Dr. to be lights kitchen on fire.

I survived my second week! Yes.
Monday was a bad day and I've discussed what I think is a good plan of action with my advisor - so hopefully it all works out.
I've been mainly do school work all week - so I haven't had the opportunity to hang out with such individuals as Sharon - cough cough - Sharon if you need anything please don't be afraid to call me!!! - and I'm now a good 95% unpacked. I would like to go and purchase a new shelving unit - I think that I definitely need a shelf that is strictly for university research projects (mainly my thesis information) as it is already an overwhelming amount and I can't make it be organized just laying in piles on my bedroom floor - I want it picked up and put away - thus I need to purchase a shelf.
Unfortunately my money hasn't come in yet - so I'm still sitting pretty - in addition - unlike Windsor who pays biweekly (and is currently on strike fyi) Western pays monthly - which I'm not a big fan of because that means you do have to manage your money more effectively - thankfully for the most part I'm good with this - but at the same time its just nicer knowing that you get a cheque every two weeks.
I have gone to the gym 5 times in the last two weeks. 3 times last week and twice this week. We (a few girls in my program and I) attend an aerobics class on Monday night - and I just love this class. I think it is fantastic. Two other times have been just in the cardio room and once we went to a 20-20-20 class which is 20 minutes aerobic, 20 minutes weights, 20 minutes abs. Not one of us liked that class- the instructors, who I am sure are very nice people - were not even convincing us they wanted to be there and definitely didn't inspire/encourage us to work out - so we didn't enjoy ourselves at all.
So I'm still surviving - and hoping there are more good days to come!

Oh wait!
I forgot -
I lit my kitchen on fire!
Oh I did.
Monday morning I made a pot of tea - and I brought a cup to school via a traveller. Tuesday morning I had planned to bring the remaining to class. I poured the tea into my plastic traveller and into the microwave for some heating up it went. I was getting ready for school at this time - so my plan had been to leave the kitchen until I heard the "ding ding ding" of the microwave informing me the time I inputted had elapsed. I don't recall why - but I decided to stay in the kitchen a few minutes. Thankfuly. About 10 seconds into my nuking of the tea - sparks were flying. Turns out my plastic traveller wasn't 100% plastic - it also contained hidden metal screws. Metal - a substance I know that doesn't belong in a microwave. After a few sparks there was a "poof"... and then there were flames. I stopped the microwave and put out the fire that was building - thankfully nothing was ruined (well the traveller may not be usuable - but the microwave is just fine!) except the smell... oh the smell... just horrid. I tried to clean up the smell as best I could - but unfortunately it still lingered when my roommate awoke later on - so much so that he thought there were wires on fire and started moving the appliances out from the wall to figure out where it was coming from --- hindsight says I should have left him a note! haha.
So yes - the Ph.D. student lit her kitchen on fire. Ok - not the kitchen but the traveller mug she put in the microwave that turned out to have metal components. But the story sounds better if I state the kitchen is on fire.

lost at sea

Last week was my first week of classes as a Ph.D. student.

I felt frustrated and overwhelmed.

We show up without being registered for classes - so you spend a week running around trying to get some.  I also realized how much work that I need to get done.

I thought I did really well to get all my assignments for monday completed.  Still have a bunch of work and of course the work due next week has already started to pile.

But - we are one day into the second week and I already feel like the stupid kid in class.

I'm taking a clinical epidemiology class.  This is not my realm of study - actually none of my classes are in the realm of my study - but I still push forward.

Today I made what I thought was an excellent attempt to answer questions and get involved in class discussions - however, when the professor even starts looking at you with concern regarding your intelligence thats a danger sign.  I just couldn't seem to say anything intelligent or answer anything correctly - whereas everyone else was "correct" or "excellent thought" or "good thinking"... I just don't like being the stupid kid in class - because I'm not stupid - I do deserve to be here - but my biggest fear with coming back to Western and doing a Ph.D. was that I'd fail out and people would realize I'm not actually smart... that my education has been attained by a fluke.

With this class I know I'm out of my comfort zone - I know that more often than not when I open my mouth I'll be wrong - I just rather know that I'm making a good effort - rather than wasting other people's time.

I just need to take a deep breath and remind myself that I can do this - I can.  Inhale..... exhale.... good thing I'm going to the gym tonight - I can work off some frustration rather than turning to the donut I was so tempted to buy a few moments ago!

Can't stop now - I'm still running - I'll go until I fall.

rollercoaster

You know - I really didn't know what to expect upon moving back to London.

I knew that it would be very different.

I knew that the London I once knew and loved wouldn't be the London I was moving back too.

However, its been ok.

I've met some people through orientation - however, I'm taking classes outside of my faculty so that presents its own challenges.

Some of the classes apparently had readings for the first class that the prof never informed me of - so I'm already behind.  Plus I have stuff still from Windsor that I NEED to finish - and scholarship applications are coming due FAST.

So I'm overwhelmed and stressed out.

I'm not sleeping well either - I've had some really messed up dreams.

I got to go visit baby Wyatt and mom Sharon - I enjoyed that - and Sharon was even able to get in a quick nap while I was there!  He's really cute and a great addition to the family - I look forward to getting to know him.

I haven't seen Sharon much since moving back to London - but she did just have a baby - but hopefully we can start seeing each other more on a regular basis!

I was hoping that maybe this weekend I'd get to go visiting some people - I haven't seen Jen and Marks new place - and I haven't seen Aine and Lesley in a while - however - I'm so overwhelmed/swamped with work that it just isn't going to happen.  I'm going to try and work my butt off this weekend - I did agree to go to Tommy's place tonight where all the grad students are getting together - but I'm hoping to not go until 10pm and not stay late at all.  Otherwise just work my butt off.

Not surprisingly though - I should also try and finish unpacking too at some point!

The things that I have altered in my life upon moving to London.

I got text messaging on my phone.  I had maybe like 30 on my phone before - now I have unlimited - which is sort of nice - because if I'm waiting for the bus I can think of someone who might be able to respond and strike up a conversation.  Also helped when having to tell people my new number - I could just text it out!

more surprisingly though is the fact that this week I've been to the gym THREE times - Monday, Wednesday and Friday - and I think me and one or two of the girls in my program are going to try and make this a habit - so I'm happy about that - maybe I can get into shape for Jen's wedding!!!  Obviously not as good as her - but still.  Speaking of which - Sharon, five days post birth - LOOKED FANTASTIC - you'd barely even know she had been pregnant not even a week ago!

Nothing really exciting to report otherwise - going to have a REALLY busy semester - so I'm going to hold on tight and really try to get through it successfully - a lot is riding on the fact that I excel!

anyway - I should try and get some work done!!!