Getting Settled

So you may want to check my blog every few months... it looks like that's when I'll be able to blog. Right now I'm using the blog to get out some thoughts about my new place in life, and to give myself a little break. Perhaps if I use this as a place to give myself a break, then I will blog more often.

Now to the update:

I moved my stuff down to Pittsburgh with my parents August 13/14. I am so glad they were able to help! There was so much to do, I really don't know if I could have done it on my own. We spent a whole day cleaning my apartment. Vacuuming the cobwebs in every room, cleaning the bathroom (thanks mom!), and moving the stuff my landlord left into the basement (thanks dad!). After trying to get things sorted out I felt like I barely had unpacked any of my boxes, and by the night of the 14th I was back in Columbus to go to Mark and Liz's wedding.

The wedding was lots of fun. It was the first time I had been to a non-religious ceremony. It wasn't really that different, just really short. This was also the first wedding I had been to that was for friends of mine. It was so much fun! I really enjoyed seeing Dan (who's been living on his dairy farm in Wisconsin) and all my other undergrad friends. It was nice to party before officially moving to Pittsburgh.

After the wedding I cleaned my apartment and by the 17th I was leaving for Pitt. So many changes, so quickly. I've been in a state of shock for the past few weeks. Where do I start talking about this new period of my life??

The girls: The one thing keeping me from freaking out about not being with Dave, and having so much hard work to do! I am getting along with all the girls in my program, which makes life so much easier to handle. We're all in the same boat, being in a new place and learning to deal with this busy schedule. While we have different personalities, we seem to compliment each other really well. (and bonus- lots of them like to play games!). My roommates and I are also getting along! I'm doing my best to keep my mess to my room (which still isn't completely unpacked).

The most stressful part of grad school right now is looking for a GSR (graduate research position-- AKA- what will pay my tuition and stipend if I get one before December). I'm actually amazed at how well we have all been getting along while we are still in "competition" with one another... Apparently NIH cut funding (I know, you're shocked based on how 'great' the economy has been), so while lots of people would love someone to help them with their research... they don't have the funding. Our guidelines for where to look are vague. I try to find websites that list research projects going on, then I look for someone doing something that either is or could be genetic related, then I look up their e-mail and forward a request to see if they have a position available. The next step is interviewing for the position, but those are in the minority of responses. The girls and I have been compiling a list of all our negative responses (talk about a downer). One day I sent 12 e-mails and I got 8 negative responses by the end of the day. Quite frustrating! Last week the 7 of us that still don't have a GSR interviewed for a position that takes 2 students every year. While I felt good about my interview, I know that my competition is has just as good of a shot. I would love this position, so I am hoping that I get good news when we find out early this week. I will certainly update you when I get one.

Classes: Oh my goodness! I knew graduate school was going to be hard, but I had no idea just how much more work it was going to be! Here's my comparision... In undergrad I had 3-4 classes and would fill my time between classes studying. Now, I have 5 classes AND journal club, ethics case conference, clinical case conference, and seminar. Most of the classes I have are extremely complex and fast paced. One class covered all the genetics that I knew in about 45 minutes. I have to remind myself that it's possible, and just chug away at trying to learn. I can't believe this is already week 3! The hardest thing with classes has to be the time of them. When including time to travel TO class, I have 3 days where I'm gone from ~8:30-7:30, one day from 1:30-7:30, and 1 from 8:30-5:30. Crazy! Granted, there are 2 hour breaks between classes... but it can be hard to be productive during that time. 2 of those night classes we can just listen to online, but then you have to find time to do that! Fortunately, you can download them to your mp3 player.

So life is staying really busy. It is just starting to hit me how much I miss Dave. I was kind of ignoring that change until this weekend... but now it's really weird. It is going to be a really hard year. The girls in my program will certainly make it easier, but it doesn't change the fact that I really miss Dave, and really wish he was around. Even if I wouldn't see him for long periods during the day, it is just nice to have that person around that ISN'T going through exactly what you are. That person that can just make you calm down and instantly make you regain sanity.

Ok, that's all for now. I must get some work done before classes this afternoon! I just wanted to give a quick update.