Mexicans Look at Me Like I Am Weird When I Say

* This pill? Oh, it's birth control.

* I think I want to adopt kids instead of having one.

* 72 degrees fahrenheit isn't cold.

* I stayed up until 3am doing homework.

* I don't really drink.

The Downside of Modesty

When I was growing up, the religious institution I attended taught me to dress modestly in order to better please god and not cause men to 'stumble' into any unnecessary temptation. Ignoring the religious reasons associated with modesty, I find one major flaw in the idea of telling girls to dress modestly. If someone chooses to dress that way, great; good for them! But telling people, often young girls, that they need to dress modestly for others' sake makes for one big issue:

Girls are taught to feel that they are dressing 'wrong'. That they need to hide their body for other people's sake. In a culture in which many teenage girls are unhappy about how they look, it seems dangerous to tell girls through yet another venue that they are not dressing correctly. Bodies become something shameful, something to hide. While there are many great personal reasons for choosing to dress in such a way, telling a twelve year old girl that wearing a short skirt is wrong because a fourteen year old boy might stare at her seems absurd. Fourteen year old boys are going to stare no matter what; just like twelve year old girls. Forcing modesty on girls, even if it is just by telling them that it is "the right thing to do" causes girls to focus on their physical appearance and the way they dress more than they already would be, creating anxiety.

If I wear this skirt will it make boys uncomfortable?

What's the rule about how low-cut my shirt can be again?

Is wearing a bikini wrong?

Are my shorts too short?


I both heard and thought some of these questions during my earlier teenage years. I wish someone had told me, when I was twelve, that dressing to keep someone from looking at you really just creates issues  that would not have been there otherwise. I applaud girls who choose to dress in the manner that they dress (modestly, sexy, or in a full feather bird costume) for themselves. I just have a problem with continually telling young girls that modesty is something that they should be concerned about. I would prefer that our time be spent teaching young teens that their bodies are normal and don't necessarily need to be hidden from the world.

How I Procrastinate

- well, I've already done all of this stuff. Before starting the rest, time for a break

- watch a pro-choice documentary on Youtube, that's informative! I'm supposed to be writing an essay? Who cares? Documentary sounds academic enough.

- I should get rid of facebook friends who I don't speak with often... that's productive, right?

- Food is necessary. I should go eat.

- Shower. Long shower to get rid of stress. Should I be writing a paper? Maybe. Should I shower? Yes.

- maybe I should look at grad schools online. I'm thinking of my FUTURE and am too busy to write the damn essay

- suck it up and write essay.

Awkward Realizations

1. My country allows civilians to own assault weapons (who needs army-level guns to hunt?) but won't let gay couples get married in most cities.

2. I'm not a teenager anymore. 20 shouldn't feel old.

3. I get embarrassed for people when they post super emotional facebook statuses.

4. In twenty years, I will probably be someone's mom.

5. My country's best news sources are comedic.

6. Saying "I had surgery on my ass" will always sound strange.

7. I will always have to wear sunscreen on the beach.

Mexico

I'm studying abroad in Mexico (the non 'death to American citizens' areas) and this is what I have learned so far:


- Dividing lines of lanes on the road are like speed limits: suggestions that are primarily ignored.

- The stereotype of a million 7/11 stores is somewhat true

- Your American friends and family have a sneaking suspicion that you might get kidnapped by a drug lord, although that's really unlikely.

- They believe in air conditioning (sorry Costa Rica, Mexico is winning this one).

- Little kids who sell flowers in the street are so damn cute that they become VERY convincing. Good call sending wide-eyed kids to sell souvenirs, good call.

- Bikinis are cheap (personal yay!)

- Mayan cultural relics are awesome. (No latent sarcasm in this one. The Mayan aspects of culture are seriously cool).

Walmart Dating Theory Re- Re-visited: Returns

Sometimes in fine shopping establishments and in dating, you discover that for some reason, you and the product don't work. Maybe the shampoo makes you break out in hives, maybe your girlfriend dumped you in order to favor her goat, maybe you realized that the plastic toy you bought your toddler was made by another toddler in China. The point is: you return what you got. And move on in life. Possibly to another store, like Target.

Old Purse --> Mexico

I have had an old purse for years. I threw it around school, my house, another school, my car, and thousands of other places. I have other purses, but none of them are quite the same. My old purse is black, broken in, well-travelled, and an extension of my arm. I love it and I hate it.

My old purse and I are headed to Mexico in a few days. Should be a good time.