Archaeology of Death Student Introduction

Hello hello,

My name is Andrea Bissonnette. This is my first foray into blogging land...I wish I knew more about computers, specifically, how to change the background picture to 300k. (If you read this and know how, please do message me instructions. MUCH appreciated.)

Alright, the good stuff. Well let's see, I grew up in Saskatoon, SK and moved to Victoria in 2009. In those first few formative years I traveling the globe extensively. Living abroad for longer periods in Germany and New Zealand. As a child I spent a great deal of time on the West coast and have quite happily settled here. For now.

I have studied at the University of Saskatchewan (Theatre/German), abroad in Kassel, Germany (German) and London, England (Theatre), and at the University of Victoria (Anthropology). I will (hopefully) be finished my Anthropology degree by the end of this summer and I will be starting my Nursing degree at Camosun in the Fall. The thought is that maybe, just maybe, I will be able to work as a nurse for a few years; my interests lie in women's health, sexual health, and emergency care. Eventually, I'd like to land myself a research position in the field of medical anthropology, focusing on food deserts in places like NYC. (I have a love affair with New York...but it could be London or Paris, I'm not picky)(maybe a little sarcastic)(hey, I can have dreams).

Right, so, other things about me. I like to take pictures, sometimes on film. I like fashion. I spend a lot of time listening to music and walking by the ocean or in parks. I really really really like to dance but only with friends when we're being silly. I have a daughter, Aalyn, she is 10 months old and the coolest lady I know. If you check out my google+ profile I uploaded some pictures of us.

I am interested in this class because...because...is it too dark to say that death is intriguing? That I've been to enough funerals to feel like maybe (aside from the human sacrifice part), the 10 days of fun that the Rus had sounds enthralling. I've spent enough time thinking about my own existence and death, maybe someone else has some better ideas on the matter. I tend to think we live, we die, that is the way of life and while that energy never dies, there is nothing more for us. I find funerary practices and their ties to religion and the idea of an afterlife absolutely fascinating. As someone whose interests lie in social anthropology, ethnographic accounts of rituals of this sort are of particular interest.

Well, 9:30 is upon us. In mum speak that is bed time. Sweet sweet bed time.

As bugs bunny said, that's all folks!