Almost 6 months ago, I began the process to get my Masters in archaeology in Ireland. The process started with applying for a Fulbright. For those unfamiliar with this particular scholarship, a Fulbright is a scholarship funded by the US Department of State to encourage beneficial interaction between the US and foreign nations. The Fulbright covers total tuition if you are a student and provides a stipend for living expenses. I contacted schools throughout the UK trying to find someone willing to be my Fulbright adviser. My first positive contact was at the University of Glasgow, where they have a degree in Viking and Celtic Archaeology - exactly what I wanted. However, after a few emails back and forth, I stopped getting replies. So, I moved on. The next positive reply was from the University College Dublin, where they have specialists in early and early medieval Ireland, also pretty much what I wanted.
Dr. Aidan O'Sullivan, who is the head of the graduate program of archaeology there, agreed to work with me, and we began the lengthy process of hammering out a project proposal. He was incredibly helpful in pointing me in the right direction. Here at home, I began working with the vice provost of my college to finish the US side of the Fulbright application. By early October, I had completed the application.
Over Christmas, I found out I didn't get the scholarship. In the long run, I'm kinda glad. UCD still accepted me (provisionally - I have to graduate), and without the Fulbright, I can stay in Ireland and try to get a job after I complete my degree.
Now, I am caught in a state of limbo. I can't wait to get to Ireland, but I've got to graduate first and I have a terrible case of senioritis. I have little desire to work on school. This is not helped by the fact that I only have night classes. I really need to get on top of things! The semester is halfway over already, and I have one 20 page paper due and the rough draft of a 25 page paper due in a little over 2 weeks. One is halfway finished, the other not even started. Well, the research is mostly there, just not the paper.
Anywho, I keep looking to see what I need to take, how I should pack, when to by airline tickets (they're really cheap right now!), what bank/credit card to use, etc. It keeps distracting me because that is where I really want to be!
