I cannot believe how long it's been since I last blogged. Of course, I don't have that many followers, so it doesn't matter that much. But I'm going to try to write more frequently now, especially since so many things are changing in my life, and exciting things are to come!
As of last Friday, it's official, I'm going to Zimbabwe for my practicum! You may remember that for my Master's in Public Health program, I have to do a field practice placement. Well I chose Zimbabwe because they have an amazing orphan care center in Norton (not too far outside of Harare ) and they do a lot of HIV education work. Perfect! The plan is to work with the organization here in Boston for the next few months to put together a project and scope of work. Then I'll be going in March and April to Zimbabwe to implement the project. How exciting! I'm a little bit scared of the prospect of living in Zimbabwe, but I know it'll also be an incredible experience.
In other exciting news, my sister is pregnant! She's due at the end of April, so I'll be swinging by Paris on my way back from Zimbabwe (because, you know, it's totally on the way) to meet the little one. I'm super excited, it's the first baby in the family!
Then, when I get back in early May, I will be "graduating" from the school of public health! I put that in quotes because I'll only be walking at the graduation ceremony, but won't actually receive my diploma because I'll have to complete graduation requirements over the Summer. I'll be an official MPH as of Sept 2010! Yay! I can't wait to be done and to start my career!
After that, I'll probably take the summer off to write my final paper for school and look for a real job. I'll most likely live with my parents in North Carolina for a little while, since I'll be down there for Philippe's wedding in June anyway. It should be nice to just take a couple months off and not worry about rent and other grown-up things!
I'm applying for an Albert Schweitzer fellowship, which would take me to Lambarene, Gabon for 3 months at the end of next Summer to do public health work at a major hospital there. Fingers crossed that I get it!
So, there you go, my life update in 6 paragraphs. More to come shortly as plans become more concrete. Snuggles for now.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
It's snowing...
This weekend, it was sunny and 60 degrees. Today, I woke up to snowflakes the size of quarters. TINE (This Is New England). I've been saying lately that I don't mind the cold and snow. But I think I've had it. It's mostly annoying because of the teasers we've had, with warm weather and sunshine. When I talk to Dad and tell him it's snowing, he always says "That's your problem for choosing to live in the crazy north." I guess he's right.
Aside from the mildly-depressing weather, I sang in a concert at Trinity Church yesterday. We played a long arrangement of Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts. We were joined by the Berklee College of Music Concert Jazz Orchestra. It was really cool hearing them play, and also very different for a group of singers used to doing church music! The turnout was great and we had a lot of fun!
I am still waiting to buy my plane ticket to France for the summer. When I looked a few weeks ago, they were $1200! Then, about 3 weeks ago, they went down to $900, and were at a whopping $630 last week! But, I didn't buy then because I was hoping they would go down further, and mostly because I was waiting for my brother to tell me the dates of his trip so we could coordinate. Unfortunately, they're back at $875, and I'm worried they're not gonna go back down...we'll have to wait and see. But I'm really excited, because my trip will include 3 days in London, 3 days in Paris, a week-10 days at my grandparents' in the Loire valley (where my sister's wedding is) and 4-5 days in Rome!! I've never been to Italy, so I'm very excited! Louis and his friend Jayce and I are going to explore Rome and the surrounding countryside. Should be amazing!
In other news, Marc and I are cheating on our apartment. We saw an ad for another place on our street, that looks bigger and prettier, for $200 less than what we pay! So we're going to check it out today or tomorrow, and see if it's really all it's hyped up to be. We don't really want to move, but who knows, maybe we can convince our landlord to decrease our rent!
Ok, time to do some work. Next week: NYC!
Aside from the mildly-depressing weather, I sang in a concert at Trinity Church yesterday. We played a long arrangement of Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts. We were joined by the Berklee College of Music Concert Jazz Orchestra. It was really cool hearing them play, and also very different for a group of singers used to doing church music! The turnout was great and we had a lot of fun!
