Be Happy

I have so much to do and no amount of coffee can help me now. Will I stop procrastinating? Of course not.

月经 (yuè jīng) period

老朋友 (lǎo péng you) period (slang)

大姨妈 (dà yí mā) period (slang) 

例假 (lì jià) menstrual leave (euphemism) , menstrual period 

月经没来 (yuè jīng méi lái) to miss one’s period

来月经 (lái yuè jīng) to have a period

换… (huàn) to change, to exchange  (sanitary towel/tampons/menstrual cup) 

卫生巾  (wèi shēng jīn) sanitary towel /pad 

姨妈巾 (yí mā jīn)  sanitary towel (coll.)  

卫生棉条 (wèi shēng mián tiáo) tampons  

月经杯 (yuè jīng bēi) menstrual cup

月亮杯 (yuè liang bēi) menstrual cup 

绞痛 (jiǎo tòng) cramps  

痉挛 (jìng luán) cramps (med. term)   

偏头痛 (piān tóu tòng) migraine 

昏厥 (hūn jué) to faint 

妇科 (fù kē) gynaecology

阴道 (yīn dào) vagina (med. term) 

卵巢 (luǎn cháo) ovary (med. term) 

荷尔蒙 (hé ěr méng) hormone 

乳房 (rǔ fáng) breast (med. term)  

乳房胀痛 (rǔ fáng zhàng tòng) tender breast 

血 (xuè) blood 

子宫 (zǐ gōng) uterus  

心情变化 (xīn qíng biàn huà) change of moods  

经前综合症 (jīng qián zōng hé zhèng) PMS (premenstrual syndrome) 

更年期 (gēng nián qī) menopause

止痛药 (zhǐ tòng yào) Painkiller  

热水袋 (rè shuǐ dài) hot-water bottle

All this is to say that the fact that this octopus appears to be dreaming means one of two things. Either

a) dreaming is a very, very old thing indeed, going directly back to the Urbilaterian. This would mean that almost every animal, from insects to starfish to sea slugs to newts, is likely to have the ability to dream in some capacity or another (unless they have specifically lost it by evolutionary simplification).

or

b) dreaming evolved entirely independently in cephalopods when they developed greater intelligence. This would suggest, at least, that there’s something very fundamental about dreaming related to intelligence itself, which causes it to emerge independently when sufficient intelligence arises.

be sure you’re passionate about what you want to study, because you’ll need a deep love to carry you through an intense program (that can range from 1 year to 7+, depending on what you’re studying) where you will sometimes have some bitter lows

related, don’t go to grad school just because the job market blows and you’re not sure what to do. you’re better off taking a couple years to gain experience and skills at a job that you can then transfer to postgrad academic work later

talk to a lot of people before you decide to go somewhere. talk to professors and potential advisors, talk to administrative staff, and try to talk to current or recent students. you’ll have a better idea of what it’s like, professional connections for when you start, and possibly new friends

continuing from the above point, don’t go to or apply to somewhere where it’s hard to get information about the program or that people aren’t responsive. if they’re not trying to reach out when you’re a potential student, they’re unlikely to support you once you’re there

be willing to communicate! talk to your advisor and professors if you’re having a hard time or are finding things challenging. if they’re worth their salt, they’ll help you out and provide solid suggestions.