Author Archives: Åsa Giertz

The Accidental American?

Posted on by under My life

Despite hundreds of requests from the Democratic party filling up my inbox over these past months, I have of course not been able to donate even a dollar to the election campaign. Why? Because I’m not an American citizen. Foreigners are not allowed to donate directly to campaigns of course. And even though I wouldn’t have minded participating in DC politics, I am definitely not American yet. Or am I? Believe it or not, but I just got called for jury duty! That thing that people always complain about in tv series!! I would have loved it, though – it seems so exciting!! However, as a foreigner I’m not allowed to do that either. I don’t plan to stay here in the U.S. forever, but I’m wondering how long it is possible to live in a country without being able to participate in civic duties and be part of the democracy?

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Sunny Saturday

Posted on by under My life, On Books, Movies, Education, and Conferences

Today was indeed much warmer, and gave the opportunity to outdoor lunch with a book at a cafe in Silver Spring after my dance class. The climate is so much nicer here in Washington than in Stockholm, Chisinau, and even Paris (when we don’t have extreme weather events that is) but I’m wondering if I’m not better suited for life closer to the equator… A coffee and a book in the sun is great, though, even if the jacket is on!

20121110-231254.jpgI just finished Lena Einhorn’s “Siri” about Siri von Essen, August Strinberg’s first wife. Despite my Swedish literature teacher’s attempts to spark my enthusiasm for Strindberg by spending a disproportional number of classes his work, I was never a fan of Strindberg. And I can’t say that this has changed after having read this book – he was a terribly unsympathetic and self absorbed person! Siri, however, seems to have been a very interesting person: an early champion for women’s rights and a lot less traditional even than many women in my surrounding today. I wouldn’t mind learning more about her. 

Who Wants Winter??

Posted on by under My life

This past week have been a little slow. I thought first that perhaps it was a post dissertation dip, i.e. that mental fall that often comes after a period of stress, when the adrenaline level goes down. But then I realized that it’s the season. Turning back the clock last weekend coincided with a sharp drop in temperatures to almost freezing levels, and after two days, I remembered how much I detest cold weather and darkness. I can’t really describe it, it makes me tense and irritated, and unmotivated to do anything that requires outdoor logistics. Fortunately, it is too early for winter here in DC and the temperature has been rising again since yesterday. I still miss summer and especially not having to dress warm, but I tried to make the most of the season today when the sun finally came out, and went for a walk, bought pretty autumn colored flowers, and made apple pies. This weekend, temperatures will be just below 20 C, so hopefully some of my motivation will come back. And if not, I’m really glad I got that Netflix subscription!!

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An Amazing Girl

Posted on by under Our World

For those of you who haven’t yet seen it, I tried to find the original documentary about Malala Yousafzai, her father, and the education ban for girls in a Taliban controlled region in Pakistan. It’s a beautiful movie about amazing people. I remember it being longer than the clip I found here, but here it as least 10 minutes of it. It is difficult to watch without getting tears in the eyes, but it is also inspirational to listen to the views of such fantastic people. It gives me hope for the world and makes any  problems seem solvable somehow! I really hope that Ms. Yousafzai recovers fully because the world needs more people like her and her father!

Washington with a Hangover

Posted on by under Uncategorized

The day after here in Washington DC. Since Mitt Romney took his time before he made the traditional congratulation call to the President and delivered his concession speech, we were all up late last night waiting for Obama’s victory speech. And with late, I mean until past 2 in the morning. So when I got on a very late bus this morning around 9:45, it was packed with people going to work. According to my colleagues, all the garages down town were unusually full because people seemed to have taken their car to work. The speech was worth it of course! He is a true inspiration, President Barack Obama, and an immensely good speaker. A little different from our European politicians…. (though I’m of course very glad they refrain from ending their speeches with a God bless..!) I have great hopes for another four years with Obama as president. Hopefully, the pieces he put in place during his first term will stabilize and be complimented with more reforms, which together will provide a solid foundation for the future. Though when I scrolled down the Washington Post today, below the articles on the U.S. election there was an article about the militants who shot Ms. Malala Yousafzai (the Pakistani girl who was shot by Talibans for standing up for girls’ right to education), and all of a sudden the U.S. elections seemed so unimportant. Obama’s victory speech is worth watching though:

Washington is Celebrating

Posted on by under Uncategorized

We are all very happy here tonight in Washing DC!! Four more years with the Obama family in the house down the street feels comforting! DC is overwhelmingly democratic, I think 92 percent voted for Obama in the last election, and so the city is out celebrating right now. For you who were with me in Paris and Rome during the World Cup in football in 1998 and 2006, and remember the celebrations out in the cities after the French and the Italian teams won, this is similar. Only, it’s for politics! I hear people cheering and honking the horns in their cars in the street outside my apartment. The Democrats did fairly well in the Congress, and most importantly, women’s issues were at stake and people took a stand in several states. As for the Republicans, all I can say is that they seem to have missed that more people than white men with property have the right to vote these days!

First Position

Posted on by under My life, On Books, Movies, Education, and Conferences

One thing that is cool about having moved around between different countries and cities is that you become familiar with so many places. I watched this amazing documentary, First Position, yesterday, about kids and adolescents with a passion for ballet trying to make it as dancers. And even though I am not exactly a ballerina, I have actually taken ballet classes at two of the studies in the movie: the Maryland Youth Ballet here in Washington, and the Ailey Extension in New York. The movie is very touching and I really recommend it, also for you who don’t dance.

Happy Halloween!

Posted on by under Posts From Washington DC

I realized on my way home from work tonight that it’s Halloween and so I tried to celebrate the best I could: with orange (carrot) soup, orange ( Port Salut) cheese, and a themed petit four. I barely saw any kids out either; it seems like the city is still not fully back to normal yet after past days’ drama. Strange was also the feeling to come home after work and not have to study! Relaxing and yet a little empty! I think I need a hobby now…

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20121031-235841.jpgIt’s a few minutes past midnight, so technically it isn’t Halloween anymore, at least not here on the East Coast, but still…

And I Survived the Storm

Posted on by under Uncategorized

I’m still here! Hurricane Sandy came and went, and left disaster in its path. Washington DC was less affected than surrounding areas and NYC, but everything shut down completely for 1.5 days and the winds bought down a lot trees. Suburbia was flooded and had power cuts. Today was quiet as government offices, public transport and most other work places were still closed. Tomorrow, the East Cost will start repairing the damage. Its almost unreal that two days of winds can cause such disaster, but given our habits and their impacts on greenhouse gas emissions, I guess we just have to get used to it. Or?

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Done!

Posted on by under On Books, Movies, Education, and Conferences

I am finally done with my dissertation and with that also my MSc in Food and Nutrition Policy at City University in London. I submitted my dissertation yesterday and put away all the books and articles that have been spread around my apartment since I got back from Europe. I wish I could say that I was relieved that it’s finished but to be honest, it feels a little empty. I have worked so hard on it for so many months and I can’t believe that I will not write on it anymore. I also had a lot more I wanted to explore in the relationship between nutrition transition and agro-food markets. But a deadline us a deadline and so now its over. And I’m sure I will enjoy the free time soon enough!

20121030-233741.jpgMy food policy book collection back on the shelf