Serendipity...?!

When I was 14...I wasn't a fan of this movie. The whole accident love story and fate bringing them back together?! Come on, that doesn't happen in real life. But this past week....I might have/ temporarily changed my opinion. FYI serendipity means: happy accident or surprise...like love?!

So my literature review essay is DUE this Nov 30th  FRIDAY at 4:00pm. This week has been full of writing....and riding my bike in the rain and cold sores....and diabetic lows.... and a real serendipity moment(s)... 

Intense University Library!

Mel and I at our library tour

I have to find this book. It's essential and old....and costs $54 dollars on Amazon. BUT Cambridge has every book. It's just finding it. After a long journey in the pouring rain to 3 libraries....a nice librarian with a classy bow tie sorted it out. The book is at the main University Library!

I parked my bike next to a man's metallic white road bike....with a Zebra-printed seat! I figured, "Whatever guy owns that bike would be pretty much perfect!"It is in the restricted area....in a tucked away room. After putting the room in my iPhone Cambridge GPS...I found it!  

It is delightful! Like a fairytale! The ceiling is high....and book shelves with ladders! The room is staffed by a darling librarian with RED glasses! She's classy. She found my book and went over the very STRICT rules. I'm tellin' you worse than the airport! No coats, no pens, no iPods, no photos, no purses...no gum....no FOOD! So she kindly took my diabetic supplies and put them in an "emergency" stop. I settled in between two large book shelves with my own TABLE!!!! 

It was me and some other man in this marvelous room. I was transcribing away....for a LONG time. And I noticed my hands were shaking and I was dizzy. So I needed the emergency food! The librarian was out....and I figured it was just me. So one option climb over the desk and get it!!!! Which I did and then proceed to eat all my emergency food....gotta love diabetes. Just as I was climbing back over the desk. I hear a laugh. HE'S in the ROOM too! And I seem like a crazy person. Just then the librarian came back....so I went back to work.

Then 7 hours later. I am leaving the library....it's dark and rainy and I'm late. I put on my dorky/hideous helmet....and pull my bike out and just then....The owner of the super awesome zebra-printed seat bike comes and it's HIM!!!! For real! He opens his mouth and then... a girl from my research class comes out of no where and is crying! She needs my help with some project. See ya never, zebra-printed seat bike man.

Next day...I don't have to go to the library. But then I realize that my external hard drive is GONE!!! I can't find it anywhere....I do have a kinda back up copy of my life's work essay....but not really. PANIC!!! However, at the central library lost and found I found it. The worker said, "Ohh yes I have it. Oddly enough it was in the commonwealth restricted zone. No one goes there. A very kind young man rushed down straight away in the morning with it. He looked up who the owner was....so I"ll need your ID."

Finally a photo of my bike!

Thank you "very kind" "zebra-printed seat bike" man. The next day I'm in the library, and the secret room is not open on saturdays. I'm working and working and working.... and then it's time to leave. Every person get's checked when they exit. It takes FOREVER! The security guard says,
 "What have you done to the book called "First Nations Education Policy in Canada"?
 I innocently say, "I read it."
 He responds "No you did more than that! There are papers placed in it. We have to use these books for a long time. You must remove the markers now. It could damage the book."
I say, "Okay. Do you have a pen? I need to write down the page numbers?"
"No pens! You're holding up the line. You are ruining the book for everyone else. Just take them out."
I say, "Okay...I'm the only person ever to take this book out. It's 30 years old too."
And then I hear....that same laugh!!! It was Zebra-printed seat bike man. 4 people back in line.

In St. Edmund's orchard! Thanks Mel!

The guard finally was happy (once I took out the paper pieces) and let me through....
and then as FATE would have it....
my cell phone rings right as Zebra-printed bike man walks up. It's kinda an important school related call...I had to answer it RIGHT?
he smiles at me holding the door, shrugs and is off on his bike.

So that's it. But he saved my life...turning in my external drive...My entire term is based on this essay! So serendipity right?! Unexpected surprise.....and as fate will have it....I have to go back to the secret room tomorrow....

