OFA Update....

Well, I got the letter from OSS confirming that this trip is a part of my program so hopefully OFA will assist with some type of financial assistance.Cross your fingers...

Books

Creative Arts Therapy Manual Stephanie L. Brooke
Contemporary Art Therapy with Adolescents Shirley Riley
Healing the Inner City Child Vanessa A. Camilleri

What's Next Oh Wise one....

Ok....so today I met with my adviser to discuss the classes I will be enrolled in over the Spring/Summer. This is significant because I need to be enrolled in a class during the time that I am in South Africa in order to receive some type of financial aid! So I'm going to do a Special Studies for four credit hours! What else...what else...
We talked about who else I will meet with to discuss my trip and transitioning from academia to service project in a different culture! So, my adviser mentioned a few faulty members and colleagues that I will possibly meet with up until I get ready to leave. We also discussed locating relevant syllabus for me to look through for reading materials. Next time we meet, I need to have the syllabus and possibly be ready to meet with these other individuals that have knowledge about South Africa specifically.
How am I feeling? Honestly, truly...I am very overwhelmed. Just trying to finish up the semester and then also plan this other trip is extremely time consuming, not to mention emotionally. I am also thinking about post-production...WOW! At this point, that is the only expression that I have...I honestly didn't know so much went into producing a media based project. But I'm up for the challenge because this is an aspect that I want to incorporate into my skills and ultimate career, so why not learn the skills now? Yeah, so right now, just scrambling to apply for funding...

The week of March 10th...

Note to self: Don't overwhelm yourself with these documentaries, your a softee...

Ok, so...I have submitted the Ginsberg Fellowship, watched some documentaries and talked to financial aid! Ginsberg Fellowship I feel good about what I submitted and hopefully everything will turn out in my favor! Running tab of documentaries I watched Color of Justice and Mama Awethu both were very powerful and overwhelming to watch in one sitting, I won't do that to myself again! Financial aid Alright, so they of course have me running around trying to find documentation so that my budget can be expanded! How am I gonna find receipts for this and that? I also have to get some documentation from OSS to submit to OFA so I can be enrolled during the time I go and receive credit.
Reflection: There are so many barriers...Why doesn't an atmosphere like U of M support a project like mine? I know the answer but I'm not gonna accept that, someone is going to give me money for this trip...OOKKKAAYYY! I finally also met with BM, I'm glad that our schdueles would work for us this weekend, we've been playing email and meeting tag for the past two weeks. I also haven't heard anything from LH, I would like to get in contact with her so she can be my cross cultural faculty advisor for this trip. Oh so, back to the meeting with BM, he was very resourceful and had me consider alot of things. Like what skills or ideas I would bring to the people I will work, what are my expectations, am I really prepared emotionally for this...yeah, I spent alot of our meeting thinking about the questions he was posing to me...which is good...I actually look forward to our next meeting. Hopefully, I can bounce some questions off of him about things I need to ask for this documentary. I took some pictures yesterday for another project, I think they came out pretty good! I am going to check out a camera so I can start practicing my photography...Until....

Meeting @ the Ginsberg Center

Well...well...well, I had a meeting this morning with a gentleman that is the contact person for the Fellowship I am applying for on Monday! I was very nervous but he reassured me that my proposal was on the right track and that I needed to expound on a few areas, but overall it was good!
I am feeling little overwhelmed at this point. All of my class assignments, lesson plans for field placement and then get ready for South Africa, I can feel my brain move now...I THINK I CAN!
Oh yeah, I rented a few documentaries from the media library...where do you watch a VHS recording these days? LOL

Participated in a Brilliant Dialogue

Well, this morning, I attended a dialogue with a visiting scholar, Kim Berman. She has established a paper making organization in South Africa that attempts to empower through skill training for income generation.
"Collaborations in Art, Creative Activity & Increasing Community Resilience and Empowerment"
I found this space to be extremely comfortable and it was a space that allowed growth for my vision for this project. I was so excited just listening to all of the professors discuss their work and how creative expression and advocacy and empowerment for social, economic and political issues collide! One of the speakers, Janie Paul, who established PCAP...was very interesting! I think I am going to inquire about working with her, so I can facilitate a therapeutic writing group with girls in a detention center.
I am torn... I have this desire to pursue a legal career in policy and advocacy, however, I have this passion and feeling about community arts...where do they collide? how does art create change? I felt so at home and peaceful discussing and listening to these scholars. Where is my life going to take me? Preparation for this trip has opened my eyes to my strengths and honestly
what is important to me.
Day in and day out...going to class...going to work...attending meetings...writing proposals...doing research...proofreading papers...I don't want to be average...I am EXTRAORDINARY...Sometimes I get so caught up in the routine of my daily life, that I don't get a chance to reflect on the connection and application of everything that I am currently doing...I am not primarily in school and taking classes, everything needs to fit together and compliment each other...skill sharing and skill building...South Africa

YAAY! CAAS Moody Fellowship!

Well, I completed and handed in my first Fellowship application for volunteering in South Africa. I am confident in what I submitted however, I still have a little anxiety! I had some help of course with formatting but ultimately I think it turned out pretty good! I am trying to figure out another title for this blog and also the title of my visual learning component for my trip!
I feel good! I'll let you know the results...
I need to schedule a few meetings and get started on another proposal that is due on March 10th!