Londonian Life

Ahhh, finally I became incapable or unwilling (!) to keep my blog even once a month...

This is just laziness, sorry...

But to be honest, if I had extra time to spend writing my blog, I would do something else not sitting extra time in front of my computer that I do allllll day for my internship and my dissertation....

Yes, for those who are not informed (sorry, again!), I have been doing an internship at Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in London since the early June and staying in a house of the aunt of my British friend living in Japan.

This is for the purpose to first get some professional or work experience in the domain and second to start getting contact with people working in the domain, particularly in London or the UK because it seems like my next 1-2 years will be set in this country.

I am working for a project regarding REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) that I talked about briefly in the earlier blog when I talked about my dissertation topic. The project, called REDD-net aims at creating networks to share information and experiences concerning social issues and equity in REDD+ programmes among organisations particularly working for and with indigenous people and local communities (NGOs and CSOs).

Although I work only 3 days a week, what I do is to stare at computer screen a whole day like I have been doing during the Master course all the time...then in fact, I have to continue that after work at home this time for my dissertation...

A week passes soooooo quickly.

Plus, the area where I live now (North London:Dalston-Hackney) has so many independent unique or vintage shops and small but tasty restaurants (African, Turkish, Indian, Mexican, Thai, British, Italian, etc...).

And of course, at the center of London, there are always a number of events and music festivals going on during the summer.

You can imagine now how hard to stick home and do my dissertation or to find a good balance among internship, dissertation and fun...

Here, some stuff that I have done...

Early June for the birthday of the daughter of the landlady, I made sushi with fresh salmon and tuna. I bought them for the first time in the UK.

Both ladies love sushi. And this time, they did not only eat but made their own makizushi!

 They were quite good actually :)

I am so grateful that they accepted me, unknown japanese woman to stay at their place for three months!

Ben and I tried kebab in the area that they told us the best kebab in London. The shop is called, indeed "The Best Turkish Kebab" .

It was huuuuge but reasonable price (£4). On the wall of the shop, there were many articles spotted the shop.

A number of slices of lamb was tasty but not oily at all with lots of veggies in. Even me (greedy maya) had hard time finishing all.

It is hard to recognise the size with this photo but it was about the size of an adult hand.

Indeed, it was the best Kebab ever in my life!

Last week, I went to a jazz gig on the top floor of a big shopping center at St Paul.

It was a bit windy thus chilly but the rain stopped when the gig started and I could enjoy a wonderful landscape (the tall building under construction is going to be the tallest building in the UK or EU, I am uncertain and indifferent :p)

I also went to Cambridge one day (less than one hour from London by train) for an interview with a researcher for my dissertation data collection.

I could have done the interview by skype but in person is always better and also I could visit the town.

The interview went very well. The researcher has worked so long time in Tanzania and in the domain very well known but really friendly and kind to me.

Then I walked around the town and visited some of the very well known colleges of  University of Cambridge, I did not get inside though.

King's Colleage

 Trinity Colleage

The whole town seemed very historical with so many tourists...

Within London, I went to Camden, an area very popular to tourists especially young people. It was like 'Amemura' in Osaka.

In the street food area, we could choose a plate between £4-5 among Mexican, Asian, Brazilian, and Middle east food stands. For each food style, you can also mix different taste of sauce!

We decided finally to take Mexican and Indian and enjoyed them by sitting on a scouter seat alongside a river/canal.

Hmmm, (as always) I ate too much...

These were only very special occasions. I have been enjoying everyday something!

Next week, I am going to Brighton where we gonna start living from August-September for a year to meet the studio landlady and get the room key.

We have made the contract several months ago but I have not seen the place (Ben did all...) so I am very excited to see my new place nearby ocean!

In August, Brighton is very busy with lots of tourists from outside and inside of the UK.
I can forget my dissertation again for a day!

I will update soon!

Congrats!

Finally, 4th May, final exams finished 'somehow'!

