Monday, November 20, 2006

Farmer Jess...



Some of you may know that by a bizarre twist of fortune (basically God is a wise-guy), my Masters here (in Humanitarian Action) somehow mysteriously falls under the banner of 'Agricultural Science'. That's right. I'm getting an MSc (Agr) HA. If you know me, you'll know that's quite funny. If I'd done first semester in France, I'd be graduating with a Masters in Law, but because I'm in Dublin (where the 2nd semester specialty is in Humanitarian Action and Rural Development), I'm getting a Masters in Agricultural Science. Even though I am moving to France in second semester to specialise in international law and geopolitics. It's actually kind of annoying actually!

When my mother found this out she laughed hysterically, called me Farmer Jess, and said that I couldn't even grow parsley if my little life depended on it. I was mildly offended, but couldn't really disagree. Do I look like a farmer?? (Don't answer that...)

Anyway, all my classes are in the agricultural science building at UCD (known to those in the 'hood as 'Ag Sci'). Every morning, the foyer is full of ruddy-faced, healthy looking outdoorsy-types. Or I may be projecting. Whatever. The point is... very early on in the course, I saw a poster up in the foyer of the building which made me do a double take, and laugh out loud! I finally managed to take a photo of it this week.



Farmers Journals! I don't know what a farmers journal is, but all I can imagine is "dear diary, today I milked a cow...". Hehe. This humour is clearly a reflection of my ignorance, but for heaven's sake. Agricultural science? I have to vent somehow!

I very much hope no farmers were offended in the reading of this blog :)

JT x

7 comments:

Project_SafeCom said...

Always knew you'd eventually divert into something like Bovine Rights Inc:

Here's one to keep you motivated:

He hid in the forest, read books with great zeal
He loved Che Guevera, a revolutionary veal

He spoke about justice, but nobody stirred
He felt like an outcast, alone in the herd

He mooed we must fight, escape or we'll die
Cows gathered around, cause the steaks were so high.... [more]

Project_SafeCom said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Rebecca said...

*sigh* Jess, Jess, Jess...

I'll send you my honours thesis (a historical study of vulnerability in East Gippsland) and you'll see why it's SPECTACULAR that it's Ag Sci. You snobby city chick. ;)

Not really related to humanitarian action, but definitely of interest to you in other ways...have you come across the poet/theologian/farmer/ecologist Wendell Berry?

Rebecca said...

ok...post 2...the internet in Vila is generally good but today it's been intermittent!

On a silly note...I used to have these crises about what to wear to uni (ok, 'crisis' might be an exaggeration, but you get my drift)...the contrast between the law faculty and the geography department was unbelievable. Geography was characterised by work boots (as in, steel capped) or birkenstocks and Kathmandu was the brand of choice (especially after sales, and many of us worked there part time so got good discounts!)...you know what law was like. ;) I'm guessing there's just LOADS of high heels around you at the moment!!

Rebecca said...

Stuart, you have no idea how much that sounds like one of my articles interviews...

Rebecca said...

Oi, Jess, I was just reading up on the current bushfires @ home...how's this for an article on point?! ;P

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/fire-hits-droughtravaged-farm/2006/11/22/1163871435400.html

Jessie said...

haha you know what everyone? this actually reminds me of a conversation i had with my mother and my grandmother, upon the purchase of my FIRST EVER pair of Doc Martens boots. They were divine - Cherry 8-ups, and i loved them. My mum thought they were kind of cool too. My grandmother, however... When I showed them to her, she said to my mum: "They look like farmers' boots. Why did you buy her a pair of farmers' boots?? what are you going to get her next... a WHEELBARROW?? and a COW??"

That is a true story - word for word. she may look like any normal grandmother... but she is in fact a portal to the future...

Everyone stop teasing me.

Hehe.