Hello all!
I am sorry I haven't updated in a very long time. This term has been very busy for me academically and extra-curricularly (I know that's not a word) and sadly, this has fallen by the wayside. I am hoping to get it back up and running as soon as I get my current papers done. I have 2 left for this term and then my Dissertation due by August and then I am officially done!!!! :)
In the meantime, I thought you all could enjoy these photos from the last couple days here in Edinburgh. It is proof that contrary to popular belief sometimes the sun does shine!
Here you go:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2075694&id=42001837&l=8a5df55dd8
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2075785&id=42001837&l=05bca0d230
Ta-Ta for now!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Hello Again
Hi everyone!
I know I have been neglecting my blogging duties for awhile. The end of December and the month of January were a world wind of activities, I swear. Now its February, I am halfway through second term and I can't believe how fast everything is going.
So this term I have moved all my classes to one day a week. Tuesday I go to lectures from 9am to 4pm. It is cool to have it all at once because that means that I get it all out of the way, but it is tiring. I start with Theory, then look at a course on Domestic Governance and the European Union, and then I have a history course on WWII. I can't say I am absolutely in LOVE with my courses this term, but they are interesting enough I suppose and well, I only have 5 more weeks of them.
I am applying for the PhD program on Nationalism here in Edinburgh, but it means I will have to move to Sociology. I am a little worried that the change means I won't be the strongest of candidates, but hey, who knows. They let me in once, the might do it a second time. Plus by their system of grading right now I am considered passing with merit. There are three levels to passing, passing straight, passing with merit and passing with distinction. The course work has been very challenging so far, so I am excited I managed merit for last term. Maybe with the feedback I got on my essays I can work towards distinction.
Well I hate to cut this short but it is the middle of the night. I will post more soon about the rest of the stuff going on in my life.
Miss you all and love you!
Kristen
I know I have been neglecting my blogging duties for awhile. The end of December and the month of January were a world wind of activities, I swear. Now its February, I am halfway through second term and I can't believe how fast everything is going.
So this term I have moved all my classes to one day a week. Tuesday I go to lectures from 9am to 4pm. It is cool to have it all at once because that means that I get it all out of the way, but it is tiring. I start with Theory, then look at a course on Domestic Governance and the European Union, and then I have a history course on WWII. I can't say I am absolutely in LOVE with my courses this term, but they are interesting enough I suppose and well, I only have 5 more weeks of them.
I am applying for the PhD program on Nationalism here in Edinburgh, but it means I will have to move to Sociology. I am a little worried that the change means I won't be the strongest of candidates, but hey, who knows. They let me in once, the might do it a second time. Plus by their system of grading right now I am considered passing with merit. There are three levels to passing, passing straight, passing with merit and passing with distinction. The course work has been very challenging so far, so I am excited I managed merit for last term. Maybe with the feedback I got on my essays I can work towards distinction.
Well I hate to cut this short but it is the middle of the night. I will post more soon about the rest of the stuff going on in my life.
Miss you all and love you!
Kristen
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
On my way back
First off, I hope you all like the new look of the blog. I figured we needed to get rid of the pink for a little while.
So as it is with all vacations, it was too short, and now I am sitting in an airport, waiting for my flight and wishing I had another two weeks to see everyone. I am so sorry to the people I missed seeing on this visit, it was so very VERY busy, I am surprised I got any sleep at all! To the people I did get to visit with, it was so wonderful to see you again and thank you for taking some time out of these last two weeks to spend time with me. I feel very loved.
So what did I do at home. Well there was Festival of Trees, the Vermonster, spending time with Erik, Christmas lights, a Christmas tree, dinner with Mom, Dad, Scott and Jenny. There was a fun pub quiz, a fantastic concert, and pretty much more fun than I can possibly detail here. Like I said, I would love to have two more weeks, but to be honest, all I have been doing is eating and visiting and visiting and eating so I need to get back before I put all 10lbs I have lost back on.
I know what the next question is, why are you going back so early. Well it wasn't really my choice, as the tickets were exorbitantly more expensive the closer you got to Christmas. I suppose that is the basic tenants of supply and demand, but honestly, it stinks! But besides the cost of the tickets, I have to get back so I can finish my academic term. I still have two 4000 word essays to pound out before the beginning of January. While I wish I could do them at home, some of the books and materials I need are housed in the University library (which will closed for at least part of the break). Plus there is a limit to how long you should stay anywhere. Even at home, house guests are like dead fish, after a few days they begin to stink.
So here I am in New York City. Outside the sun is setting and the sky is the most brilliant gradient of mustard yellow, to pumpkin, to brick red. For a city that is known for its buildings, mother nature still has power here! I am sitting at a gate (not mine) stealing free wireless from the Delta First class lounge next door and charging my computer. I am hoping to get some journal articles read on the flight over the ocean, as long as I am not too distracted by the little TV in the headrest.
