My first week in Ottawa has been very interesting. Having only applied for this program (the brand spanking new Masters of International Affairs at the University of Ottawa) on Aug. 16th , I had no idea if I stood a chance of getting into the program, Lucky for me, the program was approved very late so the normal onslaught of applicants for these competitive programs had not come until quite late and so there were still a few spots open 2 weeks before the program began. I learned about the program a week earlier from our former Haligonian neighbor Tim Shaw. Tim was once a Dalhousie professor in this field who has spent considerable time teaching in Stellenbosch. He happened to mention it over after-dinner refreshments with my folks, I jumped, and well, here I am.

I had been interviewing for a number of jobs back in the IT world, including what would no doubt have been a very interesting and incredibly stressful job with the Vancouver Olympics organizing committee. Although I didn’t feel this way at the time, I am now thrilled that I didn’t get the job. Another IT project, even for the Olympics, is still just another IT project.

I have only had two courses to date, but so far, I am in love, something that has been decidedly lacking from my careers to date. I remember the apathy and lack of imagination of my undergrad professors, and know that I’m incredibly lucky to be in such a well thought out program with very talented faculty and surrounded by such a broad swath of society. Because we are the first class of this program we have a unique opportunity to shape the experience of future students.

As we were running through the syllabus in one of my courses yesterday, I found myself excited about every topic we will study. Perhaps it is a matter of age and maturity, but I don’t ever recall feeling that way about any course before.

On my first Saturday in town, I cycled around the city checking out the climbing gym, visiting old haunts, and getting a lay of the land. It will certainly be a very different experience than I had 10 years ago when Jo rescued me from the dungenous apartment owned by a certain ‘slum’ landlord by the name of Prem Palta. None of my friends from those days are here now, but I have many memories from those days that are resurfacing, some of which are melancholic as I reflect on the tragic death 2.5 years ago of my dear friend Chris.

Despite Ottawa’s conservative reputation, it is really very active, diverse and interesting city. Culturally, it has just about everything. The lifestyle is very healthy, and it is a hotbed for social activism. This past Sunday, for example, a group calling themselves the ‘Fiery Grannies’, grandmothers from Canada and many parts of Africa, descended on Parliament to demand that the government keep its promise to deliver affordable HIV medication to sufferers in Africa.

All in all, this is a pretty exciting place to be for me right now. I don’t quite know what the career path is from here, but I guess that’s part of the adventure. And God knows I love an adventure. Decisiveness has not been among my stronger qualities to date. Just maybe that is about to change …