This post has nothing to do about my time in Denmark. It's about my life, or at least, a little glimpse into what I care about.
My favorite website, outside of news sites like the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times, is Marginal Revolution. It's a blog written by two economists from George Mason University. The lead writer is Tyler Cowen. He is one of my current icons. He is a full time professor, an author of a new book, and a writer for the general public with his blog. He brings the best--and sometimes the oddest--economics stories from the net to his site for viewing by the general public. He writes how to interpret the latest Fed actions, brings interesting academic papers to the fore, and even comments on the best restaurants in the DC area. He impresses me and inspires me to continue with my studies.
Another one of my current economic icons is N. Gregory Mankiw. An economics professor at Harvard, he also has a blog. He doesn't write as much as Tyler, but his posts are always informative and timely. He studied at Harvard and MIT, chaired the CEA, and has written quality textbooks for undergraduate students. Awesome.
Both of these economists inspire me to work harder during my undergraduate years. I study political science and economics--and right now I lean more toward the latter--and of course I really want to do well in school. Sometimes, I doubt whether I can be so accomplished as my icons. Sometimes, I see a challenging future and wonder if I can do it. But then I dig in, focus, and remember that it was not easy for them, so it won't always be easy for me. I love economics and I want to excel in my studies, so there is no reason I cannot.
I feel that this is consuming my life as I try to master the subject and decide which area I want to focus on: labor economics, monetary policy, international trade. What do I really care about within this field? Right now, I don't know; I like reading about anything economics. I read the the Journal daily, FT frequently, and the Economist financial section weekly. I read books about globalization, about former Fed chairmen (ahem Alan), and the Chicago school (my winter break read). I cannot get enough of this as I still want more. I am unsatisfied with my current knowledge; it is not enough. I want more and more and until I reach the stage of Mssrs. Cowen and Mankiw, and beyond, I will not be satisfied. Certainly, I have something to strive for.
- TAD
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Where have you been?
That is question I need to answer. The truth is, I've been here all along, I just haven't got around to writing anything. But I suppose now is as good a time as ever to write something.
I leave on Dec. 20, just 13 days away. Yikes! Where did this time go? What have I done these past few weeks that I can share in this open space. For starters, I have had plenty of great meals with friends. A few with the usual gang (including the huge and delicious Thanksgiving feast), and a few with my friend's host parents (including, oddly enough, another Thanksgiving feast prepared for us hungry American types). In addition, the Danes do eat quite well. The three times I've been to the Johansen's, other than turkey, we've eaten different kinds of herring and burritos. It's nice to get some real food once in a while as my meals cooked at home are hardly up to that quality. It's just great to spend time with a Danish family and try to understand them better. Plus, they have two cool dogs of which I am fond. So, food and Danes, what else? I've also enjoyed some wonderful conversations with new friends. I had coffee at new places with different people since I came here. Phoebe and I discussed China, international politics and the like, Caitlin and I talked about our lives and our travels, and I had a deep discussion on what it means to believe in things, reality, God (and the failure to prove or disprove), etc. with another friend. One of the highlights here has been meeting all of these people; they have all touched my life in some way, big or small.
I got to see some friends from AU too. Three of my Sig brothers were here the weekend after Thanksgiving and the following one. It was nice seeing them and hearing about their adventures in Berlin, Prague, and London. We are all so lucky to be in Europe. It's now second nature that students will study abroad in college. It is so worthwhile, and a great experience to get out there and explore!!
I have four items left on my academic list: two papers and two exams. Then I'm out of here!! To recap some events of past. This past Wednesday, my program, European Politics and Society, conducted a simulation game of the European Council. I was on a team representing Slovenia, and together we were to negotiate a deal on how to divide responsibility for achieving the new energy goals of the EU Commission (if you don't know what I'm talking about, go look it up!). We negotiated for about four hours and ended up with a semi-solution but I think there is more we could have done. It was a fun game, though, and it was a good experience at politicking and advancing your country's interests.
Tonight I am heading up to Chad's house to hang out with him and his pseudo family. Should be fun!
I don't know how many more times I will post, but I hope to include at least a farewell post reflecting on the semester.
