I made a random short notes of people, events (withdrawn from my memory and Moleskine pocket notebook) that I am grateful for. It’s quite long, I guess I was lucky in 2010, and hoping that 2011 will be even better, as I need material for next December. Maybe you’ll recognize yourself in here. I’m grateful:
- for the first train home on January 3rd from Newcastle to Birmingham and then Oxford, as I missed my home after 10 days spent on the far, far North in a cold snowy land with no sun.
- OT, female peer I met on a tea party at the Old Parsonage. Ritual girly meet ups at all city restaurants for chat (mostly her talking, talking wondering there is a person who talks more than me), food, drinks. For being present, just for being.
- CB, college advisor who enabled the logistic support for the USA conference, and events, and grant I received from K.College for conferences, and travel
- Virgin Atlantic to be the only one to fly from the Heathrow under the snow alert, to get me to DC safe and sound, and back
- scio10 folks, organizers, my students on the social media session; media who made a coverage and was nice to me
- LG, for girly night parties, club and bar touring, shopping at Apple, returning me back to 2003 and Southpoint plaza, Ch.Hill, for singing sessions on the East Coast
- SB, for hosting me in his warm house, spending time with me despite his super-busy work/life, making breakfasts and dinners
- to DC Dulles airport security for not sending me to the sexy-scan cabin but rather letting me go (sorry French guys with architect plans under your arms).
- unknown British barrister who let me fall asleep for awhile on his shoulder on the flight back to London
- Heathrow, semi-empty or empty, as it rejoices me with great space to run, walk without long lines, being shoved or pushed. Thanks to the big snow and the big Ash!
- Woodstock deli for making great fresh vegan food every time when I don’t have time to cook (and talking/meeting Thom Yorke from Radiohead)
- LR, who was there always for me, came into my studio from London carrying in a box huge birthday chocolate cake for me, bringing food for the guests, and drinks, while I was submitting papers before deadline, geeking online. Numerous lunches at Old Parsonage and shopping. Hot chocolate and champagne in Morse Bar.
- AP, who is super wonder woman, my peer, who makes great pescatarian food, lovely violin player at Oxford philharmonic, person who gives me the pass for lovely concerts at Sheldonian; late night listener and advisory. Thanks to AP for bringing me flowers when my camera died, for spending and consoling me when I got crashed after the failed love-crush, for bringing me flowers again…for inspiring me for the TREE.
-BR, tolerating me for being late in the morning (11.30am St Giles) hours for coffee, and later lunch at HP hall; for being patient: when I did shoe and other girly shopping, long walks, waiting while I photographed the cows at the Port Meadow, ducks and punting at Church Christ Meadow, for secret filming in KC library basement; for long walks at University parks and where not, for being typical French who loathes and nags everything around (I thought Serbians were the champions in this); for probably not understanding my frustrations and what’s happening inside, but listening and bearing it with me; who knows to apologize, and is after all lovely young person. And being nice man friend for no matter what.
- BH, for being a part of my academic life, a wonderful person, advisor, and coach. Super intelligent young man, super-funny, I think the only person I met in the small academic circle with the great sense of humor. I’m also grateful for being patient with me, and for not quitting on me.
-AK, new founded friend from Japan, lovely person, I admire on courage, stoicism, optimism, hard work. Thankful for teaching me how to make hand made Japanese sushi, for taking artistic photos of me, for sharing the similar passions for art, culture, theater, music. For sending me lovely postcards and Japanese gifts. For teaching me Japanese and being kind.
- Rosie. The only person I will say her name out here. Rosie, my former house-cleaning nice lady who facilitated my life and messy space into an order by coming weekly and cleaning everything up.
- Harry Potter dining hall and Le chef George (is he George or…forgot his name, I will remember), and the food (esp. Sunday dinner and the choir) I am appreciating.
-AA, book sent overseas, long Skyping, short emails, wise words, my spiritual teacher.
-AC, for coming all the way from LA to visit me and the city, lovely meet-ups, shopping and academic chatting, and further follow-up – me visiting her and her fiancee in Barcelona.
-MC, for asking for “DR” (me), not as a PhD scholar but just ICTs professional and trusting me as program PC board chair for the July conference.
-for BTD (black tie dinner) events in KC, good excuse to wear lovely black dress and be in beautiful Georgian attire.
- every Sunday 4pm Tea and cakes in MCR, so grateful for this ritual. Will bring it on wherever I am in 2011 with whomever is willing to join this lovely meet ups.
