My future is still uncertain, but...

I have just arrived back from the conference in Canada and my paper went over really well. I got asked some excellent questions and it sparked quite a good discussion during the question period. I left Vancouver feeling really inspired and ready to get back to work. Unfortunately, I'm inspired to work on one of my other projects rather than finish my thesis. ugh. So, I am now forcing myself to sit in my office on a Sunday and try and get this section finished. The end is sort of in sight which almost makes this all harder.

The day before I left for Canada, I received confirmation that I have been recommended for the DAAD fellowship. This is a fellowship for me to live in Germany and work with some scholars there. I don't yet know how long I am going for (I should receive that email in the next 2 weeks or so), but I will be heading to Erfurt for at least part of the fall. This town is slightly bigger than the town I live in currently in the UK and is basically just south of Berlin and to the East of Frankfurt. I went to a conference there in my first year and will be working with two of the experts in my field at the moment. Also, conveniently, my supervisor is also in Erfurt for the year as is another one of the PhD students here. My German is not great but I guess I will have to pick it up quickly. I'm quite excited about this opportunity and we'll have to see how all this pans out.

In the near future, I am heading to Rome a week from today having finally been able to organize my plans for this. I'm super excited and it should be a good trip even though I feel as though I have to see everything, plus I have some pictures to take for my thesis and teaching and such but I look forward to getting out of my town and having a nice little adventure.

I think that's pretty much it for me at the moment. Heading back to Canada for my yearly summer month visit for part of July and August, although this year it won't be nearly as relaxing as it normally is, as I will have to bring a ton of work back with me. O well, the life of the grad student...