aepafrica

Sometime between now and 10 days from now....I saw that fb post too. Not sure what sparked that announcement either. It's a bit of a teaser, no?

I suppose not....I'm just at the stage I promised myself I would get to. Doing my best to keep my mind off of it but it does creep in there every opportunity possible. =/ Will do my best to stay focused and my mind on the massive to-do list this coming week. Fly out next Friday!

Really? You are going to tell me not to ask you how you know that?!?!? =) If would be awesome to know sooner than later...I'm on a plane next Friday...sigh...=)

Word...and I have a good buddy here who still hasn't heard a peep from Boren either....and he has, from my opinion, a really cool and relevant project that seems so right for Boren...who knows....

Hang in there everyone. You are right, it ain't over until it's over. I'm hopeful I made "the cut" but again, having indirectly dealt with hope and disappointment with the Fulbright when my husband was going through it, anything is still possible. They could easily say that this language program is too expensive...or any other excuse under the sun. Life would be grand if we heard next week, no? Wishful thinking.....

Do we really know if it is 30 April or could it be sooner? I'm sure the 29th or 30th sound about right.... Well, I just got my tickets to South Africa today since I have to be at site for this harvest in May. I've given up any hope of knowing anything before leaving next Friday. Now to focus on getting everything else on my to-do list done by next Thursday!!

My situation is different from other fellows. I didn't receive a date confirmation email the week of 1 April like others but on 5 April, I received an email (time stamp 4pm) from a program manager informing me that I was the only one expressing interest in the AFLI Zulu program in South Africa....it was cancelled and I was tasked with finding a new language center/program in the country. Once I found one (and I did), I needed to amend my budget to reflect the new costs. I had to have that turned in by 12 April...not much time. They seemed to be more interested that I had a letter of commitment from somewhere that would host a language program for me, saying that we could deal with more specifics of the costs later. I don't know...hopefully this is a good sign. Last week was so stressful.

Hi KGrard, When I was in contact with the program manager last week, he said that fellows are not required to go to DC for the orientation. Good luck to you! I was in Morocco in March to visit my husband who is on a Fulbright-Hays. The consensus seems to be that most people love Rabat over Casablanca. =) That's were we stayed on my way in and out of the country. Good luck!

I didn't initially. But now that I've had to find an alternative program to learn Zulu, does my letter of commitment from the University of Zululand count? I did mention in my application that I have contacts/mentors at the University of KwaZulu-Natal but didn't get the letter of affiliation because the schools were on holiday at the time of submission, it wasn't required and I was in Uganda up until a few days before this was due...

This past week, I received responses from the program manager oftentimes within an hour of my emails. That may be because of the situation I was placed in. He was incredibly quick at responding to my questions and updates...

And then there's my situation....no date email that everyone else seemed to get but then received a very specific email about the Zulu program in South Africa. I'm hoping that because they put the responsibility on me to find an alternative language program/center means that I'm still being considered. I'm trying to remain positive but having dealt indirectly with IIE when my husband was going through the Fulbright and Fulbright-Hays, I know that anything is possible. The good thing is that this waiting will be over soon though I'm sure the days will feel stretched out....

Turned in my amended budget to include an alternative Zulu language program. Now...we wait....

My guess is as good as anyone's here. It's so hard to figure out. I've been so stressed with finding an alternative program and get Boren a budget by tomorrow. I'm happy to report that after emailing and calling from my campus place of work at 2am on Wednesday, I've been able to find two universities to work with me on an alternative program. I got a estimated budget from the one that makes the most sense (interestingly, the university where the AFLI program was supposed to take place). I have a letter of commitment (yay!) and a budget. It seemed a little high but I still have room for costs I need for my research. I sent it over to the program manager to get his opinion on it. He said it looked fine and to redo my budget to reflect it (mind you this is the second time I will have amended my budget). He told me earlier in the week to have it by tomorrow but now has said I can get it to him by Monday. Nope, it's going in tomorrow. It's stressed me out enough. I kept him updated as I really thought I wasn't going to have something work. I hope this was not all for nothing...I've basically had to stop almost everything I've needed to do to make this work in such a short amount of time. It has exhausted me. Good luck everyone. When they say we will know by the end of the month, they mean 30 April, right??

Guess we won't know until they are announced...=/

From facebook: Boren Awards for International Study This year, we received an amazing 526 applications for the Boren Fellowship and 947 applications for the Boren Scholarship. We'll announce our winners at the end of April. Stay tuned!

I had asked the program manager about the orientation and when it would be - just in case I decide to gamble on a return ticket back to the US. He said that fellows do not have to go to the orientation...so I wonder if it's just mandatory for scholars??

Thanks so much! SIT is a stellar school so good for you! One of my colleagues who is a study abroad adviser suggested that program in some capacity too. I wonder if I should try to contact someone at SIT to see if they have any connections/leads in the province....hmmm...thank you! =)

@mcelone: since you were in Durban, do you have any suggestions of a language program/school in the area? I've put out all the leads I can think of at the moment.

Fair enough, shakazulu. =) For all, I spoke with the program manager who sent me the email last week. And as you would expect, he was pretty cryptic. I'm beginning to think that they train all IIE employees in this cryptic messaging. =) I fail to have any decent news to share other than that for better or for worse, all applicants will be notified about the award at the start of May....3 weeks away....and if I didn't need more stress, I have to find an alternative program and amend my budget by the end of the week! Oh the stress!!

I have to call tomorrow to get specifics about alternatives for Zulu. If I learn anything further, I'll pass it along. =) My guess is that if those infamous budget emails are coming, they will be coming soon as April is flying by!

Shakazulu, your name had me fooled, admittedly. =) For curiosity's sake, what's your draw to central Asia? =)

Shakazulu, where are you hoping to go? I can only speak for myself but I love the landscape and the people. I know that sounds like an obvious/typical answer but it's the truth. Everywhere I've been has felt like home. I really enjoy the slow pace of life and the emphasis on family and connections. Despite always being busy when I'm overseas, I'm way less stressed than I am in the US. Once you been 'bitten by the bug,' it's difficult to stay away.

Well...a little all over. Let's see....first experience ever was as an undergrad and I spent a summer in Kenya. Then I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi. Then when I went back to grad school, I spent a summer in Ethiopia as a Coca-Cola World Citizens Fellow....thought I would do my masters there.....but ended up doing my master's in Uganda. Now, I'm moving down south again and in South Africa - the opportunity was too good to pass up. My sites are north of Durban. I've also had small amounts of time in Lesotho and Morocco (because of my husband). What about you, mcelone?

Thanks for the encouragement. Though, like everything that comes from IIE, it's still rather cryptic but yet promising. I know Zulu is underrepresented so it's nice to know that something else may be possible. Will be sure to keep you posted!! I'm so ready to be back on the continent!! It's difficult to be away! =)

No, it's for Zulu in South Africa. The program at UF is still going but apparently I was the only one who showed interest in-country. I have to see what requirements need to be met for an alternative, which I will call about on Monday. Directly from a piece of the email: The domestic UFL program is still a go, but now we need you to find a Zulu program on your own. I have contacts at UKZN who can help and I would rather lean more toward hiring a private tutor. I have previous language experience in Bantu languages and put the UF program in my plan (I'm actually leaving for South Africa before this month ends on other funding because I have to make a harvest that only happens in May!). So hopefully I will gain clarification soon. Part of me can breathe easy that it "appears" that they are still interested in my application but the other part of me is anxious to figure this out so I can get it in order before I actually get on a plane in the next few weeks. I know I'll be ready for this to be certain...no matter the outcome.