Beyond the page: Little & Thursdays

by Lara Sanderson

This is (for now) the last post in the beyond the page series and it ends in a MOOC (massive open online course). A critical part of our postgrad journey is to maintain wellness, emotional and physical - hence why our passions are so important - they nourish our wellbeing so that we are better equipped to face anything that might come our way. 

The postgrad journey isn't an easy one and students often feel alone and isolated so at Australian National University, Dr. Inger Mewburn aka The Thesis Whisperer has set up a MOOC class for specifically PhD students (and friends, and supervisors) to survive your PhD. I first read her description from her blog and saw myself reflected in what she was describing; imposter syndrome and the yips (especially the yips). So I signed up that same day. I found out that Kim (fellow 4th floorer & PhD Candidate) had also decided to undertake the MOOC so Little & Thursdays was born. 

Little & Thursdays is so far Kim and I sitting in her office, meeting up, supporting each other to complete the tasks required of us. Last week was our first module - Kim and I met in her office - me with Hot Chocolate and Pain au Chocolat in my hands aka Breakfast, to read, write, and reflect. We were asked to introduce ourselves but also to think of what types of emotions we experience; a gentle introduction to the course that had us reflecting deeply on our experiences so far.

Being an online forum, it utilises Twitter with the hashtag #survivephd15 and conversations spill out from the MOOC on to twitter in an instant - I ended up a day later in a conversation about exercising tips, with tongue in cheek, I suggested office dancing, and the use of a dog as an exercising buddy both of which I subscribe to whole heartedly! I can be found on twitter @Lara_Sanderson 

I am excited to see what else is to come!

If you have joined this MOOC - let us know, we want to hear from you! If you have taken a MOOC before what have your experiences been?

Beyond the page: Baking your PhD

by Rafaela Rabello


After I started my PhD programme I decided to adopt strategies to keep me sane throughout this enriching, yet introspective journey. It all started years ago with my passion for cakes. I have always been very passionate about wedding cakes. I think I got this passion from my mother, who would count the seconds for the ‘cake-moment’ at wedding parties. 

When I had my daughter, Helena, I was living in the Amazon. The Amazon is REALLY VERY far away from my hometown - where my parents reside. For Helena’s first birthday, I thought of relieving the pain of living so far away from mom and dad and decided to surprise mom! So, I made Helena a big cake that was designed like a wedding cake, but it was thematic. The theme was wild life. The result of this bold experience was a really cute cake! I took lots of pictures of that cake and sent it to Mom, who was extremely excited about it. That cake was special – it surpassed all physical boundaries and distance. It connected directed to my mother’s heart.




For Helena’s second birthday, I had already moved to New Zealand and started my PhD. So, I decided to adopt the same strategy to shorten the distance between my Mom and I: making cakes. At that time, Helena was in love with the movie ‘finding Nemo’ and I decided to make her a Nemo cake. This was the first cake I made after starting the PhD journey. I had so much fun making that cake that I completely forgot about the worries of writing a chapter, or recruiting participants, you know? It was THE sacred, relaxing moment of just having fun and being creative. 

After the Nemo cake, I began asking my friends if they would want me to make their kids’ birthday cake. I found making creative cakes a great way of relaxing and having fun. So, a friend of mine, Roberta, asked me to make a cake for Bianca, her eight-year-old daughter. Bianca said she wanted her cake to be pink with lots of animals’ prints. While making Bianca’s cake, I was so relaxed and having so much fun that, interestingly, ideas for the PhD started blooming in my mind! The week after I made that cake I wrote half of a chapter! I was amazing! After Bianca’s cake, I made Antonio a Lego cake. And again the experience was very enriching. I was extremely productive in my PhD and had lots of relaxing time, altogether. 

Nevertheless, nothing compares the excitement I had when Another friend and colleague told me about her son’s wish for his birthday cake: a futuristic building! Wow, what an imagination!! That was superb and super fun! My mind went wild! Thinking of a futuristic building was thinking of trying different elements and patterns for cakes. I ended up projecting this challenge into my PhD chapter. Thinking of a different way of approaching my literature review – uhuuuu. 

