In the blink of an eye, spring has arrived in Oxford and seems here to stay! I’m entering the last couple weeks of my program, and to be honest, it feels like vacation already. I most definitely still have work to do, but I’ve been trying to make the most of my remaining time here […]
Month: March 2025
True wilderness and its admirers
The first humans moved to New Zealand (Aotearoa in Te Reo Māori) just under 800 years ago, traveling from Polynesia in canoes to settle here. Compared to the lengths of time humans have been living on other continents, Aotearoa is very newly colonized. This combined with the relatively small population and strict conservation laws has […]
“Grey” Spaces and Env Justice
Hello all once again~ As someone who loves running on trails and discovering new paths wherever I go, I found it strange how I’ve encountered less green spaces in my stay in Copenhagen than I did in Wellesley. Green spaces to me look like community gardens and grass roofs, but I realized I encountered a […]
Blog 4: Wild Cats & Ducks &…Bags? Oh my!
My sit spot is one of Cordoba’s unique green spaces; it is not a park or plaza in the midst of the city, nor just a place next to the river. Rather, it’s within a protected feline habitat. The spot was intentionally created as a place of confluence between humans and animals. Although it’s certainly […]
Good weather does wonders!
The weather in Oxford has been beautiful and sunny, and the urge to ignore my work in favor of enjoying the outdoors is stronger than ever! It seems like everyone else had the same idea, as my sit spot is lively with people enjoying a cup of tea at Vaults and Garden, a cafe located […]
Weathering the storm
I’ve returned to my sit spot, but it looks a little different this time. I am fortunate that at this moment it is not raining, but for the past few weeks it has been, heavily. The torrential downpour has inspired flood warnings for the area, and while my homestay is safe, my sit spot is […]
Reflecting on upcoming dry season
In Trinidad, the water has been falling a little less and a little more erratically. I reflect on how the leaves have been slowly falling to the floor on the trees and questioning about the difference of how the trees back at the school in Boston. It intrigues me about how the idea of a […]
My Carbon Footprint Abroad
We’ve reached the point of the season in London when sunny days seem to nearly equal dreary ones. The last few days have been a bit windy and dark, but the last week or so has been flecked with brighter and warmer weather. Yesterday, my dear friend Alex (who I went to Edinburgh with!) and […]
5. Environmental Protection in New Zealand
There’s many birds chirping in the background. The water is flowing quickly, and the ducks are quietly quacking while they are sitting on the grass. I will admit, bird watching is not my strong suit, so I cannot (currently) identify any bird calls. However, I do enjoy making a mental collection of all the birds […]
4. Insulating Dunedin’s Houses
I feel community when I’m sitting in the botanic gardens: the quiet rustle of the trees, the ducks quacking in the stream, and people leisurely walking by. This space is a retreat from the bustle of this college town. There’s a lookout point in the garden that I love sitting at, besides my usual sit […]