Personal Blogs

The initial restart just before the NewYear really didn't happen. I only studied for a short while in the library but was hoping I would have better luck after returning to my home. Sadly I did not, and the first days of 2011 were somewhat a continuation of the last few weeks of 2010. Too much thinking, too little studying.

By the 3th of January I hadn't even done anything for TMA-03 and suddenly got really scared. I was about to throw in the towel. Somehow, thinking about some good friends prevented me from doing so. I took 3 more days leave of work, but could only do so after going in for half a day to aid in some urgent matter. On Wednesday the 5th I eventually started work on the 2 essays, simultaneously working through part of the Beasts chapter. By Thursday evening I had about finished the part on Faraday and was halfway through with 'The Horses'. Realizing I wouldn't be able to turn it in before midnight I went to bed and hoped that a fresh early morning start would enable me to finish the task by noon. As I found out on Friday I really do lack sufficient knowledge of the English language to quickly write down what is already in my head. I reluctantly resulted to work out the text in Dutch and then translate it, instead of thinking and writing in English directly. I really don't like this, but for once I had to, and in part it worked. By noon I was at about 80% of the target but realized I would not be able to complete it, so I sent in some half finished essays. The worst of all this is that I was unable to make use of the reflective part in TMA-02 where I observed that my openings need improvement.

This Saturday I had a satisfying study session at the library, going through the first bit of English Christianity. I meant to start on the Pugin chapter but quickly realised it was somehow closely connected to the previous chapter. So I'll have to work double hard this week to get through these 2 chapters. And I need to do some 'pre-reading' on the Ireland chapter since we will be working on this at next Saturday's Dayschool in Brussels. I am really looking forward on meeting my tutor and some of my fellow students.