Archive for December, 2010

There’s no place like home for the holiday. I’ll be home for Christmas, you can plan for me. Words of these classic Christmas tunes have never applied more for me this year. After two wonderful holiday seasons in the Peace Corps, it is nice to finally be with my family for the holidays.

If you haven’t been living in a box, you probably have read all the weather misfortune that’s lead to all sorts of holiday travel nightmare. I was this close to getting stuck in London. Heathrow Airport closed the day before my flight due to “severe weather”. A funny video quite accurately described the absurdity. Anyhow, I was one of the very lucky few whose flight left with only minor delay.

the calmer part of Heathrow Airport

Nearly 20 hours of journey later, I arrived in St. Louis. It’s good to be home. For the first time in years, our whole family is reunited at our own home. My mom had everything ready – the tree, the gifts, the lights, and THE FOOD. Oh boy, the food! There is nothing I miss more than mama’s home cooking!

We spend the days before Christmas doing a whole of nothing – last minute shopping, a lot of meals together, lots of catching up with one another, and a good deal of movie watching. We also made a trip to St. Louis version of the Winter Wonderland. Not nearly as crazy as the London version as it was just a Christmas light display. We drive around the park and enjoyed the lights while Christmas music was playing on the radio. It was lovely, and all the while, I couldn’t help but think: boy, that is a whole lot of electricity. My friends in Cameroon would think this is absolutely absurd. It’s hard to have lived in the present day with electricity shortage and see Christmas light display all at the same time.

St. Louis was graced with a blanket of perfect snow just in time for Christmas. This was the most perfect White Christmas that I can remember for a while. The snow was pretty, but just enough that the roads were still okay. Though not as if we were going anywhere on Christmas day. I imagine we did as most families on this day – we ate. There was so much food, and it was glorious!

So much food, we had to make a buffet line

the food is everywhere!

Since I didn’t go too far away for undergrad, I did not fully appreciate the preciousness of family gathering around holidays. Now that the occasion for everyone to be together is much less frequent, I am working on cherishing every moment of it.

I hope all of you had a lovely Christmas with your family and loved ones. The biggest lesson from my two years in the Peace Corps is that there is really nothing more important than the people in your life. Happy Holidays and hope everyone is ready to embark upon another year! We are heading into a new decade! As for me, I will be celebrating the New Year with my Peace Corps loves. We are having a reunion in Chicago! Less than six months since we left – this must be some record!!

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With one term under my belt, people have been asking me what I think of the LSE and the MPA program so far. So here are some personal insights on this prestigious institution and one of its many graduate programs.

The London School of Economics and Political Science is fancy, and there is a reason for that. This year, yet another Nobel Prize was awarded to a member of the LSE community, marking it the 16th Nobel Prize here. It is strange to think that the dude sitting next to me in the library could possibly be the next Noble Laureate. You never know. Given all these fame, it is no surprise that the academic is rigorous.

The MPA stands for Master of Public Administration. The easiest way that I describe the degree is that it is a MBA in the public context. Within the program, I have chosen to specialize in international development. The MPA program here requires first year students to take 5 unit worth of courses and lasts two years. Which, I did not realize until after I began my course, that almost all the other master’s programs only last one year and require students to take 3 or 4 units and to complete a dissertation in the summer. The extra work is often unrecognized in the job market so I am taking the liberty to hereby distinguish the LSE MPA from the other LSE MSc degrees. Just in case there are potential employers reading this! Again, you never know.

The Garrick - my favorite café on campus

The facts aside, what are my thoughts? Well, it is no doubt challenging. However, coming from a U.S. system where there are continuous assessment, I was used to some form of pressurized learning. It is thus very strange that an entire term has gone by, and I’ve only had two assessed assignments that counted for a small percentage of my grades. It takes a lot of self motivation to get the readings done and be on top of the material. The lack of feedback is very frustrating, and this seems to be a common concern among those who have done undergrad in the US or other similar systems. This system, however, exemplifies learning for learning’s sake, and not learning to pass exams. Much better way of educating in my opinion, but more feedback would be nice.

The Famous Houghton Street

You may think, well, then how are your grades determined? There are no doubt exams. For my classes, the one final exam counts for anywhere from 75% to 100% of the final marking. It’s pretty scary. 50/50 I can deal, 75% – 100%? That’s downright frightening. Another difference, while Americans are used to hyper grade inflation where getting an A is the norm, the LSE is not so. 70 or above is A, and those are few and far between. Most people fall between 60-70 (B) or 50-60 (C). Throughout all of my life as a student, it was rare to see anything below a 80. There is thus some serious psychological discomfort now when someone gives me a 60 and telling me that’s not bad. Whaaaat?

