| Vol. 3, No.4 | Amanda Haag, Student Writer | Fall 2001 |
The Ireland Diaries
Prof. George Gmelch has been in Ireland all term directing the Anthropology Department’s field school. He writes "Ireland has been quite different from the Barbados program in that most of the students live in or near the town of Kilkenney instead of being scattered in remote villages as in Barbados. Also, we spent three weeks together at the start traveling in the West of Ireland. We explored during the day and had discussions at night."
"The students also spent a week at Trinity College in Dublin where they used the National Library for their research projects. They then moved into their home stays in Kilkenney. It’s a great group of students who all get along very well. Even though they are away from the U.S., we are still much affected by the tragic events of Sept. 11th."
Following are excerpts of e-mail messages received during the term giving us a glimpse of Irish life, as well as the students’ plans for thesis projects.
September 25, 2001 (George Gmelch): We moved the students into their homes over the weekend. This is the first day away from them and I kinda miss them. Separation anxiety. After being with them for 24 hours a day for three weeks, I thought I'd be desperate to get away, but oddly, that hasn't been the case yet. We have an exceptionally good group here. We found wonderful homes and families for them — just as good as Barbados — but they are all in or near the town of Kilkenny, not spread out like in Barbados. Not sure how that will work, but am hoping they are so busy (and responsible enough) that they will resist the tendency to hang out. Actauly I think it will work out fine. Kilkenny is a beautiful medieval city, pop. 25,000, with tons of stuff to do and lots of organizations for students to get involved in. Andy Cruz is living on a 300 acre farm on the outskirts of the town. All the students will put in a half day help with the sheep and cattle. We've been lucky with the weather.
October 3, 2001 (George Gmelch): All is well here. We don't have e-mail, but do have occasional access to it at the library etc. Our e-mail is erratic however, and lines can be very slow. Students are doing well, and all are settled in after three weeks on the road.
October 4, 2001 (Emily Newman): After three amazing weeks traveling throughout Ireland with the rest of the group, I settled in with my host family last week in Kilkenny and began my thesis research on return migrants. I am looking at emigration from two different perspectives — that of the returnee and that of the local. At first it was difficult to find people to speak with, but after being interviewed on the local radio station and placing an editorial in the local newspaper, I have gotten a tremendous response from returnees who are eager to talk about their experiences. While we’ve only been in Ireland for a month, I have met so many interesting and friendly people, tried tons of new things, and seen so much of the country. Now that I have actually begun my research, I am excited to see how it all turns out!
October 4, 2001 (Katie Hais): For my senior thesis I am studying heritage tourism in the town of Kilkenny. Nicknamed "Ireland’s Medieval Capital," Kilkenny is a town filled with historical sites that have been transformed into tourist attractions. I am researching the development of tourism in the town since 1970 and doing case studies of four individual sites. While this is a difficult time to be away from Union, I am trying to take full advantage of the opportunity at hand and gaining a truly amazing life experience.
October 6, 2001 (Karina Grant): I love it here! I’ve been studying the changes in the Irish family in the last 20 years. What have I found? I’ve found that Irish families are just as complex and confusing as the American version. I guess I have more work to do. The people here are cool, the landscape is breathtaking, but their Chinese food... let’s just say I’ve had better, much better! This has turned out to be one of the greatest experiences of my life!!!
October 7, 2001 (Lisa Visentin): Giving birth is one of the most natural processes, a process that has occurred for millions of years without the aid of technology. In the past century, especially in the past twenty years, there has been a tremendous increase in pre-natal technology available to industrialized countries. Although the majority of this technology is greatly beneficial to a society, it also has many unforseen consequences. My thesis will attempt to identify the main influences the use of pre-natal technology has had on the birthing experience of mothers in Ireland and how the combined roles of midwives and doctors has affected the use of pre-natal technology. Childbirth in Ireland has become increasingly medicalised and has caused various changes in the way pregnant women are treated by both professionals and society. My thesis will examine the underlying causes of this change and how it has affected the birth experience of pregnant women.
October 8, 2001 (George Gmelch): Just checking in. Heavy rain and gale force winds here over the weekend, but skies are sunny now. All well here. Will be out of touch till Fri. or Sat. hiking by day with students in Wicklow mountains, seminars at night (or if this rain keeps up, by day as well). We swam in the Irish sea (well we only lasted 10 minutes, if that, and froze our butts off... like swimming in Maine this time of year). Students are content and doing well.
October 10, 2001 (Elizabeth Daigle): We’re having an absolutely amazing time. I can’t believe we're almost halfway done - it seems like we just got here! The first three weeks of traveling were so much fun. We went everywhere. Now we’re all in Kilkenny with our home stay families and everyone is doing well My research on traditional Irish crafts is going really well. I can’t wait to show you all my photographs."
October 14, 2001 (Ben Schwartz): I am living in the medieval town of Kilkenny (pop. 26,000) doing research on the role of sport in an Irish community. Specifically, I am looking at sports participation (what sports people play, for what reasons, and for how long) and then relating that to differences in class, gender, and age. I am also interested in when Irish people exit or retire from organized sport and what do they substitute for it. So far, I’ve had a wonderful time here.
