It's been a long time...

Such a long time, it took me forever to remember my login name and password then discovered that I can use my email username and stuff so it didn't matter.

A lot has happened since my last post.

My contract with uni ended in May which was a bit of a blow to find myself suddenly without employment when everyone had been under the impression that my contract would be extended however the funds just weren't available. As many of you may be aware Professor Ka'ai (dean of the dept, my supervisor and mentor) was stood down and later resigned along with Prof. Moorfield, my boss. If they had have been around another position would probably have been created for me.

I still miss all the staff and friends I made at Te Tumu incredibly.

However, through one of the lecturers at Te Tumu I was able to get the job I have now. For the past 3 months I have been working part time for a Maori social services collective as research developer. What does this mean you may ask, well, that took me a long time to work out too:

1. I do research for the company - my first project being a report on models of best practice for working with people (my COMF classes paying off).
2. Provider enhancement - working with providers to help them find resources, etc. to carry out their own research. I have recently been working with the Kokiri training centre in south Dunedin to help them find funding, etc. to purchase mountain bikes, etc. to take a group of young people on the Otago rail trail.

At this stage I'm not sure what the future holds, I have been thinking a lot about going over seas next year, possibly in May (I am bridesmaid in March for one of my best friends, Sally & Tish and Richard are getting married at the end of April) to Korea to teach English for a bit to save some money and fund my dream of a road trip across the USA from Alaska to Hawaii. I think I've watched too many movies but it's been a dream for a long time.

I have a passport and my current project is learning to drive. I am finally at the stage where I think I like driving, I've had 3 official lessons and I'm improving all the time so I hope to have my restricted in the not too distant future and my full by early next year.

So that's it really. I'll try to post a bit more regularly.

PS. Andrew, are you impressed?

Music: Jeff Buckley & Gary Lucas - Song To No One (Album: Jeff Buckley & Gary Lucas (Songs To No One)