Questions were not as simple as I, well, 'we' expected but rather tricky...Thus, just after the call of 'start!', my head got blank...

I thought I had studied hard enough!!!

But I did not have time to complain or regret the past!

I reread all questions and just started writing something on one question to another if I could find some ideas or concepts relevant to the questions.

While there were quite many students who went out of the exam hall to go to toilets, it was out of question for me to even think of it.

No wasting time!

Then 3 hours passed so quickly.

As soon as the main examiner's voice 'Stop writing!', I started feeling so much pain in my right wrist and desire of going to toilets.

I have no idea if I really answered to each question...

But it's over, anyway!

At least, I wrote something so I hope I can get the minimum scores (50) to pass...

Then many of us went to cerebrate this end of exams (practically the course) nearby a lake on campus.

In that evening, we had another cerebrating party organised by one of our school professors.

However, from the next day (not morning, in the afternoon), I had to already switch my mind to my dissertation topic choice and the revision of my last ever exam of 20th.

But, you know, many of friends finished everything and also the city as whole was at party mode these days!

Because the local football club got promoted to the Premier League for next season (from August)!

Then on 10th, there was a cerebration parade in the city-centre.

To be honest, I recognise no player in the team but I have been in this city since 8 months and been stuck in the university all the time, I wanted to share the joy with other citizens and feel a little like integrated in the local society!

So I went to join the party with two friends (Swedish and German).

At first, there was a cerebration at the City Council then the street parade was planned.

Since we left the university a little late, we decided not to get into the area of the city council but wait for the bus to pass on one of main streets.

BBC reporter was interviewing some people and everyone was so excited while waiting!

Everyone in the cerebration mode, kids, adults, women and men!

The security was ready for any incidence from the sky

And from the ground.

Then finally here is the bus!

The bus was really slowly passing.
People were screaming and cheering soooo much!

The players and supporters, all love their town!

After the bus, there was a long queue of police cars...

We passed the City Council after the parade and found the lions (or dogs?) dressed up in cerebration mode as well!

Of course, then we cerebrated at a pub☆

After submitting my dissertation, I would like to go and see a game of Canary (nickname of the club) on the Premier League♪

Spring holiday

After my birthday and all essays done!

Photo from the surprise bday lunch with uni friends

I attended a week intensive introductory workshop for humanitarian aid work in emergency situation just after all the essays.

Then now already 2 days to go before my final exams of my master course!

3 essays in three hours...

So I had to start revision for them...

I wonder when such a non-stop busy life will come to the exit..

But right now, I do not even have time for wondering such a question!

BUT, you know, this is still supposed to be my spring 'holiday'...

So...I went to Lincoln at Ben's place for a couple of days!

Everywhere, flowers are blooming in different colours.

Recently it has not rained for more than a month or so. Then I almost forget that I am in UK :p

We had a picnic in a woodland, about 30-40 minutes from his place.

Ben's handmade ban sandwich and many others for nice lunch :)

It was a weekday so few people were there.

We enjoyed the sun, a gentle breeze and bird singing very much!

Oh yes, we heard sometimes their voice, too though...

The couple of days, although I studied during the day, I had much more relaxing time.

We made pizza and fried pork Japanese style (pre-made) curry. We made Okonomiyaki-'ish' (Japanese pancake) to his family as well.

But as soon as I got back to Norwich, the day and night, study, study and study!

"By using an example of global environmental change, discuss its roles in poverty alleviation"

"Evaluate land/environmental degradation from the Political Ecology approach"

"Discuss the merits and limits of GIS for environmental management"

etc, etc...

Two more days of torture!

Although I will still have another exam for environmental economics on 20th May and also the dissertation obstacle, this final exam is very big! so at least if this is done...

 

The thing keeping me motivation up is the party organized by our development school after the exam!

My new year

It has been already three months past since this year started.

Then my 27th year has also arrived.

This year's birthday was very different from usual ones.

That is because I had never been so stressed out by study for my birthday...I had two essays to submit on 5th and 7th, the two days between my birthday...

