So, here’s a little announcement: Starting in the fall, I’ll be pursuing my PhD, here in Germany. Wow, I still get a kick out of saying that.  I was awarded a fellowship that will cover me for three years of doctoral work within a very focused environment. (This is a huge bonus, since I’m pretty late to the game and am not getting any younger, you know.)  Oh, and I’ll be based mostly in Bremen — more details on that as the summer continues.

In the meantime, I’m winding things down at my current institute and gearing up for some intensive German courses so I can pass the TestDaF exam in July. I’m actually really looking forward to the summer. Aside from the exam (and continuing to work on some publications in my down time), I’ve committed myself to making the most of this time before I begin my doctorate, and relaxing a little more than I’ve allowed myself to these last couple years. (Yeah, I’ve been in Germany for almost two years already – how crazy is that??)

So, now you know what I meant about all the butterflies and changes blowing in the wind. It’s been a crazy amount of work and stress to get to this point, but now the future’s looking pretty dang bright!