A not-so-epic EPIIC entry

[bluirinka]

I just wanted to post right now that I'm loving EPIIC, to remind myself later down the road (when I'll probably hate it) that once upon a time it made me happy. The Outward Bound trip made it so easy to make friends and laugh while discussing corporate corruption and global poverty. Hearing what everyone has done in their lives was really inspiring and made me happy that everyone would learn this new information about global poverty and process it from their own unique perspective. But it's not just that - it's like this connection that's been formed. When a random EPIICer came into Eaton and saw me working, she just stopped to say Hi, b/c she knew my name, and we talked for a bit about the readings. It felt cool, though, b/c we hadn't spoken prior to this exchange, but nothing was stopping us from starting a conversation, because we are joined by the bonds of EPIIChood. I love the network with the EPIIC alumni, and how we can talk to people who are working in the field about what they're doing. I love getting daily emails of relevant articles, and learning random things about Eritrean economic policy from them. I like that there's SO much crossover between this class and everything else I'm learning. And the fact that there's an EPIIC party tonight. That someone knew I was interested in energy, and when they found a microfinance organization in India that deals with investing in clean energy for the poor, emailed me the link and suggested that that could be a possible winter research destination. So many connections, based on interests both academic and non-. Bouncing ideas off one another and refining thoughts and research topics and not feeling like a nerd, because everyone there is here to learn and to put what we've learned into practice someday soon.

But of course, I say all this before I've gone to a single committee meeting or review session, so I guess EPIIC hasn't started to eat my life as much. I've also not gotten grades back from the other classes that I'm TOTALLY neglecting in favor of EPIIC. SOOOOO maybe my mouth will be shut sometime in the near future.

Nonstop-ly yours,
Luseeya