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This internet café is literally going to close approximately now, but I just had to note the fact that everything in my globalization class just kind of magically *came together* today. I felt an explosion in my brain. It was the kind of amazing synthesis of ideas that I don't think is possible experience all at once, but it simmered through me all day long and now I'm not sure I can recreate the epiphany, but it was worth it even for the brief moments of clarity.
I AM GOING TO MISS GUATEMALA SO MUCH. It is only in a country like this that one can even begin to conceive of the endless contradictions, even if it is perhaps impossible to explain the complex processes that have put them into place.
Basically, the unifying concept that keeps resounding in my head over and over is that Guatemala is not underdeveloped. On the contrary, it has been **overdeveloped** by a military class, charged with defending the interests of the elite. The development has therefore occurred in a way that has interacted toxically with the country's internal dynamics and created a daily reality that at first glance *appears* to be the result of underdevelopment. But as such, the more Guatemala is developed, the more 'underdeveloped' it appears, and therefore numerous government and external programs that aim to address issues of underdevelopment often end up exacerbating those very problems.
There is so much more to it than that and I can't go into it right now, but even in itself, that is kind of a clarifying concept for me, and a new and revolutionary way of viewing the third world. What IS development, anyway? How can a country be globalized and underdeveloped at the same time? I suspect that in many cases, it is a matter of the wrong type of "development" to serve specific kinds of rights and world views of certain populations rather than simple lack of development programs.
On a more fickle note, ahhh doing taxes when you're abroad is fail.
So apparently I owe the state of Arizona tax money, but I also didn't make enough for it to be mandatory that I file. On the other hand, between MA and the fed I should receive like $300. 8D yeah~
I have an archaeology paper to write tomorrow, which should be doable because I apparently can't work my internship cause my boss isn't going to be there. Which in itself creates new problems of fitting in all my hours and stuff, but oh well.
Okay this place is REALLY closing now, so. Grood night. :3
I AM GOING TO MISS GUATEMALA SO MUCH. It is only in a country like this that one can even begin to conceive of the endless contradictions, even if it is perhaps impossible to explain the complex processes that have put them into place.
Basically, the unifying concept that keeps resounding in my head over and over is that Guatemala is not underdeveloped. On the contrary, it has been **overdeveloped** by a military class, charged with defending the interests of the elite. The development has therefore occurred in a way that has interacted toxically with the country's internal dynamics and created a daily reality that at first glance *appears* to be the result of underdevelopment. But as such, the more Guatemala is developed, the more 'underdeveloped' it appears, and therefore numerous government and external programs that aim to address issues of underdevelopment often end up exacerbating those very problems.
There is so much more to it than that and I can't go into it right now, but even in itself, that is kind of a clarifying concept for me, and a new and revolutionary way of viewing the third world. What IS development, anyway? How can a country be globalized and underdeveloped at the same time? I suspect that in many cases, it is a matter of the wrong type of "development" to serve specific kinds of rights and world views of certain populations rather than simple lack of development programs.
On a more fickle note, ahhh doing taxes when you're abroad is fail.
So apparently I owe the state of Arizona tax money, but I also didn't make enough for it to be mandatory that I file. On the other hand, between MA and the fed I should receive like $300. 8D yeah~
I have an archaeology paper to write tomorrow, which should be doable because I apparently can't work my internship cause my boss isn't going to be there. Which in itself creates new problems of fitting in all my hours and stuff, but oh well.
Okay this place is REALLY closing now, so. Grood night. :3
