me and my simple life!

Hi Everyone! Hope you are all doing OK and enjoying this year of 2007!

Everything is fine here! I have been busy busy with uni stuff.... its getting to the hectic last 4 weeks... and now its make or break... haven't been getting any sleep and been working non stop on dissertation and all the other assignments that need to be in!

Today I spent the day on IMS... basically my assignment is (what I think it is) a really good idea. For those of you who know me I am an AFSer and went to spend a year in America... it was a really important year of my life that basically shaped me and prepared me for all the other challenges life had set for me.

So my assignment is basically proposing a podcasting service on the AFS website, so that current AFSers, from various programmes can use the technology to share with the world their experiences, periodically.
I think it is a really good idea and it would be beneficial for both the participants abroad (that would be able to share their experiences with others) but also to prospectives participants that could see, first hand, what kind of reality they would be experiencing if they did take up the challenge!

Obviously I need to talk about the theory, which I am using Uses and gratifications... that basically means that audiences are not passive anymore, and instead are active and goal oriented that exploit different media to fulfill their needs and get something out of it (the gratification). My argument is that, according to several studies, one of the gratifications of using the Internet is social interaction and the podcasting would help satisfying this need my providing an opportunity to interact with others.

This would obviously be at a very low cost for AFS (which has to be, since they are a not-for-profit organisation) and I really really think it would be beneficial for the organisation as a whole.... it would draw more people to the website and generate more interest since it provides real like experiences that audiences can understand and see for themselves!

So that's what I am doing... next week i have to arrange a meeting for one of my other assignments (with Richard and my agency) and I also have to start and finish my analysis of my dissertation research... ho.. and do brand management with Vicky and finish my bit of the task! ufff..... If i can get all of that done plus arrange the things with Gem and Mark about the grad ball i will be a happy bunny!!!!! :) lets pray for that!!!

I love you lot and believe it or not MISS YOU ALL endlessly!!!!!!!!!!!!

Going to bed now!
Tom is good as well... it was valentines this week, we didn't do anything special (i am a bit against Valentines) and went for a meal with my friends and family! it was really really nice and I really enjoyed just spending time with everyone without thinking of assignments and stuff....

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Love you all... stay cool dudes and dudettes!!!!