When I was at Holy Cross, I used to start a countdown when I returned from Thanksgiving and Easter Breaks. Typically, I had 19 days left between those breaks and the end of the respective semesters. Those 19 days were typically filled with study periods, deadlines, and exams, so my breaks were always a re-charging session.

I just returned from a brief visit back home, and that’s exactly what the past eight days at home were. I didn’t look at any of the books I brought (which, in hindsight, is probably an error). Instead, I just focused on hanging out with family, friends, and the pooch. So here’s my countdown now:

-59 days until I hand in my dissertation. In these 59 days, I will also have the Varsity ballroom competition against Cambridge, a conference in Dublin, a friend visiting for a week, and still working at Fishers. Yikes.

-98 days until I fly to Boston

-102 days until Cape Cod.

So, here we go!

Two years ago, I sat with Cecilia, the Junior Co-Chair of HCBDT, in the Science Cafe (which was brand new at the time) to talk about the future of the club, where we wanted it to go, etc. I felt my BlackBerry (affectionately called PurpleBerry by friends and family) vibrate, and I saw an email from Oxford University. I knew what it was – the decision letter regarding my MPhil application. I debated about whether or not to open it, and then Cecilia just told me to do it. So, I inhaled and then opened it. I only read, ‘We are delighted to inform you…’ and I just started jumping up and down and up and down (much to the chagrin of several Chemistry students cramming for a very important exam).

Today, I returned home from the library (I’m in the middle of essay season with two articles due on Wednesday) to find an email from Oxford – the result of my DPhil application. Once again, I inhaled and opened it. I’m happy to say that I’ve been accepted to the DPhil program at Oxford (and King’s College, London, as well). I’m extremely happy! I’m just waiting for some other things to settle before making a decision about where I’ll be later on this year. And, yes, I did jump up and down, but just not in front of the Science Library, which was probably much appreciated by this year’s group of Chemistry students. And, now, back to my essays.

Bonjour! At the moment, I’m typing from Boulogne Sur Mer, where I’ve been studying a manuscript that’s vital to my research for the past day. Kind of a romantic life over here – visiting Rome and France for vital manuscripts. Anyway, I’m about to head into the busiest three weeks of my life. University Circuit Dance Nationals are this weekend (gulp), and Dean and I have made the Latin semi-finals for the past two competitions now, so we’re hoping to finally climb to the top over the weekend. Stay tuned….

I also have my Paleography exam next Thursday *gulp*, and then two articles due in two weeks from then. So…yeah. A bit busy over here, especially when one of my articles is going against most current scholarship in the field (see why I’m in France…for an essay…yeah, stakes are high). But, I’ll be visiting home for the first week of April, and then it’s back to just writing my dissertation. So these next three weeks will definitely be stressful (and I’ll be faked tan out the wazoo), but it’ll all be worth it.

Until then, a bientot!

Today is the 14th Annual Holy Cross Ballroom Dance Competition. I’m so excited to see how the event has grown since I first participated in it back in 2008. By the end of my time at Holy Cross in 2011, we had over 30 universities represented, despite the snow fall on the morning of the comp. The Ballroom dance team has really taken off at Holy Cross in the past three years or so, and it’s just wonderful to see the club/team grow. I myself just returned from Regionals yesterday, where I came 10th in the Latin three dance. Photos and such will be posted soon.

But, more importantly – do you all remember when I went to San Diego in my senior year to discuss the need for an honors society for interdisciplinary major students? I am beyond excited to say that such an honors society has been founded (Alpha Iota Sigma), and that Holy Cross now has a chapter. The first inductees will be sworn in on April 25th. This particular project was one that was very close to my heart, and I’m so happy that it’s finally come to fruition. To the first members of AIS at Holy Cross – congratulations!

Want to know something scary? Then guess what I’m doing right now. Give up? I’m in the final editing stages of my DPhil/PhD applications. Yeah. Kind of scary. That realization hit me when I flew back into England and realized that my Visa expires in October of this year. When I first received the visa, 2013 seemed so far away. And now, here it is. It honestly seems like it was just yesterday that I was applying for my Masters and then heading back for my final semester at Holy Cross.

After quite a stressful term, I had about two weeks to really relax and enjoy some time off. I was home for a week, and then I headed off to Ireland for New Year’s. Both were a very welcome vacation to the term that lies ahead. After I finish and submit these DPhil applications (probably tomorrow. Eeeek), I’m headed back to the grindstone, since, like this term last year, I have two essays and an exam in the end of March. That means that I need to start writing one of those essays now (a handy little tip that I learned from last year!), and finish it up in about six weeks’ time. Everything kind of starts back this week – the studying, the dancing, the working. But, after my two week reprieve, I’m definitely ready to handle the beast that is known as Hilary Term.

Whenever I log into my Facebook, half of my Holy Cross friends (the graduates) wax poetic about the Carols Service, the Tree Lighting, and Midnight Breakfast. The other half (the current students) complain about the all nighters and the bitterly cold walk between Dinand and their respective dorms. It’s entertaining.

And as I sit here finishing up my essay (which is due on Thursday…), I find myself wishing that I could zip on down to Kimball to get some waffles at midnight (really, best idea of all time) or spend some last frantic minutes cramming for my Latin final in Fenwick 4. But, instead of waxing poetic, I’d rather just show you all. So, here’s a compilation of my winters on the Hill.

http://news.holycross.edu/blog/2012/12/05/holy-cross-classics-students-receive-national-attention-for-project-on-homer/

^Yup. That’s my alma mater…producing paleographers. Sure, they’re Classicists…but they’re still Paleographers!  There are more of us! Stay strong, Crusader Paleographers!

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!