Two major life changes are coming my way and so I thought I would talk a bit about what this means for my blog as it will likely affect my blogging and reading quite a bit.
Firstly, I'm moving 3,000 km across the country to Toronto. I'll be basically starting over because
there are a lot of things (both person- and object-wise) that I need to leave behind. I'm really nervous about it because I've only ever lived in one city my entire life and I don't really know anyone in Toronto. But hey, it'll be an adventure, right? And maybe it'll be good for me to break outside my comfort zone a bit, discover myself or whatever. But that doesn't mean I'm not terrified.
Sadly, this means that I will be leaving behind the
Edmonton Book Bloggers. The year that I've known them has been really great as I've never before had really bookish friends - people you can chat with about books for hours on end and they never tell you to shut it. Those are my kind of people! I will miss them greatly. On the bright side, moving to Ontario will afford me the opportunity to meet new book bloggers from the
Ontario Blog Squad. I'm really excited to hopefully meet Ontario bloggers I have been chatting to online for years -
Zahida,
Christa,
Andrea,
Avery,
Liz. Any other Ontario bloggers? Give me a shout!
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| Study specimen Captorhinus aguti - an early terrestrial amniote from about 280 Million Years Ago |
The second major life change is the reason I'm moving to Toronto: I'm going back to school to get my master's degree in palaeontology. I've really enjoyed these past two years I've taken off from school after completing my undergraduate degree as it has meant much more time to read and blog and relax, but I'm ready now to take on the next chapter in my life.
Now, this is where things get tricky for the blog. I don't know exactly what to expect from grad school, but I do know that I will somehow have to balance attending classes, studying for classes, researching my thesis, writing my thesis, teaching classes, marking papers, and somehow make time to read and blog in all that. So. Yeah. Did I mention how terrified I am??
My goal is to maintain at least two blog posts a week and I'm really hoping that's not overly optimistic, but I really can't say. All I can say for sure is that this is NOT the end of blogging for me. I still love it a lot and I really can't even imagine my life without it. (Same goes for reading, obviously). I'll still be around, even if it might mean blogging and commenting less, unfortunately. But you can always find me on one of the various social networking sites I take part in (see sidebar) - hit me up anytime!
*hugs*
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with your masters, Aylee, and with finding balance - since it's a constant struggle no matter what.
I'm thinking of doing a masters soon, too, but I haven't decided on what yet :) you're lucky you have your direction :D
I am pretty excited for you! This is going to be exciting and really good I think. Two blog posts a week is pretty ambitious but you seem pretty determined. Good luck Friend! I wish you all the best!
ReplyDeleteJust think of Bilbo Baggins- "I'm going on an adventure!" I'm sure you'll be fantastic, but true, you'll definitely be busy. I start grad school in two weeks and I'm certainly nervous myself!
ReplyDeleteSorry, still stuck on the fact that you're from Edmonton. Seriously? How did I not know this before now?! And now you're leaving which is sad. However, I am excited for you! Good luck on your Masters!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck with everything in the future! I know you are going to rock it :)
ReplyDeleteI am also starting my Masters soon (in Archaeology), so I say take it day by day and see how often you can post. And don't feel guilty if you can't!
I wish you all the best!!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is some pretty big changes! Best of luck and I'm sure it'll be great! Don't feel guilty about letting blogging slide, your Masters is incredibly important, and when I was at uni last year, I am able to post a review once a week and thought that was good going! So good luck and have fun :D
ReplyDeleteI live near Toronto and I love it there. I hope you can accomplish your goals and good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteAylee, I'm just finishing my 8th year as a professor after having spent 9 years in graduate school. While there are periods of time when I simply can not read fiction I have come to realize it helps me to relax in so many ways. Many graduate students become overwhelmed with school simply because they don't make time to really relax and think about something else. If the blog is something you take pleasure from then you should prioritize it. You might find it actually helps you to be motivated to finish work if the reward is time blogging. Good luck with your move and school! ~Sheri
ReplyDeleteOh, Aylee! I have to admit, when I clicked on this post I was afraid you were going to say you'd stop blogging!
ReplyDeleteToronto - good luck! In sure it'll be different but interesting. Also, good luck with the Masters, and two posts a week is still really good! I really hope everything goes your way :)
It seems like everyone is going to get really busy once school starts this year! It's so hard to leave old friends behind, but I'm sure you'll make lots of new bloggy friends in Ontario and they'll love you! I don't know anybody who studies paleontology so that is SO cool to me! You're always Instagramming fossils and all that jazz. :) I'll miss your frequent blog posts, but I will probably the same as you: 2 blog posts a week sounds good to me! I'll be sure to stop by your blog whenever something new is posted. Good luck, Aylee!
ReplyDeleteA. Congratulations. How exciting!
ReplyDeleteB. I'm so glad you're not leaving. Do what you can when you can. As long as you pop in every few weeks, we'll be happy.
:D
That's so exciting. Scary, yes. But exciting to be able to get a fresh start. Not many people are able to do that. :) Good luck with everything!!! I'll be keeping an eye out for posts, but don't pressure yourself... you have a lot on your plate it sounds like!
