The many faces of...RAMIN

vay khoshtip

talkh

I've been sitting in the same spot for the last few hours working really hard to find SOMETHING to do next year (in paris, quuooiiii??).  Uh anyway, so I've been really concentrated, writing, searching, listening to music.  I've been writing emails in English and French and I'm sort of it in this French mindset.  So imagine my surprise when I just turned my Itunes off and heard the people at the next table speaking English.  I was genuinely thrown off course for a second.  I was like, wait, huh?  why are those people speaking english?  And then I was like, oh yeah, cus I'm not in France.  that's right.  

Sigh.  So bitter.  So wrong, and yet so right. 

POLLOCK, JACKSON

et voila

its raining, its pouring, ranna is going to fall down and break her leg.

i really dont have anything to say.  its raining outside.  ive been in the johnson center all afternoon studying for my IT exam.  only, haha, thats a lie.  i watched "How I Met Your Mother," and "Desperate Housewives."  Then I went and met Ramin downstairs for a second, and oh..haha this is funny.

So, Ramin calls and he's like, meet me at the info desk.  So I go downstairs to the info desk and i'm waiting, and Ramin comes up and says hello and introduces me to this guy named Paul.  Paul smiles and shook my hand.  I think its one of Ramin's math chums at first and they start walking so I follow them into La Pat.  We're standing in line and I'm not paying attention to the conversation until Paul asks Ramin,
"So, do you have any problems?"
And Ramin laughs a little, and he's like, "hahaha problems?"
Then Paul bursts out into one of those religious speeches about how Jesus can be your Savior if you open your heart and let him inside.  So of course,  I start laughing a little, and I look over at Ramin and he has this half- amused, half-perplexed look on his face thats like, "ok, let him talk just let him talk and don't laugh."  This makes me laugh more.
I keep walking away from them hoping that my laughter will subside, but it doesnt.  Paul keeps looking at me and frowning as he continues to talk to Ramin.
Ramin lets him know how he feels, and I must say, it was a very diplomatic answer.  Paul shakes our hands and leaves.  Ramin and I burst out in laughter.
Then Ramin went to class, and here we are...

sitting in the Johnson Center, on the third floor.  Rebecca is in front of me studying for her midterms and papers due next week.  An Arab guy wearing a kuffiyeh and a bolero just walked past me.  What a strange combination.  It's prayer time up here, and girls keep grabbing their scarves from their bags, and going into the meditation area.
I have class in 20 minutes.  It's raining.  I'm going to fall and then my new pants will rip.  BOO rain.

Rain is only enjoyable when I'm at home with the fireplace burning, a nice cup of tea in hand , watching episode after episode of Law and Order.  Otherwise, its a pain in the patooti.

payeez dar vashington

Yesterday while trying to find a quiet study spot at Mason (they seem to be impossible to find) I ran into my friend Sahar who was studying for the upcoming OAT exam (for optometry school).  We spent the better part of the day "studying," but mostly giggling and taking breaks.  During one of our breaks I asked her to model for me in the series of pictures you are about to see.  George Mason in the fall is beautiful, all the leaves turn deep crimson, orange and yellow.  When you have a warm scarf and a hot cup of coffee, it is most enjoyable to walk around campus.  So anyway, I had a lot of fun with these.  Take a look:

dande imana janu shirasana. im thirsty

wow.  apologies are in order.  i was supposed to keep this blog in awesome shape..instead i let it dwindle away slowly....  really, i was so set on posting some new blogs last week, but i came down with what i like to call H1N1 and that kept me away from my blog writing duties.  but im back and ready to...rumble?

While I was sick I decided that whenever I recovered I would make it a life goal of mine to stay as healthy as possible for the rest of my life.  I have a very weak immune system, it seems, and so getting sick comes easily.  This can't happen.  I'm far too busy and far too important to let the flu keep me in bed for one entire week.  How will I do this?  Eat healthy, drink plenty of water, dress accordingly depending on the weather.
Yoga.  Yoga.  Yoga.

Now, my bikram practice today got me thinking.  Our instructor, Frankie, was excellent, and she started the class by telling a story about how during her Bikram training there was a crazy who would shout out before every class, " I LOVVEEE YOOOO GAAAAAAAA!!!"  At first, people thought he was obnoxious, but once they started getting into the practice, they themselves would start yelling it out at random times, whenever it seemed fit.

