Since Germany

We got back from Germany almost a month ago and a few things have happened since then, despite indications to the contrary on this blog.

First, I quit my job and went back to school. My last day as a sub-Saharan Africa Analyst was September 4 2009, roughly 23 months after I started. On reflection, is was a really good job. I think I solidified my understanding of general economics (it's one thing to learn about exchange rates, stock markets, GDP and inflation in class, and quite another to track these things in the real world for nearly two years), I've tightened up considerably my writing skills (though maybe that's not reflected in this blog), I've been given the opportunity to show I can handle actual responsibility and, you know, I met a lot of really good people. I'm still going to try and freelance for the company, and going into the course, I've got an informal contract to produce one 6,000 word report per month. I like the opportunity to stay in touch with real economies and also to keep my writing skills fresh. The money is not bad either. Still, we'll have to see how busy the course gets.

Yes, the course. I've started a one-year programme at the London School of Economics. It's called the MSc in Economics - it's basically a master's degree in economics. No specialty, not even a dissertation. Just intensive general economics for one year. I'll be taking three mandatory courses - microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics (basically statistics) - and one elective course (probably economic development). Right now, though, there's none of that. Since September 8, I've been doing one thing, and one thing only: math. I'm in the midst of the MSc Economics three-week math boot camp. At the end of September, we take two tests and if we don't pass... well, nothing bad happens. We have already been accepted to the course and nothing will change that. We just get 'encouraged' to get our act together, and they provide some extra tutoring for us.

Anyway, I've been at it for a bit over two weeks, and it is extremely intense. I haven't had a spare moment since the course began. I get up at 7, go to school at 8, stay there till 5, working on homework during the two hour break we get between morning and afternoon classes, and then I come home and work till 11 or midnight. Tonight is the first night I finished everything early, which is why this blog post is being written. I'm also in a study group that meets for five hours each Sunday (and they actually use the whole five hours to work!), which, when combined with weekend homework means I don't have any time then either.

But, those aren't the only things that have been changing. My course started on a Friday and the following Sunday night our landlords called us down to have a chat. We immediately knew this was trouble, as this had never happened in the one year we've lived here. So, agonizing over what it could be about all afternoon, we finally found out at 7:30 pm that our landlords needed their flat back. It was our two month's notice to find somewhere new. With the course starting for me and Grace cramming for the LSAT (which she takes on Saturday), it was hardly an ideal time to go flat hunting for either of us.

However, on the bright side, as we started looking it became apparent that we were probably going to be getting a flat upgrade for roughly the price we are paying now. I'm not sure if its the recession, or the fact that Grace and I are better flat hunters now (we will have moved SIX times since 2005), or merely that we've been in London long enough to be comfortable living in 'regular' parts of London instead of the nicest (and most expensive). Whatever the case, we're seeing flats that are closer to central London, cost about the same as ours, have roughly the same amount of space, but do not require passing through your landlord's house for access. Granted some have been real stinkers. We saw one flat with no shower, just long rubber tubes attached to the bath taps. Another didn't have space for a shower in the bathroom, so it was in the main hallway, behind a curtain (not even a door!). But we also saw places that would work. We're holding out for something better, because it no longer seems like you have to grab a flat within 10 minutes of viewing before someone else snaps it up. Our dream is to have a dishwasher.

But this is probably not a dream that will come to pass.