Pretty Days

// Dear Diary Series — WEEK 9

9th November, 2020/ Monday

• Got introduced to the Sustainability Ambassadors program. Looks promising and I see potential in it for myself and for the community
• Promoting and discussing Praana Cafe more widely, building momentum around it
• Continuing to experiment Vegan Food Recipes. For a novice cook like me, food has to be basic, easy to cook, hopefully healthy but definitely tasty. That’s how my food looks too!
• Back to lectures as we resume Seminars this week. Burnt the midnight oil wholly and productively after a long time, slept at 3am but super happy with myself. Up to date on lectures, as I studied about the Australian Intervention in Solomon Island which was a positive outlier of International Intervention in State Building.

10th November, 2020/ Tuesday

• One of my modules is called Global Environmental Governance which was taught by Dr. Eleni in the first five weeks before the Independent Study Week. For the next five weeks till the end of the module we will be taught by Dr. Mattias, from Sweden who is an absolute joy, both in lectures and in seminar. Couldn’t stop laughing at his light hearted, casual jokes. Such a relief in these anxious times
• The Seminars today were particularly good. Never going to underestimate being fully prepared for class, lectures, essential readings, daily assignments, discussions boards, all of them together add so much value to what we are learning conceptually. So despite the sleepless night, I was feeling particularly charged up in class.

• Today was a particularly sunny day with clear blue sky. These are beautiful days, which nourish the soul
• Finally managed to get the Environment & Ethics Committee Officer and Member (haha, my friends!) Matthew and Hannah to talk about their Vegan journey for the next podcast episode
• I had the presence of mind to drop in a message about the Podcast at the Sustainability Ambassadors Program yesterday, and I am so happy I have been getting messages from across the University for collaborations. Can’t wait to unlock its full potential, as I continue to grow my network and tap into it.
• Some of the best academic reflections I have every week is during the five-minute walk with Prof Claire every Tuesday as we walk from one building to the next. Grateful to have mentors I can trust and lean into.
• Tuesdays are busy days. Apart from two seminars, I also have weekly Tutor Group then. It does give an additional space for academic support.

11th November, 2020/ Wednesday

• Chevening Orientation Day. Interesting fact, there are about 1250 Chevening Scholars across UK, and there are 34 of us in University of Birmingham, both of which I didn’t know. Though there is just one Indian Chevening Scholar here, me!
• A couple of weeks ago, some of us made a video for the Orientation which was played in the Intro video. Nice to be recognized but that comes with a lot of responsibility is leading way to aspirants. I love both parts of it!
• Assignments have clearly stressed me out (Or it could also be that really long run in the cold wind that got to me), had a massive headache and slept for about 12 hours. Being sick when you are living alone is not a great combination!

12th November, 2020/ Thursday

• Eat. Study. Repeat
• I watched a cloud, it was white.
• In the mornings, there is one particular tree towards the right of the garden. On my west facing window, I can’t see sunrise, but the first rays of the sun fall on this tree every morning and they glow up orange in the backdrop of green and black. It is pretty amazing! I took more than a moment to appreciate it today.
• Weekdays pass by so quickly specially when planning, recording, editing for the podcast. (Always, take more than I can chew so I am growing! Twisted but fine!!)

13th November, 2020/ Friday

• Today was a really good day.
• International Development seminar on point. Panicking, brainstorming about my Formative assignment and gathering thoughts
• After seminar, I went around for some Diwali shopping. Lights, candles, food. There maybe a lockdown, or not many Indians I know here, but nothing will dampen my festive spirit because it kindles in the heart.
• Days & daylight is shorter. Went out for a Harborne walk at about 4:30pm. Felt like 7pm, but the beauty is, they have started decorating the market for Christmas already. Small twinkly fairy lights. Lights are my favorite!
• Learning of the day: Zoom calls too can be absolutely, brilliantly fun. Just depends on who is organizing it and the kind of crowd that joins the party. We dressed up and got together for an Chevening India Online Diwali Party and it was so joyous!
• Full of laughter, games, fun, banter, I like this bunch. (If only it was accessible & feasible to meet more people in person!) Just putting it out together, looking forward to make strong, meaningful connections!

14th November, 2020/ Saturday

• Diwali & Children’s Day! Yayy! Thinking about my Teach For India kids, now almost a decade ago! Time does fly by more quickly than you’d think. Never realize it in the moment, but yet when you look back you would have come a long way.
• I cooked, a full damn meal. So proud of all my creations and innovations. I’ve outdone myself. First festival alone, away from home, so I guess I overcompensated. And a full vegan meal.
• Coconut milk kheer, vada pav and corn-peas pulao. I shared it with friends in the building and they loved it too.
• Used the fairy lights and diyas to decorate the room, wore a new dress and took a lot of photos, dressed in the day so that I could do lots of video calls to India, basically anything and everything to CELEBRATE! I am happy.

15th November, 2020/ Sunday

• Eating leftovers from yesterday and working on my International Development essay which is due midnight tomorrow
• How do we never learn from the past? Despite this being my Third Masters’ I still push off work till the last minute when the pressure is building, but that also optimizes my focus and productivity. Not ideal, not recommended but I am scraping through. Will plan better in the next few week!
• Chocolate-Coffee my savior!