Sap-Attack

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

A lot of the things in my room were given to me by someone. That someone is my boyfriend. This post is going to be much more personal than any of my previous. Personal things in my life + personal writing = über-extra-dextra-personal post. That's what people like, right? So here it goes: I have been dating my boyfriend for two and a half years now (awww). And I must admit, I have Facebook to thank for it. There! I admitted it! Facebook gave me my relationship! Does that make me an online dater...? 

8th grade Hannah

Let's not answer that question. I have known Alex since I was about twelve-years-old. We grew up in different towns in Washington, and he was one of my brothers tennis rivals from our summer tournaments. We are, undoubtedly, the Romeo and Juliet of our generation. I must be honest, our interaction during those younger years was...limited. You see, Alex is about three and a half years older than me. So when I was twelve, he was fifteen going on sixteen. That age gap, at that time, was significant. While I pined after him, he saw me as a little girl. But do not fret. There is clearly a happy ending to this, since I somehow managed to woo him. 


Alex was a senior in college by the time I was a freshman. The summer before I went to Western Washington University, we started casually chatting on Facebook. I'd followed his life throughout the years, see him have girlfriends and see it not work out. This is somewhat embarrassing to admit, but I knew we had a lot in common based on what I noticed on his profile. The summer before I started college, our communication started to rapidly develop. Messages became the length of novels, and then we switched over completely to phone conversations. We would talk all throughout the day about every aspect of our lives, our beliefs, our goals, past present and future. Everything. 

October 11th, 2008

This new found connection + my previous crush quickly became fully developed "feelings". In October of 2008, he invited me to a concert in Portland. It was clear that the age gap no longer mattered. So really, this is me, giving hope to all young girls in the world crushing on their sibling's friends.


I guess I want to relate this experience to the whole idea of dating in college. I've had a few people express the opinion that it's bad to become tied down too young. But in my life, I don't find these arguments applicable. I am dating my best friend. Is that not something to hold on to? Even more, when I look at the drama and uncertainty my single friends face, the hooking up, the awkward dates, I'm even happier that I'm in a stable and healthy relationship. 

Photograph by Hannah Schultz (clearly)

Now, I'm not saying that everything in my life and relationship is perfect. It shouldn't be. Alex and I have had our fair share of trouble that we have needed to work through. I am also aware that there are positive aspects of being single in college, like gaining a greater sense of independence. I just believe that when you find someone you love, you don't let go of it because of how old or young you may be. You love who you love when you love them, and that's that. 


I hope this post hasn't been too unbearably mushy-gushy. But I really want to know something, since everyone's lives and experiences are different. Have you ever loved anyone? And what has your college dating OR single experience been like? 

The Angles of The Strokes

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

As much as I enjoy new bands, the one that I consistently fall back on is The Strokes. They are, and I imagine always will be, my favorite. No matter what mood I'm in, their songs put me in a good place. Their sound reminds me of home and my best friends. Maybe I've idealized them too much, but I've also convinced myself that the band members and I would be really good pals if we knew each other. I was only eleven when their first album came out in 2001, and now, after a five-year hiatus, they are finally about to release a new album called "Angles". As an avid, die-hard, fully committed fan, I'm counting the days to March 22nd (24!). During the last five years, most members of The Strokes have completed their own side projects. Julian Casablancas and Albert Hammond Jr. recorded solo albums, while Fabrizio Morretti joined the band Little Joy. For a long time, people didn't know if they'd ever record together again. And as much as their reunion sounds positive and wonderful, there has...unfortunately...been quite the controversy that I can't help but discuss.

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

A recent article by Spin magazine fully dissected the issues surrounding the new album. First, the band changed who wrote the songs. Before, lead singer Julian would write most, if not all, of their songs. This time, they each had a voice in the writing process. Bassist Nikolai Fraiture said, "We listened to everyone's ideas with open ears and came to collective decisions. Everyone had an opinion." With songs written by five minds instead of one, the sound is bound to be different. Only until the album is released will fans know if this was a good change in the process.


More rumors have been circulating that there is unresolved tension between Julian and the rest of the band. This news hurts my heart the most. In the Spin article, Fraiture went on to explain, "We wrote and rehearsed together as the four of us. Then we'd send the track over to Julian. There was a lot of back and forth. I don't know if Julian had trouble being with us -- I don't know what was going through his mind. There were tensions. But it worked." So from that statement, it would seem that they didn't even record the album together. I think this is disconcerting for any fan who loves them as a group. They're a unit. You hear and see the friendship whenever they're together. If that's gone, what's the point?


