Happiness all over the place

I am very happy, because today I got one step nearer to my application to Manchester: I received the confirmation that my second professor is gonna write me a recommendation letter! :-) Supercool! That means I will have 2 recommendation letters, both from the directors of our institute :-)
Keep your fingers crossed that it continues like that

Plus, my team organised a very cute surprise dinner for me (birthday) on Wednesday night. I was very touched when I realised that they have worked so hard to organise this behind my back, make the most delicious sushi ever! This is a memory I will cherish forever for sure

Plus, Dean is here - no more words needed ;-)

New project!

Since a few weeks I have a new project for my personal life. It is called: Applying for a Master of Social Anthropology at Manchester University in the UK!

I really like the study system in the UK (focused and competitive), want to improve my English skills and want to study at a university focusing on Globalization, Anthropology of Work etc.
And guess what - Manchester has the additional advantage of being 1.5 h away by train from my most beloved Dean! :-)

I am currently collecting recommendation letters, documents and all that is needed. I do not have any marks from my SA studies in Bern, but hopefully some good recommendation letters can help me with that!

I really really hope I get the admission, it would be so supercool, awesome and exciting! Therefore - please keep your fingers crossed!

What makes people to bad people?

Lately I saw two movies that where suggesting ways how people are made into bad people, and both stories were situated in Africa.

One is "The last king of Scotland", where an ignorant and "innocent" doctor suddenly becomes a wrongdoer, simply because he did not (want?) to realize that his boss killed everyone who was stating a critique.

The other movie is called "Blood diamond", where it is suggested that one of the main characters, the diamond trader Danny Archer acts immoral because he has seen his parents being killed and because he has no hope for Africa.

Both movies made me think:
- What needs to happen to make sure power does not destroy? Is it law and order? If yes, what needs to happen that law and order is in power and not some despotic leader?
- Of the hundred and thousand things that need to happen to get a country from a state of civil war to a state of "thriving", what is the priority?
- It´s now nine months ago that I am not studying Social Anthropology anymore, and it seems I started to forget what horrbile things are going on in the world. I want to find out how I can make sure to remember even 5 years after my graduation.

And lastly;
- If I really want to see a change happen in the world, and I am most shocked by wars and despotic regime: Is it hypocritical to strive for making a change somewhere else?

Thanks to Hollywood for triggering my thoughts! :-)