Well, Austria and Germany are like one country

I feel old too (although none of the people I know have done/are doing a PhD). But there are people in my office who are 22 and I am really jealous of them I wish I could go back in time and do things differently. I wasted lots of time not knowing what exactly I want to do. But now I am happy to be here! Are you working tonight as well?

How is it going guys? I think I need a break!

Tonight Im staying up too! Tomorrow and Sunday night as well! I have to finish a first draft of a paper. I am motivating as it is my first but apart from that I am very very tired. Good to know that I am not the only one working on a Friday night!

Sorry for the delay!

I did my first degree in Austria, masters in Munich, Germany and PhD in Anthropology here! My dream is to do a post doc in California but I know that this may be difficult as this is the top department in the area, so I am trying to publish as soon as possible and do all that is required before I apply.

I am only 4 months in! What about you? And what is your area/passion?

I love London! Its classy yet alive unlike many european countries that are either the one or the other (e.g. Salzburg, Austria where I come from).

I think I should do cross cultural studies collecting lots of field data! You could be my assistant taking photos :-P And instead of a 300 page PhD thesis, to create a huge album with pics and little memory items-flowers, stones, sand from every place we ve visited..

Honestly now, sometimes (quite often that is) I think that I miss out so much by doing this PhD and spending my days in front of the pc. Life is out there!

Australia.. New Zealand... Easter Island ... the list can go on forever...

So, are you from Britain or you just study here?

Yes, NY was on the top of my list anyway, I just didnt have the money. A couple of days ago I was informed about the conference near Boston and you can imagine my excitement!

After that I would go to South Africa or South America, Iceland, Canada, China... anywhere to be honest. I ve travelled a lot in Europe but I ve never been to another continent! Well, I ve been to Egypt twice...

I like to go to places where I will see something completely different than what I am used to! For example Niagara Falls, huge Norwefian mountains and fjords, amazon in Brazil, places where people are very very different, huge multicultural cities, deserts... I doubt that the next conference will be held in the desert

This conference is biannual. I hope in 2009 it will be in South Africa . The previous one was in New Zealand! Ahh, I started the PhD too late! Its really amazing when your Uni pays for you to go to another continent on a holiday actually! I stopped thinking about quitting immediately I love research!

Right, so where is the place you d like to go next?

Good question ASAP I think!

The conference is near Boston, so I was thinking I would either drive down to NY or up to Toronto. I wish I could do both but... I think I will "settle" for the former :-D

Yes, show me photos! I ask you where else have you been because I love 1) traveling 9havent done much though), 2) photography. And its great when they are combined. South Africa is definitely a place I want to visit sometime. I have seen my parents' pics and it looks amazing (some joungle parks especially, wowow). If I were rich I would spend all of my money on seeing as much of the world as possible!

I will! I will show you pics from my new University in NY .

Empire state building.. hmmm... I m a bit scared of heights but I will give it a shot! I really cant wait! Have you been anywhere else that you liked it that much too?

I am sure I will love it too! I love big cities (and imagine I am living on a campus at the moment). I think I wont want to come back to be honest!

Congrats! What was roughly your topic if I may ask? I am interested in cutting-edge research My plan is also to submit before I get 30. I am 27,5 now but I am only 4 months in! When I was a little girl I thought "when I will be 27, I will be married and have a kid as well". I hope I am getting better at catching deadlines now!

Anything for you Athina. These three things are exactly what my brother asked for as well. Anyone else wanting a small souvenir? Imagine what you would ask for if I went to Hollywood

Fair enough!