Hello Dear Friends,
I remembered that there was a blog and thought maybe I should use it! :)
Hilary Term has come and gone and with its close I returned home to Kansas to visit my wonderful family and try to see as many friends as possible. I was so happy to return to a place that holds so many warm and comforting memories, as well as so many inspiring and impactful people that have been a part of my life. It was truly a beautiful time and I was very grateful to have it.
Now that I am in my last week of the Easter Vacation I am immersed in researching and writing my thesis, as well as revising for exams. The thesis is becoming more and more fascinating as I uncover new articles that have something to contribute. I am very excited to see what the finished project will yet uncover.
My exams will be in mid-June and so revising for the four of them is going to be inter-mixed with essay writing and the like. The most thrilling part is going to be when my friends finish their final examination and I am waiting outside to partake in the traditional "trashings" that involve milk and flower. Dignified is not what the end of examinations is supposed to look like, or so I gather :P
Given that the final date of the program is nigh upon us, the next step is weighing heavily over my daily activities. There are so very many options in the world, and I am finding it difficult to charter a path with sufficient reasons to satisfy my stringent process of choosing. However, I have become increasingly convinced that regardless the choice, that destination must have a few requisite qualitites. For instance, I am adamant that it must have an environment which elicits compassion and empathy for the immediate community and those that branch out from it. I also am going to request that it promotes a world of greater connection and meaning in the lives of people involved. And finally, I would enquire as to perhaps allowing pursuit of my other projects :P Because, lets face it, I do not do one thing at a time!
Two particular options that are open at the moment are staying in Oxford to begin a social enterprise and doing a second master's degree. The three barriers to remaining in Oxford are a salary upon which to live, the existence of a social enterprise which needs running, and a UK visa which allows me to remain in this location. The other is returning to Kansas to do another master's degree. The barriers involved in this are entry into the program, my willingness to take that particular step, and paying for the experience.
But enough about all that. It seems to run through my mind like a cheeta chasing cheetos, so perhaps more ink need not be spilt over it at this point :P
I do hope you are all having a magnificent Sunday, and I will try to write an update next week!
Will
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Back in Oxford
Hello Dear Friends,
Already it seems January is coming to an end and I wanted to put a post up before the first month of 2013 passes by!
Since my last post a great deal has changed for my family. With Dad's passing I went home for some time over Christmas and New Years to share grief with my mother and brother. My return to school has seen a whirlwind of events and Oxford seems to demand that one maintain a certain focus. But it is impossible not to feel deeply the pain that has occurred. I think for me it has given a perspective of value (of what is positive and of what is negative) in all of our actions, and to be cognizant of what gives life meaning. I cannot understand death, and will not pretend that I have come to learn great lessons. But more than ever, I am reminded to be appreciative for little kindnesses and goodness in people.
This term has already been a flurry of activity. We are beginning the third week of Hilary and I am attempting to maintain some resolutions about the term. I want to complete all my readings and to have taken notes on them; I would like to write one term essay per week; I am resolved to take up a sport (tennis!); my diet will become healthier (Mom made a list :D); and there are a few more. With great good fortune, and a bit of "will" power on my part, these can all come to be.
There are a few projects which I am particularly keen to pursue. These relate to social entrepreneurship and creating organizations. I have not given up on my idea for a research institute on sustainable capitalism, and it continues to morph into new forms. Some help in this area comes from a social enterprise class with Pamela Hartigan, director of the Skoll Center. We are learning about the theory behind various models as well as undertaking to design a business plan addressing a particular subset of a world problem.
Wishing everyone the greatest of happiness.
Will
Already it seems January is coming to an end and I wanted to put a post up before the first month of 2013 passes by!
Since my last post a great deal has changed for my family. With Dad's passing I went home for some time over Christmas and New Years to share grief with my mother and brother. My return to school has seen a whirlwind of events and Oxford seems to demand that one maintain a certain focus. But it is impossible not to feel deeply the pain that has occurred. I think for me it has given a perspective of value (of what is positive and of what is negative) in all of our actions, and to be cognizant of what gives life meaning. I cannot understand death, and will not pretend that I have come to learn great lessons. But more than ever, I am reminded to be appreciative for little kindnesses and goodness in people.
