I have progressed! Officially and it feels that I have come a long way and perhaps even have the makings of my being a Portuguese expert lecturer.

So Thursday I had my progress review. Which was relatively painless. It’s nice to have some feedback on my research from people not involved directly in it. But with that comes questions that you don’t really expect and you have to try and explain your research in terms which are easy to understand and not talk in specialist jargon, which is really difficult!

But the major terror on Thursday was giving my presentation. Once I’d got through the progress review panel, it was off into the unknown. My own slot, my own room and my own audience! But I got through it and talked for a good 45 minutes and then had some questions to answer afterwards, although thankfully not too many questions! Then off for a couple of well deserved beers care of one of my supervisors. I have had some informal feedback and seems positive but I’m sure I shall be debriefed fully and have my presentation skills politely pulled apart by my supervisors! But Friday and Saturday were well deserved days of relative rest and relaxation.

And the presentations aren’t over, I have to give another one to the Faculty Research Students’ Conference on Thursday. But at least I have the experience under my belt and the insight of the recorded presentation a couple of weeks ago. Roll on next Thursday and from then on I will be able to get back to the day-to-day researching of a PhD and work out how I’m going to organise my time over the summer and what I want to achieve.

So I have progressed but I do feel I have made progress (which is more important!)

Eight months in to the PhD and maybe I am a little confused with exactly quite what I am doing, but I definitely feel that the last 8 months have added something huge to the project and to me personally. So bring on the challenges of the summer and next year!

No, ok it is sunny and raining at the same time, but that wasn’t what I meant! I have this week discovered that if the PhD doesn’t go well and no academic career beckons, then I should have no trouble in getting a job presenting the weather forecast on telly!

Anyway, I’ll elaborate more on that later. What a busy couple of weeks! So much to update on and an important week ahead.

It seems like a while ago now but I went to Salford for a 2-day European Studies postgraduate conference. This was a really enjoyable experience, I heard some interesting papers and talked to some interesting people about their research. While on the one hand I was glad I wasn’t presenting, I did feel a bit left out as it was such fun! There were a few first year PhD students doing foreign policy research which was particularly interesting and something I could get my teeth into when it came to questions. And it’s always good to meet some Portuguese people, there were two Portuguese PhD students at the conference. Also it was my first ever trip to Manchester! Which I was impressed with and after the conference dinner, we had a few drinks in the city!!! Good times!

Upon my return to Newcastle, aside from catching up on my emails, I had lots to do, namely preparing for the presentations coming up. So that has kept me busy in the last couple of days, especially ahead of my Camoes research seminar on Thursday. But there was a moment of light relief, although it was definitely still work, a Portuguese political cartoonist visited the University and gave a talk about his work. Was an interesting and entertaining insight into Portuguese culture, identity and politics. Let’s hope my seminar can follow that one!

With much to keep me busy, I envisaged a nice and productive Bank Holiday weekend. While that can be said of the Saturday, the Sunday and Monday were largely written off as I had a very nasty bout of sickness. But thankfully it was short and I got over it. Least it wasn’t swine flu! (Although I was worried for a bit!!!)

So my weatherman skills… On Thursday we, a handful of volunteering PhD students, each gave a 5-minute presentation and had it recorded. While it was odd to see and hear yourself giving a presentation, looking back on it, it went better than I thought. But I noticed that I do gesture rather at the powerpoint slide on the board, just as if I was pointing to patches of cloud and cold fronts and the like. So if all else fails I’ll try the BBC for a job!

Another thing which has kept me busy this week has been doing my working hours for the School as part of my studentship. It’s the time of year when the 2nd semester work has been submitted and all those little first years (and the odd final year student), bless them, try to get away with plagiarism. It falls on me to stop them! And I’ve found quite a few instances, some more obvious, blatant and serious than others. But a few of the staff have commented on how I’m doing a good job, so it’s nice to be recognised.

So the week ahead…

Well the diary is blissfully empty at the moment. Just as well! Thursday is the red-letter day! On that day I have my Progress Review panel (which I am told I shouldn’t worry about, so I’ll try not to but no guarantees!) and, in the same afternoon, I give my Camoes research seminar (which I am bricking it about!)

So if I survive both and don’t have a nervous breakdown or anything or don’t decide to run away to a remote Scottish island and hide, I shall report about how they go in my next post.