Coming out of the fug.

I've been in a study 'fug' for two weeks and it appears that I was not alone.  Let me qualify fug first.  Fug to me is a state of  not being able to settle to the required concentration of reading or writing the subject that I am currently studying.  Whether it was the change of season, change of subject, change of university or work influences I don't know but I do know that I never questioned why I am doing this study or whether I should continue.  That says a lot to me.

I spent those two weeks trying to find space in my usually organised life to sit down and read.  I find overall with study that having the time to read is the biggest challenge.  It is all and good to fly through a degree by the seat of your pants just reading the study guide and it is quite possible to do so but what comes out the other end?  A person with a degree who is incapable of discussing, in any depth, the subject they have just spent several years studying.

Another unsettling characteristic of studying at university level is the self made guilt that I have found when I decide to read a publication of a subject other than that which I study.  I thought this would change as I settled into study life but it hasn't and I still miss being able to read several subjects at a time.  I am aware of the possibility that that may be just me though and I would be interested to hear if this affects you also.

I have decided to begin immersing myself into community news this week.  During a news writing unit last year I was fortunate to meet an extremely interesting and involved citizen in the suburb that I live in.  He was very helpful to the story I wrote then and has been crucial already to the community story that I am about to write.  Colin made me aware of a small community handout which I had no idea even existed until very recently.  I am going to offer my services to this publication because I believe we both can grow from our relationship.

The community story that I will be writing for my current news writing unit involves the local council and the progress association.  I am privileged to have been invited to the next meeting where a council representative is to speak about an issue that has been on many people's minds since the Tsunami in Japan, community safety.  I live in a coastal city and while the likelihood of a tsunami is smaller than other countries, floods are possible along with cyclones and other community debilitating crises.  I am looking forward to attending this meeting and perhaps I will even get involved with the progress association.  I will let you know the outcome of this meeting.

Cas (almost back to normal, my typing voice is coming back to me)