ok, so I've been here for a few weeks now, and what have I been up to, you ask? well, it took a while, but we've finally got our place set up...mostly. it took me a few days to get all my furniture (single futon, computer desk and chair, and a used dresser and fan), and even longer for us to set up the house..for a while, one of the couches had no legs! so, after getting couch legs, utility shelving for the kitchen, some trash cans, shoe racks, coat hangers, etc., and two house meetings to iron out cleaning schedules and splitting up the common expenses, I think we're mostly set.
during all these, of course, we had orientation to SRES (that's School for Resource and Environmental Studies)...2 full days of activities, including meetings with faculty advisors and a bbq/hike. afterwards, classes started, but there were still some orientation related activities in the evenings...including sea kayaking in the storm (crazy, but fun!!), a brewery tour (which I didn't go to), and some live music. so, at the end of it all, I think everyone got to know each other fairly well, which was the whole point, I guess.
my classes are really interesting...originally, I registered for 5 graduate classes, but then that's just silly, so now I'm down to 2 required courses (introduction to environmental studies and research methods), one elective (nature conservation), and one class that I decided to audit (political ecology). plus the grad seminar that all 1st year MES (that's Master of Environmental Studies) students have to go to. overall, I think it's doable, especially if most of the work in our research methods class will be towards our thesis proposal. right now, it works out to classes all day monday and tuesday, then the seminar on friday mornings. the rest...well, right now we still haven't been assigned office space, so I get to stay at home and try not to be distracted!
so, right now, I'm just trying to keep up with classes AND try to do background research on my thesis (which I still haven't figured out yet). as for house stuff...we still need some dining room chairs, and counter space! I might look into finding a job, or volunteering, once I've figured out exactly how much time I can spare. meanwhile, I think things are probably going to settle into a routine for a while...I'll keep you updated if anything exciting happens!
ps. evelyn...welcome back to Canada! and happy 25th to Dan and Bun! sorry I'm missing your b-days...
1 comment:
Hi Abbey,
Yeah, 5 grad courses are not a good idea. 4 was already virtually unmanageable!
Glad to hear you're settling down in Dalhousie.
So I went to UofC yesterday to get things organized and run errands. I had packed up my entire office because the dept thought they might be moving us around (the SA offices are being renovated). And they did move everyone except me! I am in the same office in the same desk facing the same wall. A little irritating because I had to spend 2 hours unpacking all my textbooks and office supplies and putting them up again. I redecorated a little just so it seems like this wasn't the biggest waste of time ever!
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