Janeth Canama

Our paper has been accepted for publication in Symmetry! This is indeed a milestone and I'm one step closer to graduation. Honestly, I'm overwhelmed and I don't know what to do. This will give me a second wind to revise the manuscript for IDAQP. I've never been under this scrutiny from reviewers. I don't remember it being this tedious in my masters. Well, we were not required to publish then.  Anyway, I could get used to this feeling. I love the validation more than the fact that I'm closer to graduation. I'm excited to write more! I'm excited to do more research although I hate the revision process. It's love-hate, yes. But the pay-off is worth it. Now the pressure is on to submit the dissertation manuscript to my advisers and then to the panel. I hope I can make it.  

Two days, I received a somewhat good news. But I don't wanna talk about it yet because I don't wanna jinx it. For now I will work hard and write. If you squint at the title then you probably already know what it is. But again, nothing is certain until a final decision is made. Still a lot of work to do but I'm getting there. 

This is the second part of my Living alone series. Reiterating what I said in the first part, this also chronicles my struggles with my comprehensive exams and my PhD program. So I moved to an apartment in San Miguel, Iligan City from April 2021 to September 2021.   4/10 My plans were derailed. There was a fire somewhere near. I was already dragging my feet before then. But that really put a dent on my plans. Maybe I should drink coffee in the mornings to wake up. They were talking about the previous occupant. Apparently, it's someone they know. And he was robbed twice. Sometimes, you just gotta put your ear in the ground. I mean nothing happened. But it could have. And I don't know what to do if it happened to me. As I said, it derailed my plans. I could go out now but I'll just do it tomorrow. Maybe drink some tea in the meantime? Later at 7pm. That's the thing about me. I don't bounce back easily. But these things don't happen everyday. It's my...

I've submitted the paper to the journal. I've submitted the special order to the embassy. I've submitted the acceptance letter to DOST. And I haven't heard from any of them. Just silence. It's nerve-wracking. Guess I gotta be patient. And do something productive in the meantime. Like you know, write the dissertation manuscript.

Today I woke up feeling like the world was spinning. Didn't know what was wrong. Tried sleeping it off and then I felt like I had to throw up. I did throw up and it was pure acid! Twice! So that was what stomach acid tasted like, like pure unripe mango. I didn't see the color because it was dark. But there was no food in it. Just pure liquid and it reacted like acid! Just scary. The last meal I've eaten is breakfast/lunch. But this is the first time this has happened to me. So that was the cause of my headache/vertigo. So I eventually ate something even though I had no appetite. And I feel a lot better now. I really don't know the reason for this episode. Maybe food poisoning? Who knows. The body keeps score. And it wants me to know that it was not okay.

I've lived alone twice. In two different apartments. I eventually went back home because, damn, it was lonely. As to why I moved out in the first place, that's a story for another day. But this post will chronicle those experiences. Incidentally, this also chronicles the struggles I had with my PhD program. (December 2020) F###. I'm still not in the mood. F###. This is so boring. I barely have time to cope with my first exam. But it has to be done. How can I make it less boring? See this is what I haven't anticipated. That I won't have motivation to go on. No, I still want to go on. I just need a break. I hate to be pressured above all things. There were some things that I haven't anticipated--like not being able to enter the building, and hence not being able to study for half a day. But honestly, it wouldn't have made much of a difference. For it to make a difference I would have to have processed the concepts weeks ago. Too late but that...

I love when things go wrong. At least I have a story to tell.  First, DOST has asked me an acceptance letter from the organizers. I was invited to talk there so I was only given an invitation letter. Apparently that wasn't enough. So I had to email one of the organizers to ask for an acceptance letter this time. It's absurd. But going back and forth through mail was fun. At least I had to practice my communication skills. I've been pretty rusty lately.  Then the Tunisian embassy has replied to my application essentially saying that I had incomplete requirements. I need to provide an employment letter! That's travel order and special order in local terms. The problem is I can't get that if DOST does not approve my request first. Although a travel clearance has been given, an approved memo is still pending. This might take a week or so. Who knows. I'm not really that worried. I still have around a month and a half to complete the requirements. Hope it doesn't ...