All the technicalities aside, I am enjoying being a student again and challenging my mind. Being at an institution like the LSE means I’m constantly surrounded by some very intelligent people (albeit some can be very very competitive, and easily stressed). The LSE has incredible resources in terms of research and very supportive Career Services. The faculty for the most part are interested in teaching and sharing their expertise. It’s taking me a while to get a handle on things (the system, the right way to tackle the studies, etc.) and feel complete ease in this environment. But, I think I’m doing well considering I came from a village with no running water! small small catch monkey! (Pidgin English for one step at a time)

The one difference I do want to point out, is that the Europeans are not used to paying a lot for school, while Americans are used to shelling out a ridiculous amount for university education. Recently, there were severe student protests because the UK government wants to increase student fees to £9,000 a year (approx. $13,000) for undergrads. The Americans have a hard time wrap our heads around on what the big deal is. In the U.S. $15k is the norm for most public universities and private universities can run from $20 to $40k a year!

At the LSE, while the quality of education is top-notch, it’s easy to see that you do get what you pay for in terms of facilities. The library is always packed and there is never enough space to study on campus. Everything from the technology facility in the classrooms to the student union, the gym, the food on campus, etc. all pale in comparison with most universities in the US. But, on the other hand, some may argue that you go to school to learn, so all the other extra stuff doesn’t matter. You win some, you lose some.

LSE Library by Day

LSE Library by Night

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This week while in Tunisia, a part from a few international text messages, I unplugged myself from technology, making the getaway a true break. It was incredible the effect few days of unplugging had on my mental state. Partly because I was immersed in a new place and discovering a new surrounding, but being disconnected made me feel so free and my thoughts were much more clear and creative.

Don’t get me wrong. I love being connected via technology as much as the next person, if not more. Heck, I somehow managed to get Internet connection in my village house that didn’t have running water! Usually, I check email constantly, and like most students, I procrastinate with Facebook. In addition, I blog and I tweet. When I’m alone, I’m often signed onto instant messenger, perhaps as a way to feel the virtual presence of my friends.

Because I am always connected, I maintain relatively good contact with friends from around the world. And through various social media channels, I’ve been connected to some fascinating people. The constant connection can sometimes feel like an addiction. It takes a lot of effort for me to consciously shut everything off and focus on one task. I have yet figured out why it is so difficult. The fear of missing out? I’m not sure.

Yet while I was away, I had no desire to have any access. I was completely content to live in the present and enjoy the moments as they passed. Why then, is it so hard for me to do the same in the “real world”?

In the past few days, I finally had time to read the book that my friend Katie had so graciously sent me. It amazes me that I have friends in this day in age who would send me a book just because they saw it and thought of me! Anyway, the title is Women, Work & the Art of Savoir Faire written by Mireille Guiliano – the author who also wrote the popular book, French Women Don’t Get Fat which I’ve yet read but will order a copy soon!

The book talks about women succeeding in a man’s business world from a lifestyle angle. Appropriately enough, it talks a lot about being in the present in life since time is the most valuable commodity and also being comfortable in one’s skin - être bien dans sa peau. As I get older, I feel that time is passing ever so quickly. It’s thus important to cultivate the ability to take the most away from every moment and not be distracted and pulled in so many directions in today’s multi-tasking world.

I had a clear mindset and felt very positive after the lovely vacation and great reminders from the book, but as soon as I got home and replugged myself in technology, I feel trapped. This afternoon, I was determined to tackle the nearly 300 unread messages in my inbox that have been accumulated throughout the term. Talk about serious information overload. Half way through the 300 messages, I seriously wished I was unplugged again.

How do you manage your online-offline balance? Do you also take occasional breaks to unplug?

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This week, I escaped London and went to Tunisia to enjoy some warm(er) weather. One of the many perks that comes with attending an international school like the LSE, is that you know people from literally all over the world. My friend Agatha has strong ties in Tunisia and I gladly took up an invitation to visit during our break prior to the holidays.

Tunisia is the first Arabic country that I have ever visited and I was fascinated by all that I experienced. Prior to this visit, my only experience of Africa was Cameroon, which was my only reference point. Tunisia proves that African countries are definitely not the same. I am just as guilty as the next person to frequently refer to certain behavior and norm as “African”, as if the entire continent is homogeneous.

My visit to Tunisia was limited to Tunis and its surrounding areas, so I now only have a glimpse of what Tunisian life is all about. Nevertheless, discovering a country with someone who has lived there is still a heck of a lot better than if I was there alone with Lonely Planet.

