Monday, April 25, 2011

Where did the year go?

Ten days after finishing the last exam and I'm feeling empty - no more lectures, no more studying, no more structure to the day. What am I going to do with myself for five months?

It was good to get away for a few days after the end of term, the only problem being that it wasn't for long enough. I was just beginning to relax when it was time to come back. Of course, the old brain wouldn't stop working the whole time - reading on the journey I found myself analysing the imagery in the novels I'd brought and then (to my delight) I found a book in a charity shop called, of all things 'The Sunday Philosophy Club'! Reading it on the way home I wanted my text books so that I could check the references to Kant and Hume and the rest.

What I'd like to do today is have a Spanish class and then spend a couple of hours doing homework and writing an essay. Discovering the pleasures of academia later in life seems to be addictive: my maturity may be doubted but I am definitely a Student. Switching back to life off-campus is not coming easily to me. Oh yes, there's plenty for me to do, especially all the things I put off until 'after the exams', but with everyone home for Easter it's easy to keep procrastinating.

This week it's important that I sort out how I'm going to occupy myself for the next few months and make a living so that I can afford next term's books and a laptop. It will involve visiting Westport and seeing a few people, after which decisions will have to be made. For now I'm in 'limbo' - a place I abhor - and will just have to put up with it!

Exam results out on May 6th... maybe I'll just procrastinate until then!

Friday, April 8, 2011

One year over - the best bits

My first year in college is over, bar the exams, and it's time to look back at the most outstanding moments which will stay with me for the rest of my life. Serious reflection can be done another day. These are not in any particular order.

1. A lecturer begins term by announcing that the first few lectures will be on teleportation - and those interested in how to make a light-sabre can speak to him afterwards! - and, of course I did :-) Definitely the most mind-bending module for me and love philosophical gymnastics.

2. The magical feeling after finishing the Christmas exams and the sense of pride and achievement which was felt by all of us who celebrated together with a bottle of Cava.

3. Attending the word games evening with the English Soc and meeting with a group of Pratchett fans (including our wonderful lecturer Frances). A social night playing and talking with many like-minded people.

4. My first A for an English essay and the Peel prize nomination.

5. The Pachacuti song and 'marvellous bureaucracy' - thanks Kate Q :-)

6. Chocolate muffins and lattes in Smokey's.

7. Discovering Linguistics as a subject and lectures from Graham.

8. Eamon keeping the Spanish class in fits of laughter.

9. The constant feeling that campus is where I belong.

10. Last, but definitely not least, the wonderful friends I've made - you know who you are. Thanks for everything, especially the giggles and the hugs.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Another one bites the dust

Taking a little time out to relax after the Spanish oral exam. Went surprisingly well and the pair of us managed to raise a few laughs with our prepared jokes. The time flew and we were let out with three minutes to spare! Saw the examiners had ticked off a list of things they were expecting from us so guess we impressed.

With this and the culture exam we had last Thursday over and done with, it's just a matter of preparing exam questions for next week and then First Year is over. So glad I got all my essays out of the way because I'm feeling less pressurised than before the Christmas exams. Maybe I didn't take all of the advice I gave myself at the beginning of this semester, but I did pace myself better than the first term.

After doing precious little for the past few days except immerse myself in Spanish, re-adjusting my mind and applying it to my other subjects isn't easy - hence my scribbling here rather than working on philosophy! Maybe a walk on the beach with the dog is what is needed.

Hasta luego!