Month: November 2012

I once described an Oxford term to a potential study abroad applicant as a finals period every week for eight weeks straight. Well, I can confirm that as a second year graduate student, it’s perhaps a bit worse than that. This term has been manic – between the degree (kiiiiind of important), DPhil applications, grant proposals, the dancing, the part-time job, and the MCR committee, I’ve been quite busy. But the good news is that the degree is going well – I’m now writing my first paper of the year on the differences in the Genesis poem as maintained in Junius 11 and Pal.Lat.1447 (which involved me learning Old Saxon – just another ancient language that no one else speaks…). I’ve also nearly completed my DPhil proposal, which is based heavily on a huge discovery that I made in the Bodleian at the beginning of the week (more on that later. Don’t worry, it’s not a huge discovery; I am not curing cancer or solving the world’s problems). This discovery also means that I might have to go to France to look at another manuscript – you know, it’s tough, but someone has to do it. Right?

On 20 September, 2013, I will be awarded my Masters degree from Oxford University (well, that is if I pass).

Kind of scary? You bet.

Do I know where I’ll be after this degree? Not yet.

So, um, stay tuned!

Fifth week just started here – in five weeks, Michaelmas Term will be finished. That’s quite a frightening thought.

This term has been chaotic, to say the least. In addition to my studies, I’m still dancing, a member of the MCR committee, and I’m still a part-time waitress. So, life gets busy really quickly. But, every day, I’m in the Special Collections Reading Room with my manuscripts.

This year’s structure is a bit different from  last year. Right now, I’m enrolled in two tutorials – one in Old English language, and one in Anglo-Saxon Paleography. The Paleography option will continue through next term, in addition to a new course instead of the Old English Language option. In the following term, I just have to write my dissertation. And then…well, I’ll graduate and be a Master of English, I guess!

In order to keep the professor dream going, I’m also in the middle of PhD/DPhil applications. This is bringing back quite a few memories from senior year when I did all of my Masters applications. It’s an exciting time; I’m hoping to stay at Oxford, but we’ll see what other options manifest in the next coming months.

So, until then, I’m off to translate some more!