(re the gold) It truly is, and me too, Trudy. If I am actually in conversation, I have a hard time not remarking on it. It makes you want to touch it.

Yeah--I think we were supposed to get a taste of the world at 15 and 16 (though if you were me, you slid through loopholes and dumped as many arts courses as possible) and the specialise at 17 & 18. Then you go into detail at 19, 20 & 21.

The system fit me so well that I forget not everyone felt so sure. My sister was a bit less predestined, so she waffled for her Master's.

Is this too dressy for a baby shower?

Maybe not with boots, and more casual jewlery.

I'm still perplexed at the idea of not knowing by the time you start university.

I always knew I wanted to write -- or at least do something that involved books -- so I have to remind myself that others may not know when they start college. And I keep trying to focus Jake on what he likes, what he's good at, so he can have a sense of what he might want to do when (and if) he gets to college.

High school has changed, though, since I was there. I don't know if it's for better or worse, though.

I was always kind of amazed at having to decide what to do for the rest of your life at such a young age.

It doesn't have to be the rest of your life, though. It may very well be for me, but I know I'm a freak case who made her mind up the first time she saw a computer.

As noted above, my sister didn't. She ended up with one degree in anthropology and two in Latin American studies, and has worked so far in AIDS research and is about to start teaching university.

Of course, it may have been sold to me a little hard -- maybe people DO change tracks?

I never finished my degree, and if I went back now (which I'd love to do) I'd probably major in history instead of English. Which isn't like changing from zoology to architecture, I know, but still.

That said, most cultures have some misogyny built in, and so it's nice (as a woman) to see a particular cultural custom like this. Maybe you can think of it that way (not the 'as a woman' bit, just the 'nice' bit). Maybe you can think of this as your reparation for any misogynistic customs or attitudes from which you might have inadvertantly benefited.

Well, that's actually what burns me about the whole thing, that it's like this jewelry shit is supposed to make up for the misogyny inherent in Indian culture. It makes me feel dirty, even though it shouldn't because of what you just said.

I'd love to go back to school for art history, but have no illusions about a job in that field. I just want to know.

Or, you know, there's no possibility they might want something else other than jewelry....

signed, Evil White Devil Woman

I knew I was early in figuring out my major at 13, but I'm still perplexed at the idea of not knowing by the time you start university.

I don't think I even knew by the time I finished university. I started as a Theater/Film major, then decided that wasn't a good lifestyle fit (I will never smoke)...cruised through a bunch of interests, and History was basically the last rung I grabbed on my fall to English.

Fortunately my area of specialization can be described on paper as "History of Islam" so I suddenly became marketable to the government. If my real interest in anthro (Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft, Comparative Mythology) or History of Architecture were pursued, I'd be damn near unemployable.

If my real interest in anthro (Magic, Religion, and Witchcraft, Comparative Mythology) or History of Architecture were pursued, I'd be damn near unemployable.

Unless Frank Lloyd Wright, the Pope or Voldemort turned to terrorism.