Reduced-distraction workplace

Today I got a carrel on the 11th floor of Robarts Library, right near all the social movement books which are most important for my thesis. It’s probably the only physical office I will ever have at U of T and you can’t fault the view, looking west over one of the sections of the library roof and across the varsity stadium.

Two strange quirks of Robarts carrels: you get a special card to check out books into them and those books can be renewed an infinite number of times; however, if someone requests a book which is in your carrel a member of the library staff will slip in and collect it, leaving you a note about what they took.

I’m writing a new 1.5 page overarching narrative for my thesis at the request of my supervisory committee at our first meeting yesterday. I also saw Last Man with Holly, which was outstanding. It’s doubtless one of the best historically realistic space films I’ve ever seen, rivalling Apollo 13 i quality of storytelling, production value, and geek appeal.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here. View all posts by Milan