Author: Dr. María Gabriela Palacio 'I don't think we did go blind; I think we are blind.Blind but seeing, blind people who can see, but do not see.' ― José Saramago, Blindness In early April, Arundhati Roy compared the virus with a chemical experiment that suddenly illuminated all the hidden things:. The levels of precarity,…
In this series, the senior members of BAISmag reflect on their experiences in studying IS and provide advice for the incoming first-year students. This week, Website Manager Kelly Musyoka gives some tips on dealing with self-doubt surrounding a new study programme. When I started studying International Studies last year, I had just transferred after attending…
Continue reading ➞ Things I wish I knew Before I started International Studies: Kelly Musyoka
In this series, the senior members of BAISmag reflect on their experiences in studying IS and provide advice for the incoming first-year students. This week, Managerial Editor Kira Paynter gives some tips on surviving University life, online. I have learned many lessons throughout my study experience at Leiden. Concepts such as Orientalism and discourse; honestly…
Continue reading ➞ Things I wish I knew Before I started International Studies: Kira Paynter
In this series, the senior members of BAISmag reflect on their experiences in studying IS and provide advice for the incoming first-year students. This week, Editor-in-Chief Warsha Autar shares her memories of Configuring the World and also shares some tips and tricks on how to study for courses you’ve never had before. So there I…
Continue reading ➞ Things I wish I knew Before I started International Studies: Warsha Autar
Dear No One, It’s 4am on a Saturday in March, and after a week with my school abroad and a trip that took over six hours longer than anticipated, I step off the bus. I know that I have purple bags under my eyes, that my hair is a mess and that the hoodie I’m…
Dear No One, Let’s set the stage. You’re at a birthday party of an old friend from high school. Well, friend? Perhaps acquaintance is a better word. Your actual friend was invited to this reunion party and dragged you along with them. As you try to avoid people you weren’t planning on seeing ever again,…
2020 has been one hell of a strain on my mental health. If I had to describe my mental state over these past months with one word it would be “oof”, which isn’t even a real word. I’ve definitely had days where it felt nearly impossible to get out of bed and be “productive”. Pushing…
Continue reading ➞ 3 Coping Strategies for “One of Those Days”
A few weeks ago BAISmag asked the student body if they had any questions about the current situation in the United States for the interviewee Sara Polak. This is the resulting interview. What is the scale of the current Black Lives Matter movement, in comparison to other previous equality movements? That’s a difficult question to…
Continue reading ➞ America in 2020: Interview with Dr. Polak
Due to the developing events in Hong Kong, BAISmag reached out to interview Gina van Ling, to gain a better understanding of the developing situation. 1. The Hong Kong protests originally started in 2019 due to the proposition of an extradition bill. Now, in 2020, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has passed a new…
Author's note: I asked for this paragraph to be placed above the story, as I would like to clarify some things before you read this blasphemous brainchild of mine. Firstly, I wrote this story with no specific version of an all knowing and all mighty being in mind. So whether you believe in God, Allah,…
