aftermath
The nerd (singular noun; our only token male Liam) and nerdettes have managed to survive weeks of Renaisssance/Enlightenment era torture. Revising for the exam and writing essays have already damaged too much brain cells that I have been boycotting any activity that involves reading and writing since Tuesday. Actually no. My dear former colleague AL virtually kneeled down and pleaded for help--to translate dull computer gaming reports for her company. Beware of the messages you receive on MSN; don't reply before it's too late.
Recalling on my little walk to Carroll Marx Hall was rather pleasant. Saw Alexander Pope tutor and Shakespeare poetry tutor (odd geezer he is) on my way--questions on Pope and Shakespeare both appeared on the paper. Then just before taking our seats, SD gave me this warm comforting hug while saying, "Don't worry honey, you'll do fine. See you in 3 hours". The right gesture at the right time.
Unexpectedly bumped into SR the neuroscientist in bar near Russell Square. I had this random thought a few days ago thinking that I might never see this guy again. He said goodbye to us in such a hurry and left for LA two months ago. I would picture this flirt chatting girls up, telling his not-so-funny daily adventures under the California sunshine--but there he was in grumpy old London again. Though we do occassionally have to put off by his strident voice in the hallway and only child behaviours, I do miss him a bit.
A Mathew Radford opening plus free drinks turned out to be me and L peering through the gallery windows with the CCTV looking very suspicious. Afterwards, decided to grab food--starvation makes everything taste better as the Japanese curry pork was the best I've had in ages.
Dissertation Anxiety Syndrome (Quite an accurate description)
論文焦慮症
基本上，正在進行論文的研究生們，常會出現以下的症狀：
1.做事老是不專心。
2.跟朋友聊天時會突然思緒跑到不知道哪裡，然後才晃神回來原來朋友等很久你回答
他的問題。
3.但真正坐到書桌前想要看書時卻又覺得應該先去上一下廁所才對，以免等一下思緒
會被打斷。（根本是無法專心的藉口）
4.習慣跑到圖書館去借很多書，感覺許多書中的內容都跟你的論文相關，但卻每每抱
了一大堆書回來之後卻一頁也沒翻過，然後在原封不動的在期限前還到圖書館。
（這就是研究生唯一的運動嗎？像陶侃搬磚一樣）
5.遇到朋友話題也總是圍繞著論文打轉，不過盡是些沒營養的話題，不是埋怨教授修改
的過頭，不然就是埋怨教授找不到人啦，不然就是試探對方寫到幾頁了（這只能用
於也在寫同一領域論文的朋友）。可以埋怨東埋怨西，但被問到自己的進度只能紅
著臉打哈哈過去...
6.然後，覺得自己怎麼變得這麼無趣，談來談去還是這個話題。
7.家裡亂得不像話，衣服亂丟，書跟資料也散了滿地，當然書桌也找不出一個手掌大
的清潔平面。
8.開始不想邀請朋友到家裡來吃? 滿A因為實在羞於見人。也不想收房間，反正收了還
是會亂。
9.上網找資料，結果找著找著就跟朋友聊起MSN來。然後之後又是一個小時過去了，
什麼資料也沒有找到。
10.開始覺得見到陽光的機會越來越少，當然皮膚也越來越白晰。
11.當然也沒啥機會運動，頂多是在家裡繞圈子或是利用去上廁所的機會。（好像實
驗白老鼠）
by way of NCCU English Department