Prepare yourselves, friends, for a series of word/science nerd posts. We've been delving deeper in my Structure of English class about the influence language has on culture, and vice versa. Also, I just picked up a book called "The Physics of Conciousness". I'll be talking about these topics a lot.

But, I've only just started the book, so it will be full-on word phun today. (Does that make it cool when I spell it with a "ph"? No? Ok.)

Anyway, so today we were talking about English becoming a global language. For example, it is the language of all airlines all over the world. And, in India, it is considered a politically neutral language (now that England no longer occupies India) because then the 14 language groups aren't competing. It is still the language used in court there too. But the part that really caught my attention is that in a video we watched, the Indian women said they learned English, in part, to get a good husband.

This brought up the issue of upward mobility through marriage. My professor said that he's read articles about studies that have been done that prove that women are generally more ambitious than men in terms of marrying for social status. This would, of course, make sense because it is only in relatively recent history that a woman could find employment to support herself. A man would have his work to ensure a secure future. A woman would only have a husband to secure that future. And, in many parts of the world, this idea is still firmly in place.

The example the professor gave was an article he read about Austrian women. The article focused on towns on the border of Austrian and Hungery. In Austria at that time, German was the language spoken by the socially elite. Becuase of this, they were finding that women were more inclind to learn German. They were also finding that many of the Hungarian farmers in these towns were remaining bachelors.

The Austrian women were ignoring the Hungarian boys in their own towns and went for the German speaking elite.

In this part of the world, many women go for men with high paying jobs, the elite and financially secure. To marry "well" is still a significant issue for some women.

I started to think about my view on the matter, and I realied I do have my own snobbish views on some things. For me, it isn't a matter of marrying rich, but of marrying smart, preferably college educated. Then again, is this simply me wanting someone mentally compatable? Or am I closed off to not as educated, but still good and kind men?

I say no, that it isn't a bad bias. I know I would find myself resenting or starting to look down on a husband who wasn't as well read. It indicates an open mind that I find attractive. Smart has always been the first thing I look for, after spirituality.

That issue settled, I began to try to sort out the question all us single people seem to have about the qualities we desire in a significant other. Are there things I'm overlooking because I'm blinded by a narrow view of what I think I want? Am I attracted to people that are good for me? History shows that I might be distorted in my perceptions in that regard. What really is important?

I don't know. I mean, I think I do, but I'm not always sure.

That mental discussion will have to wait for another day. I have a paper to write.

(I'm digging this return of regular updating.)