hello world! we are just about to jump on a plane, but since i've got a second and i've received several inquiries i'd like to give a progress report on my work. i guess that i assume that it will be tremendously boring to everyone else.

things have gone great. i have finished a first draft of what will probably end up being the bulk of the dissertation. over 350 pages of good material. i am in the process of cleaning up the writing, tightening up my conclusions and arguments, and sending it to my professor. he says he is very pleased with both the quality and the progress i am making. so that's great. it looks like i am on course to return home with the thing just about written and in pretty good shape. after that i will do 'rewrites' for a few months.

so, that's the report on the work. i haven't branched out as much as i thought i might before i came, but i am gratified that i will be substantially finished soon. i think that after we return i will only have one more year before graduating. this is necessary to put the disso in final form, please all of my readers, tie up loose ends, publish, etc.

So, gotta go! Thanks for asking about the work. I have been really lucky to have this time and I think i have made the most of it. i am excited to get back and move on to the next phase!

much love! we'll be posting soon with pictures of a whole different india! we're stoked!

love,
mark