Coming out...and going to dinner.

Why the stigma with nerd? It was like the death sentence in high school to be called one. My mother always told me while growing up to marry a nerd, because they were the most successful in life. So I thought, why not just be the nerd, and make my own success (although I just may end up with a nerd – someone to watch Star Trek with........NOT).
Alright, I know how nerdy, and cheesy my blog can sound at times. I do admit, over the last few years I have gotten progressively nerdier (it was always there, certain things just brought it out more, it was suppressed it in high school). The only thing that’s really changed in my life, was that I started dating this guy in physics (what’s geeky about physics?)….and then during my master’s I was perpetually surrounded by hard-core science people (and we all know the social skills most of them have…..I kid I kid). So, I can’t help it, I’m a product of my environment. Also, while I was growing up my mom made me read the dictionary every night……..ok, really I’M JOKING (although yatz and nan might argue…..).

So I had a conversation with Raz, to really find out if I really turned into a nerd (maybe not the best person to ask….). This was his response:

No, don’t worry, you’re not a nerd, nerds smell like new computer parts.

Thank God, my new dual-core processor and the latest ATI All in Wonder videocard I ordered doesn’t come in for another two weeks – I’m saved till then.

Anyways enough silliness. A group of us went out for dinner last night for a friends’ birthday. One of the friends had picked a new restaurant that opened in a newly renovated hotel. Let’s just say that this place would’ve been more appropriate if I was already a doctor, had paid off my student loans, and was working as a plastic surgeon in Hollywood (ok maybe not that expensive), but still, very very steep. The meal was probably the most extravagant I’ll ever have in my life. I would describe the meal to you, unfortunately I can’t remember what the names of most of the plates were (it was a set menu). I’ve never had a dining experience where sorbet is served to ‘clear the palate’ before the main course was served, so although very interesting I felt a little out of place (although this restaurant was a little out of place being in Grenada......).

Discovery Channel

It was a very bizarre feeling. I felt as though I was an animal being observed in my natural habitat – sort of like those specials they have on the discovery channel. When I left the dorm this morning to go to the library, there was a large group of cyclists that had stopped at the university, and one of the guides was giving a speech (in a language that sounded either German or Dutch). Anyways, as I had to walk in front of them to get across the campus I felt as though I was some sort of animal being observed in my natural habitat. Since I couldn’t understand the guide, it kind’ve just flashed through my mind that he was saying:
“Look up ahead – native to these surroundings is the Student. This particular Student is a female, although both genders carry a large sack on their backs in order to transport their [young] books. Observe the abnormal curvature of the spine of many of these creatures from persistent use of the sacks…..”
It was a very weird feeling. Normally I cut across the lawn to get to the main street on campus, but today I took the long way around. Just like an animal knowing that its being watched, it tries to avoid the ‘people’.
My mom left early yesterday morning, and I felt another bout of homesickness wash over me. But, I have so much work to catch up on, that it shouldn’t last very long (although, our internet is not working AGAIN, so who knows). I did get to enjoy some nice beach days while she was here (and some fine dining), but I am jealous that I still have another three months before I get to go home.
Here is a pretty picture that Raz sent to me from his conference in Baltimore. He visited an aquarium and took some nice fish pictures……see if you can Find Nemo (seriously)!

Made it through Midterms

My mommy is here! And I’m done my midterms. The last two were very challenging, I think my brain uses so much glucose when I'm taking tests, that I'm just ravenous afterwards. That was three weeks of intense studying, on top of trying to keep up with classes and labs. I have a lot of catch-up to do from the last week. I was starting to get a little burned out by the end of the week, so I’m a couple of lectures behind in neuro, and quite a few in immuno. C’est la vie, I guess I won’t be switching out of the 4:30 am schedule I’ve adapted during these test times until I’m fully caught up. To quote the only country song I like:
You might think I’m crazy
A little to hardcore
But in my neck of the woods
I’m just the girl next door
I’ll refrain from quoting the next line. Sleeping is all relative, so I start to get annoyed when some people balk at my preference for early rising, instead of late night studying. Since my mother is here, I will definitely be enjoying some sun this week, especially after a 3 week stretch of no vit.D. It’s pretty sad how my mother arrived more tanned than I am now, and I’ve been down here again for the last three months (it’s her vitamins, I swear). During this last week my motivation for doing anything other than studying (even that was diminished) was low, but my penchant for cooking is returning, as there are a number of my specialties I told my mom I wanted to prepare for her. Although, I must brag a little about the delicious pumpkin ginger soup I made a couple of weeks ago……sometimes I wonder why I’m working my @$$ off.....damn the women’s liberation movement…..I could’ve had my MRS. degree by now. JUST KIDDING….

Pieces of my week

Here’s a conversation I had in with a fellow classmate last week:

Newbie: Oh so you’re from Canada, I know a couple of guys from central Canada, Ed and Joe ________.
Me in my head: Yes because all Canadians know each other.
Me out loud: Oh really where aboot in central Canada are they from? (I try and bring out my Canadian accent a bit).
Newbie: What are those things you have instead of states?
Me out loud: Provinces
Newbie: Can you name some, maybe I’ll remember.
Me out load: Sure, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba…..etc etc etc.
Newbie: somewhere in Alberta I think.
Me in my head: Central Canada, eh?
Me out loud: Um, that’s a little more west than central…

Geez, its one thing to play the name game with a certain school…but common, an entire country?

So, last Monday after our immuno midterm we went out for some birthday celebrations. Here’s a pic of my roommates and I at La Luna. Okay, so here’s the thing, we haven’t had internet in our dorm room for the past two weeks. Promptly after it went out for, we called the DSL company (whose technical support HQs are in Antigua). Then once we were directed back to Grenada, we were given a “ticket number” corresponding to when we would be served (ie. someone coming out and taking a look at our connection). But, the way things work here in Grenada, you’re better off flagging down one of the cable guys if you can find them around campus. This is what we did, we found him by the end of week one with no internet. After telling us that there was a fault in the phone line, which had to be fixed be the phone company (not the internet company), he assured us it would be fixed by last Friday at the very latest. It has now been two weeks without internet. I called Paul (the internet guy) again on Friday, to which he gave me some spiel about how the phone company can only do the campus work on Saturday, so guaranteed, Saturday we would have internet. I still don’t have internet. It is so very frustrating. This is just the way things work in Grenada – kind’ve like how the grocery store may have pickled artichoke hearts, but no milk (oh my God it makes me want to pull my hair out at times!). So regretfully I can actually say: thankfully, I have exams right now, so I don’t feel as isolated as I am.