Getting serious about life - Mission PhD in Canada

So, I have finally decided to get serious about life - and to spend it the coming four years behind a computer screen, while aiming to receive a PhD at the end of the road and to grow an impressively sized ass in the process.

According to what I've picked up from my previous travels through Bhuddist territories, the secret to happiness is 'aiming for the accomplish-able', which is of course why I am throwing the ass into the deal - can't fail there. The PhD, on the other hand is a whole different story. For some reason or the other, I have envisioned a life for myself in the exotic landscape of Canada. Somewhere with mountains, culture and lots and lots of water. Even more random, or perhaps unexpected, I fell in love with academic research, after my brief one-year affair at the University of Amsterdam studying International Development. And now I want more...

Combining these two visions of Canadian forests and piles of academic papers have suddenly brought me to Vancouver, Canada, where I am typing this blog from the University of British Columbia campus. I mean, don't get me wrong though, I don't have a PhD yet. I just came here to arrange it. It's a bit of a mission.   

The faculty of Forestry has decided to grow an indoor forest, so that is for now my favourite building. (So far I have sneaked into the Arts and Film buildings as well as the campus bookstore and library, but this place is BIG). This is where I sit and scheme my infiltrations of the UBC system. I know - I am making it sound all 007 again - but I kind of have to lay it on thick, this place gave me a feather soft landing (Thank you Pegah!!!!), which makes for great jetlag recovery, but boring blogs... 

So, the plan is to write to professors all over west Canada (3 universities) who suit my research topic and drive out to meet with them in person. In order to keep stuff affordable the idea is to buy a campervan in both use it as a car and a home. So far I went out to meet the owners of only one, very charming campervan, and actually bought it from them, after making the deal that they would would pay for repairs!  After spending hours at 2 different garages, we went to go and register it under my name, when we found that it wouldn't pass the road inspection due to one part that needed to be replaced - which was almost worth the complete van. So the deal was off, and I saw the van drive off to mexico, where safety inspections are a lot more flexible I guess.... byebye baby...

There at the moment about 6 vans that I am eyeballing and am trying to view, but for now I patiently have to wait for people to repond to my emails. Both from craigslist and the UBC. To be continued...