From the college: “Last night damage was done to the front quad, and as Garden Master I am writing to you to explain what happened and why it is so important. The College’s Garden Committee will have to take up the matter of the disciplinary consequences of this with the Dean, but this note is… Continue reading Crisis in Neverland
It occurred to me that my last three posts have been about, respectively, animal slaughter and alcoholism, ethnocide, and beggars. I will now attempt to share some less depressing anecdotes. Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Manuela Ima, the President of the Huaorani Women’s Association. We met up in my hotel, which happens… Continue reading On a lighter note…
It’s been raining non-stop since I returned to Coca from Quito twelve hours ago. While it’s fair to say this is not particularly out of the ordinary in the rainforest, for me it’s fairly debilitating. The pounding of heavy droplets on corrugated metal means that I can neither understand anyone nor do any transcription. The… Continue reading Monkey TV
Something tells me that now that this is public, I won’t have problems getting interviews anymore. I am, after all, pretty much famous.
I am somewhat infatuated with Quito’s bus system. Perhaps it is a product of growing up in the mass-transit-is-for-wimps-and-commies American west, but I think I am peculiarly appreciative of the fact that, for $.25, I can traverse the entire length of Quito relatively swiftly while leaving it to someone else to deal with this country’s… Continue reading My Daily Collective Action Problem
And now, for your reading my writing pleasure, my in-depth coverage of Summer Eights Rowing Regatta, a.k.a. the second best thing to Princeton reunions. Check back for regular updates of interest to literally no one! And just because I think it’s sort of how real blogs do it when they cover things of actual import,… Continue reading Eights 2010
It’s gorgeous out. Not the “the-sky-is-only-85%-covered-in-clouds-today-and-it-hasn’t-rained-in-an-hour” weather that usually passes for gorgeous in England, but legitimately, fantastically, gorgeous . Which is why I am extremely bitter to have spent all weekend inside a library*, and am writing this incredibly boring post about… libraries! I never got the sense that Princeton had much of a library… Continue reading Boxed In
Having last week posted about my delight at Oxford’s preposterous academic garb, I figured I would complete the series by writing about my recent experiences with two other fabulously pretentious Oxford institutions: summer balls and punting. “Punting” refers to going boating on the Thames, preferable with a pitcher of Pims on board. Punting is pretty… Continue reading He’s an Oggsford Man
In celebration of finishing exams, a few development studies students set out to find the least productive way to spend an afternoon. We found this paragon of procrastination. It is called cricket. I freely admit that I do not know enough about cricket to appreciate its nuances, which I’m sure are fascinating. I also know… Continue reading Spring Has Sprung!
Me: So, are you all packed for your trip? Nicola (housemate): No, but I’m not stressing it. I’ve already packed up my passport, credit cards, and tea, so I’ll be fine. Me: Tea? Nicola: Well, I’m a little worried they might not have tea in Sweden. – – – – – Everyone always talks about… Continue reading Drinking Problem
Alex V. Barnard - Sociology 