on adoption

On a completely different topic, I would like to talk about my desire for a family. The interesting thing about this desire of mine is that whilst we are perfectly fertile, I am really keen on adopting a child. There are lots of motivations culminating in my desire to adopt, so let's keep it simple and talk about the main impetus, and the possible issues..

1) We like children, and can give them a good environment to grow up in

the child I would like to adopt already exists, and is born to parents unwilling or unable to care for him or her. By the way this is NOT a pro-life/ anti-abortion spiel. I am thinking of children already born in orphanages from Ukraine to Uganda to Uzebekistan, for whatever reason, they need to have a home, and I believe that Fab and me can provide an excellent one.

2) This is an overpopulated world we live in, and so we do what we can do ease the pressures

if you look at the world as a whole, 80 million or so people are added every year. We consume fossil fuels in large quantites, devestate pristine ecological systems, the list of sins continue. So since I am not an advocate of genocide, I do think we can transfer the kiddies from places of high birth rates (and also high infant mortality rates!) to the so called "developed" countries. I am no Malthus, but I kinda think that we are breeding ourselves off this planet!

3) We want to have biological children too

This one is a really controversial issue, and I hope I have not opened a hornets nest here. It sounds hypocritical in the light of statements (1) and (2) above to say that we also want biological children. But we do. There is no logical reason for this, and it is a purely physical/biological/emotional kind of desire. I have done a little research on this issue, and it appears to be an urban myth that you cannot raise well-adjusted adopted children with your own biological kiddies. I guess I am reasonably confident that children raised by Fab and me will be well-adjusted and hopefully happy whatever their genetic origin.

So these are my current thoughts on adoption and starting a family. Will welcome any points of view, and have a good week ahead..

should i do this Phd?

Okay I dunno what I am supposed to do with my life right now. I just graduated with a A+ on this international trade law course (Meah was actually right - see previous post on exams) so now you would think that all my problems are solved. But they have only just begun !

The director of the course is encouraging me to sign up to do a 3 year law and econs PHD with the University of Turin. The beauty of that PHD is that it is 1 year compulsory in Turin, and then the other 2 years spent writing the thesis can be done anywhere in the world, but the supervising prof must come from any of the 4 partner universities - Cornell, Ecole Polytechnic, Univ of Ghent..

Dunno much about law and econs, but from what I heard these are pretty good unis in that field. I am really quite interested in that idea, but the question becomes - what do I do after that? Also, do I want my PHD to be in Law and Econs (considering my vaunted lack of numerical ability, this really may not be a good idea)?

Comments please! And "just go be a tai tai" is not really a serious option...

oh yeah - and just to let you know, I have a mental age of 23 years old:

You Are 23 Years Old

23 Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

in our appartment

in our appartment
Originally uploaded by vacheorange.

yesterday we had a party in our appartment for the end of all written exams. Only the oral exams left and then Sharon wanders into the realm of unemployment!

okay okay just another couple more photos..

outside Chateau
Originally uploaded by vacheorange.

This is one of the photos which show you how beautiful the day was!

just one photo first!

sortie de l'eglise
Originally uploaded by vacheorange.

okay, because me and Fab are currently trying to figure out how to put photos on the blog, we will start with a France wedding photo. BUT eventually they will all be online at www.sharonandfabien.weddingwindow.com by the end of July (shameless plug for estimated timeline that will probably be delayed...)

Administrative Confirmations

Okie Dokes - a few confirmations. Firstly, I confirm that I have given you the correct address below: 53 Via San Massimo Torino 110123, Italy. Secondly, WE HAVE A HOUSE PHONE! it is +39 011 839 0692 and we have also got internet access and skype (www.skype.com) at home now.

our skype name is "sharonandfabien" so you can search us out on skype!

Okay lah, have to go and Study now (or what passes for studying anyways). sigh - mybad! I am more interested getting into living in Turin than actually preparing for my exams. Yesterday we went for a party at Paolo's house. Who is Paolo? Well, some random stranger who helped me buy ribbons for the France wedding when the shop assistant did not speak a word of English, and of course "Orange Ribbon" is not exactly one of the first few words that you learn when you start Italian. Anyways, Paolo was in the ribbon shop buying strings for his latest movie which he shoots in his own home, using carefully constructed plasticine figures - kinda like Wallace and Gromit. His daytime job is as a molecular biologist in a cancer research lab - which may explain his hobbies, or not as the case may be...

I hate exam stress!

Shaun just left early this morning from our house. Phoned him when he was checking in at the airport, then went to school for my exams. I hate exam stress. There are 2 more exams next week before the course ends. Don't you just hate it when, after the paper, people discuss their answers and then you are filled with dread when your answer appears COMPLETELY different from everyone else's? I know the golden rule that you should not talk about the paper after it is over, but then why is it so irresistable and then you hate yourself for doing it? ARRGGHHHH