How very exciting and heart-warming to be in touch with the whole (is that even possible?) Hooven gang! Thanks Steve and Martha for getting this together.
Biggest news (possibly old news at this point?) is that I got engaged in April, to Alex Byrne. We spent June in Slovenia, London, Uganda and Tanzania. Alex had a philosophy conference in Bled, Slovenia (Bled Epistemology Conference), he's got a brother north of London, and I had a conference in western Uganda, in the forest where I used to hang with the chimps (half reunion, half conservation talks). After a short trip to the island of Zanzibar, my friend from Antioch, David Wallas, who lived for 10 years in Tanzania, drove us around the Serengeti on an incredible safari. The whole trip was like a dream--we had an incredible time, and I didn't want it to end. Pics are in the slideshow link, below (about 6 minutes), and the photo to the left is Alex and me in the Kibale forest.
Uganda/Tanzania slideshow
When we got home, I had to set about packing up the apartment I've lived in for 15 years, in Central Square, Cambridge. I threw away most of my old, crusty things and moved in with Alex. I'm very happy to have finally taken this leap, most likely because it's into the arms of a wonderful man. Of course change comes with its challenges, but Alex is helpful and supportive, and is working hard to make his place really feel like *our* place. No wedding plans yet, we're taking baby steps. Works for both of us.
My job is very good, and I think it will get better. I was spoiled by the life of a grad student, then lecturer. That left me poor, but it was always engaging, and totally my own work. Last year I took the job of Lecturer (so I still get to teach my own course) and Advisor. The advisor job allows me to stay at Harvard and keep teaching, and I'm starting to like the advising now that I'm getting the hang of it. I advise undergrads who major in my concentration, which is now called Human Evolutionary Biology. Overall it's satisfying, but it's taking me a while to get comfortable with all the administrative details (big surprise there). I really enjoy getting to know the undergrads and help them with choices about things like courses, careers, research, summer plans, etc. I think I'll stick with this for a while and see where it goes.
I'm so glad we have this forum to share news. Please keep the posts coming!
Lots of love,
Carole
PS--the pic to the left is a primate for Peter!








This blog is meant to keep us all connected. All Hoovens and kin are invited to contribute to this. Thanks to Steve (aka my dad) for spearheading and nagging.