-LP and her time: lunches, personal and academic chats over food, as senior peer she was rare not to judge me and give advice.
-SB, who took care on the spot and on remote of my computer, net issues, and blog. Nice person who is a good listener, good friend and proof editor in Serbian.
-TZ, for letting me sleep when I am in RS. For making me super vitamin fresh fruit juice after the dentist procedures. For being cool female mate.
-HS, for making me smile every single day and night that spring, for listening to my academic rants and brainstorms on social web (and vice versa); correcting my English, for being there just because. For letting me sit next/across him at the Bodleian library, for interrupting him now and then. For sharing a warm chicken soup with noodles different than the ones that my grandma used to make. For making me laugh and cry. For the TREE inspiration. Letter.
-for discovering surrealist Pavel Tchelitchew’s “Hide and Seek”, in Bodleian
-HTD. Honor to have a dinner at High Table with senior professors and spend hours in SCR.
-for my allotted 60 min of Dphil presentation and patience of OII peers and mentor to listen what I said and want.
- again to BH for recommending me and having trust in me to talk at the interdisciplinary conference in front of the older academic audience, and one prominent prof. from Harvard
-JM, coming from North of England to visit me, girly frolics, lunches, museums. Trains to London, laying in Hyde park and sunbathing. I will not forget 11.15 am. premier of SATC2, on her demand and my sleeping over the entire movie. I’m grateful that she didn’t complain.
-DM, for girly and Internet talks, mainly ideas and cappuccinos, Serbian only person, meet ups in incredible places starting from philosophy to…i cant remember.
- For not that rainy season. But rather very sunny and snowy (when it was time for that).
-IG professor from Media dept, Cape Town, and Royal Oak media talks
- AP professor from Italian univ.more geek and researcher who brought a ray of Italian “piano, piano” lifestyle into my British life, and free pass to SCR.
- MCR movie nights …person (forgot his name, Daniel?) who played on screen as the last film of the term: Imaginarium of DR Parnassus, my favorite film of 2010. -BBQt OIINorth, and World cup mania, as I wasn’t that into it, but…it was fun to be surrounded with football fans worldwide and feel their positive energy.
-For this note: “I hope you will find the horse whom you can ride” LOL – written in small moleskine, I can’t recall who said this to me, but whomever it was, I’m grateful :)
-TS conference at CK, serendipity/coincidence of sitting next to SP (I could sit anywhere else, I guess I’m magnet for geeks).
-SP, for his British politeness, friendliness, time spent in talks/chats with me, reading my scrabbles, proof reading my scrabbles, assuring me how brilliant I am, even in the times when I’m not and when I fail, encouraging me then, sharing the secrets with me.
- People at Magdalene college listening to me enthusiasticly speaking for 45min and then asking me smart questions. And applauding twice!
- Rob from Tony & Guy for not ruining my hair, every time. Adam for not ruining my color at Philosophy.
- LR and DB for being with me when need in and out with things,getting around, being my UK mom and dad. Well not actually. Countless lunches at Old Parsonage.
- SB, for making me company to Blenheim palace, and being patient with my impatience to see all the gardens and not to cross the wet grass and country but instead taking Winston Churchill train. For being so sure that we will solve that largest world Maze, we did. I was so excited not to get stuck in there.
-for many bops, esp. short one summer shipwrecked at MCR. It was short but sweet. Empire ants and Gorillaz after which we left the house.
-for polite reception at Parnassus hotel in Danzig, Poland, and patient wmf travel managers from SF who replaced my airtix when I wanted and where I wanted, as well as to all wmf participants with whom I interacted, there are thousands of them, cannot name them all, they know me so “hi” and ‘thanks”
- JW, for reaching out to say hi and shake hands with me (proof that celebs are down to earth and friendly creatures)
- SSG for accepting me, formally at least, we will see how this will go on.
- Brussels, Munich, Barcelona…i am lost in here.
-all polite and normal administrative workers in Belgrade, Serbia, very few, but thanks for not making me frustrated.
-for paper being published, and probably many others that I missed here to mention as well as the conferences as there were few, concerts, music, grateful for all these opportunities and events.
- RG, my spiritual sister, best friend, and wonderful artist from Berkeley who is listening to my ramblings on daily basis, and being lovely friend. Thank you D!
- all friends world wide I have met in random places and events I didn’t mention here, new friendships and opportunities to come in 2011.
OK this was quite a lot…hugs & kisses, happy 2011!
