Isn't it the most beautiful umbrella ever?!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Umbrella
Side note, this fashion blogger from Toronto posted pics of the umbrella I have. Now you can see why I am in need of an umbrella repair shop! Do you think there are any in the area? Oh, we have become so wasteful :'(
Isn't it the most beautiful umbrella ever?!
Isn't it the most beautiful umbrella ever?!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
UWS Women Studies
I met with the grad school counselor on Thursday (ugh, more on Thursday later). She was quite lovely. Somehow, my appointment was misplaced, but she still made time for me :) You know when you meet someone, and you know right away that you could get along swimmingly? I feel like we should be friends, which I am going to take as an indicator that I shall get in (you know, unless it will jinx me, in which case, psych!).
Anyway, she told me that the GRE scores are NOT important for this program. In fact, she told me that last year, a student got in with lower than a 300 on the English portion (which is pretty durned low). She explained that the whole attitude toward the GRE in UWSWS (UW Seattle Women Studies) is that the score more represents how your day was going than anything else.
This is completely true for me! My neck was just hurting so terribly the day I took the test (stress, lack of sleep, then sitting for four hours), I couldn't focus. At the end, I was just choosing answers at random to get through the durn thing. My math score was much higher, which mostly just indicates that that was the first section I took!
So, I'm feeling much better about my chances now. Plus, the counselor told me that more like 70-80 people apply to the program, versus the 200+ I believed applied. So, I am going to meet with my second reader (who, yes, is a prof in UWSWS) on Tuesday, and will beg her to write me a letter of recommendation. I am hoping it will go far! Plus plus, the counselor knew my advisor and apparently loves him (but really, who doesn't?), so I'm feeling good that his letter will go far.
Really, though, that meeting was the best thing about that day. Although I did meet with my CA (capstone advisor, versus my other advisor, who is for my portfolio- yes, you get two in my program), which was quite lovely. We are both so bad at navigating bureaucracy, it is hilarious! But, honestly, what can you expect of poets?
Anyway, I forgot both my coat AND my lunch on Thursday. And, of course, it rained (and my umbrella apparently is broken-- do they have umbrella repair shops? I really do love my beautiful cherry blossom umbrella) and I had to walk A LOT.
First though, I had a meeting for a certain editorial board on which I will be serving (not very fancy, mind you, almost anyone can do it, but I am trying to be "discreet" by not including the name). Apparently, I cannot submit my own work now, because it would be a "conflict of interest." Oh boy.
And one of the other people serving is in the class I'm TAing for, and she was NOT HAPPY about her grade last week. She was complaining that the professor is a hard grader and I (yes yes, a bit foolishly) admitted that I do all the grading (it does, in fact, say it straight out that I do the grading on our syllabus). That might be a REAL conflict of interest, so I will check with the prof.
Grading itself was unpleasant this week. Many people had trouble understanding the difference between international relations theory and domestic policies. Oh dear...
Back to Thursday though, I was "running" class since the prof was out, and we watched a film on the Rwandan Genocide (not Hotel Rwanda, but a documentary). Not a cheery film. Many corpses. I felt quite guilty, despite being in grade school at the time. Tsk tsk, Mr. Clinton.
Then I drove to UW Seattle, and had to walk (in the rain) about a mile to the Burke Museum to meet my prof. After that, I walked in the rain about another half mile to the crazy anti-riot building that is Padelford (it is impossible NOT to get lost) to meet the UWSWS counselor. Then I walked (still in the rain) to my mama's building (about another mile in the now pouring rain).
Needless to say I was soaked and, on account of wearing heels since I wanted to look fancy for teaching class, blistered up. I felt pretty terrible, so mama and I skipped the poetry reading I'd been looking forward to all week.
To end on a happy note, I am feeling cautiously optimistic about PhD programs. I will know for sure where I'm in by the end of APRIL. Wish me luck!