Since Cameroon is all that I know of Africa, I couldn’t help but compare every little detail of what I saw with cities in Cameroon. And I was shocked by the level of development that Tunisia has. Granted they were towns surrounding the capital city, but I was amazed at how much pavement was around. In Cameroon, even in the Capital city, there are unpaved roads, much less towns surrounding the city. There are boulangeries (bakeries) everywhere, Carrefour (the French supermarket), various small supermarkets, etc. I felt as if I was in a less vibrant European city rather than an African city.

The Champs-Élysées of Tunis

The Muslim influence remind me of my visit to the North of Cameroon – people were so calm. Even in the markets, the level of noise was so low and harassment so minimal. I did, however, get quite a few “ah, la japonais” and a few “nee haw”. I couldn’t help but keep thinking about how much easier it would have been if I was a Peace Corps volunteer here – but perhaps that is why Peace Corps is no longer in Tunisia (the program was closed in 1996).

Agatha lives in Sidi Bou Saïd, a town 20km outside of Tunis; it’s a UNESCO World Heritage town. I felt as I was walking around in a postcard or a movie set. The blue and white buildings scattered between winding pathways. Orange trees and cats give the sea of blue and white colorful accents. Then you look over the hill, et voilà, the Mediterranean Sea.

I observed this very different culture and surrounding, and remembered why I was willing to join the Peace Corps. Seeing such different way of of life provides perspective and reminds me that my life in the bustling city full of certain social expectations is merely one of many many ways of living. When I get into this mindset, problems and worries melt away and I feel small in this intricate world. It makes me feel alive to experience and to discover, to feel slightly uncomfortable being the only Chinese girl around.

I'm tiny in this world!

Funny conversation with a vendor in a sandwich shop:

vendor: vous êtes japonaise? chinoise? (are you Japanese? Chinese?)
me: non, je suis américaine, chinoise aussi, mais américaine. (no, I’m American. Chinese also, but American.)
vendor: mais vous parlez français? américan qui parle français? (but you speak French? American who speak French?)
me: mais oui, pourquoi pas? (of course, why not?)

I’m not sure what to think of the American reputation to this Tunisian guy who thinks it’s bizarre that Americans can speak French…

Other highlights of my trip including a visit to the Roman ruins in Carthage and a visit to the local hamman (Turkish Bath).

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Roman ruins before. My visit to Bath, England didn’t really count since that Roman Bath was in tact. There is something really amazing about standing amidst all that OLD stone imagining those Romans roaming about back in the days. Visiting in the off season and being the only tourist exacerbates this mystical feeling. I must say, those Romans were some smart cookies – picking the perfect location right on the Mediterranean Sea!

I don’t have any picture from my visit to the local hamman (for obvious reasons). It was incredible to see Tunisian women so liberated in the public bath while they are usually covered underneath their veils on the street. In this Turkish bath, I received a treatment of grômage, where a local Tunisian mama scrubs my body with this Moroccan glove that took away all the dead skin I ever had and then some. This was then followed by a nice massage with some interesting jasmine mud. There was nothing touristy about this experience; we were there getting cleaned with all the local women – so amazing!

Traveling is so addicting! Where to next? hmmmmm…..

bon voyage et à la prochaine !

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People take things for granted, that’s a fact. We are now in full swing of the Christmas season, and some people complain about the over-the-top-ness of the season. I was one of those those who complained until I lived in Cameroon for two holidays seasons where you have no idea it’s Christmas until the very day. I missed the cold, the snow, the trees, the decor, and just about every other obnoxious Christmas related things you can think of. Last week, a trip to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park cured all of that, and officially kick started Christmas for me.

I’ve visited Christmas markets in my previous trips in Europe – in Berlin, in Bath, etc., but my previous experiences would describe these markets as cozy, charming, lovely, quiet. Usually there were stalls of crafts and Christmas gifts, some people selling mulled wine, sausages and other Christmas market-type food. There were always pretty lights.

The Winter Wonderland, however, is Christmas markets as I knew it, on crack. It is so over-the-top and crazy to a degree that it’s nice; the holiday frenzy brings out the little kid in everyone. I was there with a few Americans, and we all said, “it’s too bad the US doesn’t have Christmas markets.” but then we quickly followed with, “well, if American were to do a Christamas market, it would look a lot like this.”

Winter Wonderland is less of a market, but rather, a carnival. Besides your typical stalls of gifts, food, and drinks, there are rides and games like you would see at a county fair – fluorescent lights galore. I admit it was all a bit much, but I really appreciated the festive spirit. Sometimes, it’s nice to simply be surrounded by happy people.

My friend Siobhan is finishing her service in Cameroon this week and will make her first stop in the “real world” in London to see me. She loves Christmas and I can’t wait to take her here and see how she reacts to it!

I am looking forward to a Christmas season with lots of holiday cheers, and most of all, with family and loves! These are simple things that I will never again take for granted.

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