- TAD
I leave on Dec. 20, just 13 days away. Yikes! Where did this time go? What have I done these past few weeks that I can share in this open space. For starters, I have had plenty of great meals with friends. A few with the usual gang (including the huge and delicious Thanksgiving feast), and a few with my friend's host parents (including, oddly enough, another Thanksgiving feast prepared for us hungry American types). In addition, the Danes do eat quite well. The three times I've been to the Johansen's, other than turkey, we've eaten different kinds of herring and burritos. It's nice to get some real food once in a while as my meals cooked at home are hardly up to that quality. It's just great to spend time with a Danish family and try to understand them better. Plus, they have two cool dogs of which I am fond. So, food and Danes, what else? I've also enjoyed some wonderful conversations with new friends. I had coffee at new places with different people since I came here. Phoebe and I discussed China, international politics and the like, Caitlin and I talked about our lives and our travels, and I had a deep discussion on what it means to believe in things, reality, God (and the failure to prove or disprove), etc. with another friend. One of the highlights here has been meeting all of these people; they have all touched my life in some way, big or small.
I got to see some friends from AU too. Three of my Sig brothers were here the weekend after Thanksgiving and the following one. It was nice seeing them and hearing about their adventures in Berlin, Prague, and London. We are all so lucky to be in Europe. It's now second nature that students will study abroad in college. It is so worthwhile, and a great experience to get out there and explore!!
I have four items left on my academic list: two papers and two exams. Then I'm out of here!! To recap some events of past. This past Wednesday, my program, European Politics and Society, conducted a simulation game of the European Council. I was on a team representing Slovenia, and together we were to negotiate a deal on how to divide responsibility for achieving the new energy goals of the EU Commission (if you don't know what I'm talking about, go look it up!). We negotiated for about four hours and ended up with a semi-solution but I think there is more we could have done. It was a fun game, though, and it was a good experience at politicking and advancing your country's interests.
Tonight I am heading up to Chad's house to hang out with him and his pseudo family. Should be fun!
I don't know how many more times I will post, but I hope to include at least a farewell post reflecting on the semester.
- TAD
Thursday, November 15, 2007
I made the Copenhagen Post!
I was asked to write a short opinion piece about the Danish election for the Copenhagen Post, an English language weekly. I wrote it a week before the election, and they just published it today, so that is why it seems out of tense.
- TAD
- TAD
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Poland
It's now the weekend so it seems like a good time to update. I returned from my two week adventure this past Sunday evening. It was a fine trip indeed. So...
I stayed in Warsaw, Poland from Oct 22-24 and from Oct. 30-Nov.4. I must have walked around the city for more miles because by the end of each day, my feet were sore. The only buses I took were from the airport to my hostel and back, and from the city center to the south. While there, I saw everything I wanted to with the exception of a few museums. The Katyn Museum was on my list, but when I got there the man at the gate said it was closed and when I asked him why, accordingly that was the end of his English. Haha. I found that, with the exception of some restaurants, cafes, airport, some cops, and information services (a vast minority of places and people in the city), few people spoke English. But I got by with three phrases: hello/good day; thank you; do you speak English? Along with a decent map, that's what I worked with for 6 days in Warsaw.
One of the best places I visited was the Jewish Historical Institute where I watched a 30 minute film (played exclusively for me in English!) on the Jewish Ghetto of the 1940s in Warsaw. (Briefly: German troops invaded the motherland in September of 1939, bombing and killing, and eventually set up the ghetto for Jews). The film chronicles the lives of Jews before the ghetto and then what happened during it. The film was sad to watch, having to see starved, naked, dead bodies being thrown into mass graves among other cruelties of the era. Displays throughout the museum show the daily life of the ghetto. Truthfully, I don't remember too much from the Institute but the film. But that's important enough I would say.
Another museum I enjoyed was the Historical Museum of Warsaw. In the Old Town part of Warsaw, I could see pictures from the city as it developed over the years. When I think about old cities, I oftentimes imagine myself if I grew up in one of them and what it would be like. How cool would it have been to grow up in old Warsaw. Living in the city, hanging out with the family, going to Mass on Sundays, life in the public squares!, carefree! I'm sure I could think of more, but now the brain isn't thinking so creatively. So, yes, the Historical Museum was nice and they also had an exhibit about the children who suffered from war. They displayed letters written from children to parents or friends as well as photos of them. I think their voices often get lost in a conflict or war, so understand some of their pain is necessary.
