you may wonder what it is exactly that i do in grad school (aside from procastinating of course). well, here’s a little glimpse into my world this semester.

i am getting my master in international education (it’s my second master after having been out working for 5 years) and this semester i am taking a class on equity and equality in education, cranking out a paper or research proposal that covers an equity issue and explores how education plays a roll. it’s all pretty abstract, i know. i’m writing on children affected by hiv/aids and their limited educational opportunities. ultimately, the goal is to come up with a solution that would keep these kids in school thus enabling them to get a (better) education. every year in school helps.

the other class i take is on training design. ever participated in a workshop or a training? this class is about learning how to write a training manual and how to deliver that training. my training, albeit in a fictional setting, is for college kids who will intern in a country with a high hiv/aids prevalence rate. if you see a pattern you’re smart! i thought writing up the training manual would be an easy thing but it actually does take quite some time and with such a sensitive topic you can’t just schedule any funny group activity. participants have to trust each other first before even approaching the delicate topic of hiv/aids and personal behavior.

the third class i take (yes, i’m full-time) i program evaluation and that’s pretty straight forward: i am evaluating a project using tools and ways to think that i am learning in the class.

it’s a pretty hands on semester compared to the last but nevertheless challenging albeit in a different way. i have to think a lot more creatively and i love that. at the same time it feels like there is less rules, more wiggle room and that can lead to feeling a little lost in the assignments.

i love being back in school and i love the fact that after each class my head is spinning with ideas, questions, challenges to my way of thinking. i don’t love the fact that i have basically no income but i knew that going into this. it’s just amazing how used you get to having a pay check every month that allows you to have spending money. it’s a good thing i started to downsize way before i moved over here. i changed my spending and shopping habits, i looked at my needs vs wants when it came to purchases and that is helping me now. i find it important to be able to make that distinction especially when living on a budget. don’t get me wrong, i don’t have to sleep under the bridge or starve thanks to my amazing special someone. but if it wasn’t for him i would have a very hard time making ends meet. living in the nation’s capital is an expensive endeavor.

anyways, i don’t want to mope around, i just wanted to tell you what i am currently working on and why i am procrastinating hey, it’s spring break, being a slug is somewhat allowed.

franzi