The life of a master's student

I'm well into the semester now, just turned in my first assignment on Monday! The topic was "discuss how non-western international relations theories perpetuate the hegemonic nature of IR," talk about a doozy! I could have written about anything, and everything. Fortunately I was quite prepared the tackle the topic.

The life of a master's student is very autonomous and very busy. I only have about six contact hours a week, which is a big change from undergrad at the UofR. Mostly that just means I have a lot of work outside of class requiring all my time management skills to be put to work.

The Interpol department here is IR from a whole new angle than what I had previously been exposed to. The department is very theory based, which is giving me more normative and well rounded views of IR. My professors and my master's cohort are very international, which shows the prestige and reach of the department.

I'm taking classes completely outside of subjects I've looked at before: security studies, non-western studies, and Welsh Studies.

Security Studies: In this class we're exploring the many types of international events that could lead to violence, and thus security problems. From the the privitization of security (think Blackwater) and Warlords, to Environmental and Food Security. We have explored whether or not these problems should lead to national security or if these issues need a more cooperative, internatonal approach. Understanding what types of international events can lead to increased securitisation, usually in the form of military, is giving me a new perspective on peacekeeping.

Non-western IR: My friends, colleagues, and I often discuss the implications of globalisation in the western image. This can be elimination of languages, democratisation in places without an interest in democracy, and above all else the hegemony of western interests abroad. This class encapsulates all of those ideas and more. We don't real international relations texts, instead we read historical, anthropological, philosophical, and geographical texts, which provide new perspectives and ideas about how the world has become so westernised, which began with colonialism. This week we are reading, Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History by Michel-Rolph Trouillot, which explores the hegemonic nature of history production. This is a major theme of the course: how does our narrative of history shield us from the bigger historical picture.

Devolution and the National Assembly For Wales: this class is the main module for my course, I'm the only student in the course who isn't Welsh speaking. Learning about Welsh politics from Welsh politics students is a very unique experience and is giving me great information for my dissertation. This week we are going to the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff to meet with Assembly members and gain perspectives about what it's like to make policy in a devolved government from the individuals who are making the policy.

Onto the fun stuff!

I've been out and about exploring (when it isn't raining, which it is mostly). I walked up one of the lookout hills with one of my flatmates a few weeks ago and the view was gorgeous.

 Minus the grocery store at the bottom of the photo, this is a very iconic view of the Welsh countryside, windmills and all.

This is the view from the top of the lookout point. You could see most of the coast that day, all the way down to Pembrokeshire.

This week is the real ale festival and I've gone to my favourite pub, The Ship and Castle, to sample the craft brews, which were excellent.

New Country, New Town - Culture Shock

 (Above: the view from the Hill)

I've made it safely across the pond to Aberystwyth, Wales! Aber has so many great things to offer: a castle, incredible views of the ocean, more pubs per student than any other town in the UK, and Welsh cakes! I've done a fair bit of exploring so far and there are a few American comforts like KFC (although for those of you who know me I won't be eating any chicken, ever...), Subway, and Dominos. The toughest part is that all those things are at the bottom of a massive hill so by the end of the year I hope to be very fit from walking up and down.

                     
                                         

                                                 (Below: Aberystwyth Castle, the old University, and Constitution Hill)

In the week since I arrived, I've had a million tasks to do including but not limited to: registering for classes, getting a bank account, finding a sim card for my phone, getting to know my roommates, and exploring! Navigating the UK system has been quite challenging but they have kindly given us a whole week to sort everything out.

Although the UK is not as different from America as Russia, over the week I've had some interesting cultural realizations. I think one of the major ones is getting used to left side road traffic. From looking for cars when crossing the street to shuffling to one side of a busy sidewalk, I've got it backwards. I find myself looking checking for cars three, four, and five times before I cross the street. However, even on a one lane road as I look in the proper direction (UK proper) to cross, instinctively I check one time in the US direction before I cross. On a busy sidewalk, whereas in America we would shuffle right, the British shuffle left. The difficulty is that there are many internationals in Aber because it is a University town so determining the correct direction to shuffle can be quite a struggle.

                                                                                                 (Below: our kitchen and living area)

My flat is very nice! It was built only a few years ago so everything is quite new and high tech. Although I live with 10 other students, we each have our own shelf in the fridge, in the freezer, two cupboards and one drawer for our kitchen stuff. Unfortunately my cupboards are quite sparse since I could only bring the essentials with me.






In my flat there are 4 English, 2 Welsh, 1 German, 1 Norwegian, 1 Australian, and 1 American. So we've all had quite a bit of fun with our different cultures and different ways to say things. I said, "I don't really like eggplant," and one of my English flatmates said, "What's an eggplant?" Aubergine.

Classes begin on Monday and I am very excited. The modules (as they're called in the UK) that I am taking consist of: Critical Security Studies: Emerging issues, Devolution and the National Assembly, and Post-Western International Relations. More to come about those.






(Right: the International Politics building done in Welsh Slate)

(Below: Me at Aberystwyth Castle!)

Starting in September 2014, I will be leaving America to return to Wales. Rotary District 7120 has generously selected me to become their 2014 Global Grant Scholar studying international peace and conflict resolution at Aberystwyth University. (More information about Rotary Global Grants).

As many of you know, I began my Wales adventure in Summer 2011 when I was selected to attend the Wales Fulbright Summer Institute. That summer I spent six weeks in Wales visiting three Welsh cities: Cardiff, Aberystwyth, and Bangor.

Me at Cardiff Castle (2011)

Me in Snowdonia (2011)

The experience was beyond inspiring. I became fascinated with Welsh culture, history, and politics during my time abroad. When I returned to America I knew the future of my personal and academic growth would lead me back to Wales. 

In this blog I will record progress of my studies, interesting cultural phenomena I observe, and my experiences as an international student in Aber.

If you want to know more about Wales, check out the BBC widget at the bottom of this page. Keep track of my posts by signing up for email updates (on the right side of the page).