National Refugee Forum, Wellington

We arrived back in Wellington around midnight from Melbourne. I had to be at the National Refugee Forum the next morning at Te Papa, and I gave the keynote speech the next day (Friday, 11 July) on the importance of language support. It was received well, and the forum was quite good overall, giving me some last minute impressions for my final touches to my policy analysis. It was also a wonderful opportunity to see people I met during my travels throughout the country to conduct research.

Adel Salmanzadeh, Auckland Regional Refugee Education Coordinator

Far right, Zhiyan, amazing Kurdish grad student from Christchurch (CC)

Yuki and Shannon, INZ team members

Thomas Banda, CE of Changemakers; and Patrick O'Connor, CE of PEETO, CC

Parvathi Raghunathan, Regional Refugee Education Coordinator in Auckland; and Maria Hayward, Director of Education at Mangere Refugee Resettlement Centre

Judi Altinkaya, my mentor at MBIE

My keynote at the National Refugee Forum, Wellington, July 2014

Me and Judi for Q & A

One week later, I have submitted my final draft on my policy analysis, the culmination of six months of study. By the day, I hear and learn new things, but I do feel that I have sufficient research to make the suggestions that I do. From this point I will make edits, then create a presentation to give both at the MBIE that has so generously housed me through my adventure (Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment) and to the greater community in August.

The MBIE is moving to new offices on my birthday, 1 August. Because I can only imagine how much work that will be, I have told them they do not need to provide for me, as I can work at home during August to prepare for my return to Florida. I can't say how much I will miss these people who have become friends.