It has been over a year since my last post. The time has passed slowwwlyy – submitting for external examination, making reviews, rejected, new reviews, external evaluation again and now waiting for hopefully final report before the defense. The emotions have been very high and terribly low most times. But, I am still here, ‘standing’ and waiting.
A lot has been said about submitting the doctoral thesis for external evaluation, for me, it is a period of utter powerlessness, vulnerability, and frustrations. The first external evaluation revealed to me what I will call the darker side of the academic world, and leave it at that for now. It was an interesting and mind-opening experience. Yet, I have strong respect and admiration for the profession and the practitioners that uphold ethics and honour in the dispensation of their professional duties.
Other than the dramas, the period of external evaluation is just about waiting. I have been utilizing my waiting time for writing for publication and applying for jobs and funding for continuing research. Those do take my mind off the tension and anxiety related to the expected report from the external reviewers. Also, taking this blog to the next stage is one of the things I am working on.
In the coming months, I will get back to posting at least once a month. I plan to start three new categories under this blog site. Firstly, a new category on migrants as fathers, written by young fathers coping with the challenges of being their vision of the ideal father in their communities. Secondly, I am also planning on starting another category on Migrants and aspiration in their host community. Thirdly, there will be the category about Development of Africa. There is also what will be the last post under this category on my doctoral degree, which will be written after my defense.
So, see you here next year! Happy 2017!!!