debt

I was over psych girl's pad in the heart of downtown shopping center last night. After making our own strawberry martini mix on a Friday night -- that is, after we left the local pub where we met a brave soul who said he didn't like Auster! -- we, or rather I, grumbled about my student loans.

backstory: psych girl and I met by chance whilst walking down the street; it was Halloween night and we happen to be heading in the same direction, or lack thereof. The public trans system was on halt b/c a bunch of crazy students decided to walk IN the tunnel after X-line broke down. As we were both new to the city and hadn't a clue as to where the hell we were headed (we were following the crowd), we finally shared a cab, exchanged digits and email. In retrospect, I think that's what I love about living in new to a city -- the random (and sometimes pregnant) exchanges with people.

Anyway, she turns out to be a 5th year counseling psychology grad student at Brand Name U, and is thus currently frantic about her diss writing -- or again, lack thereof. So I was in my usual and boring (or favorite?) topic of conversation: should I enter the PhD program after my MA or not? a 9-5 sucks too but the piled student debt? Sigh. She tells me her loan history thus far: 10, 000 ish at private women's college in Boston; approximately 25,000 ish at Harvard (where she did a one year MA program); and currently owes nothing, NOTHING at another Brand Name School -- after 5 years? I was totally astounded. Of course, she slaves away with all the scholarship and grant essays, but owes nothing? Do social science grad students really get more funding?? Even more, I was totally awestrucked when she showed me an article that she co-wrote with her advisor, and has another chapter that just got accepted and will be published by Oxford press!! Sheer Brilliance. what about me? bewildered, as usual.

But I am happy to be in the company of admirable students.

Saturday night: no work -- it's spring break!! a list of plans tomorrow for sure!