Recently, we celebrated our three years of living in the UK but, more specifically, three years of living in Derby. As a tribute to our city, here are some of my favourite photos throughout the years.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
three years
There are a few words in the English language that naturally elicits smirks. Words like "prunes" and "egg salad" can bring schoolchildren into endless fits of giggles. Unbeknowst to me, our home city is one of these words with its own built in laugh track. Whenever I mention where I live, people would try to smother their laughter in, what I would imagine, disbelief that someone would actually live in Derby.
Recently, we celebrated our three years of living in the UK but, more specifically, three years of living in Derby. As a tribute to our city, here are some of my favourite photos throughout the years.
Recently, we celebrated our three years of living in the UK but, more specifically, three years of living in Derby. As a tribute to our city, here are some of my favourite photos throughout the years.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
new orleans
I submitted my thesis over a month ago now.
I didn't really think much of it at that time. All my tears and sweat transposed into a neatly bound document and, with a blink of an eye, it was gone. There wasn't much time for celebrations as, in matter of days, I hopped on a jet plane for an extensive tour of North America. The tour consisted of a much delayed trip back home. But before that, I attended a conference in New Orleans.
It was quite the journey to get to New Orleans. I left my house before the crack of dawn to catch the train to the airport and boarded three planes to arrive to my final destination in the wee hours of the morning the following day.
My presentation was very well received. Luckily, it was on the first day of the conference, allowing me time to explore the city.
More photos can be found here.
I didn't really think much of it at that time. All my tears and sweat transposed into a neatly bound document and, with a blink of an eye, it was gone. There wasn't much time for celebrations as, in matter of days, I hopped on a jet plane for an extensive tour of North America. The tour consisted of a much delayed trip back home. But before that, I attended a conference in New Orleans.
It was quite the journey to get to New Orleans. I left my house before the crack of dawn to catch the train to the airport and boarded three planes to arrive to my final destination in the wee hours of the morning the following day.
My presentation was very well received. Luckily, it was on the first day of the conference, allowing me time to explore the city.
More photos can be found here.
Monday, November 23, 2009
submitted!
It has been a while but my absence here has resulted in me submitting my PhD thesis! The 306-page document, representing the past 3 years of my life, is now out of my control and in the hands of my examiners.
The last thing that remains is a viva voce, which is set for January.
The last thing that remains is a viva voce, which is set for January.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
i must admit
With a blink of an eye, September is just about over.
After living in the UK for nearly 3 years, I’ve started to realize that summer just doesn’t happen in this part of the world. No matter how hopeful I am at the start of every June -- pulling out my summer clothes and sandals out of hibernation -- I’ve come to accept that this country just doesn’t do summer.
I have, however, discovered that this country does do autumn. And, I must admit, it does it very well.
Now, I’ve been told that eastern Canada is known for its large surface area of beautifully coloured leaves this time of year. But I haven’t been there during the autumn months, so my frame of reference may be a little blurred. Nevertheless, the transition between 'summer' and winter is visually stunning here and will be more so as the weeks progress.
My favourite season has always been spring, with the pastel-coloured cherry blossoms and the feeling of freshness. But after living in the UK for some time now, there’s something comforting about being outside in the crisp air, bundled in a scarf, with the changing coloured leaves.
After living in the UK for nearly 3 years, I’ve started to realize that summer just doesn’t happen in this part of the world. No matter how hopeful I am at the start of every June -- pulling out my summer clothes and sandals out of hibernation -- I’ve come to accept that this country just doesn’t do summer.
I have, however, discovered that this country does do autumn. And, I must admit, it does it very well.
Now, I’ve been told that eastern Canada is known for its large surface area of beautifully coloured leaves this time of year. But I haven’t been there during the autumn months, so my frame of reference may be a little blurred. Nevertheless, the transition between 'summer' and winter is visually stunning here and will be more so as the weeks progress.
My favourite season has always been spring, with the pastel-coloured cherry blossoms and the feeling of freshness. But after living in the UK for some time now, there’s something comforting about being outside in the crisp air, bundled in a scarf, with the changing coloured leaves.
Monday, August 17, 2009
the lake district
Come on in, pull up a chair, and take those muddy wellies off. I need to tell you about our week away to the Lake District.
We spent most of our time in Wasdale, home to Wast Water, which was voted Britain's favourite view.
Luckily, the weather was relatively nice, which is considered to be quite miraculous in this part of the world. It rained heavily the first day we got to the campsite and since we backpack camp -- or wilderness camp, as what they call in England -- we were confined to our small tent before deciding to head to the pub for dinner. (There are pubs everywhere in England, no matter now small the village is!)
Luckily, the weather allowed us to explore some of the area, including walking up to Scafell Pike, the highest peak in all of England.
The latter part of our trip was spent in a little village, Braithwaite. We explored Keswick town, walked along the Derwent Water
visited Castlerigg stone circles
and saw a dramatic waterfall.
It was a well deserved break after submitting the first thesis draft but supervisor comments are starting to reappear so my time off is slowly disappearing.
