It's my first day of school!

So, I realized last night that tomorrow is my first day of school--but furthermore, its the 1st time in 6 years (when I started at Smith) I've gotten to have a First Day of School! I have my new notebook, my favorite pens, a snazzy pencil case, a $120 textbook, and a serious case of butterflies in my stomach.

Go ahead and think back to your time in undergrad... when you, or a friend, took *gasp* a graduate level course. It was going to be SO hard. So very hard, in fact, that rumor was if your friend got a B- her dad in the bow tie and bike shorts wasn't even going to be upset! (Clearly, this is just a hypothetical friend...) Being here a mere 4 hours from my first class has my asking myself what have I done in the last 2 years to even slightly prepare me for this? The answer is all to obvious. Nothing at all. (Well, that is not entirely fair. I bet if you gave me 15 minutes on the phone we would end the call with your credit card number. If only they were still offering Telemarketing 703 this semester.)

I've learned great life skills, lived in a city on my own, met amazing people, had the time of my life in Boston, got closer yet to my sister, made friends I will always have and developed stronger friendships with the ones I'd already met at school. But, unless my professor asks us this afternoon to describe our perfect Saturday night in Harvard Square, or write down the recipe for their favorite blizzard food (nothing tastes better than macaroni and cheese when its too snowy to leave the apartment) I'm feeling a bit discouraged.

Butterflies aside, I AM excited. I definitely don't want to come across as being terrified and immobilized by my first day. I'm excited to jump in and learn new things and further my understanding of maternal and child health. I'm excited to prove to myself that I can handle epidemiology and biostatistics and the biological basis for disease. I'm excited to take on the challenge of a full time graduate student.

On a different note... For all of my northern friends and family--today is billed to be one of the nicest days in August with only 87degree weather AND humidity that is not expected to pass 60%. In fact, in similar weather yesterday, a native New Orleanian described it to be 'brisk' to my friend Jennifer. BRISK. We northerners might need to sit down and have a workshop on Weather and Adjectives. All are welcome. Please bring a pen and paper.

Get Excited, Get Involved, Get an Umbrella

Orientation has been going on in full force for the last 2 days. It's been non-stop meetings and trainings and I think all of the incoming class is feeling the effects of information overload. Undergraduate orientation was definitely more geared towards how to be an adult, a student, and a part of a community. Graduate orientation, I'm learning, it more about nuts and bolts. Here's the library. Here's the bookstore. Here's a bill for $80,000 dollars. Oh, and you probably won't graduate on time. I think the most practical advice I've received so far is "Get Excited. Get Involved. Get an Umbrella."  This was during the SPH SGA president welcome address where he welcomed us to the "Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Storms".  But he was right--not a day has passed yet where it hasn't rained.

My parents left on Tuesday and I'm definitely feeling a tiny bit homesick. I realize how far away from home I am every time I watch the weather map. New York is just so far from here! Before they left we did have the chance to set up my apartment and get me settled into my new place. I'm living in an on-campus apartment and it's hard to ignore the dorm-ish feel of it all. Linoleum, fire proof doors (not complaining about that one--they're just heavy!), industrial furniture, etc. It does have build in AC though that I can regulate, so thats a huge plus. Pictures will be coming soon! We made it as "homey" as we could.

New Orleans has been great so far, although I haven't seen much outside of the French Quarter. The music and food have just been overwhelmingly good. Everywhere you go there is a show, a new dish to try, and a bar. It's a good thing I have to start studying next week or I'd wind up gaining 50lbs by September 1. 

Still registering for classes and trying to get all of those details worked out. I think I have my schedule finalized, but will have more details at the end of next week, once my classes have begun in full force. I know I'm definitely taking epidemiology and am not looking forward to it!

So begins my first weekend in New Orleans. I'll keep you all posted! 

T minus 2 Days

Saturday marks the beginning of a new era for me. I'm heading off to graduate school with plans to earn my MPH. I'll be entering the Fall 2009 semester at Tulane University's School of Public Health. I'm excited, nervous, thrilled, and ready to start again in a new city. 

Some of my anxiety, really most of it, stems from my having never been to New Orleans (or really the south for that matter...). I'll be just another sweaty northern girl trying to make it in the heat and humidity of the Crescent City.

Once the plane touches down Saturday morning there is no turning back. You know what they say, life is a two lane road and you have to keep truckin. In my case it's a Tulane Road.