Just a few weeks ago I was wondering what life after thesis would look like. It was actually a good question, having in mind my actual state ofmind - short-term projects, e-mails to reply to and promissed-and-never-fulfilled old tasks, books for fun and long awaited meetings. So, just to illustrate this feeling, here's Cecilia's, my phd/confused/geeky prototype.

Actually, the most creative, innovative and yet constructive thing I did was that I found a hobby. I joined a Hacker Space called Foulab. New to electronics and computer programming, I have followed a hacker spirit for years now. I've geeked out mainly in Free Software environments, such as install and hack fests, tech training and non-geeky geekism, too. I know it might not count in, but I hack recipies, and clothes, and bags.. my bike, some doors, and even some planes.

And got hitchhiked a train once ;-)

So, there we go. The 11 of January was the birth of my thesis - completed and submitted. Almost 150 pages of work on the topic "Women's Contribution to Free and Open Source Software Development". In French*. Will upload the PDF soon online. For the English speaking readers, will probably have to wait for the articles I will be writing within the year. My idea for publishing a book (in English) will need a more structured research and connections. If anyone has ideas, please let me know :)

So, meanwhile in the agenda is PhD admission, fellowship application, waiting for the renewal of my residence card so that I can travel. Calls for papers, calls for participation. A long list of abandoned/postponed/stalled offers, requests, ideas, mini and multi tasks. And of course, the successful finalising of the two Drupal courses that I am giving at the moment. As the matters go further, the time to prepare raises. And the biggest contradiction to me is that I have abandoned my own Drupal website, while teaching 21 students to produce their own.

Will be more strict in the future and will be publishing here more often. So, don't give up!

* Just the fact that 5 years ago I did not speak a word of French might slightly give idea on what an effort this is. Not only from point of view of orthography correction, but also in terms of expression, of literature read and referenced means for me three times the effort.

Happy Holidays to everyone! I will happily use the Christmas time to graduate!

By Courtney Gibbons and her Brown Sharpie.

I wonder if many people feel like this. You just get up, all filled with enthusiasm, coffee helps making you in form of action. You get in front of your screen, and here it is: distraction, world problems, friends' problems, more things to read... And then you open your chapter and... oufff.. not this again!

Via PhD Comics

Wondering what will life be after thesis...

I am changing these days. My mind is changing, and my thoughts - with it. I think it is my MA thesis which is changing me. Each day I discover new things around women's contribution to FOSS development, which is sometimes difficult to explain, but is tempting to make it heard by more people. This is why preparing a speech is a birth of a new challenge. It cannot be done months before it is given. And instead of doing my slides in the plane, I kept working on my research. Because the more I advance into the issue, the more what I will talk about will be new. And the more it is new, the more it is passionate. And by presenting it to other people, will make me advance with the research.

Every hacker conference confirms things, and opens up for some new thoughts. My point of view seems rare, since I am into three things at the same time: I do hacktivism, I do feminism, and I do research on these both things. Well, going to hack conferences is the rarest of the conference topics I actually do. More often I get the chance to go to academics ones, where I need to define what is FOSS, what is “women” and what is “contribution”. Then to ones on women rights and feminism (need to introduce information and communication technologies through FOSS). As for me, the hacktivism ones are my favourite ones. These really touch to so many issues I do not get the chance to hear about elsewhere then at the presentations.

Working at night, while everyone around is sleeping, is not a good thing. Neither for them, nor for me. And not only this, but thinking about tomorrow's early wake up for FSCONS I start hating the fact I am still here, awake, brain-burning, and ... (in)efficient. If I have been efficient, will be clear another day. I am not even able to detect.

So, I have this belief, that nothing is coincidence, and that if you are searching for the answer, it is right in front of you. Tonight, I open the Phd comics, and here is the ironic answer: