A DAY IN THE LIFE OF
MARWA BIALA D
r Marwa Biala (2020, MSc Radiation Biology) is Somerville’s inaugural Sanctuary Scholar for 2020-21. Formerly a radiologist at Tripoli University Hospital, she is currently studying from her home in Tripoli, with plans to travel to Somerville as soon as circumstances permit. I usually wake at around 8:30. I put the kettle on for my first cup of tea and drink a glass of water while looking out of the window. I am currently in Tripoli-Libya, where the British embassy’s services have been suspended due to the civil war. I use this quiet time to think about the academic work I must do that day, as well as what news the day might bring regarding my plans to get a visa. At 9am, I log on for my first lecture. I’m currently studying towards the one year Radiation Biology MSc. At the moment, I am able to work from home, because the power is quite good right now. This is not always true – when I started my course back in October, we had blackouts up to 16 hours a day. The only way I could attend my lectures and tutorials was by going to a special centre for students and doctors, where there is a generator so we can study in a quiet environment with internet access.
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Most days, I work solidly until midday. At midday, I take a break for lunch, which I eat with my family. There are six of us at home: my mother and father, my sister and my two brothers. If the weather is warm, we’ll eat something simple like couscous with green salad. In winter,
The thing I miss most about exploring my city is the people. The people of Tripoli love life and always find a way to enjoy it in spite all the hard times they have been through.
apply for UK visas, but the LibyaTunisia border is currently closed because of the pandemic. There have been rumours that the border will open again soon, which means I could travel to Tunisia for a visa. If that doesn’t happen, I will have to travel to Turkey in December and apply there. After lunch, I do more work. Sometimes while I work I find it difficult to believe that I am really studying at Oxford – even working remotely like this, the whole thing feels like a dream.
I remember when I applied, I kept thinking, who am I to apply for Oxford and why would they ever accept me? It’s so prestigious and they have all these highly-qualified students we have food that will warm us like the traditional pasta with lamb called from much better universities, while I’m from a developing country with rishta. an ongoing civil war and limited Often while I eat, I check the news on facilities. my phone. I am looking to see if the Several months after my initial situation at the border has changed. Libyans usually travel to Tunisia to application, just as I was beginning
