Remember Me?

It has been a long while my dear friends. Combine the lack of a laptop with the lack of internet with BYU and you get a lack of blog posts. Well two of those problems have been solved so I will do my best to update more frequently but I make no promises.
My life right now is busy. I know that is a typical adjective for everyone but my whole concept of time has been completely redefined. I used to think of an hour as quite a bit of time and now it is a small snip-it. Anyway, I am getting ready to graduate in April and I already have senioritis. I didn't think it would hit this early but don't worry it did. I went through this major crisis, no literally a Major crisis, at the beginning of the semester because I picked a very unique, so maybe unique isn't the right word, I picked a major that is difficult to apply in the real world. I started to look at potential jobs and...well...I found 15 and all of them involved a PHD or Master's, neither of which I have. I started to rethink my decision and it kind of sent me into a panic. Then I was sitting in my Theory and Methodologies of Art History class and we started talking about this particular theory which states that there are no absolutes and no eternals and you can't possible find truth...I don't agree with the theory for obvious reasons...we were talking about this theory and my professor all of the sudden stopped and asked why she was teaching this to us (us as in people who believe in absolutes, and truth and eteranlism) (I think I just made up a word) so we then discussed how important it is to be exposed to these concepts and understand them because they are part of the world that we live in. She then proceeded to talk to about a class she had taken while here at BYU. It was a film class and they watched an Italian film that involved an old man falling in love with a young boy (now bear with me here, I promise I will explain). In this movie the old man comes to see everything he has lost, youth, beauty, etc. represented in this young boy and thus he falls in love with him. Now several of the students, and you may be asking too, but several of the students wanted to know why they were watching this? It seems odd that a BYU professor would show a movie with homosexual and pedafelial themes right? Well yes, it is a little strange but this professor explained he felt it was very important to expose his students to a variety of experiences of humanity in a setting where appropriate discussion could take place. They could discuss this movie in a Gospel light and discuss its merits despite the fact that it is morally ambiguous. Now for all of you who think I have fallen off the deep end fear not, I'm making a point here...the point is that there are things in this life that make us more human; not in the carnal sense but in the we are all children of God sense. Those experiences that make us more human allow us to empathize in a way that could not be done otherwise. Empathy is a God-like and Christ-like trait. Think about the Atonement; it allows for PERFECT empathy and since we are all striving to become more charitable, empathy is vital. Becoming more human is a good thing. This whole discussion made me think about why I am an art history major, because I want to become more human. Simple as that. Anyway that was my epiphany however convolluted it looks on paper.
Other than having panic attacks followed by epiphanies the rest of my time is spent killing trees, aka working at a law firm. I am pretty sure I have already killed a small forest with all the paper that gets used here.
Anyway, become more human, it's important, more important than all you computer science majors who are becoming robots...but that's another subject altogether...

For Lack of a Better Name...

I just read my friend Annalise's blog and it was so oozing with her personality and it just made me so happy! I love our human experiences and I love reading about other people's experiences. I was talking the other day about people and one of biggest pet peeves are dud people. Everyone knows what I am talking about; those people that bring nothing to the table, you ask them a question and a door would have given you a better answer. Don't get me wrong these people are generally extremely nice but they just have NO personality whatsoever. However as we were discussing dud people we came up with another term that I absolutely love: Tofu. Tofu people are the ones who, like tofu, take on the atmosphere around them; just like tofu takes on the flavor of whatever dish you put it in. Tofu people are way more frequent than duds but they are just as bad if not worse. I find it inexplicable that so many people are so uncomfortable with themselves that they would feel the need to be something they are not. I understand that we all have our insecurities; I am not immune to them. However, this sense of insecurity leads to SO many problems. How can we solve these? How can we make people feel secure? Can an insecure person make someone else feel secure? I love people that are secure! They are just so refreshing. How can we spread security? I think my new goal in life is to find a way to bolster personal security; I'll become a rogue "security guard" fighting off the imposters and ideals of insecurity...Hooray for knowing who we are!

The Last Frontier...

