A question posed in class got me thinking. It is a current theory debated among academics. It is my favorite kind of question. Its topic, its demeanor, its circular path. Does education lead to economic growth, or does economic growth lead to education?
Please login first to post comments.
My professors tell me I need to ease the reader more. I need to give a better introduction. But I don’t want to do that. I want to jump in without sunscreen and two minutes after eating. I want to cross the road without looking. I just want to go. And to map out in [...]
As a child my mother and father took us ice skating, in what feels like, every year. We were very Texan about it– in the mall. This made me miss them. So fun! Childlike. (The girl in red is my very best Greek/Palestinian friend. The two guys are Dutch and quite possibly the most in [...]
Spending 12 hours a day at your desk deserves a fresh, fragrant, special treat, sight. This was not it. I finish two major assignments in five days. I’m eager to share what I’ve learned. It will take some time to edit down, but I hope to make it short, sweet and enjoyable to read. I’m [...]
“To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.” – George Orwell I’ll need another two years in the village to contain all the things I’ve learned. How perceptive I’ve become when reading. The blatant misuse of words. The blatant use of words. Obama sang in public. Did you see that? [...]
Thank you to a fellow PCV for introducing this to me. If you work at a steady rateyou may reach the river by nightfalland if you have the will a canoe will be waiting by the ash factory for you to take upstream to the takoyaki shackwhere you can eat delicious foodand drink as much beer as [...]
“If you focus on the tree you lose sight of the forest.”
I’m tired of looking at my blog and questioning why it looks like I’m not writing. This is a paper from a few months past. I see many faults in it, but overall I’m happy with it. My current barrier is to build better introductions. I had to post it in two parts because of [...]
Within the first few pages of his work, Empires of the Atlantic World, J. H. Elliot writes, “My principle focus has been the development of the settler societies and their relationship with their mother countries” (Elliot xviii). He then gives history on a grand scale by setting forth similarities and differences of British and Spanish relations within the [...]
Just as Spain had appeared lucky in the beginning with its discovery of a controllable people, they found a natural resource of incomparable proportions. “The absence of silver mines in the areas of English settlement left the British colonies at an obvious disadvantage” (94). But was this discovery to be viewed as luck once its [...]
It’s cold on my couch. So I bought a blanket. It cost me 4 euro. The enclosed pamphlet told me to handle it with care. Do not rub up against it. Sometimes I don’t think I understand the world. I also think I look for any excuse to blog.
I logged in 60 hours for this paper. I need a break. [...]
When I wrote the post below I felt like this: Unfortunately, today, I’m back to feeling like this:
I’m becoming the woman who knows how to fish. No more trout for me.
Today is Thanksgiving. I’m not sad. I’m not. I’m ok. My immediate family is all in completely different places today. We’ll be together for Christmas. I’ll bury myself in this for the day. I can get through my favorite holiday. I always do. But just in case, I’ll have Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s [...]
Last night, two of my friends from Peace Corps Bulgaria passed by. Anxiety. Defeat. Accomplishment. Freedom. Dripping down my face. I feel guilty that I still feel the last. But I do. I feel it more than I feel anything else.
I’m toying with the idea of writing me next big paper on a comparison of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. I’ve begun the research with studying different approval ratings related to job creation, foreign policy, tax reform, etc. According to Gallup polls, Reagan and Bush are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Why is [...]
In September 2012 I’m seriously considering moving back to a culture that finds it normal to spend $600 on a telephone. Though I’ve owned one, my day-to-day life has consisted of not using a cell phone for the past 2.5 years. The sound of it ringing gives me anxiety. I get a sick feeling in [...]
I need to say. I fully realize how grateful I should be, and therefore am, for all these trips I’ve been able to take over the past four days. I’m aware the majority of the world will not see the things I have seen. Yesterday, while walking around I had a twinge of guilt. But [...]
I’ll explain, as soon as possible Until then.. try to figure this one out. (I need to research it myself.) This is a Dutch man who has painted his face. I’m not so sure this would fly in the States. Different countries with different history leading to different holidays and different sensitive subjects.
Gouda, Netherlands. Who knew? I wasn’t allowed to take pictures inside the church, but you can visit the website here.
I finished my first quarter on Tuesday. I handed in my final for my class on theory, and reached the mid-term mark in my research seminar. Next Monday I’ll start a new class on Growth and Inequality, predominately comparing China with the West. But for now, for the next four days, I’m enjoying a break. Yesterday I [...]
