Endings and Beginnings

I have come upon yet another time of change in my life, and frankly I've had quite enough for the past year. Since January 2007, I had three jobs in the U.S., got accepted to and began graduate school, lived in Jamaica, lived in London, worked another job in London, interned at two different non-profit agencies, finished graduate school, completed my dissertation, moved into yet another place, and said good-bye to (too many) people. Whew.

Really, it has been a bit much of late. Seriously though, the past year has provided me some wonderful opportunity for growth, both through good times and the not-so-good times. I've struggled to find my place as an intern in agencies when I was used to being integral in the daily decision making of the Service-Learning Center (oh geez, I almost wrote Centre). I've had to re-evaluate who I am as a student adjusting to not only new grading scales, but how I have changed (or not changed) since the last time, many long years ago. I've had to face the realities of a tight job market for the first time ever, and swallow my pride and be willing to take positions I feel I am over-qualified for. And then swallow it some more upon finding out I'm not even being considered for those, and ask lots of questions and make lots of phone calls to figure out what I'm doing wrong. I've celebrated reacting less emotionally in certain situations, but realized that on this front, I still have a long way to go. Duh. Most recently I have had to tell most, and soon all, of my newest friends, (my counterparts, my partners in this past year: my fellow classmates) good-bye as they left London to start their own new paths. I have struggled with the realities of living someplace where I literally have no support system anywhere near me and what that actually means, and wondering if I have the will to create a new support system. (I do, don't worry). But, I've also marveled at the opportunity and excitement that living in a new place, completely on my own, can bring.

I suppose all of this musing is to say good-bye to my year of graduate school, and hello to what comes next. I'm not entirely sure what this holds, but I know that for awhile, it is London. As is often the case with me, and I've written about this before, endings are sad for me. Even as I look forward to forging new relationships and building a new career, I am nostalgic for the past year. Part of this is of course the good times and people I met along the way; part of it surely is because at least then and there, I had map telling me where to go. I feel quite unsure about where I'm headed, although I feel like it is in the right direction. And writing all of this here is, I guess sort of "internet therapy," or not having to say it out loud all the time but still let you know, or maybe it is just because I enjoy writing, and they say write about what you know, and right now this is what I know.

Actually, it's probably just about me seeing how many commas and semicolons I can use in one post. I'm too tired to count, but if the goal was to use a lot I surely succeeded. Hmm, I think that is a byproduct of too much dissertation writing lately. But, actually, it is very indicative of what goes on in my head. People who know me well, know that my brain runs faster than my mouth, but my mouth runs pretty fast, and sometimes when it all comes out I wish I had the benefit of visual commas, semicolons, and parentheses to help me out.

Anyway, practically speaking, this blog may change a bit now that it isn't solely about my graduate school journey (since I started it as I was leaving). I'm still going to keep posting, but it may not always be so directly related to my life, as I presume that will become very boring in the upcoming months. (Which is, assuming it ever was not boring, which may be a fallacy of thinking on my part.) I will still keep up the picture of the week as I still have a ton of pictures and hope to keep traveling, once I get some money again. I'd also like to have more comments so if you're reading out there, let me know what you think!

So, now, onto my next challenge, and on that I will obviously keep you posted.

I will break radio silence soon...

well, I guess technically I just did. But only to tell you I will be breaking radio silence, not to actually break it. Note the difference, and also note how totally like Team Darlton of Lost I am. (If you get the reference you know what a total geek I am and roll your eyes. If you don't, just know it is one of my insane tv references and roll your eyes.) Anyway, the dissertation must be done on Monday and when that is done, then hilarity on this blog will ensue once more. maybe even intentionally.

wish me luck. please!

London

Here is a great picture of the London skyline, taken from Primose Hill, which is in the Belsize Park/Chalk Farm area.  This area is where a bunch of the more famous live, and apparently many stars walk in this park, or something like that.  It's quite a hill, let me tell you! Anyway, Trudy and I had lunch here one beautiful London day. 

I don't have much else to write, and I also have to say "oops!" I really did intend to update the picture last week, and I didn't get around to it.  I was preoccupied with UK Visa issues (which are for the most part worked out). I may not do a Picture of the Week the new few weeks, because I have three weeks until my dissertation is due and I have a lot of work to do!  I'll just have to see how it goes.

