It's March

I can't believe we are a full week into March. I have been here for more than seven months. I only have two more weeks of coursework, then it's all exam revision and finalizing essays, then dissertation. I can't believe it has all gone by so quickly. It's so scary, because to think of the amount of work I have left between now and May is mind-boggling.

I've been having a stressful week (and it's only Tuesday!). I'm finishing up a paper, finalizing my PhD proposal, working on scholarship applications, all the while freaking out about upcoming exams. Meanwhile, the university still hasn't released the exam schedule yet (they are anywhere between early May and early June!!). Also, all faculty across the country were officially on strike today, and a boycott of assessment (meaning they will not mark any coursework until demands are met) begins tomorrow. God knows how the rest of the term is gonna turn out!

Yesterday I nearly had a mini-breakdown from stress. My life is now at that point where I have so much work to do that every single minute of the day has to be accounted for - no more leisure time other than mealtimes. By the time I went to bed last night I felt so overwhelmed, like I should be doing work instead of sleeping, that I actually took my PowerBook to bed with me thinking I'd write some more before sleeping. But instead, I started looking at pictures from Kuwait. And it did me a world of good. Looking at pictures from chalet, Kubbar, gatherings, pool parties, dinners at Edo, Mitla3 ... friends, family, and my P - it reminded me that I need to relax. That this is only one part of my life and that I'm here because I want to be here, doing what I love, and once I'm done in another 1 1/2 years I get to go back to my life, to my P, and start.

But the next three months are gonna be hell!!

On the upside of things, my proposal is coming along very nicely. The topic I am researching/writing on is completely new and original and has pretty much never been done before (in my region of specialization), so hopefully (fingers crossed) that will help in terms of scholarships and grants. My supervisor is absolutely wonderful. I am actually really lucky to have the opportunity to be working with her. Not only is she one of the few academics out there who specializes in my particular field of history (and certainly the only one at my university), she is one of the best there is in the field, and our specific areas of interest coincide very nicely. I'm excited to start working on my research. Just gotta get through this coursework first!