The Museum of the Warsaw Uprising is newer than the others (2004 I think). It of course showed the uprising which began a few years after the occupation started. Resilience among the Poles was at times strong, but they had limited forces. It was difficult especially competing against the German (and later Soviet troops). But possibly faced with the imminent threat of death, what would you do?
Other than museums, I walked and explored the city. By now, I have a good understanding of where things are in the city and I know how to get around. I consider that a success. Before I traveled there, I read that the city is not that conducive to walking, but I didn't find it too bad. Sure I walked a lot, but why not since I don't know the bus system and the metro is limited to where it can take me. Along the way, I found newsstands, liqour stores, small grocery stores, gift shops, cafes, bakeries, etc. etc. My favorite place in Warsaw was a small bookstore/coffee house called "Czuly Barbarzynea" (the l is a Polish l with a line through the middle). It is named after a book by the same name by an author which now I cannot recall. And I don't remember what the title means. Haha. But the point is it was a nice place to do when it was dark and cold and I wanted to relax. It was small, cozy, and the Americanos were terrific. My second favorite place to go was a small cafe/bar on Nowy Strait (a big shopping/eating street) where they had pierogies!! The best ones were filled with cabbage, but the potato ones were good too. They were sooo good! A plate of pierogies for less than $3, how can you go wrong? I ate a lot of pierogies when I could because they were cheap. Other than that, I ate sandwiches, pizza, pasta, whatever I could find that wasn't too expensive. The Polish beer Zywiec (pronoucned shiv-yetz) tasted good too.
I went into a lot of Churches since Warsaw is littered with them. None of them really "wowed" me but then again I'm not too keen on understanding what is impressive architecture, design, etc. I just liked going in them to see the stained glass, the various paintings, or to go in and think about things. I went to a Polish Mass on All Saints Day (a holiday which proved to be a bane since most stores were closed and all Museums). I understood mostly where I was in the Mass, but of course I didn't follow the language. And with the readings and homily, I had no idea what was going on. Haha. But it was a good experience I suppose. I think the church was dedicated to JPII, or maybe just because it was All Saints Day that there was a picture of him on a wall in the church. I don't know.
The greatest thing about Warsaw was that walking and seeing the people there made me think of home. I could see my mother's side of the family in these people. In their faces, I saw my mother, aunts and uncles, distant cousins, and so on. In essence, I felt that I could transport my whole family to this country and they would fit right in, with each person performing his/her perspective role in Warsaw. It is quite fascinating to me and I hope I am conveying what I mean to say here. I guess when I now look at my family, I will be able to see the Polish in them more definitively.
I have seen Warsaw. Now to Krakow and beyond...family, when are we going?
I stayed in Warsaw, Poland from Oct 22-24 and from Oct. 30-Nov.4. I must have walked around the city for more miles because by the end of each day, my feet were sore. The only buses I took were from the airport to my hostel and back, and from the city center to the south. While there, I saw everything I wanted to with the exception of a few museums. The Katyn Museum was on my list, but when I got there the man at the gate said it was closed and when I asked him why, accordingly that was the end of his English. Haha. I found that, with the exception of some restaurants, cafes, airport, some cops, and information services (a vast minority of places and people in the city), few people spoke English. But I got by with three phrases: hello/good day; thank you; do you speak English? Along with a decent map, that's what I worked with for 6 days in Warsaw.
One of the best places I visited was the Jewish Historical Institute where I watched a 30 minute film (played exclusively for me in English!) on the Jewish Ghetto of the 1940s in Warsaw. (Briefly: German troops invaded the motherland in September of 1939, bombing and killing, and eventually set up the ghetto for Jews). The film chronicles the lives of Jews before the ghetto and then what happened during it. The film was sad to watch, having to see starved, naked, dead bodies being thrown into mass graves among other cruelties of the era. Displays throughout the museum show the daily life of the ghetto. Truthfully, I don't remember too much from the Institute but the film. But that's important enough I would say.
