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Generally speaking, I have recently found myself to be in a state of contendedness.
I am adapting to Oz, carving out a niche for myself, and making friends. I have a nice flat, and I love my flatmates. I have a regular schedule, which helps my sense of being grounded. While not enrolled, I occupy myself with stromatolite and cyanobacterial sequencing at the University of New South Wales. I have an office I am at by 8-9 every morning, and I leave around 6. I have a bicycle, and this acts as an excellent physical outlet. I have my slackline, which I have finally succeeded at using. The other members of my lab are coming to accept me, which is great. Why, the other day, Jason flicked ice at me again. In the BAN lab, this is a clear indication of acceptance.
Last weekend, Michael and Tamsyn and I went canyoning. 'Twas Tamsyn's first run, and she thouroughly enjoyed it and wants to go again. This trip was over Kalang Creek, and was more of an abseil trip than a proper canyon. No standing water, but waterfalls all the way down, and 11 abseils of 50 meters. (Working on posting a few pics, just not there yet.)
It is amazing, though, how quickly a feeling of contentment may be shattered by the removal of one obligatory comfort. Money.
This semester has been great, in terms of starting research and being at school. The plan was to apply for an IPRS, the big international post-grad scholarship, which includes a living stipend and pays for tuition and fees.
I recently learned, though, that there is only one of these scholarships given out, every year, for the entire uni. And while I find myself a contending candidate, I do not leap off the page as being 'the one' for this scholarship.
So the notification week has passed, and I have not recieved word, which means no scholarship for me. Which means... what?
I do not know.
