Things finally, finally seem to be moving in a positive direction on the dissertation front, and for that reason (mostly) I’ve been a little too distracted to post.
I started transcribing the dissertation interviews I did in Japan lo these many years ago (not so many that they’re irrelevant, but more than I’d like), and it turns out that my Japanese isn’t so painful to listen to that I collapse in a blubbering pile of uselessnes when I work; I actually can understand what was being told to me; and it’s all really, really fabulous stuff. As a result, that’s no longer some insurmountable obstacle to writing.
Plus, I discovered two essays that essentially make a tricky argument I’ve been struggling with for several months now, so that also helps quite a lot.
And the therapy, such as it’s been so far, is actually proving to be helpful. She hasn’t mentioned medication since the first visit, and we’re pursuing a more cognitive therapy approach, which was what I wanted to do in the first place.
In all, things are not going too shabbily for me right now. M.’s having grief at work, but he says that there are still parts of the job that he likes and looks forward to, so he’s not ready to give up on it yet.
So, with those little snippets of news, I’ll leave you with a short story about a visit from our landlord.
YG is a naturalized American citizen, originally from Taiwan. His mom is here visiting for a couple of months, and when he came by to pick up the signed copy of our new lease he brought her with him. She speaks a very little English, and I understand (but don’t really speak) a little Mandarin, so we were able to communicate even without YG’s help (although he stepped in when the going got tough). She spent the short visit fawning over/playing with MM (which, you know, was fine by me – I love it when people with energy come and play with her for a bit), and exclaiming how 真可愛 MM is – which is true, of course, but I’m always a little ambivalent about it when people say it’s because she’s one of those cute ‘half’ kids.
Nonetheless, she seemed very nice and it sounds like YG is taking full advantage of having her here by letting her tend his garden and cook for him to her heart’s content. It was kinda sweet to see.
I am happy to hear that you’re making some progress, both with therapy and the dissertation.
You know, I told you earlier I did cognitive therapy, but I don’t think I mentioned that it was while I was working on my M.A. thesis. Coincidence? I think not. 😉 I think therapy actually helped me finish my thesis.
Thanks, Rachel, on both counts!
A friend of mine who’s also writing her dissertation had told me that cognitive therapy had really helped her overcome (or, you know, get a grip on) her worst fears and anxieties about writing, and that was a big reason I wanted to give it a try. So far, so good…