PhD or life?

Hello,

I am undertaking a PhD in marine biology in Australia.  I am in my last year, and while it has been hard so far, there is no comparison for what I am about to endure.  I came to Australia as a newlywed.  I had just finished my undergraduate degrees back in the states and had been engaged for a few months when I was accepted into a postgraduate program in Australia.  We decided what the heck, lets just get married before we go.  We planned our wedding in less than a week and left town about a month after that.  Long story short, my work causes me to be away for months at a time, and he was left holding down the fort in a new country.  It just did not work for us.  On my first field trip for my work (I had helped others previously to get the hang of it - not my area of previous study), we separated and he went back to the states.  It was not an easy split, and I was left with hardly anything or anyone in Australia - although, my two cats were waiting for me back on the mainland.  I had to have uni mates help collect what was left of my stuff and store it while I was still working away on the island.  I had to come back and find a new place, new car, new life....ironic, as you will see, I am now in a similar position again.

A few months passed, and I started going out again. One night, a friend invited me to a party.  It was another friends birthday, so I saw her first, then went to the party.  We were meant to meet up in town later that night, but things never happen as planned.  I saw a beautiful (and he hates that I use this word to describe him) Australian.  We both still remember the first time we saw each other, by the pool...we did not realise we were at the same party - the pool was communal in an apartment complex - anyway... a few drinks later and the other girls were still getting ready to go to town, so I decided that I wanted to swim again.  Well, every lady needs an escort, so I shyly asked people that I knew would not come with me (so they would say no), so that he would say yes.  I mentioned that I am a marine biologist, so swimming is literally part of my job...however, after a few drinks, and stupidly trying to impress this Aussie, I took a long dive into the short end of the pool... So, our first outing was to the emergency room.  I fell in love with him that night, as he was ever so sweetly taking care of me, and I was the one that had to keep him calm.  The beginning was event-filled, and so it has been...