Hi everyone,
It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted anything, so I thought it a good time to update you on how things are going. As you know, I’m taking classes to help get me back in the swing of things and also to help fill those pesky knowledge gaps so I have a better understanding of Development Theory and how it relates to my research. So,the first class I’m taking is class I’m taking is in the Development school and focuses on contemporary theories of development . The second qualitative business methods and I’m finding it quite helpful because I’m learning more about the different ways to conduct my research. It’s all very interesting and has already helped me in PhD research.
On the personal front, I’m living in Auckland again near the town hall. In fact, I just moved in a couple of days ago. The apartment is very convenient, but there are some issues with the furnishings and the apartment itself. For example, there are a couple of minor holes in the wall that are very annoying and the whole apartment needs to be repainted. However, after moving in I found out they are not going to fix these things and I am not allowed to fix them either. How crazy is that??
Before moving in there, I was housesitting for some friends while they were on vacation. The house is a ways from the city and very secluded, being on the top of a mountain. It’s very serene and peaceful being there, which was quite nice, but also boring at times. However, my time there was useful because it gave me time to read and reflect, and that is sometimes a difficult thing to do when you are bombarded with the noises and distractions of city living. Still, I’m glad to be back in the city and closer to my office as the hour and half commute can sometimes be annoying because of bad weather and train/bus delays.
Overall, things are going great and I’m making lots of great connections with people from New Zealand and abroad. The weekly Rotary luncheons have been fantastic and I’m enjoying meeting and talking to the wide variety of members. Indeed, there really is a wide range: from real estate agents to neurosurgeons, brought together through RotaryJ It really is a wonderful thing. Stay tuned because my next posting will include more photos!