So as many of you know I am currently employed by Holland-America Princess Alaska Yukon. Super long name right? No, seriously I work for them driving a bus in Ketchikan Alaska this summer. It is immensely fun. I have been here about two weeks already and Alaska is beautiful. Everything here is incredibly lush and green. I have already been zip lining and last Saturday I got to go out to this national monument called Misty Fjords. It is this area of untouched wilderness where giant rocks shoot out of the ocean. It was formed originally from glaciers and now it is just pure beauty. It is dense forest and beautifully unpolluted water. Some of the pictures are weird looking because they are from a plane window but it was so fun! Tourists are really funny and all of us drivers exchange silly questions that they ask. My favorite so far is "So when do your deer become Moose?" Some people (Americans) even asked why type of currency they use here?! It is great though. I get paid to hang out with old people and crack jokes all day!

The Waning of My Motivation

At the end of every semester I start to get really ansty. Usually it is the combination of being burnt out and getting excited to leave Provo...this semester is no exception. Right at this very moment I have about a billion things that I should be doing instead of updating my blog; for example I have a response due for my Southern Baroque class tomorrow and I just can't bring myself to write it. It doesn't take that long, it doesn't challenge my brain that much, I just plain don't want to do it. I finished a beastly twelve page research paper on Monday and I just haven't wanted to do anything since then! I think someone should find a cure for laziness. I would pay big money for it.
On another completely related but altogether unrelated note, someone asked me the other day why I did not like Provo. I could not articulate my answer and I found that flustering. I have always assumed that everyone just understood my disdain. Here's what I have discovered as my reasoning: (keep in mind that I am not insulting Utah as a geographical location, okay so maybe I am but I understand that it is a fantastic place for some people and I am grateful for the opportunities that are here. BYU is a good school and I have gotten a good education but Utah is not the place for me as I will soon dicuss...)
1. Intolerance. Provo has this knack for excluding anything that could be construed as uncomfortable. Example: There was an exhibit of Rodin's sculptures that came through. There is a beautiful sculpture called The Kiss. It shows a beautiful moment between a man and a woman. It is in no way explicit, pornographic, erotic, or any other negatively connotated word you would like to fill in...BYU would not show it. Intolerance.
2. Lack of museums. We all know that Springville is a gem for Utah but after you walk through a couple of times where else am I supposed to go?
3. It's cold. I know, whimpy reason but I really don't like the whole back and forth thing that the spring does, if you're going to be cold, be cold but if you are going to warm up one day and then the next day dump snow on me I will be upset, and hate you
4. Conformity. Everyone here follows trends. I suppose that is the nature of people my age but here it is even worse because they put a spiritual spin on it. Even the people who are trying not to conform are conforming in their inconformity. Please, just be your own person, do us all a favor.
5. The most illogical logic I have ever heard. Example: I heard about this couple who were going to get married in the temple. Their parents did not like either of the fiances so together they decided if they got pregnant their parents would have to be okay with it...yeah...
6. I feel a physical weight lifted when I leave Provo. I don't know how or why this I feel this way but you ask Brit or Anne and they will totally back me up on this one, it's the best feeling, it's like coming up for air.
7. Over-achievers. Oh man how they abound here. I went to the temple at 6:30 am. It shouldn't be busy right? Wrong! It was the most crowded I have ever seen. Too bad half the people there had already been to the gym too.
I will agree that I chose to come here knowing full well what I was getting myself into but man am I ready to scoot!

Man Cards, Scooping Poop, and Killing Babies

I am in the throws of the semester. It never ceases to amaze me just how incredibly busy I can become and then it amazes me even more to think of the things I make time for. I was recently discussing "man cards" with someone. I was not aware of their existence but apparently they do. I have decided and several have concurred that I am now the proud owner of at least one man card...why you may ask? Because I, little petite me, can drive a bus. Not only can I drive the bus, but I can parallel park it too.
As for things I have found time to do this semester scooping poop has become one of them...not literally. We define scooping poop as being able to hang out with someone without needed to have a specific purpose for hanging out. The story stems from 4H...apparently my friend had a pig and her friend called and wanted to hang out. She responded that she had to scoop the poop from her pigs pen and her friend was really excited to help...thus scooping poop.
I am in my advanced writing class this semester and it is my least favorite class. Apparently we all have sentences in our writing that we love...they are our babies. Somehow when we write them we fill intelligent and witty. Sometimes those sentences are just not necessary. Those babies have to be killed. I have carried this over into other aspects of my life; we all have babies and mine are being killed. Sometimes it is a slow and painful death but it has to be done. So in short you should get a man card so you can scoop some poop and kill your babies. No really.

