PhD - On Hold (For Now)

Earlier today I attended my last seminar as a PhD student -- at least for the time being. As of writing this post I am already out of the university, or as the formal certificate puts it, I have 'declared that he/she is discontinuing his/her studies at the University of Helsinki' until 30.11.2011, before which date the 'University does not accept any studies completed by the student', nor can the 'discontinuation of the studies... be cancelled'.

The reason for the fixed-duration discontinuation is money; mainly that I have decided to cease to work under the stress of deadlines for next to nothing. This decision will probably slow down the production of articles for my PhD (as the lack of deadlines tends to do), but enable me to pursue various topics that would not have fallen under the scope of my original plan. Blogging should continue as sporadic as usual, and should my editor become worried, I will still deliver that paper on time; fear not!

And who knows which country I end up to once my spouse graduates with her master's degree next year.