I’ve managed to sum up my current sentiments on life. It pertains to relationships, work, and day to day living. I’m too old for this, and yet, I’m far too young to settle.
I’ve become completely consumed with this band. To follow these cats around in the 70s. I’m in. Talk about a full life. Talk about taking risks. Talk about being an odd duck. To be sure, it’s valuation, not a want to mimic. I’ve got my own plans.
In honor of my Friday night I spent Saturday afternoon watching Pride and Prejudice. I hardly go out anymore. I’m afraid this trend of solitude intensifies the longer I live overseas. Call me stiff, or more likely square, but as I get older I find it increasingly difficult to fake an uninteresting conversation. More often [...]
If you disregard Shel Silverstein, I always hated poetry. And in all my ambiguity, I consistently go back to lyrics when I’m in a mood. Today it’s the Rolling Stones. I’ve become over-extended as the voluntary, American whipping boy.
Six months ago this song was a huge slap in the face. Not anymore my friends, not anymore.
I’ve discovered my Christmas break present to myself. (When I’m taking a break from that 25 page paper I have yet to decide a topic on.) This author will always be my favorite. I haven’t enjoyed his recent books, but that is irrelevant. He introduced me to a genre of writing. He explained it in [...]
I love this newest photo of my niece for several reasons. She looks to be consumed with happiness. She looks proud of the work she’s accomplished. She believes the outcome is beautiful, and therefore, she feels beautiful. It reminds me of all the fantastic projects my mother came up with for us to do. The [...]
I need to take some more time to think about it, but as impulsive as I am I thought I’d make a note. I had a real life experience that got me thinking about the big picture of culture. Warning: It’s a Why are there people in the world who feel threatened when others are [...]
I’m so grateful. I can’t get past The Bad In Each Other.
Two doors down lives an American of Jewish origins. In between us lives a girl whose father is Palestinian. She was born in Jerusalem, but her family now lives in Greece. I was in the room when these two discovered their clash. Differences in ethnicity, differences in history. Strong opinion. I’m biased; I love this [...]
I’m learning to count the pages I have read as opposed to those I haven’t.
I’m reading Wealth and Poverty of Nations, by Landes. I read an interesting theory today. The paradox: Warm countries eat the hottest foods. Where is the sense? Pepper keeps food in the technology lacking worlds of refrigeration fresh, or at least you can’t taste or smell the rotten parts as much. And when a country [...]
Thanks to Frank, Sundays are the best day of the week. Postsecret.com
“Out there a lonely girl could drown, In here we’re frozen.” – Ellie Goulding I’d rather risk it.
But “productivity” is a false-comfort. When I remember back to my college days, I recall seeing fellow classmates who were so obsessive about fulfilling the idea that they needed to be constantly working, racing, striving and even suffering that they would spend as much time as humanly possibly within the confines of the campus library. It’s not [...]
This melts my heart. Facebook isn’t always a complete waste of time. Hello Mrs. Stephanie! how are you? How is it there? Where are you you? Are they any good friends? how children are there? I really miss you! Alidjan
I worked extensively to create a life that is now over. I have to start again; to create something recognizable. I went from isolation and a culture with complete disregard for time, to a space of schedules and socials. I forgot how well academics could make me question my validity. I forgot how much I [...]
The dean of the Humanities Department gave a speech on writing. He said you’re never going to find your work perfect. You could never get down on paper the exact blueprint you have in your head. And more often than not, if you were to go back and reread what you’ve written in the past [...]
I had my first class today. In short, I’m studying what has caused North and South America to grow at such different capacities. I.loved.it. Except for when the professor called on me to identify a picture.. Which I didn’t know was a part of a San Francisco bridge (not the Golden Gate).. Or when he [...]
This is my Don’t get so stressed, you have people who love you corner. All things here have been given to me by friends who have cared for me. It’s conveniently placed next to my bed, my go to when life is too overwhelming to bother with. Today, I’m a little homesick : (
I took this from Jake’s facebook. I love it. I think it describes how I feel today. A young girl happily frolicking through an unknown, but comfortable place. Tonight I had drinks with 6 Greeks, a Brit, a Cambodian, and a New Yorker. I feel like it’s exactly where I belong.
How many entries are we showing above?
For now, we are showing up to 50 entries on each page. Entries that
are too short are filtered out. For more entries, please use
archives.
|
Connect to Peace Corps Journals
About the Journal
Contact Us
Disclaimer:
| |
| Copyright (c) 2010 |