I am still waiting to buy my plane ticket to France for the summer. When I looked a few weeks ago, they were $1200! Then, about 3 weeks ago, they went down to $900, and were at a whopping $630 last week! But, I didn't buy then because I was hoping they would go down further, and mostly because I was waiting for my brother to tell me the dates of his trip so we could coordinate. Unfortunately, they're back at $875, and I'm worried they're not gonna go back down...we'll have to wait and see. But I'm really excited, because my trip will include 3 days in London, 3 days in Paris, a week-10 days at my grandparents' in the Loire valley (where my sister's wedding is) and 4-5 days in Rome!! I've never been to Italy, so I'm very excited! Louis and his friend Jayce and I are going to explore Rome and the surrounding countryside. Should be amazing!
In other news, Marc and I are cheating on our apartment. We saw an ad for another place on our street, that looks bigger and prettier, for $200 less than what we pay! So we're going to check it out today or tomorrow, and see if it's really all it's hyped up to be. We don't really want to move, but who knows, maybe we can convince our landlord to decrease our rent!
Ok, time to do some work. Next week: NYC!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Happy new year and all that jazz.
It's 2009. What the heck? That means that I turn 25 on my next birthday. Not quite sure when that happened.
But isn't it good that I can say that I love what I'm doing with my life? I'm genuinely proud of myself, every day, for the path I've chosen. I know that in a few years I'll be able to say that, thanks to me, someone suffered a little less from their illness. Even if I change only one person's life, make it a little easier, I'll be happy. I just started my fourth semester of my MPH program, and the classes and professors just keep getting better. They inspire me. They assure me that I will be able to save the world. As of right now, according to my plan, it looks like I'll be graduating in Jan 2011. I like having a plan, working towards a goal keeps me sane. So that's what we'll say for now. No promise that I'll keep up the 8 credits a semester, though.
If I play my cards right, my travels of the next year and half will look like this:
July 2009: France for my sister's wedding
Sept 2009: Rwanda for implementation of a cardiology program
Jan 2010: Dominican Republic for a medical relief trip
Summer-Fall 2010: South Africa for a 6-month internship at an HIV research unit
Not bad for a girl who's never been anywhere outside of France, England and the US...I'll keep you posted on what pans out. Fingers crossed.
Other exciting thing to look forward to: 2 (3?) of my best friends from NC moving to Boston this Summer!
But, following many people's advice, I'm learning to be happy in the moment. Enough relying on future plans to make me happy. I have so many things right now that will do the trick.
Marc and I moved in together last July, and we're really liking living together. We have a super cute apartment in the South End, and we're working on making it even cuter. And it's coming along quite nicely. For example, a couple weeks ago, we added a gorgeous oriental-style rug to the living room; the best part was that I found it on the sidewalk, so it was free. It's nice having this place together, because we get to see each other more, have dinner together every night; and there's always someone to greet you with a smile and hug when you get home.
I started singing in the choir at Trinity Church last fall. This choir has quite a reputation in Boston. They audition, practice a LOT, and expect near-perfection. It's been a lot of fun, I had missed singing. It's a lot of work, and a little tiring sometimes, but generally worth it.
My parents finally got a computer with a WebCam, so I get to video chat with my family on a regular basis. It's so much fun! We tend to goof around a lot on it.
Oh, and I got a raise today! $1080 more a year! haha, excellent.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some reading to do. And maybe some work. It is 3:30pm on a work day, after all.
Snuggles.
But isn't it good that I can say that I love what I'm doing with my life? I'm genuinely proud of myself, every day, for the path I've chosen. I know that in a few years I'll be able to say that, thanks to me, someone suffered a little less from their illness. Even if I change only one person's life, make it a little easier, I'll be happy. I just started my fourth semester of my MPH program, and the classes and professors just keep getting better. They inspire me. They assure me that I will be able to save the world. As of right now, according to my plan, it looks like I'll be graduating in Jan 2011. I like having a plan, working towards a goal keeps me sane. So that's what we'll say for now. No promise that I'll keep up the 8 credits a semester, though.