We spent most of our time in Wasdale, home to Wast Water, which was voted Britain's favourite view.
Luckily, the weather was relatively nice, which is considered to be quite miraculous in this part of the world. It rained heavily the first day we got to the campsite and since we backpack camp -- or wilderness camp, as what they call in England -- we were confined to our small tent before deciding to head to the pub for dinner. (There are pubs everywhere in England, no matter now small the village is!)
Luckily, the weather allowed us to explore some of the area, including walking up to Scafell Pike, the highest peak in all of England.
The latter part of our trip was spent in a little village, Braithwaite. We explored Keswick town, walked along the Derwent Water
visited Castlerigg stone circles
and saw a dramatic waterfall.
It was a well deserved break after submitting the first thesis draft but supervisor comments are starting to reappear so my time off is slowly disappearing.
Friday, July 31, 2009
done for now
Writing has always been something that scared the bejesus of me. For me, I felt that writing over-emphasized my weaknesses (i.e., the inability to conjugate verbs properly, the improper use of semicolons, colons, and dashes, etc.). Even pressing 'publish' for these blog entries elicited an abnormal amount of fear; mostly because I feared losing my devoted, or lack thereof, readership.
However, for the past 8 weeks or so, I have immersed myself in the oh-so-wonderful world of writing; writing my thesis, that is. It was long-winded, convoluted process but, in a way, it was therapeutic because I had to an opportunity to express all the triumphs, and entangle the pitfalls, of my research in 200-plus pages.
Now, I have a some time to catch my breath as my thesis is in the hands of my supervisors to suggest, comment, and critique.
And, as a result, you may see me more often here.
However, for the past 8 weeks or so, I have immersed myself in the oh-so-wonderful world of writing; writing my thesis, that is. It was long-winded, convoluted process but, in a way, it was therapeutic because I had to an opportunity to express all the triumphs, and entangle the pitfalls, of my research in 200-plus pages.
Now, I have a some time to catch my breath as my thesis is in the hands of my supervisors to suggest, comment, and critique.
And, as a result, you may see me more often here.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
may days
With today being the last day of May, this month has got to be the shortest thus far of 2009.
Much to my delight, everything became more springlike:
I made a trip to Orlando to present results from my PhD. I bought a new bottle of sunscreen and packed all my summer clothes but only saw the sun once.
After the heavy rains of Florida, I was treated to sun! in England upon my return, which perfectly timed to my birthday.
******************
I am taking a summer break from Only in the UK so I can devote time to my thesis. I can, however, be found here from time to time.
Have a nice summer!
Much to my delight, everything became more springlike:
I made a trip to Orlando to present results from my PhD. I bought a new bottle of sunscreen and packed all my summer clothes but only saw the sun once.
After the heavy rains of Florida, I was treated to sun! in England upon my return, which perfectly timed to my birthday.
******************
I am taking a summer break from Only in the UK so I can devote time to my thesis. I can, however, be found here from time to time.
Have a nice summer!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
it'll have to do
It's already mid-May and I haven't posted at all this month.
For now, this picture will have to do as I'm in the process of organizing for a trans-Atlantic flight to attend a conference. I'm looking forward to catching up with old friends and seeing Mr. Sunshine once again.
For now, this picture will have to do as I'm in the process of organizing for a trans-Atlantic flight to attend a conference. I'm looking forward to catching up with old friends and seeing Mr. Sunshine once again.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
españa
Over the course of a couple of weeks, drafts of thesis chapters, journal articles, abstracts, and presentation slides were furiously written. Fortunately, these frantic activities left my mind free from PhD concerns -- well, for a short period of time -- as we boarded a plane to Spain last Saturday.
We arrived into Girona late and, as a result, we caught our first glimpse of the city in the morning. For this trip, Girona served as a hub for our main destinations: Barcelona and Roses.
We caught a train to Barcelona and spent most of our time exploring the city on foot:
We visited the market, of course:
We walked along the water:
And, we saw the torch that was used to officially start the 1992 Olympic Summer Games:
We took another train to a pretty little resort town, Roses, on the Costa Brava coast.
We spent one day hiking from Roses to Cadaqués along the beautiful rugged coastline. We stopped for breaks on the sandy beaches along the way. However, it was a long trek (7 hours) in the blazing sun and both of us were unwell due to a bout of food poisoning.
We arrived into Girona late and, as a result, we caught our first glimpse of the city in the morning. For this trip, Girona served as a hub for our main destinations: Barcelona and Roses.
We caught a train to Barcelona and spent most of our time exploring the city on foot:
We visited the market, of course:
We walked along the water:
And, we saw the torch that was used to officially start the 1992 Olympic Summer Games:
We took another train to a pretty little resort town, Roses, on the Costa Brava coast.
We spent one day hiking from Roses to Cadaqués along the beautiful rugged coastline. We stopped for breaks on the sandy beaches along the way. However, it was a long trek (7 hours) in the blazing sun and both of us were unwell due to a bout of food poisoning.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
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