I completed my comprehensive exams the other day. In our geography department, it encompasses a five day writing ordeal, answering three out of six questions proposed by the advisory committee. In two weeks, I will have a two-hour oral examination session where I will answer further questions based on my responses.
My "comp" areas were particularly diverse, touching on political ecology (rural livelihood and rural social movements), cultural politics (nationalism and identity formation), and political economy (state and society) literatures. Looking back on it now, I can't believe I got through it, especially as I managed to write 17,700 words, or 66 tightly packed pages in four days. (having spent Monday rereading some articles and preparing my notes) I even got some interesting footnotes in!
Early Wednesday morning as I was completing my first and longest paper, I got the idea of putting faces to names, so decided collect photos from the web of all the authors I've encountered through my readings. Check it out. (I've even cropped them to the same size!) I couldn't get all the faces, but did get most.
It seems that the world media is finally noticing the significant goings on at the Nathu La border crossing. BBC's diplomatic correspondent is on the spot and will be issuing a series of reports from the border, where BBC has exclusive access. Highlighted as a historic turning point in relations across the Himalayas, the border opening also promises to forge closer trade ties between the two largest countries in the world.
