1 down 5 more to go!!!

Muy buenas todos!
   I have officially finished my first quarter as a graduate student and it feels great to be done. I'm trying to decide whether the sensation is similiar to what I felt when I finished in undergrad... but I don't think it is... it just feels different. Maybe cuz' I'm more grown up???? Or maybe when I think about it 5 quarters left doesn't sound as bad as like 16... jaja.
   This quarter has gone by soooooo fast I can't quite believe it's over. I'll be getting ready to go home on the 15th for a couple of weeks to spend with the family. Although one of my sisters won't be there, it'll be nice to be home to see my parents and my others siblings as well as my friends. Having been here for almost 3 months it feels as if this is now my home. I was walking home the other day and I guess this is starting to become my home... I'm starting to know the streets... recognize the buildings.. although I may never truly fit in for a true Phildelphian, it is starting to feel like home. I guess that's a good sign since I do have over 1.5 years here.
   Although the quarter has gone by so fast... I've learned tons of things in the few months I've been here...
   1. I miss Spain terribly... but I'll just keep it in my mind and the photos will remind me that one day I'll be back there.
   2. Friends are the closest things you have to family when you're far from home. The ones I've met here have been great, and it has made being "social" a lot easier for this "semi-antisocial grandma"
   3. Grad school is nothing like undergrad and you definitely need a laser printer... and graduate students like me, who can't read from a computer screen for that long, are probably public enemy number one on the environmentalist list.
   4. Having a hot plate does not equal a kitchen... no matter how nice the apartment is.
   5. Bernard Hopkins live in my bldg... for those who don't know... he's a big time boxer from Philly... I didn't know either... but he's nice and not that scary looking... but I'm sure he's scary if you had to fight him in the ring.
   6. The Rocky steps aren't that bad looking... talking about that I need to watch that...
   7. PHilly is NOT like Seattle or Spain and women walking around late at night is not okay... maybe I haven't quite learned this yet... but I'm sure eventually it'll sink in.
   8. Working + graduate school doesn't work for me...
   9. I miss my mom's cooking like crazy....
  10. It's freakin cold here in Philly....

   Obviously I learned stuff in the classes also, but who wants to hear about that. Now that I've settled in and gotten to know the city, some people and a feel for my classes... I'm looking forward to my 2nd quarter, and excited for all the opportunities it will bring. With more time to dedicate to school... I hope to get involved in some volunteering activities or some organizations... just to get in the spirit of public health.
    I'm trying my best to continue to update, if something interesting happenes... but as you guys can tell... the life of a graduate student isn't as exciting as the traveling, english teacher you had a year ago... but I'll try and work something out for you guys.
    Love you and miss you where ever you are in the world. I hope to hear and see many of you soon.

 Besitos,
  Ngoc :)

And We're Back

      I'm finally back into updating.... it's been crazy with getting accustomed to school and life here in Philly. But i can safely say that I'm going to be better at updating. The quarter is now coming to an end, as finals week is actually NEXT WEEK!!!! I can't quite believe how fast time has gone by, however I guess that must mean I'm keeping very busy. I have enjoyed all my classes and I'm glad that I'm here, and I think I made the correct decision in coming here.
      In the 2 or so months I've been here, I've been able to make a few new friends and grow up a lot more. I've gotten to know people that I normally wouldn't associate with, and have found friends to be the greatest support here, since I'm so far away from my family. I guess I'll do a quick recap of all the things that have happened to me since the last time I wrote... although nothing really exciting happened... besides the studying and stuff.... it's always nice to go back and look on what has happened.

     I shadowed Dr. Handly in the ER for the first time and it was a wonderful experience, I was very excited to be there, and got to see tons of things. I'm looking forward to working with him on possibly more projects or something like that in the future. But after that experience i realized that I am definitely in the right line of work.. there is nothing else in the world I would rather do.

    I got a job and then I quit it. After working for two months I realized that it just wasn't working out for me. I wanted more time to be able to get to know my classmates and to enjoy being a graduate students. i was missing out on a lot of different events such as lectures and get togethers because I was working. Also the environment wasn't something that I enjoyed, so in the end, I realized that if I'm spending so much for graduate school I should be spending most of my energy and time getting the most out of schooling... right?

   I went to my first Eagles football game. It was really fun... they won. The stadium was packed. Philly fans are known for their rowdiness, and i have to say it wasn't tooo bad. I guess I have seen worse, but it was still nice to be at the stadium and watching the game. Although they aren't officially my team, I have to root for them.... but when they play the Seahawks... we know who I'll be rooting for.
   Besides those things, nothing much has been going on in my life... besides studying and more studying. Speaking of studying, I'm going to start studying for my finals that are coming this week. I hope everyone is well, and had a good Thanksgiving, I miss you guys terribly, and hope to see you soon!

 Mil besos,

  Ngoc :)