Catching up!

Hi Everyone!

I know, I know it's been way too long! Life is loco but I'm finding ways to deal with it all!

I. School-
School is insane. It has been quite the shock to get back into student mode haha. So much reeeeading, concentrating, analyzing... The first two weeks I definitely was dragging my feet/mind but I am feeling a bit better now haha. I've been immersed into question of defining what exactly is "International Development" from sociological, economic, political science, and theoretical perspectives. It is the same question many of your asked me before I left... and I attempted to describe but never quite had a firm complete answer. I now know why it was hard to define... there is no easy answer because even ideas like "progress" and "improvement" which in the West are considered to be universally positive haven't actually shown their intended effects in much of the developing world. Or the "positive" effects (as defined by the West) they have shown weren't actually the most beneficial for the people of those particular countries. It is definitely leaving me with a lot to chew on, but I am appreciating the ability to tackle these issues with people from all parts of the world and professors who encourage us to critically consider the many viewpoints of different issues.

II Dealing with School-
I've been lucky enough to have found a couple friends who surf! So on a whim last week four of us drove 15 hours down to the South of France and Spain (Biarritz and Hossigner in France, and San Sebastian Spain). It was JUST what I needed to get out of the "grad school bubble" and refresh myself... It was not only warm and sunny, but I got to speak French and Spanish and eat incredible food from fried mussels to Paella and delicious traditional Basque Country food in Spain. We also were able to partake in some incredibly delicious wine that only cost between 2-5 Euros a bottle... my kind of place! haha. It was so crazy to drive through Paris, Bordeaux, Cognac, etc knowing they were just stops along the highway... haha...
The Atlantic waters were absolutely gorgeous, turqoise and clear, and the waves were pretty decent too. Biarritz is fantastic, it is a smaller town built up from the ocean. There are castle looking buildings jutting out of the rocks before the ocean and lots of delicous little restuarants... I got to eat my favorite, crepes! Hossinger is a little surf town just south of Biarritz and we caught the end of a WCT Pro Surf competition. Not bad!!!
San Sebastian in the Basque Country of Spain blew me away! I had never even heard of it, but I'd say it rivals Barcelona in both beauty and flavor. It is much smaller, but is a cultural gem with gorgeous buildings and monuments placed directly on clear, clean ocean waters. The city is very active with cultural events from sand castle making to cinema festivals (just in the weekend we were there). The people were so friendly and welcoming, every interaction there was so positive. I saw a group of gypsys and definitely considered either dropping gradschool or perhaps at least doing my thesis research on their subversive lifestyle. (Don't worry mom and dad it was just a passing thought haha...) Gypsys intrigue me though, they are able to carry their whole lives with them and live outside of the norms of society and have done so for centuries... Even though I've been there a few times, Spain definitely has not lost lost its lustre for me... I'll be back!
Besides traveling though, I've loved the Hague- also full of cultural events.

September 21st was the UN's World Day of Peace, and we got to go to view some of the institutions here as well as see some live concerts and events. I got to go inside the World Peace Palace and see the International Court of Justice, as well as the International Criminal Court, various tribunals (such as for the former state of Yugoslavia) and the World Forum where a part of NATO is located, as well as the European Patent Office, InterPol, etc.
The beach in the Hague, Schevingen (pronounced- Scccch-rev-in-ing-ger) also hosted a huge kite festival the same weekend. So fun!

Wellll that's about it. Just trying to kick myself back into school mode while enjoying my surroundings. It's great! The weather is getting colder and windier and rainier, but i figure it'll only help me to study more haha. Hope you all are great! I miss you all very much! Have a happy October :)

Much love always,
Ruth :)