York!

I went with the Graduate Student Centre on a day trip to York today. It was a reallllly long drive (the coach was late on top of that), but totally worth it! I will go back sometime before I leave, as there's still lots that I want to see there!

Here's some photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2016324&id=60100030&l=7e489

But most importantly, as my dad pointed out, one of my photos looks a little bit (only a little) like a scene from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, which may just be the best movie ever made. One photo reminded him of the killer rabbit scene. Hahahaha. Hilarious. "Run away, run away!" For your enjoyment:

Getting back on track... another dose of peace education

The purpose of this blog was, at least originally, to keep my friends and family back home informed of what I'm up to here on the other side of the pond. Now, more than five months after I've come to England (really? Wow!), what is its purpose? Probably a little of the same, but I want to do more writing about my studies. So you'll probably be getting a bit more peace education from your reading. Don't worry, I'll continue with the updates and photos from my travels as well. :-)

Today while browsing on Facebook (addict, I'll admit), I found a posting from a Rotary club in India- the Rotary Club of Purulia. It has been exciting to look at their website and see what they're up to. But the link that I saw on Facebook was about a specific program they are working on- called "Message for Peace." As a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar studying peace, I wanted to participate in their program. It calls for, among other things, submissions of blog entries on peace. I can do that! :-)

As a refresher, class, here's my first two posts addressing the issue of peace education:

Lesson One: http://hannahkali.blogspot.com/2008/10/taste-of-peace-education.html
Lesson Two: http://hannahkali.blogspot.com/2008/10/another-dose-of-peace-education.html

So, what's on the docket for today? Well... brainstorming for my dissertation topic. That's what's on the docket. I am supposed to have a decent idea for a topic by (gulp) next week! Ack!

I'm interested in investigating how the United States can proactively participate in both ending conflict across the world, and, perhaps even more importantly, the prevention of future conflict. Little broad, I know. But it's something I want to spend the next few days thinking about to see if there's a topic in there. Why, you ask? (ok, maybe you didn't, but I did). Well... one main reason.

In my class, I'm the sole American. And often (ok, every single class) the conversation meanders its way to how America is to blame for something, or why something did or didn't happen solely because the US would or wouldn't allow it to. OK, that's a really pessimistic view... it's not that bad. But often people will say something, and preface it with a comment towards me, something like "no offense, Hannah, but..." I certainly don't take offense- yes, I'm from the US. No, I certainly don't support everything that my country has done. Can anyone from any country say they wholeheartedly support all the decisions their government has made? I didn't think so.

That said, it's hard to argue with the idea that the US is one of the most, ok, probably the most "powerful" country in the world. When "we" get our hands in the game, "our" position carries a lot of weight behind it. There is great privilege with this position. But with great privilege comes greater responsibility. It's that responsibility that I'm interested in. What is "our" responsibility towards the world? What should "we" be doing that "we" aren't? What should "we" stop doing?

What is "our" roadmap for the future? Your thoughts are quite welcome. I'll post my answers/ideas/suggestions later this week.

To end on a lighter note... I had to post this photo: my finished scarf! Which somehow morphed into a shawl. As Margaret Houlihan would say, "it's a women's prerogative to change her potholder. I'm making it into a scarf."




And I also had to post this one:
I very recently put two and two together and got bluetooth. Ha. I'd forgotten that my laptop has bluetooth capability- meaning I can get photos from my phone to my laptop since the plan I'm on here doesn't allow me to email them like I would do at home. And this one of my brother (puppy) Wrigley hiding in a blanket was too cute to leave for only my enjoyment. :-)

Happy Half Birthday To... Me!

I remember a long, long, long time ago this day used to be one of my favorites of the year. Why February 22nd, you ask? Well, it's certainly not because today's George Washington's Birthday (though it is his b-day today). It's because today is my half-birthday. And why did I like it so much? Because my mom would bring treats for me to share in school. I never got to celebrate a birthday at school since my birthday is in August and everyone was out of school for summer then. So I'd get half a birthday cake in February to share with friends. :-)


Ah, memories.

