Seriously, Phil, What Do You Do in Prague?

Looking back over our posts, one things is glaringly absent: anything about my work (besides my sincere hope for a posting on the variety of mullets here:) I managed to get the government to pay for Danielle and me to live here; I even got UVA to lend a hand. But what are they paying me for? This is a fascinating question.

So, I am mostly a historian. Not quite yet, but it's getting close. When I was in divinity school, one of my favorite professors told me that there are two kinds of historians: those that find new sources, and those that do new things with old sources. I am certainly one of that latter. Think of it this way: I'm trying to write a story that chooses certain facts and leaves others out - these choices are what ultimately makes one historian different from all the others. I don't dig around in musty archives trying to find a long-lost chronicle from the city notary of Plzen (and trust me, there are many folks who do just this). I do read all of the articles and books written by people that do, and I consult the sources that are out there so I can piece together my own account of the past.

The problem with this is that when everyone draws on the same sources, there's only so much difference. So, most of my time is spent being really nervous that I'm saying the same thing as someone else - and it's probably written in another language, which I barely read (i.e. Czech). So, it's read, read, read, write (a little) - read more to make sure everything is accurate, read the authors those people cite, write (a little less). It's a time consuming process, but I like it. I spend a lot of time in libraries, at coffee shops, and on our couch with the TV on mute, with an open dictionary and a pencil.

I suspect that this explains why our blog is mostly concerned with travel, food, and fun. But, it really is much better than it sounds. I just finished a chapter of the dissertation (55 pages - it's a hot read), and I am ready for the next. I am a) not burned out, which is positive, and b) feeling like I am bringing something new to the table in terms of my field.

So, that's what I do. It is strange to be just writing now, without teaching. Being in my head, and with my favorite dead Czechs, all the time is a little disconcerting. It is good to put this last piece of the puzzle into the picture, though, and realize that I can do the research part of this job. Obviously, I am in a writing mode right now - as this post is much too long, but this is the danger of an historian with a blog. Look forward to Christmas festivities, a trip to Switzerland, and a wrap-up before we head home for the holidays...