But it was not only me who was suffering from the stress, but also all my course mates.

Nevertheless, some friends sacrificed their precious time to celebrate my birthday on the day at lunch time at university restaurant!

I felt so lucky to have such nice friends here.

As it was a surprise, I did not have my camera so there is no photo of that touching moment, sorry...

But at least, here one of their presents, German hippo chocolate.

Very cute and also delicious ;)

A part from the lunch, I spent most of my day of 6th in the library with my partner, mac.

But the day was the warmest day of the year with clear nice blue sky.

It cheered me up and also made my day more special.

Finally on 7th, I submitted my last ever essay in my life, well in this extraordinary intensive master course.

I finished the whole course apart from final exams in May and a dissertation by December.

In the afternoon, a huge cake arrived then I cerebrated my birthday as well as the end of my courseworks.

Carrot cake is my favorite cake in UK.

This one was especially special because it was made by Ben's mum!

Sooooo delicious :p

Normally, I would not enjoy my birthday so much anymore because of the age.

However, because of the disaster happened in Japan, I now appreciate the fact that I can get older under the environment that allows me to do what I want to do with my family and friends who support me all the time.

I will never forget the attitude of learning even if I get older and older.

Nature

Since March has started, I find signs of spring more and more often.

Flowers started to bloom and many young students sit on stairs on the university campus square to enjoy the sun as much as possible.

I like so much feeling the change of seasons but the arrival of spring is very special.

And I admire the strong living power and beauty of the nature.

However, the nature has not only its beautiful side but also very powerful threatening side.

March 11th, North West of Japan was destroyed by the extraordinary earthquake and tsunami.

Everyday, I feel so sorry and devastated by watching BBC news about the disaster.

It was so sudden and took over all of normal life, culture and even the protection that people had established for long time.

Now, I am looking at the issue of sustainable forest management associated with improvement of life of people dependent to forests.

Industrialised countries have been trying to stop deforestation dramatically happening in many developing countries in order to reduce GHG (Green House Gas) emissions as the highest priority of the world.

In such international tendency, REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries) has been in preparation in many countries (Indonesia, Tanzania, Ghana, Costa Ria, etc).

The purpose of such worldwide programme is to make people stop cutting trees and remain the existing trees or expand the forest areas by paying them for the amount of carbon sequestration that each forest does.

In brief, the capacity of carbon sequestration of a forest is calculated in monetary term and people who used to cut the forest are compensated by protecting it.

There are already anticipated numbers of problems to implement this programme.

To succeed, it is essential that donors, central governments, local governments and local people all have to collaborate, coordinate and reconcile their economic and political interests and social powers.

I wonder what would be the result of valuing forests solely on carbon sequestration capacity...

There are so many people, culture, history and lives within and surrounding of forests.

If we undermine the power of nature, it will probably manifest its presence and hidden destructive power to anyone.

Humans have been developing their life by manipulating nature.

But, now once, need to stop and think of the relations between us and nature...

My partner

I spend most of my student life with him...

Without you, my daily life can never work...

Of course, to read journal articles, work on assignments,

but also to communicate with my family and friends in distance, it is indispensable !

However, a couple of days ago, an accident happened!

a crack on the shift key !!!

Next day, I brought him to applestore quickly.

A female shop assistant received me and told me easily

"Oh, ok. It can be fixed in short time!"

Then she went to back office with him...

After 10-20mins of waiting

She came back with him and said...

"I'm sorry, I tried to take the key out then it broken..."

Oh no... :(

How miserable it looks !

Furthermore, she told me that as he is Japanese version, there is no stock of the same size shift key at store so she has to make an order then he can be fixed.

While waiting the replacement coming, she offered me a wireless keyboard...

Just in case, I accepted her offer but finally I didn't use it because it is an American keyboard and the  structure was different from him...

I has spent yet only 6 months... but I have never spent so much time with a computer  as I do with him.

Hopefully by this weekend, he will get his full body back...