Of paradox and oxymoron

It has been a productive week so far. My week diary has been filled. I refrain from using the word "busy". I think people nowadays are "busy bragging "on how busy they are. As if being busy leads to an interesting life or a social status. So I'll refrain from being busy as I am settling in, still in transition phase, but I am slowly finding my routine.

I have met a number of academics and researchers this week. People with varied backgrounds and personalities. People always interest me, I am lovingly observing them during our interactions.

Also, I'm beginning to find my sense of self and belongingness in the university.

I have participated in postgrad researcher skills workshops. It was very much needed as I begin to take practical steps on how to equip myself with the resources and abilities I need to start with my doctoral research.

In summary, these are the highlights of my week...

Monday- Sorry Not Sorry

I have completed Ethics module first thing I got into my work station. The faculty research office was swamped, about five people were in their desks. The conversations were non-stop, and people were coming in and out the door.

I put my headphones on, tried to ignore everyone's business for almost 3 hours. Completed the module and said hello to them after. I apologised if they felt I was ignoring them, actually I was.
I needed to complete the deadline I set to myself.

I suppose it is a British thing, a penchant for pardon. "Sorry" goes too far in The UK, an overused expression. People say sorry about the weather, when they get sick or say sorry on almost everything they can think of to keep the conversation going.

 "My sorry wasn't a compliance of guilt, but a recognition of an inconvenient situation. "

Tuesday- Voice No Voice

I had a full supervisory team meeting. As always, I find it a joy to exchange views and collaborate with my supervisors. Now, I need to complete an essay due in a fortnight. I need to answer my thoughts: "Is there a voice that hasn't been heard, or there's no voice at all."

Wednesday- Paper no Paper

A morning introduction to Sage Methods with exploration of online journals, and an afternoon of further literature review including a trip to the library to borrow old fashioned books.

The challenge now is how to use both resources, and put a system in place for all my references. Although, there's an increasing tendency of accessing the newest materials in the virtual world, I can't let go of holding that piece of knowledge with my bare hands in my physical world. 

" How can they call it paper [online] , when it is not made of wood, grass or leaves?"

Thursday- Searching the researcher within

I had a full day of workshops with the morning session of Effective Researcher- Getting started with research, ended with the afternoon of Strategic Searching for Researchers.

The morning event was more like a follow up of induction, we got to evaluate our individual skills and attributes, further there were advice on strategies adhering to Vitae Researcher Development Framework on how to develop researcher aptitudes and ambitions.

I thoroughly enjoyed the session, I met a group of PhD candidates from different disciplines and we got involved in conversations and group activities. I find some of the research topics interesting- From engaging refugees to theatre drama to the history of drag queens. People are really interesting.

There were two tasks that I think I highlighted my personal strengths and attributes. A self analysis.

Firstly, there were set of photographs in the table and we were asked to chose one that best describe our current PhD journey. I took the "footprint in the sand", and we have to share our photo voice.

I didn't hesitate to recite one of my favourite poems that resonates my current quandary.

Along the lines from the Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow...

" Lives of great men, all remind us,

  We can make our lives sublime.

  Departing soon leave behind us,

  Footprints in the sands of time...

   Let us then, be up and awake,

   With heart of any fate,

   Still achieving, still pursuing,

   Learn to labour, and to wait. "

A few people in the room approached me and commended that they were impressed, another person said I was eloquent, while an international student remarked " Are you Asian? Why do you speak English so well? "

Secondly, we were divided into four groups to complete an activity of making an air vehicle out of paper and straws powered by a hair dryer. It was a competition on which group can invent this and can move it with the farthest distance.

I was so persistent to win this task. Although, I am rubbish with DIY "Do It Yourself", and no engineering background, I am confident with the use of a hairdryer.

 I didn't give up, I was on the floor with my hands and knees trying to move that paper vehicle outstretching the capacity of the hair dryer. We won out of default as the other team was disqualified.

Regardless, our group won. 

We were asked in the end what we have learned from that activity.

I said : "Communication, alongside collaboration to get things done!"

Friday- End Note is Not the End

A timely way to end my week, with understanding the use of a software called End Note.

A tool to organise and put all my resources as I begin the task of writing.

The librarian compared End Note to a Marmite, either you'll love or hate it. 

I personally think it is more like butter, it adds a layer of flavour to your toast. 

"You can chose to have it, or not." 

Other things happened today include a fire alarm in the university, and everyone was asked to evacuate the building, we have to stand outside in the streets while they investigate the cause of siren reverberating loudly across the halls.

I got to chat to a PhD candidate who is working on a gorilla conservation (Bonobo) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He wants to save lives of endangered animals in Africa, while we are in a danger of a potential fire.

And one of my supervisors dropped by my office and kindly gave me a book on: How to do Systematic Reviews, a perfect ending of my week, trying to figure out how to put a system in place of otherwise a hazy cloud full of literature and information. 

This sums up my week, of paradox and oxymoron.
This makes a lot of sense.