One year of university completed ... in little over eight months.

On Tuesday I finished my university course (bar any need to retake my exam or coursework) and with it comes a lifting of the pressure that builds throughout the semester. It feels quite different from when I completed the first semester, perhaps because this time I know that I don't have to do it all again.


Undertaking the course has been an interesting experience. I've enjoyed the opportunity to get to know a group of people outside of a church setting. I'm going to miss catching up with them for one afternoon each week.

It's been an interesting contrast with my undergraduate degree. Back then I was studying international politics and I found it hard to pull out the salient points from the books and articles. This time before starting the course I sought to correct this and so I picked up some tips on how to summarise and synthesise. I've also found the subject matter more accessible. Rather than trying to understand an author's opinion I'm instead trying to understand models of practice and as a visual learner that more easily sticks with me.

I've been given wonderful support this year, both from the office where I've only been required to work part time, and from my wife who's invaluable in her support at those times when I'm exhausted and emotionally drained.

 My third support has been a kitchen timer. This little chap has corrected, rebuked and trained me in righteous working and encouraged me. He doesn't shout and he's happy to be paused but he's held me accountable. What a friend.

What next from all of this? Well, we're due to go back to Kenya and I'll be working in a personnel role full time. I'm not sure how much of my particular training from the course will be of direct use - may we never need to instigate a disciplinary procedure or get brought to an employment tribunal. For the past few years in Kenya I have been meeting up on Saturday mornings for breakfast with a friend who helps run a small NGO called Spur Afrika. They are really interested in the need for mentoring young men in Kibera, one of Nairobi's slums. I completely agree with their thinking - to get out of poverty one is expected to become a self-employed man or woman of business - getting a bank account, a loan, navigating government regulations, avoiding risk and illness, and if that wasn't enough, finding the right product for the right niche. That's a tough first job. Maybe I'll have something to plug into their training course.

But before all this we need to arrange the steps that will get us back to Kenya... more blog posts to follow...