Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Big news (which I already shared on FB): I'm moving to Colorado at the end of the summer! Excited, nervous, feeling a bit unreal about it.

(not my photo)

I ended up interviewing at four schools. One was kind enough to offer an alternate interview day. I was accepted at all the places where I interviewed:

• Boston
• San Francisco
• Denver
• Washington DC

Each school I visited, I was very impressed, and the faculty and current students (and other prospective students) were very nice. I knew it was going to be a tough decision.

A part of me was secretly hoping I would be accepted to exactly ONE program so I could avoid making a difficult choice, easy way out, but I would be lying if I didn't say that another part of me enjoys the validation.

What surprised me was that when I visited Denver, I really liked the city, the landscape, and especially program and core philosophy a lot. I hadn't ever been to Denver, so I knew much less going into my interview/campus visit, ended up coming away quite impressed. There were a few concrete aspects that stood out as unique in a good way (service learning and research involvement), as well as the overall "vibes" from the faculty and students that seemed to resonate with my own values and goals.

The program in Boston is probably more "prestigious" - particularly around here, but also nationally. So a part of me struggled with turning down opportunities, that sort of thing. But I turned down a more "prestigious" undergrad and things ended up turning out fine. Not the end of the world. So that line of reasoning was easily resolved.

As for where my heart lies, I was feeling pulled in two directions. One, by a program that I really have a crush on, the other direction by all the people I care about who live here in Boston and the Northeast. This past year, with all that has happened with my cousin's husband, my aunt on my mom's side, I've been coming to realize more poignantly that people aren't going to be around forever, or I guess that things you take for granted can change in an instant. That every interaction is with those you love is precious. Especially with older family members. I don't want to live my life based on potentialities, but that was a huge part of preventing me from fearlessly jumping into the unknown.

I ultimately decided that this is what I need, for me, to live somewhere new, try something totally different. It just FELT like the right thing to do. I will have to make a special effort to stay in touch with those I care about, to make vacations count, and to have a very fabulous time with all of them this summer before I head out.

Also, I just found out the other day that I was awarded a merit scholarship for the program in CO, so that in a way weirdly sort of confirms to me that it is a good choice.

So. That's where things are heading for me!

A few photos from my interview trip across the country. I was very fortunate to have friends/family in all the cities I visited, who showed me kindness, hospitality, and a great time.

Me with a former Boston friend in her SF office

Bike ride across Golden Gate and through Marin Headlands

Hiking near Boulder

StoryCorps

StoryCorps records, preserves, and shares the stories of people from all walks of life, backgrounds and beliefs. Couples, individuals, friends, relatives... people telling stories about... people.

These simple stories from everyday folk reveal a poetry of words, a poignancy. It started in New York City, but now there are StoryBooths in San Francisco and Atlanta, as well as MobileBooths, which travel to various cities. StoryCorps has animated some of them and put them on a YouTube channel, and they are just so touching and often delightful. I spent like an hour watching so many of them.

Here's one of a boy with Asperger's Syndrome interviewing his mother. Such candor and tenderness between the two of them.

Two cousins describing their neighbor/Sunday School teacher with brilliantly colorful splashes of detail.

Haunting memories from WWII.

A really sweet mother-daughter one. I could just go on and on.

Makes me want to record some of my family's stories. We always tell them at birthdays, but we don't have any actually recorded.

High Five Me

Apparently I just post animated gifs on my blog now.

I have more to share, but not ready to be totally public about it yet! So you just get Tina Fey being awesome.

Well Doesn't This Just Make Your Day...

I cannot NOT feel happy looking at this gif of David Boreanaz. Bubs cannot either.

Also

As for my life, I've been having a relaxing month or so, which is great. Applications were in by the end of October. Finished up classes before Christmas. Had a great time with all my fam for the holidays. So now I'm just having a bit of fun, prepping for my upcoming interviews, watching shows, hanging out with siblings &co. Wrapping up my last online class (developmental psychology).

For Christmas, I got P a rock climbing pass so we went several times. Here I am trying my hand at some inverted bouldering:

Been trying to get out snowshoeing as much as I can get buddies to go with me. Went once with P and R (we barely managed to summit Kearsage North by the time we needed to turn back in order to return to the car before dark):

...and another time with B and A (this time, not so fortunate; it was too foggy to make our way to the top safely, but it was still a fun trip):

So far I've been invited to interview at four programs, but two of them are scheduled on the same day, so I had to turn down one of the interviews. I'm interviewing in Denver, DC, and here. So a nice spread. I'm still waiting to hear back from the fifth school, which is also here.

So, I have to say life is overall going pretty well for this one.

Dollhouse

I am on Dollhouse now. That show plays with your mind fantastically.