• Update on my studies - the end is in sight!

    October 26, 2008

    Last time I looked, I have 7 weeks of classes left! Ok, that equates to 8 weeks, as next week is Melbourne Cup week (and the third anniversary of The Dining Room - more on that later). It is hard to believe that I began this course so many months ago and with so little comprehension of the changes the course would bring in me, and my life.

    The year was begun with the plan to work part-time with Forge, and study while maintaining Austudy. Unfortunately, that didn’t work out and the Forge work ended after the Forge Grassroots Festival in April. Thereafter, after ALOT of applications, job interviews, emails and letters, I did not manage to get ANY part-time work throughout the year. While this has been a real issue financially, it has been a blessing being able to respond to the community and needs of my family, neighbours and greater communtiy without the commitment of work hours. So, I have seen lives changed, been a shoulder to cry upon, cheered and supported when needed and feel I have been apart of the Kingdom for the first time in my life. But perhaps the greatest girft I have been given, is that of really being able to relate to many of the folk I meet with.

    Being part of The Dining Room and later, Vive Cafe, has also been a huge blessing, not only because of what I wrote in the paragraph above, but because it has allowed me to meet so many people, and see the issues we talk about in class first-hand. However, it is the opportunity to see these issues not merely as issues, but see them as human beings, with feelings, pain and families, and not just numbers that we try to fit into generic boxes, as seems to be the way with the welfare system here in Australia. In addition, we have made many new friends and associates, and I pray that my family has a greater understanding of community from also being apart of Vive Cafe.

    So, with the end in sight, has it been easy? Have I enjoyed the course? That I will write about at a later date, but no, it has not been easy and there have been many times that I have been low, been ready to throw it in; when the pressure was on for assignments; when the financial pressures were too hard and affecting our family; and when I felt that what I was studying was overwhleming, sad and confrontational. But, I hung in there and must acknowledge the support of my parents (who are both Counsellors) and my in-laws! Thanks guys! It has been a tough year but with your help it has been a successful year!

    I will write more on this later - it is a Sunday and the kids are wanting my attention - and I would rather be out there with them, than in here on my Mac!

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