Day 43

Had an emotionally stressed day, possibly because I had not brought enough chocolate to work, but also felt a little used by one or two colleagues. Anyway, I have never experienced trying to develop research strategies with so much uncertainty. It could end up being the greatest piece of fiction I’ve written.

Was examining student presentations today. Never had to give much of a talk in a foreign language, so cannot imagine the difficulty. But they did really well. Was surprised as to how many students refused to give a talk though. In the UK we would have made it compulsory and they would have failed the module for non participation. I’m guessing that this is one of many problems experienced with a new university.

If you have been following the situation in Ukraine, it is very concerning. One of my former PhD students is living in Kiev. She wrote the following:

“I am safe for now, have no idea about tomorrow. It is war, whatever you have seen on tv it is horror here. People have been beaten, tortured and shooted by police forces. Police have been given an order shoot to kill. In general situation is getting worse due to the Kiev partial blockage - not enough petrol on the gas stations, people getting mad buying all sort of food, medicine etc… We were free from work at 14-00 and our administration asked us to withdraw all money from bank cards, cos someone got àn information that there no money to put into cash mashine tomorrow.”

I remember the first exposure to the horrific images coming out of Ethiopia and feeling motivated to try and do something. Over the many years, similar situations and worse have been emblazoned on our TV screens so that I have become slightly sensitised. It’s just another horror story to be filed with so many others. But for the people caught up in it, they are facing a daily life and death situation. How does one live under those conditions?