This term has already been a flurry of activity. We are beginning the third week of Hilary and I am attempting to maintain some resolutions about the term. I want to complete all my readings and to have taken notes on them; I would like to write one term essay per week; I am resolved to take up a sport (tennis!); my diet will become healthier (Mom made a list :D); and there are a few more. With great good fortune, and a bit of "will" power on my part, these can all come to be.
There are a few projects which I am particularly keen to pursue. These relate to social entrepreneurship and creating organizations. I have not given up on my idea for a research institute on sustainable capitalism, and it continues to morph into new forms. Some help in this area comes from a social enterprise class with Pamela Hartigan, director of the Skoll Center. We are learning about the theory behind various models as well as undertaking to design a business plan addressing a particular subset of a world problem.
Wishing everyone the greatest of happiness.
Will
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Studying in Britain: A Comparative Study
Happy Holidays!
Michaelmas term has ended and I thought it would be a nice chance to reflect on the past few months. It was particularly interesting as I visited Harlaxton to think about my two experiences studying in Britain. The travelling time gave great leisure to peruse my musings, especially given most trains en route back to Oxford were cancelled on Monday! :P
As I visited the amazing people at Harlaxton I tried to dust of the details of memories which have sat latent for so long. My study abroad was a time to explore new cultures and to discover a little bit about myself concurrently. This primarily came through amazing travel opportunities to different European countries and exposure to so many wonderful and inspiring people. Oxford has seen less spatial travel, to be replaced with greater expeditions into the world of ideas. It has also been a learning experience about myself to be thrust into a new living environment, pursuing a different degree, at another institution, in a new country. At Baker and Harlaxton (in its special way) there were always familiar people and I understood myself in those contexts. Now in this new place where almost nobody knows me I am tasked with the rebuilding of a persona which engenders a great deal of self-questioning.
In this manner, returning to Harlaxton was unusual as I walked the halls not recognizing each face. The people truly do make the experience, and this epitomized my semester abroad. And yet the memory of shared joys, sorrows (I am sure there were a couple...), and journeys throughout that term still make the place dear. During this past term at Oxford as I have come to know people in my program, college, and at the Hub the experience has become richer and more important. As the connections to people who grow dear become more firmly established, Oxford is taking hold of a place in my heart to remain forever.
All this is to say, both times I have been in Britain were and are immensely enjoyable. I am at a new stage of life which comes with a perspective to relook at what came before. Many things are changing around me and my family. In that change, I truly do believe in one's agency and a person's ability to define the way in which that change affects them. All the world is a place of opportunity :) And yet, while this reflection is important, my essay still needs written. lol So, I will sign off and begin the work again in earnest.
Wishing you all festive joy!
Will
Michaelmas term has ended and I thought it would be a nice chance to reflect on the past few months. It was particularly interesting as I visited Harlaxton to think about my two experiences studying in Britain. The travelling time gave great leisure to peruse my musings, especially given most trains en route back to Oxford were cancelled on Monday! :P
As I visited the amazing people at Harlaxton I tried to dust of the details of memories which have sat latent for so long. My study abroad was a time to explore new cultures and to discover a little bit about myself concurrently. This primarily came through amazing travel opportunities to different European countries and exposure to so many wonderful and inspiring people. Oxford has seen less spatial travel, to be replaced with greater expeditions into the world of ideas. It has also been a learning experience about myself to be thrust into a new living environment, pursuing a different degree, at another institution, in a new country. At Baker and Harlaxton (in its special way) there were always familiar people and I understood myself in those contexts. Now in this new place where almost nobody knows me I am tasked with the rebuilding of a persona which engenders a great deal of self-questioning.
In this manner, returning to Harlaxton was unusual as I walked the halls not recognizing each face. The people truly do make the experience, and this epitomized my semester abroad. And yet the memory of shared joys, sorrows (I am sure there were a couple...), and journeys throughout that term still make the place dear. During this past term at Oxford as I have come to know people in my program, college, and at the Hub the experience has become richer and more important. As the connections to people who grow dear become more firmly established, Oxford is taking hold of a place in my heart to remain forever.