A Celebration of the Birth Fame

This last week was my birthday and it was fantastic. It included Indian Food...so delicious, a sushi plate from Color Me Mine, giggles with my roommates, a trip to Grandma's, a DELICIOUS chocolate torte (as evidenced by the photos), a flash tribal dance party, breakfast with Vienna friends, lunch with my favorite friend, a happy birthday duet from my parents, and even a jog! All in all I would say it was a fantastic success!

Tender Mercies

1. The Priesthood, I know I said that one yesterday but today it was totally and completely applicable. My roommate was sick and needed a blessing and bam our home teachers were here within minutes.
2. My home teacher, he cleaned our kitchen last night and noticed we were out of soap so today he showed up with soap when he came to give my roommate a blessing.
3. Wit, I am so grateful for this classy humor.
4. Other Cultures, I love them
5. Chicken Rice Soup, makes any cold day and upset stomach better.

Gratitude...

I have been slacking...
1. The Priesthood, I cannot imagine a world without it and it truly is the power of God
2. My Stake President, I don't know him personally but since hearing him speak he is my hero. He is a dentist but he and his wife travel around doing dental work in third world countries...like I said, my hero
3. My Patriarchal Blessing, how many churches allow you to have your own personal scripture? While yes it is short I literally possess the Book of Camille, so cool
4. Hymns, in my mind they are the quickest and most efficient way to communicate things of the Spirit
5. The Temple, I am so blessed to have one so close and it has made me feel like a child at home in the Lord's house
1. Art, I love it, enough said
2. Books, how priviledged are we to know how to read and to have access to so many books?
3. Women, I know that men are son's of God and I love men too but there is something so divinely lovely about women
4. Animals, I totally have a soft spot for anything cuddly and covered in fur. I love them
5. Health, I have been feeling so much better these past couple months and it makes me so happy
1. Sunshine, It snowed yesterday and I was actually okay with it but there is nothing like the sun bursting through the clouds and warming up your face
2.BYU, I sometimes curse this place and have not particularly cared for it but I am grateful to be here and there really are opportunities that I would not get anywhere else
3. Chips and Salsa, weird I know but they are a snack I can eat and I do so frequently
4. My Divine Heritage, I love the truth of being a daughter of God...so amazing
5. Christmas, I cannot wait to be home with family and friends to celebrate all that is good in this world

I know you are all dying to hear about my life...

Ha ha. No really you should all be completely intrigued and fascinated by my amazing life. I cannot believe it is the middle of November already! Life this semester has flown by...I was thinking the other day about when I graduate (which is not until April 2011) I was thinking THAT IS SO FAR AWAY! Then I realized how fast this semester has gone and it provided some relief, it should be here before I know it.
Anyways, life update...School keeps me extremely busy, let me tell you I miss the pace of SVU, BYU is so incredibly fast and all consuming which I suppose is good for me on some level. I have started my own business and while it is not generating enough income yet, I really love it. I have been cleaning for some mothers around Provo and it is super fun to help them and get to know them. All of my clients thus far are delightful, I really enjoy them. Plus how cool is it that I am my own boss? I can say "oh, I own and run my own business..." I really only have 3 or 4 consistent clients but they don't have to know that right? I love my major. I totally picked the most classy and most amazing major EVER. I know that some of you might be thinking, my major is pretty cool but does your major have art history themed pumpkin carving parties? Do they get together and eat and watch movies because its cold outside? Do they go on field trips to Spiral Getty? Do they have classy exhibit openings with cheese platters and fancy drinks? Yeah, I know, we are awesome. I also love that our apartment is social; people actually stop by! This is the first time I have experienced this at BYU and it makes me so happy. I love it! I am getting to be a very proficient cook. We are eating some pretty delicious stuff, for example, on Tuesday we had wild rice stuffed acorn squash...delicious, and classy. Anyways my life is grand.
In honor of Thanksgiving I will be posting 5 things a day that I am grateful for. Here it goes...
1. My parents, they are so delightful and I love them dearly.
2. Brit and Jessica, two people in this world that are just my people, I know that maybe I should be more broad because there are a ton of people I love but these two are just so close to my heart and always in my thoughts
3. Beth, my sister is amazing, she is such a good example of everything a mother should be and her daughter is so super cute, and how many sisters do you know that pay attention to their sister who is ten years younger?
4. Vienna, there isn't a day that goes by that I do not think and dream about my experiences there. I truly love everyone that I met there and I loved that I could cross so many of the to dos off my list!
5. Vegans, soy butter, tofutti sour cream, hemp ice cream, soy pudding, almond milk...mmm delicious

