Tell me Congratulations

Today I graduate
with a Masters in International Development
from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies
at the University of Denver.

I hope they will mail me my degree.
:)

23 months,

1 thesis,
2 computer batteries,
2 internships,
2 very generous Rotary scholarships,
3 continents,
5 meltdowns,
15 roommates,
16 countries,
19 classes,
109 changes in life plans,
600 pages written (estimate),


and

700+ packets of gum, bottles of fizzy water and mild panic attacks later,

i
am
finished
with
graduate
school.

amen.

bring it on, real world.




*graduation is actually August 17 , but I just submitted my last paper. ever. maybe.

Parkinson's Law

Work expands
so as to fill

the time available for its completion.

Hence, I just finished a paper I should have finished two weeks ago.

Hence, I am still studying for my exam tomorrow.

Hence, I will be ready for my exam tomorrow.

Amen.

Hence, I have to hope this will NOT make me go grey prematurely.

i am a graduate student.

I woke up at 5am.
I worked on a paper.
I ate some cereal.
I worked on a paper.
I went to class for two hours.
I learned some stuff about statistics.
I think.
I'll find out in my lab on Thursday.

I went downstairs to meet my group.
I signed a petition to bring a PhD's student's family here.
He is from Gaza.
The Israeli government won't let his family out.
Or him in.
He has a daughter that he has never met.
I spent 7 straight hours
finishing and formatting
our final project for my project management class.

Our project was to build a girls' school
in Afghanistan.
In an earthquake zone.
With the threat of an attack from the Taliban.
And the stigma against women's education.
With a budget of $500,000.

I ate some sushi.
The pre-packaged kind.
And a rice krispy treat.
I finished.
I took a five minute breather to write this blog,
and now am about to write that paper
Its due tomorrow.

Eek.

Its a case study about crisis management.
I am using the crisis of HIV and AIDS in South Africa.
And showing
how not
to handle a crisis.

It was 86 degrees outside today.
I love love love
love love
warm weather.

But I was inside,
eating stale sushi,
hypothetically building a school
and thinking,
once again,
about AIDS.

In the midst of my misery,
I secretly loved every minute.

And am so grateful
that I can learn
about what I love.

so that was fast...

Today is my last day of class for this quarter - whoa.
One course was on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict - mainly from a narrative or historical perspecitve.
The other was an International Human Rights Law course, with specific focus on Israeli case law.
We've had class every day for the last two weeks, from 9:30am - 4pm (one class in the morning, the other in the afternoon).. so its been jam packed. I have learned SO much in such a short time, but I still have so many questions!

That went by in a blur...

My internship starts on Sunday, but there has been a change of plans...
First I supposed to be with Bat Shalom, a women's peace-building organization (which I was super exctied about), but due to financial problems and the fact that they just had to shut down their office and move to a new location... I was moved to the Jerusalem Rape Crisis Center... but then, in an effort to work with an organization more specifically focused on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, I was moved to.................

Rabbis for Human Rights.

I have absolutely no idea what to expect, what I will be doing, or who I will be working with (well, I can take a wild guess..) But just the same, I am incredibly excited for the experience and can't wait to get started.

Bernard Lewis and Company

Three nights ago, I went to a special symposium offered at Hebrew University.

On the panel was the famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) Bernard Lewis - the guy who argued with Edward Said forever and ever... he's the one on the far right. I read a ton of his stuff in college in an Arab/Israeli history class I took (granted, I disagreed with most of it) - and so it was cool to get to see him in person. He's old!

It was interesting, but after almost 8 hours of intense class, my mind was a bit tired and I had a hard time focusing parts of it. One of the more interesting recommendations (I thought) that came out of the panel was directed toward to the Israeli government regarding relations with Iran - the recommendation was to stop with all of the huge international conferences, and just talk with the leaders on a more private, bilateral level.

Made it safely!

Just a note to let everyone know I arrived safely in Jerusalem!

As we landed yesterday, I kept thinking.... so this... is what everyone is fighting about.

There is so much to take in, it is exciting and overwhelming at the same time.

The conflict is raging on in Gaza, but we feel very removed from it here. It hasn't affected life in Jerusalem.

There is security EVERYWHERE. I got through the airport security in Denver, Newark and Tel Aviv, but I couldn't get into a pharmacy yesterday to buy soap because there was something about my pants zipper that kept setting the metal detector off (exact same outfit I wore on the plane).

I live with 4 Israeli girls, two of whom eat only kosher, so I am required to keep a kosher kitchen while I am here. I don't even entirely know what that means yet, but I know I am not allowed to put yogurt on the same shelf as meat in the fridge and I'm not allowed to use their sponges to clean my dishes.

