hi everyone
Did everyone have a good day today? I DID!!!
I managed to write something today and I am happy about that.

I wish everyone a wonderful wonderful weekend
love satchi

I have a flu now!!!

thanks for posting

hi everyone,
a friend sent me this link, please look at it and see what you think
http://wacla.org/2009/04/27/the-avian-swine-flu-scam/

By Jae-On Kim & Charles W.Mueller: Introduction to Factor Analysis: what it is and how to do it
By Derek Rowntree: Statistics without tears
By Jeremy Miles and Mark Shevlin: Applying regression & corellation: a guide for students and researchers

and anything else you can find by Martin Bland

hi claire I get a lot of stress from my family too. In fact, the BULK of it comes from my son. If we chat online, it can go from 30min to a couple of hours, just going on and on about the same thing. I say yes, he argues, I say no, he also argues. Every single thing I saw will be returned with a caustic, negative reply. I can't turn away from him (online) because I dont want to lose contact with him. He is a teenager (ok I'm an old lady) and I dont want to lose him. At the same time, I need to keep my sanity, and when depression gets the better of me, I find myself crippled, I cannot think properly and I cannot do my work.

I could tell you about the rest of my family, but that is not the point here.

If you cant move out, the only thing you can do is to go to the library when your nephew is around. You can also put a sign on your room door "NEPHEWS NOT ALLOWED TODAY--because your aunt needs to do her homework" when you are working at home. Are you also burdened with stuff like housework, laundry and cooking? Ask your mum to take over these, because you are working and studying and doing everything fulltime. Your family will gradually understand.

hi Keenbean and everyone else
Its really nice to share. My maternal uncle is bipolar. Its difficult to be around him, if hes gets in one of his episodes, he can say really mean things.

I am depressed; but I am fighting it. When I feel crappy, I like to watch TV shows. Like Little House on the Prairie episodes. The problem is when I start watching, I can't stop, and I have to fight that. But when I watch, I feel better.

Also, I like this forum, because it gives me the company of "friends" and anonymity. So there is no expectation and no pressure.

Lets all get better. Cheers, satchi

hi! its nice reading a post from someone who changed fields. May I say, WELL DONE for setting up the lab and doing everything y yourself!!! If you really like your project and think it can take u places, I think you should persevere and go all out for it. Why not. You have only been one year into it. Of course you will have to consider working under these conditions, but remember that these conditions or situations may even change in future, for example you might meet someone helpful......If your interest for the project exceeds your apprehension (of your working conditions), then stay and make this phd.

Please let me share with you some true stories. I know 2 friends who did their MScs, supervised by supervisors who didnt really supervise them. Somehow these supervisors had secured grants for projects of which they had no expertise. My friends struggled, one completed his MSc in 5 years, the other took 4 years. Someone else I know, took 6 years to do her PhD (under poor working conditions, poor supervision). Another brilliant guy I know, working on cancer genes, is in his 6th PhD year and now waiting for a viva date (with good working conditions, good supervision!).

I have another true story about publications. For my MSc. I got results for samples of which my ex-supervisor's star student had not obtained any results (!!!). And because they had published a paper one year earlier, she did not want to publish my work because my results contradicted those of her star student. I thought it was unfair. Communication with my ex-supervisor was also next to impossible. Even before my viva date I had secured another scholarship to do my phd, so I just left that behind. After all that hard work, I also don't have any publication. Now I am busy with this phd...and coping..coping..

Another true story about first degrees (not that it has anything to do with phd--but about TIME). I know a guy who took NINE years to complete his BA. And another guy who took TEN years to get his BSc!!! The 9-year BA guy was in his 30s and the 10-year BSc. guy was in his 40s. Now the BA guy is looking for a job, and the BSc. guy is doing his MSc.

...I took 4 years to do my BSc. because it was a 4-year programme, I had to work and support myself through this BSc. It was very difficult. And then I took 2 years to do my MSc. I would like to finish this phd in 3 years. Its a new area for me so I know I have to work extra hard. I really like the project. So I will rough it out.

Don't let one year's struggle discourage you.

You are very lucky to be sponsored by your government. However, your command of english still needs to be improved. I hope you get admitted to one of the top 10 universities! all the best

you are just like me (except I am from a different discipline, probably a great many years older than you and have excess emotional baggage). You can also read self-help books, from this forum I was introduced to joan bolker's book (about writing) and that helped a great deal. I am also struggling with depression. but I am not giving up on myself.

