First Semester - Done!

I wanted to update this blog more often but alas I was not very good about because of school. Until I came to Columbia you know, I never understood the meaning behind a vacation. After 2 weeks I usually wanted to go back to school and I didn't really ENJOY my breaks. For the first time in my life I can say, this is not the case. I have never been worked so hard in my life and I finally understand why people look forward to vacations! The day that I was done with finals I was in awe. I thought, "I'm really free?!" It felt good! Since Monday I have been seeing friends, sleeping late and going out. What a wonderful feeling!

So to update you on things that have happened. A lot has happened. Well something major. Henry's grandpa passed away last Monday. He was 87 but an awesome individual. He was a survivor of WWII. He was in the US Navy and he survived 5 days at sea when the USS Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine in the Pacific ocean. He was only 19 at the time. I suppose since that time he worked hard to live life to fullest, and that he did. He was a skier, a golfer, a sailor and a traveler. He shared 60 years of marriage with his wife Sandy before he passed away and had 3 children. I was very glad to have gotten to know him and to spend time with him these past 7 years. He was truly a great person and he will be dearly missed. RIP Donald.

Since Henry's grandfather passed away, there have been concerns regarding his grandmother. She has the early signs of dementia and she must be going through a really difficult time right now. Everyone was concerned about her living alone in her house but we don't want to put her in a home right away because enough change has taken place in a short period of time. Henry and I were asked a while back if we would consider living with her temporarily in the suburbs. After having a long and serious discussion, Henry and I agreed that it would be best and the right thing to do to live with her. We are the only ones who have the flexibility to do this and we really care about her so we are going to do it. It may not be the easiest commute for me to Columbia, but I will be living there for free with Henry and we will be helping a dear family member. As you may or may not know, family is VERY important to me and one of the things that I value the most. As messed up as my family may be at times, I could never leave them in their darkest hour if they needed me. Hence, why they tend to stress me, because I CARE.

Finally, there has also been talk of marriage. Henry's family has been sort of nudging and asking when he will propose. It's kind of crazy to think but he and I have been dating for 7 years and next year I will be 25. Wow, a quarter of a century old. Also, in the summer I will working in Indonesia! How exciting! Looking forward to the adventure that lies ahead. It'd be nice if he actually proposed before I left but everything in due time. I used to be really impatient when I was younger but I have learned the virtue of patience :)

Grad School Orientation - DONE!

Orientation was interesting yet overwhelming. So much information was being thrown at me, from the math camp (more like math boot camp) that week, to registering for classes, networking events, getting my business cards etc. I felt drained everyday I would come home and usually had a headache. My friends joked that if I came out with a headache (sometimes felt like a migraine) someone else may have had a meltdown. Classes haven't even started but without a doubt, Columbia will surely kick my butt. I will do my best as I have to maintain a 3.2 for my fellowship but must get a 3.4 or higher to apply and qualify for a 2nd year fellowship at Columbia to supplement my Rangel fellowship. I already started a study group for one of my classes.

I have also been working on my application for next summer's US embassy internship. After much thought and research I realized Burma isn't the right place for me. My first choice is actually Jakarta, Indonesia, my second is Bangkok, Thailand and my third is Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. I really do hope I get Indonesia though, as it would be a good place to do some thesis research, so we shall see. Either way, things will work out. By the way, I am taking my foreign service oral assessment (a sort of all day practicum comprised of 3 parts) this month on the 23rd. If I pass, I'll be done with my requirements for the foreign service and will be a Foreign Service Officer after finishing graduate school!

Currently, I am taking 5 classes. Economics 4200 (a year long course that is required), Politics of Policymaking (my mpa core requirement), War, Peace and Strategy (my int'l security requirement), management and governance of developing countries (a management class- I have to take one but I can choose from 5 different types) and East Asian Security. In addition, I am taking a professional development workshop for .5 credits that is required. I may drop one of these classes, most likely the management and governance one because I heard it's horrible and everyone I've talked to hasn't said a single nice thing about this class. However, I wanted to see how bad it was for myself because the material itself seems interesting.

Emmania is Going to Burma!

Today I had a greatly productive day. I have been working on submitting two book recommendations, my CV and a writing sample to Columbia's International Affairs journal for their 2011 fall/winter issue on totalitarian governments. I am hoping this works out. I will know by Aug, 5th if I was chosen to write a book review on one of my book recommendations.

I also met with my FSO mentor who works in the East Asia and Pacific Affairs bureau at the State department and she is fantastic! I told her that I was torn regarding my overseas U.S. embassy internship for next summer but after talking to her I have decided to go to...BURMA! I know it sounds crazy and yes, the military dictatorship there still squelches dissent and democratic freedoms, but this is why I want to go even more. When I told my mentor that I wanted to return to Viet Nam but mentioned Burma she reminded me that I can go to Viet Nam at any time during my career, but that Burma is a unique experience like nothing else. I believe her. The more I read about Burma, the more I am intrigued by its predicament and sheer beauty. It looks like Asia before globalization took hold and it is breathtaking. This country has been so isolated that it is quite unlike anything in Asia, and not necessarily in a negative way. In addition, I am considering doing my thesis on Burma as my concentration is International Security with a regional focus on East Asia.
Here are some pictures to entice you, in hopes that you will have an interest to visit some day too.