Being Joe Torre'd

So here we are, the last full week of classes at Suffolk University. Somehow we made it through the gauntlet are on the final sprint, why then does it seem like there are more obstacles than ever. A paper for this class, a debate for another, 3 final exams, and the most insurmountable mountain of reading imaginable. Not to mention the terrifying reality of being a college graduate without a job.

The Clinton Foundation thing was working out, until i got a not so promising email from my boss about our upcoming meeting regarding, " my transitional place" within the foundation. I won't know for sure until Wednesday morning, but the tone was not good. A friend and I deemed my situation as being "Joe Torre'd" ( basically being demoted to the point where quitting is the better option)

So needless to say i am slightly concerned. Don't get me wrong, i think my resume is strong and i have faith that i will find a job, but for the moment it is not the most comfortable place to be. Now there is a silver lining to the whole thing. Having three free days a week to actually focus on school work, and my graduate school applications ( which have been put on the back burner, while i try to secure a job)

We will see what happens, there is always grad school, and i guess some time off would be good, but i'm just not sure i am ready for this whole adult thing, i mean i just started enjoying the whole young-adult thing.. its too soon

Thanksgiving break is in 8 days, and i will be spending it with my best friend in the world, so that is something to look forward to... 8 days until break, until a time to breath, until a time to forget those important things you shouldn't forget about

but really who is countin

I feel like there is a trend in my life when it comes to school- i think i just subconsciously choose to take the month of October off. No real reason for having to do this, i just do. I think maybe i feel that i have so much time left in the beginning of October that i can just chill for a week or so, and eventually a week becomes 4 and then its Halloween and my life has become a complete and utter mess of things i have yet to accomplish, and no suddenly don't have enough time to do them.

Funny how that all works out. We are now just talking in the office about how it doesn't matter how long you procrastinate, the work will always find a way to get done. Now if that speaks to my success as a student or my failure as one, who knows i guess i will leave that up to you to decide.

Now i don't want you to all go ahead and just stop doing your work, cause some girl at college told you it would all work out in the end. You should only ever reach this level of procrastination if you have other things that are occupying your life. School should always comes first, and for the most part it does, i am talking about those times when your school work interferes with itself. The one paper has suddenly become more important than another, or that that reading can wait so you can finish an application.

What do you do then? Learn how to prioritze i guess, but that is one of those "much easier said than done" kind of things, and at the same time one of those "suck it up and just do it" kind of things.

Life is strange like that. Obama is President. We can all go on

Grad School Woes

So i have finalized my list of graduate schools, and am starting that rather difficult and expensive process of applying. As it stands i am applying to NYU, BU, and Tufts for a Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Global/ International health. It took me a pretty long time to decide that i was going to apply for the next fall semester, but i feel like i am more prepared and have the actual motivation to apply now than i would have in the next year or so.

It does seem like this is coming on a little bit too fast. I have set myself a deadline of December 1st to have sent in all of my applications and supporting materials, obviously i will try for earlier if possible, but that is the plan right now. Perhaps it seems too soon, because i only have 6 weeks left until i am thrown into the unforgiving "real" world. Its not that i don't feel prepared or sure of what i want to do, it is just that Suffolk has always given me an avenue to explore deeper into those fields and prepare for them, and i have reached the end.

I am still actively looking for a job, and the Clinton Foundation has agreed to pay me on a temporary basis, so that is awesome. Hopefully if i do well enough in my position at the foundation i will be asked to stay on as a full time employ, and then have a reasonable excuse to put off grad school. I know this may all sound like i am dreading the idea of pursuing a masters degree, and that is not it at all. I think that is the realization that after getting my masters i am not sure where i would go. I honestly can't see myself getting a doctorate or going any further, but than that begs the question of what do after a masters? do you just stop?

I have been in some sort of formalized education, as have most of you reading this for almost 18 years, i am not sure i know how to not be in school....

So that is where all that stands at the moment, and i am trying not to let that over-power the rest of my life. School as it is, is going okay, some papers due next week and an exam on something, i think. Work is going well, the three jobs helps the semester fly by, and somehow i am managing to keep some semblance of a collegiate social life, though that too is slowly dwindling

I guess all in all this is what they call growing up, and as i begin to take it all in and digest it, i find more and more merit in the immortal words of peter pan and the lost boys

Scary moment

So today was the first time when i actually realized that i was going to be finished here at Suffolk University. We have been getting emails about registering for classes next semester, and making sure that you are completing your requirements, and all of the sudden it hit me, that i will not be registering for classes ever again here at Suffolk University.... I'm not sure if i should have felt like this last semester when i registered for this semester, but i guess, being abroad kinda took away the feeling of ending(ness).

