Culinary Anthropologist (in the making)

Since I'm in the early weeks of my final semester of my undergraduate career, I feel nostalgic enough to discuss a piece of my collegiate experience on Food & Stuff.

Here's a tiny bit of insight on who I think HOLLY is. 

The baker. 

The college student. 

The Anthropologist.

I feel like I have 'interest ADD...' What I mean by that is I have so many interests in school, recreation, and life! When I began my career at Humboldt, I was a History major, and BOY was I off! I got a 'C' in my first History class, and I still wasn't convinced that I needed to choose a new path. For some reason, Archaeology was always in the back of my mind, my first Arch class was so interesting! Nonetheless, I was convinced History was my thing... However, I soon realized my least favorite classes were the history ones, so during my third semester, I decided to try out the intro Cultural Anthropology class... All the odds were against me falling in love with Anthro, the teacher wasn't even an anthropologist, I didn't do great on the tests, and some of the concepts were difficult for me to grasp fully, but what made the difference was the final paper. It was the most intensive research paper that had been required of me up to that point, and we had to present in front of 80 people!! That is insane, especially for a shy, unconfident, and insecure 19 year old. But I was so passionate about the topic (international adoption) that I made sure to be super prepared, and it was awesome! My instructor even complimented me for a great job, and suggested on my paper to look into majoring in Anthro!

You'd think with that kind of feedback, I'd be convinced, right? WRONG. I was still unsure, especially since I was now beginning to take art classes, and getting much further in my french requirements. I gave myself the Spring semester of 2011 to decide between French, Art, and Anthropology. Once again I was plagued with a less-than-fantastic Anthro class, but was determined to decide...

And I finally did!

I realized that Anthropology was such a intellectual, interesting, diverse, and beautiful discipline; so I finally filled out the paperwork, and BOOM! I was the newest addition to the Humboldt State Anthropology Department! Simultaneously, I added French and Studio Art as minors, since I was unable to reject them fully.

The Fall 2011 semester was probably the most difficult and intimidating 4 months of my life. I was so overwhelmed by all the other Anthro majors, and I felt totally under-qualified to be in the same classes with some of them. Everyone seemed so intelligent and well-spoken, I was almost discouraged enough to rethink my decision; However, with the encouragement of one of my professors, I persevered while making it through 3 major presentations and 3 monster papers.

Spring was much better, I was familiarizing myself with more people in Anthro, and leaving my comfort zone more often. The class that was responsible for the absolute largest amount of personal growth, was also the scariest and most rewarding class of the entirety of my college career - Ethnography.

You may not be familiar with what 'ethnography' is or means, but to sum it up simply, it is 'the writing of cultures,' or field research methods for a cultural anthropologist.

Over the 16-week semester, I conducted primary research and ended up with a 25 page monograph containing my own findings and research. I researched a vibrant online community, which has given me so much more than I could ever give it.

Nearing the end of the semester, our professor told us of an opportunity to present at the 2012 American Anthropological Association National Meeting in the following November. At first I though 'Oh hell no, I could/would never do something like that' but then I realized how far I had come in just 2 semesters, and after further encouragement from said professor, decided to submit my project! And it was accepted! Along with 4 others, I would be heading to the AAA's in San Francisco, which was both exciting and nerve-racking at the same time.

It was a bit mind-blowing to reflect on how far I had come in just one year, because the next semester, Fall 2012, I was one of those intellectual students I had previously been so intimidated by! Almost every class, I was an active participant in discussions and always had something to contribute. I looked forward to the week I was presenting and enjoyed writing my gigantic papers. What a world of difference!

By the time November came around, I had become closer to my fellow AAA presenters, partly because 1.) I was TA-ing with two of them; 2.) We were staying together in SF; and 3.) I joined Anthropology Club. So we were all ready, posters and business cards in hand and an abundance of enthusiasm!

AAA Presenter-extraordinare!

The AAA's were so amazing! Presenting was fun, but what was really incredible were watching all the professional presentations! There were literally hundreds to choose from and I attended a ton with and without my comrades, but mostly I occupied my time with a newfound interest - Culinary Anthropology.

Ever since, I've been researching more and more about Culinary Anthropology, and the graduate schools that have such studies. I'm so excited that I can now combine my love of food with my love of anthropology - there is a way to do it all!

So for my final semester at Humboldt State, I'm dedicating a ton of time and energy to preliminary research on the discipline of Culinary Anthropology and Food Studies, which is fun and delicious!

Attending culinary school this coming September will be the next step in my journey, but it won't prevent me from my love affair with Anthropology, if anything it will just enhance it. Experiencing culinary culture first hand is going to be such a valuable asset for when I go back to grad school, in the next 10 years or so.

I'm so proud of the road behind me, and more excited for the road ahead! 

Feel free to join my journey!

Vi Ses,

Holly

Culinary Anthropologist

(in the making)