"You are missing the point, Allison." -Professor Nelly Hanah

Today, I am sorry to say, but you get to meet Allison. She is an unfortunate character that has arrogantly shoved her way into the lives of all students in ARIC 323 Marriage and Family in the Middle East. I think I have mentioned her before (the girl that talks down to everyone, even the professor), but after my class yesterday, I feel it is necessary to describe to you this young woman who grades on my nerves. I have tried hard not to let her get to me, but yesterday, I failed miserably.

First thing you should know, she is as white as I am, speaks with an accent that sounds like she grew up in Michigan but has spent enough time away to conceal her accent for the most part, and she has this irritating laugh that follows most things she says in 3 raspy bursts. hahaha...ALWAYS 3! Second thing you need to know, she wears a veil, only not like Middle Eastern girls wear the veil, wrapped around to cover the neck as well. No, she wears it tight around her head, draped long in the back like a silk ponytail. I think this girl has an identity crisis.

I am sorry if this offends anyone or sounds too awful, but this girl conducts herself using all my classroom pet peeves. I think her performance in class yesterday will serve as a window into why I have become so annoyed with this individual. The professor asks if the class has ever heard the term Oriental Despotism, she raises her hand. She proceeds to use large words that seem to relate to the terms, but when put together really just serve as words, not necessarily descriptions. To an untrained ear, she sounds extremely intelligent, but to a student who spends her time at a university where most everyone is smarter than her and knows how to speak intelligently, this girl makes no sense! The professor looks at her and says, "I think you are missing the point, Allison. At least I don't really know what you are talking about." OMG! I wanted to laugh out loud, but then I felt ashamed for wanting to laugh at someone else's humiliation. She responded promptly, as if she were offended, with, "Well, that's how I would describe it."

I HATE when students pretend to be smarter than their professors who have been studying the topic for sometimes longer than the student has been alive. In this instance, I don't think that is too far off. I am going to have to spend the majority of this class not calling Allison out on the "facts" (or reality as she refers to it) that she misguidedly portrays. I agree with most of what she says, except for she always says it as if it is the only right answer and only she knows it. UGH!

Ok, enough venting. Other than that, yesterday was mainly full of homework. I spent literally 6 1/2 hours doing Arabic homework yesterday. Fun, fun! But so far, today (besides being cold) has been very pleasant. I hope you all will wake up and have happy Tuesdays as well.