Good choice!

I also study in Prague with Charles University, and agree with your comments, although I'm not so much into partying these days but I love a good Czech pub! Getting a hang of the Czech language is hard, but often I find people are happy if I just try to use it, even if I mangle it beyond comprehension! :D

Nice to see another international student's take on studying here! :)

The idea of purchasing supervision, to me at least, is rather alarming. I hope this isn't actually offered anywhere, but who knows?! The Internet is the terrible place! :D

If what you're looking for is moral support; try looking for a journal club to get you reading? Or perhaps try to find a counsellor who can help you address your study issues?

Hi,

I know how you feel - I too am an international student, and it can be hard when you're the "odd one out", the one that no-one understands due to language barrier and accent issues! This all aside from "politics" as well!

I also have had problems with someone senior to me in the lab; I had a few misunderstandings because of this person's odd use of English, and I was the one who got the flak for not clarifying what the person meant. In this case, there really is nothing you can do; the senior person can always pull rank on you, they probably have a longer relationship with the group leader, and in some cases you might need their help and experience. The best thing I would suggest is to try and keep your head down, get on with your work and speak to someone neutral in this, someone completely outside of science if necessary.

May I ask if there are other students you can talk to? You don't have to give them specifics or name names but I find just chatting about inane stuff calms me down when I am super stressed out.

xx

Hi all, just want to get something off my chest.

Two weeks ago I caught something nasty; I had gastric flu for around 10 days. :( Puking, sweating, cramps, flu-like symptoms, muscle pain, the works... it was really awful, and I had to take 2 weeks off work. The last few days were mostly so I could recover and ensure I didn't pass whatever the bugs were onto my labmates, especially one of them who is pregnant. Compounding this, I couldn't take my meds for anxiety and depression so now I feel like all my old symptoms are coming back. I have to do a presentation on Friday. I feel like it's expected I would still give the talk despite being ill for 2 weeks but in the past my boss has said "health comes first".

I'm not sure if I can do a talk successfully in front of experts, without my medication being fully effective; and I wondering whether to ask if I can ditch the talk and speak at another mini-conference. However I feel like being off for so long has put me in the bad books. Today none of the lab people would speak to me, I just got on with my work. Will it seem like I am not showing enough interest if I say I don't feel like giving the talk, because I was ill recently? Does it seem like a copout?

CC

Hi all,

I just want to say thankyou for your posts.

The talk went OK, for a first year presentation. :)

Feeling a lot better now, as a result.

Yay! Thankyou very much.

CC

Morning all, and Happy Friday!

I was wondering if someone would have access to this paper, and would be happy to send me a copy, please?

Methods Mol Biol. 2012;886:241-50. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-851-1_21.
Detection of β-galactosidase activity: X-gal staining.
Burn SF.

I'm learning a new technique and I'd like to read this paper. Any help would be appreciated! :)

CC

I too recognise this feeling! I'm now in my second year, starting to do - and feel - better, but throughout my first year I felt I wanted to quit several times.

I'd say talk to people. Talk to other students in your field, then if you feel confident enough, talk to your supervisor. I really wish I had the guts to have done that so much earlier.

If you feel really really down, then consider seeing a counsellor to talk through your confidence issues.

Good luck, and hang in there. Things will seem daunting right now, but it will get better with the right effort. :)

As Dr Strangelove said, what a commendable attitude. Your post certainly shows strength, determination and honesty. I would say explaining your situation just like this to your bosses is completely acceptable; afterall what your words say to me is not that you want to quit, but you want to transfer to another program, another mode of study that will give you a different qualification. I think an honest discussion might be what you need. Good luck *internet hugs*

My parents kindly bought me a small tablet (nothing too flashy, but uses Android) thinking I would use it for work; reading, document writing, organising etc etc.

You know what I actually use it for?

Games.

Honestly for organising there's nothing better than a diary to write things in. For making presentations and documents, a tablet interface doesn't beat a laptop or computer. For note making, you'd need a very good stylus to get the tablet to recognise your writing and these can be expensive, it's best IMO to stick to pen and paper. For reading, I still find printing off the pdf and writing little notes when I see something interesting much more efficient than swiping through the tablet.

I'd say save your cash or invest in a better computer once your laptop craps out on you. Don't get me wrong, I know I come off very negative and oldy fashioned, but I do enjoy the tablet and use it pretty much every day. It's just not useful for study.

Hi all,

I'd like to ask for some advice on coping with presentations.

I have just finished my first year and I am moving straight into the second. I have to present my project to my peers and to some "higher-ups". I am really nervous. I think I know my topic rather well, but my reading is rather slow (I have to read a single paper about 4 times to get the gist of it!) so I don't feel I have a lot of background knowledge. My project is also rather slow in it's progress due to a) the nature of the model I am using and b) I was diagnosed with depression about 6 months in, although I probably had the problems for a very long time (before I even applied for the position!!). Imposter syndrome, infantalisation, the works. This I am getting help and counselling for but I don't know how to deal with this should somebody ask me why I don't seem to have made much progress. I know I should also be presenting a plan "B" but at the moment I don't have any ideas!! I feel I may make myself - and my boss - look like an idiot. :(

Any advice?

CC

Hi,

As this is your first month, I wouldn't worry about it. You're supposed to be learning, and if this was a misunderstanding, you've learned a little about how to communicate with your boss! :P

I'd say just get on with the work now and get back to your boss as soon as possible. I'm sure ups and downs of productivity are normal (or so I am told!)

As for what he said, is this a direct quote or is it possible you might have misunderstood him back?! :D Either way, don't take it personally. Perhaps it means your boss is thinking about how to help you! Just stay positive, get the work done and see what your boss says next time!

Good luck. I just passed my 1 year mark and I know how stressful 1st year can be!

CC

Thankyou Danielle.

And if anyone does have access to this paper, if they could either post it here or PM me, I'd be very grateful!

CC

I would suggest trying not to assume anything at this stage. Don't panic!

Also 2 weeks doesn't seem that long for some academics! At least in my experience...

Hang in there. :)