Chapter 10: Kent

"Miss Irwin, my son told me you are a PhD student. So, what do you study at the University?" My dad asks “my girlfriend” Vicky casually across the dinner table.

To get to know her better, the Christmas dinner is arranged as a family thing, narrowed down to just us plus a few really close family friends. It really gives dad the opportunity to bombard Miss Irwin with intrusive questions.

Miss Irwin must be nervous. She is still wearing her PhD hat. She gives a rather academic answer like the ones that she often gives at the beginning of a graduate seminar:

“Well, Sir, I am with the Humanities Department. I am interested in the cultural studies of the global south, with a specialization in Angola. My dissertation project centers on——”

My dad waves his hand to cut her short.

“And what kind of job are you going to get after graduation? Where exactly can this degree of Angola culture get you?”

Miss Irwin clearly haven’t thought this through. She looks completely caught off-guard by my da