Finals and Flax Seed Porridge

  Simi Valley, United States
Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Dear Friends and Family:

Night has fallen on the city of London. :) The foxes will be crying soon. It is easy to imagine prehistoric pterodactyls sounding much like these suburban scavengers (a mix between the shrill cry of a hawk, seagull and restless infant). A church bell can also be heard in the distance, its ten rhythmic clangs cutting through the swelling sound of Heathrow-bound airplanes rumbling overhead.

So much has happened that I don't know where to start. Four months have passed since my arrival in the UK. Thank you so much for your letters and calls, despite the long delay between blog updates. It has been great to hear from so many of you and I've loved hearing about how things have been at home.

In short, though it's been incredibly busy, I love it here. If possible, I wish I could fly the UK back to California with me and settle it right off the NorCal coast. Instead of a Paris to London "Chunnel", we'd have a Frisco to London "Funnel", and the old adage of "having my cake and eating it, too" would allow me to live in California - close to my family, friends and home - and continue to explore this amazing nation. ;) There is so much to see and do here, academically, historically, and recreationally. For anyone that loves to learn, this is hog heaven. ;)

I could spend an entire entry on specific experiences or particular days. I could ramble on about class projects (i.e., the advantages and disadvantages to bilateral and multilateral aid, etc.), my internship at World Emergency Relief (i.e., the worthwhile projects being funded by the agency), or life outside the books (i.e., the exhilaration of being five rows from Wayne Rooney as Manchester United battle Fulham on the soccer pitch, etc.). ;) But, by blog updates, I haven't yet left the Caribbean...;)

JAMAICA

Following a really great visit by my good friends, Cathy and Sarah during National Heroes Weekend in October, the rush of final papers, exams and agency projects catapulted the weeks of November and December quickly past all of us in the Masters programme. It was a terrifically intense time.

Beyond worrying about exams, papers and dissertation chapters,

Final Class Presentation in Jamaica

I was particularly interested in seeing how the promotional DVD for DTC (the orphanage where I was interning) would turn out. Over the semester, I had collected hundreds of photographs, interviewed staff members and children, and had filmed hours of footage. It had been fun to collect and tough to choose what would be included in the promotional piece, so it was particularly relieving when both the Programme Director and Executive Director of the agency were very excited about the finished product. Ultimately, the DVD and a multi-media CD of all of the photography will be used to promote awareness and support for the agency internationally. I am thrilled. It is awesome to be able to provide something that will be used.

Karen and I in Jamaica

Academically, the first semester ended well, with my roommate (Karen) and I obtaining the first and second-highest GPA's in the programme. Considering that only 10 students are in the programme (;)) and grades beyond a "pass" aren't all that important with a graduate degree, it really isn't that big of a deal in the long run. However, Karen and I were really proud. The semester had been challenging, being that we were the only two students that were simultaneously collecting our fieldwork (due to our dissertations pertaining to Jamaica), while attending classes and working at our agencies.

Final Night in Jamaica

By the time we left the country for the holidays, it was awesome to see how much had actually been finished. The majority of our fieldwork data had been gathered and three chapters of our dissertations had been written. Each of our agency projects had been completed and all of our final papers had been turned in to our professors. Best yet...before departing for home, I also had successfully cooked my first pot of banana and flax seed porridge (courtesy of a cooking lesson from my host mom). ;D

It had been an incredible learning experience, and despite the bruised bum from the long hours at the computer, I felt very lucky to have gained an incredible education from the professors and the community. Ending the semester felt like finishing a marathon. Beyond the sweat, aching joints and exhaustion, my heart was beaming. The reward at the finish line: Seeing my sister at LAX with a brightly-coloured sign that read "WELCOME HOME, SISTAH!"

CHRISTMAS IN THE U.S.

Christmas was a whirlwind of events, last-minute winter clothing purchases, and cross-country trips. I came home on December 15th to homemade peanut butter cookies; a full-blast, hot (!) shower; and a house so decked out with Christmas cheer, the toilet paper roll dispenser in the front bathroom rang out a "Joy to the World" jingle. ;) It was great!

The highlights included a trip to Cambria with my mom and sister, a "Welcome Back...Now, Goodbye" Party with good friends in Auburn, a night at Disneyland with my dad, sister, brother and stepmom's family (complete with a drool-less visit to Space Mountain); a chance to finally (!) be the angel in the Living Nativity scene at church (despite the objections of the SVUMC congregation - ;)), and a two-day layover in Manhattan with good friends, Salmo and Chris - all within 12 days!

It was crazy. It was fun. It was so good to see everyone at home. And, by December 27th, I was in England, jumping forward into another semester....

Disneyland Hotel with Sis & Little Bro

'Welcome Back...Now, Goodbye' Party in NorCal

New York with Old PCV Buds

Smooching Elmo on New York Visit