It's funny, because it made me realize that though it drives me crazy to practice this intense sort of yoga in a 120 degree room for 90 minutes, there must be something that I love about it that makes me go back again and again.  There must be something that makes people run to Bikram in flocks.

What is it?  I mean, I don't necessarily love the practice itself.  Most of the time, as i'm sweating, dripping really, and my heart it beating a mile a minute, I'm thinking, "whyy do i do this to myself?????"  but I keep doing it.

Then it hit me.  Yoga makes me feel limitless.  In that 90 minutes of moving meditation, while I'm sooo focused on getting my spine and my mind aligned, when I'm so focused to reach the "yog" it gives me a feeling of invincibility; that I can leave the room and do whatever I want because I can withstand this.

I strip away the plaque that is worry, that is arbitrary thought, every negative emotion, every looming, dooming feeling.  It's stripped away.  And for 90 minutes I can breath.

So I got it.  We practice because even if we SUCK at it, the practice gives us perspective.  A much needed perspective on our lives.

So you know what?  I LOVVEEEEE YOOOGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAA  :)

Love, RANNA

UPDATE--STAY TUNED

due to increasing demands, i need to note that the reason I have not been updating is because...well, in fact there are a couple reasons.
1. I'm working on a little something something that will be published soon
2. nothing interesting has been happening in my life.  I go to school, I come home, I sleep.  I wake up, I go to school, I come home, I sleep.

If you want I can start blogging about the nitty gritty details I learn in my Economics courses.  We could have a conversation on the diamond cartels if you want, that's pretty interesting....

naahhh.  Just hold tight, I'll be back.  The latest by this weekend.  I have some tricks up my sleeve.

Ciao babies. Or, haha, as Justin Vernon likes to say, Babys

you have 30 minutes to sketch

I just started watching Season 6 Project Runway tonight.  Did you know there's an Iranian girl on the show this season?  Yup.  Shirin Askari.  She's pretty good too.  Classy and sophisticated.  And she's pretty.  Nice hair.  So young.  I hope she wins.

post script--please listen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAZ5IvfrXnw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj3ibm95zzc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZduDvIBu3EU&feature=channel


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4_4abCWw-w

Re: Anonymous Comment

Someone commented on my "Ranna Rants about Rustici," post by saying,


"What does this mean?
"Not because I agree with what he says, these days.  I know better now." 
Did France turn you into a socialist" 


Ok.  first of all, please tell me who you are.  Second of all, shame on you.  


Let me explain what I meant.  The first time that I took Rustici's class, I listened to what he said and I thought it was the word of God.  The way he explained everything made it seem like the world should function in terms of Rustici.  I was fascinated by his explanation of "the invisible hand," and why shortages and surpluses exist.  I took what he said and I applied it to everything pertaining to my life. 
Monsieur René and I would get into fights almost every night.  Social medicine, minimum wages laws, social medicine.  
During this same period, I took to labeling myself a libertarian.  And then soon after, I took it one step further in preaching the codes and ethics of Austrian Economics.  It all seemed like the perfect world.


But this year (And  NO it was NOT France), I realized that here we are living in a world that doesn't function under perfect competition, that our natural rights are not always going to be protected under a John Locke-esque civil society, that as much as we would like, we are no where NEAR reaching a point like that.  
Sure, it's sooo wonderful to think about everything our Economic professors tell us and think that it's possible.  Sure, we can work towards making small changes.  But thinking that we can shift our society into one based on social contracts and live peacefully... i just dont believe that we can.  We're human beings.  We're selfish.  We want what's best for ourselves. I mean...ok think about it in these terms.  
John has an apple
Bill has an orange


John wants the orange
Bill wants the apple


Ok, so we can trade.  Sure.  But what happens, if John takes the orange, but also keeps the apple.  Or, Bill takes the apple, but keeps the orange.


What happens then?


I mean, as rationality and incentives are concerned, isn't that what's going to happen?


I'm not saying we should live in a police state.  I don't agree with the way our government handles things here.  I'm not in agreement, by any means, with this new healthcare policy Obama has whipped up.


But at the same time, I'm living in THIS world.  Not a world made up by my professors.  Not a world made up of two commodities, apples and oranges.


So I take what they say with a grain of salt.  I work with it, and I try to apply it to the world I live in.  Because that's the only thing I can do.  That's the only way I can continue forward without being completely jaded by realities uncertainties.

Why am I just a monkey?

