Someone told me the other day that doing a PhD isn't a real job. He's right. It isn't.
It's worse than a real job. It's an obsession that takes hold of you and doesn't let you go. Well, it is if you've chosen to do it and you like what you do. It's worse than a real job because you're an 'expert' in your own field and you have to be the best in what you do. Nothing mediocre when you're having your viva voce (thesis defence).
And if that doesn't scare the living daylights out of you yet, kath said the other day that it's equivalent to slavery. I would like to add, that it's a bit more fun than slavery but maybe not. Many of us have part time jobs on top of the full time studying we have to do.
Yeah, yeah, I can hear some of you mutter now. Students don't really need to work that hard. But being a PhD is like never having a day off. Ever. Especially when you're writing up your thesis and it's the only thing that you live, eat and breathe. Unless of course, you're like me and you work with Drosophila larvae (maggots) and then you try not eat them.
Then when it's all over, you get to go out, party hard and start to look for a job. Sheessh. Why the hell am I putting myself through all this again?
In light of recent lack of posts, I will continue here with the usual spiel. Had a weird ass week and weekend. Worked hard in the week and had a surreal weekend. Sarah came down, last minute, on Saturday and we made a meal with Chad in Amelie and Alexis' place. It was fun, we made Lebanese food, which I had never made before. Highly exciting, since Chad made most of the meal, thanks hun! Then we watched Indiana Jones and Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves. The sugar from the baklava made us all high so even though I left the flat at like 3am, none of us slept till gone 5am. Ah...the late night adventures that fill my life!
Also met K's new boy, whom I randomly know from doing the same course. Nice, yet intensely disturbing to me that Oxford is getting so small that I recognised him and it was because he's doing the same course as me.
Surreal Sunday as lack of sleep didn't help my ability to hold conversations but somehow managed to speak to Tim and Carlo. He's back from Amsterdam, spent the weekend there with his mum, I wish I could have a jetset lifestyle but right now it's probably best kept in this small city of this tiny island so I can finish up the reason why I'm here.
More interesting conversations (why do they only happen why I'm half asleep? Is that to help me process them?) 2006 is a year for being single, decided Mark K. I'm quite tempted to agree with him. Once I kick this thesis in the ass, which will happen in the next 12 months, I will be able to concentrate on the finer things in life. Like actually having one. But minor details.
And got woken up Monday morning by kath. She explains it all so much better than me on her blog. I'm still printing out the final things as we speak. Then I shall make some breakfast and run the thesis over to be bound and handed over to exam schools. Somehow wishing it was mine and I can leave here. Itchy feet already.
Might appease my heart by retail therapy later.
I also hate mornings.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
alice was and is my hero for printing, binding, and delivering my dissertation so that i may actually graduate from this lovely institution. she's my hero, period.
i just have to make a slight addition to my slavery comment. i think the only reason people should get phd's is because they love what they do. a passion to teach, a passion for research, whatever. the sad thing is that we work very hard, and if we are lucky, we get a studentship or fellowship that will support us while we do this work. compared to salaries in the real world, it is a bit like slavery. i think this is more the case in the states where we are required to go to class, assist undergraduate classes, and start dissertation research at the same time. from only one term i can tell you it is exhausting.
alice, you do work hard, in spite all of your jokes claiming otherwise. keep working sugar, the light is at the end of the tunnel. didn't you say something like that to me recently?
Post a Comment