If I play my cards right, my travels of the next year and half will look like this:
July 2009: France for my sister's wedding
Sept 2009: Rwanda for implementation of a cardiology program
Jan 2010: Dominican Republic for a medical relief trip
Summer-Fall 2010: South Africa for a 6-month internship at an HIV research unit
Not bad for a girl who's never been anywhere outside of France, England and the US...I'll keep you posted on what pans out. Fingers crossed.
Other exciting thing to look forward to: 2 (3?) of my best friends from NC moving to Boston this Summer!
But, following many people's advice, I'm learning to be happy in the moment. Enough relying on future plans to make me happy. I have so many things right now that will do the trick.
Marc and I moved in together last July, and we're really liking living together. We have a super cute apartment in the South End, and we're working on making it even cuter. And it's coming along quite nicely. For example, a couple weeks ago, we added a gorgeous oriental-style rug to the living room; the best part was that I found it on the sidewalk, so it was free. It's nice having this place together, because we get to see each other more, have dinner together every night; and there's always someone to greet you with a smile and hug when you get home.
I started singing in the choir at Trinity Church last fall. This choir has quite a reputation in Boston. They audition, practice a LOT, and expect near-perfection. It's been a lot of fun, I had missed singing. It's a lot of work, and a little tiring sometimes, but generally worth it.
My parents finally got a computer with a WebCam, so I get to video chat with my family on a regular basis. It's so much fun! We tend to goof around a lot on it.
Oh, and I got a raise today! $1080 more a year! haha, excellent.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some reading to do. And maybe some work. It is 3:30pm on a work day, after all.
Snuggles.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
A wind of change is blowing through America.
I figured today would be a good day to come out from under my rock. Barack Obama has been elected the next president of the United States of America. What a wonderful night it was, Tuesday November 4th, 2008. A landslide victory for the first African-American president. North Carolina going blue (even though no one is calling it yet). Breaking through the red to color the map with gorgeous blue. 28 states for Democrats. History in the making.
I couldn't be happier.
And now I'm booking my trip to DC to watch the inauguration on January 20, 2009. Finally, we'll get rid of Bush. Finally, good people will take back the White House. Finally, America will be able to breathe again. I'm so excited.
It's a beautiful day. Congratulations, change is coming!
I couldn't be happier.
And now I'm booking my trip to DC to watch the inauguration on January 20, 2009. Finally, we'll get rid of Bush. Finally, good people will take back the White House. Finally, America will be able to breathe again. I'm so excited.
It's a beautiful day. Congratulations, change is coming!
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
What? Dec 20 was my last post?
I realize it has been MONTHS since I last posted on here. I must play catch up. I will. Soon. I promise. :)
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Doo Bi Doo Bi Doo
I loooove celebrating Christmas early! Because of finals, and me leaving Boston early for Christmas break, Marc and I decided to celebrate Christmas with each other on the 8th. Good thing we did it early, because I was excited about giving him his presents, and I couldn't wait any longer.
We ate a fabulous lunch at Top of the Hub, the restaurant on the top of the Prudential Tower. The view from up there was sooo beautiful! We could see the whole city, still covered in snow. The weather was fantastic: blue skies, sun shining, bright white clouds. Just a perfect setting.
Opening the bottle of Moet et Chandon Champagne...yuuum!
Opening presents! I got a BEAUTIFUL Burberry scarf...I loooove it!
We ate a fabulous lunch at Top of the Hub, the restaurant on the top of the Prudential Tower. The view from up there was sooo beautiful! We could see the whole city, still covered in snow. The weather was fantastic: blue skies, sun shining, bright white clouds. Just a perfect setting.
Opening the bottle of Moet et Chandon Champagne...yuuum!
Opening presents! I got a BEAUTIFUL Burberry scarf...I loooove it!
It snows in Boston
My Starbucks girls came up to visit for the weekend! They'd already visited Boston last year for Labor Day, so this weekend was more relaxed--eating at nice restaurants, checking out fun bars, shopping downtown. It was sooo cold! We all went out and got new winter hats and bundled up. It snowed on Sunday; so much that their plane back to Raleigh was cancelled that night. So they went out a enjoyed their last night on the town (while Marc and I celebrated our 2 months!), and then left on Monday morning. Here are some snapshots of the weekend:
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