I hate it.  The plight of the Middle Eastern woman.  Hair.  HAIR.  HAAIRRRRRR.

All I want is to have a hairless body.  I've tried everything.  Waxing, threading, laser hair removal.  No.  It doesn't work.  Someone wanted me to be a gorilla, and a gorilla I shall remain. 

So any Middle Eastern girl out there who thinks she's the only one:  YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 

I guess the best thing we can do is to embrace it.  Embrace it.  Love it.  Men, FEAR IT. 

hahahahaha.  oh life. 

Are you related to Osama?

Yesterday, sitting in one of my Economics courses, I happened to look at the board covered with student ads, posters about study abroad sessions, and this little number that totally flabbergasted me.  After class, I quickly ripped it off the board and showed it to friends, who were just as shocked as I was.  Check it out (picture was included in article).

"STUDENT TOO FRIGHTENED TO "SHH" LOUD MIDDLE EASTERNERS IN COMPUTER LAB

Fairfax VA--Junior Timothy Pitt endured a whole forty-five minute debate between two students of presumed "middle east" descent.  Pitt, an IT major, sat in the computer lab in the top floor of the Johnson Center and was subjected to a loud conversation and massive amounts of hair gel that forced him to leave.

"It was just crazy.  They just started talking so loud, and I don't know where they were from, they could have easily been strapping bombs or something."

Continued Pitt, "I don't want to be rude, but it was like the Gaza Strip in there.  I wasn't sure whether it was part of their culture to talk and laugh when I was clearly trying to do work."

Upon repeated attempts to clear his throat in an excessively loud manner and even more failed attempts to turn up his iPod to drown out the chatter, Pitt found himself hopeless.  Read more at www.themasonsquire.com "

And at the end, it wrote, "Because fake news doesn't report itself."

Now, don't get me wrong, I understand and COMPLETELY support our right to free speech.  But this.  This isn't even journalism.  This isn't even funny.  I mean, let's take "The Onion,"  for a second.  Sure, "The Onion," is fake journalism, but it mixes current issues with a satirical twist, making it smart and humorous.
This was neither.  It made Timothy Pitt sound like an idiot and an asshole (sorry, Timothy Pitt, but it did), and it was really quite offensive.

Also, I want to say.  This isn't me as an Iranian getting angry.  I'm not angry because I fit under the umbrella of "Middle East descent."  I'm angry because as a human being, I don't believe in taking groups of people, putting a label on them, based on the color of their skin, the language they may be speaking, who they may be attracted to, what religion they practice, and then slandering them.

In any case, check the website out, themasonsquire.com, and let me know what you think.

You Know You Love Me XOXO GOSSIP GIRL

It seems I am a closet introvert.  Sometimes, at first glance, I fail to recognize this about myself.  I have certain and speficic qualities that may label me as an extrovert, but at the same time, being around people drives me crazy.  I would much rather spend an afternoon in my room drawing or reading that spend time surrounded by too many people.  I enjoy spending time with friends, sure, but one or two at the same time, not a whole crowd.  Even then, I yearn for some alone time.

I've been thinking about this a lot recently.  I spend a lot of time alone these days, especially at school.  Personally, I don't mind.  I get work done, I think, I get to observe people without someone telling me to stop staring ("stop staring, ranna, it's embarrassing, they'll know!"  who cares?)

But then I wonder if I'm isolating myself.

Since school started I've felt alienated in most of my classes.  I feel like Im sitting apart from most of the other students, observing them.  I wonder how they can live their lives consumed by societies banal conditions.  They seem so at peace going from class to class, listening to the professors, taking down notes of the lectures, and spewing the information out right after . 

I sit there, silently, and I listen.

I wonder if I'm doing it to myself.  Do I need to let go and see the world as they do?  They seem ever so much happier.  Maybe if I wasn't so critical on the definition of "happiness" I would lead a happier life.  Ignorance is bliss, of course.  Or so they say..

But then I would just be lying to myself.

Behaving like the others scares me.  I would rather be alone, doing my own thing, independent from every one else, than surrounded by other people, pretending that I care about who is dating whom, an what she wore Saturday night. 

Maybe that's why I'm manually isolating myself.  Because if I don't I'll be dragged into this brutal cage.  They'll crawl and bite me and bind me down and tell me to listen to them.  THIS IS HOW YOU LIVE.