It is cold (of course no central heating), but my hot water bottle is saving my life.

No internet at my house yet. I am hoping that we beat South Africa's record (it took me 4 months to get my internet installed there), but we'll see. I am at Hebrew University right now where I will be taking courses starting in a couple of days. We are off to take a campus tour now, so I'm off.

Miss you all!

done and done.

That's right, folks, with an ENTIRE 2 hours and 19 minutes left before I leave...

I. AM. FINISHED.

Word count: 24, 344 (we had a minimum of 15,000 and a max of 25,000 - so I was starting to sweat a little there at the end, but it also helped wrap things up...like the music at the Oscars).

Time - 3:14 am

Pages - 85 (at 1.5 space)

Relief - ENORMOUS.

Did I actually say anything important about AIDS? Who knows. But I surely learned a lot, and I surely took years off my life doing so. No matter, its done now. And I am very, very relieved (I might cry a little..)

Beach - here I come.

Signing off with love from Grahamstown,
Haley

My last day in Grahamstown..

Just officially ended. It is half past midnight. I am leaving for the airport in just 5 hours.

I am possibly more tired than I have ever been - this is my 5th consecutive night where I will get less than 4 hours of sleep....

but my thesis will be done before 5:30. Yes, it will.

As for my last day in Grahamstown, it is a fog of sleepless delerium and an endless number of errands to tie up all of the loose ends I have aquired in a year of living here. And footnotes. Lots and lots of footnotes. (Note to self - always do these as you go along, or they will make you more miserable than any size 10 font should EVER be able to make ANYONE.)

Despite my less than ideal levels of sleep and stress over this never ending thesis (why do we do these things to ourselves?!), my stomach is full of pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes, gravy, all thanks to dear Grahamstown friends Cortney and Matt, who spent the evening cooking a Thanksgiving feast the likes of which has never been seen outside of the borders of the United States. :) I will post pictures someday.

I am too sleepy to write anything coherant or clever (hopefully any amount of cogent thoughts are going into the last touches of my thesis)...

But I do want to say that in spite of the chaos and exhaustion of this ever-so-non-traditional of Thanksgiving days, I am filled with love and thanks.

At the end of the tunnel........

The thesis marathon continues.

I have been living on sparkling water and bread that my mom sent me for my birthday for days now - and a very large pizza that I strategically purchased on Friday.
Today I even gave in .... and drank a cup of coffee (never again, my hands are shaking so hard I can barely type).
I still have about 36 hours to go....
But the very, very bright light at the end of the tunnel is this---- where I will be on Saturday morning.....

[Image location]

With these lovely ladies.....









Hopefully drinking something that looks like this....
or that's what I tell myself, anyway....
African beaches are actually usually a bit less... relaxing than all of that, but at least I won't look like this anymore:

THESIS UPDATE!!!

I have... officially... handed in the last draft my adviser will see.
Is it done? Not so much.
Is there still a LOT to do on it? Very much so.
Is there a LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL? Thank you Lord, yes.


Next Friday morning, I get on a plane to Kenya (yaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!). Between now and then, a thesis will be finished, God willing. Very God willing.

For good vibes, I leave you another picture of my thesis adviser, just because it makes me happy..

Thesis progress...

In honor of FINISHING MY SECOND CHAPTER!!!!!! - I am posting a picture of my thesis adviser, Dr. Fluxman.

Woooohooo!

Rotary conference/Lesotho here we come!

Rosa and Eben and I are renting a car and heading out in the morning for our Rotary District conference in Welcom (about a 600km drive). We will get the chance to get all caught up on the news about Rotary in the Eastern Cape and will give a (fabulous) presentation.

On the way home, we are spending a few days traveling in Lesotho, so I will most likely be MIA until next week. Have a wonderful week and happy October!

PS: Chapter 1 - CHECK!

Chapter one, coming up... and a new president for South Africa!

Today I will submit Chapter 1 of my thesis - eeeek! I have some MAJOR writing to do before this afternoon.


Oh, and we have a new president of South Africa. I really don't know anything about him - other than he sacked the health minister, which leads me to the next news....


BEAUTIFULLY, we have a NEW HEALTH MINISTER!!!!!!!!!!!
The last one was - and I'm not a bit ashamed to feel this way - one of the worst things to ever happen to South Africa. I personally believe that her prevarication has directly led to the deaths of hundreds if not thousands of HIV positive people. That said, I wish her well in her new career and thank God that there is someone else in her position.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200809250958.html

What a year to be in South Africa!

Good news on the academic front!

My thesis proposal was approved by the higher degrees committee! Yay!!!

