I just got an email today from SUNY Albany. They just offered me a teaching assistantship that opened up. Three years of financial support from the department, plus my tuition is paid for. I also get health insurance. I teach a class or two a semester.
I can't believe it... I'm just shocked. I'm so excited to have the chance to get the doctorate, and to teach. I can't wait.
The hard part is going to be leaving Buffalo. I'm going to miss the city a lot, and especially miss all my friends here. That's the part that makes my heart ache. I'm 24, but I've only ever lived in Jamestown and Buffalo. I'm not leaving Buffalo till the end of the summer, though. I'm going to finish up my thesis, and work at central library for awhile.
Wow, I feel so wierd... but so happy at the same time.
Oh, I forgot to mention that I stopped into Rust Belt Books today. I had never been there before. It's really awesome! A lot of great used books at good prices. It seems to have some unique kinds of books that you wouldn't normally find elsewhere.
I went on two job interviews today, and they both went well. I was hired at the first job I went to, which was a telemarketing job. It pays decent, but not something I really want to do all that much. Still, it's good to have it as an option.
The second job interview was at central library, for a part-time assistant position. That's the job I am still waiting to hear about, and the one I hope I can get (I'm not really sure if I will be hired, though). It pays a little less than the telemarketing job, but it has more opportunities for advancement and promotion. I might be able to get promoted to work as an assistant with local history/archives. Plus, I just think it would be fun to work in the library.
Both positions would start at the beginning of May, so I am going to use the next couple of weeks to crunch down on finishing up my thesis as much as possible.
I was rejected at the doctoral program at UB. I think what I am going to do is defer admission to the SUNY Albany program for a semester or maybe a year, save up some money to live on and reapply for an assistantship, and then possibly go. Or maybe apply to UB law for next year. I'm interested a lot in different facets of activist law, as well as cultural and intellectual property law.
Do you ever find yourself looking up blogs of people that you've had a falling out with over the years? A kind of morbid curiousity that you can't shake, even though you feel guilty about? Even though they have made their entries public, you still feel like your intruding on something that you shouldn't read.
I was having the worst day yesterday... but I got some good news. I actually got accepted into a PhD program, at the history department at SUNY Albany. I don't think I am actually going to go there, for a number of reasons. One is that I have always loved Buffalo and the city here, and I don't really want to leave. The second reason is I really hope to get into the program at UB (it's very good), and I am still waiting to hearfrom them. Three is that I have no idea whether I will be able to get any funding for the Albany program, and there is not way I can go for a doctorate without funding. I'm just so psyched that I didn't get rejected to all three schools that I applied to. I got a rejection through email from Binghamton that was kind of nasty. So I am hoping either things will work out with UB or that I will find a good job in Buffalo, but I am glad to have a remote backup out there if all else fails.
I wish I could come to the party on friday. I was looking at the bus schedule, and the latest bus from buffalo going closest to my place in williamsville leaves at 8:00.
I wonder if maybe there are some cab companies in williamsville. It's so annoying not having a car.
I really like lastfm. It's a little bit like Pandora in that it has the radio station format based on selections you might like, but this has some cool networking/blogging features that are unique.
What do you estrip people usually use as far as music seeking/playing programs?
It's been a long time since I last posted. Things got really hectic and I guess I just lost track of things. I wanted to go to the estrip parties that were in December, but I ended up spending both times with friends. I've been trying to catch up on reading journals here lately, though.
I moved from Elmwood to Williamsville two weeks ago. I am renting a room in a house with some people that I know. I like the place that I am living in a lot, though, I miss living in the actual city. It's easy for me to get around Williamsville and to Buffalo by day, but harder for me to get to and from the city at night (I don't own a car. There is busses at night, but only at certain times). But it's been good. It's less expensive than where I lived before, and its comfy.There is even a mini-spot coffee cafe in a grocery store a few streets away! I love cinco shakes.
I'm finished with all my master's classes, just trying to work on my thesis. Which has been a long process. I'm writing about the looting of the Iraq Museum in 2003 and the recovery of the stolen art by international organizations. It's a really interesting topic that I have enjoyed reading about, but I find it hard to actually write and organize what I have researched. Its been taking me a lot longer than I anticipated.
I am applying to PHD programs in history at UB, and a couple of other places. I think it is probably a long shot because they are selective, but I thought I might as well try. It would be cool to get "paid" to go to school, definitely. Hopefully I will be able to find a job that will work out for me here in Buffalo, if that doesn't work out. I really like the area, and would prefer not to move.
I hope everything is going well for all of you!
-Jess
It was nice to get some good election news as far as the democrats gaining the majority in Congress. I'm not sure it will make a huge difference as far as policy goes, but, it still sends a message that people want a change.
I was surprised Tom Reynolds got reelected, though... I thought people wouldn't want to support someone like that. I was no Jack Davis fan, but I never would have voted for Reynolds if I was in that district.
Any good music that you would recommend? Lately, I've been kind of all over the place in my musical tastes. I like to try most anything except a lot of the commercial rap/country/pop that you hear on the radio or mtv lately.
I should get coffee and get back to working on the "thesis of doom". Theoretically.
