Insight received + the joy of a "silent disco"

Warning: this is somewhat miscellaneous entry.

First, some insight I've received from people during the last week.  The DGS (Director of Graduate Studies) of the English faculty told us to think of our work as "only a PhD" -- that is, a specific project we are working on for a few years, for which we'll get a degree.  It is not our masterwork, defining everything about us.  He even claimed that any hurdles we have had to clear to get here were certainly harder than anything between us and the PhD.  Doctoral students, let the debate begin...

As for my particular research, I met with my supervisor earlier in the week.  She's wonderful, encouraging and friendly.  However, she did point out that I was sort of thinking of two different approaches, and I'll probably have to pick one.  So I picked up a bunch of books for background reading, and I'll check in with her in a couple weeks.  Now I just need to find time to do all that reading, as I'm attending far too many optional classes.  Heh.

And my final bit of insight was just too funny not to share.  I was at a department gathering, and I was talking to a Quebecoise gal and a British gal about physical contact or not in various cultures (hugs vs. bisous-style kisses, etc.).  The British girl summed up that in the UK, they have tea instead of hugs.  Semi-defensive explanation?  "It makes you warm!"

And finally, I leave you with my happy experience of this evening, a "silent disco" following our formal matriculation dinner.  (Briefly about dinner: tuxedoes and cocktail/semi-formal dresses under gowns, grace in Latin and fancy food, plus fellows [professors] distributed throughout the tables for conversation.)  A silent disco is basically like dancing at a club -- but they give you wireless headphones with two channels of DJs, and you can swap what music you're listening to.

This means you can usually find something you like -- especially because they were playing REAL SONGS and not just a house beat.  It also means you have the option to pull off the headphones and talk to someone.  It was perfect!  Plus the intimacy of headphones makes you more willing to dance like it's your living room.  :)  Not all is silence, though.  When "Don't Stop Believing" happened, most of the room was singing along -- which was kind of funny without the background music.