Wow... what a ride these last few weeks have been. Aside from making a big move and a shift in my life circumstances, I have been thinking a lot about the direction of my personal and professional life (which feel like live(s) right now!) While I am trying not to be too focus on 'where' I will be when I graduate (ie. work, career path etc) there is a big part of me that is trying to keep this in perspective as well. This is my third degree - and I want to make sure that I am being strategic in my work and how I am working toward my goals. Which brings me to the difficult question: What exactly ARE my goals?
It was helpful to have the group ask me some question in the group seminar the other night. I can see in my own process how my priorities have shifted over the years, and am learning that this is OK, in fact, perfect. Where do I see myself in 5 years, and how does this practicum opportunity related to this vision? What am I trying to prove by thinking about things that don't fit within the context of my life?
Vandana Shiva: I am drawn to the work of Vandana Shiva because she works with some of 'the core' issues for me: environment, food security and women's rights and empowerment. All of these factors lead to health and community - I believe in her work, and from what I have learned through the website, Navandanya seems to be a beautiful, well-functioning community of committed individuals. I have emailed them again to enquire about how a project would be established, and what I would have to come to Navandanya prepared to work on. Supervision is also an issue - although I am sure that could be sorted out once I made a commitment there.
IIMC in India feels like it is a good opportunity in other ways. It would be working with maternal/child health (a passion of mine) and seems to be a fairly safe and well-established organization within which a practicum could be easily completed (I like the idea of a lot of the 'details' being worked out)! My hesitation here is that I feel that I have already done things like this before - I worked with the Red Cross in Lao, and I have 'volunteered' at an orphanage in Thailand. What experience would this give me that I have not had before? I also have some concerns about this being an internationally run organization and how this plays out in the local community. It would be difficult to know exactly how this was until I was there on the ground.
Kenya appeals to me because of the connection with the rest of my life. I have worked a bit on HIV initiatives in Guyana, and loved this work, but again, I have to ask myself, why am I here. Other than the fact that I can return here, what would be my role in this organization? How is this role sustainable? Could it be sustainable? It is hard to know exactly about Kenya at this time, because I do not know the specifics of the placement opportunity.... I need more information here.
As I am writing I am realizing that I still do not have enough information to make this decision. I have more communication to do to be able to decide where to go. I am ready to decide once facts are in line, and I look forward to being able to make decisions about the specifics of placement and travel.
It was helpful to have the group ask me some question in the group seminar the other night. I can see in my own process how my priorities have shifted over the years, and am learning that this is OK, in fact, perfect. Where do I see myself in 5 years, and how does this practicum opportunity related to this vision? What am I trying to prove by thinking about things that don't fit within the context of my life?
Vandana Shiva: I am drawn to the work of Vandana Shiva because she works with some of 'the core' issues for me: environment, food security and women's rights and empowerment. All of these factors lead to health and community - I believe in her work, and from what I have learned through the website, Navandanya seems to be a beautiful, well-functioning community of committed individuals. I have emailed them again to enquire about how a project would be established, and what I would have to come to Navandanya prepared to work on. Supervision is also an issue - although I am sure that could be sorted out once I made a commitment there.
IIMC in India feels like it is a good opportunity in other ways. It would be working with maternal/child health (a passion of mine) and seems to be a fairly safe and well-established organization within which a practicum could be easily completed (I like the idea of a lot of the 'details' being worked out)! My hesitation here is that I feel that I have already done things like this before - I worked with the Red Cross in Lao, and I have 'volunteered' at an orphanage in Thailand. What experience would this give me that I have not had before? I also have some concerns about this being an internationally run organization and how this plays out in the local community. It would be difficult to know exactly how this was until I was there on the ground.
Kenya appeals to me because of the connection with the rest of my life. I have worked a bit on HIV initiatives in Guyana, and loved this work, but again, I have to ask myself, why am I here. Other than the fact that I can return here, what would be my role in this organization? How is this role sustainable? Could it be sustainable? It is hard to know exactly about Kenya at this time, because I do not know the specifics of the placement opportunity.... I need more information here.
As I am writing I am realizing that I still do not have enough information to make this decision. I have more communication to do to be able to decide where to go. I am ready to decide once facts are in line, and I look forward to being able to make decisions about the specifics of placement and travel.
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