fitting this archetype. I think it's important to be a well-rounded human even if you are a specialist, to treat the body well, to appreciate other cultures, the arts, and to work hard and honestly.
In the nicest way possible, I will say that Filipino culture is so incredibly far from this idea of Homo Sovieticus. Ok, keep in mind, I have lived in Santa Cruz off and on for the last 4 years – one of the chillest places in the United States. Provincial Filipino life TRUMPS Santa Cruz 100X in the kicking it MAD HARD category. People here kick it, THE HARDEST.
People will spend HOURS, possibly 5 or 6, daily, just talking/eating/sitting on the porch. I often wonder if people have jobs. They do, or at least they say they do, but so many times when I ask why they are not at work it's because it's a weekend, holiday, or they work at night. Anyways, coming from the U.S. where the 8-5 is pretty standard, it's totally crazy to just sit around with people, and listen to them talk about everything. Imagining Santa Cruz right now feels like imagining New York, or LA.
I am here in the Zambales province with Lily (the NCIP worker that I work with) and her family. I asked her daughter Emeline Joy, who lives in Manila whether she likes it better here or in Manila. She says she likes it better here because she just relaxes here, there's not as much pollution, and it's less noisy.
We just ate a good lunch with veggies, grilled eggplant, boiled fish, rice, and soda. And now we are sitting and talking, again. I can't really understand anything. And I am FREAKING OUT because I have so much I could/should be doing, and I feel like my muscles are fading away already. But, since I'm here, I might as well enjoy it, and just kick it, the hardest I can.
Sometimes you want this inaction, but not always ... I have to sit in one place, so my muscles are too weak. And I have 3 months living without sports. It's a nightmare!)
ReplyDeletehah! i loved this description.
ReplyDelete