Unfortunately, I got too creative, which did not go quite well. Maybe it was too confusing; 
nevertheless, it was definitely liberating and I had much, much fun being creative in my PhD! The experience of making this cake was wonderful and he loved it, which was very rewarding as well. Now I am ready for my next challenge: Alice in the wonderland! Seriously? It couldn’t get any better! I cannot stop thinking about it. My mind is bubbling with new ideas, textures, shapes and colours! And so is my PhD! What a nice way of baking, oopsy, sorry, making a tasty, colourful and creative pHd, sorry: PhD!

Beyond the page: Postgrad passions

by Lara Sanderson, Megan Anakin, Lien Trinh & Keely Blanch.

 It is in the compelling zest of high adventure and of victory, and in creative action, 

that man finds his supreme joys. ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery 

In this collaborative post we welcome both new and regular contributors to this blog to reflect on their passions beyond the page. This marks the beginning of a series of posts celebrating not only the postgrad but the lives! Often encouraged to write a thesis in an area we are passionate about (so we maintain our focus), it is not surprising that our passions can in fact reflect our topic or vice versa. However, when deep in the thesis writing or research it is also those passions that tend to take a back seat to the task of producing a thesis. This can lead to a mourning the loss of those passions, yet as Megan reflects, its the everyday passions that can be incorporated so you never have a sense of 'missing out' or it can be a big reward like overseas travel as Lien discusses.

1. What are you most passionate doing outside of your research?
 

Photo: Lien Trin, Puppet Colony, Jaipur

Megan: (other than my family) riding my bicycle. For example, on Friday morning I went out for a stellar ride - meaning I was out at 5am with the star draped heavens above me. There was no moon and the air was dry so you could see every star in the sky. Riding in the pitch black can be hazardous, such as not seeing the road, but the benefits of being bathed in starlight make it worth the challenge - kind of like doing a PhD isn't it?

Lien: Photography, video shooting/ editing, traveling (backpacking) 

Lara: I am passionate about many things but my current 'obsession' would be the ukelele orchestra that I play with - the Uni Ukes 

Keely: Hmmm, my initial thought was that some days it feels like I don't do anything except couch potato, but then I actually looked at what I have been doing lately - worked on the NZ Ethics Committee; Twittered/Facebooked/blogged; did a bit of sewing/crafts; read a few books ranging from total trashy romance novels to thrillers; beach walks or hikes with the family (weather-permitting); and yes, I did do some couch surfing with Netflix. My ' passion' for any one activity varies depend on the day I've had. 


 2. Do you get time/make time for this? If so how often do you do it? 

Megan: Everyday if I can. 

Lien: Photography: once every 2-3 months Video editing: once a week Traveling abroad: once a year or once every 2 years 

Lara: I have the opportunity to jam with them once a week but this varies depending on writing stage

Keely: I tend to do these things in the evenings when I get home and I just can't thesis anymore, or in the weekends when I'm trying not to thesis. When life gets busy it's too easy to put a low priority on 'me-time' and fun pursuits, but I learnt my lesson with my MA about keeping some balance in there and not making it a habit to work 7 days a week except for rare occasional bursts. 

 3.How do you manage the Postgrad/Life balance? 

Photo: Lien Trinh, Puppet Colony, Jaipur

Megan: I struggle everyday. I find scheduling in time for my passions outside of research allows them to happen.

Lien: I try to work in the office, and once my son's gone to bed- I try my best to be involved in as many family activities as I can (I do struggle finding time for myself though- like doing things I love, not that I don't like doing things as a family) 

Lara: I don't manage - or at least I manage it very poorly - but then at times it seems that its going ok(ish) 

 Keely: Sometimes balance goes out the window if there is a deadline on and other commitments making demands, but for the most part I try not to work weekends or evenings after dinner. 

4. Words of wisdom to people struggling with the PG/Life balance 

Megan: Appreciate that it is a struggle and there's no silver bullet but sheer persistence - just like completing a PhD. 

Lien: Try to get a scholarship so you don't have to work part time. 

Lara: You are not alone! 

Keely: Treat your PhD like a job. If you don't prioritise time for you and your partner/ family then you will struggle to get through the MA year, let alone 3+ years of a PhD.