After a few phone calls on Tuesday evening, I managed to get my internet back up and running. I can’t say I appreciated it until it was gone! But now I am very glad to be back and able to see what’s happening. I have to say that I still haven’t managed to comment much, just because I had so many posts to read. It was overwhelming. I managed to clear out the Google Reader, though, so I should be appearing a bit more around the blogosphere now that I feel like I can take time to comment and work through every day.
On Friday, I finally received the results for my MA, and I have very proudly passed, and done quite well considering how the year began. I received what was possibly the worst grade of my life on my first essay, due to a combination of one professor somewhat misleading me about the quality of my essay and my own misunderstandings, and my confidence took a hit. But I received a Distinction on my dissertation, which is the equivalent of an A, and I’m thrilled that all my hard work paid off and I can once again feel like the possibilities of academia are open to me should I choose to pursue them.
This Friday is meant to be my visa appointment, but I’m not sure we’re going to make it, and I might have to mail my documents in instead. You see, I wanted to change my name on my passport after I got married, but before I got my visa, to avoid the extra hassle of carrying a marriage license every time I travel for the next two years. This turns out to have been a mistake. Rather than returning my new passport in the promised 15 working days, it’s now been over 20, and I’m worried. I know they received it and charged me for the renewal, so I’ll be calling the US Embassy if it doesn’t get here tomorrow, and I hope they know what’s happened to it.
Finally, amusingly similar to my last Salon post, I am reading Sookie Stackhouse again. I was excited to find the last three books in the series at the library yesterday and I’ve read two since then (I’ll have more library loot later this week!). I’m still really enjoying these books and they are definitely taking my mind off my worries. I had to leave book 9 at the library because I was at my limit, but I’ll be picking it up next week I hope. I’m also reading Wild Swans by Jung Chang, which I’m absolutely loving. This is a memoir I’m reading for the Women Unbound challenge about three generations of women in China. It’s a wonderful combination of history and family relationships, which I particularly enjoy. My last read is Angels of Destruction by Keith Donoghue. I’m not really enjoying this as much as I thought I was going to, which is a disappointment at 100 pages in, but it’s a review copy I was supposed to review a long time ago, so I’ve got to get on with it.
What are you reading this Sunday?
When I read the Sookie Stackhouse novels a couple of months ago, it was a super marathon, haha. Not for any reading challenges or anything–I just couldn’t stop.
And. Congratulations on that Distinction!
.-= Sasha ´s last blog ..And Even More LitLove: Liars in Love, by Richard Yates =-.
Congrats on passing your MA!!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: Thankfully Reading =-.
A HUGE congrats on your Distinction on your dissertation. How wonderful to know that your hard work was noticed and appreciated.
Way to go on Sookie. I’d better get reading or I’ll fail my own challenge!
And bummer about the passport — I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it will come soon.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..A Few Awards =-.
You get graded on your dissertation in the UK? Here it’s more of a pass/fail thing–they just make you rewrite the sucker until they deem it acceptable.
The Wild Swans sounds like a good book!
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..TSS-Too Much of a Good Thing =-.
PhD dissertations are a pass/fail thing. Everything up to that is graded to my understanding.
Congratulations on your MA! Wild Swans does sound interesting – I’m looking forward to your review.
.-= Tricia´s last blog ..Should Have Waited for the Paperback: Her Fearful Symmetry =-.
Congratulations on your MA and the Distinction on your dissertation! How wonderful! Sookie Stackhouse will be a good diversion for you – they’re so fun!
.-= rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – Review of “The Gift” by Cecelia Ahern =-.
Congratulations on your dissertation – that is a huge accomplishment and one you should be very proud off.
Sorry to hear about the problems with your passport – dealing with the government on these things is a huge pain in the butt! Hopefully it will be resolved soon.
.-= Daphne´s last blog ..New This Week – November 29, 2009 =-.
Congratulations on the Distinction on your dissertation and earning your MA! We’re all very proud of you and your accomplishments!!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Review: Wishin’ and Hopin’ =-.
Congratulations on your educational success! I’m really proud of you. As far as the name change business, it’s a pain in the rear under the best of circumstances. I can’t imagine doing it from another country. Good luck with that!
.-= Literate Housewife´s last blog ..Thankfully Reading ~ Day 1 Update =-.
So glad you’re back online! The name change thing is SUCH a pain, I hope your passport shows up ASAP.
.-= Jen – Devourer of Books´s last blog ..TSS: The School of Essential Ingredients Hot Chocolate – Guest Blog & Giveaway by Erica Bauermeister =-.
Big congratulations on your MA. What was area of history was your disertation about?
I’m a medievalist, focusing on the later Middle Ages. This one was about Anthony Woodville, brother to Edward IV’s queen Elizabeth, and was a study of chivalry and how he demonstrated the strength of it when it’s popularly assumed to have died.
Cool about the dissertation! I’d love to see it someday!
I feel more comfortable spreading it around now – send me an email at meghankk at gmail dot com and I’ll send it your way. I’d love to see what you think of it.
Congratulations on your MA – that is such a huge accomplishment. You deserve to be very proud of yourself!
.-= Carrie K.´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon – November 29, 2009 (The “buy-books-for-the-holidays” edition) =-.
I am glad to hear you have your internet connection up and running again, Meghan. Congratulations on getting such high marks on dissertation! You must be so thrilled, not to mention relieved. Good luck with the visa situation. I hope it all works out in time. I am sure it will. Fingers crossed!
Have a great week, Meghan!
.-= Literary Feline´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: Thankfully Reading Weekend, Almost Over =-.
Congratulations on the distinction. You must be really proud and relieved
I can totally get all your visa problems with the name change n everything. These offices can really get all bureaucratic and red-tapish on you.
I am currently reading Inkdeath (so-so) and Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (great so far).
.-= Nish´s last blog ..Has Anyone Tried Posterous Yet? =-.
Thanks for the congratulations everyone! =)
Glad to know that your connection is back and wow! great to know you passed with flying colors
Congrats!
God! I so want to read Sookie’s books! I am right now reading Dancing with Anna, it is good but kind of disturbing!
.-= Veens´s last blog ..Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen =-.
Congrats on your MA Meghan! I’m sure your visa troubles will work out.
Glad to see your soldiering on with Sookie. I’ve been on a bit of a Sookie streak myself.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Book Review: Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (Series, #5) =-.
Congratulations on your dissertation! I hope you receive your passport soon. Happy reading.
.-= Vasilly´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: Thankfully Reading Weekend Wrap-Up =-.
Congratulations on earning a distinction, I am very happy for you! And don’t worry too much about the visa process, I am sure that everything will come back fine for you.
.-= zibilee´s last blog ..Replacement Child by Judy Mandel – 256 pgs =-.
YEA!!!! Congratulations. I know how happy and good this feels. Awesome job sweetie.
.-= jennygirl´s last blog ..Review: The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel & Nancy Garfinkel =-.