Starting Anew
I dropped this blog when I started writing my dissertation seriously. Many years have passed. Now I’m in my second year as an assistant professor at a small liberal arts college in the middle of nowhere.
Things are pretty tough. And I often feel lost these days. I’m hoping that having this blog to vent and keep a record of my reflections will help me maintain my sanity and a sense of self. I spoke with my dissertation advisor a few days ago. She is an angel. Always has been. I was truly lucky to have her. A real mentor. I don’t think I would be where I am now if I didn’t have her. She said I should be even a bit militant in protecting myself in the real world as junior faculty. I’ve been beating myself up over quite a few things recently, some of which I will talk about here later. I’m going to do what she advised. Militant self-preservation . . .
What amazing timing! I haven’t clicked on the An Other Tongue link on my sidebar in years, and when I click on it tonight, I discover you’re only just back to blogging. Fabelhaft!
First, sincere congratulations on the assistant professorship. All your hard work has paid off. In the meantime, as someone who values blogging for its therapeutic qualities, I look forward to your venting (ha ha!). It’ll be a healthy purge for you.
Second, if you don’t mind, I may want to ask you some questions about what it means to be a foreign scholar in the US. I have a Korean buddy whose little sister got a Ph.D. from a university in Seoul, and she wants to go for a second Ph.D. in the States (although I’m still not clear on why… isn’t one doctorate enough??). I may revisit your comments section with a series of academe-related questions, if you’re willing to field them.
Anyway, welcome back to the blogosphere!
Glad you’re back. I think this blog has languished in my RSS reader, but when it showed up again I remembered reading and an interesting dialogue. Best of luck, I look forward to reading more.
Hey Kevin and naeng-soh (what a name, I have to say),
Yes, it’s been a long time. Honestly, I thought I had gotten rid of this blog, so I myself was surprised to find it. I need to review my blogroll and see who’s still writing and who’s not. I have to warn you, though, that my upcoming entries will probably be more depressing (who knew that institutions of higher education are so disillusioning?) than before.
Kevin, honestly, at this point, I don’t know if my job is something to be congratulated on (thanks, anyway), but I’d be happy to answer any questions about the Korean exodus to the US for PhDs. I have a hunch that your friend’s sister might be considering getting another PhD from an American universities because 1) it’s hard to get an academic job in Korea without an American PhD and 2) even if you’re lucky to get an academic job without an American PhD, you’ll be marginalized in an American PhD-dominated academe. Sad reality, but I think that’s the reality.