Educational Stuffs

GIS bores me to tears. I adore maps and thought that a program in Geographical Information Systems would allow me to gain insight into making them, at least to an extent. I knew it wasn't cartography and that the good majority of the course dealt with specific software, but I still was under the impression that it was a mapping program. Not really...it does deal with maps, but not in any way that's interesting to me. When I complete the program, I can be a land surveyor, and honestly I just do not care. I have no desire whatsoever to be a land surveyor or anything of the sort.

When I signed up for it, my main objective was simply to gain admission to a Swedish university in order to obtain a student residence permit and live here until the degree was completed. I did gain admission, but as the Migration Board likes to go in circles with its rules, it did me no good residence-permit wise. I fought, too. The entire summer was spent appealing, being told completely opposite things by Lund Uni and Migrationsverket, and struggling to understand just why I was being continually denied. In short, none of my appeals mattered. The case went to the highest court in Sweden, and they refused to even HEAR it. So, despite being a full time student at a Swedish university and receiving student aid that amounts to about 146,000SEK an academic year, I did not receive a student permit and am here as a tourist on an extended visit.

I COULD go to the expense of hiring a Swedish attorney and actually bringing the case before the court, and legally I'd stand a good chance of winning. But by the time I got the money to do it and actually went through the process, I'll be over 30. It just doesn't seem worth it for a degree I don't really care about lol.

Since gaining admission to a Swedish school did me no good, I don't really feel compelled to continue a degree that I care nothing about. I've been looking into graduate programs back home since I really miss the entire campus experience. I'm far too late to apply for the fall, but perhaps next spring or even next fall, should I choose to do so.

The only problem is that Ive fallen in love with Pite and have no desire to leave. As a tourist I'll have to eventually, yes, but I can come back after 90 days outside the Schengen area. If I pursue an on-campus program I wont be able to come back to stay for any significant length of time.

In my searching, however, I did come upon an online master's degree in History from the University of Nebraska. Online History Degree The requirements are pretty steep, so I'd more than likely have to complete a Graduate Certificate before I started the Master's program, but I adore history and that really wouldn't bother me much. I'd be able to spend a good deal of time in Pite too since the degree is online.

I don't know. I'm really at a sort of crossroads here. I can do basically anything I want when it comes to furthering my education, I just don't now exactly where or in what format. The degree in history would interest me, though. Guess I need to think hard about it and weigh my options. I did contact the head of the History Department at UNK and asked about the graduate certificate, though. I guess I'll wait to hear.

meme thingy for the hell of it

1. real name and/or screen name:
2. birthday:
3. place of residence:
4. what makes you happy:
5. what are you listening to now/have listened to last:
6. do you read my lj:
7. if you do, what is particularly good/bad about it:
8. an interesting fact about you:
9. are you in love/have a crush at the moment:
10. favourite place to be:
11. favourite lyric:
12. best time of the year:
13. weirdest food you like:
14. do farts make you laugh:

RECOMMEND
1. a film:
2. a book:
3. a band, a song and an album:

PLUS
1. one thing you like about me:
2. two things you like about yourself:
3. put this in your lj so i can tell you what i think of you.
4. Optional: POST A PICTURE OF you:

Letter games

Comment and I'll give you a letter, then you have to list ten people/places/things you love that begin with that letter. Afterwards, post it on your journal and fill out letters of your own.
cd_lind gave me R, so here goes.

1. Rain. I adore it. More than pretty much anything on earth. It's so calming and smells amazing.

2. Ryan. My ex and very dear friend. First blind radio color commentator for sports in the state. So proud of him and love him dearly.

3. Rhiannon. My little Australian pal with the Irish roots, met her in Galway when we were both staying at a hostel. She's made of cute and I adore her,

4. Running. I (pretty obviously) don't do this nearly as much as I used to, but I still love how it makes me feel. I need to get back into it.

5. Rome. Never been yet, but after studying ancient Roman history for over 15 years I'd be a sad sight if i didn't love the city.

6. Real (Authentic) Mexican Food. I would marry a man named Juan if he could cook me some damn enchiladas. Fuck yes.

7. Russian. Such an awesome language, I've always wanted to learn!

8. Rannoch Moor, Scotland. One of the most beautiful places in the entire world. To prove this: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rannoch_Moor.jpg

9. Ruebens. Amazing sandwiches from back home. Called the VandeRueben at this little place called the Belgian Village Cafe where I learned to love them.

10. Red Bell peppers. Om nom nom! And they look like Christmas ornaments! XD