My Orca Will Kick Your Orca's Trash

And by ORCA I do not mean the giant sea mammal also known as a killer whale. So every year here at BYU the Office of Research and Creative Activities offers research grants to undergrads. They are a BIG deal. No matter how you look at it getting one is a win win situation...you get MONEY, it looks AMAZING on a resume, and I get to work with my FAVORITE professor. I applied for one last year while in Vienna and was sorely disappointed when I did not receive it, traurig. Not to worry though, I applied again this year and pretty sure if I do not get it, the reader is smoking crack, and that is against the honor code. Here's a little tasty snippet of this fine piece of writing...I know it may be boring to you but trust me, it's awesome.
Importance of Project
This project will provide an interdisciplinary examination of religious texts for young children written during Germany’s colonial period. By examining the rhetorical and visual devices that conceal a politically charged agenda, this study will attempt to identify the implicit beliefs that shaped the cultural identity of a generation that would grow up to embrace the authoritarianism that fueled two world wars. It will answer the questions of how children’s literature shaped and fostered racial prejudices and it will explore the assumed cultural values that are implicit within a society that had uncritically accepted scientific notions of biological and racial determinism.

and this is the best paragraph...
Main Proposal Body
Numerous forms of media participate in upholding the ideas that shaped cultural and political movements in the colonial era: art, music, religion, literature and political discourses all play a significant role. Within these forms there may be contradictory voices, but we can nonetheless identify trends and prevailing themes that constitute a general cultural consensus that is readily apparent and explicitly stated. By carefully analyzing the various discourses, we can also identify more powerful, but less visible, forces shaping the cultural identity of entire nations—a set of implicit ideas, beliefs or assumptions that are so widespread and so universally accepted, that they inform all discourses in a given culture but are rarely, if ever, stated outright. Thus, all texts (in the broadest sense of the word), even those that seem to comprise a culture’s most politically innocuous genres, have the potential to be complicit in upholding paradigms of imperialist expansion and racial domination. This project proposes to offer one of the first explorations of colonial literature for children under the age of ten, by examining a series of religious picture books entitled Missionbilder mit Versen für Kinder (Images of the Missions with Rhymes for Children) published in Berlin in 1904, at the height of Germany’s colonial period. Coincidentally, 1904 also marked the beginning of the Herrero wars in the colony of German Southwest Africa where the German Colonial troops eventually exterminated over 60,000 African natives. Children’s literature, which fosters cultural norms and shapes a child’s national and racial identity, offers a glimpse into the implicit cultural mindset and pedagogical agenda of a nation on the verge of genocide.

Now I know that some of you are thinking...huh? But this is amazing stuff and so fun to talk with my professor about! Anyways, it consumed my life for a good week and I am pretty sure it was worth it. Look out Shamu...

Camille Your Imperfections are Showing...

I have so much to say and no way to articulate it. First off it's a new semester and that means so many new things. Classes are amazing this semester, I have 3 art history classes Byzantine Art, American Art, and Modern Art, they are all amazing. I am learning to read art like never before. I am developing a deep appreciation for artists and people who push the envelope and our comfort zones. I love artists who expand our definition of beauty. I love my major. I have also been having this deep inner battle between doing something I love or something that is practical. I feel this deep obligation to find one thing that I am incredibly good at, when in all reality I should be learning how to be incredibly good at something that I love. I had been looking into getting a second bachelor's in nursing and I started looking at the classes and I just thought to myself "yuck, none of those sound appealing." That is not the attitude I want to have about life! I was trying to reconcile the difference between sacrificing and service and if I could somehow make both of those work within art history. Then I realized (with the help of my dear sweet mother) that I could. I can do something that I love and that doesn't make me a bad person. I realized that Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and art history makes me happy. Ah, sweet relief. I also found a graduate program that is so perfect I could pinch myself! So in other words I am pumped about life and what I have to offer. Sometimes I get scared of the possibility of succeeding. Somehow not trying seems like a safer option but just like those artists who push our comfort zones and perceptions of beauty Heavenly Father leaves me sweet reminders that it is all possible. Success is attainable and it is a righteous desire. I am so excited!!!!

