Week 1 Update

June 9, 2023

Three accomplishments:

1. I have an idea of what I would like to map from the letters already, which I anticipated I wouldn't have until a few weeks in: I'd like to map what churches sent in letters and see their relation to nearby Black churches, which have historically been a hotbed for Black political activism during the Reconstruction period. Of course, this is a preliminary idea and subject to change, but I am happy to have already formulated a topic of interest this early. 

2. Dipper and I did not come in last place for the Scavenger Hunt on Monday!

3. I have only been caught in an afternoon rainstorm once. I figured I would have been soaked a few times because of my New England unfamiliarity with pop-up showers. 

Three obstacles to completion of my best work:

1. Personal medical issues that I could have timed out better but are unfortunately necessary for the moment! It's causing my brain to feel foggy and I am struggling to concentrate. 

2. I work best in a learning environment with set parameters or structure. The open-endedness of our project assignment so far is throwing me off in terms of having a realistic vision for what we can accomplish in eight weeks. 

3. Lack of quality sleep due to only having one measly (yet pretty) blanket. 

Three things I've learned:

1. How to control the music in the dining hall and stack it with songs only I want to hear.

2. Always bring a sweatshirt to lecture because it gets chilly. 

3. How interdisciplinary digital humanities work can potentially be depending on the scope and goal of the project.