Well it has been a long time since I blogged. So this one will be quite long, unless I run out of steam half way through, which is highly likely. Most of August was occupied with my dissertation. Writing it, reading it, editing it, hating it, throwing myself about the room screaming "why am I so stupid?", watching Gilmore Girls on TV (hey, Rory studies a lot. It's inspirational). But in the end, I got it finished, and one cold wet day late in August I handed it in. It was weird handing it in. The realisation that I would never again be hanging out in Bentham House, wouldn't go to the main library, no more coffee in the Print Room cafe. Part of me wanted to grab it back from the woman at the graduate office and beg for the year to start again. Another year of tears, learning, growing, experiencing new things, winning, losing, loving and hating. I wasn't a student anymore, and I wouldn't be again (until PhD, I guess). Never again would life have such distinct requirements, and all things be measured in how well you do in an exam. It was sad I tell you.
Now I am waiting anxiously for my grades... eek. I was happy with my final product, but you never know.
Nothing else huge happened in August. Judith had left for Germany, my sister was back in Australia, and most of my other friends were anxiously doing what I was. Fun.
Once the dissertation was in, a whole new kind of worry set in. WHAT THE HELL DO I DO WITH MY LIFE NOW? The obvious answer was to take a holiday, so I packed my bag and took a train to Paris and met up with Judith. I then asked her to make my life decisions, while I spent four days sitting in the sun, eating ice cream, drinking red wine and the like.
Things that happened in Paris:
1) an American couple told Judith and I we shouldn't split a bottle of wine over dinner. Er, thanks for the input, now can we go back to our pizza, bottle of water and ILLICIT EVIL DRINKING?
2) Watching buskers at night next to the Notre Dame. Made skills.
3) Getting in everywhere for free, because I have a European visa.
4) Versailles. Have been wanting to go since I was 12. Did not disappoint.
5) Walking around the Catacombs (cool but creepy), and seeing a guy playing some kind of Zombie video game, next to an enormous pile of bones, with the volume turned right up, while an American couple (different one) muttered about how disrespectful he was.
6) Being hit on by French men. "Let me give you a French gift, it's the best souvenir of France" and "You can read in Australia! You can only spend time with me in Paris" were favourites.
It was mostly great to hang out with Judith, who is always telling me when to shut up and when to talk. I need that in a friend.
Anyway, while in Paris I made some life decisions. Well, at first, I was going to marry a painter and raise lots of French babies while growing fat off bread. But deciding this would be difficult as I don't speak French, I made an alternate decision. I decided to go back to Australia.
So after I returned from Paris, I booked my flight and I am leaving at the end of the month, back to Oz, back to summer, back to study.... That's depressing. Oh well, it's only for a few months. I am going to do the training course to be a solicitor, after which I will be admitted to practice. So yes, I am going back to do the thing I always swore I wouldn't: be a lawyer. I am coming around to the idea though. I think I will enjoy it.
So the past week or two has been a flurry of preparations. I have shipped most of my stuff home, and now have two pairs of jeans and some tee shirts and THAT'S IT. I quit my job! Happiest moment of my week (as our temp boss while our other boss is away getting married is an absolute ASS).
And that's it. A week and a half, and I will be back in Australia. Can't wait :)
Well that's it. You're all caught up. Hurrah!
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