Back up and running

It's amazing how dependent I am on technology. I was without my computer for almost a week and at first I had no idea how I'd manage. Living without access is one thing, but being a student and living in a dorm room is another....so, I made plans to keep myself busy and the week flew by! I finished all of my reading in the first 3 days, spent an afternoon in Camden, and went to the gym and multiple yoga classes. I can survive. :)

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But I'm glad to be connected again! Especially since I only have 5 weeks of teaching left. It's amazing how fast this time is already flying by. I also need to start reading for 2 essays coming up and researching for my dissertation. I had an excellent meeting today with my supervisor. You know when you get positive feedback to your ideas; how elating that is? Well, I had a basic idea of what I'm interested in focusing on and even just with one meeting, I have more of a direction and am more interested than ever. So, this will be a major evolution of topic but my very broad and with limited research topic concerns the Ultra-Orthodox conservative Jews in Israel who are being very vocal about their issues with women in public spaces and how they should act and dress. Heavily focused on theory, there might also be a chance for some fieldwork which always adds a unique component to a dissertation. Updates will certainly follow.

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So, this week will be quite busy: class topics include country-specific nationalism in the Middle East and Borderland areas. There are also 'extra' lectures that should be interesting...yes, I do attend more lectures than are required. It's so amazing to have access to the academics and professionals who are in London and doing work on the region. Not to mention finding time to go running and hit a couple of yoga classes! The weather has even been quite pleasant and sunny. Or maybe it just feels that way since it was freezing for awhile.

The Worst Thing EVER

So, when was the last time you were without a computer at home, in a dorm room isolated from the world?? AHHHHH. Ok, just had to get it out. I made the wonderful decision to knock over a glass of water and proceed to f*** up my computer (pardon my language). So, what am I to do? Well, the first thing is I ran over to the nearest computer repair shop (Fixit Nerds) and drop it off. A call should be coming this afternoon to tell me what the damage is and how much it will be to fix it. This is one of those things where you just say I don't care how much, just fix it and as soon as possible, please please please?

So, how have I been entertaining myself without my computer, unlimited access to the Internet and watching the next season of the Tudors? Well, I've actually been working my way through my mound of reading that I have for next week. This is technically reading week and I have quite a bit to do, so I guess it has been a semi good thing that I'm without my computer...I mean at least I wasn't writing an essay yet (although I did want to start researching for 2 that I have coming up). I've also been going to the gym, yoga and pilates classes and seeing films (Carnage was great and The Muppets is on tap for this afternoon). Oh yea, and more reading! Perhaps I'll even get ahead.

This should be a fairly busy week. I'm heading to St. Albans tomorrow to explore with some friends and then the musical Crazy for You tomorrow evening, visiting the gym and yoga/pilates classes quite a bit, and even making my way to the library (which is where I am now since I don't have my computer).

I will have more posts coming soon! We had our first (and second) snows which was quite beautiful and I had a sports filled day which was a blast watching the Ireland-Wales rugby game followed by the Super Bowl. Quite an experience on this side of the pond.

The Ball is Rolling

First dissertation deadline -- check! I can't believe I'm already focusing on potential topics. But it's certainly helpful to get started and to have to show progress now and I'm actually looking forward to it...I mean, I will be spending my entire summer researching and writing 10,000 words on one topic so I better be interested in it. I have another deadline in about a month for my title/topic. Once that's been approved, I will receive what my life with focus around until September. My major class (Culture and Society of the Near and Middle East) is in the Department of Anthropology so while I can focus on pretty much any topic, it will be heavily focused on the theory of that subject. Theory....oh theory...

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Heater update: Fixed! Fortunately I did not freeze another night thanks to speaking to the right people at the right time. I do believe that was a miny rant the other night but there are very few things that can actually lead me to that point and being cold unnecessarily is one of them! I am in high spirits now and ready for the weekend. Today has been a beautiful day, sunny and mild; a perfect beginning to the weekend! I've been working diligently, so I believe I will give myself the afternoon and evening off (I will most likely visit the library this weekend). I do love being a student, but there's always more reading or studying or revising that you can be doing. Even though I do work at the most random times, it's still totally worth it.

