Even though I'm a violinist, music isn't the field in which I'm getting my degree. I'm actually getting a BPS, a Bachelor of Pseudo-Science.
-or-
Well, I'm majoring in witchcraft and voodoo.
This is what I want to say. I might as well. Every student here who hears that I'm a Psychology student has the same reaction:
"Oh, that's so fascinating/interesting/insert adj. here, I love to read Psychology. I read it all the time/when I'm waiting at the Consulate for my Visa/whenever I'm bored. So, you can read my mind; what am I thinking now? Do you know?"
I say that I'm studying Psychology, again.
"Oh, so, you must be studying all about what my mannerisms mean. Like eye contact."
I say, no. . .
"Ok, hypnotize me. You surely know how to do that. Or, you've not learned yet."
Again, no. . . I shake my head.
Once the students give me enough of a second to interrupt I'll mention social work. I want to work with women and children. I want to tell them what I really think of Freud (but no one appreciates that sort of language here, not if it's sincere at least. Feminists here are a bit like Christians in the States. The acceptable majority say that they are, but only a few are faithful to their beliefs).
Here on out, I'm just going to be an aspiring violinist. I don't care whether or not they know about my studies.
Ask Mensch about our visit Father's Day to Grampa in the VA. He tried to explain to Grampa (about 4 times)what he is studying in college. Similar results.
And I wasn't having a good hair day. Grampa noticed, but he forgot he noticed, so, each time he left the room (for the hourly pilgrimage to the ceramic throne), he would return and ask me, "So, what did you do to your hair?" To which I would reply, "Nothing; that's the problem." Then he would turn to Mensch and say, "How tall are you, anyway? 6'6"! Grampa Foster was 6'5". He had his own band, Foster's Orchestra."
Reminds me of the old woman next door. We always have the same conversation.
I couldn't resist responding to this - when ask what I do for a living, I'm more prone to answer "I'm still working on that" rather than "I'm a claim automation supervisor for a large insurance company". The response is one of two things - a blank stare, or those bastards screwed me when I had a claim once - Sometimes I'm a bartender, sometimes a landscaper, sometimes a cook, hopefully a good friend - but all the time I'm a father and husband.
Love to you Kristen - dad