However, my deep felt apologies for the lack of information you might have experienced lately.
Fact is, I haven't made life easy for myself either by arriving straight from Beijing on the start of the year here... Right, Beijing! I have spent four (!) days in the Chinese capital successfully representing the Union of Myanmar at the Model ASEM 2008. Have a look at their website to find out more about the event and get some visual impressions... Basically we spent two days and a half in a nice hotel, negotiation and being diplomats. Of course we explored the Beijing night life as well, in various bars and clubs, and not to forget, karaoke bars! On the last day we had cultural programme - we rushed through the Forbidden City in an hour and a half, we saw the Olympic stadia from outside, and I jumped off the bus, as I was not really in the mood to attend some kind of sports/chinese culture video at the Tsinghua University. Instead, I headed for the Great Wall. Due to a tremendous lack of time I was constrained to go to the most touristic part of the Wall, but I was still impressed (and not only because of the gigantic Olympics sign next to the wall...)!
Completely exhausted I arrived in the UK on Sunday, because that's when my induction session was planned. A big surprise awaited me - I am the only one enrolled in my programme (Humanitarianism and Security)! Quite a strange feeling, I have to admit. But my classes are with more people - fortunately. And that is how I started of at Warwick Uni (which is in Coventry!)...
This week is reading week, which explains why I found time to set this blog up and start writing. So far, my general impressions are fairly positive. Yes, we have tremendous amounts of reading to do (to give you an impression - on my book shelve I have some thirty books, and I have another fifteen on my 'to read' list, apart from our reading materials (some 150 pages per module, and I'm taking four of them) we have to cover each week). But it is all incredibly interesting - yes, I have chosen to do this - and therefore I just wish I could stop time to read more in less time... With some works I fortunately manage to 'speed read', covering some three hundred pages in six hours, for example!
The modules I have at the moment are Humanitarianism and Security, New Security Challenges, International Humanitarian Law and Armed Conflict, and Theories and Histories of Human Rights. TBF: Contemporary Problems in Human Rights, and International and Regional Human Rights Regimes. Generally, all courses are interesting - that is, I make them as interesting as I want by reading as much interesting stuff as I want, of course. The Politics courses are somewhat easy, or I should say, the do not challenge me as much as the Law modules, which are moreover taught by incredible teachers...
The atmosphere on campus is great, and I really have the impression of being on Erasmus, but then without the partying and traveling. It is just amazing to study with so many nationalities together. To name but a few: Jamaica, France, Japan, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Russia, Taiwan, China (do not feel offended by my division), Pakistan, India, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, Sweden, ... A hell of a mix!
Though I spend most of my time on campus, I do not live there. I got a nice and spacious room in Earlsdon, a community just outside the city centre of Coventry, where most students reside. It is a nice house I share with three other guys, one from Sri Lanka, one from India and the third one from Mauritius. Again, what a mix! There is enough space to host some people, so whenever you want to come over, just let me know!
Hmm, I guess that's it for now. There are of course numerous other things to tell, like the amazing spec-ta-cu-lar party at the beginning of the year by Ministry of Sound deejays - man, one of the best parties ever! But now that this blog has been set up, I might hopefully write more regularly on it, so I can feed you later on with some more news and insights... Otherwise, the best way is just to write me - I tend to reply, if not always within a week... Just send me an email, a message on Facebook, a call or text message (00447503658954), or for the old-fashioned among you, my address here is 111, Hearsall Lane, Earlsdon, Coventry, CV5 6HG, UK.
And now, back to more serious stuff going on across the ocean!
