First things first, I finally finished all of my essays this Monday. It took basically a month of solitude locked up in my flat, and not sleeping at all Sunday night to write 2000 more words before finishing editing and submitting it Monday. The essays are part of the course work section of the program, which is 6 modules, essentially guiding your learning and research, with a 5000 word essay for each module written on a topic or argument of your choice within the construct of the module. Then we have our “dissertation” (read: mini-thesis) that is to be written over the summer, and reflect on everything we’ve learned, and is 15 000 words. However, our essays that are due, we basically have one month to write them after classes end. So that’s 15000 words in a month, and 45 000 words grand total for the Masters in one year. 15000 in one month. Yes that would explain why absolutely no one saw each other for basically the whole month of essay writing, and why no one slept in the days coming up to the deadline.
But they are finally done with, and I feel liberated. The first day, immediately after handing them in, even though I was the walking dead form having not slept, I saw Vera and spent the rest of the afternoon with her, outside, on a terrace, sipping a Corona in one hand, and licking a passion fruit and raspberry sorbet ice cream in the other. It was fantastic. I was seeing all kinds of ads, flags, trees and flowers that I hadn’t seen before. I felt like I had just woken up from a one month nap. Having missed everything that happened in the that month. Determined to spend as much time outside during these gorgeous days as possible in order to make up for the month locked up, and to experience Brussels as much as possible before I leave, I spent all day Tuesday outside too.
I met Kseniya for lunch at a market near her place. We had obviously not seen each other in an eternity, and the market was fabulous. All kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, fish, humus, cheeses, wines, pastries, coffee, jewellery, flowers, sushi, etc. One of my favourite things about Europe. So we wandered the market a bit, and got some fresh sushi from one place, pad thai from another, and got 2 glasses of wine from another, sat down on a table placed randomly inside the boundaries, and ate a wonderful lunch in the sun. After which, we wandered the market as Kseniya bought her fruits and veggies for the week. Since she has been coming to this market for most of the year, all the vendors know her well. They come up, kiss her on the cheek, shake my hand, give her half a watermelon, basket of strawberries, a pineapple, and a whole bag full of goodies for free, or a severe discount I should say. It was a perfect afternoon. 
After the market, it was basically 5pm already, so I took the tram back to my place to get ready for the people coming over in the evening. It is almost unfair that I’m just getting to be good friends with all of these amazing people and I’m leaving. The same thing happened in Saskatoon. It’s so unfair. Nevertheless, I’m very thankful for even having the opportunity to meet all these amazing people in the first place. The night was great. Between my Greek girls, Martha and Joanna, Marlene, and Chavdar, a fridge full of jello shots, and Chavdar's wine and snack selection (pics will be on FB) there was never a dull moment. Kseniya was supposed to come as well, since she is moving in and taking my place when I leave for Switzerland, and has still not met Chavdar, but she got held up. It’s fine though, as we all already have plans for Friday evening, and Saturday afternoon at the Gay Pride parade and fair. Seriously, so unfair. I love Chavdar and I love living with him. I love these people that live a few minutes walk away. I love the markets and the terraces...
This all ads up to serious uncertainty for what is happening in the fall. August 30th I finish my term in Switzerland and return to Brussels. However, I don’t have a clue whether I will stay in Brussels, or move to London. I absolutely love London, and would love to live there, and Alison would love it if I move there, AND Joanna is moving back there. However, Vera is moving to Brussels, and would “strongly prefer it if I stay” lol, and Chavdar is also in Brussels. Not to mention my orthodontist. I really don’t know what to do. But, one way or another, I will need to apply for another visa and go through the headache of the 17 page application again. And I realized, that I need to apply for a visa from Canada, not abroad. So it looks like I will be getting to take that trip back to Canada in the fall one way or another. AND Chavdar is coming with me :)! I hope to spend like three weeks there. Spend a week in Saskatoon, go up to whatever small town my brother is in and spend time with him there. Stop over in Montreal for a bit (as that is where the Embassies are to apply anyways). Redvers too, obviously.
One of the things I love the most about living with Chavdar, and will miss the most when I move, is the ridiculous conversations we get in to. Since we STILL have no internet, going on a month and a half, we have had PLENTY of time to talk. Lol. He’ll come home from work and sit down where I will be sitting in the kitchen in the sunlight writing my essay or researching. We’ll talk briefly about the ridiculousness that is life and our days, and the conversation slowly evolves in to all kinds of things. They usually end up to 4 hours later having discussed the existential nature of life. I love it. Especially since we are both so passionate about so many things, and we both love learning, and agree that there is by far not enough time in one lifetime to learn and do all the things we want to do. Conversations and moments like that make me remember why I chose to do a Masters, and why I love doing what I do. It makes me excited to start and continue researching on topics that I find completely fascinating, in the hopes of one day being able to contribute and make a difference.
