Off to China!

Tomorrow, I am off China! This week has been great- starting with the awesome surprise party (see below), then a great breakfast with girlfriends yesterday morning and one of the best meals I've ever had with my Matt. Tonight, my parents, sister, Matt, and I are heading to dinner somewhere in our 'hood and having cake at our house. The best birthday gift (although I've had some great ones:)- has been seeing family and friends this week and reminding myself how lucky I am!

I really only started packing today, although I've been running around town for a week getting gifts for my host family, essential toiletries (portable toilet paper), and getting the students ready for this trip as well. I'm pretty much ready to go, since I'm keeping the clothes, etc to a minimum (a feat for me). Although it definitely won't be relaxing as I am essentially 'in charge' of 8 students, I know that it is a wonderful and once in a lifetime opportunity. As long as I get through the flight, I know it will be great!

Stay tuned for photos and flip video that I will try to post while I am gone.
Thanks again to everyone who helped me make my bday so sweet!

Surprise!

It is not often that people can surprise me, because I am very nosy and like to plan everything I do myself (OK, Type A, I guess)

So, I was SO surprised last night when we walked into No Mas Cantina with Matt and my sister under the impression that we were just meeting up with my lovely friend Sarah and her boyfriend Dave and SO MANY other friends and my parents were there waiting. Crazy! It was really a big surprise, even though right before we left our house I got an idea since Sarah kept texting me telling me that she 'was dressing cute' and wearing a dress because that was the only clean clothes she had- she knows me well and was trying to tip me off to dress up a little!

Matt pulled this whole party off so well, with the help of my sis and Sarah. What a great night! Great friends, some really fun presents (I am really excited about my new Flip camera thanks to my parents that I can take to China), yummy banana and caramel cake, and most of all the reminder again that I am so blessed and lucky!!

I have much more to catch up on with posting...and will post even more pictures soon!

Exciting stuff!!

So, it's all over (or maybe it's all beginning).....Yesterday, I successfully defended my prospectus! It went very well, better than I expected. I felt very nervous before I began and then as soon as I started talking, I felt fine. It lasted a little over an hour, including questions and comments from my committee. I didn't think I answered their questions very well, but I got tons of helpful insight into how I can improve my study before I begin. It was a great feeling and it's a nice milestone to have done.
Now, the fun begins! I have to get all the permission and details ready to start collecting data in August until next March. It will be very time intensive in addition to my teaching roles, but I am very excited to do this. So, now when people ask me when I will graduate I can actually give a pretty good estimate- December 2010....and that actually seems close!!!
Thanks to everyone who send emails, messages, etc with their prayers and positive thoughts!

So, now, I need to do all the getting ready stuff I have been putting off before I leave for China March 28. There's lots to do teaching-wise before I leave. This weekend, we're heading to Louisiana for our friends' Allie & Brad's wedding. We are excited and hope to spend a few hours eating good food in New Orleans before we head home Sunday.

Another update on the big P

As of last week, my prospectus presentation announcement was signed off on and turned in. So, I defending March 10th at 3pm....lots of prayers and good vibes needed then! I am now working on the presentation for this defense. I have to create a powerpoint and have about 20 minutes to talk....about my entire study. I am shooting for 20 something slides and already I'm having a hard time synthesizing everything down.
Next week is GSU's spring break, so that will give me the time I need to finish getting ready. I also have a lot to do to prepare for China, so hope to do that as well.
There's lots more updating that needs to happen but for that's it for now. Back to work!

Update on the big "P"....

It is definitely time for an update. What I'm doing these days is hard to sum up quickly when people ask me, "So, how are things going with your prospectus?" Let me break it all down, for those that are interested. The prospectus is the 'proposal' of what my research will be- it's the first 3 chapters of a 5 chapter dissertation. One must write and defend this to a dissertation committee before passing and being allowed to start collecting your data (and then, writing and defending your dissertation).

So...I've been 'working on' my prospectus for a year now. What I am planning to study has changed shape a little and with this new job I started in August, I wasn't able to pull it together last fall like I wanted to. So, the plan is now to defend it in March, before the spring deadline passes (you have to defend it before a certain date in the semester to be considered a "doctoral candidate" at the end of that semester). I WANT to be a doctoral candidate at the end of this semester!

To do this....First, I had to get the best draft possible approved by my adviser by the end of January. Check. Then, after a few suggested changes, I had to immediately turn around and send it to the other 3 members of my committee asap to give them time to read it and either give me suggestions for changes or approve it to defend. I have to submit the paperwork and final draft at least 10 working days before I defend it in March. So...that's about 2 weeks from now. I sent it to my committee Friday and am hoping to defend it March 10-13...

Hope that helps. Will keep you updated. But, to sum up:

1. Yes, the prospectus is basically done as of today (but is still open for changes/approval.

2. It's not over. I now have to put together my presentation so that I can successfully defend this in March. Prayers and well wishes appreciated!

Other than that, work is keeping me busier than I expected, mostly because school systems are experiencing a lot of issues these days and so now my biggest stress is securing placements for our students in schools. Students are worried about finding jobs when they graduate and I cannot blame them. Teaching used to be a 'safe' career but it's not looking great.

Other than that, In the last few weeks, we've enjoyed a wonderful visit with Matt's mom, a nice couple's wedding shower and baby shower for friends, and a 1st birthday party for the beautiful Isabelle.

Hope you are well..
K

Happy Birthday Joann!

Today is my wonderful mother in law's birthday. We are wishing her a happy birthday today, but what's very exciting is that she'll be in Atlanta tomorrow so that we can wish her this in person. Until then, hope today is a wonderful today!

PS- I know I haven't updated this blog in the new year at all...Happy New Year everyone and I have not forgotten about any of you that I have not been in touch with all month. Am in a prospectus-writing daze and I am turning it in to my adviser next week. There will be plenty to do until I defend it in March, but things will be better somewhat in Feb....Until then, take care!

A White Christmas

We left Atlanta the Monday before Christmas for Park City, Utah where we go every year to ski with family. Although I had a cold for the first few days of the trip, it was a really nice time and I did manage to ski on Friday (and only fell once). Although I definitely don't feel like a 'real skiier', I found myself more confident and able to enjoy it more rather than just worrrying about whether I will break my leg the whole time. It was the snowiest trip since I've been there and it was gorgeous to have a real white Christmas. The highlights of the trip included Matt's cousin Alex's song and dance routines, a delicious Christmas dinner at Chez Betty, ice skating on Christmas day, and major scores at outlet stores. We got home last Sunday with no delays at all. Here are some photos of the trip......

Once we got back home, I was greeted with a lovely stomach bug and then the same cold that kept fighting it's way back to me (and is still lingering).

This is definitely the time of year that above all else, I realize how lucky I am to have such loving and supportive family and friends. I am so thankful and blessed.

Happy New Year to all!