In the Thick of it All Again

So, I'm nearing the end of my second week back and things seem crazier than ever. Upon my return, I received notification of a scholarship opportunity sponsored by the State Department. It's for an intense, critical language study program this summer abroad! So, of course I'm applying. Essentially, if I get it, it would mean an 8 week study of Arabic in Cairo starting immediately just before (yes before) the official end of my last quarter at U of C! Whatever I do next year, I have been realizing the need for and really wanting to learn a second language well. This would be a huge opportunity to do that as well as add some beef to my resume'.

With this scholarship application process, requiring multiple essays and academic recommendations from faculty I hardly know, I have been getting into classes as well. After a week-and-a-half of deliberation, I have finally decided (though not yet decidedly registered) on three courses. Arab-Israeli conflict, which will be a very interesting class with a very interesting, and dare I say stereotypical, foreign-accented, Jewish professor (he's great); US National Security Policy, which I have only been to once in four class sessions thus far (I'll get to it); and International Political Economy, a very dreaded and very required course for my program. All of which contribute to three days on campus a week and an already very busy work load.

Meanwhile, my Illinois family has been sick. The boys, Joseph and Joshy contracted a stomach flu and proceeded to give aspects of it to the rest of the household--including a visiting grandmother and great-grandmother (97 years old!!). So, yesterday (Tue.), on what was the day I had planned to complete one of three IPE papers due today already (Wed.), I writhed on my bed in pronounced, gastric pain for most of the day. Fortunately my professor gave me until tomorrow to complete the paper, which is actually essentially done now as I write. However, to accomplish this I decided not to attend the fourth session (and third class that I have now missed) of Security Policy. Also fortunately, I have good class mates that have agreed to give me notes.

My thoughts have also been stressfully consumed with plans for the future as I have been meeting with career counselors and planning to attend career fairs, which I also missed today. I don't know that it means much at the moment, but I am seriously considering pursuing foreign service with the State Department in the next couple of years. We'll see what happens! God Bless!

P.S. Sorry for the long posting. I had a lot to cover.

Back Again

Well, I'm back in Chicago and eager to get into a second quarter at the U of C (classes start Monday). I almost made it from Omaha on a single tank of gas without any stops. I say "almost" because I was about 30 minutes from my home here and my tank was on empty so I was forced to stop and get gas after 417 miles and about 6 straight hours of driving. I thought it was a good challenge. I have my fridge full of groceries, my car emptied, my Chipotle for dinner, and now I can finally hit the sack. It's good to be back.

Home Again, Home Again

Well, I made it. I survived my first quarter at the University of Chicago, (and the first season of 24. Though I've since started the second, haha). Friday, I turned in my last two final papers that I had been slaving over for more than the last week exclusively. I then met with my preceptor (program adviser) to discuss my thesis before catching up with some friends from my program (International Relations) over lunch and collecting some more thesis sources from the University library. From there, it was my last, two-hour commute of the year back to Winfield (Yay!!) to pack up so I could leave bright and early the next morning to be back in Nebraska by early, Saturday afternoon! I'm home! It was so good to see Courtney again and to visit my Lincoln friends. It was really encouraging to be at Grace again on Sunday morning, as well.

I'll be heading Home, to Norfolk, tomorrow most likely. Though I need to try to get some Christmas gifts and a haircut before I go. It will be good to be home-home as well. Kalen (my youngest sister) really wants me to help her review her AP Lit/Comp research paper (these papers were pivotal and formative for me in high school) before Friday and it will be nice of course to live under the comforting roof of my parent's home once again. Though I'm sure to be back in Lincoln by the end of the week. I think this break will be a lot of going back and forth, living out my car, and shamelessly requesting residence from Lincoln friends on short notice. Thank God for friends. Until next time, cheers!

Inconvenient Addictions

So, somehow in the last week I managed to discover Season 1 of "24" in my aunt and uncle's stash and I am now addicted. Classes are done but for two fairly involved final research projects due at the end of next week--so suffice it to say, this is bad timing. I started watching it on Tue. night and I'm about 2/3 through the season already. With any luck, I'll just finish the season before the weekend's out and I'll be forced to spend more time on my papers. Not that I've been a complete slacker or anything--just maybe a bit more distracted than I should.

For one of my papers (for my Media in the Middle East class) I'm analyzing "Paradise Now," an independent, Palestinian film that came out in 2005 (I believe) that follows two young men in the West Bank through the 48 hours leading up to their role in a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. It's intense but extremely well done, it doesn't condone violence or anything like that. You can get it at any Blockbuster. I would highly recommend it. My interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is growing in light of my recent courses and I will most likely be taking a history course on the Arab-Israeli conflict next quarter. I can't wait!

P.S. I'll be home in just over 1 week! Yay!

Thanksgiving!

Ok, so it's late and I have to get up early but I wanted to write a quick post to let everyone know how I'm doing. I was home for Thanksgiving and it was wonderful. More relaxing than I anticipated with the usual class schedule and load frequently preoccupying my thoughts and "free time." I decided to not let school stress me out and just get done what I could while enjoying my family and Courtney. It worked. Home felt like home and Courtney and I had some good chances to connect face to face for a change. It was different, but really good. Thank God for home!

I'm now back in Chicago, in my last week of classes! I have a final paper due tomorrow which is nearly done and two research projects and a re-write of my thesis proposal due by the end of next week. Then, my first quarter at the University of Chicago is behind me! These next two weeks will fly by I'm sure. Well, I need to get some sleep for my long, second-to-last day of class tomorrow! Cheers!

Further Proof

Having read Aaron's blog, I felt it my responsibility to provide further evidence for the greatness of this new album. Admittedly, it is a bit "over-produced" and "poppy." I feel almost guilty admitting to the fact that I thoroughly enjoy--but really I do! I have been following this band for about five years now. If nothing else, the song makes you want to move and it's fun--though not completely devoid of originality, talent, and that particular, jimmy-eat-world sound. I think it's great and I hope you do too.



Well, I should get back to my seemingly endless hours of reading and writing, haha. I hope this finds you all experiencing an amazing weekend!

Successful Firsts... err Seconds

Having developed an emotional, and subsequently expensive, attachment to my hair stylist/barber (can a woman be a barber?, is anyone called a barber anymore?) in Lincoln, I have avoided pursuing other means of a haircut since having moved to Chicago. And, there's no foreseeable change to that in sight understanding that I'll be able to go home periodically. Still, it's approaching 8 weeks since my last haircut and that presents problems. While my daily presentability is no longer contingent upon the inspection of an employer and a strict dress code, I'm in graduate school, not prison (though the feeling has to be remarkably similar from time to time). So, in my stubborn insistence to maintain the Lincoln 'stylist's' status as my own, I today ventured upon a personal endeavor to deal with the hair-on-ears problem--I took a trimmer to my own head. This being my first attempt since an early, elementary school blunder that completely removed a portion of my own bangs, I felt a remarkable sense of accomplishment at removing said problem without having to resort to a complete shaving of my head. Now, while the untrained observer may think the amount of hair actually removed in the process was at most negligible, I feel the problem was solved beautifully!