Culture Bump

November is crazy busy, but I'm getting through it - it never seems as bad once it's all over.  So, last weekend all of us in the program took a road trip to Madison, Wisconsin for a grief workshop where we learned about how to deal with parents who have had perinatal losses (miscarriages, still births, newborn death).  I had the best time going out with the gals (and guy) the night before - we stayed out until 2am in the morning even though the workshop was at 8am the next morning.  It probably wasn't the BEST idea, but definitely totally worth it.  The grief workshop itself was good, too - one of the presenters, a NICU nurse, shared her story of loosing her grandchild.  We were all touched by her story and most of us cried.  I did, too.  :p  Anyways, after that emotionally draining day, we drove back to the city, a 3 hr drive.  And we saw this:

Yeah.  We were pretty shocked.  I was a little grossed out / disgusted by it.  But, we are in America.  Needless to say... CULTURE BUMP (definition = when you expect one thing but get something else)!

Anyways, I got home, and Michigan Ave was lit up with all the lights to welcome winter.  It is SO pretty - I'm just sad that I missed the lighting ceremony.  They have a parade down Michigan Avenue and the lights lit up as the parade goes by.  Because we were stuck in traffic, I only got to see what it looked like after.  It was still gorgeous, though. 

Winter is here!  I know that it is snowing back at home.  It isn't snowing here yet - but it is suppose to get pretty cold soon.  Only a few more weeks until this quarter is over, and I come home to see friends and family.  I miss everyone so much. 

Pan Can!

I'm not sure why, but the Chicago Skyline lit up to say "PAN CAN" yesterday.  Usually when there is some sort of big event, the buildings lights are turned on/off in a way that spells something related to the event on the building.  Anyways, that was cool.  Too bad I don't have a picture of it!

I had my second academic adviser meeting yesterday.  It seems that I'm doing quite well.  I've been getting good grades and I'm learning SO much.  I'm still absolutely loving the program.  I keep saying how lucky I am, and how everything is perfect beyond my expectations, and it's really true.  For example, I'm not the best writer and I'm not very confident in my writing.  So, last week, it just so happens the program decided to hold its first ever writing workshop.  Normally writing workshops are boring and useless - not this one.  I learned SO much and actually learned a lot from it.  I can't say that I'm 100% confident with writing now, but at least I now have specific things I can identify and work on.  Another example.  I have been fortunate in my life that no one close to me has ever died.  Because of this, I'm quite uncomfortable in dealing with grief - I don't know what to do or say.  Well, next week, we are going to a grief workshop, and my practice role play scenario this week is to talk about DNR with a family.  It's amazing that the program seems to be targeting exactly what I feel like my weaknesses are and teaching me skills I need to make me a better GC. 

The best part of the program, though - is my awesome classmates.  Each one of them is so unique and awesome, and I think we've all started to bond as a group.  I love how different we are, too.  Maybe one of these days I will write little profiles on each of my classmates.  Even though I miss the depth of the many friendships I now have to maintain long-distance, the way I get along with my new friends make it slightly easier.  I miss my best friends. 

So now the only thing I really really need to integrate into my life is a healthier life style - especially exercising and losing weight.  Yes, Pan Can! 

Halloween

I wasn't going to do anything for Halloween this year because the amount of school work coming up in November.  But grad school is about balance.  Work hard, play hard, right?  So instead, I decided to take some time off.  First, the pumpkin carving party at one of the second year student's apartment. 

The Pumpkin Patch

And later on, WILD party at one of my classmate's apartment.  I didn't have the time or money to come up with a good costume, so I borrowed a friend's cat ears. Voila!  Cat!  I'm SO creative that way.  The party was tons of fun, though.  We had some great costumes and great company. 

Some of my lovely classmates