Chocolate

I was supposed to be at a jazz concert now but that didn't really pan out. Instead I'm home, eating chocolate and drinking tea. Organic.

Today was an exemplary day. For the first time since I moved her I felt like I really knew what I was doing, no longer feeling like a fugitive, no longer ambling around. I've developed a routine, I've got connections, I've got a Costa Coffee Club card or whatever and I've got ideas. It's all coming together.

And every time I walk through town I ever so often stop and wonder at the beauty of it.

I'm in control.

St Andrews

I've finally landed in St Andrews and my life as a Ph.D. student has begun. Much to tell, but also in much need of sleep. Silly time to start writing. More will follow tomorrow.

St Andrews and the Middle East

St Andrews might be exactly what I'm looking for. Been here one evening and one whole day and it's been most satisfying, in every way (well, OK, the cleaning of my room has not been most satisfying, but other than that) and I believe I could be very happy here.

Iran is in turmoil. Imagine if Ahmadinejad was forced to give up and Mousavi became president. What kind of message would not that send to the good people in the Middle East and to that Arab street? No one knows what kind of president Mousavi would become, but he would represent something different. And what if he and Obama started talking. The people of Iran deserve much better than what they've got. More power to them!

In Lebanon the losing side in the recent election gracefully acknowledged defeat. When will every country in the region (or in the world for that matter) be as civilized as that?

Follow what's going on in Iran at Andrew Sullivan's blog: http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/

India's election and personal stuff

Yesterday I had breakfast with Lisa and Maeby, lunch with the deputy prime mininster and dinner with my cousin, the children and the cats. In between I got a fee waiver scholarship from St Andrews. £11 000 or something. I hope they will find it was money well spent.

Congress (and the alliance UPA) won the elections in India, and that's a relief. There are many parts of BJP (the main opposition party), such as it's close links to RSS (an extreme hindu nationalist organization) which are downright scary. Hopefully this election will lead to a more powerful government, with Congress less dependent on the communists for support, because there's so very much that needs to be done in India. Reducing poverty, expanding infrastructure, making peace with Pakistan and in Kashmir and reforming the political system (for example getting rid of the overwhelming number of harden criminals in parliament and in regional politics.) India may be the world's biggest democracy but it is also deeply flawed.

Now I'm listening to Gustavo Santaolalla and wondering what to do today. Low-key is the theme. I recently got up. There are two options. Either return to bed and read the latest issue of The Atlantic, or go on a biking trip with a book. But why choose, there's time for a bit of both.

more time and more keys

I think finally I'm beginning to get it all together (including my keys) and can actually allow myself some time off, doing idle things. I even had a bath yesterday. Fancy that. Whilst bathing I began reading Haruki Murakami's latest, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. It's not a novel but his own thoughts about his life, especially his life as a runner. It seems amiable enough. 

I've also begun reading Cosmopolitanism, by Kwame Anthony Appiah. I feel strongly that it's a book for me. I'll tell you later if it is. Just let me finish it.

I'm working on my application for St Andrews. It's going quite well. A bit back and forth, but that's to be expected I suppose. And it's very inspiring, just thinking about it, and a lot of ideas for articles and papers are popping up in my head. Right now I feel like I can do anything, and not only academically and creatively, but socially as well. It's a good feeling, and I hope it lasts.