ReplyDeleteI've only ever lived in London my whole life (and in the same house too!) so I can imagine how scary and exciting it must be to move so far from home. One of my closest friends is also working towards a degree in paleontology, and I just love her enthusiasm for the subject. I hope you have a brilliant time and work out a schedule that works for you. Like Bonnie said, don't pressure yourself. We will all be here regardless! :)
ReplyDeletePaleontology? Really? That's so freaking cool! I totally get your anxiety/fears related to leaving your hometown, but doing something you love should help ease them. And I guess once you get your degree you'll get to go to all sorts of new and exciting places!
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to maintain blogging while going to school and all. Sounds like you'll have more on your plate than me, but I do work full time right now and take classes at night, so it hasn't been easy to also blog. But I do think if it's something you truly love and want to do, then you'll find a way to manage it all.
Best of luck embarking on this next part of your life. :)
Everyone's said it before me, but AYLEE, just do what you think is best for yourself! It doesn't do to live in unhappiness. Like you I've only lived in this city my whole life (then again, I'm not even out of school yet so who am I to talk?), and any thoughts about moving away fills me with both nervousness and excitement. Don't pressure yourself to update the blog. Heck, take a hiatus if you need to, because we'll all still be here - hopefully - when you return, and we'll be waiting for you! Don't worry about us, really. I'm sure everyone who visits your blog just wants what's best for you, so... I know I've not been one of those blog readers who've been reading your blog since the very beginning, but we're still friends, right? ;)
ReplyDeleteAll the best with what comes next! What is life, after all, without its trials? *huggles*
Congrats!!! My dad and brother are both Archeologists (I know that's not the same thing) but I guess both careers mean you might spend a lot of time outside on digs. Good luck!!
ReplyDeleteKate @ Ex Libris
Adventures are fun fun, too and not just scary :) That is so neat that you are getting a Master's! Palaeontology is an awesome field. Maybe you'll make your way out to Utah some day - we have lots of dead dinosaurs here :) Good luck on your adventures!!
ReplyDeleteAylee, it has been so great getting to know you over the last year! I hope the Ontario bloggers treat you well. :) And good luck with your degree! We will definitely still "see" each other via the blogs and Twitter!
ReplyDeleteI wish you all the very best for your future, Aylee! Have a great time and do do stay in touch, okay?
ReplyDeleteSarika @ The Readdicts
*HUGS* Sending you tons of well wishes on your move and school! My move was just about that distance and I knew pretty much no one here, too. It will be ok! You'll become familiar with the area and people in no time. GPS was a lifesaver when it came to finding my way around. I took pictures of everything, which was really nice to be able to go back and look at "my adventure" later on and share with my family at home. Starting school will also help your adjustment. I'm so excited for you! Please do stay in touch! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm in grad school and I manage 2-5 posts a week, depending on how busy I am, so I'm sure you can fit it in if you decide it's worth the time :)
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to let you know that I've just nominated you for the versatile blogger award because I love your helpful, thoughtful reviews. If you choose to accept then you need to do the following:
1. Display the Award Certificate on your blog.
2. Announce your win with a post. Make sure to post a link back to me as a ‘thank you’ for the nomination.
3. Present 15 awards to deserving bloggers.
4. Drop them a comment to tip them off after you have linked them in the post.
5. Post 7 interesting things about yourself.
Yay Toronto!!! Are you going to the Ontario Blog Squad meet-up? Good luck with your move and school and everything!!
ReplyDeleteYup, I'll be there! Excited to meet everyone!!
DeleteI'm looking forward to meeting you soon, Aylee, and think it's really brave of you to decide to get out of your comfort zone and move so far away. We should try to get together before school starts at the very least.
ReplyDeleteThe nice thing about blogging is that it lets you meet so many online so when you come here, you already know a few people even if it's virtually. I wish you lots of luck juggling everything; I'm sure you'll do great.
Wow, big changes ahead, for me though a great sigh of relief you plan to continue blogging. I would really miss having you around the blogosphere. I'm very excited for your new enterprises. I'm sure you will have wonderful new life experiences. On my blog my goal is one blog post a week, its usually a book review. I have a full time job and that's all I can manage. I would be totally happy to continue to read your blog even if you cut back on how many posts you put up each week. Best of luck to you Aylee!
ReplyDeleteI'm really gonna miss being able to see you at meetups Aylee, but I'm so glad that you're getting this wonderful opportunity and I just know that you will do an amazing job! I wish you the best of luck, and I hope to keep it touch...thankfully the internet makes it pretty easy for us to keep in contact with you even though you've moved away. You'll definitely always be an honorary EBB and we'll miss you at our meetups! If you ever come home to visit, you definitely need to tell us...plus, in a little over a year, I may be planning to head to Toronto, too, so maybe I'll see you there. ;) But until then, keep it touch and I wish you the best of luck in grad school! :D
ReplyDelete*hug* best of luck to you Aylee! You're very brave to leave everything behind but I'm sure you'll do wonderfully in your new city! I sure hope it won't be the end of your blogging but yeah post-secondary studies definitely take a bite out of your free-time! I only went for my bachelors so I can't imagine the work-load for a masters but hopefully everything goes smoothly :D Keep us updated on everything when you can and GOOD LUCK ♥
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