All this is to say, both times I have been in Britain were and are immensely enjoyable. I am at a new stage of life which comes with a perspective to relook at what came before. Many things are changing around me and my family. In that change, I truly do believe in one's agency and a person's ability to define the way in which that change affects them. All the world is a place of opportunity :) And yet, while this reflection is important, my essay still needs written. lol So, I will sign off and begin the work again in earnest.
Wishing you all festive joy!
Will
Monday, November 26, 2012
Good Morning my Dear Friends and a happy post-Thanksgiving.
I am entering my last week of Michaelmas Term! This means that there is at least one essay crisis per day, sometimes two :P
However, the golden nugget waiting at the end is a trip back to Harlaxton. I am very excited to see the wonderful Ralph and Judith Poore again, my host family of yore, and to see the manor, the Baker students there now, and the lovely people still teaching and working there. It will be magic anew.
Then I come back to Oxford to study and in 9th week I have a thesis meeting to discuss what sorts of quantitative regressions I want to use to analyze my macroeconomic data. However, that sort of requires me to have some macroeconomic data. Luckily the meeting is at the end of the week, so Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be devoted to finding all of the indicators that I want. I am really excited to get started on the development of the thesis, how the question and case study will be structured, and to organize the research. I am reading Case Studies and Theory Development in full to prepare properly for the thing.
Being in the last week of term also means that my 24 day Christmas countdown is soon upon me. I will be reviewing my 24 sets of seminar readings that have been assigned this term, one on each of the days (1-24) in December before Christmas. And my present will be passing my course. Fingers Crossed! This probably means the blog is about to get academic in the next few weeks :P I also need to write a paper for an application on the importance of measuring the qualitative outputs in education and how this can be achieved globally. I was considering revising another paper for submission, but then realized that would be a crazy task, so that is in cunctation (or might get delegated lol).
This past week was very pulchritudinous. St. Hilda's put on the Guest Night which saw the return of some wonderful alumni and other friends of the college. There was a magnificent Thanksgiving dinner. I was able to attend three fascinating seminars, one on Afghanistan, one on institutions in the Middle East, and one on Syria. All in all I think it was quite a successful 7th week, given the circumstances.
Ok, I think I am off to go write my Global Governance essay. Wish me luck!
Will
I am entering my last week of Michaelmas Term! This means that there is at least one essay crisis per day, sometimes two :P
However, the golden nugget waiting at the end is a trip back to Harlaxton. I am very excited to see the wonderful Ralph and Judith Poore again, my host family of yore, and to see the manor, the Baker students there now, and the lovely people still teaching and working there. It will be magic anew.
Then I come back to Oxford to study and in 9th week I have a thesis meeting to discuss what sorts of quantitative regressions I want to use to analyze my macroeconomic data. However, that sort of requires me to have some macroeconomic data. Luckily the meeting is at the end of the week, so Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be devoted to finding all of the indicators that I want. I am really excited to get started on the development of the thesis, how the question and case study will be structured, and to organize the research. I am reading Case Studies and Theory Development in full to prepare properly for the thing.
Being in the last week of term also means that my 24 day Christmas countdown is soon upon me. I will be reviewing my 24 sets of seminar readings that have been assigned this term, one on each of the days (1-24) in December before Christmas. And my present will be passing my course. Fingers Crossed! This probably means the blog is about to get academic in the next few weeks :P I also need to write a paper for an application on the importance of measuring the qualitative outputs in education and how this can be achieved globally. I was considering revising another paper for submission, but then realized that would be a crazy task, so that is in cunctation (or might get delegated lol).
This past week was very pulchritudinous. St. Hilda's put on the Guest Night which saw the return of some wonderful alumni and other friends of the college. There was a magnificent Thanksgiving dinner. I was able to attend three fascinating seminars, one on Afghanistan, one on institutions in the Middle East, and one on Syria. All in all I think it was quite a successful 7th week, given the circumstances.
Ok, I think I am off to go write my Global Governance essay. Wish me luck!
Will
Sunday, November 4, 2012
My Dear Friends,
I have been remiss these past weeks and somehow it is four weeks since I last updated the blog. Well, a great deal has happened!
This now is the start of 5th week and the beginning of some serious essay submissions. My schedule is looking slightly un-human at the moment but these things have a way of working themselves out lol It does help that I find the readings very fascinating and so I really enjoy doing the work and I think the essays will help to synthesize the information in a way that will help me to prepare for the exams at the end of the year.