October 21, 2001 (Ellen Scherr): Originally, I had planned to study Irish college culture, but that, unfortunately, fell through. I switched to Irish food and drink and so far I have found it very interesting. I have noticed some real differences between practices in Ireland vs. the United States. I am looking at traditions, folklore, socialization practices and general tendencies. Ireland, so far, has been absolutely amazing! The things I have seen and experienced have been wonderful and there is only more to come!!!
Also, Prof. Sharon Gmelch is teaching a course titled Anthropology of Tourism at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, and writes that she is enjoying her class of third-year anthropology students. She is also conducting research on how Irish Traveling People have changed in the last two decades, given Ireland’s economic growth, European Union membership, and the arrival of many new immigrants, including Gypsies from Rumania. She has also joined Union’s Anthropology Program students on their field trips along with an Irish anthropologist.
Amanda Haag describes summer pilgrimage to Spain
During the recent summer break I completed a Union mini-term abroad to Spain, venturing through smaller northern towns, and some larger cities like Bilbao, Leon, and our final destination Santiago. This term abroad was unique in that students did not spend their time studying in one area, but spent the three weeks in over 15 different towns and cities across the northern region of Spain. The main focus of the term was reaching our destination, Santiago de Compostela, where the bones of St. James were rumored to be buried in the great cathedral, making it a holy destination for Catholics all over the world.
The term started with a visit to the Guggenheim Museum, in Bilbao, before we began our long trek on the pilgrimage trail, or Camino as it is called in Spain. The town of Sahagun, known as the center of the Camino, was the starting point for our hike, and we continued for another 17 days through varied terrain and temperatures. The trail changed from dry and hot with flat terrain, to steep climbs up mountains, and ended in the cool, wet forests of Galicia. We slept in hostels, hotels, and tents, and met people from all over Europe.
Besides the changing atmosphere, the term was also unique because of the many nationalities encountered along the way. Although Spaniards were the most abundant, I met a number of people from France, Germany, Austria, England, Ireland, Italy, and even a few people from Quebec and the United States. Many times the common language was one that was foreign to both parties, and sometimes communication had to be reduced to hand signals as there was no language in common.
I reached Santiago on the morning of July 9th after hiking along the highway and through the city for a few hours. Finally reaching the goal seemed surreal, and it took a while for it to sink in that we were finished, and that there would be no 6 hour hikes the next day. The cathedral was crowded with pilgrims and visitors who had not hiked the Camino, but were bussed in to visit. I sat through mass and toured the cathedral, looking at the art and architecture, and greeting pilgrims that we had seen along the trail days before. The experience was one that I will never forget, and I hope to someday return to Spain and hike the trail again.
Alumni News
If you are an alumnus or alumna of Union College and would like to have your news published in an upcoming newsletter, have a photo to share with other alumni, or want to get in touch with your classmates, please send your news to ludked@union.edu or mail it to Deborah Ludke, Anthropology Department, Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. 12308. We will print news on a space-permitting basis. Be sure to include your class year, as well as information about where you live and work, family news, hobbies and volunteer activities, and special interests. We can use either black and white or color photos which will be returned if you put your name and address on the back. We’d love to hear from you
Sara Finnerty ‘93 writes, "I am living in Breckenridge, Colo., and working for the Breckenridge Music Festival. I recently became engaged to Matt Anton, who is from Old Saybrook, Conn. We are planning a September, 2002, wedding on Cape Cod, but will continue to live in Colorado."
Bishop/Smith Bookshelf
This issue, we are featuring the final book recommended by M. Estellie Smith for those interested in anthropology.
On Holiday: A History of Vacationing by Orvar Lofgren
There are few people who don’t take off on vacation; even anthropologists do it. They also study those ( tourists) who do it. Lofgren, a noted Swedish anthropologist, takes us from wilderness trekking to Las Vegas hotels, from country walks to fashionable Alpine ski resorts. He explores questions of authenticity (Is a theater weekend in Manhattan more authentic than a trip to Disneyland?), ‘right’ vs. ‘wrong’ travel, and how it is that the main tourist attraction tends to be other tourists. As you read this book, you’ll have to decide when to be the observer and when to be the subject.
Winter Courses
ANT 0172 Psychological Anthropology - Prof.
Leavitt MWF 1:35 - 2:40
ANT 073 Self and Life History - Prof. Leavitt MW
2:50 - 4:40
ANT 025 Childhood in Anthropological Perspective - Prof.
Brison MWF 9:45 - 10:50
ANT 014 Language and Culture - Prof. Brison MWF 11:00 -
12:05
ANT 010 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology - Prof.
Cool TTH 9:15 - 11:05
From the Chair
By Prof. Stephen Leavitt
Greetings! This term we feature some writing from our students who have traveled abroad in Ireland and Spain. With many terms abroad cancelled or postponed following the events of Sept. 11, we are lucky that our students are continuing to be able to make the most of their anthropology studies. I especially want to thank Amanda Haag for giving such a splendid account of her mini-term over the summer!
We also welcome professor Reg Byron to the campus this fall. Professor Byron is from the department of Social Sciences & International Development at the University of Wales Swansea. He is here to continue his research on ethnicity and is residing this term in George Gmelch’s office.
Prof. Stephen
Leavitt, Chair
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