Bad Timing

I'm afraid that starting a blog right before finals week is not a good idea. Forgive me, I beg of you, as the next 2 weeks slide by with no posts.
Then, I will be back. Meanwhile, a picture for you:

http://www.redearth.co.uk/index.html

What do you think about these dudes? Revivalistic Pagan rituals (without the erm...interesting aspects) in Europe combined with art installation atmosphere? Hm. Sounds like what my aunt does in California with Trails and Vistas!

http://www.trailsandvistas.org/

It has been done

I have finally yielded to the temptation and am starting this blog. I'm going to be practicing over the semester, but its true purpose will be as a travelogue when I go to Europe this summer.

So, my trip will be to Ireland (most likely) or Scotland or Wales. The purpose of this journey, besides my own enrichment, will be to study first-hand the tombs and death iconography of Neolithic to Bronze age British Islanders. I'm thinking about trying to elaborate and/or criticize Marija Gimbutas' assumptions about the goddess cult in these regions, and also be preparing myself for the class I will be teaching next year: "The Last Rite of Passage: Death Ritual in Old Europe." If you are a student at Rice, please consider taking it, and if you are interested and are in Houston, consider auditing! I hope to make it an engaging and eye-opening course, and I also hope that my trip to the Isles this summer will further that aim.

Right now, the biggest problem to sort out is the money! I'm as poor as a humanities student (oh, wait...) and I'm doing my best to sign up for scholarships, financial aid, and randomly acquired cash - I don't think it will be enough unless I start saving some serious pennies right away. If anyone knows any scholarships, grants, or ANY free money that doesn't involve posting links on Google, I would appreciate the notification. Wish me luck!

Vale, Amici!

Ross