tributes 3 and 4

i HATE goodbyes....

tomorrow two of my dearest friends, peter and raakhi, leave oxford, and i'm so sorry to say goodbye to them.

this is the beginning of the end, really - it's all hitting me even more that this year at oxford is done, and what a pity how swiftly it passed...

peter and raakhi are a fantastic couple. peter lives right upstairs from me, and i'd often spend afternoons and evenings in his room conversing about various topics from jobs to relationships, and he was always so filled with kindness and wisdom. raakhi and i would frequent oxford coffee shops for similar discussions, sometimes throwing sartre, mozambican poetry, or other such literary topics in as well. there is absolutely no pretension in either of these individuals, nothing forced or rehearsed: they are entirely genuine and live true to themselves. i love to meet such people, who read l'etre et le neant or run a south african NGO simply for personal passion, and no exterior recognition or appearances. i'm tired of seeing people cite art movements or political statements in order to fit an "alternative" mold, and love when people do such things with real intent. not seeking originality or an image, but are instead critical and thoughtful thinkers and authentic human beings.

peter and raakhi have been such a blessing to me this year, i've loved our meals and conversations. they have crafted so much of my oxford experience. i have learned so much from our interactions, and been so enriched. they are both individuals that help time pass in a more meaningful way, but without pseudo-seriousness and self-aggrandizement. in other words, it was always delightfully fun to discuss meaningful topics with both of them, never lacking for a lot of light-heartedness and laughter. :)

i will miss both dearly.