The Chihuahuas
Union Ball
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Lots!
To begin, on Saturday I went with 5 friends to the Oxford Union Ball. It was fabulous to be outside of the college/libraries/African Studies Centre! And I so enjoy dressing up :) We had a great time exploring the old chambers and lounges. Plus it was 50s themed - complete with an American Diner!
On Sunday the Chihuahuas had another nail-biter! We lost 1-2 (I scored!) though we could have won except our 11th player had to leave after 30 minutes. Still, a great afternoon spent in the (relatively) good weather, with teammates. I so enjoy it! Our last game of the term is this Sunday against one of the biggest colleges - St John's.
Tuesday Luigi - a fellow Rotary Scholar - and I spoke at my host club of Bicester! I loved being able to share more about myself and to specifically thank the members, especially John and Gyll. The whole club is always so welcoming and engaging!! I feel more and more a part of the group every time I visit. And I will have lots more to report after Uganda!
Regarding my upcoming trip, everything seems to be falling into place! Yay God! I am just so excited, and another professor told me again today how much I will enjoy researching in Kabale - beautiful, mild weather, open informants. I am writing my interview questions this weekend - please pray for me to find the best wording.
I love you family!
On Sunday the Chihuahuas had another nail-biter! We lost 1-2 (I scored!) though we could have won except our 11th player had to leave after 30 minutes. Still, a great afternoon spent in the (relatively) good weather, with teammates. I so enjoy it! Our last game of the term is this Sunday against one of the biggest colleges - St John's.
Tuesday Luigi - a fellow Rotary Scholar - and I spoke at my host club of Bicester! I loved being able to share more about myself and to specifically thank the members, especially John and Gyll. The whole club is always so welcoming and engaging!! I feel more and more a part of the group every time I visit. And I will have lots more to report after Uganda!
Regarding my upcoming trip, everything seems to be falling into place! Yay God! I am just so excited, and another professor told me again today how much I will enjoy researching in Kabale - beautiful, mild weather, open informants. I am writing my interview questions this weekend - please pray for me to find the best wording.
I love you family!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Chihuahua Football and Another Night in Kirtlington
Hi all! We're into 5th Week now, which means everyone is feeling the pressure. I am in pretty good shape, though there is never enough time to do all the work I want to complete, particularly with my dissertation. I had a great meeting today with Matteo, my extremely helpful supervisor. I leave for Uganda in less than four weeks!! Thanks for your thoughts and emails!
On Sunday, the St. Antony's/Wolfson Women's Football Team took on Lady Margaret Hall/Trinity in the Cuppers Quarterfinal Match. We played two 45 minutes halves, then 30 minutes of overtime. For those of you who are counting, this means that my first football game in 5 years lasted for 2 hours! I loved every second! (Though I was not too thrilled to then have to ride my bike for 20 minutes to get home :) ) Unfortunately, we lost 3-4, but our team spirit was so fantastic - I enjoyed the camaraderie and we all worked so hard. I scored two goals - very exciting. And after the game, each player on our team secretly wrote down who they thought deserved to be 'Man of the Match,' and they chose me! I thought that was really great since I am the newest player. Now I get to keep a stuffed chihuahua all week, as that is our mascot (no Chief Osceola, I know). We did take a team picture; I'll post it as soon as I have it.
I spent Monday night at my home-away-from-home: John and Gyll's! We always have such wonderful conversations and relaxing evenings. Plus, dinner was delicious. It included brussel sprouts, apples, gooseberries, and red currants from their own garden! After a fabulous night's sleep, I did some readings in the morning. Then, John and I attended the Bicester Rotary meeting, where I was able to have lovely conversations with several members. I feel like I am getting to know a lot of the club pretty well, which is so great. I present there next week! Yay!This weekend I am going with friends to the Oxford Union Ball – 50s theme!! It should be a great break from work.
On Sunday, the St. Antony's/Wolfson Women's Football Team took on Lady Margaret Hall/Trinity in the Cuppers Quarterfinal Match. We played two 45 minutes halves, then 30 minutes of overtime. For those of you who are counting, this means that my first football game in 5 years lasted for 2 hours! I loved every second! (Though I was not too thrilled to then have to ride my bike for 20 minutes to get home :) ) Unfortunately, we lost 3-4, but our team spirit was so fantastic - I enjoyed the camaraderie and we all worked so hard. I scored two goals - very exciting. And after the game, each player on our team secretly wrote down who they thought deserved to be 'Man of the Match,' and they chose me! I thought that was really great since I am the newest player. Now I get to keep a stuffed chihuahua all week, as that is our mascot (no Chief Osceola, I know). We did take a team picture; I'll post it as soon as I have it.
