Sep

Why I just bought a nightlight

By grant

As you read this, I am winging my way to China. Yesterday, I had to decide what to take with me. I decided on a night light. (Not the one pictured. That’s a file photo. I got a rabbit.)

For me, the toughest part of the travelling to new time zones is sleep management. In Russia, my body refused to adjust and I largely went without. Sitting in a 100 degree Kruschov kitchen, trying to conduct an interview, with a skeptical client and a bewildered respondent, in the teeth of near absolute jet lag, this will not stand as my happiest memory of the ethnographic experience.

This time I am hoping my sleep cycles will be more cooperative. But here’s the problem. If I get off cycle, it’s very hard to stay asleep once I fall asleep. Especially if I need to get up in the middle of the night. Chances are, I won’t remember where the bathroom is, and chances are I will have to turn on a light to find my way…and, forgive me, my aim. This is bad. Dosing yourself with light is a good way to return to wakefulness. Now all hope of sleep is gone.

Thank god for illuminated rabbits.

As to posting, I will if I can. Please forgive periodic shortages of copy and taste.

References

McCracken, Grant. 2006. Advice to a young consultant. This blogs sits at the intersection of anthropology and economics. June 20, 2006. here.

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Categories : Advice to a young consultant