If the date of my last post is any indication, my schedule has been remarkably busy the past two and a half months. My blog inspiration came last summer when I had more than enough time on my hands, alas I no longer have the teacher's summer vacation, and I have fallen behind. So, here's 'The Life of D'Yon" in short:
In June two familiar faces came to Bristol, from Rice and Magnolia. First Julia came, bearing heat stricken goat cheese from her volunteer farm time. With PAB and his friend Cyril, we travelled to Snowdonia to climb the great mountain Snowdon (which is actually more along the lines of a large, craggy hill, but we'll give the Welsh their largest mountain). We stayed in a bunkhouse in Llanberis, sharing bunk beds camper style, sadly no campfires allowed. We did, however, manage to fill the room with the smell of fried fish before leaving. Next came Rikki (sorry, this sounds like a bad playground rhyme) and trips to London to reconnect with other Magnolia friends and Oxford to see what Ivy league looks like overseas (apparently much more impressive and secretive as they won't let you in any of the buildings). Oxford was a bit strange, as you're forced to peer in through metal bars at the colleges, most of which have students resting on the lawns - they should advertise it as the Zoo Academia. Watch intellectuals in their natural habitat. Rikki, PAB and I went to a cricket game, much more rowdy than my previous experience, fans were singing songs which consisted of the words "Somerset la la la" (I'm sure their were lyrics at some point, lost between the third and fourth pint) and yet another naked man. I still haven't figured out the connection between English sports and nudity...
In July was very fortunate to have a Mother who missed me enough to insist that I come home, so spent a week in our new 'home' NYC. Though I spent most of my days researching in the NY Public Library, I was able to go out with my parents at night and lunch with Rice friends. My parents (in what I believe was an attempt to spoil me into submission, e.g. staying in the U.S.) took me to see two incredible shows - Blithe Spirit with Angela Lansbury (Rupert Everett was sadly missing at that night's performance), a typically French dark, tongue in cheek, comedy and Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys (if you've seen O Brother Where Art Thou, Dr Stanley is the chap singing 'I am the man of constant sorrow). Every New Yorker who originated from below the MasonDixon line was there in force. Quite an entertaining and ironic show to have in Chelsea, where just moments before my parents overheard two fabulous men talking about their not so fabulous lovers. The trip brought home to the fact that I am far, far away from my family, and there are definitely things I am missing out on. Etouffee being the least of it :)
Other than the above spurts of fun, my life has been overtaken by work and study. My dissertation in due in a little over 3 weeks!! Fortunately, I have a wonderful supervisor who has commented on my rough drafts, and steered me in the right direction. My thesis is on literature after 9/11, a depressing topic which has given me nightmares about terrorist attacks on my Dad's office in New York. I will be unbelievably relieved and happy when it is bound and handed in. Good riddance :)
I went with my Director and Event Manager to Dublin to attend a meeting facilitation and event on continuing professional development. Paid travel is certainly one of the perks of working life. Before leaving for NY, I was offered a full-time position at the company I currently work for (Professional Associations Research Network, PARN) as Communications Coordinator, taking on all external communications with Australia, Ireland and Canada as well as an area of member research. I've accepted the job, and will start full-time the day after I hand in my dissertation on 17 August! I'm really excited about the prospect, though it's a small organisation, it's an amazing opportunity to be given full responsibility for communications. I'm not sure comms is the field I will be in long-term, but it's intellectually stimulating and allows me to stay in Bristol with a work visa ;)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)