Grades for Term 1//Master's Graduation

It has been SO nice having Nick home for the past week, we've been more or less inseparable- and I love it!! We've been spending a lot of time with family and friends, trying to soak up as much of home  as we can before we leave in just under 2 weeks!!!!


First off, an update on how Nick finished off his first term of medical school.... he did great!!!! Seriously, I could not be more proud of him and am so happy to see his countless hours of studying pay off.  He finished the semester with 2 A's and 2 B+'s!!! He was also the Term 1 Class Representative for both Surgery Club and the Emergency Medicine Club, and will be the Surgery Club Secretary and the Emergency Med Vice President for Term 2. So, in typical Nick fashion, he is taking SGU by the horns and pretty much running the place :) It is amazing to see how much he has learned and accomplished in just 1 term!

As for me, I am officially a Master's Graduate from the University of Michigan!! Yay!! Decided to attend the Social Work Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, and am really happy that I did.  The ceremony was really nice and it was a nice celebration of all that I have accomplished over the past 16 months.  I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that I am 100% officially done with school though! Seriously, it is weird!! I keep feeling like I should be reading, or writing some paper whenever I am out shopping or just lounging around with Nick, but then I realize, NOPE that ship has sailed!! Donezo! Still waiting on final grades, but very excited to be done :) If I let myself think about it too much though I start to feel overwhelmed at my new label of "unemployed adult." Shesh, being a grown up is stressful ;) Just kidding...

Besides that life has literally consisted of sleeping in, eating (so much eating!!!!), making Christmas cookies, playing video games, and watching movies. Rough life right? The rough part has been the packing. Ugh, I despise packing. It highlights the fact that I have way too much crap and clutter, and now I am paying for it because I am forced to go through it all! Reason #18984979 why I will never be a hoarder or pack rat. I hate excess, random, annoying, never-used, stuff! Rant over. It is coming along though. Maggie is being a super trooper and not complaining that I am making the entire apartment more messy in my attempt to organize/pack.  I promise, I really am packing stuff up and throwing bags and bags of stuff away! Packing is also a bit hard because it infringes on my ability to deny that moving is quickly approaching.  Not that I am not very excited about the new adventures in Grenada... but I am going to miss home, and family, and friends.  And I know that at some point I need to face it head-on and let myself be sad about it. But right now, I'd rather just push ahead, enjoy the holidays, and soak up as much family time as I can before leaving!!

Okay, I've officially procrastinated packing/cleaning out my jeep for way too long just to write this post, so off I go... Here are some pictures from Nick's fun times after finals/my graduation pictures/ enjoying being home for the holidays :)

Enjoying a beverage with friends at the cliff after finals

Nick and Marty picking up Dr. Brahim one night after finals?? No idea why haha

Waterskiing in Grenada... How gorgeous eh??

Making Christmas cookies! They were so yummy!!!

So lucky to have such a wonderful family/support system :) 

With da family

Daddio and I- He's dressed appropriately in his UofM coat! :) 

With my boo boo!

Close up, he's so handsome!

With my mama! 

Hangin out with Al and Nat

Liat Airlines Fail

Sooooooo instead being on my way home from the airport after picking up my wonderful boyfriend, I am sitting on my couch watching tv and finishing up my paper/cleaning my apartment. Why you ask? Well, unfortunately, Nick's trip home included a flight on Liat airlines.  I haven't been able to get the full story yet, but what I do know is that Nick was supposed to leave Grenada around 6:30am this morning.  At 10-11:00 am I spoke with him and he had still not left Grenada. Apparently, lovely Liat airlines just felt like being many hours late. And on top of being late, there was no explanation or assistance in helping any of the passengers out... so frustrating!! Nick did eventually get out of Grenada though, but missed his connecting flight in Barbados.. and didn't end up leaving Barbados until like 4:30pm... which meant he didn't get into Miami until about 7:30pm and at which point he needed to bust his booty to go through customs, recheck in, and board a plane to Dallas.  He should land in Dallas around 11:30-12:00 tonight.

So all of that being said, my poor Nicholas will not be in Detroit until tomorrow.  Poor guy, he just wants to come home!!! It's been a long day for him, full of annoyances and lots of travel.

Oye, can't wait to squeeze him extra when he finally makes it home tomorrow!!!