Didn't have much else to say about this, it just feels a little weird to be leaving the place where you spent 4 years

about half way there

So here we are guys, about half way through the semester and things seem to be going pretty okay. I am somehow managing to stay on top of my work and have a pretty good handle on my life. I just registerd for the GRE's which is a terrifying thing all on its own. Grad school apps have come in the mail, and so far i have filled out my name and address on all of them, but that is about as far as i am getting.

While i know that grad school is important and all i am finding it really hard to focus on things like that, so much of my attention has been taken over by this election and the failing markets, that i find it difficult to distance myself. but then again, i am not sure distancing myself is what i should be doing. It is truly scary to watch what the market is doing, and no, i am not an bussiness major nor do i study economics, but i am graduating in 2 months and i would like to think that there would be some sort of job market avaible for me to enter.

Long weekend coming up, which should be nice. Jason Mraz concert is tonight, followed by an Andrew Bird concert on friday, and a trip to ikea on saturday. What is it about ikea, and for that matter wal-mart and CVS too, that you go into those stores not needing anything and walk out having spent hundreds of dollars, doesn't make any sense....

okay off to do some more stuff that should further my educational and personal futures

Time to put up or shut up

So tonight is the night, the one that we have been waiting for, the reason that both greys anatomy and the office are moved to next week, and the excuse to stay up later... The Veep debates are between Senator Joe Biden and Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin are this evening, and have been much talked about in the media.

I am not sure what i am expecting from this debate. I do expect Senator Biden to come out on top based on his skill and his experinece during debates. However, i have a gut-wrenching feeling that Governor Palin will do better than we all expect her to. She has been well trained and overly-vetted for her performance this evening, so i think she will do well regurgitating the few one-liners her campaign camp continues to feed her, but one Senator Biden hits her with a question that she hasn't been told the answer to, i look forward to watching her fail.

( sorry if my politics are a bit-too biased here)

It is not that dis-respect Governor Palin, i commend her for that accomplishments that she has made in her political career, and she has pushed some quality legislation through in her state, i do however feel that she is not ready to be the Vice President of the United States. That is a job, that a lot of people do not fully understand, but to occupy that position someone must be ready to take control of the country in, quite literally, a heartbeat.

I hope for a cultured debate that accomplishes what a debate is supposed to do; show the American people the nature, intelligence, confidence and readiness of the proposed candidates.

Tonight at 9, whatever channel you choise ( NECN for me) Be there

Upcoming things

So there are a few things that are going on here at Suffolk University that i thought i should fill you all in on.

The honors program here is holding an event at the improv asylum, which is one of the most amazing place in boston. If you have never seen an improv show, i strongly suggest checking one out either here in boston or in your neighbourhood somewhere. The stuff that these guys do is incredible, and pretty awe inspirining at times, i just have no idea how they can think that quickly.

The second and much more anticipated event that is taking place here at Suffolk is..... wait for it....

Jason Mraz is coming!!!! I am so excited about this, its unreal. He is prolly one of my favorite artists, and i feel like the concert will be a nice break from the unanimity of school work and studying. I downloaded his newest album about a month ago, and its a whole new sound for him, much more blues-y- in a way, not sure how to describe it. This is one of his new songs that i am sure you have all heard. But check out the video either way.


I love that song, i feel like its a bit more summery than what the current weather would call for but nice none the less.


And the last thing that is going on here is a typical university type thing. The Vote or Die campaign has come to Suffolk University, and while i am already a registered voter in NH and plan on taking the day off to go vote, i urge and if i have to i will beg you, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Go out and vote!!!!!

I am supporting Senator Obama because i feel he has created a renewed passion for politics in this country that was desperatly in need of, and because my brother lived in Alaska for 4 years and doesn't have the greatest things to say about their "assteemed" governor Pallin. But honestly whatever your plolitics happen to be. Please take part on November 4th and vote!!!

two weeks in, twelve more to go

So here we are, two weeks into my last fourteen at Suffolk University... slightly crazy i know, but i think now we have reached a point where i can introduce exactly what i am doing this semester as far as school is concerened.

Classes:
Health Care Policy: Kinda dull, but interesting and important
Public Relations: The basics, but it will teach you how to address and represent a client
Politics and the Media: Filled with propoganda, but a very interesting time to be studying this
American Political thought: Hardest and yet most rewarding class i think i will ever have taken here

I do want to talk a little bit about my American Political Thought class... It is very very hard as the reading and subject matter are dense and difficult, but never has an hour and 1/2 gone by so fast within a classroom. The Professor is young and new to suffolk and it is a breath of fresh air let me tell you. Classes are always better when you have someone who is actually engaged and interested in the subject they are teaching, and this professor just gets so animated and excited!

