Four Month crunch to the Light

Today marks an interesting stage of my education as I start to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Today, I arrived at school and handed in my final two papers for the last two modules that I will probably take in my Master’s course. I am aiming for a Distinction for my efforts of course but I suppose a Merit will do. I also paid for the last term which started this week. The way I see it, my time in school is coming to an end. With classes being over and papers handed in, some would say that I have it easy for the months to come. In some ways they would be right, but for some reason I don’t think so. 

Academically, there is only one thing left on my plate and that is the dissertation. I have four months to come up with 20,000 words and I must make sure not to quote or paraphrase too much so as not to be accused of plagiarising. I have never done something like that before. I have usually needed the external routine set by classes to keep me motivated and productive, but it seems that I will now have to make my own schedule for the next four months. If I stay indoors studying for four months straight, I will probably have a meltdown, so I need to properly balance time with friends and exercising. Overall, with a good plan, I do not see the paper being a problem. 

Where the anxiety truly lies is what comes next. Most people have the luxury of going home after their studies but I have no interest of going back to live with my parents. Within the same week, after I hand in my final thesis, I will be kicked out of the apartment I am currently living in to make room for the 2012-2013 students. I don’t have the funds or the job to really know where I will be and what I will do.

This means that, while I’m finishing my academic life, I need to be preparing for my working one. Preparing my CV, searching for jobs and applying for them is an undertaking in itself. As a foreigner, I also have visa issues to deal with. 

Thus, the next few months are entirely on me. How well I do in my thesis, what job I find and where I end up is no one’s responsibility but my own. I have to be out of here in September and officially begin a move away from my academic life. This is a large step that seemed to be crunched into a very short span of time. What to do?

Terrorist Threats

The English are feeling the pinch in relation to recent terrorist threats and have therefore raised their security level from "Miffed" to "Peeved."

Soon, though, security levels may be raised yet again to "Irritated" or even "A Bit Cross." The English have not been "A Bit Cross" since the blitz in 1940 when tea supplies nearly ran out. Terrorists have been re-categorized from "Tiresome" to "A Bloody Nuisance." The last time the British issued a "Bloody Nuisance" warning level was in 1588, when threatened by the Spanish Armada.

The Scots have raised their threat level from "Pissed Off" to "Let's get the Bastards." They don't have any other levels. This is the reason they have been used on the front line of the British army for the last 300 years.

The French government announced yesterday that it has raised its terror alert level from "Run" to "Hide." The only two higher levels in France are "Collaborate" and "Surrender." The rise was precipitated by a recent fire that destroyed France's white flag factory, effectively paralysing the country's military capability.

Italy has increased the alert level from "Shout Loudly and Excitedly" to "Elaborate Military Posturing." Two more levels remain: "Ineffective" Combat Operations" and "Change Sides."

The Germans have increased their alert state from "Disdainful Arrogance" to "Dress in Uniform and Sing Marching Songs." They also have two higher levels: "Invade a Neighbor" and "Lose."

Belgians, on the other hand, are all on holiday as usual; the only threat they are worried about is NATO pulling out of Brussels .

The Spanish are all excited to see their new submarines ready to deploy. These beautifully designed subs have glass bottoms so the new Spanish navy can get a really good look at the old Spanish navy.

Australia , meanwhile, has raised its security level from "No worries" to "She'll be alright, Mate." Three more escalation levels remain: "Crikey!", "I think we'll need to cancel the barbie this weekend", and "The barbie is cancelled."