And what is the lesson in all of this? Always book flights to and from Grenada early enough so that you can get American Airlines all the way. Liat airlines sucks and will screw you over more often than not. Trust me... er, trust Nick, he'd tell ya it's worth a couple extra bucks to know that you have a more reliable airline.  But if you want to end up stranded in a random Caribbean airport or to have your luggage end up God only knows where... Liat airlines is the airliner for you!!! ;)

Term 1 COMPLETE-- check!!!!

Drum roll please!!!! Term 1 of medical school has successfully been completed!!!! I can hardly even believe it! Nicholas will be home in less than 24 hours... I could scream I am literally that excited!!

Life has been absolutely crazy over the past month or so and my blog has been very neglected, so  here is a quick overview of what's been going on/ a time of what is to come in the next month!

-Nick kicked major medical school butt. Seriously, did anyone expect anything less? The guy has literally lived in dry lab! He through everything- including the kitchen sink, at these finals!! I am so proud of him and so impressed by his dedication and perseverance.  He amazes me every day! But anyway, he finished with 2 A-'s and 2 B+'s and I could not be more proud!!

- My last week of classes was last week. I repeat... my last week of classes ever was last week!!!!! Ah!! I.am.so.excited!!! What a whirl wind this past 16 months has been. For as crazy as graduate school has been, it is a huge accomplishment to officially say I am done. It feels good and I am ecstatic.  My family talked me into walking in my graduation ceremony this weekend. While I don't think I would have regretted not walking... I am glad I am. It is a huge accomplishment, and I am proud.  It has not been an easy 16 months. It has been really hard on so many levels, and I am glad that my family gets to celebrate this accomplishment with me.

- I completed my internship at the Children's Hospital of Michigan.  Words cannot describe how hard leaving that place was for me on Friday.  I miss those kids and their families already.  I would normally be waking up and heading in to work in the morning and my heart is aching knowing that I will not be there with/for them tomorrow.  Several of the kiddos were not doing that well last week either and that made it even more challenging to leave.  But I feel so unbelievably blessed to have been able to spend the past year there and to have been given the opportunity to work with such unbelievable children and their families.  I have never met more amazing little fighters in my whole life. My last day was filled with so many hugs, a few tears, and lots of smiles and laughs. One of my patients made an extra visit to the hospital just to say goodbye to me, and with the hospital being the last place in the world any of them would want to be on their day off, I was unbelievably touched. Not to mention, I had been bummed that I would not get to say goodbye to her.  She gave me the most beautiful necklace, that says "Always Friends, Now and Forever" and I will cherish it always. Another one of my girls, who has been so sick, was able to read a book with me and play with me a little bit for the first time in several days.  It was the best gift I could have been given. Each of them is eternally engraved in my hearts and I pray that they each get/remain healthy and go onto to live long and healthy lives. They're fighters, and braver than anyone else I know, even at as young as 2 years old <3

-Tomorrowwwww I pick Nick up from the airport. Tomorrow. TOMORROW. Tomorrow!!!!! Less than 24 hours... eeeee ahhhh!!! I have butterflies, and can barely contain myself. I am not even sure I will be able to sleep tonight because I am literally that freakin' excited! :)

-The big move to Grenada is in 23 days. Well pretty much 22 days now. Holy Freaking Cow. Typing that just gave me major anxiety. So much to do. So many people to see. So much family quality time to be had. If time wants to slow down just a tiny bit for the holiday season, that would be wonderful. I'll take long, slow days, to just enjoy my Nicholas being home and to spend time with family and friends. Maybe I'll send a letter to Santa and see if he can work on that!

Ah, well, it is late, and I need to finish up paper tomorrow, do about 12 loads of laundry, clean my apt, and clean out my car, before picking Nick up tomorrow night... soooo on that note, this girl needs to hit the hay! More later on holiday festivities and packing!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

On this Thanksgiving I have so much to be thankful for and my list of blessings is extremely long! I am thankful for my wonderful family, friends, and boyfriend. I am thankful for my health, and the health of all of those I love. I am thankful for all the wonderful kids that I have had the opportunity to work with for the past year. Despite all the hardships they are going through, they continue to fight and live every single day, and have taught me so much.