Anyway, she told me that the GRE scores are NOT important for this program. In fact, she told me that last year, a student got in with lower than a 300 on the English portion (which is pretty durned low). She explained that the whole attitude toward the GRE in UWSWS (UW Seattle Women Studies) is that the score more represents how your day was going than anything else.
This is completely true for me! My neck was just hurting so terribly the day I took the test (stress, lack of sleep, then sitting for four hours), I couldn't focus. At the end, I was just choosing answers at random to get through the durn thing. My math score was much higher, which mostly just indicates that that was the first section I took!
So, I'm feeling much better about my chances now. Plus, the counselor told me that more like 70-80 people apply to the program, versus the 200+ I believed applied. So, I am going to meet with my second reader (who, yes, is a prof in UWSWS) on Tuesday, and will beg her to write me a letter of recommendation. I am hoping it will go far! Plus plus, the counselor knew my advisor and apparently loves him (but really, who doesn't?), so I'm feeling good that his letter will go far.
Really, though, that meeting was the best thing about that day. Although I did meet with my CA (capstone advisor, versus my other advisor, who is for my portfolio- yes, you get two in my program), which was quite lovely. We are both so bad at navigating bureaucracy, it is hilarious! But, honestly, what can you expect of poets?
Anyway, I forgot both my coat AND my lunch on Thursday. And, of course, it rained (and my umbrella apparently is broken-- do they have umbrella repair shops? I really do love my beautiful cherry blossom umbrella) and I had to walk A LOT.
First though, I had a meeting for a certain editorial board on which I will be serving (not very fancy, mind you, almost anyone can do it, but I am trying to be "discreet" by not including the name). Apparently, I cannot submit my own work now, because it would be a "conflict of interest." Oh boy.
And one of the other people serving is in the class I'm TAing for, and she was NOT HAPPY about her grade last week. She was complaining that the professor is a hard grader and I (yes yes, a bit foolishly) admitted that I do all the grading (it does, in fact, say it straight out that I do the grading on our syllabus). That might be a REAL conflict of interest, so I will check with the prof.
Grading itself was unpleasant this week. Many people had trouble understanding the difference between international relations theory and domestic policies. Oh dear...
Back to Thursday though, I was "running" class since the prof was out, and we watched a film on the Rwandan Genocide (not Hotel Rwanda, but a documentary). Not a cheery film. Many corpses. I felt quite guilty, despite being in grade school at the time. Tsk tsk, Mr. Clinton.
Then I drove to UW Seattle, and had to walk (in the rain) about a mile to the Burke Museum to meet my prof. After that, I walked in the rain about another half mile to the crazy anti-riot building that is Padelford (it is impossible NOT to get lost) to meet the UWSWS counselor. Then I walked (still in the rain) to my mama's building (about another mile in the now pouring rain).
Needless to say I was soaked and, on account of wearing heels since I wanted to look fancy for teaching class, blistered up. I felt pretty terrible, so mama and I skipped the poetry reading I'd been looking forward to all week.
To end on a happy note, I am feeling cautiously optimistic about PhD programs. I will know for sure where I'm in by the end of APRIL. Wish me luck!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Mandy's Week
L asked for it, and the Mandy abides (I am very much like the dude, though I have not seen the Big Lebowski).
~*MONDAY*~
8AM- Wake up! Get dressed, do my hairs and make ups, hopefully grab my lunch from the fridge, and head to work. Oh, and put Eloise out so she doesn't destroy the house! Tsk tsk.
9AM- Arrive at work (more or ... less....). Do work... 'hem 'hem.
12PM- Eat the lunch or, more likely, pick up library books, print articles, do homework, meet with professors, etc. T.T Mine is a sad life. (le sob!)
1PM- Go to the OIR Reporting Group meeting and take minutes. Try to stay awake while not understanding any of the data talk (this is still at work, btw).
3:30- Be freed from work- hallelujah! I have been going to the gym, but alas, will now have to stay on campus for an hour, doing homework or something.
