Reflecting on my year in Oxford
Nearing the end of her first year in Oxford, Jean Balchin says it can, at times, be a dark and lonely place.
Tinker Tailor Student Spy
Choose words carefully if dealing with suicide
Choose words carefully if dealing with suicide
Every time I hear the phrase ''committing suicide'' it feels like someone has sucker-punched me in the stomach, writes Jean Balchin.
Unjustified prejudice hinders treatment of depression
Unjustified prejudice hinders treatment of depression
Every morning, shortly after waking, I carefully press out two yellow and green pills from their silver foil and pop them in my mouth. I swallow them with a mouthful of coffee, and then go about my...
Sign language is a valuable addition
Sign language is a valuable addition
I was scrolling through Facebook, as is my wont, when I came across a video of the inimitable Jacinda Ardern, signing out a greeting in New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL).
Hurting and healing: dealing with the physical pain of grief
Hurting and healing: dealing with the physical pain of grief
I thought I knew what grief was like. It was constant tears, a blotchy face, days spent in bed, a wistful longing for the dead. It was gliding mournfully around the house, lilies at a funeral,...
Modern life in all its messiness
Modern life in all its messiness
The lights are dimmed, the wine is flowing. A family sits around a table in a posh restaurant, their smiles forced and cutlery scraping harshly.
'It's made our faith stronger'
'It's made our faith stronger'
Almost two weeks have passed since an evil man entered a holy place and took the lives of 50 innocent people. Instead of penning one of my usual columns, today’s article is devoted to two of my...
Obsessive delight in popularising memes
Obsessive delight in popularising memes
Change My Mind. Distracted Boyfriend. Exit 12. Tide Pods. Doge. Grumpy Cat.
Symbol of pride delight to see
Symbol of pride delight to see
Oxford is slowly warming up. The hours of watery sunshine are lengthening day by day, and daffodils are beginning to poke their heads up in the muddy parks and lawns.
Support good journalism to do its job for society
Support good journalism to do its job for society
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of meeting the esteemed journalist, lawyer, former government adviser and fellow Rhodes Scholar Ronan Farrow when he spoke for an evening in Oxford after...
Wise or wounding, words have power over those we love
Wise or wounding, words have power over those we love
The immortal words of R.E.M were the soundtrack of my teenage years. Instead of a regular teenage rebellion involving sex, drugs and rock'n'roll, I defied my parents by reading feminist literature, blaring AC/DC from my room, and refusing to go to church.
Eating disorders pernicious in all their forms
Eating disorders pernicious in all their forms
As of today, December 20, 2018, I occupy the most space I ever have in my life.
Maori Santa one of many versions
Maori Santa one of many versions
Despite being 11,660 miles away from sunny Nelson, New Zealand, the ''Maori Santa Claus'' debacle has reached the frozen wastelands of Oxford, England.
Making my own way through Wonderland
Making my own way through Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: to most children, an exciting, multicoloured kaleidoscope of eccentric characters and intrepid adventures, from anxious, yet well-dressed white rabbits to murderous, ill-tempered queens hellbent on decapitating anything and everyone.
Even a life-long nomad feels the significance of moving
Even a life-long nomad feels the significance of moving
Whenever I am asked where in New Zealand I am from, I do not know how to answer.
Oxford life offers insights into a world of privilege
Oxford life offers insights into a world of privilege
It has been exactly one month since I moved to Oxford, ''that sweet city with dreaming spires'', to quote the poet and critic Matthew Arnold.
False rape accusations not the real problem
False rape accusations not the real problem
In the wake of the Kavanaugh-Ford debacle, there have been many ill-thought and frankly disturbing statements being thrown around about the apparent frequency of false rape allegations and the...
Gentrification of Leith saddening
Gentrification of Leith saddening
For the last two months, I have been living in Leith, a delightfully eccentric and family-oriented portside neighborhood in Edinburgh.
Art history has power to broaden our perspective
Art history has power to broaden our perspective
Despite being currently 11,693 miles away from Dunedin, I am still very much invested in the goings-on of Otago University.
Church communities have much to offer - even to atheists
Church communities have much to offer - even to atheists
Anyone who has read my columns for the Otago Daily Times over the past year will realise that I have the tendency to be very sharp, cynical and sceptical, especially when it comes to religion.