update

it is a gorgeous day here! the sun is shining and the wind is gently playing in the trees. we are supposed to be heading into summer however, as of late the weather has been mostly rainy and gray.
my absence from this blog is due to the fact that life has been both full and good. All of my coursework was completed about a month ago!! and as you expected, i did thoroughly enjoy the seminars and received good marks. my final two classes were Research Methods and Social Policy (social policy being one of my favorite courses in the whole program). since then I have been putting together my proposal for my research and will submit my proposal to the higher degrees committee next week! I have received positive feedback from my supervisor and other professors, so it is becoming exciting. I will spend the next two months reading and writing the first three chapters of my dissertation, then will be doing my fieldwork at a rural government clinic here in KZN in January. this will consist of interviewing pregnant women to obtain information on their needs/nutrition and whether they receive a priority within their household. I had a fascinating experience last week when I visited the antenatal clinic. while i was there 3 pregnant women came in for normal visit and I then I also watched two women have their stitches removed after c-section- my quesyness confirmed the very reason I am not a nurse, but rather am working toward a master's in development studies.

the big news is that I have decided to stay on in South Africa! As mentioned, I will do my field research in January after I return for a short visit over the Christmas holiday. In addition to writing my dissertation I will be working in the church. I have transferred my membership to the local congregation in morningside and have my local minister's license here. in addition to learning what it is to be a pastor (doing hospital visits, preaching, weddings, etc) I am also heading up the compassionate ministries/missions outreach arm of the church throughout the upcoming year. this will be a great experience and i'm excited!

Christmas holidays:
I will be in California for about a month- 10 December -7 January! (though still looking for a flight to return to SA) I am really exited to return home for a bit to have some good mexican food and visit family and friends! It has been a long while so it will be so goood to catch up! :)