on to Chapter 2

So, that about sums up the two months that I failed to write.

In 30 minutes I will leave for my journey to Ecuador. Be sure to watch for some postings about that.

In two weeks I will begin semester number two. This one starts out with six weeks of psychiatric nursing. We'll see if this talent runs in the family.

Lesley and I are co-chairs of the the nursing school student government organization for this coming semester. I'm sure this will keep us busy (because we need that)!

I continue to study, study, study and dance Argentine Tango in my "spare time". And I promise I'll try to write more this semester!

Happy New Year to all!!!!

Navidad de Tejas

And the semester came and went and finally it was time to go home to celebrate the joyful season of Christmas. Indeed it has been a joy to be in the United States this holiday season.

Outside of being around people who appreciate the true meaning of Christmas, I was struck again and again through the season by all of the little details that I love so much and missed while I was away. The parties, the lights, Christmas clothes, wreathes on people's doors, the cookies and the general holiday spirit that permeates each day during this time of year.

When I got home, I saw my cute little house all decorated for Christmas. This is the house that has been 'home' since my birth. Mom may sell it soon, but I was so glad to have at least one more Christmas here before that happens.

And no holiday season in complete without driving around looking at beautiful houses with beautiful lights. Here are a few that we saw.

white lights are my favorite!

wow!

My first Christmas celebration was with my mom's side of the family. Grandma Do turned 90 in October and though she is unable to speak because of her dementia, we know she still understand love!

my Do

The newest member of the family is little Miku. She just turned 1 and is Do's first and only great-grandchild. We all enjoyed watching this little one (especially her grandma!)

At dad's, before the celebrations began, I went with Abby out to the barn to see her "babies".

good pig. OINK!

her cow's name is Emma

(I try not to take this personally!)

Emma behaves better for her mom!

And as Rachael was managing a photos with Santa booth this year, we all had to go and have our picture taken with the old guy in red.

Merry Christmas Y'all!

What a semester!

Looking back on the semester part of me is surprised that I made it through. However, I did and I've learned a lot. Academics were pretty much a constant struggle, but through it all, I never forgot how much more there is to life than only books.

Here are some of the fun times that kept me going:

BIRTHDAY PARTIES:

SURPRISE BABY SHOWER:

YALE/HARVARD FOOTBALL GAME:

CRAFT NIGHTS:

DANCING:

FRIENDS:

It really was a good semester!

Trip to New York City with Asha

My cousin Asha came down from Toronto for Canadian Thanksgiving. It was so wonderful to spend the weekend together. Unfortunately, I had several tests the coming week, so I did have to spend a lot of time studying, but we did take a day trip into New York City to check out a few of the sites.

First we took the train from New Haven to Grand Central

which is a site itself

The walk from the train station to times square was fun. There are always some interesting street performers in Times Square. Asha wasn't quite sure what to make of this one....

but she was sucked in by lady liberty herself

(or maybe himself, we couldn't quite tell)

That's more like it!

Our walk around the city showed us several famous sites, many street vendors, wonderful people watching....and even some nature nestled right in the middle of the city. Who would have thought!

Any nectar in there, fella?

With the Brooklyn Bridge behind me.

After strolling around town for a while, we went a saw a show: The Drowsy Chaperone - which was a bit different than other musicals I've seen, but quite entertaining!

When we got out of the theatre, times square was bathed in lights.

Ah, the city that never sleeps!

The next day back at my apartment, we had to do some modeling with our top of the line shirts we just HAD to buy the day before....

Lookin' good! Lookin' Good!!

Gotta love those cousins!

Winter!

I officially love winter! This is my first true winter and I'm enjoying every piece of it. Those from these parts claim that I'll hate it soon...at least by February/March when it is STILL snowing. Maybe so, but for now it is purely magical for me.

The first snowfall was really more of a tease. We did have some flaks like this in Atlanta a couple of times. Still, coming from 2.5 years of 80+ degree weather, I had to capture these first few flakes!

fall leaves and winter flakes

And when the first true snow came, it really came. I had gone into class in the morning to dry streets. Four hours later, I emerged from the windowless classroom to see about two inches of snow on the ground. Promptly, I ran outside and made a snow angel right there in the nursing school parking lot. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of that snow angel, but I do have some pictures I took after I got home. (We walked home by the way and it was great fun. I was covered with snow and my hair was icicles by the time we got there 45 minutes later!)

looking off our front porch

There I am - so happy about winter!

