OK. Two posts in twenty minutes...obsessive right?!
I just started thinking about packing for Tanzania, and thought about how I wont have much room for a lot of things. While my space is sparse, I would really like to be able to pack some toys.
During my six week project I will be living with a home family and will hopefully be active in the community. I would REALLY like to pack some toys to bring so that I can play with the local children. I've had a couple of ideas but I was hoping for some input from ANYONE and EVERYTHING with an opinion.
The ideal toys are: tiny. durable. require little skill. fun. universal. simple.
The toys I'm going to pack so far include: A Frisbee. A couple Hackey-Sacks. A Deck of Cards.
So if you have any idea of something that I could bring. Be it a toy, a school supply or just something that you think might be really fun, then please leave me a comment!!
Alright, back to corrections!!
Thursday 19 May 2011
Back on Track (to Africa)
So these last few weeks have been extremely busy! Mainly because I've been preparing my MSc thesis for its defense. The defense was yesterday, and it went pretty well! I gave a 25 minute presentation, followed by about 5 minutes of questions and then I had an oral exam for about an hour and a half. The questions were tough, but I feel that I did pretty well! I'll submit my thesis tomorrow, and then I will OFFICIALLY be done!
Once I am OFFICIALLY done, I'll have more time to do things to prepare myself for Tanzania! While I posted on this blog a few months ago that I was starting to learn Swahili, that has really taken a back seat in my life. I'm starting to worry that I've pushed it off for too long. Starting this weekend, I will be practicing and learning my Swahili, in an attempt to have at least a basic understanding of it!
I also need to wrap up my vaccinations, still needing my meningitis shot as well as a couple other things.
I've begun to think about my packing list. Its long and slightly dreadful, all the things I'm going to have to bring and all of the things I'm going to have to leave behind! Its kind of exciting though!!
I'm also getting more excited to have some spare time to be able to learn more about the Tanzanian culture and start really REALLY pumping myself up for this experience! I just checked my countdown and I see that I only have 50 days left until departure! WOW!
Even though I've defended my thesis successfully the work is still not over (how is that even possible?!), I still need to finish up some recommended corrections on my thesis. So I'm going to get to that and then very very very soon all my attention will be on AFRICA!
-Matt
Once I am OFFICIALLY done, I'll have more time to do things to prepare myself for Tanzania! While I posted on this blog a few months ago that I was starting to learn Swahili, that has really taken a back seat in my life. I'm starting to worry that I've pushed it off for too long. Starting this weekend, I will be practicing and learning my Swahili, in an attempt to have at least a basic understanding of it!
I also need to wrap up my vaccinations, still needing my meningitis shot as well as a couple other things.
I've begun to think about my packing list. Its long and slightly dreadful, all the things I'm going to have to bring and all of the things I'm going to have to leave behind! Its kind of exciting though!!
I'm also getting more excited to have some spare time to be able to learn more about the Tanzanian culture and start really REALLY pumping myself up for this experience! I just checked my countdown and I see that I only have 50 days left until departure! WOW!
Even though I've defended my thesis successfully the work is still not over (how is that even possible?!), I still need to finish up some recommended corrections on my thesis. So I'm going to get to that and then very very very soon all my attention will be on AFRICA!
-Matt
Wednesday 18 May 2011
Master of Science!
This picture pretty much sums up how I feel today! I just defended my MSc thesis, which I've been working on for the last 2 years. It was quite the experience, and now all I want to do is relax with a couple of beers. Unfortunately, I've got some last minute corrections to make to my thesis before it is absolutely perfect and ready to submit!
That being said, I'm going to get cracking on these corrections and then I'll be DONE DONE DONE!
-Matt Leslie (aka Master of Science)
Saturday 14 May 2011
Excuses Excuses
Hey Everyone!
These last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind and I apologize for the lack of posting that I have been doing!
I have been busy studying and preparing for my Final Defense, which is taking place this Wednesday at 9am! I've been reading journal articles like no other, and practicing a presentation that I will be giving which highlights my research!
I am extremely excited to complete my M.Sc., and by Friday May 20th, I will officially be done (I think!). Once May 20th rolls around I will have much more time to prepare myself for Tanzania and keep everyone updated on what I'm doing and how I'm doing it!
So until then, I apologize for my absence!
Wish me luck!
Monday 9 May 2011
Fundraising Update #9
Hello everyone!
While I have successfully reached my fundraising goal, I have continued to receive some very generous donations from family and family friends! The money that I continue to raise is going towards my own personal expenses, right now it will go towards paying for my flights AND paying for my vaccinations!
A BIG thank you goes to:
The Gregg Family
Kelly Orser
Mary Jane and Brendan Cummins
Aunt Pat and Uncle Tony van der Heyden
Thank you thank you thank you all for your continued support!
While I have successfully reached my fundraising goal, I have continued to receive some very generous donations from family and family friends! The money that I continue to raise is going towards my own personal expenses, right now it will go towards paying for my flights AND paying for my vaccinations!
A BIG thank you goes to:
The Gregg Family
Kelly Orser
Mary Jane and Brendan Cummins
Aunt Pat and Uncle Tony van der Heyden
Thank you thank you thank you all for your continued support!
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