Changing my annual monthly calender on my study desk and I find it funny and relieved at the same time while reading my plans and notes made within this first year of my PhD study in foreign land.
There were heaps of planning and I am glad and can proudly say that most of them are achieved. There are emotional remarks in which most of them expressing my anxiety throughout the different states of first year in PhD:
- Research proposal approval
- Choosing and building framework for the dissertation
- Prepare for candidature confirmation
- Applying for research grant and ethics approval
- Attending seminars and conferences and presenting papers
- Preparing for fieldwork
I thank God for a rather smooth first year in which major goals are achieved albeit worries and sadness following the occurrence of the least expected family problem(s) during one of the most critical time of my study (literature review and candidature confirmation). God, please bless my family good health.
I thank my hubby for always being there and had helped me to manage things that are out of my reach, and has been my good cook, my rational financial manager, and my most therapeutic psychiatrist :)
Now I have my January and February 2010 planned. For March-December 2010, this would be another kind of challenge not only in my research but also in my life. I will be living and conducting research in another foreign land in which I don't speak fluent local language (not to say that I am very fluent in English or Aussie English :p). Luckily, this journey would be accompanied by my lovely husband who vows to continuously give me all supports that I need.
May the Tiger new year brings me to another level of good achievement, both as a PhD student and a good person :)