Another museum I enjoyed was the Historical Museum of Warsaw. In the Old Town part of Warsaw, I could see pictures from the city as it developed over the years. When I think about old cities, I oftentimes imagine myself if I grew up in one of them and what it would be like. How cool would it have been to grow up in old Warsaw. Living in the city, hanging out with the family, going to Mass on Sundays, life in the public squares!, carefree! I'm sure I could think of more, but now the brain isn't thinking so creatively. So, yes, the Historical Museum was nice and they also had an exhibit about the children who suffered from war. They displayed letters written from children to parents or friends as well as photos of them. I think their voices often get lost in a conflict or war, so understand some of their pain is necessary.
The Museum of the Warsaw Uprising is newer than the others (2004 I think). It of course showed the uprising which began a few years after the occupation started. Resilience among the Poles was at times strong, but they had limited forces. It was difficult especially competing against the German (and later Soviet troops). But possibly faced with the imminent threat of death, what would you do?
Other than museums, I walked and explored the city. By now, I have a good understanding of where things are in the city and I know how to get around. I consider that a success. Before I traveled there, I read that the city is not that conducive to walking, but I didn't find it too bad. Sure I walked a lot, but why not since I don't know the bus system and the metro is limited to where it can take me. Along the way, I found newsstands, liqour stores, small grocery stores, gift shops, cafes, bakeries, etc. etc. My favorite place in Warsaw was a small bookstore/coffee house called "Czuly Barbarzynea" (the l is a Polish l with a line through the middle). It is named after a book by the same name by an author which now I cannot recall. And I don't remember what the title means. Haha. But the point is it was a nice place to do when it was dark and cold and I wanted to relax. It was small, cozy, and the Americanos were terrific. My second favorite place to go was a small cafe/bar on Nowy Strait (a big shopping/eating street) where they had pierogies!! The best ones were filled with cabbage, but the potato ones were good too. They were sooo good! A plate of pierogies for less than $3, how can you go wrong? I ate a lot of pierogies when I could because they were cheap. Other than that, I ate sandwiches, pizza, pasta, whatever I could find that wasn't too expensive. The Polish beer Zywiec (pronoucned shiv-yetz) tasted good too.
I went into a lot of Churches since Warsaw is littered with them. None of them really "wowed" me but then again I'm not too keen on understanding what is impressive architecture, design, etc. I just liked going in them to see the stained glass, the various paintings, or to go in and think about things. I went to a Polish Mass on All Saints Day (a holiday which proved to be a bane since most stores were closed and all Museums). I understood mostly where I was in the Mass, but of course I didn't follow the language. And with the readings and homily, I had no idea what was going on. Haha. But it was a good experience I suppose. I think the church was dedicated to JPII, or maybe just because it was All Saints Day that there was a picture of him on a wall in the church. I don't know.
The greatest thing about Warsaw was that walking and seeing the people there made me think of home. I could see my mother's side of the family in these people. In their faces, I saw my mother, aunts and uncles, distant cousins, and so on. In essence, I felt that I could transport my whole family to this country and they would fit right in, with each person performing his/her perspective role in Warsaw. It is quite fascinating to me and I hope I am conveying what I mean to say here. I guess when I now look at my family, I will be able to see the Polish in them more definitively.
I have seen Warsaw. Now to Krakow and beyond...family, when are we going?
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Back from EU Adventures
I returned from Brussels this morning, following a 13-hour bus trip that included several stops and a ferry from Germany. Now I am just relaxing; there is no one around and I don't have much to do. Let me recount some things I did...
We drove into Luxembourg City Sunday night and the trip began the next day. Our hotel was small, but nice, with a good breakfast. Monday morning we visited the Luxembourg Parliament for a guided tour. We didn't see much, save for the big chamber, but that's probably all their was. The guide talked about the history of the country, government structure, etc. It was okay; I didn't know anything about the country before. Afterwards, we were free all day to do whatever. Unfortunately, the best museums were closed on Mondays and the town had little to offer except for aesthetics, food, and walking. I sat with some students and our leaders (Jacob and Emilie) at lunch for over two hours. The weather was nice for us, so it was easy to sit and relax. At 4PM it was planned that we would get a tour of some royal building but when we got to the entrance, the guard noted (probably in French) that tours are only in the summer. What! Ok so more time to kill. We went down in the valley and enjoyed a drink before dinner. Day 1 was okay but I didn't see much.