I met Nick 2 years ago during the Thanksgiving season, and since then this time of year has always kind of been unofficially "our time." So it goes without saying that this Thanksgiving has been different with him being in a different country. Even still, I came home yesterday, after having a rough day at work and being bummed that Nick was not there to hang out with that night, I came home to 2 dozen roses. Not just any roses either. The most beautiful roses ever! Even thousands of miles apart, he knows how to cheer me up, make me feel special, and remind me for the millionth time, how truly blessed I am.

Next year I will not be in Michigan for Thanksgiving. Crazy to think about eh? Also crazy to think about, that at this point next year we will be in  4th term of medical school. Wowzers.

Time to start making a good ol' "To do" list

As my time in Michigan ticks away I am realizing more and more all the things I am going to miss. I know I will eventually miss things like a dishwasher, my car, my phone, ya know- those materialistic and convenient things we take for granted every day.  I say I will eventually miss those things, because I don't think those are the things I will miss at first. I like things, but overall I think it will take a little time before not having those things really gets to me (or at least I hope! ha!)

What I am going to miss immediately though is my family and Nick's family. I am so used to spending time with both of our families on a regular basis. I've never been far from my parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Seriously, we are for the most part, all right here in this area! And as for Nick's family, even with him gone I have still visited with his family every week or so, so even not seeing them is going to be a huge change as well! I love family time and being so far away is going to be hard!! Thank goodness for Skype, but still there is no place like home!

I really am excited to get to Grenada and make that little house a home, but I can feel the anxiety building January is quickly approaching. Ah!

Things to do before leaving: 

• Laundry. Lots and lots of laundry. 
• Boxing up all clothing that isn't needed in hot and humid Grenada.
• Picking my favorite summer outfits (as many as possible) to take with me & boxing up the rest. 
• Order additional sets of contacts (wouldn't that be annoying to run out in a different country?!)
• Buy another pair (or 2) of reef flip-flops (all you do there is walk, walk, walk!)
• Box up what school stuff I wish to keep and throw out the rest... weird! I'll be officially done forever ah!
• Purchase a new computer? Yikes, no fun as it is expensive, but as y'all know my computer is a piece and prob will not survive in Grenada very long and life without a computer there would be rough! Decisions.
• Purchase a few good books to take with me :)
• Pack up all DVDs
• Switch Comcast bill over to Mags
• Box up anything Mags doesn't want left around the apt. 
• Fix Libby's windshield/give her a good cleaning inside and out before handing her over to mom =/
• Clean bedding and either leave bed or pack it up.
• Make sure I have enough make up/any items I may need/want to last 4-5 months in Grenada.
• Make sure to stock up on all medications/creams etc that may be needed while away. I am honestly scared for the first time I get sick that far away!
• Buy a few cheapish candles to bring down as they don't seem to be that common in Grenada.
• Find materials needed to make Nick a giant whiteboard? 
• Clean, Clean, Clean.

Oye, yeah I am sure that doesn't nearly encompass all that needs to be done, but it's a good start!! My last class is Dec 8, my last day at field is Dec 9, and my last paper is due Dec 15... so after that is going to be a whirlwind of madness!!

38 days til Nicholas is home for Christmas!!!

Today, has been a day filled with homework. Researching and the beginning phases of putting together presentations completely consumed me from about 1pm this afternoon until 11:30pm tonight. It was a productive day but my head is officially spinning. I am thankful for the extra hour that will be gained tonight thanks to daylight savings :) They don't have daylight savings in Grenada, so it is weird to think that time changes for me, yet for Nick remains the same.

As busy as I've been, Nick has been just as busy- if not more busy. I got to see him via Skype today and it was wonderful! I feel like we are both so busy that little messages throughout the day have been the extent of our chatting. Not that I am complaining... like I said, we've both been busy, but actually getting to see him today made my heart really happy.

I've been really missing him. When the craziness of the day comes to an end, and I'm laying alone in the darkness of my room is when I miss him most. When time actually slows down enough to think and feel, I realize how much I miss him and how busy I keep myself as a defense against feeling too lonely. But... it's good to feel it sometimes. It's nice to relax in the peace and quiet of my room, laying in his sweats, and just close my eyes and relive all the laughs and good times we've had in the past 2 years. Just thinking about it brings a smile to my face :)

2 MONTHS!!!

Today is November 4th and I would say today marks the official countdown to my big move down to Grenada.... ah, wow! 2 months feels frighteningly soon...

