Thesis Update

For you, Horner...

So, after working two 100-hour weeks and having two very good meetings with his primary and secondary supervisor respectively, it looks like Nathan will submit his dissertation by September 30th. 

You probably have questions.

1. How did Nathan manage to finish a PhD in two years?

Our sweet friend Sam said, "I've never heard of anyone who has ever done that. You are the hardest-working man I know," to which Nathan replied, "No. I'm the cheapest man you know," to which I would add, "That, and he doesn't require much sleep."

Here's an extended answer:

When Nathan was originally admitted to Durham University, he was accepted into a one-year research Master's program because his MDiv didn't have a thesis component. Basically, the folks in the Theology department wanted to test him out to see if his writing was up to PhD scratch. Because of his "maybe you'll get into the PhD program, maybe you won't" status, he started straight away and worked like crazy on fear and adrenaline. About six months into our time here, he submitted a 20,000 word writing sample and, thankfully, was then upgraded into the PhD program and given retroactive credit for his work. Thus, we cut down our potential time in the UK from four years (one year Master's + three years PhD) into three.

Our first year here was good and hard. The good part was that we got involved at church, made lovely friends, and had lots of adventures exploring our new country. The hard part was that we were cold the whole year, I didn't have a steady job, and the savings that was meant to last us three years ran out after ten months. Stuh-ress. We needed to find a way to cut costs and increase income - FAST!

Our second year was a huge blessing from the Lord. It was everything good about our first year, plus we were able to move into a warm house and split the cost with friends, I started a job that I love, and we experienced the best year of our marriage so far (and we still have four more months of 2012 to go!). As an added potential financial bonus, Nathan was keeping a very purposeful, focused pace in his studies, and he thought it would be possible to finish a least a term early (March 2013) if not two (January 2013) so we could save money on international student fees.

Nathan put it this way: "Every meeting I have with my supervisor [one every six weeks or so] is costing us $1,500. I'm being penalized for being productive. I'm ready to go back to being rewarded to work."

Here's the kicker that caused him to move up the submission deadline yet another term (October 2012) and thus a full year earlier than originally planned:

In late August, Nathan was supposed to go back to the States to surprise his family on their annual beach vacation, but - to make a long and really heart-breaking story short - our passports and visa renewals didn't come back until the day after he was meant to leave, and he couldn't go. When this happened, he was so fired up in a rage against the UK Border Agency that he pounded his fist on the dining room table and said, "That's IT! This country is not getting any more of my money. I'm finishing this thing before the fall term starts."

And then he put his head down and did it. 

2. So, will Nathan be Dr. Nathan Parker on October 1st?

No. After he submits his thesis, it will be read by internal (meaning, from inside Durham University) and external (outside Durham University) examiners, all of whom are chosen by Nathan and his primary supervisor. After they read it, they will set a date for the viva, or the oral defense, when the examiners will grill him on his dissertation for a few hours. We are hoping and praying that it can be done before Christmas so he doesn't have to stress about it when we go home to see our families for the holidays.

After the viva, the examiners will get together and decide whether or not Nathan has passed and if so, if he needs major corrections, minor corrections, or no corrections. After corrections are done (if any), he will be Dr. Nathan Parker. However, he insists that he still just wants to be called Nathan. 

Y'all, the only reason I would even think about pursuing a PhD would be for the satisfaction of hearing people call me "Doctor," but that's just my pride talking. Maybe I'll insist on being called "Mrs. Dr. Nathan Parker" to scratch that itch.

3. Does this mean you're moving back to the States at Christmas?

Uh, no. Unless Taylor University has an opening for a tenure-track professor job that starts in January and Nathan gets hired there. Then, the answer is yes. 

We'll stay here until July 2013 at the earliest, when my school year ends. We have to apply for new visas (again!) after Christmas because Nathan won't be a student nor I his dependent anymore. My Headmaster has already agreed to sponsor me on a Tier 2 Work visa, and Nathan will be my dependent. Financially, it just makes much more sense for me to keep working and for us to split our living costs with the McKenneys while Nathan looks for work from here. 

Plus, we love our life here and are looking forward to another year of memories on this island. 

4. What will Nathan do until July?

After he turns in his dissertation, I have a feeling Nathan will take a full week to watch all nine seasons of Seinfeld and maybe play a little golf. To that I say, "Well deserved." After that, he has some article and book ideas he wants to spend time on. Publishing his thesis is a dream of his that we hope will become a reality. We also hope he'll do some more teaching and preaching at church and in college Christian union meetings. But most importantly, he'll be looking for a full-time academic job that would begin in the fall of 2013. You can start praying for that YESTERDAY.

When our new visas come, he may be able to get a part-time job, but I'm not sure on spousal work restrictions at this point. Maybe he'll work at Starbucks or something. The boy is wired to work and earn money. Thanks be to God for designing him that way. Thanks also to Jim and Susan Parker for making him "get a job" at seven years old! I love that he is such a hard worker.

While, in my opinion, our division of labor is quite balanced now, my dream world starts on October 1st when Nathan will also take over all of the housekeeping and cooking and cleaning and grocery shopping and laundry responsibilities. All I'll have to do is say, "How much is that gonna cost me?"  

5. Can we still come visit you?

Do you even need to ask that question? Honestly... 

Your time is ticking. Book the flight. Your guest room awaits.