Kickin' it in London

Well, it has been a little while since I posted, mainly because not a lot has been going on. I've been here in London for about 3 weeks (my how time flies), and haven't really been doing a whole lot. I finally was able to go to my agency, Tender, on Friday. I think I will be getting to work on some VDay stuff, so that's cool. And it makes me harken back to my college days, and the Vagina Monologues. It's the 10-year anniversary of VDay, and they are doing some pretty cool things in the States (you can see here).
Other than that I have been to a few classes, done some homework, and done a lot of walking around London. I've been to Central London several times, plus a great Mexican restaurant in Notting Hill. On Sunday, I went to Brick Lane, which is the home of curry in London. It was a a great area, with a lot of street vendors, and people just out and about. London is an absolutely huge city, with so many different ethic groups, I think it would take years to explore. But, I'm doing the best I can.
I must say it is quite a different experience to that of Jamaica, and it is taking me a little longer to see need. I know it is here, just as there is need in the United States, and any other developed country. It is just that in Jamaica, the poverty was always in your face. I suspect once I get involved in my agency some more I won't have trouble spotting the need.
Beyond that I don't have much knew to report. I am updating some of the picture links to the left. I have a new iPhoto websharing program, so I am uploading pictures using that. It is a better version of the Photocasts I tried to do in Jamaica. They will also be on Picassa for the time being, until I run out of space. But, they look much prettier in the program.

I think that's about all I have for now. Hopefully my next update will be more, um, exciting.

Jolly Ol'England

Hello!

It has taken me a little bit to get up a new post, but I have been very busy.  Alexis and I traveled around Jamaica for my last week getting home on December 23rd. After enjoying a relaxing few days, things got crazy.  I went to KC to see Monica, Debra, Kymberly, Justin, et al., as well as Alexis' new place.  Then it was back to De Soto, and St. Louis for my last five days, including Anne-Marie's graduation party the first weekend in January.  All of this is quite boring to read about I'm sure, but it's my rather long winded way of proving how busy I was. And I did all of that as a lead up to my apology that if I didn't get a chance to see you over the holidays I am sorry.  I wanted to see everyone, and I simply didn't have enough time when I was in St. Louis to see many people.  I guess you all will just have to come to London! 

Speaking of London, I am all moved in and starting classes tomorrow.  I am at Roehampton University in Southwest London, south of the Thames.  I am near Putney, Barnes, and Wimbeldon.  It is about 30 to 45 minutes from campus to the area where the London Eye, Houses of Parliment, Big Ben, etc. are.  I have been into Central London twice since I have been here, as well as Putney and Hammersmith, both which are short bus rides away.  

The campus is quite beautiful, though I have been seeing it through the haze of rain.  The rumors are true: it does rain quite a bit in London. It also gets dark by 4 pm and it is cold.  I can't report on classes yet or my service yet, but I will find out more about both tomorrow.  

I think that's all I have to report for now.  The internet is much more reliable here so I hope to meet my one post a week goal.  We'll see.  

I hope everyone is enjoying the new year, and remember you are all welcome to stay with me in London anytime. 

Happy Frakkin' New Year

Happy 2008 everyone!  Have a safe, productive, and fun year! And turn 30. (Oh, that may just be those born in 1978). 

Merry Christmas

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, or a very Merry Day Off if you don't celebrate Christmas.  I am home from Jamaica safe and sound.  I'll write more soon! 

Pictures

I've added a link to my Picasa Albums to the left. Beautiful Jamaican pictures, such as the one shown here, are waiting with just a click! Enjoy!

Bye Jamaica

Well, I can't believe it is already time for me to say goodbye to Jamaica. August seems both a long time ago and just like yesterday, at the same time. It is fitting that a tropical storm is causing the rains to come down this week, since a hurricane happened my first few days. Dean greeted me, and now Olga will send me on my way. Sorry to all you Midwesterners getting pummeled by ice and snow; outside of the rain it as been 85 degrees, sunny, and with a lovely "Christmas Breeze." In short, divine.

I have had an amazing semester here, meeting people, learning the culture, and traveling around the country. I have gotten to see each region in Jamaica, and do things many Jamaicans haven't even done. The picture is from Treasure Beach, a very quiet area in the south of Jamaica. I traveled there last weekend, and it marked my last trip with the IPSL group. We had a great time just relaxing on the beach, playing in the waves, and generally spending time together. I will see the grads in London, but for Alice, Kim, and John, after Jamaica, who knows.

I have to thank many people for my experience here. Mrs. Rattray for opening up her home and cooking for me each day. Her food was great, and through it I really got a "taste" of Jamaica. Geri (Dr. Hodelin), the IPSL coordinator for UTech, my Contemporary Conditions prof., and most importantly (at least to me) my Thesis adviser. She helped me out very much this semester, and also had us over to dinner. Also to Cynthia Onyefulu, Jennifer Hall, and Veronica Salter, profs who have taken us out or made food for us. Dr. Gordon-Bell and Mrs. Samuels, History and Literature professors who taught me a great deal. All the people at Jamaicans for Justice, esp. Louise and Andrea. Tameka who helped me so much, and St. Rachel who took me on a field trip.

I have many more thoughts swirling around, and I think I will try and tackle each topic in a separate post. I am also going to edit and post the Jamaica pictures over break. I know I will have just as many from London, and I don't want too big of a backlog.

My sister (Alexis) arrives on Friday and we'll spend a week relaxing in Jamaica, living the tourists life. Then I'm headed home for Christmas and New Year's before I fly out on January 8th for London. I am sure break will pass quickly by, and I hope I get a chance to enjoy it. If I don't get a chance to see you, have a great holiday and be safe!

Thanks for all your support, and I will post again soon, now that all my homework is done!

A quick update...

I am updating today so I can have two blog posts in November! I have been very hard at work trying to finish up all of my assignments and collect data for my research. The benefit to collecting the data is I am getting to talk with various Jamaicans for across the island. Some people I talked to last week aren't getting running water...for about 10 years! They have the pipes and used to get it, but then something happened, and I guess 10 years isn't enough to fix it?

I am down to one major paper, some revisions, and the data. Yea! After that I will have some more time to edit and post pictures, maybe update this a bit more often. I can't believe that I will be done with the Jamaican portion of the program in two weeks. The time is really flying, and, of course, I am just starting to feel like I am making relationships. I guess it is the drawback to only spending one semester here.

I hope all of you Americans had a great Thanksgiving. The picture above is the eight American students in the Jamaican IPSL program this semester, 4 graduates and 4 undergrads. We took this last Saturday when we got together for Thanksgiving dinner. We all brought something and we even had turkey. It wasn't home, but it was nice!

That's all I have for now. I'll post again when things are less crazy.