In the past couple of weeks I have been completely overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with school, overwhelmed with field, and overwhelmed with change.

For the majority of my 23 years, I have been a student. For the past 5 1/2 years I have been a college student. Sure, I've considered myself an adult for many years now, but when asked to identify as something I have always been a "student." As much as I have been yearning to be done, as ready as I am to be done, and as much as I need  to be done to save my sanity... I can't lie, there was a lot of comfort in being a student. There is a safety net that encompasses being a student. Being a student somehow justifies the right to cling to being young and somewhat irresponsible and it makes you feel less guilty when you admit you have no idea what you are going to do as a life long career. It is acceptable, and the norm, to be broke and living off loans.

In 5 weeks I am officially done with graduate school.  I will be a master's graduate from the University of Michigan. And... in 5 weeks I am officially no longer student. Rather, I am officially a 23 year old, unemployed master's graduate. Ouch. That stings a bit.

Student.. meet adulthood... where loans are no longer offered every semester, rather a bill is sent as Uncle Sam comes to collect what he's so generously handed out over the years.

Here's the main thing that has been on my mind a lot lately... Being unemployed is okay when you are student. It is okay when you are taking 18 credits and working 24-30 hours a week at your field placement. However, it sounds less okay when you have officially graduated and are choosing  to move to another country to volunteer for the next year and half. If I had moved to volunteer prior to graduating... as a "student" for instance... hands down, no questions asked, it would have seemed like such a great experience, that was helping to shape me into a better person, and expand my knowledge beyond classroom and even United States walls. But... now I am adult. Young adult yes, but adult nevertheless getting a paid job would be the plan of action according to most.

I am so excited  about the experience I am going to get in Grenada. It is going to change me as a person, it is going to add to my work experience, and it is going to challenge me in many different ways, every single day, for the next year and half. Despite that though, I can't help but wonder if people think I am irresponsible every time I tell them my future plans. Every time someone asks what I am doing come December, they are expecting me to list job opportunities that I have looked into or plan to pursue, and are shocked when I inform them I have not looked into jobs, rather I will be volunteering in a third world country. Puzzled and intrigued looks are then followed with a line of questions regarding how I will support myself and where I will get money from without a real big girl job. I admit, I do not answer these questions easily, but rather, dance my way around them, feeling slightly embarrassed and slightly irresponsible.

Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to be in Grenada. I truly do believe there is more to life than money and I think that living in Grenada will enrich my life in ways that money never could.  I really, really believe that. I guess I just feel that people believe I am going on year and half vacation to the Caribbean, and I would argue that that is not the case.

I am going because Nick is there. I am going because long distance relationships stink. I am going because while we've managed our semester apart like champs and actually probably grown closer- it is not how I want to spend the next 2 years. No money is worth missing out on him. I am going because I think I can help the children of Grenada. Yes, it is a major disadvantage that there is no pay involved, but in some ways that is what makes it more meaningful. I am doing it because I want to.  I am doing it because I love children. I am doing it because I think I have a lot of skills, knowledge, and passion for this type of work that really can make a difference.

Also, moving to the Caribbean, while it sounds glamorous, is really scary. I have never lived more than 15 minutes away from family, and now I am moving to an entirely different country. I am moving to a place to be with a medical school student...In other words, I will  be by myself the majority of the time. I am stepping out into full fledged adulthood without the comforts of home and my family 15 minutes away to support me. It is a huge change and in many ways, not so glamorous at all. It is going to be hard and at times it is going to be really lonely. I am going to get homesick. I am going to have to learn how to navigate life in Grenada on the fly and step out of my comfort zone. Every day tasks that we don't even think twice about in the States, will not be so easy. For example, going to the grocery store will require taking a bus, shopping, lugging everything I bought back on the bus with me, and then walking it from the bus stop home. There is no quick grocery store run in Grenada. There is no dishwasher and more often than not I will dry our clothes on a clothesline. It is drastically different in many ways. More simple, but often also less convenient.

But all of that... that is what makes this an adventure. That, is what makes this a once in a lifetime opportunity.

And amidst all the scariness that comes with this big change and the homesickness that is sure to hit immediately upon passing through the security gates at Metro... are breathtaking Grenadian sunsets, the clearest blue water I have ever seen, cliffs to jump off of, and an ocean view out my bedroom window.