just checking in

First Essay is done, argh, that was hard. I am starting to read and prepare for the second, I have 7 days, a trip out of town with Tim, a Halloween party for like 60 people at our flat in the palace, and regular course readings to do as well, double argh.


Coming up in November as something to look forward to!!!
The Burn Schedule
MSc IEP
4-6 November 2005
Friday 4 November
2:00 pm Meet behind George Square Theatre on Buccleuch Place— please be on time!!!
2:15 pm prompt Coach leaves— hand in Question Time forms on bus and nominate ' volunteers' for Question Time panels
5:00 pm Arrive at The Burn
5– 7:00 pm Welcome from Burn staff, afternoon coffee, room allocation,
relaxation, etc.
7:00 pm Dinner
8:30 pm First Question Time panel
9:30– 10 pm Bar break
10:00 pm Second Question Time panel
Saturday 5 November
9:00 am Breakfast
10:00 am IR simulation
1:00 pm Lunch
2-7:00 pm Afternoon free time—relax and enjoy the grounds at The Burn!
7:00 pm Dinner
8:00 pm Pub quiz —organised and run by MSc Student Representatives
Sunday 6 November
9:00 am Breakfast
10:00 am Leave The Burn
1:00 am Return to Edinburgh University
I think will be fun time!!

More educated, but not much more certain

After weeks of reading theory about why states act the way they do and what makes states want to integrate economically but not politically, I am not certain I can address either question better now than when I started.

There does seem to be a progression, in the topics covered that is moving us to the ‘current debates’ of International Relations (IR) theory. Realism is too pessimistic and leaves little room for progress. Normative theory seems to be in vogue, despite realists emphasis on the ‘reality of anarchy’. Liberalism, particularly the neo-liberals recognize that anarchy, but are simply more optimistic than realists and would like to think the free trade policies and institutions, non-governmental and/or business, could ‘prevent cheating’ in a cooperative (albeit, still anarchical system). The English School, perhaps just slightly more optimistic, and with the same Liberal foundations, as the neo-liberalists seek order and justice, not necessarily in that order, depending on which English School theorists you ask, to maintain the existing--and relatively peaceful--‘international society’ that exists. Finally, the latest, Marxism or the structuralist approach would actually turn the politically-driven and state-centric theories of all of the above theories on their heads and emphasize that nation-states are simply a political corollary or result of a capitalism; a system of core states exploiting a ’semi-periphery’ exploiting a poorer ’periphery’ and unless anything shy of a revolution and massive redistribution of wealth occurs - which is contradictory to the capitalist system working and inevitably, in the long term at least, its own demise, a polarized rich-poor world will implode on itself.

Perhaps there’s something to the Constructivist’s arguments next week - because so far I am not seeing the answers to some of the big questions being addressed in class - honouring the premier principle of self-determination (non-intervention) and ending poverty or preventing genocide.

Fun night with my IEP peeps

Tali invited me over for dinner at her flat with some folks from our program. It was apparently the first meal she has ever cooked for a dinner party! She did fine - the vegetarian pasta and chicken casserole and garlic bread were a big hit! Of the 8 of us there, we had 9 bottles of red wine - and with the chatty folks in our program, no shortage of conversation. Afka (and her friend from back home, Avalina) told me about a dream she had that I was in it! This is MORE common that one might think - it involved a new ‘space program’ and one of her old friends from Holland adoring me and kissing my stomach. Hmmm, I need a dream book.

Kevin is from Boston and described his plans to take the GRE in Dublin next month so he can transition into a PhD program in the states when were done here. Very driven man and I think he’ll go far. He’s also already done with his first essay, so I hate him. Surini didn’t talk as much, probably because she was being polite, but I do remember her talking about dwarf porn…
Catherine was on fire, telling us about her 2 week holiday coming up - her and her boyfriend are flying to the states: NY, Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Cleaveland and back to Dublin (where she lives) for a wedding and holiday. All that for €600!!! Damn…have fun and take pictures. She’s got good crack to share always and swears like a trucker… gotta love her.

