Academic update
Something's up with my program. I received a cryptic letter from the University of Wales yesterday. Only three sentences and very vague. Something about my program no longer being eligible for Title IV funds and therefore they can't accept my US student loan. This is worrisome. However, I'm pretty sure I paid for the entire program upfront with one huge loan. Unless I am such a financial idiot that the program was three times as expensive as I thought and I read "yearly costs" as "program costs." I don't know. I thought I was paid up for the whole thing, in which case this won't affect me. I haven't taken any money out for this year anyway.
I've written my registrar and adviser to try to figure out what's going on. It is possible I am actually no longer a student. And to be honest? I'm not sure I'll mind. I don't want the money I have paid to be lost (I'd like a refund of some sort if I am no longer eligible for the program and it's not my doing!), but easing the stress of being a new mum, working part time AND being a student will be welcome. I mean, it's not like I'm actually *doing* any work toward the degree anyway. My ego gets a nice boost when I say "I'm a PhD student" but I'm not doing any work on the damn degree.
I know that degree program or no, when I'm ready I'll be back at it, reading the books and thinking the thoughts, because that's what I do. This work has never been about any kind of concrete outcome, a career or a degree. It's more of a compulsion. I love this topic and seem to be able to do the sort of mental gymnastics needed to be all academic n' shit about theology.
Some one asked me this morning if I would consider transferring to another program, but I'm wouldn't. I don't want to jump through the hoops required in a US program. I like being dissertation only and not having to take classes and pass comps and quals. I like not having to move to a specific place to do the work. And there's also the fact that there aren't that many people doing work on the Virgin Mary, much less feminist work on her.
We'll see what happens. But it's quite telling that I'm not crushed.
[Also I need new icons. I need new Mary icons, as well food and politics and book icons me thinks. I can make icons on my pc at work, but have yet to figure it out on my mac.]
I've written my registrar and adviser to try to figure out what's going on. It is possible I am actually no longer a student. And to be honest? I'm not sure I'll mind. I don't want the money I have paid to be lost (I'd like a refund of some sort if I am no longer eligible for the program and it's not my doing!), but easing the stress of being a new mum, working part time AND being a student will be welcome. I mean, it's not like I'm actually *doing* any work toward the degree anyway. My ego gets a nice boost when I say "I'm a PhD student" but I'm not doing any work on the damn degree.
I know that degree program or no, when I'm ready I'll be back at it, reading the books and thinking the thoughts, because that's what I do. This work has never been about any kind of concrete outcome, a career or a degree. It's more of a compulsion. I love this topic and seem to be able to do the sort of mental gymnastics needed to be all academic n' shit about theology.
Some one asked me this morning if I would consider transferring to another program, but I'm wouldn't. I don't want to jump through the hoops required in a US program. I like being dissertation only and not having to take classes and pass comps and quals. I like not having to move to a specific place to do the work. And there's also the fact that there aren't that many people doing work on the Virgin Mary, much less feminist work on her.
We'll see what happens. But it's quite telling that I'm not crushed.
[Also I need new icons. I need new Mary icons, as well food and politics and book icons me thinks. I can make icons on my pc at work, but have yet to figure it out on my mac.]