So, to hold you over I updated some pictures on my photo site, and my friend Jen and I started a new blog, centered all around our shared love--television.  Of course, neither blog will get the proper attention for a few weeks, but after that watch out!  Anyway, that blog is Two Girls in Love, with TV... and the address is twogirlsinlovewithtv.blogspot.com. 

Ok, back to work for me! Talk to you soon. 

Well, my Mac is pretty (and the sun is too)

So, sorry folks, I know I was meant to post a few days ago. But, I have a great excuse, really do: I've been working on the dissertation. So, in honor (or is that honour), my picture this week is my Mac, and one of my two typing hands. 

[hears outcry that a picture of a computer is all there is]

Oh, all right, I'll throw you a real picture too. I've been thinking about Jamaica a lot lately, probably partially because my    dissertation relates to Jamaica, and partially because it has almost been a year since I left for Jamaica, and partially because it has been almost exactly six months since I lived in Jamaica.  One of the things I miss most about Jamaica was the traveling we were able to do. I literally went all around the island, up a mountain, stayed at a nice hotel and an African hut, and of course saw the beautiful sun set over the ocean.  For our very last trip, we went to Treasure Beach, someplace we almost missed.  We decided, very last minute, to go ahead and make the journey on mini bus, and thankfully, it was totally worth it.  Treasure Beach is quite unlike other places in Jamaica in that it is not tourist-y at all.  In fact, if you don't like quiet or don't bring along your own fun, you may find it boring.  But, we found it a great place to spend one last weekend together before we all left for our various holiday destinations. We had fun on the beach riding some of the biggest waves we'd seen on the island, and just enjoying each other's company.

Anyway, here's to Treasure Beach and my fellow Jamaican IPSL kids: I really miss you guys! (well, not Jerome. But that's just because he lives 3 doors and 20 feet away from me) This sunset picture, possibly taken from a camera other than mine, is for you. 

Morocco

I have to apologize for this post being a day late.  I worked all weekend, and then went to a concert last night.  It was an iTunes Live concert; all of July iTunes has been hosting free concerts every day with various types of acts. Some, like last night's jazz groups are lesser known, and others have been more main stream, like Death Cab for Cutie.  Anyway, it was a lot of fun and a nice mellow way to end the weekend.  

So, to my pictures.  On the trip to Spain, as I think I've said, we went to Morocco.  We took a ferry from a port city in Spain to Tangier, Morocco.  The ferry was only about an hour, and it was somewhere, in luxury, between the ferry I took to Zanzibar and the ferry I took back from Zanzibar.  My sister, Alexis, will know exactly what I mean, but basically it was nice and comfortable if not overly luxurious.  And, there was no 'first class' with a big ol' spider in it!

Once we arrived in Tangier we had about six hours before we needed to be back.  We ended up hiring a guide to take us around on foot. We were very leery of doing this and being 'taken', but realized

 that there were no "Welcome to Morocco" tourist places, so we would need someone to help us nav

igate the winding streets.  We found out that most of the people off the ferry do this, and that it is just how it is done in Tangier.

We had a lovely day, and it was nice to get another Africa stamp in my passport; I had to get a new passport for this program (ugh, you know those things are good for 10 years, so um, yeah, I'm old) so I've been slowly re-filling it.     

We walked around and saw a carpet shop, a apothecary, had some traditional Moroccan tea, and ate hummus and falafel. We also found out that many movies that are set in some sort of African or desert-esq city are being filmed in Morocco.  The scene in upper picture, taken from the roof of the carpet shop, should look familiar to those who have seen the Bourne Ultimatum. Our friend, Jason Bourne, went running across the various roofs in this picture.  Blackhawk Down (a movie that I, inexplicably, love) was also shot here.

We really didn't have enough time to explore, but it was definitely enough time to 'wet our whistle' so to speak.  I'd love to go back and explore more of not only Tangier, but Northern Africa. I'd like to see how different it is from Malawi and Tanzania.  It did remind me of Stone Town in Zanzibar, probably because both cities have strong Arabic and Muslim influences.  The second picture shows how close the buildings are.  

