Graduation Part 2

The best part of graduation, for me, was getting to show my parents, parents-in-law and cousin around the Royal Roads campus where I lived for 6 weeks during on-campus terms. The star of campus is Hatley Castle, a medieval/Stuart castle house built in 1908 for a member of the wealthy Dunsmiur family (see a history here). It was eventually converted into a school, but the gardens have been kept pretty much as they were when the estate was a private residence. I had a direct view of the castle both years I was on campus and it's a pretty neat thing to see first thing in the morning.

  

  

Graduation Part I

The ten days surrounding graduation were a bustle of activity, out-of-province company and little down time. As such, I took a wee blogging break last night- I think both Jeff and I needed a few days of quiet. I promised more photos from graduation, so here they are. Note: photos here are courtesy of my dad, cousin D, or the official (and shockingly overpriced) Royal Roads photographer.

Graduation is s actually a pretty boring event.  Your name is read, you walk across the stage to share Chancellor Calhoun's hand, you get a scroll (with a congratulatory letter as diplomas had been sent out via mail the week before) and you go back to your seat. All while wearing an ugly polyester gown. That hat was even the exact same cardboard monstrosity that I had at my high school graduation (which finally hit the garbage last fall)... somehow, I thought a master's degree would get warrant me a hat made of something more than cardboard! I guess it's good to mark these accomplishments in life, but the ceremony really is a little absurd. 

The convocation ceremony is still online- just click here. You might also want to fast forward until my name is called at 1:41:13!  

proud Mama

proud cousin 

and very relieved spouse (still getting used to having his wife back)

Quick Recap

Last week was a social whirlwind but everything surrounding graduation went wonderfully. I have a bunch of photos to sort (and a bunch of "real" work to do today) so I'll post more later this week. In the meantime, here I am with my #1 school supporter, minutes after walking across the stage.

I am happy to report that I did not trip and fall while walking across the stage... I did that 2 hours earlier over lunch. So under my gown is the biggest and yuckiest looking skinned knee I've had since childhood. Go figure. 

Big Day

Jeff and I are in Victoria today, along with my parents, parents-in-law and special cousin D to celebrate my graduation. I'll post highlights of our visit next week but so far, we've had a great time (with clear blue skies and the most perfect ocean breeze). Last night, the students I've shared the past two years of my life with met up and it was so great to share and reflect on all we've been through together.

We'll be here this afternoon- Hatley Castle and gardens on campus at RRU (photos taken last year).

The final step

What are you doing June 14? I'm crossing a sort of finish line...

School's out

Yesterday, we received an email.

It was a very happy email.

Jeff passed his Professional Engineering exam (the one he wrote back on April 16, after 6 months of preparation and studying) with flying colours. So, in 2012, one of us gained an MA and the other, a PEng. That means we're both done school. For good.

So how do we feel? Something like this:

First day of the rest of my life

Yesterday, I finished the final piece of my thesis project- a report and presentation to the organization where I did my research project. With that, I am DONE. 100% done. I've already heard back from Royal Roads that my thesis was accepted and I have been invited to put on a cap and gown at convocation on June 14. It all feels rather surreal. 

From flickr

Writing update

A friend asked me yesterday how I'm feeling about my thesis. Well... it's coming. This past weekend, I spent more than 30 hours rewriting the last chapter (I really wasn't happy with my first draft) and once it is approved, I can start pulling the whole thing together. There are continuity issues to watch out for, and a pretty long reference list to manage. I need to have the final version forwarded to my supervisor by Thursday for a final read through. As a result, I'm feeling like this:

I love how at the end of the piece, the singers are sounding more and more like a bunch of clucking chickens. That feels just about right.

And off I go. 

Celebration

After some quiet days to catch up on sleep (and figure out what day of the week it is), the mood has turned celebratory with two important family graduations in our extended family this week. Jeff and I also passed an important milestone when I officially received word this afternoon that my thesis proposal was successfully accepted (without revision- Hooray!). This means I have successfully completed all coursework for my master's degree.... and now become a much freer thesis student.

It also means that I can no longer ignore the fact that my garden REALLY needs to be weeded....

Done

With late-night submissions last night, this semester, its integrated final paper AND my thesis proposal are all done.  And since the four courses I took this term are the last ones before starting my thesis work, I can now officially say that I have finished all of the course work for my MA.

Done.  Done.  Done.

Hooray!

Stress management

I have been writing 18 hours a day for the past 4 days... and while I think I'm on track to meet tomorrow's midnight submission deadline, I will admit that stress is present.

Jeff taped a great solution to the back of my office door.

Three week whirlwind

I survived another three week term of dorm living and 8am walks to class. Being on campus this year at Royal Roads University was better than last year, maybe because I knew what to expect. The weather was also beautiful and it was SO good to see school friends again. Don't get me wrong- it was still a TON of work and I came home absolutely exhausted (and extremely happy to be away from the noisy and stinky peacocks). It was however, much more enjoyable than last year and for this, I am grateful.

I got home to a garden in bloom and a husband who was very happy to have me back. Indeed- it has been SO good to be home.

School fun

One the other students in my MA program is a Candian Forces Sea King helicopter crew member. The final weekend of school, he arranged a group of us to go on base in Victoria for a tour. Jeff came to visit me for the weekend and was pretty excited about this "field trip"- I think he could have stayed in the hanger all day! Even I have to admit- seeing this little piece of Canadian history was very cool.

It takes a village

I am on the home stretch of what has been an academically gruelling 3 weeks on campus at Royal Roads University in Victoria. The good news is that I think I have figured out how to approach and design my thesis research... but it took numerous lectures, stakeholder analysis diagrams, logic models, and research methodology experiments to get there. My brain is completely full and to be honest, I would like nothing more right now than to sleep for a week.

Jeff came to visit last weekend.  Having him here always makes things better but he surpried me by bringing a week's worth of wonderful (and yummy) food.

My dear husband and my very favourite mum-in-law probably deserve this degree as much as I do by now. It certainly wouldn't be happening without all the support they just keep sending my way. You two are VERY appreciated and I am so thankful for how you went out of your way to make this week so much easier for me to survive. You are both THE BEST.

I am a little sad to be leaving some of my school friends because the bonds we have developed through this journey are incredibly meaningful. However, I also can't wait to get home.

Only two more sleeps... but who's counting....

Still here

After a 6 week blogging hiatus, I wanted to check back in and share some of our adventures.

In the past 6 weeks we have:

driven down the Florida Keys

trekked through the the Everglades

enjoyed a relaxing boat ride

explored the Eastern Caribbean

and seen some of the best sunsets we have ever seen. After returning home from vacation, we ushered in spring,

and celebrated Easter with several egg hunts- including this one that left Jeff searching for a Lindt chocolate bunny in the living room for several hours (look up at the ceiling fan!)

We puttered away at our bathroom renovation (photos coming soon) and tried maintain some of the relaxed pace of vacation as we returned to the rhythm of school, work, business trips and.... life.

I am now back at Royal Roads University in Victoria for 3 weeks, completing the second residency term of my master's degree. It has been another very busy (and tiring and brain-overloaded!) stint on campus but the weather has been glorious and I have made it a priority to make it outside more than last year.

Italian Gardens beside Hatley Castle

Garden angel

Giant poppies beside Hatley Castle

Italian Gardens

Some of the wildlife

Japanese Garden

Japanese garden

All of these adventures probably require more words and images to do them justice... and I'll do my best when I get back home. Once I get my thesis proposal submitted at the end of June, I'll be back here on a more regular basis.