4:30- (from next week on) Directed research group on human capital. With the wonderful DJ (initials... he's not actually a disc jockey, as far as I know). I am mostly reading up on the robbery of doctors from "third world" to "first world" countries. Not really robbery, but you know, the whole "brain drain" from Southern Africa and South Asia.
5:30- Work out like a mad bat out of hell! Because I have got to get ready quick, you see!
7:30- be at Japanese class. Stay awake!
9:30- arrive home and do homeworks.
12AM- go to sleep!
Note: I may be meeting with a prof for an internship every Monday at 8am. Oh noes!
~*Tuesday*~
8AM- Wake up and all that jazz.
9AM- be at work. it pretty much proceeds the same until...
3:30 - if I am lucky, go work out. More likely, run to make an appointment of some kind or go to a class. Sigh!
5:45- My big core class for cultural studies. Meet all my cohorties and party like it's 1999. Do critical thinking and stuff. Hopefully drink coffee.
10:15-ish - arrive home and watch something on TV with the mama. Eat dinner.
12AM- go to bed.
~*Wednesday*~
somewhere between 8-10AM- Wake up and go to PT. Pet the doggy, Mogul, and do crazy exercises that leave my shoulders hurting
11-1ish- meetings for getting PhD stuff done. Possibly homework? I dunno. It is confusing, this day.
1:45- Tai Chi and Qigong, then work out for reals if I have time?
3-4-5-ish appts?
after that... HOMEWORK! and at some point go to bed... Wednesday is mostly a day for fitting in appointments.
~*Thursday*~
9-5 Work (whoa... like a real ass day)
11- take my lunch and go to the class I TA for to pick up papers.
5- work out!
after that... homeworks!
~*Friday*~
more appts... including Policy Journal Editorial Board meeting at 11. And usually PT at some point. And working out at some point. This is also a huge homework day for me. HUGE.
~*Saturday*~
Usually, we have the Emmy at some point. I work out at some point. I somehow rarely get any homework done on Saturdays between the Emmy and the working out :| which makes no sense. But then at night, I tend to stay up super late to try and make up for it. Oh dears.
~*Sunday*~
Well, I am going to start going to church with D again. It is a nice church where they are gay-happy (see how I did that, using to synonyms in a row?)- anyway, they are queer-friendly, so that makes me happy. And the "sermons" are quite good-- people are nice too! It actually reminds me of L's temple :) nice environment like that. I don't know, I think it is just nice to take in some spirituality and maybe it is a little hypocritical not to care which religion it is, but I care an awful lot what they're talking about.
Also, this is a big homework day v.v as usual.
I don't sound as busy as I am! Gah, am soooo busy! Just take my word for it! rawr!
~*MONDAY*~
8AM- Wake up! Get dressed, do my hairs and make ups, hopefully grab my lunch from the fridge, and head to work. Oh, and put Eloise out so she doesn't destroy the house! Tsk tsk.
9AM- Arrive at work (more or ... less....). Do work... 'hem 'hem.
12PM- Eat the lunch or, more likely, pick up library books, print articles, do homework, meet with professors, etc. T.T Mine is a sad life. (le sob!)
1PM- Go to the OIR Reporting Group meeting and take minutes. Try to stay awake while not understanding any of the data talk (this is still at work, btw).
3:30- Be freed from work- hallelujah! I have been going to the gym, but alas, will now have to stay on campus for an hour, doing homework or something.
4:30- (from next week on) Directed research group on human capital. With the wonderful DJ (initials... he's not actually a disc jockey, as far as I know). I am mostly reading up on the robbery of doctors from "third world" to "first world" countries. Not really robbery, but you know, the whole "brain drain" from Southern Africa and South Asia.
5:30- Work out like a mad bat out of hell! Because I have got to get ready quick, you see!
7:30- be at Japanese class. Stay awake!
9:30- arrive home and do homeworks.
12AM- go to sleep!
Note: I may be meeting with a prof for an internship every Monday at 8am. Oh noes!
