Hi folks!
Oh no, two weeks without writing--sorry about that! This will be a quick update. Thomas and I are heading out shortly to the climbing gym. Federico and Nany are very into outdoor climbing. We went with them and their friends Julie and Sam on Monday to a "wall" (outdoor rock) in Muizenberg. It was really fun to watch everyone climb up. It was Thomas and Julie's first time climbing outdoors and they did really well! I was tempted to join them, but I decided I would rather climb in the gym for my first time. So we're all going today! Don't think it'll become a hobby for me, but I'd like to at least try it.
School is rolling along. I've had a couple of meetings with the Learning Network, but I'm not 100% sure they are who I'll do my thesis with. It is a relief to know they are an option though! I have two big papers due in May, so I'll be relieved when they are over.
A few of my friends and I are planning a trip to Namibia in June. Has anyone out there visited there? Thoughts are welcome!
Yesterday I had my first driving lesson (to learn stick shift while driving on the left side of the road--two things I've never done before!) and it went really well. At first I wasn't sure if I liked my instructor. He seemed sort of disinterested. But he turned out to be perfect for me because he didn't really tell me what I was going to do next so I didn't have time to be nervous. He was very calm so I also stayed calm. By the end of the lesson I had driven us from Seapoint to Rondebosch and back through town up to Vredehoek, including being on the highway! I couldn't believe how much I got to do in one lesson. Thomas and I are going to practice in his car tomorrow and then I'll have another lesson next week.
Also, we had a nice Easter. We went to Annibale's house for a pot luck lunch. I made potato salad and we also had pasta and Zambian food. Yum!
For now, I'm keeping my same serving job. It's still mostly boring and I don't make too much, but I like the flexibility of it. I'm keeping my eyes out for other jobs and applying for stuff here and there as well.
Okay, time to go get ready! Love.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Hello, America!
Writing to you all from sunny Cape Town! It's been a fun weekend. The weather has picked up a bit again and it seems winter will be delayed for a bit longer. Thomas and I seized what might one of our last opportunities to go to the beach this season and visited Camps Bay again on Saturday. Weather was perfect: hot and no Cape Doctor! That night we went to a new venue in town to see a couple of live bands. It was a very good time, especially since the 24 hour McDonalds was open afterwards...we weren't so lucky last time!
Yesterday was a very fun time. Thomas had the idea that we should have a braai which is basically a cook out or barbeque. He invited his friend Juliette whom I hadn't met before and Whitney, Federico, and Nany came as well. It was nice weather, good company, and Thomas the master chef made us some yummy steak rolls. :) It was the first time we had people over, so it was a lot of fun to play host.
The gym is going very well, although when Thomas is home it's hard to motivate myself to get up and go! I was very excited today because I realized I can now easily bend over and touch my toes--sadly that hasn't been so easy for many years! The gym also has the awesome spinning machines which basically lets you do the class by yourself. Tried it for the first time today and loved it!
As for school, I did meet with the health systems head, Lucy, and she thinks the hs track could be a good fit for me. I'm going to fill out the paper work this week and then it will be official. That means this is my last semester of biostats and possibly of epidemiology. I'm okay with that, since I really don't think those skills are going to be what I need for the type of employment I want. I'm glad I had the chance to consider the epi track though--I did enjoy the courses and they were interesting, but it just isn't the career path I see for myself.
Tomorrow I am meeting with a woman from the Learning Network for Health and Human Rights about my potential thesis project. If all goes well, I'll write another update soon with more details!
In other exciting news, my parents are talking about coming to visit some time over the next few months...so looking forward to it!
Have a great day everyone. Happy Monday!
Writing to you all from sunny Cape Town! It's been a fun weekend. The weather has picked up a bit again and it seems winter will be delayed for a bit longer. Thomas and I seized what might one of our last opportunities to go to the beach this season and visited Camps Bay again on Saturday. Weather was perfect: hot and no Cape Doctor! That night we went to a new venue in town to see a couple of live bands. It was a very good time, especially since the 24 hour McDonalds was open afterwards...we weren't so lucky last time!
Yesterday was a very fun time. Thomas had the idea that we should have a braai which is basically a cook out or barbeque. He invited his friend Juliette whom I hadn't met before and Whitney, Federico, and Nany came as well. It was nice weather, good company, and Thomas the master chef made us some yummy steak rolls. :) It was the first time we had people over, so it was a lot of fun to play host.
