(no subject)
So, I haven't posted in a while, mostly because I've been really really really busy. This is a quick post while I wait for some course documents to download, just to catch people up.
I'm taking five classes. Human Development and Education in Developing Countries, Statistics, Issues in Second Language Acquisition, Qualitative Modes of Inquiry, and Strategic Planning for Non-profit Organizations. These classes basically eat my life, especially the last two. For Strategic Planning we are actually hands-on making a strategic plan in 9 weeks, 4 of which are over. If you have never made a strategic plan, generally they take a few months -- minimum 3. So, it's a rush job to say the least. After the plan is finished we will switch gears to "resource development," and I can't wait to see what that looks like. For Qualitative, we are designing and implementing a qualitative research study. I have decided to do mine on Reverse Culture Shock, which could be interesting but will be a lot of work. The class which is actually the LEAST work is Stats, but there is a final at the end worth 70% of our grade. Craziness. But actually, I love all my classes and I'm happy to be learning stuff again. For a few weeks I felt like I had jumped head-first into one of the Nile cataracts, complete with crocodiles at the bottom, but I'm doing a little better now.
Besides these classes, I work for Fisher-Hassenfeld as a Graduate Assistant. This basically means I plan programs for my floor, like the apple-picking trip we have this weekend, and handle any emergencies. So far the worst that has happened is someone's mom freaked out because she didn't answer her phone for two hours...after a lot of worry and running around, we found her asleep in her room after keying in. Little scary but the happy ending was nice.
I also work for the United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia, which is a very small, very low-budget non-profit organization that seeks to promote the UN and UNA-USA. My job is promotion in schools, so I'm back and forth between two (and soon to be three) Philly schools that are pilots for the program. The hope is that these go well and we can get outside funding and expand the project, but I won't be here for that, just the building up part. So far it's going really well; I'm teaching a class of fourth graders this month, and some ESL and art classes in a high school next month. Good times.
Also, I have a minimum-wage job at the info center where I live, which basically requires me to keep track of keys and help people get in when they forget or lose their identification. It's low-stress and they pretty much are paying me to do my reading and homework, so I can't complain! Since I'm a GA already I already have to deal with any emergencies, so there's no added pressure. It's nice.
In my spare time I am still running and doing judo, and I've found some Japanese speaking partners/friends that keep me pretty happy. :)
That's all for me for now, download is done. Off to study! Love to you all.
I'm taking five classes. Human Development and Education in Developing Countries, Statistics, Issues in Second Language Acquisition, Qualitative Modes of Inquiry, and Strategic Planning for Non-profit Organizations. These classes basically eat my life, especially the last two. For Strategic Planning we are actually hands-on making a strategic plan in 9 weeks, 4 of which are over. If you have never made a strategic plan, generally they take a few months -- minimum 3. So, it's a rush job to say the least. After the plan is finished we will switch gears to "resource development," and I can't wait to see what that looks like. For Qualitative, we are designing and implementing a qualitative research study. I have decided to do mine on Reverse Culture Shock, which could be interesting but will be a lot of work. The class which is actually the LEAST work is Stats, but there is a final at the end worth 70% of our grade. Craziness. But actually, I love all my classes and I'm happy to be learning stuff again. For a few weeks I felt like I had jumped head-first into one of the Nile cataracts, complete with crocodiles at the bottom, but I'm doing a little better now.
Besides these classes, I work for Fisher-Hassenfeld as a Graduate Assistant. This basically means I plan programs for my floor, like the apple-picking trip we have this weekend, and handle any emergencies. So far the worst that has happened is someone's mom freaked out because she didn't answer her phone for two hours...after a lot of worry and running around, we found her asleep in her room after keying in. Little scary but the happy ending was nice.
I also work for the United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia, which is a very small, very low-budget non-profit organization that seeks to promote the UN and UNA-USA. My job is promotion in schools, so I'm back and forth between two (and soon to be three) Philly schools that are pilots for the program. The hope is that these go well and we can get outside funding and expand the project, but I won't be here for that, just the building up part. So far it's going really well; I'm teaching a class of fourth graders this month, and some ESL and art classes in a high school next month. Good times.
Also, I have a minimum-wage job at the info center where I live, which basically requires me to keep track of keys and help people get in when they forget or lose their identification. It's low-stress and they pretty much are paying me to do my reading and homework, so I can't complain! Since I'm a GA already I already have to deal with any emergencies, so there's no added pressure. It's nice.
In my spare time I am still running and doing judo, and I've found some Japanese speaking partners/friends that keep me pretty happy. :)
That's all for me for now, download is done. Off to study! Love to you all.