I arrive tomorrow at 7:30am (BST) in London. After I get there and get through immigration control, I have train tickets to Edinburgh. I won't get there until 6:30pm (BST) tomorrow night, which is 10:30am tomorrow on the west coast. Joy! When I get home, I have to stay up a few hours and then I plan to collapse in bed until I have to be up to meet my Professor on Friday! Woohoo!
Well I best be off. I think I ought to do another walk around before heading over to my gate.
I miss you all already!
So as it is with all vacations, it was too short, and now I am sitting in an airport, waiting for my flight and wishing I had another two weeks to see everyone. I am so sorry to the people I missed seeing on this visit, it was so very VERY busy, I am surprised I got any sleep at all! To the people I did get to visit with, it was so wonderful to see you again and thank you for taking some time out of these last two weeks to spend time with me. I feel very loved.
So what did I do at home. Well there was Festival of Trees, the Vermonster, spending time with Erik, Christmas lights, a Christmas tree, dinner with Mom, Dad, Scott and Jenny. There was a fun pub quiz, a fantastic concert, and pretty much more fun than I can possibly detail here. Like I said, I would love to have two more weeks, but to be honest, all I have been doing is eating and visiting and visiting and eating so I need to get back before I put all 10lbs I have lost back on.
I know what the next question is, why are you going back so early. Well it wasn't really my choice, as the tickets were exorbitantly more expensive the closer you got to Christmas. I suppose that is the basic tenants of supply and demand, but honestly, it stinks! But besides the cost of the tickets, I have to get back so I can finish my academic term. I still have two 4000 word essays to pound out before the beginning of January. While I wish I could do them at home, some of the books and materials I need are housed in the University library (which will closed for at least part of the break). Plus there is a limit to how long you should stay anywhere. Even at home, house guests are like dead fish, after a few days they begin to stink.
So here I am in New York City. Outside the sun is setting and the sky is the most brilliant gradient of mustard yellow, to pumpkin, to brick red. For a city that is known for its buildings, mother nature still has power here! I am sitting at a gate (not mine) stealing free wireless from the Delta First class lounge next door and charging my computer. I am hoping to get some journal articles read on the flight over the ocean, as long as I am not too distracted by the little TV in the headrest.
I arrive tomorrow at 7:30am (BST) in London. After I get there and get through immigration control, I have train tickets to Edinburgh. I won't get there until 6:30pm (BST) tomorrow night, which is 10:30am tomorrow on the west coast. Joy! When I get home, I have to stay up a few hours and then I plan to collapse in bed until I have to be up to meet my Professor on Friday! Woohoo!
Well I best be off. I think I ought to do another walk around before heading over to my gate.
I miss you all already!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Writing from the plane
Note: Delayed in posting because well, no internet while flying.
While I am writing this I have just roughly passed the country of Greenland and am inching towards the east coast. I am so excited to be on my way back home. All I want to do is crawl into my own bed with my puppy and sleep for a long long time! Today has been an interesting day, mechanical problems seem to be following me. It started with the hostel where apparently all the plugs have been taken out of every room to keep women from drying or straightening their hair. When I tried to ask, they said, if I wanted to dry my hair, next time I should consider the Girl Guide house. Nice.
Then as I was leaving this morning, I pulled out my Ipod to play. It decided that it didn’t want to wake up and so to punish me, it froze completely. I still can’t get it to work. I also can’t get wifi anywhere because of course, that costs money, so I can’t check the apple forums for trouble shooting.
The London underground was 10 minutes behind today because it decided to break down. Then when I got to the Heathrow express train, the doors wouldn’t open and we had to get a new train. I had hoped it was over, that it was just the sign that I was going to have an uneventful flight until I got on the plane.
We went out like we normally did, and sat and waited and waited and waited to take off. All the planes in front of us took off. All the planes behind us took off. All the planes behind them took off. And yet, we were still there, sitting on the runway. It turns out that when they tried to start the engines, the left one had a problem with its fuel relay and wasn’t going. Well of course they weren’t going to let us fly over the ocean with a faulty engine so they took us back to the gate.
At this point might I add we were a hour delayed. They came over the intercom and said they were just going to have us sit and wait while they had an engineer troubleshoot the problem. I guessed it would mean that we would get a new plane.... No no no. An hour more passed with us sitting there, and then an hour and a half. They announced we were all fixed and heading out. We taxied out for a second time and waited. We waited at the back of a long line of planes. It apparently didn’t matter we were late already, we had to wait our turn. By the time we got out, we were three hours delayed. Woohoo.
Here's to hoping my bad luck is done with for today!
