Finally a Calmer Update

I feel like I should write on this blog because I haven't done an update since school started. Things have been moving so fast the last two months I've barely had a chance to think about writing something here. But the guilt has taken over me and I'll give you a full update of what the last two months have been like.

When classes started I went to ever single one to see what it was like before I made my decision. That was a really bad week. I settled on the best five from the 30something I went to. I wanted to choose classes that contrasted the most with my current knowledge base. Since I knew very little about Asian International Relations, history or news, I took classes that covered the broadest range of topics about Asia. Two of the classes were intensive courses which means that they finished this week and my workload has finally lifted a bit. The classes I'm taking are:
1) Japanese Foreign Policy
2) Diplomacy
3) International Law
4) Foreign Policy and Peace Building
5) Global Citizenship and Peace (This class has a field-trip to Tokyo next month)
In addition, I also have to take a seminar class with my research directer where we hash out a scheme on what I will be doing for my thesis. I will add any thoughts I have on these classes if anyone wants to know. Overall, my perception of Asia has hugely changed as I now have a more holistic view of the world and how it functions. I really want to go to China and see what is happening over there. But funds limit any such adventures for the time being. Its feels good to get my head out of its box.

The best part of the last two months have been the people that I've been meeting. From the professors, colleges to people on campus and friends of friends. The networking that has been happening cannot be compared to any other experience I've had. Everyone here is so interesting and everyone comes from a different background. Some are Japanese who want to take a program or class in English but most are from all around the world. In my faculty, I've now had a chance to meet people from, Indonesia, Madagascar, Spain, Russia, Thailand, Korea, China, Brazil, India, US, Uganda, and Hong Kong (not really the same as a person from China).
Its really international and everyone has their own background and ideas on how they see the world, relations in it and views on the future or current situations. Its really amazing to listen to some of their stories sometimes. Unfortunately, so of my tendencies get in the way and I can come off as arrogant and proud but I've been working on that to be aware of when that happens and try to curb it. I can only hope that I haven't pissed off too may people yet. Overall, people here have been pretty forgiving of my loudmouth since I'm the token white guy, I'm allowed to say things like "Damn" and get away with it. Its fun to be a minority sometimes. In this environment it can be really beneficial to hear what others think since the range of experiences is so big. Compared to classes in Canada where mostly everyone has Canadian experiences and similar intentions post graduation, what people say here is really unpredictable. It could not be a better environment to study the world.

Besides classes and meeting people. Most of my spare time has been spent either working or studying. I teach English almost as much as I go to class just to pay for living expenses. I hate it and I've applied to every bursary, scholarship, free money program I could find to make my life easier. Almost everyone here has a scholarship. I'm jealous as hell.

Lastly, I've been searching for an internship. The school system here is 4 months class and 2 months off rather than 8 months class and 4 months off like we have in the West. That means February and March I technically have nothing to do. So every spare moment I've been looking and begging for internships. The deal with internships is that most of them are for graduates and they are unpaid. So if I don't get one while I'm in school it may get harder or impossible later. I'm trying to get into the UN but that's harder than it seems.

I'll put up some pics soon now that I have more time on my hands. I'll write about what kinds of things I'm researching and what other little adventures I've been doing.

I want to get into the habit of leaving a little bit of news about me but the last two months have been crazy. But overall its been so much fun.

Celtics Fan Celebration

The goats with a head for heights

The ibex goats on the Cingino dam in Italy. Photograph: Adriano Migliorati

These newly released pictures of Alpine ibex goats scaling the 160ft face of the Cingino Dam in northern Italy are fascinating, but not unusual. It's a classic illustration of how well this species has adapted to its environment.

Ibex spend their life climbing up mountains to graze; then, at a certain time of day, they climb down again. They get different foods this way. They go uphill because the grass is better there in the summer, while in the winter it is better below. Here, I think, they are licking the stone for its minerals and salts. At a lower level there's plenty of grass, but they do need salts and minerals, and this must be a favourite place for them.

The ibex have soft, split hooves that can grip like a pincer. Big and supple with shortish, powerful legs, they are very sure-footed and have good eyesight. In the north of Italy or the Alps, there are predators – their calves, for instance, are eaten by eagles – so they have to be on the lookout all the time.