Ou we sa ou genyen, ou pa konn sa ou rete

Today was the first day of classes of this long-awaited semester. Classes will be fine. Many of them are focused on writing which will be a new experience for me(not one I will enjoy but I can look at as a challenge;)

Aaron came home yesterday and Rob and Bri came home last Thursday so my closest friends are once again within driving distance from me. This is a bittersweet thing. I have made a vigorous studying schedule for the MCAT and plan to spend my weekends studying and babysitting; NOT hanging out with friends. This will be a very new thing for me but I find it somewhat necessary.

Don't get the wrong impression. I am actually very excited to begin this semester. I am excited to get back into a routine and start to feel more productive. Today, for example, I went to class at 9:00, ran 4 miles during my break, went to class again from 11:30 to 2:30, now I'm about to start studying, and then I'll be babysitting from 10:00 to 12:00. This is a lot more productive than I have been in a while. It feels good.

The title: " You know what you've got, but you don't know what's coming."
Right now, I have a house to live in, food to eat, profs teaching me things, and encouragement from supporting members. I don't know how the MCAT will turn out. I don't know where I will go to med school if I do. There's a whole lot more I don't know about, I could go on forever!

I didn't get the job...but that is okay. I will have more time to study for the MCAT then.

Dye mon, gen mon

The titles of my blogs are going to be Haitian proverbs...until I run out and can't find anymore. This one means " Beyond the mountains, more mountains." This is what I feel like today. I had a reality check. I will not have a social life this coming semester and everything will be stressful. Now. Let's think about this proverb. This describes the life of the average Haitian. It is way more applicable to them. Everyday is started with the fear of not having food or facing war and death. This should be the reality check for me. I really should be thankful for my stress. I should be thankful that I am going to university, that I have the opportunity to attempt entering medical school, and that I have friends and family that will understand when I cannot see them and will help me with any needs I may have. This is all so logical in my mind but it does not necessarily make anything less stressful. I will find comfort though...somewhere.

On a happier note. Jodi came home from South Africa today! This is Lauren(on the left) and Jodi(on the right). I love them. I live with them. They will help me through this semester. I will cherish our times together for the rest of my life.

Much love to you all.


 

Kreyol pale, kreyol komprann

I finished knitting my scarf yesterday...and taught two people how to knit!

Tonight I'm babysitting the "angels" overnight. I get to sleep in a huge comfortable bed, eat good food...and wake up at 5:30 AM tomorrow morning. Fun stuff.

Today is Friday. That means that Rob and Bri will be back in exactly one week. That excites me! It also means that this is the last weekend before my next semester starts. Scary...

Off to class I go:)

 

 

Piti, piti, wazo fe nich li

So I had my interview today. It went pretty well. I'll know by next week whether I got the job or not. The Van Andel Institute is pretty awesome. The designer of the building was brilliant! The lab is set up with a full window ceiling so, unlike any other lab, there is sunlight. Woohoo. I hope I get it.


I also went to the January series today. Paul Rusesabagina spoke today. He's the guy that Don Cheadle portrays in Hotel Rwanda. If you haven't seen that movie, you should. He basically gave a recap of what the movie shows, but then added that the United States(and probably other developed countries) has apologized for standing by while genocide was going on but it is still going on...in Darfur, in the Congo, in Uganda, and many other countries. That's something to think about.

I've been thinking more and more about getting out of North America. I'm kind of sick of it. I don't really know how I will do it though. It might have to wait 10 years or so. But hopefully the time will come when I can experience a place that has more appreciation for cultural diversity(not that Canada doesn't but Canada is still very much like the United States, and I don't appreciate that).

Hello friends and family from home. I know, I know. I'm horrible at keeping in touch. This semester is only going to get worse because I'm going to be so busy with school, MCAT studying, and hopefully a new job. This will be my way of keeping you updated. I hope that's okay with everyone. I figure it's better than getting one email over the entire semester.

First update. I have an interview tomorrow at the Van Andel Research Institute. Pretty big deal and I'm really nervous. I'll let you know how it goes.

On another note, many of my friends are gone for interim and I miss them. (Rob, Bri, Aaron, and Jodi) I'm counting down the days until they get back.

My interim class (pathophysiology) is boring but educational I guess. I'm learning a lot about diseases. I understand a lot more when I'm watching Grey's Anatomy now. Weird.

I love you all.