A Story

I have come to realize that one of my favorite things in this world and one of my truest and deepest desires is to have a story. Odd I know, however I love the idea of it. I have often described it as wanting to be interesting and that is true...I really want to be one of those fascinating people to talk to. Someone who can relate really well. I am not talking one of those "one uppers" the "yeah well I did this" types. I am talking those really cool people who have just happened to have been someplace or tried something but it has only made them completely grounded and down to Earth. When I watch my video on the other side I want to laugh, cry, and have a deep satisfaction like the kind you get from a good story. Those stories where you completely connect with the characters and you root for them, you cry with them, you ache for them, you see their flaws and weaknesses you watch them grow and progress, and finally you feel more complete because of their story. That is the kind of character I want to be, the story I want to have.

Bye Homo

My sister and her delightful little family came to visit for the 4th of July. My niece is highly entertaining. Now for an explanation of the title...we went to visit our dear family friends the Holmans and as we were leaving we told Maddie to say "Bye Brother Holman," as we often tell her to say things because it sounds so much cuter coming from her. Instead of "Bye Brother Holman" she said "Bye Homo" in her little two year old voice and garble. We all tried not to laugh but it was hilarious. The weekend was filled with "Kameal come on..." and how could I resist that? Following her around made me realize what a discovery this world still is to her. As adults (I don't think I can classify myself as an adult yet...it just sounds weird) but as we get older I think we lose sight of what an amazing world we really live in. When was the last time you got excited about a flower? What I worry about seemed so insignificant compared to how easily entertained and happy Maddie is. As the scriptures say we should become like little children.

I don't know and I don't have to.

So I am home for the summer. It is refreshing not to have to worry about rent and class and feeding myself and all of those pesky responsibilities. There are however those pesky comments of "what are you up to these days?" The response may as well be an automated machine..."if you'd like to know Camille's major press 1, if you'd like to know her relationship status press 2, if you'd like to know what she is going to do with a degree in anthropology press 3, if you'd like to know why as a 21 year old she is neither married nor on a mission yet press 4...I have the responses down pat. As I having been thinking about the future and all of these false pretenses I have set myself I came to a conclusion. I have no idea what the future holds and that my friends is glorious.

I swear this is an original idea all of my own...

Haha just kidding. I decided to copy Brit...as I read his blog I too realized how many people there are in this world that I love so dearly. How many people do you know will bake a pie for fun, go to the Grand Canyon on a whim, make you laugh uncontrollably...ah I could go on and on but needless to say I am blessed to know and love amazing people!

A Very Pleasant Weekend

It has come to my attention after some harassment from my dearest brother that I do not update my blog frequently enough. He has a valid point but I just hate to toot my own horn all the time. While there are plenty of my thoughts that are blog worthy if you will somehow I just can't find the time to share them...this is my attempt at a life update and perhaps some of those blog worthy thoughts I just mentioned.
So this last weekend was an excellent one. It involved a low key Friday, golfing, an amazing Rachel Yamagata concert, an enlightening Sabbath, and pie. It really doesn't get any better than that. Brit and I went to the concert and when we first got there I had my doubts about its validity. We had to stand outside for an hour before they opened the doors...boo. However once it started it was delightful, one of the guys that opened for her was really good, Greg Laswell, he is becoming a new favorite. She was just as good live which always makes me happy, and it was fun to hang out with Brit as always. Golfing was fun, although I am still baffled as to how I made it on any golf teams ever in my life, maybe I should stop telling people that I was on multiple golf teams as it creates a kind of expectation that I never meet. It was still fun though and it was really nice to be outside.
Last weekend I went to Vegas to see the cutest little girl, I just adore my niece. I know I am biased but she really is just about the cutest kid I have ever met. It was nice to be all together, my parents came and Brit was able to get work off so it was the whole gang minus Andy. Maddie now knows my name and I must say it makes me especially happy. It is so nice to hear her yelling for you from the top of the stairs. Beth said she woke up asking for me the day after I left and I felt so special. A child's affection really is the greatest.
Other than that life is grand. I am just working and going to school which keeps me really busy. My life plan is up in the air but I tend to get irritated with those people I meet on campus who have everything planned out to the "T" I think it will be a rude awakening when they see their plan crumbling because Heavenly Father has a different one in mind...sometimes I wish he would tell me mine but I guess that would ruin the fun...or something like that.