Looking down the street.

Blessing of the hands

The midwives are a really neat group of women. I am excited to be entering into such a fabulous "sorority" of sorts. My year is already very close and we look forward to learning and growing together. We have such an amazing range of experiences from two women who are already direct-entry (non-nursing) midwives to many who have been doulas to one who has never seen a birth. There are all sorts of talents and experiences, but one thing we all have in common is our calling into this field.

At the end of the semester, the midwives from all three years had the annual "Blessing of the Hands" ceremony. Next semester the third year students will enter into full time integration - working one-on-one with a midwife preceptor in a full time clinical practice. In preparation of their departure, the second year students (along with us, the first years) give each midwife a hand crafted bowl of her own and pour salt water over her hands into the bowl to bless those hands that will help bring new life into the world. It was a really beautiful ceremony.

Blessing of the hands

I help pour the water to bless a third year's hands.

(I have my back to the camera and am wearing a red skirt)

It was also a nice fellowship time - to be with our own class of midwives as well as the two above us.

Three first year midwives

At the end of the ceremony, we (first years) gave our "big siblings" a small gift as well. Each of us gave our "big" a small potted bamboo with a meaningful quote and hand made felt pin. Here I am with Katie, my big (who is an RPCV Kenya!)

Nurses around town!

But of course, you can't study ALL the time. Especially after the successful completion of an exam, we have to have a celebratory meal or drink.

There is a place near us that has a free burrito bar on Thursdays. Granted the burritos that are free are not the best ones we've ever had. But, HEY!, they're free. What more can you ask?!?

a table full of nurses, burritos, chips, dip and margaritas

Lesley did NOT like my outfit, but Janna liked it so much, she had to give me a kiss!

(and Sara REALLY loved the salsa on her plate!)

Another fun spot is the sports bar/restaurant just a few blocks away from us. One thing I love about New Haven is that you can't smoke inside ANYWHERE! So, I am never fearful to try new places. This place has really great food and a fun atmosphere.

Aww...roommies

Lesley and Emily

Since when are napkins and straws private property?

Biomedical Pathophysiology - YIKES!

Biomedical Pathophysiology - ahhh, brings joy to your ears doesn't it. Ya, me neither! Needless to say this was a particularly difficult class for me this semester, especially seeing as I haven't had science since 1998 - nearly a decade ago!!

However, the teacher is quite expressive and I got a few good shots of my clinical friends during class (had to take a mental break and snap a few shots before I could try and wrap my mind around the content again...)

I do believe we were learning about the brain.

This is the expressive part I was telling you about.

(With the Yale School of Nursing crest behind him.)

Brandon always wears good hats!

"Are you taking a picture instead of listening?"

"Yep!"

Mara is so studious, but always has time for a picture.

The best clinical group ever!

I have officially completed my first semester as a nursing student. Believe me, this was no easy task. There were definitely moments when I wasn't sure I'd make it through, but I pushed through and with the support of friends and family I came out on the other side.

Some of the people that were vital to my survival this semester were the members of my first clinical group. This semester we studied medical-surgical nursing. I completed both of my practice clinical rotations at the Hospital of Saint Raphael (pronounced /Ray-feel/ here - don't know why).

The picture above is of my first group with our first preceptor. (Hey! We look sort of like nurses!)We worked/studied on the cardiac floor of St.Raphael's hospital. These guys were the best I could ever have asked for and kept me alive through the semester! THANKS GUYS!

My Apartment

I fear that despite my best of intentions the semester succeeded in getting away with me. I was determined to blog at least every couple of weeks, but now I see that it has indeed been a couple of months (almost exactly) since I made a post.

My dear dedicated readers (if you still exist) I am so sorry! So, I shall try to make up for my lack of postings this evening. I leave for Ecuador in a few hours and was trying to sleep, but my excitement overwhelms me and instead I blog. Knowing that I'll have lots of pictures and stories to tell upon my return, I'll try to get caught up first.

Several of you requested pictures of my apartment. Finally I can say that we have transformed it from a house into a home. Here are a few pictures:

On the front porch. The house is 3 stories. Our apartment is half of the first floor.

Living room 1 - the "ethnic room" housing statues from Tanzania and a print from China.

Living room 2 - where we spend much of our time at home.

Looking off my front porch at our first snow fall. Beautiful!