Back to the Books!

Today (Sept. 7th) was the first day of the second-to-last semester of my life. How's that for dramatic?! And I should be in bed right now. Go figure.

This semester I have all four classes on one day, so it's a long one, but I think I'm going to like my schedule. I go to school once a week! It's pretty great. I just need to make sure I stay on top of all my reading for homework and such. I think I'm going to like all my professors pretty well, and I know at least two people in each class from last year, so that's nice. I tried a new thing this semester and rented my books from the NYU Bookstore, rather than buy them. Some may think, "why rent when you can own?!" and I say, "I saved over $200 doing it that way and most of those books I will NEVER USE AGAIN", so I don't mind at all that I have to send them back when I'm done. You may think as a grad student I'd want to keep all of my books, like they may be useful one day. But don't fret, I'm keeping the ones I think I'll need/use in my future social work practice. I'm not that desperate for cash. Just a little.

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays I will be working at my internship, which I'm really excited about. I'll be working at an adoption agency that will go unnamed here, for confidentiality purposes. I think I'm really going to like it and do well there. I start there next week. The powers that be at NYU give us a week to sink into our school work before they plunge us into the depths of social work practice in action. But I'm ready! I can take it.

I Will...No...I DID Survive

No, I haven't received grades, yet, but I can safely say that I survived my first year of grad school at NYU. I'm not gonna lie, I'm feelin' pretty good about it. Duh. I just finished writing my last paper of the school year, to turn it in on Friday at my last class. SIGH of relief!!!! Now I get to focus on making some money via various jobs this summer (i.e. babysitting, possibly a paid internship at a senior center, and a paid respite job with my current internship), and having FUN with that money, New York City style! Things are looking up! I've babysat a few times over the last month, and while it's not big money, it sure feels good to be earning again! Seriously, to work and get paid for it...there's just something about it. I feel like I'm contributing to society and society is contributing back...in CASH!!! Also, I get to pay tithing at church again. Once more, the ability to earn and contribute = good feelings, not to mention blessings.

The babysitting gig may be short-term and it's only once a week, but hey, it's something. I met the mom and the two kids today and the kids are SO ADORABLE! They both have dark brown, almost black adorable curly hair and dark brown, adorable eyes. And they totally took to me! I've always thought I had a knack with kids. I told the mom this, and she saw it in action and confirmed it. She was impressed. :) For some reason, kids just love me...probably because I love them first. They're like dogs. They can sense if you like them or not. Babies and dogs. I love them. They love me. There's a certain age range of love, though. Kids between the ages of 1 and 4, maybe 5, love me. Maybe that's just because that's the stage where they still rely on adults a lot. I like to think it's my golden blond hair and big smile that gets 'em every time. ;)

Blast from the Past

Disneyland has it right..."It's a small world after all."

Thanks to facebook, I recently reconnected with one of my brother's friends from high school. He actually was a friend to the whole family, rather than just my brother. That's why I remember him most, well, that and he drove a convertible. That fact was clear in my mind...the convertible part. I must've thought he was the coolest! Ha.

Anyway, I saw he was friends with one of my sisters on facebook and clicked on his name. Lo and behold, I saw that he is not only living in New York City, but he is also a social worker! Has been for years! I emailed him right away to let him know I am here in the city, earning my MSW. Needless to say, he couldn't believe it! We spoke on the phone just before Christmas and last Saturday met up to say hello.

I'm not sure when exactly we last saw each other, but this might have been what I looked like last time me and Peter saw each other...
And this is what he might have looked like then...
And look at us now! Boy, how time flies!It was really incredible to see a familiar face, being that I hadn't seen that face in a very long time...since I was a kid, really. But it brought my Vegas home to the forefront of my mind. I don't know what it is, but I really feel homesick these days. I don't know if I will fall in love with New York City or not, but I am trying to be grateful for and cherish this amazing opportunity and experience.

Disneyland wasn't the only one who got something right...home IS where the heart is, whoever said that.