What's that yellow thing in the sky?

OK... what's up? There's this big yellow thing in the sky, and it seems to be emitting warmth. What's going on? I was actually able to sit on a bench in the cathedral ruins today for an entire hour without turning into a popsicle. In fact, with that yellow thing shining down on me, I actually thought that I might need sunscreen. Ha! Amazing. This really needs to happen more often.

On top of that, this morning my hyacinth pot started to bloom. I bought it earlier this week from Marks and Spencers (think Safeway, but with clothes as well). On sale for £2 ($2.80 or so). I was in need of some flowers, so this seemed perfect. It is! The smell is wonderful- and fills my room. I also bought a small pot of daffodils ($1.30) which are close to blooming.

Finally, unless you've been living under a rock the past few days, you've heard about the somewhat heroic return of Ken Griffey Jr. to the Seattle Mariners. May I just say, Welcome Back!

Kudos to a Sox Fan...

So I was at my host Rotary club this morning for their weekly meeting, and got to talking to one of the Rotarians there afterwards. The story she told me I just have to repeat because it made me feel soooo good!

Every meeting this club goes around the table and shares good news. You put £1 in the jar (for charity) and share your news. My news for today was that winter has officially ended. Not the weather per se, but now that Spring Training has started, spring has officially arrived. At least in my book it has. :-) Now my problem is figuring out if I can get on a sleep/work/study schedule that will allow me to either stay up or get up really early to catch a few M's or Rainiers' games (they will start at 3am my time). Ha.

So... where's the story you say? Here:
This Rotarian went to a baseball game when she and her family where in Boston (insert jealous moans here from folks who haven't had the privilege of seeing a game at Fenway- not me, I've seen two games there- and one was against the Yankees!)... I digress. Anyway, she said two things that struck me.

1. There was a man and his son sitting behind them who, realizing that they were British and perhaps weren't understanding the nuances of the game, explained to them what was going on. I love this! I've done this oh so many times... whether it be complete strangers sitting next to me, or friends who I've brought to their first baseball game. It meant a lot to this Rotarian's family, especially her kids. That's great to hear!
   
2. This second bit is priceless. I love it. She was surprised, if not shocked, when, at Fenway, people would pass money down the row to buy something from a vendor. Why was she shocked? Three reasons. First, that the money made it to the vendor. Two, that the food made it back to the purchaser. Finally, that the change from the purchase also made it back to the purchaser. My response? Confusion. Wait, it doesn't work that way everywhere? Apparently not here. Guess I'm going to have to get to a football match one of these days and see how it's done here! :-)

Can I just say how exciting it is that baseball is back? (but Griffey is certainly doing his part to hamper my excitement- can you just decide already? Seattle wants you. We need you. Not necessarily for your ability, but for your leadership. It's just a year. We'll even let you skip a few games in September to go watch your kid play football. Pick us. And if you don't, the next time you come around Seattle, we won't be nearly as welcoming as last time... anyone got a number for the guy who had the monopoly money on a fishing rod when A-Rod came back? We may need his services again... and don't even get me started on A-Rod... I mean A-Steroi-Rod). Great article on it: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/2008754431_kelley18.html

Junior rumors?

Alright, enough is enough. Here's my personal plea to Ken Griffey Jr.: Make your decision already. The more I wonder if I'd like to see you back in a Mariners uniform, the more I think I'm leaning to yes... and the more I lean towards yes, the more angry I'll be with you should you make the responsible choice and go to Atlanta- an hour flight away from your family.... rather than the 5+ hour flight from Seattle to your home...

OK, got that over with. :-)

Two exciting bits of news for today:

1. My professors liked the videos I put together for a presentation last week. I feel like I may finally be getting half way decent at editing!
2. I just bought tickets to two events in Birmingham at Symphony Hall. I've wanted to go there for awhile now, but hadn't found the right event. I found two today! First is in the end of March- it's Britten's War Requiem, which was written for the re-consecration of the Coventry Cathedral. Fitting, isn't it? For more information on it, click here... The other concert I'm going to is the annual Easter performance of Handel's Messiah by the Birmingham Choral Union. There is no piece of music that I enjoy more. :-)

A new season...