Long Time no Blog...

Today was an excellent day. It was a beautiful 65 degrees. Now that may not seem so grand to all of you who are blessed enough to live in a place with wimpy winters but winters in Utah are by no means mild or wimpy in my mind. However today I was pleasantly surprised to walk outside and not be freezing. I only had a sweatshirt on and it was glorious. There was a light breeze but just enough to be refreshing and not freezing. I had a phenomenal lesson in my Book of Mormon class...I love my teacher, work was good, my biological anthropology test was easier than I thought it was going to be, and the sun was shining which just made anything bad seem small and irrelevant. Life has been frustrating as of late but today the sun seemed to be my angel, Heavenly Father's way of telling me it would all work out and to stop worrying and enjoy the sunshine. I love the sunshine.

A Major Change

So as many of you have heard I am sure...I have changed my major. It has been the subject of my thoughts for quite some time now and was realized in Vienna. I love art history, but it does not allow me to contribute in a way that I want to contribute. Now I flatter myself in thinking you are all asking yourselves "what way does she want to contribute?" but just go with me...pretend like that is what you thought. I have always had the dream of going to Africa and doing something to help. I think it is appalling that in a world so technologically advanced and supposedly socially advanced we still have an entire continent where genocide is a fact of daily life, malnutrition is common, medical treatment is almost non-existent, children fear for their lives,...there is an entire continent that is rich with culture and resources and yet almost every country there is a third world one. I admire so much people who are doing something to help and I hope to be one of them. I am now officially a Sociocultural Anthropology major with a double minor in African Studies and French. I know I change my mind quite often but this feels really good and as my blog title states don't judge me. I should graduate in 2 years which is not too unreasonable in my book. I will hopefully do a field study in either Ghana or South Africa in the spring of 2010. Everyone keep your fingers crossed!

You Know You're in Europe When...

You Know You're in Europe When...
Every toilet is a new experience which involves figuring how to turn the light on and flushing it...keep in mind most have two buttons to flush...you figure it out
Peanut butter is impossible to find
You get excited when you hear English
German is a familiar language
There is no such thing as a line in stores
Everyone dresses nicer than you
Everyone knows more about American Politics than you do
Your German teacher can tell you who the secretary of transportation is
The only fast food restaurant is McDonald's and people have business meetings there because it is not anything like McDonald's in the US
Europeans would never be caught dead in a McDonald's in the US
People give you dirty looks on the U-bahn if you do anything but sit there
All the drugies are contained in Karlsplatz
You know that the people with blue mouths are high but you can't figure out if it is from a Slurpee or crack
You have to buy your own grocery bags
Any cold beverage is bad for your health
Ketchup costs money!
You start to think in Euros
The apartment you live in is 300 years old
New buildings are older than any building in the US
You can go to a world famous opera for 4 euros
You can be in 3 countries in 1 day
Transportation shuts down at midnight in order to conserve
There is no such thing as a light that stays on all the time
People flush leftovers/scraps down the toilet
The toilet and the shower are in 2 separate rooms
There is only 1 bathroom in any apartment, house, or other establishment
You have to pay money to use the bathroom in a public location
You get different answers when you search different googles...yes there are differnt googles
The internet is a luxury...hence my lack of blog updates...

Europe is for the Birds

I was looking through my pictures and realized I have a ton of me feeding various types of birds in various cities. Birds in Europe are gutsy. I almost was decapitated by a pigeon when I walked around the corner on my way to school. I was bit by a swan in Prague (which was entirely my own fault but completely worth the kodak moment), actually come to think about it I was bit twice in Prague. The pigeons in St. Mark's Square will land on you. I am not going to lie, it freaked me out. I didn't think it would but it did. I screamed when it landed on me and shielded my face purely out of fear. We found the ugly duckling (okay so it was a swan) in Prague. We went down to the water to feed the birds and all of a sudden they started coming out of the water and began to mob us. It was terrifying. Pigeons are such a threat to artwork (outdoor) that they have everything covered with nets so as to prevent them from landing on it. Apparently their poop is acidic. Bet you didn't know that and yes that is what I am learning here in Europe...how acidic bird poop is. I promise I have now seen the damage they did to St. Stephen. Poor guy, they took of his arm and melted his face off! Birds are brutal and deadly to anyone who is solid stone and hangs out on the outside of buildings. You should all keep that in mind.