The first three days of me being officially an unofficial PhD are over. Well, actually my first four days, because as a real PhDer I will always count Sundays too. It started with packing my stuff for my temporary room in Den Bosch. Or to be more precise, my books. I have so many awesome books, especially the very old Biology ones (I love them!). This, however, did not result in efficient packing. I just kept reading (ok, maybe mostly looking at pictures) through all of them and then having to decide which one can come with me for now. Eventually they will all come of course (the real reason I stayed in the Netherlands btw). Remarkably I still ended up in Den Bosch with my favourite books and my little sister. This is actually her room, but she has the aweful plan to spend half a year in Australia. Can't imagine why someone would want that.. Anyhow, stuff is here, I am here, ready to start!
Monday was a day of mostly reading literature, getting a coffee mug, spending 2.5 hours in traffic (who left there building crane on the freeway??) and playing Guitar Hero with my sister.
Tuesday was meeting day, with students of our group giving colloqia, meeting with my co-promotor (also coming form Etten-Leur!) and my fieldwork advisor and participating with the NIOO meetings. And in the evening meeting (and having a very tasty dinner) with an old acquaintance for the possibility of having a room in Wageningen in March (and I have :)!).
Wednesday I made my first mistake. I thought to get that over with right in the beginning so they don't get high expectations of me. I killed one of the practice radio-tags. Connecting red to red and black to black, can be suprisingly difficult apparently. Pff there goes me being proud of me installing the car radio all by myself. But luckely also good things happened. I got my WUR card, which means that I can get coffee, print paper and walk through doors whenever I want. No more sneaking around the backdoor and taking detours around the whole building to get in. And even more exciting, I got home before 7.30 pm today! But not before making the to-do list for tomorrow. But I am not trying to think about that now.
Tomorrow is another day, a day of setting fieldwork dates (already in March!) and meeting the MSc students I am going to supervise (very exciting!). Next week I will be an official PhD student and that will be the first time I am actually getting paid for doing the work I love. I can think of worse things..
PS I just remembered I did not say anything about what I am actually studying with my PhD project. Well, more excitement for next time!
