New beginnings (again, and again)

The last few weeks have been hectic. Aside from the fact that I've been in Ireland spending time with my family, I have moved to a house in Durham town centre, There have been countless trips back and forth to the college I was living at, as few taxi journeys as possible, room painting, sorting through things and, mostly exciting of all, negotiating with Leo what he has to bring, as I am so so happy to say that he is moving to Durham in less than a month to do some further study. 

I am absolutely walking on air, this is the happiest and most content I have been in such a long time. It makes all the nesting, moving, expense and hassle of it all totally worth it, as I now get to share my home once again with my partner in crime and other half. 

On top of that, the season is most definitely changing, and I can feel that autumnal crispness in the air.  I am ready to embrace the seasons once again and enjoy all that life has to offer. I am ready for pumpkin and squash, coats and rain, falling leaves and darkening evenings. 

My time in Ireland made me realise how much I love and my miss my home and the people in it. It makes me so sad that for now I can only make the most of it through visits home, emails, phone calls and post. I can't wait to put down roots there, permanently. 

You never know how much you need something until it's taken away from you. 

1st week in Durham

Today is the 8th day I've been in Durham. It feels really strange to be writing that. It's been a very busy week; a lot of training sessions, inductions, coffee at the department (more on that later), and generally finding my feet, both in terms of who exactly I'm supposed to hang out with in my free time and, say, how the library works.

On Wednesday last we had our Matriculation ceremony. Basically, we went to the cathedral, speeches were given, and later we had to sign a book promising to be good students and not to plagiarise. Forever the cynic, I could probably have done without the procession and tradition of the matriculation ceremony, but it was nice to hear nice and encouraging things from those in charge. Usually you don't get the well wishes until graduation and they're kicking you out the door.

Everything here is done very officially, we all have a college, and do everything through the college. The fairly upper class formality of it all is a little awkward, but hey, it's their show, so they can do what they like. Since I'm being accommodated in my college for the time being (and it's pretty cosy, actually), I get all my meals provided, have access to a kitchen to make tea, and even have a library in my building. It's all very straightforward, and only a 10 minute walk from the university.

I'm feeling very lost without my bicycle, I haven't managed to find one here yet, and although it's just a short walk to everything, including the town, I'd much prefer to be cycling there than walking. Hopefully this week will bring good things. A meeting with my supervisors, a walking trip or some dance classes (depending on the weather), and basically all the time in the world to study, write, and eat. It's surreal.

I woke up on Monday morning and it was Autumn. Umbrellas and boots for everyone. Today it didn't rain, at least, but I could definitely start wearing my gloves, it's that nippy. It feels very strange being here, but judging by all the lost, lonely faces you see on a daily basis, in the cafeteria, on the paths to and from college, the only thing worse than being in a new place alone is being 18, living away from home for the first time, and being in a new place alone. So, there's that.

Here are a couple of snaps, I need to make it a habit:

From the Matriculation ceremony, with a ghost walking by. That poster on the wall was terrific.

The cosiest apartment I've ever seen on one of the oldest streets.

Copenhagen. Never forget.

the absolute best of news

It's been a long and often frustrating road for me, career-wise. I finished up my education as the recession in Ireland was really getting into the swing of things, and with the labour market as precarious as it is in the UK getting a decent job in London seemed highly unlikely for someone with a skill set such as mine. 

Leo and I made the decision to take a 'time out', he from a great job in a Swedish bank, and me from combining market research and waitressing in my 60 hour work week precarious hell. We made a break with our old lives, moved to Copenhagen,and began a carpentry and design course (here's the tag all of the carpentry posts are in). 

Those 7 months were scary. I'll be perfectly honest. While it was idyllic living in a snowy Copenhagen and there were no money worries, as the course rolled around to a finish it became clear that life was changing. What to do now? Stay in Denmark? Learn Danish and try to get a job that isn't the dreaded Australian themed restaurant (the single worst place I've ever worked, for sure)? As the course came to a close I tried to make the best of things. Leo somehow managed to wrangle an amazing job, and started basically the Monday after we finished woodworking. He also found a nice apartment. 

I, only the other hand, was in an inbetween place. I was 3/4 in Ireland, learning to drive (everyone should have a manual license, they're some serious skills worth having) and doing an internship which ended up being hugely important for the learning experience it afforded me. 1/4 of the time I was back in Copenhagen visiting Leo and wondering how it was all going to tie together. 

Getting my license took longer than anticipated (I had no car to practise in and was a complete, how do you say, n00b, so it took 4/5 months to pass the test) but by February I was back full time in Copenhagen, doing the full-time Danish lesson thing and cycle upwards of 16km per day to and from the apartment Leo had purchased on the outskirts of the city. After a while I got myself another temporary job, earning good enough money but in no way on career path. 

And then, out of the blue, came the most fantastic opportunity, so amazing I can barely contain my excitement when I think about what it means for the future. I received an offer for A FULLY FUNDED PHD!!!!!!! I still can't believe it. The project I will be working on is a dream, I will be examining austerity measures, the labour market, and the welfare state, I get to use qualitative research methods, and furthermore it means I'm one step closer to being able to move back to Ireland permanently, with the hopes of making a life for myself/us there. 

So, as of October, I will be relocating to Durham in the north of England, which I could not be happier about. As common sense dictates, Leo will have to keep his job in Copenhagen for a time, but I'm secretly (or not so secretly) hoping he'll pack in the whole banking thing and do something more creative/meaningful. Life is short, too short for managing risk for a corporate giant. I am so glad to have been given this opportunity. It's been so hard being a young graduate in the economic climate we found ourselves in. I can't emphasise this enough. I've finally, 1 1/2 years after finishing my Masters, been given the opportunity to begin on a significant and meaningful career trajectory. 

I'm not only glad for myself, and for all the hard work that I can do, but for how I might be able to help Irish society. Ireland is such a wonderful little country, but becomes less and less focused on equality as time goes on. I hope to work hard in the coming years to make it a more equal place.

For now, I'm counting down the days to handing in my notice at this housekeeping job, working really hard to improve my background knowledge on UK political and welfare contexts, and day dreaming about living in the north of England. Life sure is exciting!