The gym is going very well, although when Thomas is home it's hard to motivate myself to get up and go! I was very excited today because I realized I can now easily bend over and touch my toes--sadly that hasn't been so easy for many years! The gym also has the awesome spinning machines which basically lets you do the class by yourself. Tried it for the first time today and loved it!
As for school, I did meet with the health systems head, Lucy, and she thinks the hs track could be a good fit for me. I'm going to fill out the paper work this week and then it will be official. That means this is my last semester of biostats and possibly of epidemiology. I'm okay with that, since I really don't think those skills are going to be what I need for the type of employment I want. I'm glad I had the chance to consider the epi track though--I did enjoy the courses and they were interesting, but it just isn't the career path I see for myself.
Tomorrow I am meeting with a woman from the Learning Network for Health and Human Rights about my potential thesis project. If all goes well, I'll write another update soon with more details!
In other exciting news, my parents are talking about coming to visit some time over the next few months...so looking forward to it!
Have a great day everyone. Happy Monday!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Hello, hello, America!
In just a few days I'll be able to start telling people I've been living in Cape Town for three months. Wow! It does feel longer sometimes. Christmas back in the States seems very far away.
Just a brief update here. The last week has been nice. Schoolwork has really let up since the last paper (did fairly well on it!), but I'm trying to keep myself motivated so I don't procrastinate on projects. I've met with two professors about potential thesis topics. They were both very interesting and fitting to me. I've always had a difficult time making decisions, largely because I'm interested in so many things! Right now I am pursuing one of the options further, but I would like to know more before I share the details. The fantastic news: that opportunity might lead to paid work. Fingers crossed!
Which brings me to my next update, which is that I'm looking for new jobs. I've found the environment there to be very frustrating as of late. It's been slow, I don't get much support from management, and the complete lack of teamwork is really disheartening. I know I'm not perfect either, but I see ways that it would be so easy to start getting us to work as a team and simply no effort is being made. Bah! Thankfully, there is a server and a bar tender that really seem to "get" it, and they definitely make life more tolerable there. One of the managers is also quite good, but unfortunately I don't work with her most of the time. I have no idea if/when another opportunity will work out (that will actually be better) but I'm looking.
Tomorrow morning I'm meeting with the Health Systems department head to officially change my MPH track. I've given it thought, and I think it's the best route for me. So barring her talking me out of it for some reason, I should be a on the health systems track as of tomorrow! I'll explain more later what that means.
Also, the gym is going well! Feeling healthier each day. :)
I'm feeling sleepy and have an early morning tomorrow, so that's all for now. It should be a fun, full day at school tomorrow and then Thomas will be getting home tomorrow night! Very excited to show him our beautiful new couch:
Goodnight, all!
In just a few days I'll be able to start telling people I've been living in Cape Town for three months. Wow! It does feel longer sometimes. Christmas back in the States seems very far away.
Just a brief update here. The last week has been nice. Schoolwork has really let up since the last paper (did fairly well on it!), but I'm trying to keep myself motivated so I don't procrastinate on projects. I've met with two professors about potential thesis topics. They were both very interesting and fitting to me. I've always had a difficult time making decisions, largely because I'm interested in so many things! Right now I am pursuing one of the options further, but I would like to know more before I share the details. The fantastic news: that opportunity might lead to paid work. Fingers crossed!
Which brings me to my next update, which is that I'm looking for new jobs. I've found the environment there to be very frustrating as of late. It's been slow, I don't get much support from management, and the complete lack of teamwork is really disheartening. I know I'm not perfect either, but I see ways that it would be so easy to start getting us to work as a team and simply no effort is being made. Bah! Thankfully, there is a server and a bar tender that really seem to "get" it, and they definitely make life more tolerable there. One of the managers is also quite good, but unfortunately I don't work with her most of the time. I have no idea if/when another opportunity will work out (that will actually be better) but I'm looking.
Tomorrow morning I'm meeting with the Health Systems department head to officially change my MPH track. I've given it thought, and I think it's the best route for me. So barring her talking me out of it for some reason, I should be a on the health systems track as of tomorrow! I'll explain more later what that means.
Also, the gym is going well! Feeling healthier each day. :)
I'm feeling sleepy and have an early morning tomorrow, so that's all for now. It should be a fun, full day at school tomorrow and then Thomas will be getting home tomorrow night! Very excited to show him our beautiful new couch:
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