Culture shock...I had a good read about this, thanks to Shani's post about what it was ( thanks Shani for the info!) --the little everyday things in life that you used to be able to take for granted that now become bewildering in a new place! It seems there are several phases to going through this and indeed, I am in the midst of it! I did not expect it, since I have been to the UK several times in the past, am a native English speaker, etc...but there is a huge difference between a short stay and a long one!

Even my "boredom" is a symptom of culture shock.

No mention made of where poltergeists fit into the culture shock symptoms--I think they are a causal element rather than a symptom of the culture shock!

Hypothesis,

No need to confine yourself to a corner! You can waft in and out of the various rooms and up and down the well heated hallway and turn off lights and water at will if you want. Hmmm...don't ghosts create a draft--or cold spots--I think I saw this on Most Haunted. Hmmm...perhaps the first clue to the real nature of this flat was the VERY COLD ROOM I had when I first got there--nothing to do with the heating working but everything to do with poltergeist flat mates. It is all starting to make sense in a weird sort of way....

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7183169.stm

This gave me quite a good chuckle, a BBC reporter having culture shock in the middle of the US--his cheeseburger the size of a dartboard, and his comments on bacon!!!!

A question on the psychology of poltergeists...do they hide in their rooms waiting until the coast is clear before they emerge to cook, bang, scrape, and so forth? Are they huddled up in some kind of misery waiting for this moment? Or is it just random timing that prevents them from being seen? What would happen if someone were to actually lay eyes on them!!!

Shani, I am so glad I am not the only one to find that these things are not straightforward. It does your head in a bit to not be able to do such simple things like have heat or turn on a light.

Every day an adventure in this flat with the poltergeists!!!

Hypothesis, you would be more than welcome to come with a sheet over your head and say whoooo whoooooo and set the ambience! but you must also scrape chairs on the floor, bang doors late at night, open windows when it is raining, and leave grease on the stovetop when you cook onions late at night.

Up until the middle of last week, I was working a full time job and doing PhD work ( via distance learning). It was a struggle to do the PhD work along with a job, but I do think it helped to keep a balance and perspective on things. I can see how doing a PhD full on can create the sorts of issues people are talking about--you get isolated and over-focussed, and that can lead to all kinds of problems.


While many might disagree, I think that SOMETHING besides a PhD in a routine, be it paid work, volunteer work, or even a regular exercise class you take at a gym, making sure to keep some kind of contact with people who do not understand your PhD and therefore you have to talk about other things, is essential to good mental and physical health.

What would cause the lights to go out and shower to turn off abruptly??!!! Besides the obvious answer of poltergeists at play?? Every day a new adventure in my student accommodation...

Sage has a really good handbook on qualitative research methods. Its got a 3rd edition out. Its a massive book, so not likely one you would want to purchase, but I would imagine a university library should have it or have access to it. Some of your questions on data selection might be linked to questions of methodology--e.g. what methodology you use may drive how you collect data. You did not mention if this was qualitative or quanitative, but even if its quanitative, the Sage handbook might have some helpful chapters for you, as they do have some discussion throughout on quanitative methods as well. Hope that helps.

http://www.spamtownusa.com/quality.html

This is a website about Austin, Minnesota ( HONESTLY!!!) It is the home of the factory that makes Spam--the meat product, not the kind that jams up your email. From the website, I would say it sounds like a pleasant enough town. I think you will find the mid west of the US extremely friendly--not poltergeist inhabitants--the website says the AVERAGE home price is under $90,000--that is roughly £45,000...so at that price I think you should be able to find very reasonably priced accommodation! even if just renting. It also says it has a lot of community events, theatre, performing arts, symphony, parks and sports on the website, and the SPAM Museum!!!

It sounds like a nice, attractive, close knit and progressive mid west community.

Good luck to you, those sounds like some difficult circumstanes. That is very nice of your supervisor to offer some guidance to you on an unoffical basis. Could you set some limited goals for yourself, like writing 200 or 500 words a day, and submitting them periodically to the supervisor for feedback? It does seem like it would be hard to get back into it after being out of it...and Smilodon, I admire you for doing all of that and having children as well!!!!!

I had a good long read last night about the rule of law in China. zzzzz....zzzzz...actually it did help me fall asleep! My sleeping is off because of jetlag. Maybe part of my problem is that I am used to be under constant time pressures, and with the obvious pressure of work gone, its just a matter of getting used to a different pace and not worrying about cramming every waking hour with something that HAS to be done.

Perhaps I should phone "Most Haunted" and see if they want to come and do a show about the poltergeists.

This place looks like a tower block built by the Soviet Union in the 1960's. Several tower blocks actually that were built by the Soviet Union in the 1960's--that sort of bleak, bland, brick look. It might be worth looking about for another place to live...on the other hand, the proximity to the university is nice, the price is not bad, and there could be worse things than living with poltergeists, such as having very noisy flatmates that partied until the wee hours.

Actually...I DID read a large textbook last night, as it was all that I had to read in my room....I have looked on line to see what voluntering opportunities there are--something at a dog's home perhaps would suit me, as I left three behind ( living with their grandparents) and I miss being arond animals. I guess I could also see if I could volunteer at some thing going on with the university, they might have programmes with the community to do things...I will ask my supervisor tomorrow during our meeting if he knows of anything.