Papers, papiers, travaille

It's busy right now.
3,000 word paper due Monday for Governing by Delegation and I picked "Why have politicians throughout the world chosen to create independent regulatory agencies?" Why can't I just summarize: enhancing the credible commitments of policy makers (notably towards investors who seek long-term policies), dealing with increased technical complexity in policy-making, shifting blame for unpopular decisions, isomorphism, political uncertainty, state tradition, political leadership, and the introduction of new public management. And then be done! Alas, school - as I'd forgotten - is about proving that you've listened to the professor instead of updated your Facebook page every 10 minutes.

Microecon homework on equity standards and intergovernmental grant applications.

French - write a 1-page essay on something that happened last year (to show off that we learned past tenses): Sarkozy as president and not supporting the idea of Turkey as joining the EU.

Why do I challenge myself? Why not just write short and simple essays. Pick the easy work. Sigh.

Then, we move into Int'l Economics about the Mundell Fleming model and exchange rates -- flexible exchange rates and mobile capital (or their opposites). As well as a group project on global imbalances. Scenario Planning and looking at possible futures for Cuba. Conflict Management - might analyze the negotiations to end the civil unrest in Kenya (with Kofi Annan). But not sure. (If you have suggestions, pleas send my way!) Then, I'm starting a whole new class on Globalization this coming week. As if I don't have enough to do! Also, steadily pushing the planning for the fall Global Public Policy Network Student Conference, which will take place in Paris.

Still keeping an eye out for housing in Geneva for the internship at the UNECE this summer. Locked-in the dates folks, so I'm out of town 16 June to 8 September (just short of the 3 months deadline so I won't need a special visa). I'm meeting my future boss in Paris in a couple of weeks as he's here to do a conference at the OECD. (Who knew I'd be throwing these acronyms around like oh so casual conversation?)

Had a great visit with my pal Meghan and her boyfriend Mike from San Fran. Very low-key friends who ventured around on their own and then shared some time with me. We had an interesting couple of dinners and did a bit of the literary walk through the Latin Quarter (following Ginsberg, Hemingway, and the like), chilled at the Deux Magots, took a boat on the Seine, ate gelato for the first time, and got to know the St Michel district better. It was great to see them and hard to see them go. But oh, the new things in Paris I did!

Walked a bit around my neighborhood a couple of days ago and fell in love with Paris again. Just after the rain stopped, a stormy turbulent sky with bright blues behind the clouds, sun peeking out, streets shining, windows dripping, the warmer air. Delightful in Montmartre.

Also, joined my friends Wilfried and Sarah last weekend to march for prostitutes' rights. We thought Susie Bright might join us since she was in town but she missed the march due to delayed arrival to Paris. Bummer! But the march was absolutely excellent, and I thoroughly loved meeting the Les Soeurs de la Perpetuelle Indulgence (of which Sarah belongs - 4th woman aspirant to go through the process; San Francisco/English).

But now I'm hunkered down for the long haul. Daylight savings just turned over to 3am here. Got to get some sleep.

There are a lot more photos up on Flickr:
more India: Taj Mahal, Agra and Agra Fort, Delhi to Agra
and from 2007: visit with Josh, Cully & the Triumph in Minneapolis, sushi with my sister, Emily & Mike in Minneapolis, the family farm and grandma

Why I Love My Family

Mom wrote:

While plundering about on e-bay today, found a truly remarkable recipe book - "Rabbit on a Shovel" BBQ book - from yes, indeed, the Land DownUnder. Should we order a family book which could be passed around and recipes copied as we saw fit for whatever tools or small game we have available at the time?

Thought you all should be aware of our fine techniques and the possibility that you too could own this book.

Love Mum, ABJ




Lauren's Sister wrote:

a family book would be tons of fun. then maybe [boy cousin in town] and I can host a family gathering out here. We could rig some sort of odd contraption in a backyard and cook some of the bunnies from my neighborhood.




Lauren had to pipe in:

Ok, I haven't been out of the country THAT long.. I'm still vegetarian, mum. ;) Bunny on a stick? What was that?! What about shrubs on the simmer? ... I swear.. I'm neither Aussie nor Norweigi-Welsh. Are you sure I wasn't adopted after all?

.... I would LOVE to see this remarkable book. Might come in handy on this student's (non)salary and all the rats running around Paris.






>lauren wrote (to her dad):
>I don't have to request a ballot right? not for [the april elections] b/c i already put in a request for all of them thisyear?
>
> thx!



On Monday, A Couple Hours Later, Dad wrote:

Just spoke with a deputy clerk at city hall who said that the ballot went out Thurs or Fri. Since they only just got them from the printers on Wed. that is about as quickly as they could. She remembered sending the one to Paris, and wished they had asked for a courier. I would expect that you will have very little time to turn it around. It must arrive here by Tues Apr 1 to be counted. Me, I just drive over to the Armory and stand in line for half an hour. But then, I don't get to have French wine, cheese, and bread for my next meal after that. Always a trade off.

