It's over!

Today is by far the hardest day I've had yet. And now it's over!!!!

I had an exam in my public health in developing nations class AND the biological basis of disease. I can honestly say I've never studied harder in my life! Everyday in the library. Notecards, study guide, practice exams, the works. And I really think it paid off. Both tests were difficult, but I don't feel like either of them kicked my butt. I'm actually really proud of myself for successfully finishing my hardest day to date. Grades to come soon!

Now, I'm relaxing on the couch, watching Seinfeld, and giving myself a night off from the library. Never has doing nothing felt so good!

It's almost fall!

It's almost fall! I'm so excited! Trees won't change colors and it won't cool down a whole lot, but I'm so excited that it's almost fall!

Classes are going really well. I have 2 exams next Tuesday though. One is for my Public Health in Developing Nations course (not too nervous about that test...) and the other is for the Biological Basis of Disease. The disease one might kill me. DNA, RNA, Immunology, Organelles... all basic bio 101 things that, somehow, never manage to stick in my mind longer than 10 seconds. 

Work is still great. Don't know if I've mentioned that, but I have a job working in the office in my department. It's pretty basic, but I've gotten to meet a few professors and a few friends too. I fill the copier with paper, answer the phone, email prospective students, and greet people as they walk in the door. Essentially.... not very much. :) But, it pays and I'm a poor grad student!

The best part of today, by far, was booking Rachel's plane ticket to come visit me in October! My parents are coming down too and I can't wait to have them all here. They are all going to stay in my apartment (it will be tight!) but it will be so much fun! I miss them all so much. I've started planning restaurants and activities and all of those other things that my grad school budget doesn't include but that I can't wait to do!

Off to bed... another long day of classes and studying tomorrow!

Life Lessons

Yesterday I went into the bathroom to find a puddle on the floor. Thinking I must have dripped after my shower, I ignored the puddle and continued on. Then this morning I flushed the toilet and found another puddle. And a leak coming from under the toilet. And a stream of water pouring from the back of the tank. Completely unamused, heading out the door to the library, and thoroughly disgusted I stopped by the security desk to ask to have someone come fix it. The conversation went something like this:

"My toilet seems to be leaking... is there someone I can call to have it fixed?"

"Today?"

"Yes, please."

"Um, no."

Silence.

"Oh, um, then what am I supposed to do?"

"Did you turn it off?"

"No. I don't know how to do that."

And then the security guard looked at me. Stared really. Up and down. And said "You don't know how to turn off a toilet?" and gave me the worst look. Like I was an idiot! I was furious. It is one thing to not help me (I get it... it's a holiday...) but to also make me feel stupid? I was NOT amused. But, after a tutorial I did in fact learn how to turn off the toilet and felt pretty accomplished. Life lesson #1.

Finally, 25 minutes after trying to leave I make it to the library. I sit down and start to unpack. My cell phone rings. It's a Tulane #. Sigh. I answer.

"You need to come back. There is someone at your room to fix your toilet."

AMAZING! I go home, let the man in, try to act as NICE as humanely possible since it is a holiday, and he looks at me and says. "Ok. I see what's wrong. I'll fix it tomorrow."

WHAT? Life Lesson #2. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is urgent in the South. Ever. Not a broken toilet. Not being on time to class. Not the streetcar schedule. Nothing. I've seen ambulances blaring sirens and not speed up. This very well might take some getting used to...

1 week in!

Well, I'm one week in and I'm busier than I thought I would be! My classes are going great, despite being a TON of work. I'm absolutely loving Contemporary Issues in Maternal and Child Health. It's just a great feeling to be in an environment where people care so much about health care in our communities and want to discuss all of its facets.

Health care has been in the media a lot lately, and while I'm frustrated by so much of what I hear, I'm excited to be on the front lines of a national issue. We will define ourselves as a country by how we deal with this issue. It's huge and it's going to take a lot of change and a lot of hard work, but we can't continue to allow our neighbors to suffer without the care they need and deserve.

(Steps off soap box...)

Outside of school things are also going well. I've met a great group of friends and am truly having a wonderful time here in the sunny, sunny south. Things are SO different from the north that I feel like I'm still in culture shock after 3 weeks. Somethings, however, are coming to me fairly easily. For instance, today it was 90 and I wore jeans! It's sooooo cold in the buildings here it is absurd. My own apartment is so cold that I keep a down blanket and a sweatshirt in my living room. The building I live in requires you to keep the AC on year round to prevent mold from growing in the stagnant, moist air. Gross.

Somethings I'm fairly certain I'll never get used to. The top of the list? Roaches. Once it becomes dusk they skitter around the streets with the nastiest little clicking sound. For the first week I didn't know enough to look down while I was walking, but now I'm keenly aware of where I'm stepping. The roaches are HUGE. Each are at least an inch long, some are longer.

Each day continues to be a new adventure. It's been hard to remember to update this when I get home from the library at night, but I'm going to try harder!

Hope all is well up north. :)