It's raining......MEN!

I have had 36 roomates/apartment mates so far....all of which were girls. Upon my arrival at Cambridge, I realized instantly that my corridor has 6 people including me. We are from 6 different countries and 4 continents...and there's 4 men. Shannon lives right across the hall from me (and she's fantastic so disregard the girl generalizations!)
I realize there are a few issues this the sample size and selection. But this is a very very interesting case study.
I have concluded that men are much much much better to be living next door to...  There are many reasons...
1. They are actually cleaner! (now the reason for this is unknown. But I think they do their dishes RIGHT away)
2. No hair all over the sink and clogging it
3. No freak outs- bad things totally happen but instead of the whole world crashing in...."I just have to write a new thesis review." Not saying "I can't do this. I don't have what it takes."
4. communal ownership- use the rice cooker next time! use my chop sticks...."umm Carly, a stir-fry needs soya sauce. Use mine"
5. Better sharers - In the kitchen making a salad with TUNA on it...Shaun says,  "You love raspberries, want some?" This could be attributed to feeling pity for my dietary choices....
6. Computer geniuses- My reference program was being a punk. I was exsaperated. So I went to make dinner. Once in the hall, I hear, "Are you okay?" Which was followed by, "No, I'm frustrated and mad." "At who?" "My computer!!!!" insert laughing "Ohh that's a relief. I thought I was going to hear about some relationship." "That would be better than this. I have 6000 word essay due tomorrow. Zotero corrupted my files of citations. Now I'm going to do it by hand for the next 4 hours." (watery eyes).  5 minutes later, fixed. "Bytheway, a computer isn't a person so you can' be mad at it."
7. Fixers- 3 AM I'm freezing....I realize that my window is a bit cracked open. I try everything to shut it...and then a light knock on my door. "Carly, I'll show you how to close the window." Problem solved
8. They don't take 30 min showers!!!!!!!!!!
9. Quieter- I have like superhero hearing! Ask Rachel.....this is the best perk. They don't play "Call me maybe" on repeat while blow drying their hair!!! I think I am the loudest person! Mainly because when I have writers block I go running....but after that I dance! Now I put my iPod headphones in....
10.  Emergency planners- Fist weeks of being here. "So saw your insulin. Your diabetic--what's the plan for if you have a problem?" next boy "Carly, I'll keep some juice in my room, just in case you need it." next boy "So if you ever have a problem. COME get me. Write down your GP's (doctor's) number" next boy "So what type of symptoms should I be aware of? And put the list of all your medications next to the GP numbers." Thanks guys...I'll be set.

Home sweet home.....

11. Considerate- So the fridge is usually pretty full. I live on tuna and almonds....and eggs. Yeah, I don't eat them together. Gross! I had a jar of mixed tuna in the shared fridge. One of the guys was moving things around and it feel on the ground. The tuna went everywhere. What did he do? Clean it up! And washed my jar and since I wasn't home...wrote me a nice apology note offering to share any of his food if that was my plan for dinner AGAIN! Plus, money to pay for the tuna!!!
In girl world it could have went this way. But it might go like this...."Carly you put your tuna in a bad spot and the container wasn't closed right. So like, I don't have time to deal this this. You should be more considerate."
12. And better running partners....for real! Running with a girl usually ends with a damaged friendship! Seriously!
13. Inclusive- one dreary evening after hours of researching. I realized I had to eat! So to the tuna... a few of the guys were mulling around in the hall. "You emerged! STOP! Come eat with us! No tuna tonight!"
14.Exact....which is wonderful! No multi-tasking while cooking! They get it done with the LEAST amount of dishes and the LEAST amount of time. Focused and not hazardous!!!
15. Don't come interrupt studying to chat or share their life problems. To which, I feel obligated to counsel....thereby using brain power!
16. No passive aggressive sticky notes above the sink or in the fridge saying things like "PLEASE wash your OWN dishes!!!!" "SOMEONE needs to clean out THEIR old food" They just have a conversation about it....like normal people! 
17. Practical! The fridge is not divided into harsh borders. So the milk can actually all stand vertically instead of spilling all over!


