I'm halfway done with my first semester of graduate school

As the title says, I'm almost done with my first semester of graduate school. It's been an interesting 11 weeks. 

I love all of my class with the exception of Applied Anthropology. It's an interesting topic but the class drags on and on. The professor is an interesting person. He has favorites in the class so I don't have to worry too much with sounding intelligent because I'm not one of the favorites and that is perfectly fine with me since most of the material is over my head.

It's interesting being in class with undergrads. They tend to talk more than anyone else so it's hard to get a word in during discussion. 

I have to present on one of my papers in about two weeks. The instructions are to present like at a conference. I have never been to a conference so I have no idea how to present like I'm at one. I'll have to talk to the professor soon to figure that all out.

It's been interesting getting to know everyone in my cohort. Seems like we all get along well so that's good. We all have such diverse interests that I only see most of them in our Applied and Proseminar classes. It's nice to be surrounded by a group of people just as clueless as I am during class.

Jack loves the dog park in Memphis. If we don't get the chance to go everyday he's very difficult to deal with so I make an effort to get him there daily. We've walk the track everyday so that we both get some exercise before he starts looking for fish. Apparently he's gained quite the reputation at the park. The other day we went out there and did our usual walk. We got back to the big pond and he immediately started looking for fish. A woman on the bench beside me asked me what he was looking for and I told her fish. Her whole face lit up and she said that someone asked her if she had seen the black lab that fishes. It made me laugh that people are talking about him.

Not much else is going on since all I do is go to class and work and home. 

So...I moved to Memphis

I seriously suck at keeping this up-to-date.

I applied to five anthropology programs: The University of Memphis--Medical Anthropology; The University of Southern Mississippi--dual Anthropology and Public Health; The University of Colorado, Denver--Medical Anthropology; Cal State Los Angeles--Socio-Cultural Anthropology; Cal State Long Beach--Applied Anthropology.

The day I sent all of my applications out Alabama was hit with a snow storm that literally shut down everything in the state. Birmingham was at a stand still with people sleeping in their cars, kids sleeping at schools. It was a huge mess.

I was accepted at Memphis, Southern Miss, and Cal State Los Angeles. I was able to visit Memphis and Southern Miss. When I started the process I really liked the Southern Miss program because it was a dual degree and I would have a great chance of being employable with the Masters in Public Health along with the Masters in Anthropology. When I visited I enjoyed the campus and all of the professors that I met with. I had great conversations with everyone I met with but when I left I didn't feel great about the program. I thought it was because I was nervous about the grad school process but something just didn't feel right it.

When I visited Memphis I was a little apprehensive because of the reputation of the city. The city isn't the safest so I had no idea what to expect when I drove into the city. The campus was beautiful. It's in a great section of town with neat little shops and bars right near the university. The faculty were beyond amazing. Everyone I met was fabulous. I had a great hour and half conversation with the chair of the department and not once did I feel like she was going to tell me she made a mistake in accepting me to the program because I was clearly an idiot. When I left the school I immediately called my mom and told her I wanted to go to Memphis. Everyone was very surprised with my final decision.

I didn't receive the acceptance letter to Cal State LA until three or four months after the letters from Southern Miss and Memphis. When I asked if I could visit to meet the faculty and see the program I was told that I had to give my decision by the Friday of the week I received my letter, which didn't give me enough time to get to Los Angeles. I had to turn them down because I didn't feel comfortable accepting a program that I was unable to see. As much as it would be great to live in LA with N.O.G. in the end I had to pick the program that was the best financially and that I would have the best job prospects after graduation.

I was not accepted at Cal State LB. I liked the program but it wasn't exactly what I wanted out of a masters program. I was a little disappointed that I was denied because it felt like I wasn't smart enough to get into the program but in the end I think it just means that the program wasn't meant for me and I wasn't meant for that program.

The University of Colorado, Denver was a big disappointment. I had been communicating with the graduate program coordinator all the way up to the deadline and as far as I knew everything was there and ready to be sent off to the program. Weeks went by and I heard nothing from the program. I emailed the program director and she didn't have any of my info. Turns out that my stuff wasn't actually sent to program because one of my letters of recommendation didn't get there on time. Even though I had been communicating with the coordinator. None of it makes sense to me. I was incredible frustrated. Colorado was never my top pick or even in my top three but it was a good program. I thought I had a slim chance of getting in but wasn't holding my breath for an acceptance letter. But to find out that all the money I spent and the time it took to get everything to them, on top of the many emails that were sent between the coordinator and I, it kind of pissed me off. I'm glad that it's all over and done with.

I moved to Memphis a few days ago. So far everything has been great. There was a hiccup with finding an apartment but I found one that works for Jack and I. We are less than 10 minutes from a huge dog park with ponds and hiking trails. I took Jack there yesterday and he loved it. He swam for about an hour and hardly acknowledged the other dogs. It was pretty nice.

I had orientation this past Monday. It was interesting. The panel talked about things that seemed kind of basic knowledge. Financial aid and stuff like that. It seemed kind of pointless. Tomorrow I have orientation with my program. I'm so excited to meet the other people in the program. I can't wait to get started with class. I guess I'll need to make new tabs for all of my graduate school classes.

No promises but I'll try and do better with updates.

FamJam in Boston

My trip to Boston has come and gone and it was fantastic. We visited a vineyard, Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, the Freedom Trail, and really great restaurants. I met friends and family that were amazing and made me feel right at home. It was a great trip and my only regret is that I didn't take more pictures. I wish I could talk N.O.G. into going back in the spring time when it's not so cold so I can get a better hands on tour of the city. As I suspected New England was just as pretty in person as it is in all the pictures I've seen. Now that I have visited once and have an idea of what it's like, I definitely would like to visit again and narrow down exactly what I want to see and visit. Specifically, Paul Revere's house and the graveyard that he is buried in. And maybe a haunted tour of the city. I think that would be so cool!

I think the vineyard was my favorite part. The scenery wasn't quite as lush as the pictures because we were there in the dead of winter but the experience was amazing. The staff was so nice and helpful and our tour guide was very knowledgeable and fun. He made my first experience an A plus one and I'm looking into finding some vineyards closer to home to compare.

I will be sending off grad school applications. I'm so over worrying about them and stressing about letters and references and statements. I wish I could fast forward through the process and already have my applications sent and processed and have invitations for interviews lined up. But I'm not that far off yet. Soon.

Daddy Amazing and Incubator Girl are having another boy. They are keeping the same initials as Coach. Going for a theme. I'm still working on baby number twos Usual Suspects name. I'm going to have to meet him before I know it for sure I think.

Jack turned 2 on New Years day! He party in style by spending the day relaxing on the biggest bed in the house.

He definitely takes after me because I enjoy sleeping in on my birthday too.

Not much more going on around here. It's cold and wet and dreary.