Dad




Lauren replied immediately:

Always a trade off, indeed. Then again, I need the wine to get the anxiety down about having no real money to pay for the cheese and bread. So, which is better? Hmmm.. ;) (I am trying to remember to enjoy it.) ... so, then, prepare me for the ballot? Who am I voting for? Really. I'm not kidding. Which race is this b/c right now I'm overwhelmed studying the National Lottery Commission of UK to learn about independent regulatory agencies, looking at possible political scenarios related to Cuba, learning Passé Composé and Imparfait (thank god for Spanish!), trying to understand monetary versus fiscal policy (exchange rates, subprime crisis, all things macro), the utility of food stamps versus cash transfers, and studying the technique of bargaining in conflict management -- while trying to find an apartment in Geneva.

... right. ...

who am I again? ;)

Thanks for checking on the ballot, dad!!! xoxoxoxoxoxo




And, earlier my lovely cousin on the east coast sent photos of their new family with the new baby girl. Ahhh, I'm excited to meet the new kids and see my cousins again.





Always there in times of need - even if they don't know it. Gotta love 'em.

March comes in like a lion

Weather:
I thought the roof of my building was going to fly off the other night. That fear was followed by wondering if the sheets of speedy rain were going to break the skylight and drown me as if I were in a fishbowl. Luckily, neither happened.

I guess winter has come and gone. I certainly didn't notice it very much. I might very well take my 4 pairs of long-john pants and 6 long-john tops down to the railroad tracks and burn them in a long overdue thank you to the gods. If you know anyone of medium womanly build who might like some cuddle duds, let me know, as we're starting to have 39F-53F degree days now. Gone are are the 30F-43F, with only one half-hour of rina that looked like snow and sleet. I hear there are flowers blooming in the countryside under the grey skies. With spring break next week I'm tempted to take a jaunt out of town just to see.

.....


India:
in other news: I've started adding the India photos. I've got 2000 in total so it's a slow process. Slightly impatient, I decided to do the editing and uploading while forgoing the titling. That will have to come later - or in stages. So, if you're so inclined to see some of New Delhi, it is slowly showing itself at 616 photos.

.....

Back home:
I/We made a law. I've never made a law before. I hope it's worthy of being on the books and that forty years from now, children aren't reading about the policy failure of Compassionate Care for Rape Victims. Although, I do hope they're reading about "back in the day when this kind of legislation was necessary.."

I wasn't able to be there for the Governor's signing of it into law, but I could feel it over here. A huge sigh of relief. An excitement for future women seeking equality and justice. And, hopefully, just the right amount of pat-on-the-back to help my colleagues to keep fighting the good fight.

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.
When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

I am so lucky to have been able to work and live with some amazing people during the CCRV effort.

news article
video of signing (Highlights: Rep. Musser - Republican, says "Don't tell my caucus." and gets a laugh. Survivors: Linda, Amanda. Being able to see all my colleagues through the lens - Sara's LONG hair. And Governor Doyle, who even though he can't pronounce "contraception" very well is still a total champion for women's rights.)

......

School:
I'm going to try to write 3,000 words this weekend. Not randomly, but perhaps stringed together under the frame of privatization or perhaps independent regulatory agencies. Yesterday, our professor for international economics told us we have a lighter workload than our colleagues at other schools and that during his first year of school he lost 15 kilos and his mom told him he wasn't going back (he's Italian and damn good looking, so I imagine he lost a bunch of pasta weight). His comment was kind of harsh and a little uncalled for, but I do love his course. It's just that 3 problem sets (the first of which took me 10 hours total), 1 midterm, 1 group presentation, 4 weekly bibliographies (complementing our course pack readings) seems a bit excessive when considering the totality of the work load. I don't mean to complain or whine, and it's not that I don't want to be challenged. I just want to have the opportunity to do my work well and not half-assed-hoping.

I've heard that the first year of grad school is the worst. But there are only two of them! I'd rather like to have a few more after this one just to balance things out.

Maybe I'm not up to par. I often feel like I'm falling behind, struggling to hear and internalize every word, treading water, barely getting it at all. And then when it comes time to regurgitate or reformulate, I hope I can discover something new. But I gave that up last semester when I realized I'm not in the research field, I will not be discovering new ideas, I will not be publishing right now. So, I am content to try to understand and demonstrate my comprehension. Bor-ing. But oh well.

So, I'm looking at Spring Break next week Thursday for 6 days. It would be a delight to go somewhere for a few days. If I get this 3,000 word paper out, I will let myself leave the city and be alone. Now, to think of a short 2.5 day trip. Please feel free to send your suggestions!

New

New videos from the Josh and Sarah visit, including "adult cheese snack time."
New photos from their trip, too. (I'm like a month behind in everything)
New cousin added to my family!
New sight today: snow/sleet in Paris! For about 2 hours it was off-on. No collection on the ground.
New feelings: Overwhelmed again. I accepted the internship to UNECE in Geneva so I'm re-locating (and all that entails: subletting mine, finding one in Geneva, completing paperwork, visa apps, money considerations) while still going to school (8 courses with 4 group works right now - kill me please) and trying to have a life (heading to Edinburgh this weekend to see various friends)
New trip: Edinburgh
New realization: (old) I am overwhelmed in Paris. I have nothing to complain about.
New fears: what's going on in the rest of the world outside this bubble.
New understanding: what comes around goes around and there's nothing new that goes around anymore - it's just recycled and all interpreted how we'd like to interpret it, there is no truth, there only is now.
New to the blog: the sidebars on the right include import requests and new blog finds.