Hey ya'll! I'm back and ready for 2008 - bring it on, baby! 
Sorry it's been so long since my last update, the end of last semester was absolutely unbelievable, but we'll get to that in due time. Quick update on me: I'm back at Hopkins for Intersession (some people chose to come back to campus and take a class in the month we have off between fall and spring semesters) and this intersession I'm taking WFR (Wilderness First Responder), which gives you training for what to do if someone gets hurt and you're in the backcountry, and hour away from help. It's FANTASTIC good times, Blogger-Rob A. is in it with me so trust me there are going to be GREAT stories coming out of this course!
Winter break was superb, I mean, how can you complain about 76 degree weather every day, sunshine and palm trees...and now I'm back in Baltimore having to relearn what it means to "layer clothing". Ally and Mark taught me tonight the finer details of wearing "tweed" and "plaid". I know you're laughing but the next time you're in Houston and see someone walking around in tweed or wool feel free to call me up! Oh, learning to be a northerner!
So back to last semester:
Finals week was, well, interesting. The library starts being open 24/7 so my friends and I would stake
out a table on A level around 10 a.m. and would go back home to bed around 2 or 3 a.m. In hindsight that much time at the library was maybe not so good for the levels of vitamin D in my system (I was seriously lacking in direct sunlight and, lets not kid ourselves shall we? Fluorescent lighting is NOT your friend), But I did get through the worst week of my life so I can't complain.
Monday = Biochem 4 test
Wednesday = Biochem Lab Practical
Thursday = Biochem Final
Thursday = FInal Expos paper due
Friday = Organic Chemistry Final
But I'm happy to report after that every was alive and well.
I would, however, like to take a moment to reflect on how amazing my friends are. I still find it hard to believe that we were spending that much time together (and on the most horrendous subjects imaginable none-the-less), and still it was maybe one of the most positive experiences of my life. Every time that I would want to give up or get sick of studying they were always right there, agreeing that yes, Orgo was created to spite me in particular, but the end was near, it isn't so bad we're totally capable. That kind of encouragement and support was so critical and I'm so fortunate to have people like them around me! Michelle can make you laugh no matter what, Cali never got sick of my belly-aching and would help me get it out of my system, and Justin is just ridiculous with chemistry (apparently he "liked" orgo...honestly I'm jealous: I'd love to WANT to read that textbook!).
Other than finals the end of the semester was jam packed with 
performances and everyone getting together before jet setting for distant and exotic locals for break. The video that I'm going to post is a medley of all the performances I went to at the end of the semester. There was the Sirens (all women acapella group), the All Nighters (all men acapella group), and my own Wind Ensemble performance. I love that time of the year, you get to see what everybody's been working on. Plus there's nothing better that being a musician on stage, or watching one! I guess we're all attention loving performers on the inside, but I love having an audience to play for, and hopefully please.
Oh dear it's already 12:20 - I have class at 8 a.m. every morning - even Saturday! So I'm going to hit the sack and report on all our cool scenarios later (I was recreational tree climbing the other day and choked on my gum and fell 20 feet out of a tree...then later in the afternoon I got a mild concussion and had to help a landslide victim with tree bark impaled in his leg get to a rescue helicopter...just to name a few!)
'Till then!
I am really looking forward to the stories. Especially the "choking on the gum" one. Because we all know it happens ALL THE TIME. :)
Posted by: Stefanie | January 15, 2008 at 12:41 PM