Tied to technology

I have to take a break from journaling about grad school to rant about something that has become increasingly annoying to me, and that's people's obsession with technology. I'm talking about people who always have to have the latest phone, blackberry, Ipod, or other gadget. They can't go more than a couple of minutes without texting, and they're constantly checking facebook.

When did it become necessary to be in constant contact with everyone you know? My friend Emily once said that her phone was like a "leash", and I think that's an apt way to describe it. Technology can definitely be enslaving rather than freeing. When it becomes such an addiction that you need to have your cell phone by your side 24/7, I think it's a problem. What drives me crazy the most is when you're hanging out with someone and they're texting every 2 minutes. Why isn't that considered rude when talking on the phone would be?

The thing that makes me sad the most is that sometimes it seems like people are never fully living in the moment. They're always planning the next thing, or talking to someone else, or living in some virtual reality. They're pulled in so many different directions that they can't seem to focus on the task at hand. Just learn to put down the phone, turn off the computer, and enjoy what you're doing at the moment with whoever is there with you. Jim Elliot once said, "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God." Good advice for our technology-driven society.

First day of class

Now that orientation is over, we had our first real day of class. It was just 2 hours of lecture in the morning, but tomorrow we have morning lecture and anatomy lab right afterwards. I've realized I'm going to need to bring a snack to class because we don't get a break for lunch until after lab, and 8am-1pm is a long time to go without food!

I've got my gloves, scrubs, and dissection kit all set to go for tomorrow, and I read over the lab we'll be doing, but I still don't know if I'm prepared for the cadaver dissection. It's really cool that I get this chance to learn about the human body, but it's intimidating and humbling too. These people donated their bodies to science so that others could benefit, which is a sacred thing, so I'm a little scared to just start cutting away and mess anything up.

In other news, I'm starting to adjust to city life a little bit. I got a bus pass and I've ridden the bus the past two days. It's easier and faster than driving, and I also don't have to walk up the huge hill from the parking lot to class anymore! Today I also went for an evening run, which was a lot of fun. I walk down my street and across the main road, and then run down and back Monument Ave, which is a nice tree-lined street with wide sidewalks and lots of people out and about. Although some parts of Richmond are really sketchy, Monument Ave is a beautiful neighborhood, with old-fashioned brick houses and statues along the road (hence the name Monument Ave). It's amazing how some areas of town can be so pretty while others can be so run-down, but I guess that's true of a lot of cities. I hope to discover more of what Richmond has to offer in the weeks to come!

One of 55

Today was my first day of orientation for physical therapy school. It was quite intimidating to look out over the class and know that you're just one out of 55. And the other 54 people are going to be the people you'll spend the next 3 years with. The problem is, you don't really know anyone yet. You don't know with whom you'll eat lunch or study or become friends. You also don't know your way around the campus yet and you don't know the names of any of the dozens of buildings surrounding you on all sides.

To make matters worse, the professors go over all the policies and academic standards on the first day, which is a little nerve-wracking. VCU's physical therapy program has very little leeway for students who get bad grades or fail a course. Basically, you can't drop below a 3.0 GPA and if you fail a class, you're dismissed from the program. I've been in a lot of classes where the teachers try to scare you on the first day (they'd call it "encouraging you to study"), but this is more serious than any other course I've attempted. I know I'll have to stay on top of things and stay very motivated to do well.

I did get a lot done today. I got my VCU ID card and a bus pass and turned in all my immunization forms (I actually had to get a Hep B vaccine today too). Still, it was the first day, and there's always that awkward "I don't know what I'm doing yet" feeling. You know, come to think of it, the first day of grad school is like the first day of any school. It sucks, but you can see the potential for it becoming something you might actually like one day. I'm sure after a while the classes and buildings that are so confusing to me now will become familiar and memorable to me later.

Oh Richmond!

I'm finally here in Richmond and my first day of grad school is tomorrow! Well, orientation starts tomorrow, at least. Actual classes start on Thursday, I think. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I'm still getting used to Richmond. I drove down here on Friday and spent Saturday settling in and organizing all my stuff. A good part of the day was spent putting together an island that my mom had bought me from Ikea. It was harder to put together than I anticipated, and by the time I'd finished, I was dripping in sweat. But I did manage to put it together and it's great to have some extra counter space in the kitchen!

On Saturday night, my roommates and I got to meet some of the other people who will be in the DPT program at VCU. We hung out at someone's house and then we all went to a bar together. All I can say is that the VCU/Richmond scene is definitely a lot different from the Liberty scene! I'm not really used to it at all.

I'm starting to find my way around a little bit. Yesterday I went to Kroger to get a few groceries and it's right down the road from my apartment. Today my roommate Kelly and I went to the VCU gym to work out. It's a pretty nice gym and there's a separate gym for students from the MCV campus, which is a huge plus! Tomorrow's the real test though. I'm hoping my first day at VCU will be a good one.

Back in Mass

Well, I'm back in my hometown of Holden, Massachusetts for the week. I'm glad to be here at my home for what may be the last time. My parents are trying to sell their house now that all 3 of us kids have moved out. The house is too big for just the two of them, I guess, and my mom is tired of doing most of the cleaning, lawn mowing, and pool care by herself while my dad works long hours at the hospital. They're ready to move, but I'll be sad to say goodbye to this place. I have so many great memories growing up here- swimming in the pool, playing kickball with the neighborhood kids, birthday parties, sleepovers, etc. I'll miss this house.

One of the ironic things about selling the house is that my parents have had to update some things in order to sell it. My mom got the granite countertops she wanted in the kitchen, we took down wallpaper and repainted the bedrooms, and we got a new stove. Our house looks nicer now than in the past 17 years that we've lived here!

One last note about Massachusetts: it is COLD here! I mean that it's colder than it normally is in the middle of June. Usually after a few weeks of summer in Virginia, I'm ready to come home to temperatures in the 70's, nice breezes, and a few more clouds. I prefer it not to be unbearably hot during my summer vacation. But this time, I went from high 90's to mid 60's! It's just a little too chilly. Unfortunately, I left most of my clothes in Richmond after the move. I have one small suitcase filled with shorts, tank tops, and t-shirts, none of which are doing me a bit of good! Thank goodness I packed a pair of jeans.

Moving in

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity. I'm still trying to cram in as much fun as possible before I start grad school. Last week, the goal was to visit as many of my friends as possible. Tristan and I went to Hampton, VA to visit our friend Becky and we went to Virginia Beach together. Another summer activity to check off my list! Then we drove to Tristan's hometown, Montross, where my friend Doug also happens to live. Doug was hosting a Memorial Day weekend get-together at his mom's house, so I got to see a bunch of my Liberty friends again!

All in all, a great week! However, when I got home there was a ton of work to be done. I had to pack up all my stuff and be ready to move it to Richmond the next day. My parents came down from Massachusetts to help with the move and my dad brought his truck to transport all my stuff. Even then, it took 2 trips to Richmond with both my dad's truck and my car packed to the brim. The two days we moved were also brutally hot. We were all dripping with sweat as we carried my things down the very LONG hallway to my apartment.

The good news is, I love my new apartment! I've set up my room and I love the way it looks. I can't wait to finally move in for good and get settled in my new place.