Finally a decision!

Hello all!

I just wanted to let you all know I've finally made a decision about grad school, and it seems I am still going to be a Lobo after all. It was definitely one of the toughest decisions I have ever made, and I changed my mind about 27 billion times. I even wrote Buffalo and told them I'm coming. And for all of you that I've told that Buffalo was it, just kidding! So now, tomorrow I have to call UB and apologize for the false alarm. In the end, the program, the opportunities for funding, the price, and my new advisor at UNM won out. And I don't think I even need to mention the weather! :)

So that's that. I've already registered for classes and they sound interesting. This fall I will be taking Theory of Ethnology I (required), Women and Oral Tradition, and Life History (taught by my advisor). Unfortunately, no Portuguese. I had planned on taking the Theory, Portuguese, and one other class, but it turns out that the Port. classes are only offered as intensives at 6 credit hours. Nine hours is full time for a grad, and although I could try 12, I don't think it's a good idea for my first ever semester of grad school. So it looks like the language might have to wait until the summer semester, although I'm bummed I can't do it while it's still fresh on my mind.

Stefan and I are still trying to figure out the whole Gurupa thing as well. My professors here in Brazil have given me permission to finish my classes a bit early, so in theory we have the time (but just barely) to visit the Amazon. However, we're not quite sure if the money is as sure a bet. The move to Albuquerque is going to cost us a pretty penny, and we're just not sure if we can do it. Also, if we opt out of Gurupa, we'll have about two or two and a half weeks at home to visit friends and family before the move. If we go, it'll be more like six days. But on the other hand, we have no idea when we'll have the chance to visit Gurupa again. And I think my friend Mara in Belem might just kill me :)

Decisions decisions!