from LJ to a "real" blog

Livejournal has been good to me over the years, but I feel that moving into adulthood this type of blog is more acceptable? At least now that I am planning to write more about my experiences and not whine as much, I thought a change might be in order.

For now, this blog will document my summer of (a) applying to medical schools and (b) doing service and medical anthropology research in Arusha, Tanzania. I leave from Detroit for Tanzania on May 29, so I have a lot to do before then. Besides finishing my personal statement and writing up synopses of all of my undergraduate extracurriculars, I also need to go through the Peace Corps guidebook and decide what exactly I should be packing for Africa...and hopefully learn as much Swahili as possible in the next few weeks. Maybe I should make flashcards to get a head start...??

At this point six or seven people have reviewed my PS, and it has definitely improved from my original draft. It still is not stellar, though, so I will continue to work on it. I also need to create a more specific plan for my research this summer and email Prof Lende. I actually should have met with him before leaving Notre Dame, but finals week turned out to be crazyyy. I am very grateful that the semester is over. 18 credits, MCAT studying, undergraduate research, a job in the osteology lab, and volunteering in the ER did not make for the most social spring. I am actually just impressed that I made it through...I was definitely having my doubts before it started. We will see the first results of the semester tomorrow when our grades go up. Then, MCAT scores are available in circa one week. Hopefully everything turns out to be worth it...

The rest of the week should be fun. I am going to work hardcore tonight and tomorrow, then Wednesday a.m. I am going into Nicole's preschool class and later that evening to the math class my dad is teaching at our community college. Then on Thursday, Chicago to celebrate Sarah's birthday! She was studying in Spain for this past academic year, and while I got to see her twice in the fall (because I was studying in Dublin), I have not seen her for a long time now.

Gossip Girl tonight was good, but not as dramatic as it could have been. I thought Serena actually killed someone *sigh* I am glad that Sarah is as into it as I am, because I am not okay with watching TV alone. Must be an enfj thing...