Guess what folks? Winter ended yesterday, when pitchers and catchers reported to spring training. I love the beginning of the baseball season, after what always seems to be a long winter.

This will be a strange baseball season for me- I won't be able to watch any games in person... unless I can find a game here in England (ha). So, everyone back home- go to lots of games for me, take lots of pictures, and send 'em my way!!! And, if this season ends up being similar to last for the Mariners (and it better not!!!), then head on down to Tacoma to watch my (yes, I said 'my') Rainiers. They seem to be better than the Mariners the last few years... :-)
(photo from the TNT website- I love it!)

Skittles and escaping the city!

Last night I attended the Rotary Club of Coventry's Skittles night in Barnacle. :-) Great name for a village. And Skittles was great. Three variations of bowling- one rolling, one throwing, and one tetherball-esque variation. :-) My team placed second, and did fairly well on the quiz (to which I was absolutely no help- it was full of really difficult questions!). I went with the district's youth exchange student, and we sold raffle tickets. I think we sold about £80 of raffle tickets! It was a great night to see many great Rotary friends!

Today I went with a friend out to Coombe Abbey on the outskirts of Coventry. We both had been wanting to get away from the city... this was just what we needed. We walked around the grounds of this former abbey (from the 12th century), and once we had walked all that (some still had snow on the ground!), then we walked awhile on a public footpath. When the footpath ran out there was a pub just down the road- amazing how that always seems to work out when I walk on public footpaths here. :-) We stayed at the pub for awhile to warm up- it was a bit chilly today! Once the sun began to set, we set out to figure out where on earth we had walked so that we could figure out where to catch a bus home. Great day. :-)

Bomb Scare!

Yep, you read that right. Coventry had a bit of excitement this afternoon. I was about to leave the graduate student centre this afternoon with a few classmates to head to the pub then go ice skating... but our plans were altered a bit when we were stopped by the police from heading into the city centre. We had heard rumors that there was a bomb threat, but (perhaps stupidly) tried to cut through a parking lot to get into the centre despite the threat. The police saw us and stopped us again (sheepish grin is on my face now). You see, these sort of things apparently happen every once in awhile around here. It wasn't a bomb threat- it was an unexploded shell from WWII. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7884520.stm

So, we spent a few hours in a pub waiting for the police cordon to be lifted, then went ice skating as planned. I didn't fall once. :-) Photos to come. :-)

What an afternoon!

It's snowing.

Again. And I love it.
Photos to come when I'm less exhausted (it's 12:30am and I have a 9am appointment. Must sleep).
zzzzzz

Uh oh

I have too much to do.
I must have the "can't say no" disease that plagues my mother. :-)

Do yourself a favor...

If you're looking for a great book to distract you from life for a few nights, go out and get "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett. Don't let the thickness of the book scare you away (yes, it's over 1,000 pages long). But it is so easy to read. I'll bet you won't be able to put it down. I finished it this morning, and am already having withdrawals. I'm considering a cathedral road trip in fact (the book centers around the (fictional) master builder of a cathedral in the 1100s). I want to see all the different elements of cathedrals that are mentioned in the book!

Any suggestions for what I should turn to for my next "Stay Sane" book? Nothing related to my field of study, please. I have enough reading for that! :-)

Nicely Done, PSD Voters!!!

Good Morning!!! It's 4:58am... and I've been awake for nearly a half hour already. Why on earth would I wake up at this god-forsaken hour? Well... because yesterday was election day back home, and this political die-hard needed to know how a ballot measure did!

As many of you know, the Peninsula School District is really important to me. As a PSD grad, and with a sister still in the PSD system, and my mom serving on the School Board, it's a huge part of my family. Everyone in my family has worked on levy campaigns for nearly as long as I can remember. Back when I was in middle school I remember sign waving on election day out in the freezing cold with other students, and seeing the horrible effects when the levy failed that year. We had no paper, custodians and some teachers lost their jobs... it was awful. Thankfully, levies haven't failed in awhile- meaning our kids are getting a better education as a result. And tonight was no different- voters passed the levy by 65%! That's amazing. Of course, I expect no less from my town!!!