First, sit down and make a list of all the things important to you. Then make another list of things you NEED to do: example: reading paper, saying prayers, writing, lab, grocery-shopping. Then make a schedule of which you may plan for the whole week, or month if necessary, and keep revising. If you constantly forget, print it out and stick it somewhere u can see so you will be constantly reminded, for example..laundry day is Sunday.

To motivate yourself, do things bit by bit. For example, everyday u will say your prayers consistently. This helps a lot.
So you do say one morning prayer, and see how you progress from there. To further motivate yourself (this is just an example), put an image of your favourite God form, example Lord Shiva and tell yourself you will say a prayer because Lord Shiva is waiting.

Do something nice for yourself, for example go out and buy yourself some agarbathi and burn that in your room. It will bring back the days of when you were doing your masters. Try it.

To be able to immerse yourself in the lab again, first start by entering the lab to clear your workbench. Throw out old junk or reorganize your drawer/cabinet. You will definitely feel better. Do this one afternoon, and then go home and plan what you want to do, next day go back and do it. I'm sure you have time in the lab while waiting for your experiments to run, so at home, plan to bring at least ONE paper to read while waiting for your samples.

Because u need to read up on foodtech basics, make sure you do this when you are away from the lab, so that your concentration and focus will not be interrupted by your samples or your labmates. For instance, make Saturday your FoodTech Day so you will concentrate just on foodtech on this day.

Most importantly, dont give up.

hi, I also almost chose a phd in germany but changed my mind. It depends on what kind of phd do want to do. Do you already have funding from your country for another 3 years? then you are very lucky. I guess you just need to apply to the universities in germany to find out how long it will take (approximately). Get in touch with your potential supervisors (in germany). Some universities run international phds, these are in english so you probably won't have any problems with language, but others need you to have a decent command of Deutsch. So the whole phd process (plus language etc) may exceed 3 years! I have friends who do their phds in japan for a minimum of 4 years. They struggle with language as well.

To qualify, you may not necessarily need another master. They always publish their requirements for applicants, check these out.

I'm sure you already know this website, you may get loads of information here. www.daad.de
goodluck

yes u can change supervisor. Yes you can also ask for a co-supervisor, but after discussing with your (first) supervisor. Sorry I dont know about transfering units.

My last supervisor was a nice person but she did not reply emails and was of minimal help when I encountered research problems. Instead, she told me I was pressuring her. But I had a deadline to meet and being an international student also affected by visa deadlines, meaning if I did not finish on time I would have to renew my visa, and I could not renew this without any further justification of funding, whcih was already finished (at that time). To find my supervisor, we (other students also did this) had to hang outside her office and keep watch, to see when she was coming. Because her "busy-at classes-meeting" schedule posted on her door was never updated. Like she could be sitting in the office with the sign outside saying "In a meeting". We were also too polite to tell her off. It was very difficult.

Speak to someone from your graduate research school.

hi again. First of all congratulations for being in and surviving your 1st year. All of us have to strike a balance between learning new skills and doing our research. You are learning greek, german, some italian/french and lots of latin! One suggestion is that perhaps you could allot certain days for certain things. Make a personal schedule and review it everyday.

For example: Mondays and tuesdays for german, wednesday for greek, and research work on thursdays and fridays, AND latin every morning for weekdays!

I think you have the ability to tutor the student. Perhaps you were feeling overwhelmed at that point. Try again. Perhaps you can prepare the latin revisions of that student during the times you have alloted yourself for Latin. Don't give up.

Another suggestion is to prioritize your languages. Is Greek very important now? If not, maybe you could concentrate on the other languages first, and come back to it later, that way you will be able to think clearer.

We go through mind-shifts when we do things. For example, when you read German, you think in German, right? So you need to be in a Latin-shift when you do Latin. Then you will tutor successfully. On Research-days, you will be in Research Mode. That way, you won't have to worry about the German literature you are reading etc. We just need to put these things aside. I know it sounds difficult, but really I think we can do it.

To speak and learn several languages (no matter what level it is!) is a tremendous blessing.
Hang in there.

I think the water pistol may be effective but you'll get water in your flat.
my son used to play with BB guns, maybe u can get one, just to scare the cat.

thank you keep_calm for the question, and sleepy head for the answer. Its a very good answer, thanks a lot.