So you have to work on a sofa??? When I try to work on my sofa at home, I usually start nappping or listening to music. This kind of furniture makes work impossible :o

good point omen!
One can also order a pizza :D

I can absolutely understand you... I hate the noise of people eating crisps :-s Especially in such a quiet place. Is there no control? In my library you cannot bring bags, only half transparent baskets. Nobody here would be able to bring in a whole bag of crisps!!
No, you are not cantankerous at all, I already complain when people talk loud and for a long time. It is a library, not a pub!! ggrrrrrr
Go for the staff!

I am not at all taking part in christmas business, no decoration, no tree, and I am not giving presents. I usually give to my close people instead-of-christmas-presents, when they don't expect it :) I will visit my family one day especially my grandma because it means a lot to her. But to be honest: I can hardly stand christmas! I will keep working while others hunt for presents in the crowded cities.

My opinion: Take the better supervisor!! You are depending so much on this person, if you are warned from many others you should not risk the trouble. I heard of people who had very bad experiences with their supervisor and quit because of that. The fascinating topic you can find on your own if you start to get really into it

During my master studies I had a flatmate who turned everything (and I mean everything) into a competition. She was angry when my exams were better than hers (we did different subjects with different profs), she had a look on my working schedule and tried to work more than me, when I did sport she did more sport and so on. I am not kidding, I know how weird it sounds. I was angry but there came I point when I could only laugh: I found out that she tries to get up earlier in the morning than I did. When she heard my alarm, she came into the kitchen few minutes later where I was with my coffee. I asked if she slept well and she said she was awake for a long time working in bed. Well, from the hall I could see that there was no light in her room.
I liked her a lot, she was a funny character but this drove me nuts because I am not competitive. So I know what you mean, this just puts you into competition, if you boycott you are the weak one.
This seems to be a type of character, they push themselves and are probably afraid of feeling like they are not good enough.

Sit down and do it... that works for me

It is completely normal that the stress is almost killing you. I am in the middle of my PhD, but I had the same in the countdown time of my master thesis. I got sick again and again. A flue, then a typists' cramp.
It is not the healthiest advice but: drink coffee, take aspirin, force yourself and make a long relaxing holiday after. Good luck!

Yes, just write this person. I had similar experiences, I found somebody with the perfect topic+working style and it took me many (many!!) weeks to find the courage to write him. So now he is my supervisor. Few weeks ago I talked to his assistant about how I got here for PhD and I told her, that I just knew his work and contacted him. And she replied that it is a real compliment for a scientist to get people because of his good reputation. I have never seen it like that before, but it is true.
Don't worry about the language, you will learn it better and better. I think language is just transmitter for what you really have to say.
And: Don't be afraid of the brainiacs, you are probably one of them ;-) Most people never judge others as hard as themselves.

must be a great feeling.... congratulation

This is my first journal day and I am back working... I just wrote down things about my thesis like in a diary and after this one afternoon I found a new point to continue. I hope I will stay with it!! (up)

Hi everybody... I few days ago I posted about a big crisis in my work and because I am still not able to get my motivation back, i am just about to try something: Writing a journal about my work... what I did, what i think about it. I was reading about it and the advantage should be to get more in touch with the subject, to write more freely in an informal style and get new ideas, conclusions.
Who of you is doing that? Did it help you?

thanx... you are absolutely right. But I have a hard time today with being pragmatic and rational :-( My mood is getting really whiny.. but sure, to skip working on my thesis is of course the worst I can do :-s I skipped it often for this f***ing "job" and now I am not able to go back to my desk.

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I am in an very big crisis about my PhD.
Not about the subject, but the money--- I have no money at all and thought i found a job that helps me surviving, but i found out that it's not at all an honest business... to say it plain: It is a big s***. I went there for two months already---for nothing. If you are lucky, you get out with nothing, with bad luck you have a lot of debts. I was just silly enough to believe some nice promises.
Now my family needs to pay for me once again. I am 27 years old and my family needs to give me money.
A stipendiary I can get next year, but it will be for months only, then I need another one. There will always be a gap in between.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want luxury ( i have a really small flat, no car and I am fine with it) and i love what I do, but I feel like a looser. I don` t sleep and I don't work. I just accuse myself for not finding a proper job, for living on my family's expense, for being so weak. I hate myself that this kills my motivation.
Who of you already had this kind of crisis? How did you get over?

You Should Get a JD (Juris Doctor)




You're logical, driven, and ruthless.
You'd make a mighty fine lawyer.

What Advanced Degree Should You Get?



Oh no!!! I am nooot. I am nice and friendly :$