Tuesday we headed for the European Court of Justice. It took a long time to get there because of traffic and we missed a hearing. We ended up with two speakers who were predictably boring. The one was a judge on the Court of First Instance (one step below the ECJ court) and so he could only comment so much on issues and cases. Then we took off for Brussels, about a three hour drive. We met with the Danish permanent representative in Brussels who talked to us about how the EU really works: networks, political lobbying, etc. He was a good meeting. Brussels turned out to be a great city and I knew it would be something close the first night we were there. Lots of people, restaurants, pubs, old buildings, beautiful squares. And of course falafel, which at less than $5 is the way to go for dinner.
On Wednesday we were with the other DIS group that was leaving for Hague later. We visited a member of the Danish cabinet in the Commission for an hour. He was okay, also talking about real issues with in the EU, not a theoretical framework like we have been learning. Denmark has an important post within the Commission. Each commissioner is allotted a portfolio, or caseload of a certain topic. The Danish Commissioner works on agricultural issues, which at ~40% of the EU budget is a huge topic. After that talk, we had some time to walk around so I discovered some more of the city with Pete. Later in the day, we met with Dan Jorgenson, a Danish member of the European Parliament. He was a policy pusher for sure, advocating his Social Democratic party rather than talking broadly about the EP. But he was okay too. Dinner was mussels at Chez Leon. I've never eaten them so it was an experience I guess. They didn't taste like much, but I ate them. At least I can say I've tried them.
Thursday was NATO. We drove up to the compound, and were late of course. Two speakers of an hour each discussed science at NATO and broad issues, respectively. It was kind of boring, but worthwhile to listen to. The latter speaker was in the political division so he was hamstrung in terms of how much he could opine on certain issues. It was good to see NATO and learn a little more about it. We had our political actor interview too; my group met a director in the Danish Agricultural Council, a lobby group for farmers. He had a weird personality and wasn't the easiest person with which to talk. He did note the problems facing his organization and agriculture in the future as farms become fewer while getting bigger at the same time. We met at the hotel and talked about our interviews for a bit, then had free time for dinner. I had another falafel and then walked around with some people and found a good waffle place.
Finally, on Friday we went to an art museum and chocolate factory/store. Both were okay. At 3 we met with the Directorate General for Communications, a Dane, who talked about broad EU issues for an hour. It was fine. I walked around some more and said goodbye to Brussels.
I liked the trip a lot. The group was fun and got along well and I enjoyed meeting the various EU people. I wish we could have done more though. I would have liked to spent more time with these people and others, working on a small project or some other hands-on things. It would have applied what I learned to the real EU. There could have been more focus on the academic part of this trip. But it was okay; but could have been better.
I leave Monday for Poland.
We drove into Luxembourg City Sunday night and the trip began the next day. Our hotel was small, but nice, with a good breakfast. Monday morning we visited the Luxembourg Parliament for a guided tour. We didn't see much, save for the big chamber, but that's probably all their was. The guide talked about the history of the country, government structure, etc. It was okay; I didn't know anything about the country before. Afterwards, we were free all day to do whatever. Unfortunately, the best museums were closed on Mondays and the town had little to offer except for aesthetics, food, and walking. I sat with some students and our leaders (Jacob and Emilie) at lunch for over two hours. The weather was nice for us, so it was easy to sit and relax. At 4PM it was planned that we would get a tour of some royal building but when we got to the entrance, the guard noted (probably in French) that tours are only in the summer. What! Ok so more time to kill. We went down in the valley and enjoyed a drink before dinner. Day 1 was okay but I didn't see much.
Tuesday we headed for the European Court of Justice. It took a long time to get there because of traffic and we missed a hearing. We ended up with two speakers who were predictably boring. The one was a judge on the Court of First Instance (one step below the ECJ court) and so he could only comment so much on issues and cases. Then we took off for Brussels, about a three hour drive. We met with the Danish permanent representative in Brussels who talked to us about how the EU really works: networks, political lobbying, etc. He was a good meeting. Brussels turned out to be a great city and I knew it would be something close the first night we were there. Lots of people, restaurants, pubs, old buildings, beautiful squares. And of course falafel, which at less than $5 is the way to go for dinner.