James- chatty and hilarious! He just kept being force fed all the remaining food. I think all the girls secretly have a crush on local boy (well, he’s from Aberdeen) because he is cute and funny. The boy next door…

Tali was a great host who kept our wine glasses FULL! She was determined to get the whole lot of us drunk, and she succeeded. She recounted the boring administrative meeting that she has to attend as one of the ‘class reps’ and thought she might have been hit on by one of the professors, ew. We’ll see.

Fun night! I needed to catch the bus home to Dalkeith, but I had enough energy to go to the Coach for a couple with Tim - not that I needed any more drinks! It was a late Saturday morning for me.

Little bit of RHS today

I recieved the most wonderful email the other day from my old co-worker Debbie! She sent some pictures of the some of the staff at RHS and said they missed me and thought I'd like to see the 'gang'. I was so elated and touched, I'm not gonna lie to you, I might've got a little teary. I pasted just one of the bunch she sent below, because, I do think about these people, the insitution I once (and still do) belonged to, and where I'll return soon. In another email, I heard from a co-worker who worried: "how are we going to get him back on the farm now that he's seen paris syndrome". I am envisage that I'll bring a little bit of 'paris' home to Minnesota and Rogers, that's how I'll get back home.

Thanks for thinking of me - I am blessed to have so many WONDERFUL people in my life.

Hill Walking

Sandy, of Sandy and Victoria, led us on a hill walking expedition of about 10 or 11 miles in the border country of Scotland.  We arrived in Yarrow, just outside of Peebles at about 11:00am.  The weather was great - warm and windy - perfect for walking up and down hills, not to warm, not to cold.  It was good to talk with the students and get to know a few more of them a wee bit better. 

 

We ended up breaking off into two groups: half went on at a slower pace and the other half, went a bit further and faster.  We visited the Cheesewell near the top of one of the hills, deliver our 'gift' (a coin offering) to the sprites to assure safe passage and protection.  We met up with the other group about 3 miles and an hour later, where, we divided up into a slightly different formation. The first group made their way back to the cars and the faster group decided to go take pictures of the Three Brethren and the 3 cairns, or marker, where 3 counties borders meet.  Well, on the way back, our alternate route led us to get a little off the direction we were headed, forced us to create our own path through the sheep pastures and rolling hills, and, after an extra 45 minutes or so, finally reach the road and the car park and the rest of our party.  It was an exhaustive day, all of us quite sore the next morning from the exercise.

TWO HATS

I have the luxury and challenge of wearing two hats this fall academic term. On one hand, I am thrilled and energized and boggled everyday trying to read about, understand and construct some meaning behind the European Union, International Relations Theory and nebulous and enigmatic concepts like Nationalism! I am furiously reading or taking notes or just plain thinking about the theories and their practical application and, making every effort to be social with 53 new people from all over the world!!


On the other hand, I get to work with an amazing group of students and fellow educators in the Wisconsin in Scotland program. This group of young people has been extraordinarily thoughtful and fun to hang out with - AND, they are quite diligent about getting their work done, conducting their self-led student meetings and participating in my Tuesday night seminars! I love it.












I KNOW I will look back on this time a year from now and say, how in the hell did I do it!

With change...comes changes!

With all that is going going on with teaching school and being in school full time, I completed August's photo album (http://mrjohnsoninscotland.bornbybits.com/August2005.html) and I think I will just have to let the web page portion of my diary/memory keeper sit for a bit. In lieu of that, however, I will try to post more stories and pictures of all that is happening in life, work and love here in Scotland.

It has been ONE YEAR since I've started this blog-hard to believe-and I'm thrilled that I have captured some many memories and thoughts and ideas that I may not have otherwise... And, due to popular demand-and just plain because I have so much fun with it...I've moved the "Fun with Captions" site over to the blog as well, so anyone can submit an entry!! Fun Fun.

I will apologise now, to my 3 -? (boy, that is generous Ryan) readers, for the very school-oriented topics over the next 11 months. :)