While I am writing this I have just roughly passed the country of Greenland and am inching towards the east coast. I am so excited to be on my way back home. All I want to do is crawl into my own bed with my puppy and sleep for a long long time! Today has been an interesting day, mechanical problems seem to be following me. It started with the hostel where apparently all the plugs have been taken out of every room to keep women from drying or straightening their hair. When I tried to ask, they said, if I wanted to dry my hair, next time I should consider the Girl Guide house. Nice.
Then as I was leaving this morning, I pulled out my Ipod to play. It decided that it didn’t want to wake up and so to punish me, it froze completely. I still can’t get it to work. I also can’t get wifi anywhere because of course, that costs money, so I can’t check the apple forums for trouble shooting.
The London underground was 10 minutes behind today because it decided to break down. Then when I got to the Heathrow express train, the doors wouldn’t open and we had to get a new train. I had hoped it was over, that it was just the sign that I was going to have an uneventful flight until I got on the plane.
We went out like we normally did, and sat and waited and waited and waited to take off. All the planes in front of us took off. All the planes behind us took off. All the planes behind them took off. And yet, we were still there, sitting on the runway. It turns out that when they tried to start the engines, the left one had a problem with its fuel relay and wasn’t going. Well of course they weren’t going to let us fly over the ocean with a faulty engine so they took us back to the gate.
At this point might I add we were a hour delayed. They came over the intercom and said they were just going to have us sit and wait while they had an engineer troubleshoot the problem. I guessed it would mean that we would get a new plane.... No no no. An hour more passed with us sitting there, and then an hour and a half. They announced we were all fixed and heading out. We taxied out for a second time and waited. We waited at the back of a long line of planes. It apparently didn’t matter we were late already, we had to wait our turn. By the time we got out, we were three hours delayed. Woohoo.
Here's to hoping my bad luck is done with for today!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Big News!
Hello all! How are you guys? Today is St. Andrews day in Scotland, the day of the patron Saint and so, I thought I would bring you all a little bright Christmas news. Tonight I am in London instead of out celebrating with my friends. And in a little less than 12 hours, I will be on a plane jetting back to Oregon for two weeks! Surprise! And see you all very soon!
Monday, November 9, 2009
So Tired
Well as you probably can guess from the title and my all-nighter the other night I am so sleepy today. I am sitting in on a class that is covering economic theory of the Euro, which is a bit much to take at 9am. My lecturer is fantastic though, so he keeps it interesting.
I tried to get to bed early last night, but was woken up three or four times by my American flatmate last night. She doesn't realize how loud she is, and the last time she woke me up, I was awake for 3.5hrs afterwords. I started reading my homework for Friday- which is also some research for one of my 4000 word essays. I am going to be writing about a rise of Euroskeptism in the British government and how that strengthens the demands for independence in Scotland. It should be interesting. By my schedule I have 10-11 days to complete the research and write the paper, so well, I don't have much time to get it done or enjoy reading about it.
I have to say I am absolutely freezing today. It was 28 degrees here when I left the house this morning, but now it has warmed up to a balmy 32 degrees. The expected high for the day is 48. Its very clear here right now. Since I have been here it has hardly rained at all. Instead we get very clear and cold weather most of the time. I don't know if I have enough clothes to keep myself warm!
Well, class is almost over. I will post more soon.
Miss you all! xx
I tried to get to bed early last night, but was woken up three or four times by my American flatmate last night. She doesn't realize how loud she is, and the last time she woke me up, I was awake for 3.5hrs afterwords. I started reading my homework for Friday- which is also some research for one of my 4000 word essays. I am going to be writing about a rise of Euroskeptism in the British government and how that strengthens the demands for independence in Scotland. It should be interesting. By my schedule I have 10-11 days to complete the research and write the paper, so well, I don't have much time to get it done or enjoy reading about it.
I have to say I am absolutely freezing today. It was 28 degrees here when I left the house this morning, but now it has warmed up to a balmy 32 degrees. The expected high for the day is 48. Its very clear here right now. Since I have been here it has hardly rained at all. Instead we get very clear and cold weather most of the time. I don't know if I have enough clothes to keep myself warm!
Well, class is almost over. I will post more soon.
Miss you all! xx
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The anatomy of an all-nighter, or why I need to be banned from Facebook
Ok so it is 5:30am on Sunday morning here, and I am in the Post-Grad reading room listing to "Jesse's Girl" and trying to get the last 325-825 words out of my brain and into the computer. Unfortunately, I have nothing left to say and I am not even sure what I wrote makes any sense. I have however been keeping myself awake by facebook, harrassing people all over the world. Seriously if I had a ban on the site on my computer I would have been done with this essay three days ago, but then I wouldn't know what everyone is up to, so I guess I wouldn't trade it for my time back.
I miss everyone and wish I could see all of you!
I miss everyone and wish I could see all of you!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)