I smell spring

Well term two is over, and although I still have one group project to finish up and my proposal calling my name, I am finally relaxing a little. 

Yesterday, a group of friends and I went to explore Birmingham. It wasn't a very planned adventure, but we ended up seeing some really nice parks and lovely suburban neighborhoods. I finally got to ride a double decker bus and was way more excited about it than I should be willing to share. I have to admit that climbing to the top while the bus is moving is a bit beyond my balancing abilities. All in all it was a nice spring day. 

Moral of the story is that Birmingham has a lot more to offer than the busy city center like peaceful and relaxing nature. The pictures above are from Sutton Park. 

But now that I am back in the students' lounge to do more research, the thing that will keep me going is my upcoming trip to Paris in may. It's finally booked, and I am thrilled to have something to look forward to. 

A second end

Well I've just finished the last exam of my postgraduate career. It feels very strange. Maybe it just hasn't sunk in yet. I know that masters programs in England are an expedited process, but having the second term be over so soon should be illegal. I still feel like I just got here. 

I have to say the past three days were very stressful. I tend to make myself very nervous before exams and lose the ability to sleep like a normal person. Definitely something to work on. Stress cannot be good for performance, and not just in exams but in life in general. Now I have a couple assignments to wrap up because while I tend to start assignments early, I always leave about 10-15% for the very end. Just so that I don't out-nerd myself. 

In true England fashion, we've had amazing sunny weather during revision week when everyone was stuck in the library. Flowers were blooming, birds were singing, and people were dressing like it was summertime. But now that exams are wrapping up, it's gotten colder again. Spring is evasive, but hopefully soon it will come back to stay because we post graduates need some sunshine to help us recover from term two. 

Drawing to a close

With three weeks left of term I keep hearing people saying how surprised or happy they are that these are the last exams of their lives. I don't really know how I feel about this. My whole life has revolved around education and pressure to succeed academically that it's strange to realize that my organized education is coming to an end. Not that you ever stop learning, but it'll be different from here on out. I think the most difficult thing for me right now is to find a balance between my studies and future planning. It is just hard to motivate myself to job search while dealing with the workload simultaneously, but once exams are over I fully intend to budget my time more effectively.

 

I am doing fairly well with my assignments, and our course director took pity on us, so the deadline for the final proposal was extended. There is a lot less group work this term, and I am happy to say that I have some very conscientious people to work with this time. One of the girls is more motivated and on top of things than I am sometimes, and that's very refreshing from some of my past experiences. Between the two of us, we are getting things done more efficiently, and I don't feel like I have to take on the leader role singlehandedly.

On the precipice of week six

I probably said this before, but at the beginning of term one, ten weeks seemed like a long time, but that was deceivingly naïve to believe. Now over halfway through the second term, I'm very glad to have only three classes because I there is plenty to do in each of them. I did my best to get ahead on the assignments, so that I could leave myself a block of time to focus on my dissertation proposal. That's definitely the next big hurdle to overcome.

Besides the academia, I can't help but be excited for spring because I think I'll do the cliche thing and go to Paris. I only spent one day there before and that was hardly enough. About two weeks ago a friend and I went to the Chinese New Year celebration in Chinatown. It was cool how big of a turnout they had. The performances were worth seeing despite the frigid wind (just another reason to be excited for spring!)

Time is flying

At the beginning of the first term, ten weeks seemed like a long time, but now I know better. Now at the end of week three it's difficult not to feel overwhelmed by the assignments and dissertation research that I need to get done. This term involves a lot more individual work rather than collaboration in a group. Although it's less frustrating than having to coordinate different personalities, you are also accountable only to yourself which could make motivation hard to come by. I have three assignments to do which are all 1500 words and involve in depth research of selected companies. I also have to do a final dissertation proposal which will require a lot more research on my part. Overlap that with weekly prereading, and you get a situation where it's imperative to set goals, make a schedule and use time wisely. I am learning how to prioritize in the best way possible.

In other news, we had our first few snowflakes yesterday which is apparently cause for excitement, but having lived in Russia and central Pennsylvania, I can't be asked to feel excited about snow that doesn't even stick. You guys haven't seen anything yet. ;)

Who's up for round two?

Can't believe break is already over, but I am actually kind of glad. I like keeping busy. Breaks and vacations make me lazy, so that coming back to responsibility and reality requires extra effort, and I am definitely not the only one feeling this way. I am excited for my friends to be back as well as for this term in general. Since I had five classes last term, I only have three this time (Operations Management, Advanced Topics in International Business and Strategy Change and Leadership). Three classes doesn't necessarily mean an easy time, but it will definitely be a relief, and I will need all the extra free time to start chipping away at my dissertation. In addition to finding a more specific direction for my research, I have to organize my sources. CSR is such a wide subject area that for an indecisive person like me, it's hard to narrow down my options. 

Spring and summer will be even more exciting because I will finally get to travel. Two of my friends and I are planning to do the cliche 'Paris in the spring' visit, and I can't wait to see Versailles because I wasn't able to go there the last time I visited. Hello 2014, and please be good to me. 

An unconventional holiday

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I can't believe 2014 starts tomorrow (I say this every year, but marveling at how fast time flies never ends) 

I had a quiet Christmas here in Birmingham with a few friends. I am grateful to them for making it easier for me to be away from home. (although my mom has me calling her so often that I might as well be there) 

Today is New Year's eve, and some of my friends and I are going to London to watch the world famous fireworks and basically run around all night until our coach home at 6 am. Hoping to get some cool photos to share. 

2013 was a good year for me. I got my first real job, learned a lot, was accepted to all three graduate programmes I applied to, received my scholarship and made some lifetime friends. 2014 has very big shoes to fill, but I am hoping it steps up to the challenge. 

"I wish you 12 months of prosperity, 52 weeks of happiness, 365 days of success, 8,760 hours of health, 525,600 minutes of luck and 31,536,000 seconds of love." Happy New Year!!