Latest love

Photos via: I Dream Of . . .

This post may seem a bit out of the ordinary, but is is quite reflective of my current obsession with eyeglasses. Are they not the most attractive things? They add such sophistication and charm to any look, . . . do these pictures not make you want to rush out into the cold and purchase of pair for yourself? Of course, as a child, I longed to have glasses and braces like my cool sister. I even went to lengths to fashion a retainer for myself out of paper clips! Thank goodness for fake eyeglasses otherwise who knows what I might come up with next, . . .

Let's talk about art

Paul Ferney is such a talent! I just came across his Little Paris Paintings and I am utterly and completely in love. His oil paintings are textured and reminiscent of my smudged memories of Paris. How I would love to use his paintings as a map of sorts. Rather than walking from one tourist destination to the next, I would follow the path of his paintings, . . . from cafe to flower shop to fruit stand . . .

Seemed rather appropriate

Faded from the Winter

By Iron & Wine

My dear friend, Jen, posted a "song of the day" for every day of our week of final exams. So simple, and yet instead of dwelling on the daunting task of my next final or paper, I found a small measure of hope in knowing a new day would bring a new song. To follow in her graceful footsteps (for you are beautiful and graceful, Jen), there is one particular song I am eager to share with you. As mentioned, this choice seemed rather appropriate today for it was a day that began with a nostalgia that swelled into a sort of achiness for a time long gone. Songs such as this can help one access the most suppressed of emotions, as was certainly my experience today. 

A lesson learned

Photo via: La Cannella Frago

As only a Dutch passport carrying girl knows, this is the proper way to eat stroopwaffles. The syrup becomes melty and delicious as it perches above a steaming cup of coffee with cream. The sweet and crunchy treat is perfection on a wintry day. Of course eating one cookie after another straight out of the bag is indeed tempting . . . but please trust me when I say, this is the one and only way to eat a stoopwaffle, or two.

The knowledge divide

Photos via: Culture Shock

The World Bank defines the knowledge economy as an economy “where organizations and people acquire, create, disseminate, and use knowledge more effectively for greater economic and social development.” The World Bank stresses the importance of education and life-long learning amidst today’s knowledge revolution. While the benefits of such a revolution are recognized by developed countries, developing countries are at a competitive disadvantage. As such, the “knowledge divide” poses a threat to the future development of countries with weaker institutions, poorer economies and a far more limited access to the knowledge that is abundantly available to developed countries. In reaction to this growing divide, the Skills & Innovation Policy (SIP) program of the World Bank Institute's Growth and Crisis practice seeks to guide developing countries as they transition to the knowledge economy. One of the four pillars of the knowledge economy is education, and as such, the SIP advocates for global learning (The World Bank, 2011). Education is not only a means to achieve a competitive advantage, but it is also a means for developing countries to achieve economic prosperity. In this flattened, consolidated world, social issues such as civil rights and education are, in fact, global issues -- we must urgently address.