The next great adventure... will begin as soon as I finish this ridiculous paper.

I am writing furiously for the next 12 or so hours, and then tonight at 7pm, I am boarding a bus for Cape Town. My schedule for the next 6 weeks looks something like this:

July 19-21: I get to see my fiance! I am spending a quick (but much needed/anticipated) couple of days in Cape Town with Victor.
June 21: My parents arrive in Cape Town!!
June 23-24: Victoria Falls, Zambia
June 25: Chobe National Park, Botswana
June 26-29: Kruger National Park, South Africa and road trip down the Wild Coast
June 30-July 2: National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, South Africa

July 3-July 16: Backpacking in Uganda and Rwanda with Rosa

July 16-August 4th: Pears, Rach and Kate are in South Africa!!! Road tripping through the country, with a few 'school' breaks.... I have a seminar at which I am presenting on the 26th.

I am so incredibly excited to get the adventure of the next 6 weeks started!!! I am so blessed to have these travel opportunities ahead, and the chance to spend some quality time with my parents, Victor and Kate/Pears/Rachael!

Life. is. good.

My paper on the other hand.... needs some help. :)

Quiet on the exam front

I am in the black hole of exams. It is these moments that makes me miss being the teacher on the other side of the exam ----- though I certainly do not envy my professors who have to grade the enormous amount of writing I am putting out these days.

I am going to list things because it makes me feel better.

1. International Theory Exam - DONE!
2. Philosophy of Reconciliation 8000 word paper - In Progress
3. Post-Colonial Identities and Genocide Exam - Saturday
4. Cold War 8000 word Paper on Cuba's intervention in Angola - Haven't really started
5. Thesis Proposal Submission - Needs some help
6. Rotary Report - Almost Done

I am leaving for Cape Town next Wednesday - less than a week. I need 6 miracles to happen between now and then!

Wish me luck!!!

Everyone wish my luck, tomorrow I am defending my Master's thesis proposal in front of the Politics department, eeek! Big day. After I hear their comments, I submit it to the Higher Degrees Committee and they either reject it or accept it. If they accept it, I can start (or keep) working on my thesis. If they reject it.... I'm going to have some extra time on my hands next semester. :)

My thesis is on the Politicization of AIDS in South African politics. Or, if you are really curious, here are the first couple of lines from my proposal---

“Explaining the Politics of AIDS: A critical examination of the South African state response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic”

I propose to examine possible explanations for the nature of the political response to HIV/AIDS in South Africa, specifically, the apparent inability of the state to exercise effective leadership and deal decisively with the HIV/AIDS epidemic and a continued adherence to inadequate treatment and prevention policies despite the alarming scale of the epidemic.

As I just read that through again, I realized I have a major grammatical mistake already. Oh my. I am REALLY going to need that luck!

Update Email #3

Hello hello hello!!!

First arriving in Grahamstown was an emotional let-down after the dynamicism of living in Cape Town. In Cape Town I was under a constant barrage of social justice issues. Grahamstown was painfully silent upon first arrival. Or rather - maybe deafening would be a better word. It was "O-week" - Freshman orientation, and the campus was under attack by a giant herd of drunken 18 year olds playing very loud 2 year old bad American hip-hop. So I spent the better part of my 1st week here avoiding every orientation activity that I could (I know, not very ambassadorial-like of me) and searching for the passion I had felt from South Africans in Cape Town (and I don't mean the passion of a 19 year old boy who just got out of all-boys boarding school, because we certainly had enough of that to go around). It has taken a while - but I now realize that Grahamstonians live in a constant battle with social justice... that becomes increasingly apparent the longer I am here.

I live in a house, a great house actually. I live with 5 other South African post-grad (aka graduate) students. We are quite the diverse group - 2 Afrikaners, a Coloured** girl, a black Xhosa-speaking girl, and English girl, and myself. We have our own little Rainbow house...

**During Apartheid, all people were demarcated by race. I think there were something like 7 categories, but the main ones were White (Afrikaner or English), Native (black Africans - all of the different tribes were lumped into one category), Indian, and Coloured. Coloured was taken to mean anyone of mixed descent or of Asian descent. Today, the terms are still in use, though instead of using "Native", people in general refer to black Africans as African (which gets confusing and is disputed by some people). People still refer to people of mixed racial background as Coloured. It does not have the negative connotation here that it does in the states.

Anyway, the 6 of us live in a house on the top of THE HILL. The hill and I have an extreme love-hate relationship. It definitely is helping my leg muscles, and for that I am grateful. For every other reason, I hate it with a passion that burns deep and wide. Especially at night. Especially when it is raining. And especially, especially especially when it is hot. Today it is hot, which is why I am in the computer lab, because there is a fan in the computer lab (I don't have one in my room). AND it does not require walking up a hill.

