My graduation, N/A wine and a Boston art museum
The Week That Was
After four years of part-time school, I am officially a Master’s graduate (in global development)! Last week, in Boston, I donned the cap and gown and finished what I have been working diligently towards. It has been a journey and one I will properly reflect on in the future, but for now, I’m just eager to get some rest and relaxation.
Here are some other things and thoughts from the week that was:
Harvard commencement speakers: With a significant national (and international) focus on college campuses this year, we were prepared that this year might not (and should not) sound like a typical commencement. We were correct, and the speakers for the morning ceremonies were nothing short of incredible. Shruti Kumar gave a speech for the history books (there are clips on TT), as did the commencement speaker, Maria Ressa, a Nobel Peace Prize winner (for her work promoting free speech) from the Philippines. It is not easy listening, but it is incredibly important.
A must-visit Boston museum: Visiting the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum has been on my Boston to-do list for years, but it has slipped out of my itinerary for the past few trips. This trip was the one, and wow, it did not disappoint. Set in a Venetian palace that was originally Isabella’s home, the museum is filled with her vast, eclectic collection of European, American, and Asian art. It remains exactly how she curated it, as she left strict instructions that the displays could never be changed. The whole place is a journey for the senses, with each space filled with fascinating pieces. I can’t recommend a visit enough; tickets must be bought beforehand (it usually sells out). To learn more about this fascinating woman, I’m currently reading the new biography Chasing Beauty: The Life of Isabella Stewart Gardner*.
Book haul: Speaking of books, I came home with a selection to keep me learning over the summer. In addition to Chasing Beauty, my to-read shelves now include The Once and Future Sex: Going Medieval on Women’s Roles in Society* by Eleanor Janega, Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor* by Kim Kelly, and How to Stand Up to A Dictator* by Maria Ressa. My Mum gifted me Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America* by Heather Cox Richardson, whose Substack
she now reads daily. And, as a graduation gift, a friend gave me Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World* by Adam Grant.For more books, I’m working on building out my Bookshop storefront*, which I will keep updated with book recommendations (mainly by/about women).
Currently listening: When I haven’t been listening to Billie Eilish’s latest album, I have been listening to Raveena, an Indian-American singer-songwriter who believes that music is meant to be a “complete expression of the self.” She achieves this by creating music that is utterly hypnotic and soulful. Her third album is coming out in June, so while we await that, listen to the rest of her beautiful releases.
Impromptu gatherings: Apart from crossing the stage and getting my diploma, the highlights of my time in Boston were impromptu gatherings that lasted hours longer than initially anticipated. Agreeing to quickly meet a friend’s friend turned into a four-and-a-half-hour lunch with parents and partners and was filled with stories and laughter. A flight delay that continued to be extended allowed for extra time with a classmate, which resulted in eight hours of uninterrupted chatter and a much deeper friendship. A good reminder that sometimes friendship and connection are just around the corner from an impromptu “yes”.
N/A Gift idea: Upon my return from Boston, I arrived home to a big box from The New Bar, a non-alcoholic bottle shop from California. Inside was a beautiful gift box collection of three N/A sparkling wines handcrafted in Italy or France. Last night, we shared the Prima Pavé Blanc de Blancs; it was the perfect, light touch to add to dinner. It’s always fun to have something to pop when you want to celebrate and I’m so happy to see that such a great option for N/A gift boxes exists. Definitely something to bookmark for future gift-giving!
What is going on in your world? Would love to hear from you!
Articles I read (and recommend) this week:
“A look at what could be the future for postpartum care in America” (NPR)
“What’s better for the climate: A paper book, or an e-reader?” (NPR) Edit: they left out buying secondhand books, swapping and sharing with friends, and using the library!
“Nigerian activists condemn mass ‘forced marriages’ of 100 girls and young women” (The Guardian)
“Thailand: State-backed digital violence used to silence women and LGBTI activists” (report by Amnesty International)
“South Korea’s Feminist 4B Movement: Why Growing Numbers Of Women Are Saying No To Sex” (Service95)
“The Dream of a Texas Bullet Train Lives On” (Bloomberg CityLab)
“What Student Journalists at Columbia Really Learned” (The Nation)
“Not Your Childhood Library” - An ambitious experiment in Minneapolis is changing the way librarians work with their homeless patrons and challenging how we share public space. (The New Yorker)
“A Novelist with a Fury: Reading Arundhati Roy in the Present” (Los Angeles Review of Books)
Podcast episodes I listened to (and recommend) this week:
“Dublin” (History’s Greatest Cities)
“International Booker Prize 2024 winner” (Monocle: Meet the Writers)
“How can Regenerative Business Help Heal the Earth? - Esha Chhabra” (One Planet Podcast)
“‘The World of Interiors’ 500th issue, NY Art Book Fair and ‘France: The Monocle Handbook’” (Monocle: The Stack)
“The Bronze Age, Mythic Origins and the Real People Behind Them” (Let’s Talk About Myths Baby!)
And a Youtube video:
Thank you for reading! Hope you have a great week! Talk soon! xxx