On the topic of academics, I have chosen a thesis subject! I will be researching the sustainability of the welfare state. I would welcome the opinion of anyone thinking they have the answer (preferably supported with a host of academic sources) or just anyone who wants to pass along a host of academic sources :P I am excited for this topic and am setting myself the goal of assembling an annotated bibliography for my next advisor meeting.
Since my last post, I have been selected as the new Oxford Hub president and I am totally loving this position! The people are so amazing to work with and it is great experience to see where this organization can go and how it will grow in just a year's time. You should all totally check it out at the following link :)
http://oxfordhub.org/xwiki/bin/view/Oxford+Hub/
This last weekend I was at the EMERGE conference which is about social enterprise and many of the questions related to that field. It was my first foray into the topic and I was inspired by many of the panels and speeches that I heard. Next weekend will be the Impact conference and it is in London. I will be going to learn about ways in which organizations and charities (such as the hub :D) can improve their effectiveness and tailor their missions (at least I think lol).
This time of year has also seen the application for jobs. I have found an amazing array of positions that do really neat things and I would love them all! This seems to be a typical problem for me...so I am applying to many different types of positions and I assume something will sort itself out. I cannot pretend to have a grand plan or large scheme into which the first job fits. But I do have some criteria for which they must satisfy, so that is at least something.
Sending good thoughts out there: I made a declaration this week that I am searching for a new positive energy and to effect positive change in the world :) I am going to try very hard to write again next week!
Will
I have been remiss these past weeks and somehow it is four weeks since I last updated the blog. Well, a great deal has happened!
This now is the start of 5th week and the beginning of some serious essay submissions. My schedule is looking slightly un-human at the moment but these things have a way of working themselves out lol It does help that I find the readings very fascinating and so I really enjoy doing the work and I think the essays will help to synthesize the information in a way that will help me to prepare for the exams at the end of the year.
On the topic of academics, I have chosen a thesis subject! I will be researching the sustainability of the welfare state. I would welcome the opinion of anyone thinking they have the answer (preferably supported with a host of academic sources) or just anyone who wants to pass along a host of academic sources :P I am excited for this topic and am setting myself the goal of assembling an annotated bibliography for my next advisor meeting.
Since my last post, I have been selected as the new Oxford Hub president and I am totally loving this position! The people are so amazing to work with and it is great experience to see where this organization can go and how it will grow in just a year's time. You should all totally check it out at the following link :)
http://oxfordhub.org/xwiki/bin/view/Oxford+Hub/
This last weekend I was at the EMERGE conference which is about social enterprise and many of the questions related to that field. It was my first foray into the topic and I was inspired by many of the panels and speeches that I heard. Next weekend will be the Impact conference and it is in London. I will be going to learn about ways in which organizations and charities (such as the hub :D) can improve their effectiveness and tailor their missions (at least I think lol).
This time of year has also seen the application for jobs. I have found an amazing array of positions that do really neat things and I would love them all! This seems to be a typical problem for me...so I am applying to many different types of positions and I assume something will sort itself out. I cannot pretend to have a grand plan or large scheme into which the first job fits. But I do have some criteria for which they must satisfy, so that is at least something.
Sending good thoughts out there: I made a declaration this week that I am searching for a new positive energy and to effect positive change in the world :) I am going to try very hard to write again next week!
