Having spent the last two weeks sick and sunburnt (by the way… OUCH!), I have very little to report and I’ve done remarkably little research. There are two developments of note, however:
1) LIFE!!!! My mini-greenhouse has sprouted a few slow-growing veggies and some herbs!
The tallest sprouts thus far are the broccoli, followed by the leeks. I believe the other tiny sproutlings are oregano. I’ll leave them to sprout for another three or four days, then sort out the veggies that have successfully sprouted into an open container, and seal up my little greenhouse with the slower-to-sprout herbs and veggies for another couple weeks.
(on a related note, I’m hardening off the survivors from round one in the greenhouse; they’re quickly becoming tough, healthy little herbs)
All photos, incidentally, are taken on my cell phone, so if they look sad and lonely, it’s at least partially the quality of the photo.
Also, I had the craziest dream about my broccoli growing at unnatural speed and becoming these strange, pulsating mutant trees that were overtaking my house…
Anyway.
2) I’ve made a big, life-changing decision: I’m going to leave the world of Medieval religion and Anglo Saxon goodness behind me forever (at least professionally), and pursue an MES (Master of Environmental Studies). For those who weren’t aware, I’m currently working part-time on a post-graduate degree (read: 2nd BA) in Medieval Studies, focussing on religion and literature… and while I absolutely adore Anglo Saxon culture/Old English/Religious Studies, I’ve come to realise that focus on the environment is much more important to me than studying a culture that, while certainly relevant to today’s world, really isn’t going anywhere — unlike the health of the environment and consequent health of humanity.
I’ve often felt that there were two things missing from my academic life: the feeling that I’m doing something to help people, and academic comraderie. For the latter, it’s purely selfish. There are simply few people (and very far between) with whom I can discuss my work. It’s lonely. For the former (and unsurprisingly for any of you who know me in the real world), I simply want to help people. I like for everyone to be happy and well-fed and smiling and comfortable. I’d considered a few other careers in the past decade, and dismissed them all: I can’t be a medical professional because I’m incredibly squeamish; I can’t become a police officer both because I’m deeply uncomfortable with power structures that can be so easily abused, and because I’m not convinced that all law is just; I can’t help by doing social work or counseling because I wouldn’t be able to separate it from my own noise.
This, however, I can do. And, while education is incredibly important to me, it’s of no use if we’ve no clean air to breathe or clean water to drink, and we only have diseased food to eat. So, I’m changing my life’s path; I want to save the world.
I’ve a meeting next Wednesday with an ES professor to discuss what needs to happen for me to do this. In the meantime, I’ve gardening to do and science books to read; I’ve not touched science on any deep level since highschool!
I’m trying to not be too nervous about all this. Wish me luck!
(eep!)
