Writing my confirmation document was probably my favourite part. I enjoy writing when I’ve given myself enough time. It’s also a time when I can reassess my project and see how it fits in with current literature. This writing process includes a lot of research on past work and therefore a lot of referencing this work. Apparently my great-aunt thinks referencing others is a bit of a cop out; when reading my document she exclaimed “Rebecca doesn’t seem to actually be doing anything herself” and then “But she’s just copied most of this out of books that other people have written”. My Nana pointed out to her that this is how it is done and that I would at some point in my PhD be doing something. So I submitted this document to my supervisors for a review and then to my “expert readers”. The readers are two academics at UQ whose study areas align enough with mine that they can give good feedback, while judging whether or not my project will be sufficient to a) be done in four years and b) collect data for publishable papers. They were quite positive about my progress so I am now officially a PhD candidate (confirmed).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next stage included my least favourite thing - public speaking. I may contradict that statement in coming paragraphs, but only if I overlook the sheer terror of presenting a 20 minute presentation. It sounds pretty simple… until I mention that the most irrational fear I have, possibly my only irrational fear, is public speaking. Terrifying experiences throughout high school left permanent scars. I developed my PowerPoint presentation with some ease. I enjoy the creative outlet of slide design and the ability to use my Etosha photos (example above) to hopefully take focus away from me (aka the presenter that gradually reddens, while shaking like a leaf and speed-talking). Unfortunately, writing the speech took days because full blown writer’s block struck whenever I imagined having to say the words. Especially knowing I would have to pretend to be an expert in front of PhD students, academics and “interested parties”. I eventually wrote it, learnt it and practised it in a matter that became more natural. By the time I presented I was able to do so without shaking like a leaf or passing out (when you talk exceptionally fast, without taking breaths like I do, this is a possibility). Win.  Maybe the pre-talk meditation worked. Ok so it wasn’t meditation but I did eat a Caramello Koala which led to two minutes of remembering how good Caramello is and forgetting the upcoming terror.  Don’t judge, it worked.

 

I have also had the pleasure of self-learning ArcGIS which is essentially a mapping program. It took over 12 hours to do something that anyone familiar with ArcGIS could do in 12 minutes. BUT I succeeded not only in doing the task I set out to do but also in not breaking my mouse or keypad through furious energetic clicking when things weren’t going to plan. After coming home quite late that night my lovely neighbourhood possums welcomed me which was nice because a) I am missing Namibia’s wildlife and b) I had the foresight that day to not put my herbs outside, so for once they hadn’t completely demolished my parsley and basil. These lovely brush-tailed possums have been the source of endless amusement to me. From their complete tameness so far as to brush their faces up against me and let me pat them to their love of cricket. No joke, the large male that hangs around actually came into my house and sat down in my living room (unbeknownst to me) to watch the cricket. I like to think he was enjoying the thrill of dominations by the Aussies, but maybe he was just entranced by the oddity of a TV. Either way I had to be quite forceful in my shoo-ing to remove him from the house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now it’s on to my most dreaded part of science - the statistics. Yes, I contradicted myself as expected but really one task involves sheer terror and the other extreme, long-lived frustration. It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Really evil apples and oranges. My month of stats will involve me running code in a program called R whilst simultaneously cursing everything from my data, to R to my poor laptop. Hopefully I will be able to determine if I have enough data for significant results (unlikely) or need to collect more data this year (exceedingly likely). Then I can pack my too-hard-basket away for my second field season. Regrettably in an endeavour to overcome fear, or just subject myself to more of it, and employ my networking skills I will be on the hunt for opportunities to present at conservation groups and possibly universities while I am in Namibia. This is to get the word out about my project and do a bit of self-promotion to increase my chances of getting a job post-PhD.

 

Now I must sign off because it is almost that time of day where I start day dreaming about my next trip (this time as a tourist) - to the Congo! I have, with extreme excitement, found a Congo trip that is within my budget. By that I mean it costs $4000pp if I can find 3 other people to come with me. It may seem pricey but for a 13 day tour of a country that is just ‘reopening’, to see gorillas and go to a park that has the highest wildlife density in Africa it gradually seems more and more worth it and it’s far better than other tours (>3000pounds for 4 or 5 days!). Fingers crossed my bakkie keeps chugging along without big problems otherwise I won’t have any of my savings left to travel.