agatheringrose

I'm going for a Com and Info PHD. Most landlords seem to want you to visit and fill out interest forms, unfortunately, so I took a few days off work to run up and take a look at way too many apartment buildings. What part of Japan have you been traveling/Living/teaching(?) at?

I'm totally not even in your field but I think this is awesome. Norse mythology/religion/folklore/history is simply fascinating. /Minor folkloregasm On topic: That I love folklore, backpacked around Japan while doing my masters portfolio, and even though I talk a little funny and am learning disabled it doesn't impact my abilities.

I've had three very different experiences. First, there was my undergraduate Anthropology Major with a focus on Gender/Sexuality. I think I've blocked out all the conversations on that one but the Anthropology questions were pretty standard. The Gender/Sexuality got weird and into personal business very quickly with a lot of strangers. My Masters in Library and Information Science was often pretty funny, though. PersonA: So you're getting your masters! What in? Me: Library and Information Science! PersonA: Really!? O_O That sounds so difficult! Me: ... I'm studying to be a librarian. PersonA: ...you need a Masters for that? Through a course on Information Communication Technologies I decided that I wanted to pursue further education on the affect of ICTs globally and locally on communication and culture. Most of the time this actually gets understood--I just point out people's cellphones and the use of Twitter or Facebook (or whatever communication technology they prefer) and the light goes on. Occasionally, however, there's a brick. Law Student: So you're applying for Doctorate programs in what? Me: Communication--I want to study Information Communication Tech. Like...the use of cellphones and Facebook and how they change communication blahblah Law Student: ... and you think you can get a job with that? That's useless. Me: ... but the more you know about how people use technology to communicate blah Law Student: Nope. Its useless. It'll be obsolete by the time you turn around. Me: ... but... you've been using your cellphone to check facebook, comment, and like things since I met you, constantly, for the past 40 minutes. ??? Law Student: If I could use magic to do the same things I would. Does not make a bit of damn difference Me: /gives up/

I'm starting to apply for more permanent jobs starting in March. I figure by then I'll know my chances of getting into a PHD program and I might as well. I just finished my MLIS degree and haven't doing any intensive work in a Library so I'll probably just go ahead and check that out before/during the next application season. ...and save up so I can run away to Europe. I haven't been that side of things yet and it sounds exciting.

Email. I took a temp job in another city a few weeks after finishing my applications. It was unexpected and so... if they mail it I'm going to get a call from my parents saying they have forwarded it on and that would be hell on earth waiting. So email. Website if necessary. Avoid the phone calls because composure may not be fantastic. I don't care if its rejection or acceptance--I'm for email all around.

Sorry, with all the talk of spiders I feel I must share this I'm also afraid of spiders. I can also wiggle my ears and love to cook for large groups of people.

My general thought for any of the schools I've applied to is: Why is someone with a Library Science masters applying here? Does she think we put on puppet shows?

Mine are kind of mixed like that. Originally, when I discussed the chances with my mom she was horrified. On the other hand, my recommenders/references have all been fairly positive. My friends, meanwhile, are all on the positive 'I'll somehow get into all my top choices brigade'--which is highly appreciated but unlikely. I really love the blind confidence...but I'm expecting that reality smack and have already braced for it for the next few months.