Nothing

I felt that since it’s been a while since my last post, I should write something for the world to read. But on the one hand the world seems to have better things to do than to read random blogs and on the other hand I have absolutely nothing to say. Sometimes I wonder what I am doing with my life. Sometimes I feel that it is absolutely boring and nothing ever happens. Then again, if this is so, I wonder why I never have a spare minute in my day. I am always work-working or study-working and in the very few moments I grant myself for relaxation I only get round to watch some TV or do some knitting. I guess it’s up to me to decide whether there is something totally wrong in my life, or if this is just how it is supposed to be until I finally complete that PhD. And I will, that’s for sure. Well, I didn’t mean to discourage you. After all there are people who are luckier than me and manage to attract funding and then the whole work-work part will be missing and you can fill this  gap with something like a social life etc. So don’t  let my weird mood get you down. After all the weather is getting really nice now. So enjoy the sunshine!

Better Weather

After a really bad patch both private as well as where the thesis is concerned, I finally feel that things are getting better. And I do not only mean the weather which was really lovely (if still coolish) the last few days. I have been suffering from some kind of stomach disorder this week but on the positive side this kept me in the house and I got loads of stuff done. Mostly for the thesis that is, so I can finally see me finishing that d****d chapter within the next 2 weeks or so. Keep your fingers crossed.

Apart from that nothing exciting has happened, but as experience told me, this can be a good thing too, we could have had a window thrown in again, after all, which would definitely have caused excitement but not the pleasant kind. Our neighbor has had a party for the last two days going and Ben gets really annoyed by it because we have to turn up our TV quite a bit in order not to hear his music. In fact even then we still hear it. Yesterday he seems to have discovered that you can take out the base and that makes things a lot more acceptable. Hope he will not party on throughout spring and summer, as I need to study at some point. We intend to move in summer but till then we will have to live with it one way or another, so hopefully he has some insight with his hard working neighbors.

And that’s about it. Is the life of a part-time working part-time studying no time for anything else student not very exciting? I am even looking forward to the weddings and conferences in summer and autumn, just for the change!

busy busy busy

These days I really feel like a very busy bee. Running from one place to another and trying to get everything done. I had so many appointments these last few weeks, and one week I worked 37,5 hours just at work. I am really having my first day off in three weeks today, of course I had days off work but these I spent at Uni, so you can imagine that I am quite exhausted now and very determined to enjoy my day off. It might after all be the only one for the next few weeks again

So what have I done? I went to various doctors appointments, I had a job interview but was never invited for trial work (kind of disappointing, but at least I have a job), Maya was neutered and does not want to leave her collar on. The first night she was home we had to take her to the emergency animal hospital because she was somersaulting so much that we were afraid she ripped open the internal wound. but she was fine. And apart from all this I almost finished my next chapter and developed a serious lack of sleep. But ever since Ben and I set a rough date when we want to go back home, I have been working really hard. Interesting what a bit of pressure can do. So if ever you feel like not getting on, try and set yourself a date. It might help!

Early Spring

Last week. I told Ben that I thought it was going to be an early spring. I had good proof for it, too. Maya is starting to change her coat- lots of tiny cat hair everywhere- and the bulbs I planted in November, start to grow. Well, the next day it was snowing. So what I am supposed to make of that? I am not so sure about an early spring anymore (maybe it was only wishful thinking in the first place). On the other hand I am immensely enjoying the sunny weather today.

But let’s not talk about the weather. There is one thing I am very sure about: I’ve got to speed up writing and researching for my thesis. I am so sure for three reasons:

1. I can feel that I am working too slowly.

2. My supervisors told me so.

3. Ben wants to be back home by the end of 2010, and I do not intend to leave things unfinished.

So I am in a bit of a dilemma: I know myself that I have to work more and faster. But how to you do that if you constantly feel that you are running out of time? I think my time management skills have really improved during this last year. And yet there are still only 24 hours in my day. I am always tired and either work-working or thesis-working. Then Ben (and Maya) want(s) a bit of attention too, once in a while. Hardly any time for myself as it is. So if you have any good advise, please send it my way, I appreciate it.

Nothing much has happened in the last two weeks. I have been accepted to present papers at two more conferences, which I am now trying to organize: transport, accommodation, time off work, writing the papers… It is really hard – if you have to work and only get 21 days paid holidays- to get all this worked out, because in the end there are not too many days left to take a real holiday, which you really really need by then. In addition to conferencing, this year my favourite cousin is getting married back in Germany and Ben’s brother and girlfriend are having a baby in summer, so there will be a lot of travelling back and forth. I have no idea how this is all going to work out. But, of course, it will because it has to.

On this note, I wish you all a very merry and productive early spring, even if it should arrive a little later

Summer is gone….

 

So now the summer is officially over (not hat we had much of a summer here) and everybody is back and busy again. For me this doesn’t mean too much of a change as I have been here and busy all summer. But now the campus is frighteningly full of young faces again which makes me painfully aware of how old I am getting and also miss the quiet and peaceful campus.

Apart from that my first year was officially over the day before yesterday. So I took out the folder in which I had outlined the first three years of my studies, about a year ago. And to be honest, I am nowhere near where I wanted to be. Of course, I designed this outline when I was still studying full-time. So maybe I should not be too hard on me. On the other hand I am still trying to finish this PhD in as short a time as possible.

Also I was invited for a job interview for a very interesting tutoring programme. It was not really an interview but rather an assessment centre. So there were 6 of us trying to solve various tasks in small groups, presenting the result and each of us had to present something we had prepared for the purpose. I thought it was not going to badly, until the two persons who were interviewing (in lack of a better word) us mentioned that they had at least 4 more groups to deal with before they could make a decision. So they had 30 or more people to pick from. This was when I realized that I would not get a new job too soon, and one that would look great on my CV into the bargain. But well, I’ve got a job, so this is not the end of the world.

As to my present job: I was really mad at my manager last week as she cu my hours to 15. That just did not make me feel appreciated. As long as she was short-staffed we were working our butts off and doing 30+ hours to help her out, and then she hires so much new staff that we all only get minimum hours (16) and me even less than that. So I sent out some more applications but I have not heard anything, yet. And by now my hours have gone up to 19, which is not too bad.

I had this weekend of as well, which felt really great, as I didn’t have a full weekend of in ages! All in all I think I should focus more on my studies, but I am not doing too badly. I also had another paper accepted for a big international conference in January next year. So there you go, life’s still good. And I am looking forward to a very productive new year.

Oh and here a bit of funny news: I have started my Christmas (yes, it’s just around the corner!) knitting now and I have already completed a pair of socks and a hat.

To all of you: enjoy the new year! And to all who are new to Uni, make the most of your very first year here!!!