about this blog

The original purpose of this blog has changed significantly since it was first created. Rather than focusing on a single place at a single time, this blog is a collection of reflections, notes, random ideas and comments on current events.

My most frequent keywords, and therefore, subjects of my blogposts, are the following:

Kosova, Newfoundland, Canada, politics, human rights, social justice, islam, nationalism, history, entertainment, current events.

Those few keywords should cover half the blogosphere topics. See below for the original purpose of this blog.

Thanks for dropping by,
R

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In late August last year (2007), I was encouraged by a few friends to apply for a scholarship that would open the doors to an education at the prestigious University of Oxford, pay my tuition fees, everyday expenses, and ensure I am one step closer to my goal of practicing international humanitarian law.

Being someone who had seen too many occasions of luck by chance, including that of Amelie Poulain, George W. Bush, and Whitney Houston (eclectic choice of individuals, I know), I applied for this scholarship and months later went through an incredibly entertaining, enjoyable, and truly relaxed interview process that started with a dinner in one of the oldest British-established edifices in North America. This was late November 2007.

The news of my receipt of this scholarship is an introduction to the months that followed after I was named Newfoundland and Labrador’s 100th Rhodes scholar-elect [a recipient of the title does not have the right to claim the scholarship until he/she graduates AND is successfully admitted in the department of his/her choice, thus "elect"].

While I understood the meaning and significance of the Rhodes scholarship [I can honestly say that the most shocking thing for me has been the leverage that the title holds], I knew little about Oxford, the people, the weather, the students, the everyday life – Oxford appeared to be a city that everyone praised, admired, liked, but I knew not why. What was the student atmosphere like? What accomodations could students rent?

I searched high and low for blogs from other Rhodes scholars/elect and their adventures at Oxford to no avail – For the longest time, the webosphere made me think there were no other people who received the Rhodes scholarship. Thanks to the wonder of e-mail and eventually, Facebook, I was convinced otherwise – I have been in touch with the other ten Canadian recipients of the scholarship.

We’ve been exchanging questions, answers, comments, thoughts, critiques, worries, joys, photos of trips to Oxford (one of the recipients visited earlier in 2008). In a way, the 11 of us have become an informal support group for the questions we have. if one of us knows the answer, he/she passes it on. Part of the reason for this has been the fact that we couldn’t find information about the experiences of the other recipients of the scholarship.

We asked friends who had received the Rhodes before us for advice, but what came out of our enquiries was the realisation that every incoming student will have a different experience based on the college of which he or she is a member. We were up for one of those unique experiences.

When I applied for accomodation in Oxford, I couldn’t find* one photo of the building in which I was to stay – not one!I hope to change that with this blog and my smashing [yes, that is a great word] camera.

I also hope to keep family and friends in touch with my daily life in Oxford, but also to inform future arriving students of things to keep in mind. I will be studying and staying in the college widely known as the CIA college for the high number of graduates eventually being recruited by the CIA. Expect lots of adventures there!