Hello everyone! I'm feeling so overwhelmed by the amount of material to be read. It's not so much the reading of it (I enjoy that), but trying to assimilate everything and piece it all together. Is anyone else finding that the volume of resources is making their head spin out? Sometimes I just don't know where to go next! I think this has to be one of the most daunting aspects of being a PhD student. You always feel like your missing important works, and of course, you've only got your own judgement to work from. If you don't hear from me for a while, send out the recovery squad as I've probably drowned in a maelstrom of books and journal articles! :)

totally agreed--keep the laughs comin olivia!

So, tell me hairui, how would a British student be treated if they went to study in China? I'm just curious...

Thanks guys--you're absolutely right. It's just so frustrating to see the apathy when you care about it so much and are really struggling to make it through without funding.

Hey everyone, I just need to rant. I'm a self-funded part-time PhD student (part-time due to not getting funding). I met a fellow PhDer in my department today who was so unimpressed with everything. She told me, in a blatantly 'I'm so not bothered' sort of way that she decided to do the PhD because she didn't know what else to do, and casually applied for funding and got it. I was furious after talking to her! She doesn't care a monkeys about the PhD, and here I am, fighting like mad to be where I am (doing the PhD and working at the same time), and having to come through some rough hurdles to finally get here. Can anyone else relate to this feeling? It seems like the ones who aren't bothered seem to have the best luck (funding, securing lectureships, etc., etc.) [OK--rant over. Thanks for listening.]

absolutely pozzo. I walk away from my supervisions feeling more bewildered than ever. All my supervisor seems to do is randomly suggests books to read every so often(which I've most often already read)and butcher any work that I send him, without giving any indication of where improvements are to be made. I would imagine that most PhDers you talk to would say that they feel they're going it alone. I guess at least on this forum, we can all be alone together

Brill--I'd follow your choc lead xeno, but I've already got dodgy tum from the amount I've already consumed today! Yep, I've had rows with two people today, over the most ridiculous of things, I might add. I think we can safely say this is a 'write off' day. I don't even have the energy to watch a film, how pathetic is that?! Olivia, on the astrology thing (Moon in Taurus)-- that would definitely explain alot!

Wow, what a relief to hear that other people are feeling this strange vibe around! Xeno, have to concur with you mate, it's not the weather for me either. I'm a winter person as well. It's all gone a bit Pete Tong at the moment. I'm absolutely knackered, can't be bothered, and have been feeling like this for a few days now--oh, and I'm a right moody git as well! I had a proper go at someone for using my butter this morning--not good. As my housemate says, maybe there's some strange planetary alignments to blame!

Not being funny olivia, but you've just moved to a new country, and you're doing a PhD--how in the world can you possibly be bored?!

philevans 114- Hey, no problem! I'm glad that info proved useful. I spoke with a senior academic because I was having some major concerns (very high self-expectation, fear of lack of direction) and he told me that PhD students just starting off often expect everything to 'click into place' too early on, and become disheartened when it doesn't. Most people I know have changed their track several (or innumerable) times before finding their true direction. What a comfort to hear!

I've deduced that my supervisor doesn't believe in giving praise or credit where due, and simply points out all the weak points.

I hear that! I too was intending to finally kick back into gear today, but it's just not happening! All of a sudden, tidying the flat has become the most exciting thing on the menu. How twisted is that?! I've spent all day surfin the web, making coffee (grand total of 8 cups), eating and blankly staring out the window under the pretension of brainstorming. I have learnt something today though...toffee crisps are the best choc bar around.

Cheers everyone! Your feedback has been really helpful. I spoke with an academic yesterday who has been in the field for many years now. He goes around the UK giving talks to PhD students about the PhD experience, and he told me that it's actually really difficult to produce something unoriginal, as the way each student employs resources is always going to produce a different result. I was quite releaved to hear that, hope that helps some of you too!

Hmmm, I find it odd, having to write already. Anything I write at this stage sounds so elementary--probably the most stressful moment, hitting the 'send' button when submitting the rubbish I've been producing!

Are your supervisors asking you to start writing yet? I'd be fine with this standstill if I knew I could just push on and keep researching, but my supervisor is already asking me to start writing and it's terrifying! I handed a piece in before Crimbo and it came back covered in red--So destroying!