Lastly, another problem surfaced with their producer. Initially, they were working with Joe Chiccarelli, a well known producer for Avatar Studios. Due to a lack of chemistry and conflicting interests, they ended up scrapping all the work they had done with him and starting completely over without him. After parting ways, they wound up in Albert Hammond's personal studio, where it seems they happily re-did the entire album.

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

For now, it seems their problems have been resolved. But for a fan who loves them so much, it's upsetting to hear that there even were such significant issues. On a positive note, Fraiture mentioned at the end of the Spin article that things are getting better, "Everything is great between us now that the album is done," Fraiture says. "That's the hardest part -- seeing beyond the daily quibbles to focus on the main goal."


I guess I can view their problems the same way I view my personal growth over the last five years. You can't expect a band to remain perfectly in sync. People change. Friends go through negative cycles. I only hope that after their five-year hiatus and recent drama, The Strokes will continue to make the music that I love. 

Holga Mania

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

About three years ago, I bought a cheap 120 mm film camera for myself: the Holga. Made out of plastic, the Holga is known for producing light-leaks, vignette blurring, and inspiring creativity in its users. Basically, it's so low quality, you can never tell how your pictures will actually turn out. Growing up in a digital age, I used to think film cameras were as outdated as cassette players. I didn't have the slightest idea how they worked. I bought my Holga because I was curious. I wanted to see what I could create. But because I didn't even know how to load film, it mostly sat in my room as a decoration piece. Thankfully, one of the first friends I made at Western Washington University was a photography major, and an extremely patient teacher. I took my first film photograph in her dorm room of our friend Maddy. I double-exposed it so that she'd be in the picture twice, while a poster of John Lennon lingers in the background. That picture remains one of my favorites.

To this day, my Holga photography has been pretty experimental. Sometimes I ruin entire rolls of film by over-exposing them or continuing to load the film incorrectly. As much as I'd like to say that I've become photo-savvy, I know that I still have a lot to learn. The slideshow below contains my nine favorite photographs that I've taken the last three years. I display about twenty-five on a wall in my room, but in my opinion, these nine are the best quality. One of my favorite things about film photography is the risk and patience involved. It feels more like art. Every roll of film is, essentially, a mystery until it's developed. For that reason, I feel a lot more connected to my film photographs than my digital. I invest a lot in them, and when they're developed, I love that I can hold them in my hand. These photos on my wall remind of memories, but they also remind me that as technology progresses, old-fashioned techniques will disappear unless people, like me, hold on.

Vintage Maps and French Chefs

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

When I was a senior in high school, my Chamber choir went on a tour of Italy and France for two weeks. It was, undoubtedly, one of the best experiences of my life. In fact, sometimes I wish it had been a little less enjoyable, so that I didn't miss it so much. Adventuring around Europe with my best friends, singing in old churches, experiencing new cultures and foods; what could be better? Every part of it was surreal. This poster in my room was bought in Nice, France towards the end of the trip. It actually almost didn't make it back to America with me. I had left it on the other side of a security checkpoint and had to beg an airport employee to retrieve it for me. Thankfully, I was successful.

More than anything, this poster and the vintage maps around my room remind me of my desire to travel the world, and how lucky I've been to do so already. I believe there's something really important about experiencing new cultures and going outside your comfort zone. It challenges who you are and what you think. It shapes character and independence.

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

This coming Fall I'll be going back to Germany to study abroad in the IES European Union program. I'll be living in Freiburg, a city near the borders of France and Switzerland. During this program I'll end up visiting about 12 different European countries. For me, it's the opportunity of a lifetime. As a transfer student, I never thought I'd have the chance or time to study abroad. Now that I can, I'm relishing in the opportunity. I even started following another girl's blog who is in the program right now.

One of the best parts of this program is that I'll be able to study multiculturalism and environmental sustainability in Europe; issues that are affecting the world today. I'm going to get a hands-on, real-world education on the political structure of Europe. Furthermore, this is my chance to finally become fluent in German. Before I was born, my parents lived in Germany for two years. I was also an exchange student there for a month in high school, and have maintained strong ties with my German friends. It has been a goal of mine to become fluent since I was a little girl. I'm counting on this five month immersion to make a significant impact on my language proficiency.