One other thing: many of the guide books will tell you how 'dangerous' Tangier is.  We never really felt that way, and I think it goes to show that you really shouldn't put too much stock in avoiding 'dangerous' places. You just need to be careful and make smart decisions (like paying for a guide).  If we'd listened we wouldn't have been able to see how beautiful Tangier is!

Have a nice week. 

Me and Holmes

I love detective novels, especially British detective novels.  Give me a good Agatha Christie novel and a rainy London evening and I'm all set. And a dork. I also love Sherlock Holmes, despite the fact that I haven't read that many Sherlock Holmes books.  What I really love the most, though, are Sherlock Holmes statues.  Yes, I am weird.

On my first trip to London, in 2004, it was important for me to head over to Baker Street (where Holmes' office was). The tube station (on the Hammersmith & City, Metropolitian, Jubilee and Bakerloo lines) is all Sherlock.  There are little tiles with his profile and everything. (The statue is technically on Maryleborn Street).  Since living in London I even spent one evening with Jerome and Javier, in search of Holmes.  Since we so brilliantly went into London without our trusty A to Z's, we wandered around for about 2 hours until we finally found Sherlock.  Around midnight.  In January. Alas, he was all covered in scaffolding, but it didn't stop me from getting a picture.  But, he was all fixed when I went back with Kymberly and Justin. Plus it was light out, and much warmer.  Then, when we headed to Edinburgh we found a statue of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who I am sure you know, created Sherlock Holmes. The statue looks eerily like Sherlock, so I think it counts as a Sherlock statue.  Anyway, I've put up the three pictures of Sherlock I have, all taken this year.  If anyone can tell me where there is a Dr.Watson statue, please do, then I can have a complete set.

Ok, have happy weeks everyone! Enjoy the nice American summer if you are there!

Game, Set, Match

Well, I had an interesting, eventful week. I began the week camping, queuing, and attending Wimbledon, and ended the week, not celebrating our independence, but sick in bed. Yuck. Obviously, Wimbledon is the more happy of the two occasions, and that is what I choose to document here!

Wimbledon is one of the few sporting events the general public has the opportunity toget good seats, the day of the event. All you have to do is queue! Yes, folks, we camped out at Wimbledon Park from 4:30 pm on Monday in order to get good seats for Wimbledon on Tuesday.

Here is how it went:

We put up our tents around 4:30 pm. At 6:00 official Wimbledon employees, called Stewards, handed us queue cards. These cards are numbered, and indicate when you can claim a wristband for the court of your choice. I was number #28, which guaranteed I would get the court of my choice. We then hung out all night, got around three hours of sleep, and were woken up by an Honorary Steward (a Steward of an advanced age) at 5:30 am. I will say if I could an alarm clock of an old English man whispering politely each morning, I would!

After that it was many more hours of queuing, before we got to purchase our Centre Court tickets! Then it was more waiting for a match to actually begin. FINALLY, around 1 pm, the first match on Centre Court began. We were only seven rows back!

It was a quarterfinal match between Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova. It was actually a great match, with Dementieva having match point in the second set, but Petrova forcing a new game, and winning the set. In the end Dementieva prevailed.

Our second game was Serena Williams! She totally dominated her opponent Agnieszka Radwanska winning 6-4, 6-0. It was amazing to see her, she looks even stronger in person.

Centre Court looks much smaller in person, than on television, but you can really feel the tradition. From the way the ball boys and girls have to give the players tennis balls, to the way we marched in the queue, everything felt very old and English. So, to fit right in, after a long day in the sun, we capped off our day with two Wimbledon traditions: Pimm’s and Lemonade and Strawberries and Creme. (see me, tired and happy, left)

Wimbledon was a great, long, exhaustive experience! I might even do it again next year! The two pictures in this post are of Serena Williams in the middle of a serve, and me with my Pimm's and Strawberries. But, I have updated my photo page with many more Wimbledon pictures. If you'd like to see more, just click here. Don't forget you can always get to my photos from the link to the left, about 5 sections down.

As always, until next week.