Already at the clinking of glasses at last year's New Year's celebration I knew this would be a year of closures and beginnings. Although I had been working, often even struggling, towards the completion of my Ph.D. for so long, when it was suddenly done it felt a bit like I had only started it the day before. Even the day of my defense itself didn't seem to last more than a few seconds. My new job was over before it had even properly begun. And now I suddenly find myself living in a foreign country, sharing my life with people whom I until recently had never met. It has really been a breathtaking rollercoaster ride!
When a few months ago, just before my defense, I was talking to some people who had been through the whole Ph.D. battle themselves, they each told me that after the defense they had suddenly experienced this amazing sense of relief and rest. Even though they were all working new jobs, often in science, they told me that the insane pressure from before the defense was all gone. Now this sounded like something to look forward to. Of course I had to be silly enough to enroll in a Masters programme at one of the UK's top universities...
In the beginning it all seemed like I would finally get that bit of well-deserved rest with a lecture schedule that looked like someone had attacked it with an eraser to leave only the bare minimum behind. I could not have been more mistaken. In the last couple of weeks I have been churning out quizzes, essays and assignments like crazy. I don't even remember the last time I have been this stressed. So when Friday our final hour of class was concluded with the words "Happy Holidays!" it was time for some proper celebrations. Unfortunately I don't get to relax for very long. I have just finished packing my suitcase as I will be spending most of the holidays in Holland and guess what...it is full of study books and lecture notes! The examination week is scheduled to take place at the start of January and this means that I will spend my days largely hunched over my books. Am I complaining? Well, yes maybe a little bit but not so much. I am learning a lot of very interesting things here -I'll even happily take in the less interesting bits as part of the deal- and at the end of the day I am convinced it will be worth it.
As for those of you that will be around in Holland these next 2 weeks; I really do look forward to seeing you but I hope you'll excuse me if I drift off at times and start mumbling about equity considerations and accrued expenses. For all the others; I hope to see you some time next year, either in London or where ever you all are. This leaves me to tell you all just one more thing:
I wish you all Happy Holidays and a wonderful 2007!
