Grad School Week 1

I’ve not written in a while… Not since I moved down to London for school. Sorry… Graduate school.

I must think in incomplete metaphors like all the time, but uh, I have a new one. Don’t get me started about the tube. Haha. You have undergraduate education, which is like elementary school. Then a PHD would be like high school. But I’m in the awkward years of middle school getting my master's… but now I’m supposed to be a graduate student. I'm not quite up there with the PhD's but my perspective is quite different than the undergrads... Luckily, this new awareness of being a middle-schooler has just given me permission to not have everything figured out yet, to make mistakes – and best of all, to have weird outfit choices… Because I did that in my junior high, trying to find my style and all that. So. There is hope for me yet.

Umm… well, it’s just the first week obviously, but I’m kind of bored. I am sure I won’t be saying that even next week… but this week, I’ve been really bored. That does not equal a lack of things to do or to think about… but my head can’t stay focused for very long. And, it’s the first week, so classes haven’t had time for much more than an overview of the semester ahead. It’s just that moving to a new country and starting graduate school, has been a rather big transition for me and I have a lot to think about…

Unfortunately, as much as I’ve really wanted to be much more disciplined as a student this year, I am rather lacking – and my thoughts and actions are a bit disorganized, and I'd like to be better.

It mostly feels like everything is still spinning around in my head and that it will take a bit longer to have it all settle in its organized spots. That’s “normal”, right? Moving on.

Obviously, I can't write all my adventures down, or all the fun things I see and wish I could share with everybody. But, I’ve been trying to be more grateful, so I’m going to write a few things that I am grateful for, and why.

First – I am grateful for my friends and family who keep talking to me even though I’m on another continent. I haven’t made a lot of friends yet, and so when I hear that my friends back home haven’t forgotten me, it really makes my day.

Second – I am glad that “Sam” the spider by the elevator stays up high and away from me… Haha – though, he sent his friend up to my room this morning and unfortunately this 'friendly spider' did not make it out alive… sorry spider… (if spiders are going to exist, I prefer not seeing them. If I have to see them, at least they can stay far away from me… see the logic? That makes sense, right? Haha.)

Next – I am grateful for this new blanket I bought…. It is so soft. And I absolutely love it. Plus in winter, it will save me as I’m not sure the heater in my room works… Aaah! We’ll see. But the point is, that there are little things like this blanket, and some fake flowers I bought at IKEA… that every time I see, it just makes me so happy that I bought them – it makes me feel more at home in my tiny flat and that things are going to be ok.

Next – I am really grateful for the wonderful people I have met so far, both in my program and in my church. In particular for this post, are two very nice girls I have met here that will hopefully become lifetime friends – one at school and one at church. Funny story, this will probably be my first time ever having more friends not of my faith than friends of my faith, even when I lived in the Chicago area. The girl at church always makes sure to include me and lifts my spirits, listens to me, and makes me feel not quite so alone. My school friend confides in me, has welcomed me sharing my sincere beliefs with her, we go exploring around London, we went shopping – she convinced me to buy the wonderful blanket mentioned above – and she helps me study. I am grateful for all these wonderful people, because they help me make sense of the world, and feel included. They help me feel like things will work out and make sense - not just "eventually" but soon. And that is great news. :) 

 

Covent Garden. It's floating.

Another thing I am grateful for is that it is the weekend. I am grateful that God helped me make it, even though the bank still hasn’t sent me my debit card, so money is getting a bit tight… but somehow God is helping me stretch. Hopefully that will continue because they said the earliest I will have it is the end of next week… Lovely. Anyway. I am grateful that things continue to work out by the grace of God. And I believe it will continue as I have more adventures living in London.

And I am grateful to those who have taught me about gratitude. It isn’t so much gratitude for things, but an attitude. I best get to this attitude by listing a few things I am truly grateful for and why I am grateful for them, because it helps me see God’s hand in my life and to remember to trust in Him. And, as I’ve reflected on this, my anxiety has gone down. I can feel things settling even if I can’t see how they’ve settled just yet, if that makes sense. 

OH and I absolutely love the street musicians. I wish I had more coins, or that I could show my support better. I don't know what it is, but music is the best. And these musicians are really fun and really brighten my day. My favorite has been the really good, musically, tuba player who also knows how to put on a show:

Saw this on my way to #ldsconf

He's blowing fire out of the tuba.

Things are coming together, and so right now, I am especially grateful that I'm able to have this weekend, time to catch my breath, and reflect on the good things in my life. :)

OH and I'm a bit late - but I saw this in Edinburgh and forgot to post it, which is where J.K. Rowling lived while writing her books - check it out...

Yes, I'm a nerd.