The Reunion Tour

As I mentioned previously, this week I made my way back across the pond to take part in my DPhil viva.  I won't know my results for a few weeks, but I thought I would take this opportunity to make what might be my last post from England for quite a while.

The viva seemed to go pretty well.  I am happy with my answers, and so was my supervisor.  It is now only a matter of how major or minor my corrections will be.  I don't think I was asked anything extraordinary or unfair - it was all reasonable and more or less expected.

I also had many opportunities to catch up with friends over dinner, brunch, parties, etc.  For me, those experiences were just as important as the academic ones during my time here.

Sure, it's not the same as it was when I started, and many of my friends are no longer in Oxford.  But it was a great feeling to pick up where I left off, even after nearly eight months away.

Stay tuned...this blog isn't done just yet.

Love from the land of Ox,
Kaitlin

Meet Jack

I don't know how this slipped under the radar, but I neglected to tell the blogosphere that my nephew, John Michael "Jack" Demma III, made it safely into the world on 28 February at around noon. He is doing well and everyone is very happy.

Yesterday, he made his first visit to our house, where we were able to take a family photo with my grandfather.  Four generations, ranging from three weeks to almost 92 years old, were together in one photo.

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Next on the "potentially bloggable topics" agenda:

• Have started a job.  It feels great to be actually working.
• Saturday is my birthday - the big 3-1.  Nothing exciting planned, mostly because...
• I leave for England on Sunday to have my viva on the 30th.  Gah!!!

So I may actually have content again here soon.  Don't touch that dial!

The end approaches

I may have submitted my thesis, but I'm not done yet.  I just found out this week that I'll be headed back to the UK to have my viva on March 30.


I can't believe this is actually it.

On nature vs. nurture

So today I went with my mom and my sister to Babies 'R' Us and Pottery Barn Kids to buy and exchange a few things for my sister.  As I walked around the stores, I noticed a lot of things were divided into themes:  jungle animals, cars, teddy bears, sports, etc.  It got me thinking about how when we're little, a lot of our "likes" are chosen by people around us.  I can't help but wonder if babies would decorate their rooms differently if they had the ability to choose.

Do you think we like or dislike certain things simply because they're what our parents like or dislike?  In my family we're not really cat people, mostly because my parents were never really cat people - none of us kids grew up longing for a cat or anything.  On the other hand, my sister and I h a t e Kenny G because one summer my mother l o v e d him, and played his tapes endlessly during long car trips.  I think we came to hate him because we associated his music with being bored and motion-sick.

Anyone else have any examples?

Aaaaand that's a wrap

So yesterday, at about 8 pm, I submitted my doctoral thesis to the print shop in Oxford.

This morning, I called in my credit card information to pay for the copies.

It will be delivered to the Examination Schools tomorrow.

Now, all we can do is wait.