Photography by Hannah Schultz

I'm also counting on this experience to push me far outside my comfort zone. I want to learn more about both myself and the world. I've learned that many Europeans have an unfortunate opinion of Americans. Many think that we are simply ignorant and unconcerned with the rest of the world. In all honesty, I have a lot to learn, because I'm not exactly "politically-savvy". So really, my knowledge has nowhere to go but up!

This poster and the maps in my room bring back specific memories of my travel experiences. I think of that panic I felt at the airport, or when I first saw the Eiffel Tower. I think of my German friends and the old buildings that are like living history. But today, even more than those memories, these items in my room represent a large part of my future. They remind me that a world exists outside of my own. They make me think of all of the adventures in my life that lie ahead.

Avada Kedavra eReaders

Photograph by Ariel G

It is impossible to talk about my childhood without mentioning Harry Potter. When I was eight, the first book came out. From then on, I grew up with Harry, Hermione, and Ron. Our ages were nearly always the same and I spent every summer immersed in the latest installment. It was truly a cultural phenomenon. From an academic standpoint, these books significantly helped develop my literacy. They inspired me to start reading for myself, for fun. To this day, I collect books more than any other item. For some reason, book characters always seem more real to me than TV or movie characters. Reading is personal, and it takes commitment. Because of my connection with my books, I proudly display them all around my room, and like a security blanket, I usually want to have them close by.

Unfortunately, the latest shift towards eReaders is threatening the existence of "old-fashioned" books, potentially placing them on the endangered species list alongside bottle-nosed dolphins. It makes me wonder: in ten years, are eReaders going to be the norm? Are the books I own going to seem like ancient artifacts from a far away world?

Google Image

I understand the general appeal of devices like the Nook, iPad, or the Kindle. They're convenient. Instead of carrying around five different books, they could all be uploaded on a single device. But here is my problem: text on a screen never feels as real as text on print. I think there is something special about holding the three-dimensional copy of a book with actual pages to turn. I'm not sure I could ever feel as connected to a book without reading the physical copy. Or maybe I'm just being stubborn.

Right now is the time for society to consider, what is the future of books? If eBooks take over, what will happen to the libraries and book stores? Portland's own beloved Powells recently laid off 31 full-time employees. According to an article from OregonLive.com, "The 39-year-old retailer that's become a tourist attraction for book lovers around the world has been rattled by the unprecedented, rapidly changing nature of the book industry." Personally, I think Portland would lose a lot of its' charm if bookstores like Powells were to close down. One of my favorite things to do is get lost in the aisles and discover books I'd never heard of before. Furthermore, if book stores are in trouble, what would happen to the publishing companies like Pearson and McGraw Hill, and subsequently, the economy?

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

I think back to my childhood and wonder if I'd feel the same about Harry Potter had I read it on an eBook. I'll never truly know, but for future generations, this is a significant technological development that will affect their futures. In fact, many schools are providing students their own personal eReaders instead of textbooks. I think this is a strange concept for anyone who grew up with and still prefers real books. Perhaps my perspective is skewed, but if I was an author, I would dream of the day my book was published in print. I would display that first-edition copy in my home with pride.

The books that surround my room represent so many things: my childhood, my personality, and my culture. They remind me of stories and times in my life that contributed to who I am today. But right now, in 2011, they represent something much more important: a change. A change in the way people read, whether I like it or not.

For the most part, I understand why many people prefer eReaders, and I say, "To each their own". But ultimately, if this development means the end of books in print, then sign me up for the revolt.

Materialistic Anthropologist

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

In reference to the title of this post, I am not an Anthropologist, and this post will unfortunately not discuss the academic field. Now that we have cleared that up, it is time to travel back about 10 years:

When I was 11, my mom told me I could decorate my room for the first time. However, as a part-time interior designer, it was and is nearly impossible for my mother to give up total artistic control. At 11, I would have have preferred to draw monkeys all over the walls with a sharpie, so her hesitance and guidance was necessary. However, this was when I realized that as long as I lived with my parents, I could never truly decorate my own room. Even in college, sharing a dorm room only allows you to control half of where you live.

