Travel photographer? Moi?

Loryta, apparently those "point & $#!+" cameras aren't so bad after all - a photo that I took on mine just made it into an online travel guide of London!

If you go here, click on "Events & Festivals" and then "Sporting Events," you will see my photo of Craven Cottage. There are three photos there, so you may have to flick through them - mine is obviously the one marked with my name.

The photo is from last year's Cambridge and London weekend, when Chung and Ralf and I went to the Varsity Football Match. We got there quite early, so we had plenty of time to relax and look around before things started. It was great fun.

I know it's not the most exciting picture in the world, but I'm excited that it is being featured so prominently. :)

Two more days until my impending doom...the transfer viva!!!!! GAHHHHHH!!!!!

On the value of scholarships

So I found out today that I won a scholarship. It's called the [name redacted to limit Googlability], and it's one of the scholarships offered by my college. While I am honored that they chose me, I can't help but think, "What's the point?"

You see, the value of this scholarship is £350. My estimated annual expenses (tuition, fees, living, etc.) as projected by the college total about £21,000. If you combine this scholarship with the prize I got the other day, it covers about 2% of my annual expenses.

Why do scholarships like this exist? Instead of giving eight of these out, which is what they do, why don't they combine it and really make an impact on someone's tuition?

It makes me bitter because most Oxford scholarships are not based on need. In fact, you have to prove that you have the money to cover your expenses if you want to be considered for the scholarship. I have to do this by showing them loan guarantees.

It also bothers the hell out of me that the colleges charge a "voluntary donation" towards the International scholarship fund every term. I opt out of it every time, because I'm struggling enough as it is. Doesn't it seem a bit wrong to take money from people who can't afford to be here to give scholarships to people who can afford to be here?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not ungrateful. This money will just about cover my plane flights next year (two of them). But, umm, that's it.

Secret message to Oxford: we Americans are not all rich, you know. Some of us are stumbling through this on our own, knowing damn well that we'll be paying for this the rest of our lives, out of the hope that the name recognition will give us that slight edge when we go off into the real world.

That's all my ranting for now. Thanks for listening.

xxx

Random Bullets of Stuff That Merits More than Random Bullets

• I hate this time of year, because I hate saying goodbye to everyone. Some people I will see next year, some people I will never see again. And it's not as easy as it is in the States, because going home for these people means California or London or South America, not Long Island. So meeting up for a visit is not exactly easy.
• My partner-in-crime, Chrissie, left this morning at 4 am with her dad. She's going home to San Francisco. We've gotten to be really good friends this year, being neighbors and all. Even though we've only known each other for two years (and we really didn't talk much last year), she is one of the few people other than my sister who knows me really well. Hopefully, if things work out, I'll see her this summer. If not, I'll see her in November for graduation. But I do know that things certainly won't be the same next year.
• While I am sad that Chrissie has moved out, I was happy to discover that Enrique and Dan would be moving in for the summer. We'll only be neighbors for a few weeks, but it's fun to have them right across the hall for a while.
• It turns out that I'm not done for the academic year just yet. I have my transfer viva on Monday! This is the interview where my examiners will question me to see if I deserve to transfer from probationer status to full doctoral status. I'm very nervous, primarily because I'm doing a topic that's very popular. They'll what to know what I can contribute to the field that hasn't been discussed already. But, on the other hand, I know my examiners. One was my examiner last year, and he's pretty straightforward to deal with. The other one was my supervisor last year, so I know what he expects from me. So, hopefully, it will all work out.
• I went to the doctor today, for reasons I will not discuss here (although I may rant about them tomorrow at Phantom's place). I decided to ask for the female doctor today, because my regular doctor causes me to lose all my faith in British healthcare. Basically, whenever I go to him, he tells me to "have some tea" and that "we'll watch it." I had a horrible cough for FIVE WEEKS because of him! Anyway, today I went to the female doctor, and she was a world of difference. She asked questions. She actually examined me. She made plans for a follow-up and decided to get all the information first before just prescribing something. I left feeling much better about the whole situation. OMG! Ponies!
• After seeing the hell that Chrissie went through to pack up her stuff, I am going to make an effort to do a little bit of organizing/packing every day. (This is especially necessary since I've just acquired a whole bunch of Chrissie's stuff!) Today I threw out a whole box of old papers and other crap, and discovered that some of the boxes that were taking up space in my cupboard were actually empty. After 2 July, when my viva is done, I will go into full packing mode so I am not freaking out the night before I leave.
• Although I always miss this place terribly when I leave, I am looking forward to going home. It's been a long time, far too long, and the time I spend at home keeps getting shorter and shorter. Plus, I'm quite broke, and I'm getting tired of British food. Besides, going home every time makes me continue to appreciate this place when I come back!
• The Internet is down in the college, so I'm doing this from the wireless connection in the MCR. The connection has been quite sucky lately, which probably sucks for the conferences. Oh well. I guess I should use the down time to do other things, like read and clean and get ready for my viva...

That's all from me for now. G'night!

xxx

On Thomas Jefferson

So this afternoon I've been thinking about Thomas Jefferson. Apparently we have something in common. It's certainly not appearance, and it's not political affiliation. Maybe it's appreciation of whiskey, as he eliminated the unpopular whiskey tax while he was in office. But I have a feeling that's not the right answer either.

What the hell is she babbling about now, you ask? Well, this afternoon I got a letter in my pidge (mail box) from the Master of my College:

Dear Kaitlin

The Thomas Jefferson Prize 2007

It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you that the College has awarded you the Thomas Jefferson Prize. This is a prize set up by an emeritus Fellow of St Catherine's, Mr Wilfrid Knapp, to recognise the North American who has done most to enrich the life of the College in the tradition ot Thomas Jefferson.

I have the pleasure in enclusing a cheque for £150 and would be grateful if you would acknowledge receipt.

With many congratulations and all best wishes for your continuing success

Roger

This was a very exciting and delightful surprise! It was not something I applied for, it is just selected annually by the College. It's nice to know that all the crazy running around I've done for the past two years has not gone unnoticed. :)

Tonight I am going to see a play called Art, by Yasmina Reza, which is being performed in College by three of my friends. I'm definitely looking forward to it. If you're in the area swing on by to Catz for 8 pm, you don't want to miss it!

xxx

Annoyed

So I've just changed my banner again (yeah, I know it's nearly the same, but I like to update the pics), and now when I look at the blog, I see this little line thingy that was never there before:
Do you guys see it on your browsers too? And do you know how I can get rid of it? Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

Edit, 6/16/07, 2:09 pm: Andy's idea was the best one so far. I caved in and did the template upgrade thing so I could mess around with the layout a bit more. I'm not totally happy with how the banner came out, but I'll work on that. At least, for now, the weird liney thing is gone. Thanks Andy! :)