Will
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Hello everybody,
This weekend has been filled with reading and some writing. So I thought my post would be a super new clever way of me preparing a study guide. It will give all of my assignments and the topics of my courses. This invariably means the post will be a bit....dry. lol
This weekend has been filled with reading and some writing. So I thought my post would be a super new clever way of me preparing a study guide. It will give all of my assignments and the topics of my courses. This invariably means the post will be a bit....dry. lol
Methods of Research for the Social
Sciences
-
Concepts: Qualitative
o Progress in Science
o Quantitative vs. Qualitative Research: Claims and Critiques
o Academic Cultures and Concept Formation
o Qualitative Research Design and Case Selection
o Explaining and Understanding
o Gathering Data and Interpreting Qualitative Research
o Pragmatism and Abduction
o Critical Approaches
-
Concepts: Quantitative
o Quantitative Methods for Social Science: an Overview
o Working with Numbers: Basic Tools
o Hypothesis Testing
o Comparisons Between Groups
o Correlation and Simple Regression
o Multiple Regressions
o Impact Analysis
o The Role of Theory and Practices
-
Weekly Requirements
o
Read materials assigned before
the start of each class
o
Once or twice during the term,
work with other students to give a presentation
§ Between 20-30 minutes: Synthetic and critical assessment of the
readings
o
For classes taught by Dr
Friedrichs
§ Be ready to orally present a first-cut answer for each of the
questions of the week
§ Deliver a rumination sheet on the readings (Word count to be
included)
o
For classes taught by Dr
Gledhill
§ Will be assigned an article for review, which must be prepared
before the relevant class session. Will play the role of a peer reviewer for an
academic journal
-
Practice Essays
o
Required to submit two practice
essays from the questions offered on the syllabus for each week. The first
essay should be submitted through Weblearn by Monday 10 am 8th week
of Michaelmas Term. The second essay will be submitted through Weblearn by
Monday 12 noon, second week of Trinity Term. The essays should be between
1500-2000 words (Word count to be included)
Global Governance
-
Concepts: Michaelmas
o The Concept of Global Governance
o International Organisation: Analytic Traditions (I) – Realist and
Liberal Traditions and Problems of Collective Action and Public Goods
o International Organisation: Analytic Traditions (II) – Gramscian,
Grotian and Constructivist Analysis
o International Regimes: Analytic Approaches
o International Regimes: Institutional, Cognitive and Epistemic
Functions
o Multilateralism
o Regional Integration and Supranational Institutions
o Public and Private Power in Global Governance
-
Concepts: Hilary
o Public and Private Authority in Global Governance
o Private Military and Security Companies (PMCs and PSCs)
o Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs)
o Global Civil Society and its Organisations (GSOs)
o Knowledge and Epistemic Functions in Global Governance
o Corporate Social Responsibility (and Its Networks)
o Global Public Policy Networks (GPPNs) and Private Internaitonal
Regimes
o Global Legal Orders as Governance
-
Weekly Requirements
o Critical reading of assigned materials before each seminar
o Each week one or more students will present a critical summary of
the readings to the seminar of not more than 40 minutes duration
§ The students presenting for that week will be responsible for
generating some discussion questions to supplement those provided at the head
of each section of the syllabus
-
Practice Essays
o Each student will develop and submit 4 essays of 3000 words (max) on
4 of the seminar questions found at the head of the readings sections over the
course of the two terms.
Global Financial Governance
-
Concepts
o
International Monetary Systems:
The Gold Standard
o
The Bretton Woods System and
the Floating Exchange Rates System
o
Capital Account Liberalisation
and Financial Governance
o
International Financial
Architectures as Financial Governance
o
Sovereign Debt Markets and
Ratings Systems as Financial Governance
o
Failed Governance: Asymmetric
Monetary Policy and Regulatory Failure
o
Responses: Socialising Risk and
Regulatory Reform as Financial Governance and the Future of the Dollar
-
Weekly Requirements
o
Critical reading of assigned
materials before each seminar
o
Each week one or more students
will present a critical summary of the readings to the seminar of not more than
45 minutes duration
§ The student or students presenting for that week will be responsible
for generating some discussion questions to supplement the discussion questions
provided at the head of each section of the syllabus
-
Practice Essays
o
Each student will develop
essays of 3000 words (max) on 3 of the seminar questions found at the head of
the readings sections
The Political Economy of Institutions
and Development
-
Concepts
o
Conceptualizing institutions
o
Fundamentals of new
institutional economics
o
The political economy of rent
seeking and corruption
o
The political economy of growth
and development (2 seminars)
o
The evolution and persistence
of institutions (2 seminars)
o
Analytical narratives on
institutions
-
Weekly Requirements
o
Critical reading of assigned materials
before each seminar
o
Readings will be divided among
students beforehand and each student will be required to prepare a critical
summary of the allocated reading
-
Practice Essays
o
Each student will be required
to write during the course of the term two essays of no more than 2000 words
each and a vacation essay analyzing the ways in which global influences might
shape domestic institutions. Sample essay questions are provided under each
topic.
