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Alyssa Adina James

Anthropologist & Public Scholar

Alyssa Adina James

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Moving to the UK

The Phoenix, East Finchley London, Working in London
Moving to the UK, Travel Tips & Advice

Reader Question # 1: Move to the UK first, or find a job first?

15 June 2014

Hey Alyssa! So I work a regular 9-5 corporate job here in Toronto but anxious to travel and enjoy life. So I have been thinking about taking my skill and going abroad. I know you’ve been doing that and so I was wondering if you first decided to move and then find a job… or…

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Alyssa 62 Comments
Hot Chocolatae, Juliet & Chocolat, Montreal
Life Abroad, Moving to the UK, Musings

See You Later, Canada!

27 September 2013

I arrived home from Martinique on May 12, 2013. Since then, I visited London; interned at a newspaper; reconnected with my estranged father; went to Chicago on a road trip; visited my aunt in Manitoulin Island; had my first cottage weekend with friends; took the first steps to move to London with my long-term and…

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Alyssa 6 Comments
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Meet Alyssa

Alyssa Adina James, anthropologist, black woman anthropologist, canada, martinique

Alyssa Adina James

I’m an anthropologist passionate about exploring the cultural and historical richness of food, heritage, and identities in the Caribbean and its diaspora, with a special focus on coffee production and consumption. I aim to bring attention to pressing global issues like climate adaptation, food sovereignty, and the legacies of colonialism. Whether through community engagement, public writing, or podcast production, I’m committed to making critical conversations accessible, bridging the gap between scholarship and everyday life.


Montréal, QC


Assistant Professor, McGill University


PhD Anthropology, Columbia University


Avery the Mini Poodle

Inspiration

No, I do not weep at the world—I am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.

— Zora Neale Hurston

People need to see that, far from being an obstacle, the world’s diversity of languages, religions and traditions is a great treasure, affording us precious opportunities to recognize ourselves in others.

— Youssou N’Dour

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Helpful Resources

- Where the Money Resides: Demystifying Academic Job Negotiations
- The Professor Is in: The Essential Guide to Turning Your Ph.D. Into a Job
- Sample Statements of Purpose for Anthropology PhD Admissions
- 57 Ways to Screw Up in Grad School: Perverse Professional Lessons for Graduate Students

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