The last few months and the next few months

Dear reader,

I have not abandoned this blog – I’ve simply dedicated it no time in the last four months. It’s been a great summer of travels – I was in Boston, Istanbul, Prishtina, and finally, St. John’s.

In the next month, I will be traveling to Israel and Palestine, back to Newfoundland for the holidays, and then off to Prishtina for a few weeks of research and Sarajevo and Mostar for some thesis interviews.

Time in Oxford is flying by too quickly – I’m only eight months away from finishing my MPhil! eeck!

That said, it doesn’t mean I have not kept busy here. In the last year, I coordinated social action projects in my home college, St. Antony’s. I volunteered with Oxford Aid to the Balkans to Kosova, among other places. And, I made a meaningful contribution to decorating (don’t laugh) last year’s Rhodes Ball, which was a huge success!

I joined a yoga class for three lessons, only to discover that while I needed to relax, I thought about all of the valuable time I put to waste by relaxing – it’s unhealthy, I know, but it was better that I stopped.

I also started to take sporadic Arabic lessons, which began with a French-Arabic exchange – I taught a fellow Rhodie French while she taught me Arabic. It didn’t quite work out in the end, and she disappeared after the fall break, but I learned the basics of the Arabic alphabet!

My thesis is getting the best out of me these days, in addition to two course I’m taking this term – Global Institutional Design with Walter Mattli, and Post-Conflict State-Building with Richard Caplan. To say that I am enjoying taking these two courses is an understatement – not only have I learned a great deal in class, but I’ve been exposed to a whole literature on issues I feel most passionate about.

Informally, I’m a member of a number of discussion groups, including a group on Canadian issues, which discusses the current problems ailing Canadians in Canada and abroad.

Last week in St. John’s

This summer has flown by and I am still scratching my head, wondering where the time went. With the exception of some fun and required course reading, I engaged in very little academic work.. Rather, I spent the summer relaxing, seeing friends, taking some photographs, engaging in my new project of learning Arabic, and, among other things, volunteering here and there for various events.

The last day of my contract with the Department of Justice ended on Friday. I had a wonderful time working with some of the brightest minds in the justice system of the province. Everyone was friendly, welcoming, helpful when I asked the silly and sometimes naive questions, or when I pressed the wrong button on the shredder. I truly felt I was among friends! I met some incredibly fascinating and inspiring people, individuals who share their passion for justice in their job. 

While many expected that this summer would be a deterrent for my plans to study law, it actually further reinforced my desire to become involved. It was food for further thought and consideration!

The division I was involved with held a going away social at the end of the day on Friday, where they gave me a beautiful framed photo of St. John’s and the Narrows, taken by Brian Ricks. I will take it to Ox. with me, so I am not too homesick while away

Tom, a friend and lawyer in the division, organized a going away event for me at his house, invited many mutual friends, and made a wonderful evening out of it. It was a great way of saying goodbye to friends I won’t be seeing for a while . Thanks, Tom!

“Take Back the Night” was also on Friday night, and as member of the Men’s Auxiliary, I found it important to take part this year, as well. The event was incredibly well organized, there were many participants, and as always, lots of food (served by men!). 

As every year, I am taking part in the AIDS Walk tomorrow. Friends were really generous this year – I raised over $380, when I had, in fact, made plans for only $200. Thanks, everyone! The Walk is taking place at Quidi Vidi lake and should go well – The weather forecasters are calling for a partly cloudy and sunny afternoon…

This summer, I have been working to get my driver’s licence, and try 2 is on Monday. We’ll see if I actually get it or end up waiting a whole year before I come back to do the test again.