~*Tuesday*~
8AM- Wake up and all that jazz.
9AM- be at work. it pretty much proceeds the same until...
3:30 - if I am lucky, go work out. More likely, run to make an appointment of some kind or go to a class. Sigh!
5:45- My big core class for cultural studies. Meet all my cohorties and party like it's 1999. Do critical thinking and stuff. Hopefully drink coffee.
10:15-ish - arrive home and watch something on TV with the mama. Eat dinner.
12AM- go to bed.
~*Wednesday*~
somewhere between 8-10AM- Wake up and go to PT. Pet the doggy, Mogul, and do crazy exercises that leave my shoulders hurting
11-1ish- meetings for getting PhD stuff done. Possibly homework? I dunno. It is confusing, this day.
1:45- Tai Chi and Qigong, then work out for reals if I have time?
3-4-5-ish appts?
after that... HOMEWORK! and at some point go to bed... Wednesday is mostly a day for fitting in appointments.
~*Thursday*~
9-5 Work (whoa... like a real ass day)
11- take my lunch and go to the class I TA for to pick up papers.
5- work out!
after that... homeworks!
~*Friday*~
more appts... including Policy Journal Editorial Board meeting at 11. And usually PT at some point. And working out at some point. This is also a huge homework day for me. HUGE.
~*Saturday*~
Usually, we have the Emmy at some point. I work out at some point. I somehow rarely get any homework done on Saturdays between the Emmy and the working out :| which makes no sense. But then at night, I tend to stay up super late to try and make up for it. Oh dears.
~*Sunday*~
Well, I am going to start going to church with D again. It is a nice church where they are gay-happy (see how I did that, using to synonyms in a row?)- anyway, they are queer-friendly, so that makes me happy. And the "sermons" are quite good-- people are nice too! It actually reminds me of L's temple :) nice environment like that. I don't know, I think it is just nice to take in some spirituality and maybe it is a little hypocritical not to care which religion it is, but I care an awful lot what they're talking about.
Also, this is a big homework day v.v as usual.
I don't sound as busy as I am! Gah, am soooo busy! Just take my word for it! rawr!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Writing Sample- oy!
Figuring out which paper to use for your writing sample is rough. Really, I should develop multiple writing samples catering to specific programs, but it is a LOT of work pumping up an essay to make you look impressive. Though there are shortcomings (many) to using just the one paper for all (and maybe my advisor will tsk me for being lazy), namely that the page limits/minimums change from program to program.
But it seems that 15 is a good number to aim for. The paper I'm hoping to use is the last one I wrote as an undergrad (woot woot!) in my senior seminar on Advanced Zen Buddhist Philosophy. Impressive much?
Anyway, the paper is 12 pages, but I can definitely see places to add (I'm hoping to bring in Dogen's "Tenzo Kyokun" and "Uji" to make a few more points, as well as make some note on method of writing <-- que graduate student-y). I'm pretty happy with this paper on re-reading it, because I had forgotten A LOT of the concepts and I figured them out again based on my writings- hurrah!
I've also got a rough CV put together-- meeting with H on Thursday to get it really pumped up. Way to get things in order, Mandy. Also have a Statement of Purpose writing workshop coming up in a few weeks. GRE is also scheduled. Yes, I really am on top of things. You know, except the whole asking my third letter of rec. writer (or should I say "potential letter of rec. writer") officially to write my letters of rec. Bother, I'd better make an appt. But who has the time?
Plus, I really should meet with my advisor (poor poor overworked advisor) to make sure I've got a good list together. And to see if my writing sample idea flies. Maybe I should use something more recent, but I like this paper better...
Anyway, I'm going to sleep- cheerio!
But it seems that 15 is a good number to aim for. The paper I'm hoping to use is the last one I wrote as an undergrad (woot woot!) in my senior seminar on Advanced Zen Buddhist Philosophy. Impressive much?
