Dissertation Writing

Writing a dissertation is like running a marathon except the amount of time it takes to complete a dissertation is WAY longer than a marathon and maybe even more grueling. (That is speaking from experience--I have run two marathons!) I wish I could write for 4 hours and cross the finish line...but instead I am going on 4.5 months (of writing) and I have yet to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have three chapters left...one more findings/analysis chapter, the introduction, and the conclusion. Okay, so the introductory chapter will be the easiest, but the other two...well, I have some work to do. Plus, I have to work on chapter revisions, references, and the most important page in the dissertation--acknowledgements. My days consist of time at the library (writing), then time at my office (writing), and then coming home for dinner with my honey for some R&R at home (and often times a dance party to shake off all of the stress). Oh, and lately I have been trying hard to make time for yoga-stretch classes (in Finnish). I have this knot in my shoulder and neck that will not cease to relax. Ugh, welcome to PhD dissertation life! Here are some thoughts posted on FB lately...

Oct. 17
"Becoming one with my appendices today..."

Oct. 8
"Deep thoughts from a day in the bowels of PhD land: Waiting patiently for that day when I can say 'I see light at the end of the tunnel.'"

Sept. 20
"Today is one of those schizophrenic PhD days when I throw my arms up and scream WTF am I doing? Then I quietly sit back down at my computer and peacefully type my way back into blissful agony...and so the cycle continues."

Sept. 17 
"Feelin' the love (or at least trying really hard to find the love...)"

Fall in Jyväskylä

Two dudes, two fishing poles, and a boat.

Campus all dressed up in fall colors.

Fall has arrived and the mild September-early October weather (10-14c) has made for a long and colorful season. Charlie and I started a weekly routine where we run about 3 miles around the lake on Sunday morning. We saw this first image as we were running around the lake: eye-candy! When we arrived home I grabbed my bike and Nikon and headed back to the lake to catch a few shots. This is one of my favorite times of year to pull out the Nikon and spend hours shooting.

Conference Coordination in Copenhagen

The team...working hard in the penthouse!

View from penthouse deck.

The conference team: action photo!

Part of my Erasmus Mundus Association (EMA) duties brought me to a neighboring Nordic country for a long weekend. I was part of a rockin' team who organized and hosted a Humanities conference, Human(i)ties Perspective, in Copenhagen. The team consisted of seven of us, representing five countries...I love international teamwork, because you learn so much about cultural values around work. We rented a penthouse apartment through Airbnb that slept six of us...and that made for a very fun before and after-conference experience. My role as photographer kept me busy throughout the weekend and there was not much time for anything else but a 2 a.m. yoga session that my fellow team members convinced me to teach (oh, alright...twist my arm.)