Not Much to Say:

I had a good meeting with my supervisor on Friday. I'm working towards my final hurdle before the submission of my doctoral thesis and so I have to submit a piece of work in the next few weeks. It will be some of my writing, along with a chapter plan and a timeline for completion of my thesis. This is a little bit scary. But actually, it's not as scary as it once was. I'm feeling confident about my project. I figure if I keep working and believe it will be ok, then it will be. I have faith in myself and my supervisors and in God to get my through. So...there's not too much other than work going on around here.

I hope all my friends and family in the path of Hurricane Irene are safe! Please take care of yourselves. Also, I painted my nails pink. And I bought a sweater. Life is so exciting! In all honesty, life is exciting. I feel peaceful, determined, and so very blessed. The sun is shining right now...what more can I want? Lots, I suppose. But for now I'll just say that I'm ok. And of course I miss everyone at home. I love you. All of you. These are my Sunday afternoon ramblings. I give them to you so you remember I'm still me.

All my love,
Elizabeth

Happy of Myself:

This video went viral in the Oriel community during the stress and craziness of Trinity Term exams. Both the MCR (grad students) and JCR (undergrads) sent this out on their mailing lists to inspire and remind each other that hard work and practice go a long way towards achieving desired success.



Everyday I work to feel happy of myself. If I can go to bed content with my effort and progress then I feel happy of myself. If not, well, then I heed the words of this wise little boy, and I keep practicing, so that I can achieve what I've set out to do. He inspires others to ride a bike, but if I change the words to write a thesis, well, it still works. I share it with you so that you also may feel happy of yourself. If nothing else, the self-belief of a small boy is so heart-warming that you can't help but smile.

Love and happiness to all,
Elizabeth

Thursday Breakfast:

Every first and third Thursday of the month there is a farmer's market in Gloucester Green, Oxford's market square. It has fresh goat's cheese, local vegetables, delicious baked bread, and other wonderful products and produce. Over the last year or so (or more?! I'm not sure!) my friends and I have made it a tradition to go each of these Thursdays to enjoy the market and some coffee before going back to work. We also have breakfast there. We have doughnuts/donuts. A bakery from Reading comes twice a month to bring freshly baked doughnuts filled with delicious home-made and seasonal fillings. Jams, custard, chocolate. It's all there. It's delicious. Today was what we now loving call, "Doughnut Day". I had a vanilla custard doughnut with a cup of coffee and a banana. So yummy! I love doughnut day. I don't care to think about how often I'm now eating doughnuts. Especially when occasionally I splurge and have something else to eat as well, such as a sausage roll or bacon sandwich. The vendors bring in these great products and cook them fresh in front of you. Think whole pig on a spit. So did I splurge today? Well, yes. Today I had a piece of fried chicken. I do not know why. It was only a drumstick. It tasted like home. I think my stomach subconsciously knew that the Kentucky State Fair was beginning today. It was the closest equivalent. So for breakfast today I had a doughnut and fried chicken. And while I'm worried for my arteries, I feel very satisfied with my choices. They made me happy. And they tasted so good.

Love to all,
Elizabeth

The Meadow:

I am lucky to live so close to this. It's Christ Church Meadow and when I need to stretch my legs or think through an idea that doesn't quite work, this is the place to go. It's a mile around and provides gorgeous views of the city. It's great to know there is an oasis of calm and beauty just around the corner from my flat.

I think it's time for a walk.

Love to all,
Elizabeth

The Library:

It's a Saturday, in the summer, in Oriel Library. There's hardly anyone here. Just a few hard-working grad students like myself. We type, we read, we yawn. Occasionally we stare out the window at the fresh air and sunshine we are missing. Tired, sore limbs are stretched from inactivity. Uncomfortable pauses happen frequently, as a thought gets confused or a sentence remains objectionable. The stairs creak with age, and the walls echo the noise. Light splashes in from stained glass, while shadows play on the stacks of paper and the open books. Sighs of frustration and exhaustion abound. And yet we keep on. Working until are hands are numb and our brains are mush. Until our stomachs growl or our throats ache from thirst. The birds outside mock me with their freedom. But I have a story to tell. A task to accomplish. My freedom to earn. So I sit in solidarity with the others, stubbornly refusing to give up, even when a smarter person would've done so years ago. It is not easy. Ah but I have this lovely library, mostly in isolation, and I think to myself it would not be worth it if it were easy. So on a Saturday, in summer, I sit, and think, and write, and fret in Oriel Library. And I breathe. Because I am not alone, and I've got a lot to say.

