Week 9

This semester has flown by. Most of it has passed in some sort of unacknowledged mutiny on my part. It was nice to take some time off and drift for a bit. That being said, I have three seven-page papers to write, a couple of centuries of art history to relearn and final paper for my quantitative methods course to do. S'okay though, since I have a better idea of who my friends are (and sadly aren't) here. At least I can procrastinate on my health paper. The class was cancelled for most of the semester, and we now have a major research paper, but the new professor said finish the other stuff and then think about it. He just wants a solid topic by the end of the semester.
So... one paper a week for internationalisms... studying for the arts and politics exam... and dealing with everything else as it comes. I can do this.

On a side note, the mutiny is fun. Very very fun. Like reading for fun, fun. Yeah, crazy. Been doing a lot of thinking, need to get over myself and start writing again. Can't let past failure cripple my future. Too stubborn for that.

Experiment... what experiment?

I picked the worst week to do this food experiment since I am on campus every day this week. So some modifications are in order. I'm allowed to eat one meal out either at the on campus cafeterias or the hummus bar (or some other place relatively healthy and cheap). Normally I wouldn't be on campus at all on Tuesdays, and only for one class on Wednesdays so this would be easier. Caffeine is officially exempt from the budget this week, primarily because I have to stay awake through these lectures!

I'm still waiting for my grades, and still frustrated that two of my teachers haven't even looked at the papers yet. I bet they'll ask for extensions. Deadlines are for everyone students.

Time for dinner, soup of some kind!


P.S. Really good video (although it might take some explaining, since so many people don't know what cisgender means):
What Does a Feminist Look Like?: A Transmasculine Perspective with a Challenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq8_fJDioKQ

Yeah. Blog. That thing, umm... Hi!

I would like to not summarize my life in bullet points, but bullet points make things simple (usually). Here's my attempt. I swear I used to be able to write before the break.


I'm back in Budapest for the Winter Term. I knew going back would be difficult, so I'm dealing with it as expect. Future frustrations will arise around the beginning of Spring Term and when I have to watch all the 1 year students graduate. I should be sleeping right now, but somehow I can't. By somehow, I mean a giant cup of Earl Grey tea plus tomato sauce induced heartburn.
I'm waiting for results from Fall Term, but the deadline for grade submission is the 28th of this month. I find the lack of feedback quite frustrating. I did get results from one class, Modern Historiography. Leave it to History to be on their game while Gender Studies ... is Gender Studies. While I enjoy my classes from gender, I prefer dealing with History admin. far more. 


On to other news: no France for me. Actually chances are that anyone who reads this blog already knows this, but it is still worth mentioning. Based on a number of factors, I have decided that it is in my best interests to go to the University of Nottingham. It seems like a better fit both financially and academically. They're rated fairly high and I can get student loans while there. Also, I hope to go for a whole year instead of one semester (which I would financially be forced to do if I went to France). This means I will be able to be at the same school as my thesis supervisor while working on my thesis.


On that note, I'm thinking of making a list of warnings/cautions/tips/etc. for students that might follow my path. While I have enjoyed my time at CEU, it turns out that it just isn't a great match for me. There are many good things about the school and living in Budapest, but in looking back at my undergrad experience, there were certain locational, organizational, and safety factors that I tend to appreciate. Also, if I were in a 1 year MA, I think some of these factors would matter less, but at the thought of having to come back here to write my thesis, I realized that it just wasn't a good idea. 


Switching topics, I'm trying an experiment this week. I am going to attempt to not eat in the dorm cafeteria at all. There are a number of reasons... 

•  Financially - eating two cafeteria meals a day exceeds my budget (1600 HUF, so 830/meal x 2, well you get the picture...)
• I miss green vegetables!
• I'm tired of the same stuff: butter, extra salt, usually mediocre soups, more butter, and too many potatoes (usually with extra butter!). 
• Even with eating in the dorms last semester I managed to lose weight. I'm hoping the process will continue but at a faster pace with me eating healthier.
• I just want to see if I can manage. How creatively healthy can I be? We shall see...

Sadly, first day of the experiment and I'm up with heartburn. (Note to self, do not buy Barilla basil-tomato sauce again.) Will update with results, eventually. I have allowed myself one exemption from the experiment, I am allowed to spend no more than 1000 HUF/meal on three meals this week. This pretty much limits me to the Hummus Bar or the X Floor Buffet (both are far better/healthier options). Midweek (Wednesday or later) I will get a $30 grocery store trip. (Which for Hungary is a ridiculously huge budget, but considering pesticide issues I've decided that I need to buy certain things imported or organic here, i.e. tomatoes.) 


Anyway, that's all for tonight, really random post, I know. Sleep, minus the heartburn.