For a little extra cash, I recently started selling old textbooks on Amazon.com. This isn't my first time, as I sold several books in between undergraduate and graduate school on Amazon.com. For better or worse, I'm now selling graduate school textbooks for cash.
When I took comprehensive exams this Spring, I pondered selling graduate textbooks, but couldn't bring myself to do it. I knew I didn't have any plans to pursue my PhD (at least, at that point in time), but I felt weirdly connected to them. Possibly due to maturation--but more likely due to cynicism, I'm selling them, and hoping for cash.
As I said in my initial post, everybody told me it wouldn't be possible to get a good job with 'only' my Master's in Political Science. I'm not trying to be self-righteous, and my initial search wasn't easy. However, I couldn't be happier with my choice.
So, I'm selling my textbooks from graduate school. Anybody lookin'?
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Packing the packed
I moved to Omaha 6 months ago. Not only is it crazy that I've been working at PSI for 6 months, I also can't believe that I never fully unpacked my belongings in Omaha. That (probably) means one of two things: 1.) My I-can't-believe-I-just-completed-my-eighteenth-year-of-school hangover never fully ended (i.e. lethargy); or 2.) I don't need this crap.
I'm hoping for the latter.
A few months ago, Kevin sent me an article from the New York Times about how recession-induced minimalism has, unexpectedly, made people happier. In other words, the less stuff you own, the happier you become. When I moved to Omaha, I de-junked my life majorly, and I plan on doing the same before I leave for Austin. Even then, I have trouble packing, because I use (almost) everything I own on a daily basis. I can genuinely say that owning fewer 'things' has made me a happier person, if not simply because I have fewer 'things' to pack.
Shoes, though--there's something I might have trouble giving up.
I'm hoping for the latter.
A few months ago, Kevin sent me an article from the New York Times about how recession-induced minimalism has, unexpectedly, made people happier. In other words, the less stuff you own, the happier you become. When I moved to Omaha, I de-junked my life majorly, and I plan on doing the same before I leave for Austin. Even then, I have trouble packing, because I use (almost) everything I own on a daily basis. I can genuinely say that owning fewer 'things' has made me a happier person, if not simply because I have fewer 'things' to pack.
Shoes, though--there's something I might have trouble giving up.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
My lasts (for a while, at least)
During college, I traveled a lot. In 2006, I spent 5 months, studying at a university in Rome, Italy. In 2009, I interned for a German state government for three months in Magdeburg, Germany. In between, I traveled to Argentina, Uruguay, Greece, Spain, France, Poland, the Czech Republic, among others. Despite always searching for (another) excuse to travel, Nebraska has always been my home base. I knew for a fact that I would return to Nebraska, every time I left for a trip or academic program.
This time, I'm moving away. For real. That fact hasn't hit me, and probably won't until I've lived in Austin for a month or two. I'm incredibly close to my family (most of whom are in Nebraska), but rationalized accepting the position in Austin, because a.) My sister lives two hours away in Houston; and b.) There's no way in hell I can do what I studied--international relations/business--in Nebraska. Pretty legit reasons, if I do say so myself.
To aid in my transition away from Nebraska, I'm compiling a list of lasts--well, 'lasts' for a while, at least. It's not like I'm dying, or never visiting Nebraska again. I'm getting married in Lincoln in September, after all. Still, I'll only spend 7-14, instead of the usual 300 or so, days in Nebraska each year.
So, without further ado, Nebraska-y things I should do before leaving in 18 days:
1.) Eat Runza. Non-Nebraskans simply don't understand.
2.) Outing with UNL speech friends.
3.) Bisonwitches. Greasy bar food that, more than anything else, reminds me of college.
4.) The Mill.Mmmm...coffee grounds.
This list is on-going, so more to come...
This time, I'm moving away. For real. That fact hasn't hit me, and probably won't until I've lived in Austin for a month or two. I'm incredibly close to my family (most of whom are in Nebraska), but rationalized accepting the position in Austin, because a.) My sister lives two hours away in Houston; and b.) There's no way in hell I can do what I studied--international relations/business--in Nebraska. Pretty legit reasons, if I do say so myself.
To aid in my transition away from Nebraska, I'm compiling a list of lasts--well, 'lasts' for a while, at least. It's not like I'm dying, or never visiting Nebraska again. I'm getting married in Lincoln in September, after all. Still, I'll only spend 7-14, instead of the usual 300 or so, days in Nebraska each year.
So, without further ado, Nebraska-y things I should do before leaving in 18 days:
1.) Eat Runza. Non-Nebraskans simply don't understand.
2.) Outing with UNL speech friends.
3.) Bisonwitches. Greasy bar food that, more than anything else, reminds me of college.
4.) The Mill.Mmmm...coffee grounds.
This list is on-going, so more to come...
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Choices and decision
As I mentioned in my first post, I'm engaged. Kevin proposed on October 31st, 2010 at a collegiate speech tournament. I'm also moving 900 miles from the wedding location in three weeks. Thus, I've been presented with a dilemma: do I make potentially hasty choices while I'm still in Lincoln, or make choices from afar in Austin?
We know our wedding date is September 17th, 2011, that we'll be married at Christ Lutheran, and our reception will be held at Hillcrest Country Club. My bridesmaids bought their dresses in 'golden khaki' from J.Crew on Sunday. I went dress shopping for the first time on Saturday, and fell in love with the second dress I tried on.
