So, a bit about me,
Having been educated at a well respected private school and done three years of a BSc archaeology degree at Durham University (almost on a whim initially, because let's face it Indiana Jones is cool and one day the world might know me as "the guy off Time Team" as well), I actually realised I rather enjoyed the subject. It gets you out and about. It's interesting. You travel to odd places, learn about other cultures both ancient and modern, and when people ask you what do, the response is always "isn't that interesting... did you see that article about the gold hoard/that Roman stuff/those skeletons or even occasionally/those dinosaurs (facepalm). People are interested, and with good reason.
Unfortunately, that comment is usually followed by "but there's no money in it". It's true, there isn't. For me more than most, a finishing MSc student with few prospects, but lots of hope. My ambition is to do a PhD, and then teach and research, hopefully in the U.S.A. - I'm attracted by the lifestyle, the money, and the prestige academics have over there which is somewhat lacking in my own home nation. I want to do a PhD for all of the right reasons, a love of knowledge, a passion for my subject, and a will to teach others and improve the world's knowledge base, as well as some of the wrong ones. I challenge anyone studying for a PhD or with one to deny that there isn't just a tinge of envy/pride (respectively) whenever they hear the title Doctor. Calling yourself Doctor will always be cool, it signifies an achievement in academics which is enough to mark a change in social identity. At my BSc graduation I was lucky (?) enough to be the final graduand before the PhDs, and after we had shaken the hand of the Chancellor, the first thing they did was start congratulating each other: "Well done doctor!" "Congratulations Doctor" and so on. Quite right too. And of course...
I've begun negotiations to begin my own PhD in 2010/11, and things are looking good, assuming the funding can be found. I have a couple of excellent supervisors in potentia, a department with a good reputation and a subject which I enjoy. My research interests are in experimental human palaeoecology, and landscape change and environmental determinism (try saying that after several pints) I've been told to take a gap year, essentially, before taking the plunge and signing my life over for three plus years, to get experience, published, and funding. Very sensible, particularly as research fatigue has begun to set in at the tail end of the Dissertation writing process. We shall see. As to what I'm going to do with my now copious free time and lack of funds... we shall see that as well.
I'm currently in a weird limbo, student accommodation ran out in July but I'm still working, so living in my girlfriend's house until I can get set up on "the next phase". A job, flat, and life while the PhD is cooked up. She's a lawyer in making with very clear cut aims and objectives in life and a Psychology degree to get first. She also has ambitions to be academically published before me of which... more later, but suffice to say we've been together for five months and are still keeping each other in line.
The rest? I'm an incurable geek. We're talking encyclopedic knowledge of Star Trek. Final Fantasy enthusiast. Raved about Inception. Have all Discworld books chronologically arranged above my bed, next to the obligatory Lord of the Rings Poster, and on that note have read the Silmarillion. Twice. Live for Doctor Who (and Amy Pond) week by week. Absolute sucker for a good story, and a total crybaby in cinemas. I'm also a musician in a jack of all trades sort of way. Have sung in various choirs and as a soloist at various levels from professional to drunken at the back of the pub (those two often at the same time). Play the organ at my local church back home when I can (in it for the music not the religion unfortunately) and am a sever enthusiast on the instruments. Can even occasionally me seen trying to make a nice noise on a violin, but never succeeding (I'm not sure it's possible). I love the theatre, particularly musical theatre, and am an incurable thesp, which goes in some way towards my ambitions as a lecturer, or even an archaeological television presenter in the Alice Roberts vein. I also enjoy some sports, although fitness freakery is definitely not my thing. Swimming and squash are the main couple. I'm also a nearly pathological coke addict...
As for this blog? Well... it's main purpose is to amuse, and perhaps educate a little, as I make my trial and error way through the corridors of real life and academia, as a wet behind the ears graduate. Are the two mutually exclusive? Can an archaeologist achieve wealth, fame, and happiness? What is the meaning of life? And where in the world is the monkey? These and many more questions will be...attempted. Until next time then read, comment, laugh, cry, wail, mourn, pine, perish, flip, flop, fly, take it easy and enjoy!
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