Happy Birthday Mica

Today is my brother Mica’s birthday. That cannot but re-enforce the fact that I have seen neither he, Sasha, nor my father since September 22nd, 2005. In five days’ time, it will have been ten consecutive months.

As I’ve said before, I am not too concerned about spending such a long time away from most of my closest friends. I know they will be more or less the same people when I get back as they were when I left, though perhaps with a few extra letters after their names. Even with the ones with whom I almost never speak – such as Alison and Astrid – I have a good level of confidence that I will be able to relate to them in a comparable way, once I return to Vancouver (however briefly it might be for). It seems different with my brothers, however. While most of us are now stabilizing as people, they still seem to be at the stage when things are taking their direction. Great as the opportunity to be at Oxford is, it’s a saddening thing to be missing.

That said, I am sure they are finding lots of good ways to spend their time. Mica, as I understand it, if off at a wedding somewhere on Vancouver Island. Hopefully, I will be able to reach him over the phone later tonight. In any case, my best wishes go out to him for the year ahead.

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