Retirement is overrated.

I was scanning the faculty of U of T's EAS graduate department, only to find that the professor I had my heart set on working with (not to mention all those long nights passionately reading her work as my toes curled and uncurled with excitement) has fucking retired! I never thought the word "emeritus" could make me feel so ill. There is another professor on the faculty; Atsuko Sakaki, who does work in gender studies...but its just not the same. I just don't know what to do...

Considering gender studies in Japanese literature alone - not to mention classical Japanese literature - is a fairly new field, its incredibly difficult for me to find a graduate program that not only has Japanese literature, but also faculty members interested in gender studies. It doesn't help that Dr. Sakaki is far more intimidating than Dr. Arntzen. Oh well, I shall perservere! When I write my first book, I'll get you all signed copies.