Quirky Profs at LSE

Another week has flown by...I can hardly believe that it's mid-way through the semester, which means that I 'm actually a quarter through my taught Masters' courses at LSE!

This week I felt like it was really time to settle down. I had a presentation on Friday on the topic of "Hirschman`s Forwards and Backwards Linkages" (leave a message if you really want me to explain this to you) which went surprisingly well considering I only practised what I was going to say an hour before our seminar started. I've also started to think of the essays that are due in the next few weeks...luckily most of them are formative, meaning that our professors will give us written feedback in the hopes that we can integrate their advice for our final essays. 

Given our workload and the sometimes dry nature of what International Development students study, it's refreshing when we encounter teachers with memorable quirks or peculiar teaching styles. For instance two of our professors have referenced pop culture in their lectures- one guy shares the name of the Hollywood actor who voiced  Buzz Lightyear in the movie Toy Story, so naturally we were treated to a Toy Story theme one day. I think the take-home message that day was: "To infinity, and beyond!"  

Another prof of mine, Diana, came to class in a "Star Trek"-inspired dress and  recounted how she found the dress while shopping in Marks and Spencer. One key point of that day's lecture was that institutions matter for economic development and that economic growth strategies are determinant for future generations. This continuity was illustrated by showing the striking ressemblance (and thus, we assume, genetic ancestry) between Jean-Luc Picard (the character played by Patrick Stewart in Star Trek) and the Kenniwick man. 

Photo Credit: Great Archeology 

Wikipedia entry for Jean-Luc Picard

I wish every lecture was as entertaining (imagine, I could organize my notes by theme..."Hollywood references", "Pop culture", "Corny jokes"...).

I'll leave you with this quote from Picard which I should adopt as my slogan given the copious amounts of tea I consume:
"Tea. Earl Grey. Hot".

xoxo Miss Engagée

Bella Italia

Just back from a lovely, restful trip to Firenze in Italy! I met my mama for a few days of sight-seeing, eating, shopping, eating, speaking Italian and eating gelato. We stayed at a lovely little hotel five minutes from the Ponte Vecchio, right off Via Tornabuoni, where all the Guccis, Diors and Pradas are located. Day 1, I climbed the beautiful Duomo (Cathedral) and we visited the renowed Uffizi Museum where Boticcelli's "Birth of Venus" is displayed. We also had my favourite meal of the trip at Caffè Cibreo, on Via del Verrocchio (highly recommended!).

Firenze, Italia

Il Duomo di Firenze

Day 2, we spent some quality time with The David. Mom was surprised to see so many tourists, since last time she was in Florence (1986) it was the year of Tchernobyl, and she was literally alone with Michelangelo's most famous statue!!
We also ate some more, and saw the Church of San Lorenzo where Cosimo (Medici)'s crypt is located.

Buen apetit!

 I also spent some time in Pisa before taking the plane back to London. The obligatory stop at the Leaning Tower turned out to be quite pleasant- I managed to snap some pictures before too many other tourists were out and about. Following Rick Steves's advice, I walked back to the Stazione Centrale through Pisa proper, which is quite a pleasant little student town. Unfortunately Pisa's No 1 gelato place wasn't open on a Monday morning (what an idea!) but I grabbed a delicious pizzelle as a last culinary treat before heading home. 

The Leaning Tower- and me 

Row me to the shore

Today was a beautiful sunny day for rowing! I joined the LSE Rowing Club (NOT to be confused with the LSE Rugby Club although the acronyms are the same) and today was our first time on the water. Conditions were perfect, although I sadly can't say the same about my rowing skills.

Last week was quite fun, I've been making lots of Latin American friends thanks to my Colombian amiga. We went to an oh-so-British pub on Friday after attending two lectures (one lecture from a former DESTIN student on her way to a Young Professionals position at the Asian Development Bank, and a lecture from Dr. Purna Sen, the former Director of Amnesty Asia Pacific and another LSE alumni).

This week I am going to cram a bit in order to enjoy my four days in Italy! Should be wonderful. I'll keep you posted.

Lots of love,
Miss Engagée xo

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bonjour tout le monde et bonne action de grâce!

Encore une fois j'ai oublié de prendre des photos cette semaine...le train train du quotidien m'accapare, quoi. La première semaine de cours s'est déroulée à une vitesse incroyable, nous voila déjà avec des tests et des présentations à préparer...

J'attends les résultats d'un cours d'économie, mais à date je prends le cours suivants:
DV 400- Development: History, theory & policy (cours obligatoire)
DV 410- Social research methods (pour préparer notre dissertation)
DV415- Global Environmental Governance (avec Tim Forsyth, prof très sympa)
GY445- Urban policy and practise in the South

De plus je compte être auditrice libre pour un cours intitulé "Race and Space" avec un prof très cool - le cours ne me donnera absoluement rien d'"utile" mais sera surement le lieu de discussions passionnantes sur le pouvoir, le politique et la race/le racisme.

This weekend, I went to the British Museum (had a look at the mummies and the Asian artefacts) and cleaned my flat. We've already been here two weeks! which is hard to believe until you take a look at the state of our floors. Ah the student life...


I've joined the rowing club- should force me to be a little active, although since we currently have 1 functional boat the chances of my getting on the water are rather slim. That's ok, all I want is the chance to socialize and look stylish like these women. ;)

LSE women's rowing team, 1953. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone,
Miss Engagée xx

Brunch and Brick Lane

Greetings everyone, 

I had great ambitions for my first weekend in London. Surely, I'd be able to squeeze in a museum and a major attraction or two (say, Buckingham Palace, which I've been told is closing for the season this Monday). 

Predictably, though, my plans changed and I ended up spending a lot of time doing every day chores...Laundry? Check. Groceries? Check. Readings for this week's lectures? Check, check, check. Buckingham Palace? I guess that will have to wait until next year. 

I did manage some exploring: Borough Market, which is very close to my residence, offers a wide variety of things to taste and smell. I bought some fresh figs which I made my friends taste- to mixed reactions (the American in my flat said he's been a picky eater since childhood, so I guess it was nice of him to indulge me). On Sunday, we had a big brunch for 12- I tried (and failed) to make crêpes, but we had tons of other foods- including congee prepared by my Asian flatmate, which was a huge hit. 

In the afternoon I walked over to Brick Lane, the Anglo-Indian mecca which boasts many curry houses and vintage shops. The Petticoat Market was winding down by the time I arrived, but the street was still bustling with families and young people looking for Indian sweets or chicken tikka. 

Brick Lane

View from Tower Bridge- What a beautiful walk home!

The weather continues to be beautiful and warm- we International Students wonder why the English are always complaining about it. I hear that it's 30 C in Paris so Europe seems to be experiencing a heat wave. It should cool down this week but hopefully it will be sunny for a while still.
xoxo Miss Engagée