This amazing support will help the district "reduce class size, increase safety and security, hire and develop professional staff, supplement the costs of after school programs, purchase essential technology and instructional materials, maintain and clean buildings, and acquire clean, safe, and fuel efficient buses."

Thanks to PSD Voters and the Levy Campaign Team!!!

Message to the UK: The World Is Not Ending

hehe.

As my friends and family back home may have heard, we've got a bit of weather here in the UK. A bit of snow, to be more specific. And while I'm thrilled to have snow, let me be quite clear Mother Nature: This isn't enough to make up for the white Christmas I missed back home. Try again, please.

The snow wreaked havoc in London, according to the news I've seen online. Heathrow was closed for a bit, buses were shut down for the day, many of the trains from Coventry to London were canceled. But here in Coventry, sadly, the snow fell beautifully, then melted immediately for most of the day. Around 4:30 I went for a walk around the town and maybe a half an inch had stuck to some surfaces... but I wanted 4, 5, 6, heck, 10 inches. Come on, Mother Nature, help a girl out (note of clarification- it looks like more than that in the Cathedral ruins. Yeah, probably is. But no one walked on it all day- it was roped off. That doesn't count. The rest of the city wasn't like that!!!).

I went to the Rotary Club of Coventry again today (you may remember that I presented to them last week!). Today's speaker was the Vice Chancellor of my university, so they invited me back to hear her presentation. It was very kind of them to invite me back. I had a wonderful time simply getting there- according to Google Maps, it is only 0.8 miles from my flat. An easy walk- and the large snowflakes that walked with me were wonderful. Makes the city so much more beautiful! It snowed a bit harder on the walk back home afterwards- that's where most of the photos are from.

I'm going to a play on Wednesday evening with some of the RC of Coventry members who kindly invited me at today's meeting. I know I've said this before, but it's certainly worth repeating: my year here has been so greatly enhanced by my connection to Rotary- the opportunities I've had have been amazing and the people are wonderful and generous.

Next Monday I'm one of several speakers at a Rotary event called the World Understanding Evening. The other speakers are other Ambassadorial Scholars in our district. Some of the people who will be there have heard my presentation before, so I'm working on another revision of it. It needs to be much shorter as there are several speakers- and I've decided to go heavy on photos, and insert my first video into this presentation. If you're reading this and planning on attending the event on Monday, don't watch the video below- it'll spoil my presentation! If you won't make it... watch away. :-) hehe. Nice introduction to Gig Harbor, don't you think?

Super Bowl

Today marks the favorite holiday of the year for many Americans- the Super Bowl. While it's not my favorite sporting event (opening night of triple A baseball is my favorite!), I do enjoy the traditions around it. I enjoy the family and friends who come over to watch the game. I really enjoy the bratwurst (and sometimes macaroni salad) that we have to eat on game day. Now that I understand the game a lot more than I have in the past, I almost enjoy watching the game. But I really do love the commercials.

That left me in a conundrum for what to do this year. There was a party at the student bar that I went to for kickoff, but the friend I went with had to leave at midnight (which was still the 1st quarter- stupid time difference!) so we weren't there long. I came back to my place with the thought that I would watch the rest of the game online- but guess what? My internet isn't working!!! So now I'm sitting in the stairway using the wireless that, to my disdain, only works in the stairway, not my room. Two different carriers, so when access in my room doesn't work, I have to sit on the floor in a drafty stairway. Arg.

I couldn't find video feed, so I'm listening to BBC radio. Let me just say, apologies to my British friends, but the BBC guys just don't have what it takes to cover American football. Not the best called game I've listened to... :-) And now, at the end of the 2nd quarter, I'm annoyed at the Steelers interception and the 100-yard touchdown... I'm still a bit miffed that the Steelers beat the Seahawks in the '06 Super Bowl.

Goooo Cardinals. And here's hoping my internet comes back soon so I can listen in the comfort of my own room.