I'm here AND I have Internet!

I read a lot of blogs. Many blogs. Food/cooking blogs, travel blogs, news blogs, fashion blogs. And I've even ghost-written a couple for a past PR client or two (not necessarily proud of that though). But, I've never actually written my own blog. I've started a few, but then realized I wouldn't read them if I were you... and gave up.

Not sure if this has changed really, but since I've been asked by several of you if I would be chronicling my time in South Africa via a blog, I thought I'd give it another shot. And I'm kinda happy that I won't be here long because I'm not sure of how good a blogger I'll be. But, here goes!

So, I'm in Jo-burg. I finally have Internet at home that I know I can use without being charged an arm and a leg. No one really has broadband/high-speed Internet at home here yet because it's so expensive. Web usage usually takes place on cell phones, which brings me to my research here. Most of you know that I am here to conduct focus groups with South African youth about MYMsta, the world's first mobile social network working to prevent HIV/AIDS. It's run by LoveLife, an NGO here, that is responsible for a multifaceted, national HIV/AIDS prevention campaign targeted at youth. You can learn more about them here: http://www.lovelife.org.za/.

Getting my research off the ground from concept to reality has proved challenging so far. I've been working on human research ethics applications since the beginning of the year and am still having some issues getting approval. I need this before I begin speaking to youth, so it's critical that it happen within the next few days. I've had good meetings with the folks in charge with media and communications here though, and they are really helping me get a handle on coordinating the groups. They even want me to travel to different parts of the country to do the research, which is really exciting. We'll see what happens, but I may be going to visit rural areas around Cape Town and Durban, as well as the province of Mpumalanga to do focus groups next week. I'll keep you updated!