Anyway, the paper is 12 pages, but I can definitely see places to add (I'm hoping to bring in Dogen's "Tenzo Kyokun" and "Uji" to make a few more points, as well as make some note on method of writing <-- que graduate student-y). I'm pretty happy with this paper on re-reading it, because I had forgotten A LOT of the concepts and I figured them out again based on my writings- hurrah!
I've also got a rough CV put together-- meeting with H on Thursday to get it really pumped up. Way to get things in order, Mandy. Also have a Statement of Purpose writing workshop coming up in a few weeks. GRE is also scheduled. Yes, I really am on top of things. You know, except the whole asking my third letter of rec. writer (or should I say "potential letter of rec. writer") officially to write my letters of rec. Bother, I'd better make an appt. But who has the time?
Plus, I really should meet with my advisor (poor poor overworked advisor) to make sure I've got a good list together. And to see if my writing sample idea flies. Maybe I should use something more recent, but I like this paper better...
Anyway, I'm going to sleep- cheerio!
Explanation
Fine, so here it is. I have gotten a few comments regarding my lack of updating-ness, and I'd just like to say that I've got a number of good reasons.
I was quite sick the week before last- strep throat with lymph node infection and tonsillitis. Came very close to needing SURGERY- yeek! Got an IV drip and everything- qué locura! Anyway, I was so sick that I missed the first day of my elective class. I wrote the prof an email, but her reply pretty much implied that I would have a lot of difficulty catching up, and really wouldn't be able to miss any other days. Which, of course, is no good- I can't depend on my back not to act up, durn it!
So, I had to scramble about last week to get a whole bunch of one and two credit courses, so that I have enough electives to be a full-time student by all the crazy university mechanism standards. Because I know that you are interested, here are the courses I am taking:
---
BEDUC 591 - Diversity Council Internship for Graduate
Students
(1-5 Credits – Grading is Credit/ No Credit. By Permission of Instructor.) Students will work
closely with the Chair of the Diversity Council as they take leadership roles in training and
supervising working groups, overseeing the implementation of projects, and providing updates to
the Council on diversity projects.
Students in all UWB Programs are encouraged to apply. Students will be able to select one of the
Council’s five working groups for their internship. 1. Student Recruitment, Retention, and Support
Diversity helps us celebrate our differences and embrace the ways in which we are interdependent
a. A major project for this group is to design and implement student surveys and focus groups
2. Curriculum a. A major project for this group is to develop and implement a Diversity Minor
3. Technology a. A major project for this group is to design and launch a diversity webpage.
4. Faculty Recruitment, Retention, and Support a. A major project for this group is to publish a
guidebook for faculty recruitment and to organize
and implement faculty focus groups.
5. Training Issues a. A major project of this group is to launch a series of activities designed
to increase awareness of diversity throughout the
campus. A project designed around common books on diversity will be launched winter quarter 2011.
--
Policy Studies directed research with DJ:
Human Rights, Human Capital and Migration. (with an excellent prof I work with)
--
*HUM 595A: Poverty, Democracy, and Public Scholarship. 1 credit (C/NC). Reading Ananya Roy's Poverty Capital.
---
Policy Journal board- 2 credits
---
Reader/grader position- 1 credit-- for Human Rights course
--
The real trouble is getting them all on my transcript-- it is taking a bit to clear everything up. Until they show up, I am stressed! eek!
Also, I have doctoral program apps, which means I am researching progs (though you may have seen that I've a list of what I'm applying to now), studying to retake the GRE, working on my writing samples, making a CV, doing statements of purpose, etc. etc. etc. Plus, I am way overloading my academic schedule to make my CV look good-- doing a conference this Friday and Saturday plus the one I had a few weeks ago. Plus trying to get in other proposals. Plus applying for RA positions!
Madness, I say!
So, I'd better get back to homeworks so that I can get printings done for PhD prog research tonight. Suffice to say, I am a busy potato.
