Autumn Term 2007 *

2007-12-14 4:37 p.m.

THREEPIO: Sir, if you'll not be needing me, I'll close down for
awhile.

LUKE: Sure, go ahead.
--From Star Wars Episode IV: A New hope

I can’t find a better quote but yeah I’m back here after so long. It’s actually good to stop wrting here for a while so that I can plan entries. I know some of my readers have being waiting for entries and even visit this site and odd hours to check whether I'm alive. Oh well.

It’s another whirlwind of a term that has just passed by. It was miles heavier than any of the terms in my first year. Welcome to the Second Year of a UK University ….

Microeconomics: More mathematical than theory can sump it up. That means plus and minus points, especially if you are either a maths lover or simply detest move figures around. There’s actually the comforting side which is the main lecturer, Prof. Indrajit Ray, who attempts most of the time to make problems look easier than they are. If not, he’ll force our blank expressions by remarking, “say yes (stress on the yes) and wait until we say it. Hehe. He’s great alright and I hope I won’t disappoint him Oh yeah, the fact that assignments are due every week also keeps you on the ball for this module. I do wish that the textbook had more mathematical problems to practice though….

Macroeconomics:

From the realms of John Sloman to N. Gregory Mankiw. Also from the humour of Dr. Martin Jensen and the methodical work of Dr. Rob Elliot to a new lecturer, Dr. Sebastian. Nothing at all wrong with that. Save the fact that we have to start the first lecture at 1700hrs on a Monday. Added to that is that we move from the beauty of the Keynesian-Monetarist debate and the new schools of thought to that of a certain “Classical-Keynesian” look. I say look because from what I’ve gathered, we’ve been drilled with a the fact that these two schools are the only schools of the pillars of Macroeconomics and that it. We argue no further. Dismissing what has been taught in first year Political Economy and the likes, I do sort of think that we should place so much on and emphasis on a school of thought that has long been countered and greatly evolved. Also, there’s no definite fact to say that the Classical and the Keynesian schools are the only schools in Macroeconomics. Still, you can’t exactly go against the system. The seminars are a little more exciting and eye opening…

Development Economics:

I wish I could turn back the clock on this to re-visit some lectures. Dr. Siddhartha Bandyopadhyay really makes it worthwhile to attend two hours of lectures on a Friday afternoon. Each lecture you see him asking at least half a dozen questions, not directed at any one but as signal for you to speak up. If you don’t, well you lose in the fact that the answers that people give can’t actually be heard across the room. (Doesn’t help that he doesn’t use the microphone). Even so, every topic is rather interesting though it’s partly mathematical in some sense. Even more challenging was the essay question set which I termed “the out of syllabus” question. (It is in some way). But it was fun writing it nonetheless. Development Econs has added an additional catalyst in my quest for the true form of global development

Methods:
Now, when you read the word “Methods”, you would think its another Economics module right? Wrong, it’s a POLSIS one, except that it can frankly be termed the “statistical political science module”. I dare say we may be the only UK university to try out this module. It doesn’t help that as a Joint Honours student, we weren’t allowed to choose its pre-requisite in our first year. It also doesn’t help that it seemed so distant from other modules of political science. Still, Dr. P Thomas is really great as a lecturer and a seminar tutor. Urm… I think this module gives a rather “light” workload for the GTAs. (Just a thought)

Political Analysis:

From Dr. Peter Kerr’s humours acts and his final show of his “interview”, we now meet Dr. Stephen Bates, a younger and yet just as well versed lecturer. His first warning to us was that this module was not a reflection or a regurgitation of Foundation of Politics. It certainly isn’t. A little twist for seminars was that each of us had to present a topic. Just as well. I gathered much from the othere’s presentation and I hope mine was just as thorough.

International Political Economy:

The love of my first year and thus I pursued it this year. Gone are the days of Watson-ian IPE. Gone are the complex lectures of Johnna Montgomerie. In comes a brand new lecturer/tutor, Dr. Andre Broome. Another one who fails to use the microphone—I do have a little problem with that. After eleven weeks with him, I’m still trying to figure what sort of IPE-ian he is. Perhaps he’s a mixture of all. Assignment wise, well, it’s good that we have to write only two main essays. Maybe. My book review choice is unorthodox but that shouldn’t hurt I think. It’s good practice in writing long essays, as Matthew Harley, my course mate remarked. Good training for our dissertation.

In other news, I’ve gotten into full swing with the campaigns section of the UNA. From a grand number of twenty four it has dropped to around six to eight regular members. A more accurate description would be an attendance every week of around four to five. Ouch. Still, that beats last years group of three. The plan well, let’s not jump the gun yet but there’s tons of areas to be covered. It’s on refugees and asylum seekers by the way. So, to learn more, we trouped down to London for a conference by the UK group Student Action for Refugees (STAR). Rather tiring a bustling journey, especially finding the venue. My take was that you’ve never seen London as a whole, no matter how many times you travelled there (because there means the “nice “ areas). Still, it was a little eye opener. It’s not all the time too that you get to meet an actual Afghan Asylum Seeker who narrowly escaped death. It also not all the time you really feel that sympathy ought to be extended to the millions of displaced persons world wide. It was also on the second day that we observed rememberance day. I’ll post some article related to this soon.

Another marvellous event was the Warwick International Development summit which cost be ten pounds and a train fare. It was where all the great minds who focused on International Development congregated. This meant students and well known officials from the WTO and other development related organisations. I chose to head there on the second day to listen to individuals like Prof. Richard Higgott, Ricardo Melendez-Ortiz ,Julius Coles, Duncan Green and Patrick Low. The topics and speeches were great, dave the fact that some of them just could not speak that loud despite the fact that I sat in the front. Or maybe it was the lethargy from the journey. That was certainly a shame if not I would have asked questions when it was open to the audience Lunch was also scrumptious, it was a range of cold pastas, soup and salad served on proper plates. And that cost like five pounds??? Hint to a certain society…..

Social wise, well, it’s been pretty much dead. As mentioned earlier, I’ve been around to Sell Oak to see old mates but that’s about it. Now during this three week break, well, it’s does look like a break to me. Call be over working or such, but yeah, next terms essays amount to 13500 words. Beat that kids.

It snowed for only one day—18 November. So I finally could sing “In November the snow starts to fly…” (line from a song in “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers”. I sort of predicted it since the ground for the past few days was full of frost. I actually wanted to place a bet with my friends since I discovered long ago that you’ll never can trust the weather forecast. So yeah, it started snowing at around 2000 but I got terrible pictures of it. I blame it on icy cold hands. There was of course enough snow for a snow ball fight which did transpire until Uni Security told us not to throw any balls (no pun intended) against the windows of other blocks. This years Fresher’s however, had a wilder idea. They marched all the way to Shackleton to pick a snowball fight with the residents. Yeah.

Before that was the annual Vale Fireworks and it seemed like the whole of Birmingham literally descended on the Vale to watch it. I invited as many Selly Oak mates (ie. Old flat and block mates) to have a mini party at my flat before and after the fireworks, but poor Stacey, Helen, Heather and Theresa couldn’t making it in time due to the massive human and traffic jam. That was really sad as I had prepared some snacks and bought Toffee Apples for them. The fireworks were really marvellous this year with soundtracks from classic movies to accompany them. Jack and I took dozens of photos but sadly none of mine were picked for the “photo of the month” contest.

Oh yeah, went around Selly oak to see my old block and flat mates as well as Janet and her house mates. It was great chatting with Laura whom I haven’t had a chat with in ages, and Paul—we watch an episode of Scrubs together (uh-oh).

It’s a short three week break but nonetheless welcome. Alright, let’s move on.

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