Hi there! I’m a librarian, archivist, and anthropologist by training, with a regional focus on America and Central Asia. Paper Humans (previously known as dumplingcart.org) is a mostly dormant blog about people, the written record, and whatever I’m pondering. I also have a rather dormant tumblr of art featuring curvy women at Shapely Women.
In addition to articles, presentations, and a few cheesy unpublished books, you can find my writing around the web:
- The rhetoric of luck among the 99 percent (Sociological Images)
- How to catch a street taxi in Astana, Kazakhstan (Matador Network)
- The internet for her: Amazon reviews as comedic genre (Pop Anth)
- Securing, sharing, and archiving ethnographic field data (Savage Minds)
- Selling dreams of the good life in Kazakhstan (Sapiens)
What that, do note that this is a personal blog with posts extending back a decade or more. My thoughts have changed in that time. I know work folks can find this (hi, friends!), but it’s really not a polished portfolio or intended for a mass audience. It includes past posts that I may not agree with or am tempted to rewrite, but I keep them because I I believe there’s value in sharing reflections and growth over time.
If you reflect online, I’d love to hear about it. Come join me!
Thanks for turning this blog public. Reading on my phone and don’t see a place to subscribe. Will you offer that? I too found Kazakh names fascinating and write about it in my book.
Thanks for the comment! Google reader should track the RSS feed if you simply put the URL in, and there should be an “email me new posts” sidebar, although perhaps that’s invisible on a phone. I’d love to read what you’ve written about Kazakh names!
I love reading all your stories. They take me to so many places I have never been. Thank you.
Thank you! I’m so glad you’re reading and enjoying it 😀
I’m so glad I found your website. I was searching for information on working as a librarian abroad (seems like I got a lot of hits for librarians in Kazakhstan!). I am working on an MLIS/MEd Instructional Tech with my specialization in academic libraries. It seems like many librarians jobs abroad are sponsored by schools who want you to have your school media licensure, which I do not have. I would love to hear about your experience you gained before going abroad (anything, lay it on me), and how you found your job, etc. Many thanks and love!!
Susannah, I’m so glad this is useful. I know at least ten westerners who have cycled through libraries in Kazakhstan and I think it’s been a great experience for most of us. I’ll try to get a blog post going about how I went abroad and found my job… and send it to you soon!
Hello, Celia
I accidentally came across the website and find your posts very interesting. Being a kazakh citizen, it was nice to know your view of our country, customs and people. The post about how to catch a taxi in Astana is absolutely true:) By the way, you don’t live in Astana anymore, do you?
Hi Yeldos,
It’s good to hear from you! I don’t live in Astana at the moment… California instead, but would love to return. Have you been to the expo?
California is my dream place to visit actually. Especially Hollywood:)
I haven’t yet. But I certainly would go. Maybe the next week, on 4th July, it is a Day of the USA in EXPO.
That would be nice! If you ever come to San Francisco area feel free to let me know.
Alright. And you too, if you come to Astana
I came upon your website looking up family ties, perrin. Don’t know if it will lead anywhere but it was great reading.
Glad you liked it! Happy to compare notes if you have a Perrin similar to mine 🙂