He doesn't judge people, though you can tell that at some points he wants to, and he will make you smarter even before you finish your comment

I am not writing this to try and impress you or anything, i honestly think this will be one of the best classes that i take during my college carreer here at SU ( but yes, i do think that this is a good example of the strong points of school here)

other classes are okay, nothing special, all three jobs are going well too, honors program is still a challenge but something to take my mind off of actual school work, and then in the very back of my mind lingers the ever-constant reminder that i have a thesis to write before this is all over...

might as well get started

peace out

Continuing on

So here it is folks, the much anticipated continuation of my life story via blogs...

After leaving Costa Rica, i flew to Alaska ( 40 degree temperature change in 16 hours, enough said, i don't want to talk about it). My brother was graduating college and that is a pretty substantial thing, especially since it was my brother.

After a long week with 22 hours of daylight and cold weather, i got to come home to boston, home to the east coast, and back where i belong. The peace and serenity of being back at "home" per say did not last long. I started work again at my resturant and began my internship with the Clinton Foundation.

Oh yeah, i work for the clintons!

So life was pretty hectic, but i managed to make some time for friends and fun especially when my 21st b-day rolled around.

Then, as it always seems to do, school started again. This is now my last semester here at Suffolk, so its a bit bittersweet i guess. My classes are hard and challenging and that is only made worse when balanced with 3 jobs and a senior thesis. But in some respects i love it, being stressed to the breaking point has always made me work just a little bit harder than i ususally do, which in turn allows me to learn just a little bit more than i would have wanted to.

I keep telling myself that is only 4 months, and that this too shall past, but everytime i say that i can't help but wonder if i am saying it with excitment or sadness.

Paradise

So i distinctly remember saying that i was going to blog about my experiences in Costa Rica, while actually in Costa Rica, but the thing about tropical locations is that you often forget that you have any responsibility at all.

So here is the long over-due summary of my semester in the southern hemisphere, and my life since my triumphant return....

Costa Rica:

If you ever feel the need or desire to get away from the cold, or just life in general i urge you to opt out of the typical Caribbean or Bahamas vacation, and go to central America. Not only is it like a million times cheaper, cooler, closer, and prettier, but the place is not made for tourists, so you actually feel like you have gotten away from everything you are used to.

Now don't get me wrong, not everything is sunflowers and daisies when you are living in a foreign country for 4 months, where you know no one, and you don't speak the language. Living and studying in Costa Rica was hard, but it is an experience that i wouldn't trade for the world. You learn to see that there are levels in life both in content, and luxury and that not everyone, in most everyone does not live the way that we are so privileged to live here.

I don't want to get too philosophical on you, so i guess i will stop there, and just continue on with some of the finer points.... like pictures.

So this is one of the first places we went in Costa Rica, it is a small town and 6 massive beaches called Manuel Antonio... It is a national park and there are monkeys and sloths, and lizards everywhere you look....


Also the fact that the beach is that empty is not an optical illusion or a trick we pulled on some tourists, that is just how empty and beautiful that this place is...




This one comes from my favorite place in all of Costa Rica, it is a small surfing town called Tamarindo. On second thought, i am not sure i would call it small, this place unfortunately has been plagued by tourists, but the beaches, the people, and as you tell the sunsets tend to make up for the other short-comings.

Thats one of the best things about being in a place where getting from one coast to another only takes a day, you can actually see the sunrise and the sunset on that day


And here we go, fun fact of the day everybody:

This is in fact how Pineapples grow, they do not grow from trees as is so often thought ( by me even until i saw this odd thing at an organic farm up in the mountains of the country)

I feel like people think that Pineapples and Coconuts must grow the same way because we associate both of them with tropical climates, but alas we were all fooled.

See, these are all the wonderful things that one can learn in a single day

There are about 200 more pictures of Costa Rica on facebook if you feel so inclined, though i am in no way pressuring you to check it out....

I know i said i would continue on about the rest of my life since leaving paradise, but i feel as though this post has gone on long enough... so perhaps we shall save that for another day....

As a fleeting thought, i will leave you with just one more picture of the Costa Rican way of life

Hola! de Costa Rica

So i told sara, that i would attempt to blog during this trip, i have been here for almost 3 weeks, so my attempts are not going so well...

Perhaps its learning a new language, dealing with 70 degree weather, having no classes on friday, or the constant clear blue skies have gotten in my way

but in all seriousness, i do go to school here. I am in a program at the International Center for Sustainable Human Development, studying different issues that affect the developed and developing nations of Latin America

I miss Boston a little bit, but i am not missing the cold, snow, or the T.

Must go now, just thought i should check in