Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Thesis Update

My presentation went wonderfully and I passed! Now I have some editing, revising and clarifying to do, based on my committee's recommendations, and then I will submit my final thesis.

For the presentation, we had good food and a nice turnout. Two friends from my Swahili class helped cooked Kenyan food (thanks again Courtney and Audrey!!) We used several of my African cloths as tablecloths and I wore the dress I had made in Tanzania last year. It was really a fun defense, despite me being a bit nervous! After I finished presenting, people asked a lot of good questions. I felt like I was able to answer them well and show some of my knowledge and analysis beyond what was included in the presentation.

My parents and Dave’s mom were all able to come for the presentation, which was fun and helpful. My parents stayed through the weekend, though Dave had to work most of that time. I don’t have any pictures from the presentation, and all the pictures of cooking and the food are on other people’s cameras. But everyone went for a walk through some nearby gardens on campus while I met with my committee, and Dave got some fun pictures:

Some daffodils in bloom (speaking of daffodils, the little sprouts in our yard came up farther and they turned out to be tulips after all.)
Courtney got a phone call and Shaun, in typical fashion, was teasing her. My Dad and Dave's mom engaged in some interesting conversation:

9 comments:

Courtney said...

CONGRATULATIONS!! I'm so happy for you! You're not going to know what to do with yourself now. ;)

Sarah Halter said...

Dave has already warned me not to go overboard in adding back activities that I've cut and in adding lots of new things, thinking, "I have time now - I can do that," which is precisely what I would do! However, editing will fill a lot of time in the very near future.

Rebekah said...

Congratulations, Sarah! Have fun editing. :)

Rita Loca said...

Congrats, Sarah and I have to ask, who is Dave???
Thank you also for your comment ,I appreciated it! Unfortunately the anthropologists of Venezuela still seem to be old school of the Napoleon Chagnon type.
Here is a short article I had written awhile back which you might find of interest,
http://jungle-hut.blogspot.com/2007/07/what-about-culture.html

Rita Loca said...

Oops! I also meant to tell you that I know the shaman convert of the book 'Spirit of the Rain Forest'personally and am close friends with the missionaries who reached the Yanomami, the Dawson family. You may be interested to know that one of the sons has written a book and also the mother.
Also the book is being made into a movie. I just posted about it today and was surprised to see you had mentioned it in your comment.

his wife, their mama said...

Thank you for posting on how your presentation went. I have absolutely no idea what you have gone/will go through with a thesis (luckily I haven't had to do one as a SAHM), but am so excited to hear you are so near the end and that things went so well on Friday!
I think of you often and will continue to pray as you wrap things up and are able to move forward to what God has planned for you now!
I send my love to you and Dave!

J.L. Neyhart said...

Congratulations Sarah!

Katie said...

Congrats! That has to feel so good. And such lovely pictures you have too! I love that things are green and growing again!

Katie said...

Hi Sarah, Thanks for stopping by my blog! It is so nice to "meet" someone else who is in a similar boat w/ a medical marriage (not to mention getting a masters yourself--congrats!!) Wishing you all the best. -Katie