Edith's Pursuit of Knowledge Abroad
Donation protected
I lead a double life. In one, I follow fashion, read food magazines, and make fancy lattés. In the other, more interesting life, I farm, I help other people farm, and I grandstand about an ethical and sustainable food system. Thanks to all my friends, family, peers, neighbors, loved ones, and hapless bystanders for tolerating my perpetual ambiguity! I am both humbled and proud to announce that I'm about to take my double life to the next level.
After four years of pondering, pining, and psyching myself out, I finally got up the nerve to apply to Agris Mundus , the top program in the world for sustainable agricultural development. Oh, and to contradict those years of prudence and timidity, I recklessly put ALL my proverbial eggs in that basket. No other plans. This is it. I know that this is the program for me - the next and most important step towards taking my place among the farmers growing food under tough circumstances for those that need it most, and the capable folks working to support those farmers.
I just received my acceptance letter and I'm equal parts emboldened and intimidated. I can't wait to leave home once again, go back to school, and have my ideas torn to shreds and replaced with better ones. While I'm wealthy in spirit and ambition, and ecstatic to be accepted to this incredible program, I'm daunted at the prospect of affording this next venture. Yep, I'm short on capital. Turns out living a double life, flipping between serving food in the USA to then go grow food in a developing country, doesn't build a lot of personal savings. Yes, this is the common plight of American graduate study hopefuls, but here's the rub: as an American attempting to study in Europe, there are no federal student loan options, and sadly I wasn't one of the very few selected for a scholarship. The reserves I do have will cover either tuition or food and shelter in my future home cities- Copenhagen, Denmark and Montpellier, France- so I turn to my community for a little support. The whole course- that's a DOUBLE masters, folks- is a bargain at 16,000 Euros in total (go, US Dollar, go!), and as far as the cost of living goes, I am prepared for pauperism and starving student-hood. In other words, I may be needy, but I need only the very basics.
If you know me, you know that I am a self-made lady, pulled up by bootstraps, who does a lot with very little to seize the day and try new and difficult things, in an effort to make a difference in this complicated, troubled, beautiful and tasty world of ours. But I'm not self-made, I have the best community, EVER! So here I am, asking my community for a leg up in the form of a buck or twenty as a vote of confidence in the difference I hope to make.
Maybe you're interest is piqued, you find yourself inspired, or you're a fan of sustainable agriculture. Maybe you wanna see my credentials, or you're wondering what the heck I think I'm gonna get myself up to with these masters degrees, exactly. Or perhaps you need your garden tended, your house cleaned or sat, or your files organized in exchange for a donation! These are all good reasons get in touch or contribute. I hope you agree, or have the opportunity to discover, that I'm a great investment!
Eagerly, graciously, and UNambiguously yours,
Edith Ann Welker
After four years of pondering, pining, and psyching myself out, I finally got up the nerve to apply to Agris Mundus , the top program in the world for sustainable agricultural development. Oh, and to contradict those years of prudence and timidity, I recklessly put ALL my proverbial eggs in that basket. No other plans. This is it. I know that this is the program for me - the next and most important step towards taking my place among the farmers growing food under tough circumstances for those that need it most, and the capable folks working to support those farmers.
I just received my acceptance letter and I'm equal parts emboldened and intimidated. I can't wait to leave home once again, go back to school, and have my ideas torn to shreds and replaced with better ones. While I'm wealthy in spirit and ambition, and ecstatic to be accepted to this incredible program, I'm daunted at the prospect of affording this next venture. Yep, I'm short on capital. Turns out living a double life, flipping between serving food in the USA to then go grow food in a developing country, doesn't build a lot of personal savings. Yes, this is the common plight of American graduate study hopefuls, but here's the rub: as an American attempting to study in Europe, there are no federal student loan options, and sadly I wasn't one of the very few selected for a scholarship. The reserves I do have will cover either tuition or food and shelter in my future home cities- Copenhagen, Denmark and Montpellier, France- so I turn to my community for a little support. The whole course- that's a DOUBLE masters, folks- is a bargain at 16,000 Euros in total (go, US Dollar, go!), and as far as the cost of living goes, I am prepared for pauperism and starving student-hood. In other words, I may be needy, but I need only the very basics.
If you know me, you know that I am a self-made lady, pulled up by bootstraps, who does a lot with very little to seize the day and try new and difficult things, in an effort to make a difference in this complicated, troubled, beautiful and tasty world of ours. But I'm not self-made, I have the best community, EVER! So here I am, asking my community for a leg up in the form of a buck or twenty as a vote of confidence in the difference I hope to make.
Maybe you're interest is piqued, you find yourself inspired, or you're a fan of sustainable agriculture. Maybe you wanna see my credentials, or you're wondering what the heck I think I'm gonna get myself up to with these masters degrees, exactly. Or perhaps you need your garden tended, your house cleaned or sat, or your files organized in exchange for a donation! These are all good reasons get in touch or contribute. I hope you agree, or have the opportunity to discover, that I'm a great investment!
Eagerly, graciously, and UNambiguously yours,
Edith Ann Welker
Organizer
Edith Pilaf
Organizer
Salt Lake City, UT