On Wednesday we were with the other DIS group that was leaving for Hague later. We visited a member of the Danish cabinet in the Commission for an hour. He was okay, also talking about real issues with in the EU, not a theoretical framework like we have been learning. Denmark has an important post within the Commission. Each commissioner is allotted a portfolio, or caseload of a certain topic. The Danish Commissioner works on agricultural issues, which at ~40% of the EU budget is a huge topic. After that talk, we had some time to walk around so I discovered some more of the city with Pete. Later in the day, we met with Dan Jorgenson, a Danish member of the European Parliament. He was a policy pusher for sure, advocating his Social Democratic party rather than talking broadly about the EP. But he was okay too. Dinner was mussels at Chez Leon. I've never eaten them so it was an experience I guess. They didn't taste like much, but I ate them. At least I can say I've tried them.
Thursday was NATO. We drove up to the compound, and were late of course. Two speakers of an hour each discussed science at NATO and broad issues, respectively. It was kind of boring, but worthwhile to listen to. The latter speaker was in the political division so he was hamstrung in terms of how much he could opine on certain issues. It was good to see NATO and learn a little more about it. We had our political actor interview too; my group met a director in the Danish Agricultural Council, a lobby group for farmers. He had a weird personality and wasn't the easiest person with which to talk. He did note the problems facing his organization and agriculture in the future as farms become fewer while getting bigger at the same time. We met at the hotel and talked about our interviews for a bit, then had free time for dinner. I had another falafel and then walked around with some people and found a good waffle place.
Finally, on Friday we went to an art museum and chocolate factory/store. Both were okay. At 3 we met with the Directorate General for Communications, a Dane, who talked about broad EU issues for an hour. It was fine. I walked around some more and said goodbye to Brussels.
I liked the trip a lot. The group was fun and got along well and I enjoyed meeting the various EU people. I wish we could have done more though. I would have liked to spent more time with these people and others, working on a small project or some other hands-on things. It would have applied what I learned to the real EU. There could have been more focus on the academic part of this trip. But it was okay; but could have been better.
I leave Monday for Poland.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Break time!
Ah yes...travel break!! And so it is, the week is over and I survived the midterms. It was stressful leading up to them, but taking them wasn't so bad. And now...three weeks without work.
I leave Sunday morning for Luxembourg. We will drive all day and reach our hotel by 11PM or so. Looong day for sure. We stay there until Tuesday afternoon then drive to Brussels. There, we will meet with Danish political leaders and bureaucrats within the EU, visit NATO HQ, see Museums, and surely visit a pub or two. We leave Friday afternoon and drive all night and arrive back at Copenhagen around 9AM. Looong night indeed.
Thinking about the EU gives me a headache because the the body is so large and cumbersome. Even learning about the different parts within it--Commission, Council of Ministers etc.--brings little clarity because there are so many rules to each one and the EU has many rules itself. It is difficult to keep track of everything. But I have the main points down about current issues, big players, major functions of institutions, etc.
Monday, October 22 I fly to Warsaw, Poland for two days; Wednesday I fly to Zagreb, Croatia; Tuesday, October 30 I fly back to Warsaw; Sunday November 4th I return to Copenhagen. In between, the trip of a lifetime the motherland and an awesome baltic country. I'm meeting my friend Melissa and staying with Damir so it should be great.
I leave Sunday morning for Luxembourg. We will drive all day and reach our hotel by 11PM or so. Looong day for sure. We stay there until Tuesday afternoon then drive to Brussels. There, we will meet with Danish political leaders and bureaucrats within the EU, visit NATO HQ, see Museums, and surely visit a pub or two. We leave Friday afternoon and drive all night and arrive back at Copenhagen around 9AM. Looong night indeed.
Thinking about the EU gives me a headache because the the body is so large and cumbersome. Even learning about the different parts within it--Commission, Council of Ministers etc.--brings little clarity because there are so many rules to each one and the EU has many rules itself. It is difficult to keep track of everything. But I have the main points down about current issues, big players, major functions of institutions, etc.
Monday, October 22 I fly to Warsaw, Poland for two days; Wednesday I fly to Zagreb, Croatia; Tuesday, October 30 I fly back to Warsaw; Sunday November 4th I return to Copenhagen. In between, the trip of a lifetime the motherland and an awesome baltic country. I'm meeting my friend Melissa and staying with Damir so it should be great.
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