A late night

You know those nights where your mind just won't turn off? Well tonight is one of them. All I wanted was a good night's sleep. I finished up my long day of class, even did a bit of reading on the side and was looking forward to just crashing. Only to find out the heater in my flat is still broken. And it's cold. I noticed yesterday the heater lights were off and went to let the front office know. Of course the maintance man had gone home for the evening and no, they did not have access to any portable heaters they may have. Ok, fair enough, heater fixed in the morning. BUT, I find out from my flatmate that it may take up to a week to be fixed. Even though I put in the 'help ticket' I wasn't told about the outcome and nothing was said about acquiring a replacement heater in the meanwhile.

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My frustration kept increasing this evening as it was so cold I couldn't fall asleep. So, here I am, watching the Tudors and thinking about my upcoming week, reading assignments, dissertation deadline (which I'm going round and round about), beginning to train for an upcoming half marathon, relationships, and future plans. Of course I have to have it all figured out tonight! My dissertation is foremost in my thinking. There are so many topics that I'm interested in, but what am I so interested in that I can spend the entire summer researching and writing a 10,000 word document? And what of my potential advisor? It seems as though none of the potential advisors share research interests. It will all work itself out, the process to getting there is a learning experience and hopefully there won't be too many 3am nights thinking about it!

Holiday fun - Part 1 New Years

Me with my cousin, Emily and sister Erin at the Willy Wonka Chocolate Party on NYE

New Years Day Parade. Each London district could enter and this was one of the winning districts

Me and Emily in front of the kites!

New Years Day Parade events lasted the full day from breakfast in the morning to the parade to dinner and an awards presentation in the evening. Me with Erin, Emily and my flatmate Xi who we have to thank for the VIP access!

Never a dull moment

One of the great things about studying in London is it's connections to and interests in the Middle East. There are lecture series at various universities (mine university included with a weekly Tuesday night lecture series presented by the Middle East Institute) and there's never a dull moment. Excitement usually begins during the Q & A session, but once in awhile there are comments spoken quite loudly during the talks. Anyway, during the Q & A of a recent talk on Egypt's role in the Arab Spring at LSE, it came to the attention of the audience that Youssef Boutros-Ghali, a finanace minister in Mubarak's government was sitting in the audience. According to this article, he's wanted by Interpol after being convicted in Cairo on charges of corruption and profiteering. He was permitted to leave through a side door.

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I did not attend this lecture, I had just crashed after finishing 2 essays but certainly heard about it from others. Never a dull moment in the world of the Middle East.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/furore-at-lse-as-mubarakera-minister-turns-up-at-lecture-6287518.html

This is what I'm here for

So, my life has been completely and utterly consumed by grad school for the past two weeks. 7-8 hours every day last week at the library to research and complete 2 essays of 3000 words each, read 8 articles and study for an Arabic midterm all due the first week back to class. Of course the first paper is always the hardest to get started with especially since I haven't written an academic paper in 5 The deadline day was madness: long queues and jams at the printers, queues to turn in the essays and a frenzied atmosphere. Fortunately, I made the deadline with time to spare; quite a weight off my shoulders!

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Even with all of the schoolwork, the holiday break was quite eventful. Some highlights (photos to come) include:

--My sister and cousin visiting

--Visit to Edinburgh, Scotland

--Les Miserables, Wicked

--Food of the world tour: English pub, Brick Lane (Bangladeshi), Italian, Scottish (Haggis!), Japanese, Belgian

--Fireworks at midnight on New Years Eve in Leister Square and VIP tickets to the New Years Day parade

--Lots of laughs!

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The break was much needed and appreciated. But now Term 2 is in full swing and the pace has picked up! More reading to go along with beginning the dissertation process, upcoming essays and finally exams to get through. I know the term will fly by, I can't believe it's already the beginning of my last teaching term but certainly looking forward to it. Next week's topics: Politics of Revolution (Iran) and Tribes in an 'Age of Government.'