Re: the original poster. I don't think that's funny at all. I think it's childish and stupid. But what makes it worse is that most universities have IT departments which monitor and record the viewed websites and report back to respective schools. So your friend Ahmed could get into serious trouble and even be evicted from the Ph.D programme.

Think about it

Perhaps I may add my congratulations for achieving your PhD completion under such immense pressure and gaining a very competitive position in the USA. You've done really well so another reason to be confident and proud of yourself.

Oh dear. Well, good luck. I can see where you're coming from, probably aggravated by the fact that some of them appear to look down on non-US Ph.D degrees. Remember, in any job there is a steep learning curve, you've achieved something really big with your Ph.D completion, that should give you an inner feeling of satisfaction and confidence. After a year or so things will get better.

which country?

BB, really?

If that's true, then all my hopes for a better life post completion are lost. Is it a feeling of loss or a feeling or disappointment?

The earlier you write and the more you write the earlier the hell will be over. Also don't worry about the quality of your drafts, it is so much easier to improve them later on and to change things than to fill blank sheets of paper.

You're right: it will distract and is time consuming. On the other hand, it could potentially increase the quality of your thesis if you present early on at conferences, but only if it is clearly related to your doctoral research. This will help you to get external opinions and to be challenged early on. But publications are not necessarily required until you have your PhD, even if they make you believe this is the case. It's not. Don't get distracted. Just write up your thesis. From the first day. Continue writing even if distractions come up. If invitations for extra teaching come up, ignore them and just write. If your government (i.e. your wife, partner or boyfriend/girlfriend) complains about the time you spend with your research, ignore it and just continue writing.

Post-master break is so important, believe me. Didn't had one and it nearly killed me in the first year.

That's a bit like they hypothetical example of one state within the United States of America not allowing its citizen to enter without valid identification - like re-introducing border and customs control in order to be able to travel from Florida to Georgia and back.

However, each country is still independent to a certain extent. But some EU legislation can outrule national legislation.

The UK also managed not to sign the Maastricht contract of 1992, that's why continental Europeans need to show their passports or ID cards in order to enter the UK.

I don't think this is the case. I am sure you are aware of the differences between membership in the European Union and membership in the currency union. Naturally, the UK is not a member of the latter. These are two completely unrelated matters.

Nevertheless, once decisions are made in the context of an EU summit and all heads of states/primeministers etc. have signed and ratified it, as in the case of the new EU treaty, public debate within individual countries will not prevent these changes to occur. So even if some UK citizen still don't accept this as a fact, it is actually reality and the UK is currently affected by EU legislation - with an increasing tendency. For example, the new EU driving license legislation is now being implemented in the UK over the next few years. That will mean the introduction of more hurdles for practical and theoretical driving tests, just to give an example. Sorry, this is slightly off topic.

"Now of course I realize that the EU is not the UK"

What makes you think that this is the case. Of course, some UK people tend to ignore or hate the fact, but let me remind you that the UK is in fact a small part of the EU, full member with all the respective rights but also duties.

(*I just become the most unpopular person on this forum)

Walross, maybe we could change it to the following:

"Shoot for the moon, because even if you miss or don't quite make it, you'll still fall among the highest buildings on earth/skyscrapers"

I had the same problem. My department originally tolerated an allocated workplace for me in a room in the basement, room as big as a standard living room, 20 doctoral students, each one allocated a 50 centimetre slot on a very long table. less space than in the London Underground Central Line in rush hour and probably the same noise levels. So I eventually decided to put a desk and a computer and loads of bookshelves into my one bedroom, shared showers, toilets and kitchen "flat". Which was ultimately the right decision. No disruptions apart from this forum. Although I basically have to climb over the bed in order to get to the desk and back out of the room.

"A Ph.D is an exhausting, emotional struggle. You are forced to confront all of your fears, insecurities and doubts you have about yourself and somehow overcome them. It's terrifying. A lot of bravery is required, which often goes unrecognised and unrewarded.

Facing your own personalised set of fears (or demons, if you want to be dramatic) is where the feeling of isolation comes from - the fact that they are YOUR fears.

Be brave. You know what you have to do - you know the right thing to do. Good luck."

(Author unknown but quoted befor in this forum)

It's on my wall next to my PC - it's getting me through the tough times.