And now for something completely different
Aug. 9th, 2011 12:43 amThanks for the nice words on my not getting into the PhD program, everybody. All in all, it's probably for the best because then it gives me time to figure out what I really want to do. I mean, it would have been nice, because it gives me a reason not to move out of Hamilton for the next four years, and I'm not sure I really want to go through the process of moving all over again? Especially with nobody? Given how horrible the past year has been. But I guess, judging from this year, I know now that I can survive it; I'll just find it horrible and intolerable all over again.
I'm still not entirely sure what I want to do in terms of an actual program -- Cultural Studies? Postcolonial theory? English? I'd still like to work in steampunk, especially thinking through how ideas of modernity, ideals of civilization, the colonization project and technology are linked, except I bet someone is already doing this and I don't know about it because I don't really know where to start reading up on it. Jess Nevins threw out a few names at me, all of which are US universities, and eh. I rather like Canada and was planning on starting an application for permanent residency if I got into the PhD program. I've been in Canada eight years, for crying out loud. But if I get good funding from a US school? I wouldn't turn that down.
And then there's the question of, what the hell would I do with this degree? Can I come home to Malaysia with this degree? What else needs to be done?
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I also have, on my To Be Read Shelf, about 26 books that need reading before I can feel good about buying new books. This list will be joined by a couple more at the end of the year.
Many of them are theory which I feel will be useful in thinking through my next degree. They may not. I don't know.
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And there is a new post-apocalyptic novel to be written that has been sitting on the back burner for the last two years and really needs writing because I'm mad about the setting and the main character is nifty.
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.... And I should also try to find a day job. Sigh.
I'm still not entirely sure what I want to do in terms of an actual program -- Cultural Studies? Postcolonial theory? English? I'd still like to work in steampunk, especially thinking through how ideas of modernity, ideals of civilization, the colonization project and technology are linked, except I bet someone is already doing this and I don't know about it because I don't really know where to start reading up on it. Jess Nevins threw out a few names at me, all of which are US universities, and eh. I rather like Canada and was planning on starting an application for permanent residency if I got into the PhD program. I've been in Canada eight years, for crying out loud. But if I get good funding from a US school? I wouldn't turn that down.
And then there's the question of, what the hell would I do with this degree? Can I come home to Malaysia with this degree? What else needs to be done?
---
I also have, on my To Be Read Shelf, about 26 books that need reading before I can feel good about buying new books. This list will be joined by a couple more at the end of the year.
Many of them are theory which I feel will be useful in thinking through my next degree. They may not. I don't know.
---
And there is a new post-apocalyptic novel to be written that has been sitting on the back burner for the last two years and really needs writing because I'm mad about the setting and the main character is nifty.
---
.... And I should also try to find a day job. Sigh.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-09 11:17 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-10 01:43 am (UTC)It all looks obnoxiously large-scale in a single post like that, yeech.
You can come home any time
Date: 2011-08-11 02:29 am (UTC)Sis, you've got your peeps behind you. Whatever it is you choose in life, make it count and make it something you are passionate about.
I seriously don't care what you end up doing so long as you are happy with it. Working life sure has a way of screwing ppl over if we aren't doing what we are passionate about.
Stay in Canada? A-OK - that's a better place for aspiring writers and waaaaaay more interesting in terms of the shit you are interested in, more liberal society.