We don't have a kitchen in our house - correction: we do have a kitchen in our house, it just doesn't have kitchen things like an oven. Or a stove. We do have a microwave, but we are told we can't cook in it unless it is popcorn.... which is a rule I definitely break. Shhh. We also have rules like we have to sign boys in and out, no guests after midnight, no candles, have to check out if we are leaving overnight, etc. etc. Their end of the deal is that they will provide electricity, water, and internet. So far, I have water and electricity. Until they get the internet going, I am going my soup in the microwave. :)

Our dining hall puts on events frequently where we have to get super dressed up (as in formal ball gowns - did I BRING a ball gown? No. Someone failed to tell me that when I moved to Africa I was going to need a ball gown) and we drink white wine and talk about intellectual things. Our dining hall has high ceilings, colonial architecture - it is kind of surreal - sometimes I feel like I am in a strange Harry Potter movie.

But then I walk into town past dozens and dozens of beggers who walk in from the townships that surround the city, and I remember that I am in Africa.

Grahamstown is a funny little place. It is this quaint little town nestled between hills with an amazingly reputed university with beautiful buildings and an Arts festival every summer that is known throughout the world. HOWEVER, as I mention below, it is in the poorest province in South Africa. The lovely hills that surround the city are covered with informal settlements - townships, or as they call it here - the Location. From the manicured lawns of the university, you can look up and see the horizon saturated with poverty.

I have a really hard time just not thinking about that. Perhaps I will become more inoculated as the months go on, but so far, I can't do it. Fortunately, the community here is mobilizing around the issues, and I am able to join the the wave. Here are some of the projects I am involving myself in:

• SHARC - a student group dedicated to issues surrounding HIV/AIDS - and connected to the nation-wide TAC (treatment action campaign)
• Rotaract - in conjunction with the Rotary clubs, working on all sorts of community issues
• Amasango - a school specifically for street children
  
• the Raphael Centre - a treatment center for people who are HIV+, specifically women and children
• Rotary - my Rotary club involves itself in the community in a variety of ways. Right now I am going to work with them on a literacy project aimed at township schools.
  

Speaking of Rotary, I am treated like a queen here. The Rotarians have been BEYOND amazing to me. I rarely have 2 nights go by without an invitation for dinner at a Rotarian's home. A couple of nights ago Geoff Antrobus, the Rotarian who is in charge of the incoming scholars to Grahamstown, took all of us on a game drive to the game reserves right around Grahamstown. We saw zebra, wildebeast, wart hogs (pumba!), all sorts of bok (deer/elk type animals), a giraffe!! and maybe... an elephant (it was really far away). Pictures will follow shortly. I am also going camping with the Rotary club in a few weeks to Addo elephant park.

We had our Rotary orientation last weekend in Cape Town - which was INCREDIBLE. I will update more about it on my blog, but suffice it to say, it was the most thoughtfully planned, incredible weekend I could have ever hoped for. The Rotarians here truly are some of the most gracious and welcoming people I have ever met. I feel so fortunate to have a Rotary district at home that supports me as much as they do AND a Rotary club here that supports me as much as they do - I am truly sandwiched in the best way possible!!

And not to be forgotten, I'm in school! I am taking 3 courses (which is a lot for here, most Masters students only take 1 or 2 - which I still do not understand --- maybe I will at exam time)

• Post-colonial Identities - An anthropology class, which is AMAZING - the first half has been focused on construction of identity since colonialism, and the second half of the class is how that plays out in Africa - namely in incidences of genocide, war, and conflict. Next week we start the Rwandan genocide.
• IR Theory - a true Political theory class, but it is so interesting to look at it from an African context. The theories play out very differently if you are talking from the perspective of one of the "periphery" states.
  
• Cold War Studies - Again, interesting mainly because we focus on the non-US/USSR relations, but on how the Cold War played itself out in the developing world. This class is exciting because at the end of the semester we are presenting our research at a seminar, with the option of publishing.

In addition to those three lovely classes, I am starting my Master's thesis, on the Politicization of HIV/AIDS in South Africa. I'll update more about that as it gets going better, but it is such a relevant topic here, as I live in the poorest and most-AIDS infected province in the most AIDS-infected country in the ENTIRE WORLD.

Needless to say - I am very busy.

Preview for next update: ---- Road trip.... TO NAMIBIA! :)

Much love.
Haley

PS - I LOVE hearing from you, it makes me feel so much more grounded and makes living abroad seem easy. Please keep the emails coming and update me on your life!!