Met an entomologist today on my run; he’s been here for about a week, seen me running around the park everyday, and was wondering who I am and if I live here. (It’s unusual to see the same foreigner for more than a day around here, particularly one that doesn’t look lost or have a Thai guide with them.)
We chatted for a bit. I told him I’m a gibbon researcher, I study hand manipulation skills and I have been living in the park for the past year and a half. He told me about his interests in bugs and birds, his desire to be able to do research here at Khao Yai, and that he had been here once before and wishes he could come more often because it’s so beautiful. He asked a few questions about gibbons and plants. Then said he wouldn’t keep me longer and let me get back to my run. But just before we parted ways he said with a smile, “All the good anthropologists are women, aren’t they?”
I smiled, “Oh I don’t know, my professor is a male.”
He replied, “Yeah, but all the good anthropology books are by women.”
It was because of his comments about anthropology.
Because I never told him I was an anthropologist.
I said I was a gibbon researcher.
We talked about ecology, biology and home range size. We talked about research. I never mentioned socio-ecological theory, humans or evolution, just gibbons, monkeys and hands. But he made the connection I was not a biologist.
And it’s important and noteworthy because I AM an anthropologist, and I appreciate that he got that.
So, Dr. Entomologist who lives and works in Chiang Rai. If you ever happen to be reading this one day, I just wanted to say thanks. And to let you know, just with that simple connective assumption, you made many Anthropologists, who study primates, smile.
Thanks for just ‘getting it’ without question.
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We chatted for a bit. I told him I’m a gibbon researcher, I study hand manipulation skills and I have been living in the park for the past year and a half. He told me about his interests in bugs and birds, his desire to be able to do research here at Khao Yai, and that he had been here once before and wishes he could come more often because it’s so beautiful. He asked a few questions about gibbons and plants. Then said he wouldn’t keep me longer and let me get back to my run. But just before we parted ways he said with a smile, “All the good anthropologists are women, aren’t they?”
I smiled, “Oh I don’t know, my professor is a male.”
He replied, “Yeah, but all the good anthropology books are by women.”
“Well that is very true.” :)
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But here is why this moment was so great. It’s not because of his interest in gibbons, his intelligent questions, his love of the park, his plug for women writers or his welcome distraction from my run in the sweltering dry season heat. --------------------------------------------------------------------
It was because of his comments about anthropology.
Because I never told him I was an anthropologist.
I said I was a gibbon researcher.
We talked about ecology, biology and home range size. We talked about research. I never mentioned socio-ecological theory, humans or evolution, just gibbons, monkeys and hands. But he made the connection I was not a biologist.
And it’s important and noteworthy because I AM an anthropologist, and I appreciate that he got that.
So, Dr. Entomologist who lives and works in Chiang Rai. If you ever happen to be reading this one day, I just wanted to say thanks. And to let you know, just with that simple connective assumption, you made many Anthropologists, who study primates, smile.
Thanks for just ‘getting it’ without question.
---
Comments are always welcome, please share your thoughts.
*Note: Comments are moderated to avoid spam.
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