My two main topics of research throughout my Masters have been the Democratic Republic of Congo and Climate Change, both in the context of Conflict obviously, as my Masters is in International Conflict and Security. I’m actually excited having finally finished essays and able to start my research on my dissertation, which is exactly that, on the nexus between Climate Change and conflict. How people don’t realize it, but there is much more at stake with climate change than simply depleting the ozone later, although obviously that is bad enough. People don’t think of the consequences of consequences. Hell, some don’t even think of one set of consequences, let alone two. I mean, with all the possibilities out there of renewable energy resources, and with scientists confirming that with a commitment, we could be running 100% on renewable resources by the year 2050, it is so frustrating that the leaders who are in charge of making the decisions and the commitments to invest in these resources, or to cut carbon emissions, or to take the steps necessary to mitigate and adapt to climate change, aren’t doing anything! I mean, some leaders are taking action, some are even doing more than their share, but others, and most important the big players, aren’t doing a thing! "It will hurt the economy..." Well how is your economy going to look when the major cities are facing severe flooding and natural disasters, and you're having to send billions of dollars overseas to aid in peacebuilding, peacemaking and disaster relief in all the countries that are even worse equipped.
This all ads up to serious uncertainty for what is happening in the fall. August 30th I finish my term in Switzerland and return to Brussels. However, I don’t have a clue whether I will stay in Brussels, or move to London. I absolutely love London, and would love to live there, and Alison would love it if I move there, AND Joanna is moving back there. However, Vera is moving to Brussels, and would “strongly prefer it if I stay” lol, and Chavdar is also in Brussels. Not to mention my orthodontist. I really don’t know what to do. But, one way or another, I will need to apply for another visa and go through the headache of the 17 page application again. And I realized, that I need to apply for a visa from Canada, not abroad. So it looks like I will be getting to take that trip back to Canada in the fall one way or another. AND Chavdar is coming with me :)! I hope to spend like three weeks there. Spend a week in Saskatoon, go up to whatever small town my brother is in and spend time with him there. Stop over in Montreal for a bit (as that is where the Embassies are to apply anyways). Redvers too, obviously.
One of the things I love the most about living with Chavdar, and will miss the most when I move, is the ridiculous conversations we get in to. Since we STILL have no internet, going on a month and a half, we have had PLENTY of time to talk. Lol. He’ll come home from work and sit down where I will be sitting in the kitchen in the sunlight writing my essay or researching. We’ll talk briefly about the ridiculousness that is life and our days, and the conversation slowly evolves in to all kinds of things. They usually end up to 4 hours later having discussed the existential nature of life. I love it. Especially since we are both so passionate about so many things, and we both love learning, and agree that there is by far not enough time in one lifetime to learn and do all the things we want to do. Conversations and moments like that make me remember why I chose to do a Masters, and why I love doing what I do. It makes me excited to start and continue researching on topics that I find completely fascinating, in the hopes of one day being able to contribute and make a difference.
My two main topics of research throughout my Masters have been the Democratic Republic of Congo and Climate Change, both in the context of Conflict obviously, as my Masters is in International Conflict and Security. I’m actually excited having finally finished essays and able to start my research on my dissertation, which is exactly that, on the nexus between Climate Change and conflict. How people don’t realize it, but there is much more at stake with climate change than simply depleting the ozone later, although obviously that is bad enough. People don’t think of the consequences of consequences. Hell, some don’t even think of one set of consequences, let alone two. I mean, with all the possibilities out there of renewable energy resources, and with scientists confirming that with a commitment, we could be running 100% on renewable resources by the year 2050, it is so frustrating that the leaders who are in charge of making the decisions and the commitments to invest in these resources, or to cut carbon emissions, or to take the steps necessary to mitigate and adapt to climate change, aren’t doing anything! I mean, some leaders are taking action, some are even doing more than their share, but others, and most important the big players, aren’t doing a thing! "It will hurt the economy..." Well how is your economy going to look when the major cities are facing severe flooding and natural disasters, and you're having to send billions of dollars overseas to aid in peacebuilding, peacemaking and disaster relief in all the countries that are even worse equipped.
Canada, sadly, is even worse than guilty. In the last conference on emissions cuts, Harper actually pledged to RAISE emissions from the 1992 level. To raise. Seriously? The rest of the world is freaking out about how the permanent ice caps could be gone in 20 years, how by 2050 the world temperature could have risen by 2C, having catastrophic results, and how as my dissertation will show, how environmental scarcity and instability will, not can, but will lead to conflict unless steps are taken now, yet Harper, who we have brilliantly elected for another term giving him a majority government, has pledged to actually increase greenhouse gas emissions. Makes me so frustrated, disappointed, and inspired all at the same time.
It’s like this video below shows, it only takes one person to change the world for the better and make a difference. Yet the people such as world leaders, Prime Ministers and Presidents who actually have that kind of power and influence necessary to institute real change, are actually doing the opposite.
It’s like this video below shows, it only takes one person to change the world for the better and make a difference. Yet the people such as world leaders, Prime Ministers and Presidents who actually have that kind of power and influence necessary to institute real change, are actually doing the opposite.
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