This isn't like me at all, though. As a middle child and twin, I've never been a decisive person. Put an engagement ring on my finger, though, and I'll make decisions in seconds flat. For you and your dog. Fortunately, I don't regret any of the choices I've made so far. My wedding is about marrying Kevin. Nothing else.
Tomorrow, I could have a wedding dress.
We know our wedding date is September 17th, 2011, that we'll be married at Christ Lutheran, and our reception will be held at Hillcrest Country Club. My bridesmaids bought their dresses in 'golden khaki' from J.Crew on Sunday. I went dress shopping for the first time on Saturday, and fell in love with the second dress I tried on.
This isn't like me at all, though. As a middle child and twin, I've never been a decisive person. Put an engagement ring on my finger, though, and I'll make decisions in seconds flat. For you and your dog. Fortunately, I don't regret any of the choices I've made so far. My wedding is about marrying Kevin. Nothing else.
Tomorrow, I could have a wedding dress.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Two weeks
Putting in two weeks notice is stressful enough; putting in two weeks notice five months after you accepted the job...worse. Fortunately, my boss took the news very well, even telling me that she's happy I accepted the job. Like so many college graduates today, I was under-employed. Ah, well. It was a job.
Still, I managed to start the meeting off on the most awkward note possible, and made my boss cry. I made her cry! The site manager came over to my cubicle later, fake choked me, then laughed hysterically. Awkward? Indeed. So, that's the story. Not nearly as scary as I thought, but leagues more awkward than I ever imagined. That's my style.
Still, I managed to start the meeting off on the most awkward note possible, and made my boss cry. I made her cry! The site manager came over to my cubicle later, fake choked me, then laughed hysterically. Awkward? Indeed. So, that's the story. Not nearly as scary as I thought, but leagues more awkward than I ever imagined. That's my style.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Taking on marriage, dream jobs and...Texas...
Although most who read this blog will know me, I started this blog to chronicle one of the most change-ridden years of my life. Within the past 6 months, I've graduated with my Master's degree; ventured into a depressed job market; gotten engaged; and planned a move half-way across the country for my dream job. If this isn't a time to blog, I don't know when is.
To be more specific, I graduated with my Master's degree in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this May (2010). The life of a graduate student is awful. You're simultaneously told that the market for PhD's in your field is saturated, but that landing a job with 'only' a Master's degree is impossible. Thank you, graduate school, for making me oh-so proud of my life choices. Nevertheless, I decided to give the job market with 'only' a Master's degree a shot. It took 1.5 months to find a full-time job relevant to Political Science, though '1.5 months' felt much, much longer. I made finding a job my full-time job, applying for 80 positions, interviewing for six, and landing one.
Since starting this job, I got engaged to the love of my life, Kevin. We're planning a wedding for September 17th, and I'm already anxious for the day to arrive. Anybody who claims planning a wedding is stressful hasn't gone to graduate school. I downed seven Diet Dr. Peppers while taking comprehensive exams. Some people smoke to relieve stress; I drink DDP. Needless to say, I haven't purchased a twelve-pack since starting planning. And miraculously, I still have a stomach lining since taking and passing comprehensive exams.
Now, I claim planning a wedding isn't stressful...yet. Although my current job isn't bad per se, it isn't secure, either. In April 2010, I submitted a generic cover letter and resume to a study abroad organization, not thinking I had a chance in hell of landing a job with them. Boy, was I wrong. After two phone interviews and a round-trip, in-person (all in one day, mind you) interview, I landed my dream job, managing their faculty-led study abroad programs in Europe. Say what?
To sum this all up, I wanted to start blogging, given the enormous changes occurring in my life. Some entries will be about wedding planning, others about life and culture in Texas--though most will be a weird hybrid of the two. Either way, I hope to make this an enjoyable, albeit somewhat anecdotal, 'peek' into my life. This is haywire, people!
To be more specific, I graduated with my Master's degree in Political Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln this May (2010). The life of a graduate student is awful. You're simultaneously told that the market for PhD's in your field is saturated, but that landing a job with 'only' a Master's degree is impossible. Thank you, graduate school, for making me oh-so proud of my life choices. Nevertheless, I decided to give the job market with 'only' a Master's degree a shot. It took 1.5 months to find a full-time job relevant to Political Science, though '1.5 months' felt much, much longer. I made finding a job my full-time job, applying for 80 positions, interviewing for six, and landing one.
Since starting this job, I got engaged to the love of my life, Kevin. We're planning a wedding for September 17th, and I'm already anxious for the day to arrive. Anybody who claims planning a wedding is stressful hasn't gone to graduate school. I downed seven Diet Dr. Peppers while taking comprehensive exams. Some people smoke to relieve stress; I drink DDP. Needless to say, I haven't purchased a twelve-pack since starting planning. And miraculously, I still have a stomach lining since taking and passing comprehensive exams.
Now, I claim planning a wedding isn't stressful...yet. Although my current job isn't bad per se, it isn't secure, either. In April 2010, I submitted a generic cover letter and resume to a study abroad organization, not thinking I had a chance in hell of landing a job with them. Boy, was I wrong. After two phone interviews and a round-trip, in-person (all in one day, mind you) interview, I landed my dream job, managing their faculty-led study abroad programs in Europe. Say what?
To sum this all up, I wanted to start blogging, given the enormous changes occurring in my life. Some entries will be about wedding planning, others about life and culture in Texas--though most will be a weird hybrid of the two. Either way, I hope to make this an enjoyable, albeit somewhat anecdotal, 'peek' into my life. This is haywire, people!
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