I'm sure there's more but that's all I've got right now!!!! Sorry for the dead blog!!! I've been a bit tied up....mounds of work and re-does....but only 10 more school days and 1/3 DONE!!!!!

Into the BLACK HOLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Journey to the Edge of the EARTH....Discovering a BLACK HOLE.....

How exciting!!! 

Well that's my life right now. That's what I keep telling myself....after ya know... clocking 31.5 hours of "research" this weekend. Since moving to the UK I have wore my sweat pants more then any other article of clothing and I have spent the ENTIRE day in my pj's!!! On Friday, I woke up and hit the books at 8 am.....and then realized that I was starving. But I just had to finish this one 2000 word section....after an indeterminate amount of time, I realized I was starving. Guess what time it was? 7:45 PM. I am NOT kidding...I didn't even realize it was dark. Don't be too alarmed, I was eating almonds intermittently. I made some real good for dinner. And decided I'd earned a break on Saturday. So I went right back to it....

But here's the real clincher...that night well I was sleeping (which is essential for your brain to replay and process the info) I woke up with a Brilliant idea!!!!!!! I've been struggling with the structure of my literature review.

 Lit Review according to Cambridge: a review of every significant article within your focus along with all the topics on the peripheral of your topic....presented in a narrative style with deep analysis of the validity, methodology and flaws of each included article.. Plus all the contradictory views of the views you wanted to present. Plus a summary of all the potential areas of further research. Plus a statement of all the definitions the author used that may be specific to the field. Ohh and don't forget it's a lit review so the definitions will have to compare all the currently used definitions along with all the previously mentioned requirements. Word limit 8000 words! Due Nov. 14th.

Are you confused? If you are that's good. The entire campus of M Phil's are                     confused! 

Back to the story...So at 3 AM I woke up with a stroke of brilliance. I started writing and cutting up my old drafts. I started making sticky notes of main topics and concept mapping them. I covered the bed the wall and my desk. And then I stared at it.....and it all started to link into BEAUTIFUL categories that told a real TRUE story.... 

103 libraries in Cambridge..getting those books was a workout!

Once a week the cleaners come with new sheets. My creative flow was interrupted with a knock at the door. It was 9:50 AM. I opened the door and the maid said, "Ohh rough night out at the pub or bop, eh?...ohh dear. Would you like me to just leave the sheets in the hall? Once you've got time to uncover the bed...and maybe sleep?" 

I did eat....proof the almond bag! Thanks Grandma Rella for the package full of FOOD!

I decided I'd earned a reward...free time! I went to buy groceries....and I was just having the best time thinking not about research. And then, I heard a girl in line say, "I just don't know what I'm going to do. I can't sleep without having nightmares about my computer dying or getting ran over and losing all of my dreadful work. I can't finish the lit review." And then I remembered...."I have to go! I have to read, write....find info!" 

So here's the analogy for this week. Research is like an exploration. It's all consuming. It's a bubble that the research creates. It's like Columbus. He had to lobby his idea get..prove that it was worth the investment. Then he headed out for the West Indies. He got lost and the crew started to doubt him. Some even said that it wasn't worth it...looking for something that wasn't there. And then Columbus discovered the West Indies. Wait? Didn't Columbus discover America (like the USA)!

*Shout out to my Blackfoot 8th grade history graduates.....both of those answers are wrong! 

Columbus died thinking that he discovered the passage to the the Orient. The world believed for a while...so it was "true"...And then when the world finally caught up we reclassified his discovery as finding America. Which sad to say, he never set foot in North America. So who discovered America....the Vikings!....or the Chinese!....or the Aboriginals!......or Aliens! 

So what's the point?! I thought I discovered the "West Indies" and then I realized...it was "America" or something...like that? Some might say, it doesn't matter as long as the world believes you....but well that just won't settle with me. Cheers to a new week...sailing into new rough waters!!!!

PS. My research topic is "Issues surround Aboriginal Students (in Canada) with special education needs transitioning out of Secondary School." Yup....