Ohhh man, ALL THE TIME. Literally. And it only gets worse when I can't talk about it with the people around me-I don't think my roommates have any idea what white privilege is, and I've heard plenty of people (on this site, sometimes) just flat-out deny that it exists at all. That's when it gets most depressing, for me; that and realizing that white privilege might never go away. But I think the only thing that's helped at all is to keep working, to keep trying to make people listen and understand. I don't presume to speak for anyone but myself, but white privilege is still alive and kicking, and it still creates problems. As someone who understands that, I sort of feel like it's my responsibility to spread that knowledge and to keep doing the work I'm doing.

I have it, and I don't deal with it. I come from a town where a sizeable proportion of indigenous youth are born into broken homes and are sucked into crime at a young age - we had this nine-year-old kid steal from our shop, and when Mum talked to the police and took a walk around the centre, she found that he'd been stealing for a bunch of older teens/young adults. NINE YEARS OLD. I found it incredibly heartbreaking that he didn't have the support system in place to make it to an age where he could make an informed decision about where his life was going, through no fault of his own. But of course nobody's looking at HOW so many indigenous folk fall into that sort of situation, because they're too busy moaning about how terrible they are because they don't even TRY to fit in with society, and why don't they just get over what happened 200 years ago like we have, because they weren't there and we weren't there so it's not a problem any more unless we choose for it to be one, and look and so-and-so, she's an Aborigine and she doesn't carry on about it and she's actually going to do something with her life!!

I want to cry. I've tried explaining it to my family, but how can you tell somebody who doesn't want to hear it? I just end up all emotional and overwhelmed and anxious, which doesn't help anyone.

So I just go about my business and treat every person I meet with dignity and respect, until they prove that they don't deserve it. I can't change the thoughts and actions of the people around me, but I can change my own, and maybe one day I'll inspire somebody else to examine their own prejudices.

Although I refuse to get off my youngest sister's case about slut shaming. I'm so disgusted by some of her comments and she should know better...

I have thrush! Woe!

Erin.
::righteous babe::

oh, and today has been two years since I met Second Boyfriend

Erin.
::righteous babe::

I had my calculations test yesterday. I think I passed. If I didn't pass, I don't get to be a nurse. To say I am extremely nervous for the results is an understatement. Every other time I have done this test, I haven't passed. But yesterday...felt different. So I hope I passed. It would be REALLY nice to be able to start looking for a job!

I found a nice job at a women's health clinic, and the Blood Bank are always looking for nurses too. Being a blood donation nurse would be great fun, I think - huge variety of people through the door, no sick people, low risk of exposure to body fluids (barring someone vomiting after donating or having an accident with a blood pack), and every time I am at the Blood Bank, the nurses seem to be having a good time together.

The women's health clinic would be great too - according to the ad they provide extensive training and the clinic does mostly fertility-related stuff - vasectomies and tubal ligations, terminations, pap smears, IVF, etc. I would love to work in sexual health so that seems like it would be a good start.

Fingers crossed I passed this test!

Erin.
::righteous babe::

I didnt.

Hugs.

:( Bum. Can you sit it again?

I have one more attempt before I have to re-enrol in the entire subject (something I cannot afford). And I haven't passed the test any of the other times we have done it, so I am not sure what's going to be different this next time.

Erin.
::righteous babe::

how long do you have before you re-sit?

Do you feel like you've got the subject, and the test is just a doozy every time, or are you struggling with the content of the subject?
Maybe try a different study approach? Is it something you can approach one of your teachers about?

I think you can do it! Don't psych yourself out now lady! Theres gotta be something you can do differently this time.

*hugs*

*hugs* Good luck next time around - can you get Mark to help you out or something? I'm afraid I'm useless with this sort of thing but I agree, there has to be some way for you to pass this!

*hugs*

Helen

Poop!

I know you can do this. Can you look into a tutor? Or arrange a time with your lecturer to go through your exam and see where you went wrong?

Don't give up.

Oh, my gosh. Diary. I am still here. I have to make a time to meet my teacher and go over my maths test, AND I have to go re-sit it. This is my last chance.

In other news, I am in the middle of putting together a Street Medic Workshop, to deliver at Occupy Melbourne on Friday this week. I am going to unpack and describe an entry level first aid kit, and educate people on how to build their own. It's very exciting!

Other than that, I don't have much news. Mark is now unemployed, so we are bouncing around the house all day long. Fun times!

Erin.
::righteous babe::

Uhm, you do have news now.

I'll be brunching with your lovely self and your kitties on Sunday!

WHOO HOO. Mark will bake a loaf of bread and we will nom toast and omelettes filled with tasty cheese, spring onion, fetta and mushrooms. Then drink homemade lattes

Savvy?

Erin.
::righteous babe::

I adore that idea! I don't eat eggs tho (it's a stupid thing I have, don't ask. Eggs slightly freak me out).

However fresh toast sounds AMAZING. I love buttered toast. And tea? And we will play with kitties! It shall be so grand.

I know everyone reading this is uber jealous.

OK AWESOME.

I will dream up something else rad for breakfast. Stay tuned!!

Erin.
::righteous babe::

Things I have done:

Delivered a kick-ass street medic workshop at Occupy Friday.
Met a guy at the end of it who runs a first aid training company who wants to work with us.
Seen Dan Sultan play at Federation Square.
Learned how to make martinis and drank loads of them.
Woke up with a searing hangover, ate Vegemite on toast in bed whilst moaning.
Booked bus ticket to Sydney for March 2.
Bought this dress for my best friend's wedding in November:


AWW YEAH. Productivity ftw. Now all I needs ta do is find me a jerb.

Erin.
::righteous babe::

My dress came today. Aww yeahhhhh. Now I have to go get dressed because Mark and I are going out to buy his textbooks. FUN TIMES.

Just over two weeks until I go to Sydney to see Second Boyfriend. There's REALLY not a lot happening in my life at the moment, LOL.

Tell me about your lives, lurkers!

Erin.
::righteous babe::

Odessa wrote:

Tell me about your lives, lurkers!

Well, I'll be going out to buy some textbooks for uni with you today. I got to see you in a hot dress and it's about two weeks until I can dance around the house naked* with you in Sydney and housemate at some concert festival...

*Dancing around the house naked may actually be studying.

Mark

Hahaha, another "oh right, different hemisphere moment".

I was all "Wait, she bought that for a wedding in November?!" and then I remembered that's late spring/early summer for y'all. Lovely dress, btw. I'll take Mark's word for it that it looks great on you.

PinUpGirl wrote:

I remembered that's late spring/early summer for y'all.

Our seasons click over on the first of the month, so I guess technically we are late summer about to be Autumn.

I don't know about anyone else, but I feel like normally February is the hottest month of the year (this year of course in the odd on out). Sorry Odessa, just butting in.

Surely you jest. February rains like there's no tomorrow & never cracks 50*.

I just realised that I totally misread your previous post PinUpGirl, thinking that you meant NOW was late spring/early summer. Sorry.

(Feb 15, 6:47pm, 78.8 degrees farenheit according to my living room thermometer)