Photograph by Ari Weiner

This last year, I moved into a house with two of my friends, and for the first time, I experienced what it was like to have complete design control. As a somewhat (I think) artistic person, I was overwhelmed with the possibilities. I was especially overwhelmed with the different home decor stores. At first, they all felt so old. Picking out furniture was something my mom did, not me. As I'd browse online for hours, I'd become discouraged. Nothing fit who I was: a 20-year-old college student who hadn't established a specific design taste yet!
Stores like Pottery Barn and Crate & Barrel felt too mature, whereas Urban Outfitters felt too immature. I had horrible luck at thrift stores, and no success on Craigslist. I was near the point of giving up.
My mom had been buying her clothes from Anthropologie for a long time, but until this last year, I wasn't even aware they sold home decor. When I walked into their decoration department, I felt inspired for the first time. Their items were all so quirky and pretty and unique. I was in decoration heaven. Birds were singing, flowers were blooming, yadda yadda yadda.
But then I looked at the price tags.
Thoughts ran through my mind like, "!@#%@!" and "WHY IS EVERYTHING SO EXPENSIVE?" Thousands of dollars for rugs and hundreds of dollars for bedding, really? Who knew that a girl who had never decorated anything before would have such expensive taste. I started to hate how much I loved Anthropologie. It felt like a curse.

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

And as disappointing as my initial experience was, I managed to save up enough money over the next few months for a few special items. My rug was marked down from $400 to $100, and my bedding was 15% off. I scoured the Internet for deals and patience payed off. Furthermore, I completely cherish and adore the few things from Anthropologie I have been able to afford.

As I get older and my independence grows, money becomes more and more important. Like many before me, I never realized how expensive life is. As I thought about this, I started to wonder why specifically Anthropologie is so expensive. A simple Google search revealed that they are owned by none other than Urban Outfitters, the very store I was trying to avoid. A blog by SoloLisa.com explained how the CEO apparently wanted to create a more grown-up sister brand to the already hugely successful Urban Outfitters. Their ideal demographic was an affluent, settled-down career women in her 30s or 40s, with an average income of $200,000 a year.

Um, I personally fit into none of those categories, besides being somewhat affluent and a female.

Photograph by Hannah Schultz

SoloLisa.com continued to explain this predicament perfectly, "The feel of the website and the merchandise suggest that you're browsing through the wardrobe of some hip, twenty-something girl with a job in a creative industry like fashion design or graphic arts, someone who shops in small boutiques and supports local designers and wears all the right clothes all the time. In short, they're selling the lifestyle of the demographic they're shunning." This made me feel like it's all some sort of game! Their prices fit one demographic, and their style appeals to another. What's the deal?

I soon realized that peeling back the layers of a company can be ugly. You may not like what you find. You may discover that the working conditions are atrocious and the actual item quality is sub-par. Anthropologie items are made by the same creators of Urban Outfitters, yet they cost significantly more. It seems that sometimes, things are expensive simply so that they can look and feel expensive.

I guess the point of this post is that I somewhat opened a "Pandora's box" with my design adventures. As I become more conscious and careful with my purchases, I start to question why things are the way they are. I am no longer a silent consumer, because I think it's important to know where your things come from and how they are made. But in a society that is undeniably materialistic, exploitation seems to be everywhere. Life is expensive, and it is only recently that I truly realized it.

While I still love my Anthropologie items, sometimes I wonder if I should just stick to my home-made sharpie-wall-monkey art.

Explanation of existence

However bizarre it may be, I feel an obligation to explain my real inspiration for this blog. I saw this clip on 'Funny or Die' a few weeks ago, and apart from my confused laughter, I started to wonder about all of the things that currently inhabit my room. There are candles, vases, photographs, gifts, books, and so on and so on. I started to think about the stories behind my things; who gave them to me or how I found them. And then, I slowly realized that each item means something more than what it means to me. My decorations from Anthropologie don't just represent my design taste, they say something about materialism in America. My room would be incomplete without my proudly displayed Harry Potter books, which truly represent an important part of my childhood. But in 2011, paper books are disappearing and "eBooks" are taking over. Are these books I display going to have the same appeal as cassette players in ten years? Outdated and unnecessary? I wonder.
So really, if I think about it enough, all of these items say something about my life, and the world I live in. And besides being a reflective process for me, that's the point of this blog. We are all enmeshed with our culture and our things. It is all connected. Things in my Room will be the guinea pig for exploring this hypothesis.