Peace Fellow Update

(Thought I'd give you a sneak peak on an update from our district's Peace Fellow studying in Australia)

 

 

Greetings, Rotary District 5470!

 

I hope this finds you all well, and that everyone is finally enjoying weather comparable to that in Down Undah! I heard about how much snow Colorado got during the spring season, and I must say I was especially grateful to be removed in the subtropical part of the world!

 

For those of you who don’t know, my name is Katsa (Shea) Brenneman, and I was selected as a 2017 Rotary Peace Fellow, which means that for a year and a half, I’ll be studying to obtain a master’s degree in international peace and conflict resolution at one of the six Rotary Peace Centres around the world. I am one of ten candidates at the University of Queensland, where the Rotary has covered my travel expenses, tuition, and accommodation! There is not likely to be another fellowship as generous as the Rotary Peace Fellowship, and I would highly recommend that Rotarians continue to inform anyone they might know who would be motivated to apply for this program!

 

That being said, I wanted to write a brief update about my time thus far in Queensland, Australia to keep you all apprised of what I am learning during my master’s program. During the first six months, I found a great house-share with some Canadian med-school students, met my lovely 2017 Rotary Fellows cohort, and learned to interpret a lot of Aussie slang, including: fair dinkum! (that’s true); I’m getting up at the sparrow’s fart! (I’m getting up early); good on ya! (good for you); and bonzer mate! (happy for you). At the University of Queensland, my courses included intro to peace and conflict studies, mediation, and conflict resolution. The courses traversed culture and history, analysing different approaches to conflict around the world, and how best to accommodate different worldviews in the interest of resolution or relationship transformation. But beyond that, my classmates, who represent everywhere from Russia, to Myanmar, to South Sudan, and everywhere in between, have shared invaluable perspectives and personal testimonies with conflict and its resolution.

 

As I look ahead, I am excited for a second semester of courses, followed by a compulsory three-month internship that I can undertake anywhere in the world to gain further experience with conflict resolution efforts and career options. I already feel unbelievably fortunate to have participated in the first part of this program, and I am excited beyond words to embark on the continued journey that lies ahead! I will definitely keep in touch with District 5470, since you are my home district, after all!

 

Please know that you are never forgotten, and that I am undyingly grateful for this opportunity, and for the way it will shape and transform me the rest of my life. Thank you so much for reading, and I’ll be sure to write with another update soon!

 

Your Rotary Peace Fellow,

Katsa (Shea) Brenneman