<3
I was quite sick the week before last- strep throat with lymph node infection and tonsillitis. Came very close to needing SURGERY- yeek! Got an IV drip and everything- qué locura! Anyway, I was so sick that I missed the first day of my elective class. I wrote the prof an email, but her reply pretty much implied that I would have a lot of difficulty catching up, and really wouldn't be able to miss any other days. Which, of course, is no good- I can't depend on my back not to act up, durn it!
So, I had to scramble about last week to get a whole bunch of one and two credit courses, so that I have enough electives to be a full-time student by all the crazy university mechanism standards. Because I know that you are interested, here are the courses I am taking:
---
BEDUC 591 - Diversity Council Internship for Graduate
Students
(1-5 Credits – Grading is Credit/ No Credit. By Permission of Instructor.) Students will work
closely with the Chair of the Diversity Council as they take leadership roles in training and
supervising working groups, overseeing the implementation of projects, and providing updates to
the Council on diversity projects.
Students in all UWB Programs are encouraged to apply. Students will be able to select one of the
Council’s five working groups for their internship. 1. Student Recruitment, Retention, and Support
Diversity helps us celebrate our differences and embrace the ways in which we are interdependent
a. A major project for this group is to design and implement student surveys and focus groups
2. Curriculum a. A major project for this group is to develop and implement a Diversity Minor
3. Technology a. A major project for this group is to design and launch a diversity webpage.
4. Faculty Recruitment, Retention, and Support a. A major project for this group is to publish a
guidebook for faculty recruitment and to organize
and implement faculty focus groups.
5. Training Issues a. A major project of this group is to launch a series of activities designed
to increase awareness of diversity throughout the
campus. A project designed around common books on diversity will be launched winter quarter 2011.
--
Policy Studies directed research with DJ:
Human Rights, Human Capital and Migration. (with an excellent prof I work with)
--
*HUM 595A: Poverty, Democracy, and Public Scholarship. 1 credit (C/NC). Reading Ananya Roy's Poverty Capital.
---
Policy Journal board- 2 credits
---
Reader/grader position- 1 credit-- for Human Rights course
--
The real trouble is getting them all on my transcript-- it is taking a bit to clear everything up. Until they show up, I am stressed! eek!
Also, I have doctoral program apps, which means I am researching progs (though you may have seen that I've a list of what I'm applying to now), studying to retake the GRE, working on my writing samples, making a CV, doing statements of purpose, etc. etc. etc. Plus, I am way overloading my academic schedule to make my CV look good-- doing a conference this Friday and Saturday plus the one I had a few weeks ago. Plus trying to get in other proposals. Plus applying for RA positions!
Madness, I say!
So, I'd better get back to homeworks so that I can get printings done for PhD prog research tonight. Suffice to say, I am a busy potato.
<3
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Applying for Progs-- final...ish... list
I probably should check with my advisors before I say it is "final," but here is a fancy list:
University of Washington Seattle:
Comp. Lit. (PhD)
English (PhD)
Women's Studies (PhD)
Washington State U:
American Studies (PhD)
UCSD:
Writing (MFA)
CalArts:
Writing (MFA)
University of San Francisco:
Writing (MFA)
University of British Columbia:
Women's and Gender Studies (PhD)
University of Oregon:
Comp. Lit. (PhD)
English (PhD)
Philosophy (PhD)
UC Berkeley:
English (PhD)
San Francisco State:
Creative Writing (MFA)
UC Davis:
Cultural Studies (PhD)
University of Washington Seattle:
Comp. Lit. (PhD)
English (PhD)
Women's Studies (PhD)
Washington State U:
American Studies (PhD)
UCSD:
Writing (MFA)
CalArts:
Writing (MFA)
University of San Francisco:
Writing (MFA)
University of British Columbia:
Women's and Gender Studies (PhD)
University of Oregon:
Comp. Lit. (PhD)
English (PhD)
Philosophy (PhD)
UC Berkeley:
English (PhD)
San Francisco State:
Creative Writing (MFA)
UC Davis:
Cultural Studies (PhD)
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