Some of our treasured utopias will be washed away with imperial decline. But we can remember what made them magical as we imagine a new, post-imperialist world.
Loved this post, thank you. I studied Arabic there in 2019 after a stint reporting on wars. It was a great place to unwind and think. I have great memories of the library at MIIS on sunny afternoons, reading Fanon on the beach in Pacific Grove, walking a few miles to school and back along the coast, watching the seals bask on the shore, and meeting these strange and curious Americans. Sad to hear it’s closing and I hope the lovely staff there find other work fast, or that it can be saved. What a calm and lovely place .
Totally! I discovered Fanon much later, but something about the place lent itself to just reading and thinking for long stretches--no substitute for that
Great post. I lived and worked in Monterey in the late 70s (it was still affordable for working folk) and enjoyed the beauty and most importantly discovered interests and mentors at the community college campus. As an aside, I lived in Big Sur too. Enjoyed its beauty but also developed a class consciousness as the landowners were lords and controlled all resources. Back to the point, I have taught in Korea and China and many other wonderful countries only because I had the good luck when young of living near a community college that fired my imagination with possibilities.
MIIS Alum here, thank you for writing about my alma mater. I need to digest this a bit before I comment further.
Loved this post, thank you. I studied Arabic there in 2019 after a stint reporting on wars. It was a great place to unwind and think. I have great memories of the library at MIIS on sunny afternoons, reading Fanon on the beach in Pacific Grove, walking a few miles to school and back along the coast, watching the seals bask on the shore, and meeting these strange and curious Americans. Sad to hear it’s closing and I hope the lovely staff there find other work fast, or that it can be saved. What a calm and lovely place .
Totally! I discovered Fanon much later, but something about the place lent itself to just reading and thinking for long stretches--no substitute for that
Great post. I lived and worked in Monterey in the late 70s (it was still affordable for working folk) and enjoyed the beauty and most importantly discovered interests and mentors at the community college campus. As an aside, I lived in Big Sur too. Enjoyed its beauty but also developed a class consciousness as the landowners were lords and controlled all resources. Back to the point, I have taught in Korea and China and many other wonderful countries only because I had the good luck when young of living near a community college that fired my imagination with possibilities.
That’s amazing—and sounds similar to me!