Love,
Elizabeth

Thoughts on the London Riots:

Things are very unsettled here in the UK. There are concerns about increased criminality and immorality amongst the young, urban, and poor. There are cries for social cuts to stop so that education programs and aid can prevent youth gangs and violence. The Prime Minister believes that the riots have nothing to do with the increased division between the rich and poor, citing that the actions are simply criminal and have no underlying societal or cultural cause. And yet he calls for parental control, increased police action in gang neighborhoods, more discipline in schools, and states that these people are from broken families. There is confusion. There is no simple answer. There is sadness.

The British are in the process of a period of intense self-examination as a result of this destruction. Questions of society, culture, funding, support, weapons, and home-life are all on the table. There is worry about the world's perception in the wake of next years' Olympics. And in the midst of it all I have to wonder, is this symptomatic of all the pain, strife, and stress that is happening in various forms all over the world right now?

I don't know. I am a student of history with a deeply sensitive human soul. I feel deep distress at the violence, the breakdown of societal rules, and the punishment of those who have done nothing to anger the participants. Their reaction is completely and utterly wrong. And yet I have to wonder about a world in which teenage girls who are participating in these riots can proudly tell a reporter that their choice to steal and destruct is because they want the government and the rich and the police to know that they can do what they want. The words are naive, but the sentiment is powerful. They want to be noticed. They don't want to be forgotten.

In my years abroad I've increasingly felt that individualism is one of the greatest foundation stones of western powers, and yet is also western society's greatest enemy. Selfishness is rampant in the world. People think of themselves before they think of others. They forget that others do not and can not lead the same lives that they do. We are not all dealt the same hand. We do not grow up with the same parents, in the same safe places, with the same good teachers. I am so, so, so lucky. I am completely and unreservedly blessed. And so, when poor teenagers in an urban environment cause chaos and evil I am disgusted. They are wrong. Their actions should be punished. But also, I am sad. I think it is important to ask what led these young people to a place in which they felt it ok to act in this way? From where does their anger stem? Why do they express it this way? And what can we do to prevent it in future?

I see an echo in America (and this is not just me, as the Prime Minister has just made a comparison in his discussion of the riots). I am deeply distressed by the political antics in Congress that have seen our elected representatives play games for their political extremes rather than considering those of us in the middle who are the pawns of their indecision and arguments. It is shameful. We are a culture of ideology and individualism that forgets about reality and the whole. I do not understand why, despite my ability to historically trace the evolution of the American spirit. Let me say this, I love my country. I am proud to be from the US and I unashamedly claim my identity abroad. But what I see in America and in Britain presently has me concerned.

The world is suffering. In so many ways. I cannot begin to do justice to the problems and pain that others outside the West have to suffer daily. But at home, where we are lucky, we are still angry, entitled, and selfish. This is, of course, not universally true (and we are not all lucky). But I think it's increasingly obvious and it leads us to argue and fight without helping those who need the help most in our own society. I could argue myself about funding and spending and taxes, but that's not really my point. I suppose for me it's about understanding and openness. About an ability to listen and act in ways that support the whole in addition to ourselves and our families. I know this is not simple. But it is how we began. And it is how we've been taught by Christ. To forget this is to lose ourselves and lose those who need us most to feel that they too are important parts of our society.

I pray that those responsible in these riots will take their punishment seriously. I pray that the police and community workers will continue to be supported and applauded for their work and valor. I pray that our leaders will learn to consider the whole and make decisions that are for the good of our society so that we may continue to flourish and help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. I pray that we will all develop and maintain an ability to listen, to empathize, and to love. Kindness and love are missing, and that breaks my heart.

Love to all,
Elizabeth

Photos of Summer:

There's not too much that I have time for these days other than working on my thesis. There's so much to be done. However, what I've discovered in those spare moments of downtime is that I have an interest in photography that I never really knew existed. I just wanted to share a few photos with you so that you know I'm still here and still desiring of all your support. :)

Strawberries at the Provost's Garden Party (conveniently on my birthday!):

A Flamingo at the Dublin Zoo:

A Couple Rowing through Christ Church Meadow:

Summer Flowers in Second Quad:

A Shop of Norman Cidre in Honfleur:

I hope these photos bring you as much joy as they do me.

All my love,
Elizabeth