Category Archives: Rotary International
It’s Official
I am happy to report that after 3 years of planning, 1 Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, 5 lodging changes , 12 months of study, countless books read, and 3 months of not so patiently waiting … I now have a MA in Gender Studies; and with a ‘merit’ award thank you very much. Phew.
Reflections From All Directions
As evidence to the fact that my thoughts do not follow a linear path (I’m not sad about this, I think it shows an authentic note of creativity, thank you very much) I have decided to take this Sunday morning sitting in bed to reflect on my experience in this lovely city over past year.
As most of you know, or at least should know by now, I have spent the last year studying in London. This has been an exciting, at times frightful, frustrating, rewarding and exhilarating journey. The year school year has ended at this point. I have submitted my dissertation, just barely. I have travelled, I have laughed, I have cried, I have loved and lost, I have explored (possibly my favorite activity), I have read and read and read, I have learned, and, mostly, I have stepped outside my personal comfort zone. I’m very proud to report that I have survived it all and, to be quite honest, think I’m a better person for it.
In reflection I am so grateful for this experience. For all my bitching about the struggles of life in London I think I might just miss this little lady. This revelation did not come to me in a dream or during a mind-blowing yoga session as so many do. Rather, this revelation has developed slowly out of an organic longing to preserve that which I have carefully constructed. I feel like a painter who is at once outside and within their work of art, having spent so long creating and therefore unable to let go of what is birthed by and mother of the artist (Ok where did that come from? I blame my obsession with Judith Butler.) My little bubble of London that includes all my favorite cafes, friends, streets, shops, drinks (yes please!), art galleries, parks, markets, and libraries is so difficult to let go.
Yesterday I went to lunch with a dear friend, Orly (featured in a previous edition of You Don’t Know Me!), in a part of town I have never explored. I feel sad when thinking that I won’t have Orly and that Italian place with baby octopus pasta at my finger tips. I feel sad when thinking all my new BFFs will be much farther than a 30 minute tube ride away. And yes, I even feel sad when thinking I won’t see my neighborhood prostitutes as I hurry home worried their pimp might shank me for staring too long (there is a story behind this … ask if you dare).
Long story short … London can be a real bitch, but once you win her over it’s so hard to let her go. She may talk about you behind your back, purposefully give you bad directions, require unimaginable hoop-jumping to win her heart, and finally spit in your face. But, you know what? The impression left on oneself after a year in London is difficult to shack. Something tells me, like any good masochist, I’ll be back for more.
A Deep Breath of Reflection
I have now finished all my coursework in London and have only my dissertation to write and a waiting period of approximately three months to wait before I can call myself “Master.” At this pivotal moment I thought it appropriate to reflect on my time in the UK university system. Offer my thoughts. Offer my insights. Tell of my frustrations. And, most importantly, a little compare and contrast with the US university system.
First, when thinking back on all my coursework, essays and exams, I get a generally feeling of confusion. Maybe it’s because I know how to play the game in the US, but here, in the UK, I am stumped. Even after spending a year studying in London I can’t seem to wrap my mind around what is expected. The grading scale threw me off when I arrived (40-80ish in the UK vs. 0-100 in the US), but the little wheels in my brain turned quickly to understand. However, I still don’t get what produces a merit (60-70) and what demands a distinction (70-80 and above). I’ve tried and tried to figure this out, but the “show analysis and intellectual rigor” response from professors is not computing in my tiny brain. It’s cool, I can work with ambiguity.
Second, the length and speed of study is shorter and light years faster than that of the US university system. I feel like this year has gone by in a flash. We started courses in early October. Finished first term in mid-December. Started second term in mid-January. Finished courses in late March. Finals in May and bam done. Now it’s dissertation dissertation dissertation. I remember my advisors telling me, “Stay focused during the summer because it’s really difficult to write a dissertation in the time allowed.” I thought, “Oh please, I’ve got this covered. 15,000 words in 3 months. Done!” Now I’m thinking, “HELP! I’m drowning and there’s not enough time.” Lightening fast I tell you, lightening fast.
Third, students in the UK are so much quieter than elsewhere. Seriously, I was amazed by the silence in all of my classes. Coming from a system where you better speak up to not only to be heard but to show participation, a silent response to professor queries is mind-boggling. I felt so out-of-place at first trying to figure out when to and not to speak. Then I realized that, though quiet themselves, no one really cares if you choose to speak. It’s as if silence and speaking are welcomed as compliments.
Finally, if I had things my way the UK university system would add two things, stir and bam scholastic perfection. First, a book shop with all readings and books necessary for courses ready, available and alphabetized. Second, slightly more forethought when planning deadlines and assigning advisors and exam rooms and such. I know these two things seem trivial, but can I just say these were the thorns in my heel as I tried to walk the university line. I spent so much time copying chapters from books and articles from the web my first term. This was an added stress I would have gladly paid to avoid. For the planning bit, I was very frustrated with the university scheduling. For example, one of my classes had a final exam. We knew about the exam all year. By January I hit crunch time to buy a ticket for my friend’s wedding in the States. It was then that I realized I didn’t know the exact date nor time of the exam. I emailed the professor. Here’s what I heard, “The exam date and time will be somewhere between 26 April – 12 June, and official assignment of date and time will not be announced until around late April.” WHAT! As you can imagine I was a little annoyed. Planning further ahead would have done me wonders.
All in all, this has been a great experience. I have not only learned a lot about my chosen subject, but also I have grown as a person trying to navigate the chaos that is a university system in a foreign land. On that note I’ll tell one brief story of US-UK similarity. I have been trying for months to acquire the necessary Ethics Form for field work for my dissertation. I was told to contact Person A and then Person B and then Person C. Finally Person C told me to contact Person A. Madness! When complaining about this recently to a Boise Rotarian I heard, “Yep, sounds like a university to me.” What can I say, one gets the run around no matter which university environment is home. Person A, Person B, no wait Person C!