See you all next week with what will hopefully be a much more fascinating entry :P
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Today officially starts Noughth Week and the programming for Freshers Week. Tonight will be an informal dinner followed by second desserts and the rest of the week has a variety of events from scavenger hunts around Oxford and tea parties to sample lectures of the required courses as well as the optional courses. I will have the chance to meet my research advisor from Global Governance and Diplomacy, the program director, and my advisor from St. Hilda's.
This past week saw the completion of my revisions to the Phi Beta Delta paper and I re-submitted it to the editorial board. Fingers crossed for a good review!
Also, on Thursday and Friday of last week was an international students induction which was designed to introduce students not from Britain to the academic expectations of Oxford and to ease us into a comfortable social life. My favorite quote was by the Vice-Chancellor of the university who said Oxford was incomprehensible but "it made sense in 1200." He termed it the unofficial motto of the university.
Regarding the presentation on social life in Oxford I did manage to learn that "Christmas is the best holiday in the UK" and that "Skype has been a great invention!" The poor guy doing the talking was so nervous and there were many more statements that were just as off-the-wall. I was also able to attend a Cream Tea on Friday, which is the posh version of afternoon tea. It was hosted by a Rhodes Scholar and the theme was Achieving Academic Success at Oxford. The speaker was Andrew Briggs who has published over 550 scholarly articles in his academic career. I was listening very intently!!
Unfortunately I cannot think of any great cultural experiences to write about. A group of students went out on Friday night to an Irish pub and the main events were riddles and mind games. A true Oxford night out! I can proudly claim to have solved two riddles immediately but struggled with the rest. Perhaps my low point was giving the table a riddle and realizing that I did not remember all the information :P Ooops!
Here is one of the riddles: Three wizards are standing in a row. The wizard at the back can see the two wizards in front of him and the wizard in the middle can see the wizard in front of him. However, the front wizard cannot see anyone and no wizard can see themselves. There are 5 hats in a sack three of which are black two of which are white. Magically three of the hats appear on the three wizards heads. When a wizard knows what color his hat is they say "I know what color hat I am wearing." The back two wizards do not say anything and after a few seconds the front wizard says "I know what color hat I am wearing." What color hat does he have?
With that I will sign off. I miss everyone a great deal. Feel free to message me or whatever. Talk to you next weekend :)
This past week saw the completion of my revisions to the Phi Beta Delta paper and I re-submitted it to the editorial board. Fingers crossed for a good review!
Also, on Thursday and Friday of last week was an international students induction which was designed to introduce students not from Britain to the academic expectations of Oxford and to ease us into a comfortable social life. My favorite quote was by the Vice-Chancellor of the university who said Oxford was incomprehensible but "it made sense in 1200." He termed it the unofficial motto of the university.
Regarding the presentation on social life in Oxford I did manage to learn that "Christmas is the best holiday in the UK" and that "Skype has been a great invention!" The poor guy doing the talking was so nervous and there were many more statements that were just as off-the-wall. I was also able to attend a Cream Tea on Friday, which is the posh version of afternoon tea. It was hosted by a Rhodes Scholar and the theme was Achieving Academic Success at Oxford. The speaker was Andrew Briggs who has published over 550 scholarly articles in his academic career. I was listening very intently!!
Unfortunately I cannot think of any great cultural experiences to write about. A group of students went out on Friday night to an Irish pub and the main events were riddles and mind games. A true Oxford night out! I can proudly claim to have solved two riddles immediately but struggled with the rest. Perhaps my low point was giving the table a riddle and realizing that I did not remember all the information :P Ooops!
Here is one of the riddles: Three wizards are standing in a row. The wizard at the back can see the two wizards in front of him and the wizard in the middle can see the wizard in front of him. However, the front wizard cannot see anyone and no wizard can see themselves. There are 5 hats in a sack three of which are black two of which are white. Magically three of the hats appear on the three wizards heads. When a wizard knows what color his hat is they say "I know what color hat I am wearing." The back two wizards do not say anything and after a few seconds the front wizard says "I know what color hat I am wearing." What color hat does he have?
With that I will sign off. I miss everyone a great deal. Feel free to message me or whatever. Talk to you next weekend :)
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