No.  No thank you.  I'd rather stay clear of that cage.  I'd prefer to remain scar free.  I'd rather be safe than sorry.  Because didn't you know?  I keloid easily. 

Life is a maze

What's cookin, good lookin?

I've decided to periodically post some illustrations I work on here and there.  

Also, I'm going to start working on a more legit website, so look for that in the next few months.  

intransitive

A few weeks ago I cleaned my room.  And I mean, cleaned!  I organized my closet, I threw out a bunch of things I never used, all of the miscellaneous stuff was filed, stored, and cleared.

Problem is, it seems like organized rooms and I don't mix very well.  

I can't find anything anymore.  

Flightless Bird, American Mouth

Ranna rants about Rustici...

I had totally forgotten how much I loved my Econ courses while I was in France.  The moment I stepped into my first course on Monday I was filled with excitement.  It was reaffirmed once more when my my class, "Topics of Economic History," with Professor Thomas Rustici began.  Let me tell you why. 

My second semester at George Mason I was at a loss.  I had no idea what I wanted to study, what I wanted to do, how I was supposed to continue.  My plan had always been to finish my schooling at Parson's School of Design.  A uni like Mason was totally not in the cards...until it was.  So.  Registration time came around and there I was wondering what I should sign up for.  Art History?  Maybe.  Philosophy?  Sounds good.  English?  Definitely.  I swaggered along the path of liberal arts and stayed away from everything else.  

I remember so clearly one night, getting into my mom's bed while she was reading, the course catalog in my hand, and telling her, "just tell me what to do!!!"  

She took the catalog from my hand and said, "Why don't you take an Economics class?"

"Eww Economics is all about math, why would I do something like that?"

"No, Ranna, just try it out, you might end up liking it."  Then she told me what other classes to sign up for.  I remember them so well too.  It was the best semester ever...

Intro to Microeconomics, Intro Conf/Resolution, some environmental science theories class (no lab), an English class, and French, of course (this is the first semester since 7th grade I haven't had French in my schedule...it's weird). 

People.  I learned so much random bullshit that semester.  I mean, if my Conflict class wasn't bullshit enough, my Environmental Science professor standing in front of us babbling, "so, does global warming actually exist?  I don't know.  You tell me," was sort of the cherry on the ice cream.  Learned a lot about malaria though...bed nets, gotta love 'em. 

BUT.  Wow.  This was all pretense to my original story about THOMAS RUSTICI!!!! I LOVE HIM!!!!  I remember sitting in my first Econ class, he stood up on the stage and told us the story of the pencil.  The pencil.  Not mechanical.  Just a normal yellow pencil.  Something you don't think about that often...but did you know how much work goes into making that pencil?  So much.  And he went back, step by step, and explained how the pencil was created.  

And he said, and that's Economics.  Open your eyes.  Look over and beyond what you might see at first glance.  And I did..and it was amazing... 

Supply and Demand?  I mean.  I can't even begin to tell you the feelings  I feel for that graph.  I love it.  

SPONTANEOUS ORDER???  No one ever thinks about these things.  But spontaneous order just explains everything.  

So anyways.  I owe it all to him.  

And I'm taking his class again this semester.  I'm really excited.  Not because I agree with what he says, these days.  I know better now.  But, he instills a sense of excitement in the field, that I think is really important for any class.  I think that all of our teachers should strive to do that.  Anyone can stand in front of a class and read off of their lecture notes, it takes a truly dedicated professor to make the students excited about what they're learning, to make us want to go and learn more about the Industrial Revolution, Carl Menger, the Robber Barons...

Anywho... I'm probably going to be blogging a lot about what I learn in class for a while.  I'm taking some pretty interesting classes... it's going to be good, I think.  

In other news, I'm reading, "The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath."  Raha first told me about it, and 'The Bell Jar," had really grabbed my attention, so I thought I'd give this a try.  Man, you don't see too many broads like her these days.  

post script--please listen

my favorites at the moment--

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gdBvdN0Auc 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3b9E1p9uOA 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3P4MAwdBtI 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nTSU-mFWGs 

The A+ Student

School begins tomorrow.  My last year as an undergraduate student.  It's a strange feeling, really, having absolutely no idea what my next step will be.  The lists I make for myself are hilarious, ranging from studying in France to volunteering in Thailand to abandoning the social sciences and moving back into the arts (how the thought intrigues me!). 

We will see.  As for now, it's the beginning of the school year and there are endless possibilities ahead.