I spent Monday night at my home-away-from-home: John and Gyll's! We always have such wonderful conversations and relaxing evenings. Plus, dinner was delicious. It included brussel sprouts, apples, gooseberries, and red currants from their own garden! After a fabulous night's sleep, I did some readings in the morning. Then, John and I attended the Bicester Rotary meeting, where I was able to have lovely conversations with several members. I feel like I am getting to know a lot of the club pretty well, which is so great. I present there next week! Yay!This weekend I am going with friends to the Oxford Union Ball – 50s theme!! It should be a great break from work.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Jordans & Schoolwork
Liz and I spoke at Jordans Rotary Club on Monday evening - such a welcoming group of men (and one woman!). After our talks, so many people approached us with questions and stories from their own experiences. A really nice evening! Plus, I love getting to talk to my friend Liz.
Schoolwork is going really well! I am writing an essay currently about international influence (or lack thereof) on democratisation in Africa. Fascinating! What a blessing to be enjoying my work! It seems like I have so much more to do compared to last term, but since I sort of know the ropes and have gained a bit of confidence, I feel infinitely more relaxed. Thanks everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers! Sometimes it is slow-going, but for the most part every minute is fresh and exciting.
Because of the snow our football match was canceled this past weekend, or else you would have heard from me directly :) Hopefully we will get to play this Sunday, but the fields are still so wet there is a chance the groundskeepers won't let us. After all the beautiful snow, it is now back to English weather: rainy and cold. But I am used to it, and there has been some sun over the past 2 days! Plus I have super cute rain boots....
Now I am going to relax and read a novel! Yay!
xoxoxoxo
Schoolwork is going really well! I am writing an essay currently about international influence (or lack thereof) on democratisation in Africa. Fascinating! What a blessing to be enjoying my work! It seems like I have so much more to do compared to last term, but since I sort of know the ropes and have gained a bit of confidence, I feel infinitely more relaxed. Thanks everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers! Sometimes it is slow-going, but for the most part every minute is fresh and exciting.
Because of the snow our football match was canceled this past weekend, or else you would have heard from me directly :) Hopefully we will get to play this Sunday, but the fields are still so wet there is a chance the groundskeepers won't let us. After all the beautiful snow, it is now back to English weather: rainy and cold. But I am used to it, and there has been some sun over the past 2 days! Plus I have super cute rain boots....
Now I am going to relax and read a novel! Yay!
xoxoxoxo
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Even more snow!
There is genuine snow today! This is seriously unusual for England - everyone is either super excited or incredibly annoyed.
Picture: Me in front of my little Victorian home! My room is on the opposite side facing towards the college grounds.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Research Design Seminar
Good news: I gave a 20 minute methodology presentation today, and my professors think my dissertation topic (behavior change and NGO-driven HIV/AIDS education in Uganda) is great! Thanks for all of your prayers, loved ones! Please keep 'em coming. I still have so much work to do, and of course the fieldwork will be tricky, but I am so happy I am headed in the right direction. Yay God! And my fieldwork site - Kabale, Uganda - is apparently a highly under-researched area, meaning I will find good data and willing participants. Plus, it is beautiful and SAFE! So excited to go! But right now I am thrilled to be in Oxford. I love my coursework more every week, and I value the relationships I am building with professors and peers. I am where I am supposed to be. I know I will be able to use this knowledge to serve others.
To my "baby" sister Katherine, Happy 15th Birthday! Wish I could be with you!
To my "baby" sister Katherine, Happy 15th Birthday! Wish I could be with you!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Snow!!
I woke up this morning to a wonderfully white world! It has been snowing all night and day, and it is absolutely beautiful. I'm loving it! This is an unusually consistent snow, with some areas of the country completely shut down (Heathrow is closed and parts of London had to stop their bus routes this morning). Even the British students are excited. It's hard to focus on schoolwork!
I'll try to post some pictures later, but my camera battery is dead right now. More to come....(unless I get very into work, which would be ideal :) ).
I'll try to post some pictures later, but my camera battery is dead right now. More to come....(unless I get very into work, which would be ideal :) ).
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Sun?!
It's true! There was genuine sunshine for a couple of hours this afternoon! It was glorious. Still freezing (it flurried this evening on my way to church), but bright and uplifting. What a blessing!
And our African Studies potluck on Friday was incredible! I really enjoy my classmates - so passionate, bright, and fun. The food was a great representation of our diversity: Spanish omelets, sushi, South African casseroles, cous cous, German pancakes, Angolan bean stew.....and my very fabulous fruit salad :) It is just so great to be friends and classmates with such fabulous and interesting people! I am excited for tomorrow because we have our group lecture so I will get to see everyone! Yay!
Ok, time to head towards bed so that I can have an early start tomorrow....
Love you family!
And our African Studies potluck on Friday was incredible! I really enjoy my classmates - so passionate, bright, and fun. The food was a great representation of our diversity: Spanish omelets, sushi, South African casseroles, cous cous, German pancakes, Angolan bean stew.....and my very fabulous fruit salad :) It is just so great to be friends and classmates with such fabulous and interesting people! I am excited for tomorrow because we have our group lecture so I will get to see everyone! Yay!
Ok, time to head towards bed so that I can have an early start tomorrow....
Love you family!
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